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TAG's Message - Answering the call...home and abroadMaking a differenceA theater-wide impactApril showers..."Bambi" comes to the rescueOn a clear day...Wing takes lead in ARTIC CARE 2007Welders get bead on lifeWelcome HomeNews Guard Families Can UseBullets, training and more bulletsShort RoundsThe New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal500 promos in 90 daysNew Jersey National Guard Enlisted PromotionsLast Round: Father honored

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Guardlife StaffEditors

Lt. Col. James GarciaCapt. Jonathan Lapidow

Capt. Jon Powers2nd Lt. April Kelly

Sgt. 1st Class Kryn Westhoven

Editor-Production

Tech. Sgt. Mark C. Olsen

Staff Writers/Photographers

Sgt. 1st Class Robert StephensonStaff Sgt. Barbara Harbison

444MPAD, NJARNGGuardlife is published bi-monthly using fed-eral funds under provisions of AR 360-1and AFI 35-101 by the Public Affairs Officeof the New Jersey Department of Militaryand Veterans Affairs for all members ofthe New Jersey Army and Air NationalGuard. The views and opinions expressedherein are not necessarily those of theDepartment of Defense, the Army, the AirForce or the National Guard Bureau. Let-ters may be sent to: Guardlife, Public AffairsOffice, P.O. Box 340, NJDMAVA, Trenton, NJ,08625-0340. E-mail at: pao@njdmava.state.nj.us

Cover: V is for ValorChief Warrant Officer DarioMarchena (front) is applauded byMaj. Gen. Glenn K. Rieth, Capt.Michael LaPoint and Lt. Col. Will-iam A. Heineman after receiving theBronze Star with "V" device at the 1-150th Assault Helicopter Battalion,in West Trenton on June 3. Marchenareceived the award while serving inAfghanistan with the Afghan Em-bedded Training Team. During thisperiod, his convoy was ambushedby anti-coalition militia. Marchena'sexecution of close air support, com-munication and direction ended theenemy's resistance. His actions re-sulted in the lifesaving of threewounded fellow Soldiers. Photo bySgt. 1st Class Robert Stephenson,JFHQ-NJ/PA.

Inside Cover: Showingthem the waySgt. Casby Sparks, G Battery, 3-112thField Artillery, gives directions toBound Brook citizens trying to re-turn to their flooded homes on April18. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Mark Olsen,NJDMAVA/PA.

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TAG'S MESSAGE

Answering the call...home and abroadBy Maj. Gen. Glenn K. Rieth, The Adjutant General - New Jersey

Storms have figured prominently in the most recentemergency response missions carried out by theNew Jersey National Guard.

In one case, flood conditions which overwhelmed severalcommunities and required a rapid response from our personneland equipment. In another case, rain helped dowse a ragingwildfire that National Guard helicopters were helping to bringunder control. Our National Guard forces were there to assistcivilian and governmental agencies in containing the ravagingeffects of water or fire…helping to maintain security and orderamong the chaos.

When the latest Nor’easter hit Northern New Jersey –dumping up to nine inches of rain in some areas and causingrivers to rise several feet above flood level – our troops andequipment hit the streets. From deuce-and-a-halves…to five-ton vehicles…to Hemmets and Humvees…we helped getemergency personnel in and out of flooded areas. Our soldiersalso teamed up with state troopers to control access to floodedneighborhoods, keeping homes secure until their ownerscould safely return. Standing watch shoulder-to-shoulder withNew Jersey’s finest illustrated the true team spirit with whichour troops conduct a joint-agency mission.

In the midst of the wildfire southern Ocean County, NewJersey Army National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk crews andhelicopters immediately swung into action. Supporting theN.J. Forest Fire Service, our helicopters carried Bambi bucketsfilled with water to help dowse pockets of fire.

As the last embers of the fire were dyingout, members of the 177th Fighter Wingarrived to assist local residents sort throughtheir belongings that were damaged ordestroyed during the fire. The 177th CivilEngineers used heavy equipment to clearlots and help residents prepare for the toughtask of re-building their homes…and their lives. “One Team, One Fight” has always beenan unofficial motto at the 177th…and thesupport they provided to the Air Force claimsprocessing team shows that spirit is aliveand well. When active duty Air Force legaland finance personnel arrived to processdamage claims by local citizens, membersof both the 177th and the New Jersey ArmyNational Guard were there to provideadministrative and other assistance. Thefull-time staff at the Tuckerton Armoryprovided working space, equipment andadditional support.

At around the same time that these clean-up efforts wereunderway, Soldiers from the 42nd Regional Support Groupwere deployed to Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) stationsto beef up the security presence at these vital transportationhubs. Side-by-side with Port Authority Police, our Guardsmenare helping deter threats to daily commuters on this busysystem.

Yet, even as we respond to disasters and threats at home,we continue to fight the Global War on Terrorism. Thissummer, Airmen and Soldiers are rotating out to Iraq andAfghanistan. At the same time, 148 of our Soldiers havereturned from their extended tour in Iraq. The men and womenof the 117th Reconnaissance, Surveillance, Targeting,Acquisition and the 250th Brigade Support Battalion havebravely endured a Soldier’s worst nightmare: a last-minuteextension of their already year-long tour. But these Soldiershave stood the test and returned to a well-deserved welcomehome.

These deployments show that the business of defendingour nation continues even as the business of helping ourneighbors continues. With all the activity in-state and overseas,I am proud to say that the New Jersey National Guard has metthe tempo and pace of current events. As the old saying goes,“when it rains…it pours!” But even if it pours, our Soldiers andAirmen are ready to respond to whatever challenges maycome our way…come hell or high water!

Maj. Gen. Rieth addresses a group of Soldiers supporting relief operations in BoundBrook. Photo by Kryn Westhoven, NJDMAVA/PA.

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Ask Col. William “Buck” Dodson todescribe his job while deployed ascommander of the 447th Expedition-ary Medical Support Hospital atSather Air Base in Baghdad, Iraqand he will tell you he was a youngCol. Potter, referring to the charac-ter in the television show M*A*S*H.

And like the television show charac-ter, Col. Dodson oversaw a staff of 36personnel who administered to the medi-cal needs of all the branches of theAmerican military, Iraqi detainees andcivilians.

Dodson volunteered to go to theOperation Iraqi Freedom theater for histhird, and longest, deployment over theThanksgiving, Christmas and New Yearsholidays because that was the hardesttime frame to get volunteers. Why didhe volunteer to go again? “We needvolunteers now more than ever, becauseof the increasing number of casualties,”he said.

Along with members from the Pennsylvania Air Guard, thehospital was home to Master Sgt. Patty Hughes of the 177thFighter Wing who was the Public Health NCOIC. She led theN.J. contingent in painting a state flag on the mortar blastprotection wall.

His job encompassed a number of areas including seeingpatients in the emergency room, assisting with surgery in theoperating room and caring for Iraqi civilians in the Civil MilitaryOperation Center.

Some of the hospital’s Iraqi patients were civilians whowere shot by insurgents because their relatives where ingovernment or the military.

The free clinic was constructed and run by U.S. Army civilaffairs units and open three days a week in the afternoons.There, staff saw mostly minor infections and trauma come totheir “doors.” “We had a neck tumor, an extra large hernia andtwo severe fractures that required surgery,” said the doctor. Henoted that about half of the patients were children.Col. Dodson feels that the Iraqi citizens, who came to the clinicbecause they couldn’t be helped by the Iraqi medical system,were happy that we [the Americans] were helping. He addedthat at times they did work with Iraqi doctors who would cometo the American hospital to help.

Dodson said that some days were harder than others. One

MAKING A DIFFERENCEDoctor volunteers for third Iraq tourBy Staff Sgt. Barbara Harbison, 108ARW/PA

day three members of the base’s EOD team were killed by avehicle borne improvised explosive device. In another incidentamong the injured patients was a 14-year-old Iraqi boy wholater died despite efforts of the medical team.

While Col. Dodson was commanding the 447th, the firstIraqi Flight Surgeon School took place. For weeks, the stafftaught the Iraqi’s the effects of flight, altitude and hypoxia (lackof oxygen), on the human body.

He was also responsible for two detainee health teamsthat examined Iraqi prisoners before and after they wereinterrogated.

Each deployment the doctor has been on has increasedin duration, this one lasting more than 120 days was thelongest. He said that this one also saw a higher rate ofcasualties, both military and civilian, than his previous deploy-ments. But Dodson stated his missions to the war zones “giveme the deepest sense of making a difference.”

Col. Dodson, who is the commander of the 108th MedicalGroup, also wanted to compliment the members of themedical group and the 108th as a whole. “We who arefortunate to deploy could not do it without the people who arein the unit,” he stated. “They get us ready to go over and coverour workload while we are gone.”

Col. Dodson checks an Iraqi child's respiratory response at the Civil Military OperationCenter. Photo courtesy Col. William Dodson, 108ARW/MG.

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The 50th Personnel Services Battalion (PSB) returnedfrom Afghanistan in early March from a challenging butextremely successful 14-month deployment in support ofOperation Enduring Freedom VII.

The Battalion deployed to Afghanistan at the end ofFebruary 2006. After nineteen hours of flight time and a week’sworth of waiting for flights, the 50th arrived at Bagram Airfield,the biggest base in Afghanistan. The PSB linked up with itsseven-Soldier advance party and started relief in place opera-

A Theater-Wide ImpactBy Maj. Michael Bobinis, 50PSB

tions. Soldiers were immediately deployed throughout theCombined Joint Operations Area in order to provide humanresource and postal support to the Warfighters and areasupport elements.

Afghanistan is an extremely mountainous land-lockedcountry located between Iran and Pakistan. The road systemis limited and driving to many locations in the country isimpractical. Helicopters and planes were the 50th’s primarymeans of transportation throughout the country although we

A Theater-Wide ImpactBy Maj. Michael Bobinis, 50PSB

Battalion members kick back for rest before catching a flight ona Chinook CH-47 helicopter.

PSB Soldiers raise the Stars and Stripes over the last Talibanstronge-hold - an event that all American Soldiers looked forwardto during their Afghanistan deployment.

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conducted several dozen combat logistics patrols betweenBagram Airfield and Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan.

The 50th’s mission was to provide human resources andpostal support to the Combined Joint Task Force 76 in theAfghanistan Combined Joint Operating Area. It was decidedearly on to totally revamp human resources and postal serviceoperations. The Battalion was solely responsible for thedelivery of inbound and outbound United States Postal Servicein Afghanistan. The 50th operated five-Army Post Offices(APO) and several more mini APOs. We designed theoperation to push services as far as operationally possible.Postal finance clerks were permanently assigned to 11 majorFOBs. Air assets were leveraged to the point where we placedmail in sling-loaded vehicles to maximize the available spaceon aircraft.

The changes implemented in the way postal operationswere conducted were massive and had an immediate theater-wide impact. Upon our arrival, mail delivery schedules werehaphazard at best and congressional complaints involvingmail were a common occurrence. Higher headquarters taskedthe 50th to fix the system. Rotary wing routes were adjustedto hit every FOB at least once a week and 2,000 pounds of mailwere allocated per aircraft. Sorting procedures were stream-lined to eliminate the double-handling of mail. A Mail Move-ment Team (MMT) was established with the sole purpose ofmaximizing the use of space on aircraft and ground vehicles.Team members were tireless and our success in postaloperations was a direct result of their actions. The MMT wasresponsible for coordinating with the movement control battal-ion and Air Force and coordinating and synchronizing all maildeliveries to the FOBs. An extensive customer service plan

Despite all the challenges we faced, 13 million pounds of mailwas delivered during our tour. In short, the 50th totally re-wrotepostal doctrine.

was also developed and implemented. Commanders atremote sites were constantly kept in the loop on the status ofmail destined to go to their FOB. Commanders were imme-diately notified of delays and were told when the next deliveryattempt would be made.

With all the great planning the Battalion was still at themercy of the unpredictable weather. Since most mail wasdelivered by air, a few days of bad weather could causetremendous backlogs. Despite all the challenges we faced, 13million pounds of mail was delivered during our tour. In short,the 50th totally re-wrote postal doctrine.

While postal operations was the 50th’s primary focus, theBattalion provided several other critical services to includepersonnel strength accounting, casualty reporting, personnelrecords management, promotions, personnel evaluations,personnel information systems management, ID cards, pass-ports, and R5 (Reception, Replacement, Return-to-Duty, R&R,and Redeployment) support. Although non-postal operationswere not as visible, they were just as important and ourSoldiers ensured all customers received first-class support.

On March 1, 2007, our operations in Afghanistan came fullcircle with the Transfer of Authority to the 147th PSB from theMinnesota National Guard. We coordinated with our replace-ments for months prior to their arrival and ensured they werewell-positioned to succeed.

Training, support from the home front, two-way communi-cation, and teamwork were the key factors in our successfuldeployment and return. All Soldiers returned safely withoutany serious injuries. I am incredibly proud of the men andwomen that I served with during our tour in Afghanistan. Theyare all great Americans.

Neither rain, nor sleet, will keep the Soldiers of the 50th PersonnelServices Battalion from accomplishing their duties.

Master Sgt. Cynthia Carlucci smiles at the enthusiastic receptionto unit members handing out candy and supplies during a visit toone of the numerous small villages scattered across Afghanistan.

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April showers...By Sgt. 1st Class Robert Stephenson, NJDMAVA/PA

The rains saturated the ground, flooding base-ments and causing the Raritan and Hackensackrivers to crest their banks in several locations,flooding major areas in Bound Brook, Lumberton,South Hackensack and Lodi.

Familiar TerritoryNational Guardsman were activated and pre-posi-

tioned in armories around the state on April 16 inpreparation for various types of missions. The firstmission jumped off just after 11:30 Sunday night whenthe Office of Emergency Management requested helpin evacuating people in the town of Lodi, an area last hitby flood conditions during Hurricane Floyd in 1999.The 50th Brigade Combat Team responded with fourSoldiers and two high-water vehicles.

All told, 24 missions were issued over the next twodays by the Joint Operations Center in the HomelandSecurity Center of Excellence. Both the 50th and the42nd Regional Support Group handled missions byassigning them to the 250th Brigade Support Battalion,the 3rd Battalion, 112th Field Artillery; 2nd Battalion,113th Infantry; the 119th Corps Support Battalion, the253rd Transportation Battalion and the 102nd Recon-naissance, Surveillance, Target Aqcuisition.

The missions ranged from evacuating citizens toproviding transportation to law enforcement and emer-gency services, in addition to providing security check-points in areas that were declared off limits. Guardsmanalso provided fresh drinking water in water buffalos anddelivered close to 2,000 sandbags to various locationsduring the three day period.Breaking Records Across The State

The National Weather Service reported rain accu-mulation of 8-10 inches in parts of Bergen, Hudson andSomerset Counties during the three-day period endingApril 18. According to the United States GeologicalSurvey, flood peaks were the highest ever recorded at10 of its gauging stations in the Hackensack, Hudson,Raritan, Mullica and lower Delaware River basins.

Flood frequencies ranged from greater than a 100year event on the Hackensack River and the Great EggHarbor River at Folsom, the second highest peak onrecord, going back to 1940. The Passaic River expe-rienced from 20-year to 50-year events. The Passaic atMillington recorded the third highest peak in 87 years,while Rahway River had 55-year flood events.

Staff Sgt. David Pitt (above), B Company, 3rd Battalion, 112th FieldArtillery, New Jersey Army National Guard, gives directions to BoundBrook citizens trying to return to their flooded homes while Spc.Conrad Jorge (below), Headquarters Battery, 3-112th Field Artillery,New Jersey Army National Guard, checks a Bound Brook resident’sidentity before allowing her to return to her recently flooded home onApril 18. Photos by Tech. Sgt. Mark Olsen, NJDMAVA/PA.

More than 150 New Jersey National GuardSoldiers and Airmen were activated acrossthe state the week of April 15 when heavy rainsdrenched New Jersey from top to bottom.

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“Fixed wing aircraft at three o’clock,”squawked the voice in my headset.

“Tally,” came the reply.With those words, the pilot of the UH-60

Blackhawk helicopter acknowledged the air-plane just off his right side. Through the smokeand flame of the forest fires raging below, visibil-ity went from adequate one minute to terrible thenext as the chopper flew through the air towinga “Bambi Bucket” which was suspended below.The bucket held more than 660 pounds of waterwhich could be dropped on any number of ahaphazard patchwork of fires that threatenedhomes located in the Pine Barrens of NewJersey. The fire, which originally started withinthe confines of the Warren Grove GunneryRange in Ocean County, threatened to gobbleup even more real estate.

Not only was the Blackhawk dodging thesmoke and flames, but also a number of otherrotary and fixed wing aircraft which had con-verged on the area to lend assistance. A few ofthe aircraft were in direct communication, but the majority oftwo-seater planes and helicopters from the New Jersey StateForest Service were flying under Visual Flight Rules, whichmeant that they would not have an air traffic controller advisingthem of other aircraft, but would have to visually spot eachother as our Blackhawk just did. Every time we briefly entereda cloud of smoke, there was always that feeling that we werenot alone.

“Wow, did you feel that heat,” exclaimed Lt. Col. DanielDreher, commander of the 1-150th Assault Helicopter Battal-ion, as he piloted our chopper through a particularly nastyplume of smoke and fire. It wasn’t that long ago that the twopilots, Dreher, and Chief Warrant Officer James Den Hartog,and Crew Chief 1st Sgt. Jack Cipolla were flying the unfriendlyskies over Tikrit, Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom III.Smoke and fire were not unfamiliar to any of them.

The Blackhawk was flying with its doors open so that thecrew, which was attached to harnesses, could lean out thedoors to view the bucket, which was suspended some 20 feetbelow the chopper. Each plume of smoke carried with itsuperheated air which toasted the crew in addition to affectingthe lift of the chopper as it clawed through the thermals.Neighbor Helping Neighbor

We had been in the air more than an hour, continuallyfilling the bucket and then looking for an area where the firethreatened a home or business. Throughout our time in the air

Den Hartog reminded us to keep our eyes peeled for the otheraircraft which were still in our vicinity. The constant chatter ofsightings here and there constantly filled my headset.

It wasn’t until midway through the mission that I realizedthat Dreher’s home was possibly in the path of the fire. He waswondering aloud if his family would have to evacuate any timesoon, and whether the next 660 pounds of water might just endup landing on his roof.

Just like the firefighters on the ground, National Guards-man reside within the communities they serve and are oftendubbed the Hometown Team. It was just a matter of timebefore a Guard member would be responding to an emergencyin his own back yard, just as several members of the JerseyGuard had left their own swamped homes to report to theirunits during the flood that had inundated a number of commu-nities a month earlier.

Fortunately, from his vantage point in the right-hand seatof the Blackhawk, Dreher was able to spot his house in thedistance and was relieved to see that the flames, althoughclose, were not about to engulf his property just yet.

As our chopper continued to consume fuel, the pilotsdecided it was time to return to the Warren Grove airfield. Itwas then that we heard that a heavy weather front was movingin and rain was expected. Just what the doctor ordered.Sometimes, despite your best efforts, Mother Nature has thelast word.

“Bambi” comes to the rescueON BOARD A BLACKHAWK HELICOPTER DURING A FIREFIGHTING MISSION

Story and photo by Sgt 1st Class Robert Stephenson, NJDMAVA/PA

Sgt. Simon D. Debran, onboard a UH-60 Blackhawk with a Bambi bucket full ofwater on the way to deliver its payload. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Robert Stephenson,NJDMAVA/PA.

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On a clear day...Story by Capt. Sean M. Roughneen, 1-150AHBPhoto by Chief Warrant Officer Jason M. Swingle, 1-150AHB

A 1-150th Assault Helicopter Battalion UH-60 Blackhawkhelicopter perches on top of the Rocky Mountains inColorado. The 150th is currently performing trainingrotations through the U.S. Army High-Altitude Army

Aviation Training Site (HAATS), at Eagle, Colo.Nearly sixty Battalion Soldiers from the two Blackhawk

companies have been rotating through the one week UH-60Power Management Qualification Course since April 29.

Gun 2 – a M109A5howitzer of A Battery,112th Fires Battalionfires its first live fireof 2007. In the upperright of the photo,which was taken onMay 19, a 155mm shellis on its way to theFort Dix impact area.These are the unit’sfinal days of doing livefire during AnnualTraining with M109A5s before receivingthe M119 towed how-itzers sometime in2008/9. Photo by Sgt.1st Class Luis Arroyo,112 Fires Battalion.

LLLLLiviviviviveeeee FFFFFiiiiirrrrreeeee 0707070707

On a clear day...Story by Capt. Sean M. Roughneen, 1-150AHBPhoto by Chief Warrant Officer Jason M. Swingle, 1-150AHB

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Aircrews learn techniques for operating in austere envi-ronments — where altitude or mountainous terrain canseverely limit aircraft capability and performance. Thiscoordination is honed by executing multiple recons, landings

and take-offs in rugged mountain terrain. The altitude of theHAATS training area simulates the same sort of conditionsthat exist in many of the locations where the Army is currentlydeployed around the world.

Lt. Col. Christopher Eads gives his daughter, Julia, a few pointersas she takes aim on the Virtual Interactive Combat Environment(V.I.C.E.) simulator. Children of New Jersey National Guardmembers got an opportunity on April 28 to learn how the militarytrains their parents when the youths visited the Joint Training and

Training Development Center (JT2DC) on Fort Dix. The morningevent included learning about flags from across the world, explor-ing a tank and participating in a simulated convoy, ending withlunch provided by the Salvation Army. Photo by Sgt. 1st ClassRobert Stephenson, JFHQ-NJ/PA.

This is howDad does itThis is howDad does it

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Its eleven thirty at night and we have got to get to bed;it’s going to be a busy day tomorrow. But the sun is stillshining high in the sky. Alaska: land of the midnight sun- where the sun really does hardly ever set.

For nearly two weeks, members of the 177th Fighter WingMedical Group along with several other Air Guard and activeduty Air Force providers participated in the Navy’s annualARCTIC CARE 2007 mission.

Wing takes lead in ARTIC CARE 2007By Master Sgt. Patricia Hughes, 177FW/SGP; photos by Tech. Sgt. Daniel Opperman, 177FW/MG

The purpose of this deployment was two-fold. First, it wasto provide critical cold weather training to medical personneland second, to provide care to the Inupiat residents in theremote villages of the Northwest Arctic Borough of Alaska.This year’s goal was to provide 10 villages, each with apopulation of approximately 500 to 1,000 Inupiats, living justabove the Arctic Circle, with medical, dental, optometric andhealth education. More important, this was a critical missionfor 177th members because it is scheduled to be transitionedfrom a Navy to an Air National Guard mission in 2008.

The 177th medical team learned firsthand the importanceof this dual purpose mission, where we were stationed in twodifferent villages, Selawik and Noorvik. The team providedmedical, dental, public health education and public healthinterventions while we were there.

Lt. Col. Robert DeSipio was the commander of themedical team deployed to Selawik. Selawik was one of twovillages chosen to be visited by Pentagon, National GuardBureau and Alaska National Guard leadership.

During those 10 very cold days (down to minus 41 degreeson one day) we saw approximately 200 to 300 medical and 100to 200 dental patients. Every child in the village of Selawik hadat least one public health presentation in a classroom setting.

All members of the medical team left changed by theexperiences of meeting fellow Americans who were so appre-ciative of our efforts. We felt that we had made a difference,by not only warming their hearts but ours in return.

Wing takes lead in ARTIC CARE 2007By Master Sgt. Patricia Hughes, 177FW/SGP; photos by Tech. Sgt. Daniel Opperman, 177FW/MG

Medical Group providers from the 177th Fighter Wing, along withother Air Guard and active duty providers unload supplies from an

Alaskan Army National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk at Selawik,Alaska, in support of ARCTIC CARE 2007.

Optometrist Capt. Jason Winterbottom uses a tonopen to checka patient interocular pressure for glaucoma.

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Survivability on the battlefield and in thecivilian workplace is getting a boost thisyear courtesy of the New Jersey NationalGuard’s Regional Training Site-Maintenance(RTS-M) equipment upgrades at one of itsFort Dix training areas.

With the purchase of more than $500,000worth of equipment and materials this past year,in addition to sweat equity by instructors in thepost’s 5900 maintenance area, RTS-M leader-ship personnel now want to crosswalk MilitaryOccupational Specialty (MOS) training for Sol-diers into civilian certification in at least one ofthe metal trades — welding.

”All indicators lead me to believe we can getthat certification,” Maj. Robert Garvey, RTS-Mcommander, said. “This means a young Soldiergetting the welding training can likely get a job inthe world starting at $25 to $30 an hour, which isa good starting point for a career.”

To make that happen, Garvey submitted anapplication for graduates of the welding course to becomemembers of the American Welders Society. The RTS-M runsabout 60 courses a year at the Joint Training and TrainingDevelopment Center and the 5900 area.

Two of the MOS courses, Metal Worker (44B) andMachinist (44E), are getting trained inside two of the fivebuildings that look more like a laboratory than a dimly litworkshop.

Since the Global War on Terrorism began in 2001, about2,000 military personnel honed skills now coveted on thebattlefield when it comes to welding up-armor vehicles andmaking repair parts.

"The welding shop can now train up to 12 students at atime, each having his or her own work area that has weldingequipment for each student," said Sgt. 1st Class DonaldAltieri, senior instructor at the RTS-M who has been teachingthe 44B course for 11 years.

Altieri, who designed the classroom work stations, saidhe has the capability to double the class occupancy. Addi-tional workbenches can be moved into place. Since many ofthe components of the shop have swing-arm capabilities, workareas can be shared by additional students.

Refurbishing new equipment has also seen growth intraining in the 5900 area, where the number of students grewfrom 465 students in fiscal year 2006, to 669 the following fiscalyear.

The refurbishing of five buildings in the 5900 area began in

October 2005. Cleaning, sandblasting, and painting insideand out was completed by 24 Soldiers of the instructor staff,including the commander. Cost estimates associated withthe sweat-equity put into the project are 9,000 hours of laborusing $44,883 in materials. The existing staff doing the worksaved about $225,000 in labor costs.

“If they weren’t at the podium teaching, they were fixingbay doors, or swinging a roller and a brush,” Altieri said.

As a part of the refurbishment project, new digital millingand lathe equipment is also being added. As the Armycontinues through transformation and pushing the edge oftechnology, some of the recently arrived computer numerical-controlled equipment may someday be able to beam machineconfiguration signals from major commands such as TankAutomotive and Armaments Command to a satellite and on tothe machines, a system that would save time and hours.

Altieri, who has designed protective armor plating formilitary vehicles and has seen Navy Seabees and Marinesattend his welding courses, said he receives e-mail and lettersfrom personnel who have attended school in the 5900 area andare serving in Iraq or got a great-paying job as a civilian.

”I get e-mails all the time from Soldiers. They tell me whatthey learned here as welders or machinists is certainlyimportant to save lives on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghani-stan. Then, I hear from some of them when they return to thecivilian world, and they tell me they have a great job, makingmore money then me and they’re buying a home,” Altieri said.

Welders get bead on lifePhoto and story by 1st Sgt. David Moore, 444MPAD

Staff Sgt. Emilio Namuco, a Regional Training Site-Maintenance instructor of the44B Army Welding Course, prepares stock used for the course being given toSoldiers going for the welding job specialty at Fort Dix.

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WELCOMEHOMEWELCOMEHOME

Governor Jon S. Corzine andMaj. Gen. Glenn K. Rieth ledfederal, state and communityofficials, friends and family inwelcoming the 148 Soldiers ofTroop C, 117th Reconnais-sance, Surveillance, Target,Acquisition and Company D,250th Brigade Support Battal-ion at the National Guard JointTraining & Training Develop-ment Center, Fort Dix on June23. The Soldiers, who weremobilized in September andOctober of 2005, were part ofthe 1-34th Brigade CombatTeam, Minnesota Army Na-tional Guard, which was ex-tended for the troop surge.Photo this page by KrynWesthoven, NJDMAVA/PA.

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The Soldiers of Troop C, 117th Reconnaissance, Surveillance,Target, Acquisition and Company D, 250th Brigade Support Bat-talion were reunited with their families on June 19 at NationalGuard Joint Training & Training Development Center, Fort Dix.

Top and bottom left photos byKryn Westhoven, bottom rightphoto by Tech. Sgt. Mark Olsen,NJDMAVA/PA.

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The Soldiers were the only New Jersey Army Guardsmen to beextended as part of the 20,000 troop surge. Originally scheduledto return in March, the Soldiers returned to their armories fourmonths later.

All photos this page by Tech.Sgt. Mark Olsen, NJDMAVA/PA.

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G u a r d l i f e 19Photos on both pages by Tech.Sgt. Mark Olsen, NJDMAVA/PA.

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News Guard Families Can UseCompiled by the Guardlife Staff

Family Readiness Grant ProgramFrom the New Jersey State Family Readiness Council

Family Grants are available to New Jersey Guardmembers who have been mobilized longer than 90-days within a one-year period, and their families mustbe experiencing financial hardship.

Business grants are available to New Jersey Guardmembers who have been mobilized longer than 90-daysalso within a one-year period and were self-employedbusiness owners at the time of being mobilized.

The State Council has supported family activities,welcome home events and has awarded grants in excessof $200,000.

For more information on grant criteria or to apply for agrant contact a Family Assistance Center or the FamilyReadiness Group nearest you (see boxed list below).

Photo Contest UpdateA recent e-mail asked the question: "I’m interested inparticipating in the competition, but how many pictures canI submit? Is it one per category or just one per contest?"You can submit up to five images in each category.

108th Air Refueling Wing3327 Charles Blvd.

McGuire AFB, NJ 08641POC: Laura Forrest

laura.forrest@njmcgu.ang.af.milJersey City Armory

678 Montgomery StreetJersey City, NJ 07306-2208

POC: Janis Shawjanis.m.shaw@us.army.mil

Lawrenceville Armory151 Eggert Crossing Road

Lawrenceville, NJ 08648-2897POC: Jane Hackbarth

jane.e.hackbarth@us.army.mil

Morristown Armory430 Jockey Hollow Road

Morristown, NJ 07960-0499POC: John Hales

john.a.hales@us.army.milPomona NJNG FAC

400 Langley RoadEgg Harbor Twp, NJ 08234POC (Air): Joan Searfoss

joan.searfoss@njatla.ang.af.milPOC (Army): Michael Hughes

michael.hughes@njatla.ang.af.milSomerset Armory

1060 Hamilton StreetSomerset, NJ 08873

POC: John Halesjohn.a.hales@us.army.mil

Teaneck ArmoryTeaneck & Liberty RoadsTeaneck NJ 07666-0687POC: SSG Joe Collery

joe.collery@us.army.milToms River Armory1200 Whitesville RoadToms River, NJ 08753

POC: Maria Morromaria.morro1@us.army.mil

Woodbury Armory658 North Evergreen Avenue

Woodbury, NJ 08096POC: Heather Altman

heather.altman@us.army.mil

Family Assistance Centers

Our Toll Free Number is 1-888-859-0352

Military Family Day at Six FlagsBring the family to Family Appreciation Day at Six Flags,Great Adventure, Jackson, on Aug. 27.

Discounted tickets cost $20 per person, children underthree are free. Parking will cost $15 per car. This offer is availableto all New Jersey National Guard Soldiers and Airmen.

Tickets include all the rides and the safari. Tickets can bepurchased at JFHQ, Family Program’s Office or at any FamilyAssistance Center. For further information, please contact theFamily Program Office at 1-888-859-0352.

G u a r d l i f e 21

“This month’s training will center on one of our biggest forcemultipliers, the machine gun,” cited Master Sgt. Dave Kovak,Combat Arms Section NCOIC, 177th Fighter Wing SecurityForces.

Seventeen Security Forces Airmen spent the May drill at FortDix’s Range 7 for their annual machine gun qualification. Thisannual training was the culmination of classroom instruction andqualification on the required evaluation phases of the Air ForceQualification, full distance course.

Firing more than 10,000 rounds of linked 5.56 and 7.62ammunition might seem like a lot of training, but when you areshooting both M249 automatic rifles and M240B medium ma-chine guns, that ammunition gets burned up pretty fast.

“A machine gunner should have a more aggressive mindsetdue to the particular nature and role this weapon plays in air basedefense,” noted Kovak.

Each Airman was briefed on M249 and M240B nomenclature,types of ammunition and how to care for handle and preserveammunition, preparing range cards, tactics and techniques ofengaging targets during periods of limited visibility; fire control andtarget engagement, range determination and lateral distancemeasurement, as well as weapons function checks and correct-ing stoppages.

At the firing line the Security Forces Airmen positionedthemselves. Firing point instructors Master Sgt. Robert Powell,Tech. Sgt. Bill Peters, Staff Sgt. Stanley Carroll and SeniorAirman Justin M. Kelley reminded each shooter to fire a “Six tonine round burst.”

A little more than two hours later, more than 10,000 roundshad been exhausted.

“The importance of training can never be underestimated,”noted Kovak “As Security Forces, we train to protect not onlymaterial assets but our personnel as well, and we take that jobvery seriously, these weapons are an integral part of that mission”

Firing Point Instructor Senior Airman Justin M. Kelley observesStaff Sgt. David Pabon as he qualifies.

Staff Sgt. Kevin B. Horseman, Senior AirmanKevin C. Allmann Jr. and Master Sgt. Robert E.Powell Jr. unpack ammunition for the M249 au-tomatic rifles and M240B medium machine guns.

Firing point instructors monitor the line.

G u a r d l i f e 22

PATH MISSION, NEW RECRUIT, BATON TRAINING, NEW CHIE

Gubernatorial swearing inMaj. James H. Moore Jr. (left) is sworn into the New Jersey ArmyNational Guard by Governor Jon S. Corzine (right) as DavidSocolow (center) – Commissioner, N.J. Department of Labor andWorkforce Development – looks on. As a facilities constructionmanagement engineer, Moore will be inspecting installationfacilities and training sites as well as advising commanders onenvironmental compliance and new construction projects. Photocourtesy Office of Marketing and Communications.

SHORT ROUNDS

New Chiefs recognizedOn March 10, a Chiefs Recognition Ceremony was held onMcGuire. Sandwiched between State Command Chief Mas-ters Sgt. Paul Gunning (left) and NJANG Commander Brig. Gen.Lawrence S. Thomas III (right) are Chief Master Sgts. (l-r)William J. Schroer, 177th Fighter Wing; Demetrius E. Jones,227th Special Operations Flight, and Richard F. Bouffard, Jr.,Joint Force Headquarters - Air Component. Photo by ChiefMaster Sgt. James Leopardi, 177FW/LRS.

Bring it onSenior Airman Erick Contreras (left) gets some hands-on trainingduring 108th Air Refueling Wing Security Forces Squadronmanadnock baton training trying to subdue “Redman” Staff Sgt.Jacinto Rivera on May 6. Photo by Staff Sgt. Barb Harbison,108ARW/PA.

Guarding the PATHRichard L. Cañas, Director, Office of Homeland Security andPreparedness, left, looks on as Staff Sgt. Paul Carradine, 50thBrigade Combat Team, describes his mission in support of theNew York and New Jersey Port Authority Police in selectNewark and Jersey City PATH Stations. The mission hasbecome all the more important since the revelation of a plot toattack Port Authority property at JFK International Airport, andits fuel supply located in Linden. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class RobertStephenson, NJDMAVA/PA.

G u a r d l i f e 23

W CHIEFS, STAFFER VISIT AND NEW COMMANDERS

New services commanderCol. John Nunn (left), Commander, 42nd Regional SupportGroup, presents the 50th Personal Services Battalion colors toincoming commander Lt. Col. Joe Cowan at the LawrencevilleArmory on June 3. Photo Maj. Carl Palmer, JFHQ-NJ/PA.

Marin to command PSDFirst Lieutenant Monica Marin receives the 250th Personal Ser-vices Detachment colors from 50th Personal Services BattalionCommander Lt. Col. Walter Alvarado, right, in ceremonies at JointForce Headquarters-New jersey on June 2. Photo by Maj. CarlPalmer, JFHQ-NJ/PA.

Top GunThe 112th Fires Battalion, 50th Brigade Combat Team (BCT)received a new commander on May 19. The ceremony held onthe Fort Dix ranges saw Lt. Col. Brian K. Scully, left, receive thebattalion’s colors as the incoming commander from Col. JorgeJ. Martinez, 50th BCT Commander, as outgoing commander Lt.Col. Henri R. Schepens, right, watches with Command Sgt.Maj. Thomas H. Slowinski, 50th BCT. Photo by Kryn P.Westhoven/DMAVA/PA.

Congressional Staff visits WingCongressional staffers peer inside an F-16C Fighting Falconduring the annual staff visit to the 177th Fighter Wing on June 1.Staff members visited the 108th Air Refueling Wing and NationalGuard Armories across the state. Photo by Maj. Thomas J. Dahl,177FW/CF.

G u a r d l i f e 24

You may be eligible for the NewJersey Distinguished ServiceMedal.

Soldiers and Airmen whoserved in time of war or nationalemergency and meet the follow-ing criteria may apply for the NewJersey Distinguished ServiceMedal:- Current New Jersey resident- New Jersey resident upon en-try on active duty- Received an honorable dis-charge- Served in a combat theater orwere officially listed as a pris-oner of war or missing in actionby the Department of Defense.

Guard members applying forthe award must forward a requestin writing along with a copy of DDForm 214 attesting to the fact

THE NEW JERSEY DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDALFrom Veterans Affairs, NJDMAVA; Photo by Tech. Sgt. Mark Olsen, NJDMAVA/PA

that an honorable discharge wasgranted and you were a New Jer-sey resident at the time of entryon active duty. Proof of servicein a combat theater, POW, or MIAstatus (which is listed on the DD-214) is also required.

Spouses, children, parentsand siblings of a deceased vet-eran who served in time of war ornational emergency and met thefollowing criteria may apply for aposthumous award of the NewJersey Distinguished ServiceMedal.

Note: In order to be eligiblefor the award of the DSM withSilver Oak Leaf Cluster, in addi-tion to the requirements detailedabove, a service member musthave received a military award ofnot less than the Air Medal.

Have you served in a war?If you served at least 14 days in a combat zone (see war

dates list), you are a citizen and resident of this state,honorably discharged or released under honorable condi-tions from active service in a wartime period, in any branchof the U.S. Armed Services, then you are eligible for the NewJersey Property Tax Exemption of $250.

Application filing with all the required documentationmust be done prior to Dec. 31 of the pre-tax year. Documen-tation includes the property deed and a copy of the veteran’sDD-214. The widow may need to submit the property deed,marriage certificate, death certificate and a copy of the DD-214.

For homeowners who belong to cooperative associa-tions, the procedure is different. The manager or superinten-dent must complete forms indicating the names and locationsof the veterans or spouses within the co-op to the taxassessor. The deduction is then granted to the co-op, the co-op is then responsible to either reduce the rent by $250 orpresent a check to the veteran or spouse.

War DatesVietnam: Dec 31,1960 – May 7, 1975Lebanon: Sep 26,1982 – Dec 1,1987*

Grenada: Oct 23, 1983 – Nov 21, 1983*Panama: Dec 20, 1989 – Jan 31, 1990*

Northern/Southern Watch:** Aug 27,1992 – Mar 17,2003*Persian Gulf:DS/DS: Aug 2, 1990 – Feb 28, 1991*

Somalia: Dec 5,1992 – March 31,1994*Bosnia: Nov 20, 1995 –June 20, 1998*

Operation Enduring Freedom: Sep 11, 2001 – ongoing*Operation Iraqi Freedom: Mar 19, 2003 – ongoing*

* Must have served at least 14 days in combat zone andreceived either the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Waron Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on TerrorismExpeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal or theIraq Campaign Medal.** Operations Northern Watch and Southern Watch havebeen added as qualified war periods for property tax benefits.Both operations refer to the missions that monitored theairspace above and below the 33rd parallel in Iraq.

You served – you save on taxesBy Tech. Sgt. Mark Olsen, NJDMAVA/PA

G u a r d l i f e 25

It has been said the only things certain in life are deathand taxes. Promotion can be added to that list of life’scertainties for Army Guard enlisted Soldiers in grades ofPrivate to Private First Class.

A printed example on how well centralizing the promotionlists for private to to specialist has worked in the first 90 dayscan be seen by the 429 names listed on pages 20 and 21 thathave sewn on new stripes.

“We just do a scrub asking if a Soldier good to go, do theymeet all the criteria,” said Sgt. Maj. Michael Zelenski as hetalked about how the lists generated by the G-1 PersonnelSection are reviewed monthly for the lower ranking enlisted.

The criteria Zelenski speaks of includes minimum time ingrade, time in service requirements, along with meeting theheight and weight, passing the APFT and drill attendance.After the list is generated, once a month Military PersonnelTechnicians and Readiness NCO’s review it to ensure thatevery Soldier listed for promotion is eligible.

“The most common complaint by enlisted Soldiers is the

500 promos in 90 daysBy Kryn P. Westhoven, NJDMAVA/PA

promotion system,” said Lt. Col. Robert Niedt, who assumedthe reins the G-1 section in the fall of 2006 with lower enlistedpromotions being one of the top priorities.

Part of the problem for what can be called ‘automatic’promotions in the lower ranks was due training for the unitReadiness NCOs. Until that training could get down to theunits, it was decided that the G-1 could handle lower gradepromotions.

“The bottom line is not that the G-1 did anything special,”added Niedt. “We worked as a team with the field units to figureout what was the best way to take care of a Soldier andpromote them so we can retain them.”

Niedt’s remarks that “It has been successful” are backedup by the numbers with 222 to promoted to Specialist, 98moving up to Private First Class and 109 making the move fromE1 to E2.

When you add the 78 other promotions from specialist andabove, you get a total of nearly 10 percent of the enlisted ArmyGuard personnel receiving larger drill checks every month.

Winning the title of Soldier or NCO of the year for yourbattalion is no small feat, and the soldier who does sotruly demonstrates their commitment to excellence.

But when two soldiers from the same battalion go on to winthe same title on a national level; perhaps the battalion itselfdeserves some of the credit.

That’s exactly what two New Jersey Army National GuardSoldiers did.

Staff Sgt. Daemion Clarke, and Spc. Carlos Arboleda,both from the 50th Finance Battalion, were named FinanceNCO and Soldier of the Year for the National Guard in January.

The 40-year-old Arboleda was excited and surprised to bethe best out of 50 states and four territories to say the least,sharing those feelings with his NCO teammate. “I feelhonored. I don’t think the magnitude of the award has reallysunk in yet,” said Clarke, a 28-year-old Lawrenceville taxaccountant.

To receive the award, both soldiers had to first prove thatthey were proficient not only in basic Soldier skills, but also intheir MOS. “One of the hardest things was finding all theinformation about the history of the Finance Corps andcommitting it to memory,” said Clarke.

Arboleda recognizes the importance of competition andthe efforts the unit made to get himself and Clarke ready. “Ithink it’s great that they (the battalion) started having this

Finance Soldiers chosen as best of bestPhoto and story by Spc. Bill Addison, 444MPAD

competition. It elevates the standards for the National Guard."Lt. Col Christopher Eads, Commander, 50th Finance

Battalion, was more than pleased.“These two soldiers symbolize what the Finance Battalion

is about.”

Staff Sgt. Daemion Clarke (left), and Spc. Carlos Arboleda (right),pose with Army Achievement Medals for winning the nationalcompetition.

New Jersey National Guar

G u a r d l i f e 26

Denise DiazRyan J. EdwardsGeorge H. HallNicola M.HarveyRussell Huth Jr.Thomas Jones

John C. LecreuxAllendre Lindor

Ehrl T. MacasadiaFabian MendozaKenneth A. MertzTony B. Musgrave

Michael J. RodriguezDaniel RzotkiewiczJose M. SantiagoWendy C. VarnerJohn A.Vasquez

Gary W. Ward

To Specialist (E-4):Sultan Abdulrauf

Frederick C. AblineGremier Alemany

Stephanie A. AlvarezFolashade O. Amusan

Boswell J.AnglinMichael E. F. AntonucciA Gregory J. Ppleyard

Carlos A. ArevaloClarence A. Avent

Kaili S. BarrettKindell Barrett

Jahad S. BatemonWalfrin Batista

Catherine D. BaylorJacob Benkovski

Tristan J. BennettAlfredo Berrios

Michael K. BettingerMitrah BhimdassMichael A. BoccioRobert J. Boehm

Israel BonillaRuell C. BrownRyan A. BrownAbreu Y. Caba

Patrick S. CalandrilloDacir Cardona Jr.

Bradford B. CarfaroNicholas C. Carrubba

Matthew A. CastroMario L. Centofanti

Byron L. Cerracchio Jr.Aysu CesmebasiLawrence ChangMeeli P. ChavdaMark A. Church

Raymond E. ChurchfieldNicole A. ClearyJaquise A. ClineAdam B. Collado

Warren L. Colwell Jr.Sade S.ConwayShaun J. CountsAlexis A. Cruz

Christian J. CruzMichael A. Cruz

Edward C. Dalbow IIMichael J. Daly

NEW JERSEY ARMY

NATIONAL GUARD

To First Sergeant(E-8):

Richard MarcanoStephen G. Noll

Alfred H. Roberts Jr.Harry N. Streets

To Master Sergeant (E-8):Matthew Krug

To Sergeant First Class (E-7):Larissa E. CarneyKatrese S. ClaytonWilliam J. Crawford

James J. CurranLevar E. CurryJorge A. DitrenSean P. Dupnak

John F. GrausamHezekiah E. GriffithsCurtis S. HellingsPriscilla L. KarcherAshish N. Karnik

Robert S. MorganJuan C. Perez

David D. PorterMichael J. Reeves

Paul J. Rein Jr.Jose J. Rivera

Anthony F. RobertsJohn R. Rospond

Christopher M. SchaeferMarc Stevens

Francisco A. ValdezJoseph S. ValentiAnthony J. Yezuita

To Staff Sergeant (E-6):Adrian AlvarezJesus Barrio

Richard A. BartonEmanuel Bonilla

Germaine D. BradleySamuel Caraballo Jr.Kimberly M. Crawford

Gary L. Custis Sr.Andrew J. Faucett

Mauricio GarciaamayaDewayne D. GreenWendy L. GuevaraCheaioo Mastroddi

Jimmy MoralesKevin R. Morse

Felipe Negron Jr.Lisandro Peralta

Carlos RiosLuis C. Rua

Shivanauth R. SookdeoGeorge W. Wood Jr.

To Sergeant (E-5):Scott W. Baur

Eric J. CudworthMarcin Czajka

Shereka L. DanzySimon D. Debran

Rembrandt L. DamianBrian F. Dardis

Joseph P. DefeliceRichard G. Derose

Puente J. DiazKesha S. Ellis

Felix Encarnacion Jr.Mary B. Ennis

Carl L. EnriquezNimrod Espinal

Miguel A. Estrada Jr.Charles O. Ferguson III

Jullien I. FernandezVictor L. FernandezChristopher P. FinnGregory T. Flynn

Ralph C. FoyDaniela FrometaVictor M. GarciaIan W. Gardner

Richard E. Garrison IIIAllison T. GaydoshAndres D. Godoy

Manuel J. Gomez IIIMeji G. L. Gomez

Carlos D. GonzalezDennis T. GonzalezJonathan GonzalezMario C. GonzalezMonica GonzalezRey A. GonzalezJohn J. GraingerGavel L. GrantVanessa Gross

Edwin R. GruszeckiMaria E. GuerraDiana P. Guzman

Christeon A. HallmcraeGilbert S. HandyJohn D. Hardy

Brian G. HarrisWilliam A. HawkinsRachael M. HenigCharis B. HerreraGarcia H. Herrera

Leonard B. HickmanMichael R. Huddy

Cecilia L. HuidobroMichael F. IssenmanCarlos A. JaramilloVictor M. Jimenez

Michael W. JohnsonAntonio Jones Jr.

David W. Jones Jr.Justin M. JonesSherley Joseph

Karla M. M. KatigbakSema H. Kokan

Adam K. KorsnesDominick S. Krajewski

Matthew W. KubeChriston R. LackieMatthew A. Lane

Christa L. LapinigNeil J. Larsen III

Jean P. LeEugene H. LeaoJoseph G. Leon

Steven M. LewisJames F. LinnusTimothy R. Long

Jarrett E. LongsworthKirk T. LovellMaria H. Luna

Richard MachadoMorris C. Macklin Jr.

Nicholas J. MaioTheresa M. Marchese

Jocelin MartinezMarlene Martinez

Lindsay M. MatuszewskiRobert C. McClintockPatrica A. McIntoshAndrew Melendez

Jose A. Mendez-PerezLeydi L. Mendoza

Param MistryTimothy S. Mohan

Joseph J. Monico IIIEfrain J. Morales

Jennifer M. MorganJulio A. Muniz

Augustin MuresanAntonio S. NarvaezDevon S. NelsonMarcin NierodzikJason N. Norman

Jason F. NorthedgeMarco ObandoMartin Obando

Stephanie OchoaVanessa OchoaJohn F. OchsGlenn E. OreyLuis S. Ortiz

Kori M. OshallDoug E. Paulus

P Angelo AwlovskiApril L. Peters

Christopher C. PetrilloDaniel P. Petrych

Ryan A. PikulMariusz R. Piotrowski

Zachary O. PittmanMendoza R. W. Poblete

Nathanel L. PutnamElvin Quirindongo Jr.

James T. Raczkowski IIIChristian J. Ramirez

Peter A. ReedDennis C. RegaladoWydell M. RegisterFrancis Repice Jr.

Harry A. RiveraWisley E. RiveroVincent A. Rizzo

Lucas K. H. RobinsonErika Rodriguez

Maximilliano A. RodriguezRegina L. Rogers

Randall R. RonchettiMax E. RosalesAngela M. RotioPreux D. Saint

Emmanuel SanchezGail S. Saquing

Schmidt William A. IIIHarry J. Schwartz

Terrill A. ScottLuis A. Simon

Ashley M. SobonNicholas J. SoperDavid C. Spence

Andrew J. SteffensRobert L. Stewart IIIMichael F. Stires Jr.Chauncy U. Stjulien

Alyssa R. StokesMichael J. Sullivan Jr.

Ahmad B. TabanaChristopher M.Tarasevich

Rodolfo D. Tejada Jr.Marc E. ThomasWantalex TilusAshley D. Tobin

Louis L. Tomassone Jr.Diana Torres

Eduardo A. TorresEric S.Urbanek Jr.Lech A. Urbanski

Cragg B. Utman IIV Alexis AsquezFernando Villa

Daniel O. VillamarGregory M. VillaniJonquil N. WeeksEarle A. West Jr.

Keith J. WhiteDeon J. Williams

Matthew P. WilliamsSharhonda M. Williams

Ryan G. WolfeJonathan T. Wood

Leonard G. Wright II

To Private First Class (E-3):Troy W. Aderholdt Jr.

Alex G. Almeida-TravezRapcelies F. Almonte

Carlos AlvarezCarlos A. ArchiPatricio Archila

Kennedy A. AsareBrian K. Atkinson

Christopher R. AtkinsonVictor A. Basinski

Jon W. BeagleJohn G. Bedoya

Jose L. Belaunde-CalderonDouglas K. Bennett

Michael G. BentRandal Bisset

Paul D. Boone Jr.Danon K. BrownDashan J. Brown

Derrick Buchanan Jr.Stacy A. BuxbaumNicholas ByanilleAdam J. Capes

Ki H. ChaStephen H. Cha

Michael H. CifelliSamuel Cintron Jr.

Jackelyn ColonRobert B. Creevy

Guard Enlisted Promotions

G u a r d l i f e 27

Stephen W. DavidEvan R. DickersonJoseph S. DoranMiguel A. Duque

Christopher D. FavazzaRicardo C. FrazierKevin J. Freeman

Timothy T. GadsdenDaniel J. GarciaShiomara GarciaFrank Gauthier Jr.Nancy GonzalezJames A. GravesSpeedy Guareno

Joel K. HahnRachel L. HammellJoseph D. HarangRaymond A. HastyDevon K. HooperWilliam M. JamesBryan D. JohnsonTimothy P. KeefeJohn W. Kelsey II

Frederick A. KennedyAlishia T. Kirby

Michael P. KlingRobert T. KnobleRodney R. Lee Jr.

Joel A. LopezVincent J. Maconi

Thomas R. MacphersonFelipe Malabe

Nicholas D. MarchiselloJames P. Martin Jr.Sulai L. MartinezJohn D. I. Mason

Nichole A. MitchumSaundra A. Montgomerey

Desire MoralesGreen N. M. Morrison

Yiesena E. NunezDominique D. Paynter

Jose A. PelegrinJennifer L. Peters

Shawn R. PickarskiJames B. Prall III

Jeffrey A. PronovichJose F. Ramos

Denneisha T. RhodenKimberly A. Richardson

Aziz W. Robinson-JohnsonJeffrey R. Rodriguez

Wilber RomanOscar A. Romero

Ocasio E. O. RosadoHector L. Sanchez IIMark W. Seibert Jr.William F. Shephard

Craig J. Smith

Keyana D. Somerset-TownsendDavid J. SpencerRandy St. Louis

Jason J. StolzenthalerSteven J. StoneDavid TeixeiraJonathan Tineo

William L. TwisdaleJames J. Urcinole II

Brian J. VaughnRalph A. Wood

Noel R.Zambrana

To Private (E-2):Miluska S. AlarconNinoska F. Alarcon

Ramon A. Alfonso-AyalaDarren W. Alvarez

Dwayne C. AndersonBrian H. AxelrodRudes E. Baez

Hollie K. BedfordGilbert J. Beriso

Ludner S. BernardTyrone A. BordleyJason E. Bradway

Michael C. BrewsterMaritza A. CabreraCindy M. Calcano

Joanann L. CaminneciJennifer L. Campos

John CandoStephen L. Carrington Jr.

Raymundo L. A. CastanedaRicardo A. Castro

Anthony J. CavallaroWinsome J. Cayanong

Brandon B. CorleyLouis Cosme

Matthew L. L. CowardCarthaniel Crum Jr.Tiffany Y. Cummings

Ryan M. CurlottWesley Delgado

Brandi E. N. DennisMatthew Dickinson IIIGlenn O. Dobbins Jr.

Samelin FenelusKeith W. FernandezDonald J. Finney Jr.

Jerette R. FrankRichard M. GeronimoCarlos H. GranadosNathan E. Green Jr.Adriana E. Guerrero

Robin M. HallShawnna C. HardinTyice L. Hollinshed

Christopher G. HowlanoDavid L. Inirio

Angel M. IrizarryJennifer J. JenningsVictor J. Jones Jr.Trout J. Kathcart

Rachael V. KennedyCristina M. LainezRichard A. Laird Jr.

Melissa S. LauEdwin J. LefebreBryan M. Leon

Rodriguez G. LopezWilliam E. Lopez

Reynier L. MartinezRoger D. MartinezKenneth L. Maze III

Andrew D. McConnellCaitlin J. McMahonEduardo MendezRaquel MendezEric A. MitanaDavid L. MollorMarvin MonroigAshley V. MosleyByron A. Neville

Quelcia OleaLazaro Osendi

Maria S. OuckamaJoubert PaciusJamal A. ParkerMark L. PatonBrian E. PawloAngel Perez

Patrick B. PerowskiErica I. Peterson

Michael D. RedrowAaron J. RemsonVincent M. Rivera

Alberto Rodriguez-OrtizAlex V. RogersOmar RomeroTyler B. Ruane

Christopher B.SammacicciEdward SantiagoEin N. Satterfield

Abdul ScottJoseph M. Scott

Cordarre L. SimmonsArthur R. Simpson Jr.

Derek A. SmithHeather N. Smith

Justin Z. SteinCornelius K. Stewart

Sergio L. SuarezOmar S. Tyler

Jose J. UrbaezPedro Urbano

Elmer S. ValdezRonald E. Vandemark III

Jimmy Vasquez

Jelitsa M. VelazquezDarnell R. WilliamsJoshua R. Wilson

David L. WollembergAdriano A. Yanez

NEW JERSEY AIR

NATIONAL GUARD

To Chief Master Sergeant (E-9):Michele L. Evans

Kenneth L. Haberberger

To Senior Master Sergeant(E-8):

Richard S. KilgoreRandall T. Mason

Jeffrey A. Stevenson

To Master Sergeant (E-7):Mark S. Best

Barrett M. CoxJill L. Kovak

Bobbie H. PangerBarry B. Steele

To Technical Sergeant (E-6):Anna C. AyarsKelly A. Banta

Marie L. PaggiDonna L. PughLateasha SassPaul A. Smith

Harry J. Steele

To Staff Sergeant (E-5):B Heather M. ArtlettThomas B. AtkinsonRobert L. Butler III

Eric T. CorryAndrew M. EberwineElizabeth V. Hamby

Raquelle M. HaygoodCharles S. May Jr.

David PabonDean J. Piper

Emily J. RigilanoLauren A. Scott

Gregory J. SieversWilson Torres Jr.Ashley L. Walker

To Senior Airman (E-4):Corey A. NicholsRobert J. Sheldon

To Airman First Class (E-3):Robert A. AgzigianZenia D.Arroliga

Julian C. CollinsNicholas Dicarlo

Erubeck E. FigueroaRoy J. Goderstad IV

Lucien A. HageJustin R. Hansen

Melissa HernandezMarita S. IverySarah A. JonesAvery A. Kahn

Christopher L. KrampitzGeorgette C.Kyriacou

Britani A. LeeBiju J. Maliel

Eduvijes PantaleonDemetrius ReyesMiguel A. Ruiz

Richard E. Wellins

To Airman Basic (E-2):David I. Brown

Roger BounthisaneJulianna FigueroaKaylynn D. Mclean

CongratulationsTo All!

Compiled by Master Sgt.Daniel J. Calderale (Army)

and Master Sgt.Paul B. Thompson, Jr. (Air).

CorrectionCorrection to the Janu-ary issue of Guardlife(Volume 32, Number 6).

On page 7, paragraph2, the second sentencerefers to the 102nd Re-connaissance, Surveil-lance, Target, Acquisition(RSTA) in error.

The correct unit desig-nation should refer toGovernor Jon S. Corzinehaving lunch with CTroop, 5th Squadron,117th Cavalry (RSTA),which is currently at-tached to the 1st Squad-ron, 167th Cavalry RSTAin Iraq.

State of New JerseyDepartment of Military and Veterans AffairsPO Box 340Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0340

PRSRT STDU.S. Postage

PaidPermit No. 514PALATINE, IL

LAST ROUND - FATHER HONOREDPhoto and story by Tech. Sgt. Mark Olsen, NJDMAVA/PA

Ryan Duffy hugs his mother Casey'shand after receiving the Army Com-bat Action Badge from Brig. Gen.Maria Falca-Dodson (second fromleft), the Deputy Adjutant General,while Maj. Gen. Glenn K. Rieth (left),The Adjutant General of New Jerseywatches during the Combat ActionBadge Award Ceremony held at JointForce Headquarters - New Jersey,Fort Dix on May 25. Ryan's father,Spc. Christopher M. Duffy along withStaff Sgts. Frank T. Carvill andHumberto F. Timoteo and Sgt. RyanE. Doltz, assigned to the 3rd Battal-ion, 112th Field Artillery, were killedin Iraq in 2004. The ceremony alsodedicated the Purple Heart Recipi-ent Honor Roll Plaque and the Hall ofRemembrance.

LAST ROUND - FATHER HONOREDPhoto and story by Tech. Sgt. Mark Olsen, NJDMAVA/PA