2022 Year in the Guard Commemorative Issue

GUARD 2022 386 TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION COMMEMORATIVE EDITION A YEAR IN THE

Always Ready, Always There.

HAPPY 386 TH BIRTHDAY

The history of the National Guard began Dec. 13, 1636, when the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony ordered the organization of militia companies into three regiments: The North, South and East Regiments. The first muster of the East Regiment took place in Salem, Massachusetts. The colonists adopted the English militia system which obligated all males, between the ages of 16 and 60, to possess arms and participate in the defense of the community. The militia drilled once a week and provided guard details each evening to sound the alarm in case of attack. The National Guard continues its historic mission of providing units for the first-line defense of the nation, and recently celebrated 386 years of proud service to the nation.

2021 COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE 385 YEARS OF SERVICE A YEAR IN THE GUARD 2022 COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE 386 YEARS OF SERVICE

CONTRIBUTING STAFF: LTC Antonio J. Barroso, Vice President USFAA MMC LTC Jeremy M. Serafin, USFAA MMC MAJ Ramon Ramos, Acting Secretary, USFAA MMC Shirley G. Artis, DAC ARNG NGB

DESIGN AND AD SALES BY:

Tel: 571-506-3086

CONTRIBUTING STAFF: Shirley G. Artis, CIV USA NGB MAJ Stephan Toussaint, ARNG NGB NGB Gala Planning Committee

TABLE OF CONTENTS

GEN Hokanson: Individual Readiness Priorities of Director, Air National Guard Priorities of Director, Army National Guard USFAA Minuteman Cannoneers Chapter Alabama Alaska Arizona

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Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Virgin Islands Washington West Virginia

Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Guam Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas

Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan

Wisconsin Wyoming Guard Highlights The National Guard Song

Minnesota Mississippi

GEN Hokanson: Individual Readiness Makes National Guard “Always Ready, Always There” By Army Master Sgt. Jim Greenhill, National Guard Bureau | AUG. 29, 2022

every level, from local first responders to your state partner counter- parts,” Hokanson said.

“And you can make a difference by looking out for each other,” he said. “None of us serve alone – and together we have shown we can accomplish almost anything.” The readiness of the entire force is also part of why those Kentucky and Montana Guardsmen could spring into action minutes after the no-notice call came.

“The skills we have honed to fight our nation’s wars also provide an invaluable service to our communities,” Hokanson said.

Glancing in the rearview mirror of the National Guard’s contributions around the world and right here at home over the last couple of years, Hokanson mostly focused his remarks on the road ahead. A member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the general took the Guard’s senior role in the summer of 2020, during the National Guard’s larg- est mobilization since World War II.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The physical and mental readiness of each Guard member enables the National Guard to keep its promise to America to stand Always Ready, Always There, the component’s most senior general officer said Sunday. “Your health and resilience – both physical and mental – is vital to readiness,” the chief of the National Guard Bureau told Guard leaders in remarks that also provided a road map for the way ahead. “It’s not just about the miles you run or the ways you manage stress, although both are very important.

Guardsmen were still in Afghanistan and responding to hurricanes, wildfires and civil unrest at home, and there was no COVID vaccine.

“On any given day, over 60,000 Guardsmen were serving our com- munities and nation, around the globe,” Hokanson said.

“It’s about being ready to step into your formation and do your job whenever the call comes.”

Today, Guardsmen are training members of Ukraine’s armed forces in Germany and providing materiel support. They continue to respond to persistent, record-breaking natural disasters. They helped evacu- ate and resettle Afghan refugees, saved lives in fires and floods, and vaccinated millions of Americans. “We still meet every mission,” he said. “We still meet every deploy- ment. We still uphold our promise to America. I’m inspired by the difference we’re making all around the world.” The National Guard Bureau, which Hokanson heads, exists to max- imize performance and accountability through its support to “the 54” – the states, territories and District of Columbia – which ensures Guard formations remain integral to America’s defense and the Joint Force.

Peak individual readiness is why members of the Kentucky National Guard’s 123rd Special Tactics Squadron could show up and prepare their gear within an hour of news of a July 28 deadly flash flood – assembling before even tasked. Orders in hand, the team was out the door in two hours. By truck, boat and helicopter, they rescued 19 people, contributed to the rescue of 40 others, and recovered four flood victims, helping give families closure. “You can make a difference by committing to your individual readi- ness – from maintaining physical and medical fitness, to your military occupation and education, to making sure your family is prepared when you have to respond on little to no warning,” Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson told Army and Air National Guardsmen gathered for the 144th General Conference of the National Guard Association of the United States. Individual readiness is also why Montana National Guardsmen could save 87 people after this summer’s 500-year-flood devastated areas around Yellowstone National Park. “You can make a difference by investing in your relationships every day – with your family, your employer, your fellow Soldiers and Airmen, and by developing your relationships with your partners at

Among initiatives Hokanson outlined: Healthcare

About 60,000 members of the 453,000-strong Army and Air National Guards do not have health insurance.

“This means many do not get the health care they need when they’re not in a duty status,” Hokanson said. “The National Guard is 20% of the Joint Force, and our nation cannot deter or fight and win our

wars without the National Guard. And lost readiness costs more than the price of health care.”

The Army and Air National Guard and the Air Guard’s space missions are now included in their services’ modernization programs. A road map is created to modernize all major weapons systems. Congressio- nal funding – in the form of National Guard and Reserve Equipment Appropriations, or NGREA – is now linked to America’s National Defense Strategy, service and combatant command priorities, and domestic operations requirements. “We must remain relentless in pursuing our goal of deployable, sus- tainable and interoperable equipment and force structure,” Hokanson said. “That will always be a vital priority. “We’ve proven the National Guard is an operational force – but that’s not enough,” he continued. “We must be an operational force that is modernized so we are fully interoperable with the Joint Force and our partners and allies.” Telework Where it makes sense, Hokanson has spearheaded a 10% telework initiative, allowing some of the NGB workforce to remain in home states and work remotely. The general cited improved state/NGB communication; retention of high-skill, high-talent team members; improved staff competitiveness for higher positions; an increase in the inclination of the 54 to share their best talent; family stability; and readiness gains as benefits. “Most of all, it brings us closer to being the agile, adaptable, integrat- ed force we need to be,” he said. State Partnership Program The Department of Defense National Guard State Partnership Pro- gram, or SPP, began in the Baltics in 1993. This security cooperation program aligned with combatant command priorities celebrates its 30th anniversary next year and now includes 45 percent of the world’s nations. “The 2022 National Defense Strategy is clear,” Hokanson said. “Mutual- ly beneficial alliances and partnerships are an enduring strength. They are critical for achieving our objectives – and we have been doing it for almost 30 years.”

Calling health care a strategic and moral imperative essential to readiness and vital to recruiting and retention, Hokanson said: “Our National Guardsmen need health care, regardless of duty status. We fight the same wars as our active-duty counterparts. We spend weeks, months, even years away from our families, like our active-duty counterparts. “We must provide health care for every single person who serves in uniform,” he added, “so they are always ready to fulfill our promise to America.” Childcare

The Army National Guard is piloting a drill weekend childcare pro- gram across six states starting in October.

“No one in uniform serves alone,” Hokanson said, “and when we prioritize people, that includes prioritizing our strongest supporters and our greatest advocates: our families.” Annual Training Guardsmen are required to complete the same mandatory training and briefings as active-duty troops, such as cyber, sexual harass- ment and assault prevention and suicide awareness. For the tra- ditional status members who comprise most of the force – troops who balance civilian careers with their military duties – increasing requirements compete for the critical time needed to sustain Sol- dier and Airmen skills. The NGB has worked with the 54 and the parent services – the Army and Air Force – to prioritize and consolidate mandatory training requirements into a single drill weekend, freeing up the rest of the year to maintain and sharpen military professional skills, boosting component readiness. Army: Eliminated 16 requirements. Reduced 38 administrative tasks. Army Guard now can complete all mandatory training in two days. Air Force: Gone are 15 requirements. Consolidated 16 courses. Evaluating mandatory tasks. Exploring initiatives to allow Airmen to “test out” of some.

The SPP is, he said, “one of the best, most valuable security coopera- tion programs in the world.”

“We’re making real progress,” Hokanson said, “and that … translates to readiness.

The NGB will issue country recommendations this summer to add 30 more countries to the 93-nation SPP over the next 10 to 15 years.

“Readiness begins with the individual,” he said, “but modernization begins as an enterprise.” Modernization “We work in a system of systems,” the CNGB said. “Our states, our parent services, the Joint Force, and our partnerships at every level. All of these elements affect modernization – personnel, equipment, training, processes, and more.”

“People, readiness, modernization and reform – they aren’t top-down priorities: they belong to all of us,” Hokanson said.

You can find Guardsmen in the heart of almost every American com- munity, he observed. And in the heart of the Joint Force, world events, and the human experience. “I am proud to share our stories and represent our Guardsmen,” Hokanson said. “Together, we have shown we can accomplish almost anything.”

Ready Forces, Partnerships, People, Policy, and Force Structure. By Author Lt. Gen. Michael A. Loh, National Guard Bureau

Priorities of Director, Air National Guard (ANG):

Our enduring priorities are Ready Forces, Partnerships, People, Policy, and Force Structure. These are the fundamental priorities of an ANG that is “Ready Today, Stronger Tomorrow.” The ANG is Operationalizing the National Defense Strategy to win in competition with nations that are constantly seeking advantage over the America. To operationalize the NDS and win in competition, the ANG is focused on three lines of effort: Recapitalize: The ANG seeks to assist the Total Force in divesting legacy platforms that do not scare China and recapital- ize in a way that supports the Joint Force and National Defense Strategy and maximally leverages the value of the ANG. Innovate: The ANG recognizes the need to unleash the inno- vative power of our greatest resource, our Airmen, and allow them to lead us into the future. We want to ensure each Airman sees themselves in the NDS and fully understands the Joint Force strategic approach. The ANG is also looking to lead the charge in new operational constructs such as Agile Combat Employ- ment (ACE). Engage: No organization inherently understands the value of relationships like the ANG. The relationships we maintain at the local, state, and national levels are vital to not only the ANG, but also national security. Our Airmen, their families, communities, partners, and congressional delegations are embedded in the fabric of America. These relationships will be crucial in our effort to recapitalize and modernize concurrently with the Total Force and answer the “why” we must opera- tionalize the NDS.

Lt. Gen. Michael A. Loh

Happy 386th Birthday, National Guard! We have come a long way since 1636, when the first militia regiments were organized in Mas- sachusetts. Since then, we have answered the call to arms, won our independence, triumphed in two World Wars, and saw the creation of our Air Force and Air National Guard. Throughout history, the Guard has done precisely what our National Defense Strategy now calls us to do today: defend the homeland, deter strategic attacks, deter aggression, and build a resilient Joint Force. Each time there has been a threat to our nation, the National Guard has risen to meet this challenge. We showed our resolve against the USSR in the Cold War and proved our mettle in fighting violent extremists over the past 20 years. Today, the 108,400 members of the Air Na- tional Guard provide: 27% of the Air Force fighter fleet, 50% of the mobility fleet, and 94% of the 24/7 air defense of the homeland. The threats to America and the free and open international world order we fought so hard to gain are unprecedented. The ANG is prioritizing our pacing challenge, the People’s Republic of China in the Indo-Pacific, and the acute challenge of Russia in Europe. To meet these unprecedented challenges, the ANG must be recapi- talized. The ANG retains the largest proportion of legacy fighters in the Total Force. Recapitalizing the fighter fleet will help the Joint Force achieve our National Defense Strategy objectives and make the ANG “Ready Today, Stronger Tomorrow.” The obstacles to deter and defeat our adversaries are not insur- mountable, but we must act now. China and Russia have been observing how we fight, building their forces to counter ours, and continuously looking for opportunities to challenge the free and open international order. America cannot afford to ignore exis- tential threats the free world and our democratic values face. War on the European continent in the 21st Century was unimaginable a few months ago. Russia’s invasion of the sovereign nation of Ukraine has shown that repressive and authoritarian regimes still present a credible danger in the world. China shares Russia’s ag- gressive and predatory instincts. There can be no doubt that China is determined to change the status quo in the Indo-Pacific and impose its will by force if necessary. China has repeatedly said this publicly, and their menacing of Taiwan is intended to demonstrate their resolve to overrule democracy with force. We must deter and, if necessary, defeat further Chinese and Russian aggression. The four priorities in our National Defense Strategy focus on doing so but require an enterprise-wide change to the Joint Force to meet

the pacing challenge. Modernization and recapitalization of the Joint Force is critical to our success in pushing back against author- itarianism and preserving the open international order we have worked so hard to gain. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall is working hard to modernize the Air Force to ensure it remains a credible strategic deterrent against the world’s biggest threats. A big part of Secretary Kendall’s modernization strategy is the divestiture of equipment that is not relevant to the pacing challenge of China. These divestitures enable resource shifts towards recapitalizing legacy platforms with advanced capabilities better tailored to the pacing threat. The ANG operates the lion’s share of the legacy fleet targeted for divest- ment. Unfortunately, at present, there is no plan for the concurrent recapitalization of many ANG legacy units. The lack of a concurrent recapitalization plan risks losing a sizable portion of the Joint Force’s experienced fighter pilots and maintainers; vital experience which is currently presenting a retention challenge to the Air Force. This could substantially decrease Joint Force Air Superiority capa- bility. To ensure the Joint Force can rely on having a modernized, ready, and available Air National Guard for strategic competition, we must be recapitalized with at least 36 F-35s or F-15EXs per year. The results of ANG recapitalization will ensure the preservation of critical Air Force fighter pilot experience and will ultimately reduce the operating costs of the Air Force fighter force structure, creating savings that can be reinvested in modernization. Modernization and recapitalization are not new concepts. Throughout our storied history of 386 years, the National Guard has embraced innovation and technology to combat strategic threats. The re-emergence of strategic competition presents tremendous challenges, risks, and dangers, but these have always attended the preservation of liberty. What better time than now to reflect on our past and look to the future on how our National Guard will contribute to the Joint Force for years to come. America’s success in strategic competition is achievable, and the solution is utilizing all aspects of our Total Force. Our National Guard has a vital role in this next fight – just as it has had in all the conflicts we have faced before, but it must be appropriately resourced and equipped to do so. America was victorious then and shall be victorious now, primarily due to the contribution of the National Guard. Go Guard!

Army National Guard Prepares for 2030 By Army Lt. Col. Rob Perino, National Guard Bureau | OCT. 17, 2022

DARNG’S PRIORITIES People Readiness Modernization Reform Partnerships

DARNG’S INITIATIVES #1: Posture the ARNG to Field MDO Capable Divisions #2: Transition the ARNG Staff and 54 S/T/DC from an Analog to a Digital Culture #3: Shape the ARNG of 2030 #4: Posture ARNG BCTs to Arrive at CTC Rotations at Higher Readiness Levels

them in other activities, and for many of those months, we were not even drilling as units. And so, I think it’s natural that with lost connec- tion, we lost the ability to recruit.” Army Maj. Gen. John Harris, adjutant general of the Ohio National Guard, agreed, adding that because the Army Guard has readiness centers in more than 2,400 communities, it’s in the best position to solve the recruiting problem. “We know the challenges of America,” said Harris. “I think we have an obligation, more than anyone else, to ensure our ranks are represen- tative of our communities.” Harris said the Army Guard must take a nuanced approach to under- standing all factors that contribute to an individual’s propensity to serve. “I just don’t accept that propensity to serve is decreasing,” said Harris. “We can’t think of this ‘propensity’ issue as a monolithic challenge that we can’t overcome. It’s very important that we dissect it and get after solving it.” Harris said he believes those factors include a decline in direct military ties in American families, stringent recruiting and vaccine requirements, and negative public perceptions about the risks of military service.

WASHINGTON – Army National Guard leaders held a discussion forum during the annual Association of the United States Army meeting in Washington to discuss how the Army Guard plans to attract new talent and modernize alongside the Army. The panel, led by Army National Guard Director Lt. Gen. Jon Jensen, examined recruiting and retention efforts, division alignment, adap- tation to digital culture, climate resiliency and how they affect overall modernization efforts. Recruiting constraints and adaptive strategies dominated the 90-minute discussion. The Army Guard fell short of its fiscal year 2022 recruiting goal by about 12,000 recruits, leaving the Army Guard more than 6,000 people below its authorized end strength of 336,000. “I am very confident that through the work and leadership of our ad- jutants general that we’re going to be able to turn this around very quickly,” said Jensen. “I’m a strong believer that recruiting is about connections.”

Jensen said the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the ability to make those connections.

“During the COVID years of 2020, 2021, we really lost connection with young men and young women across America,” he said. “We didn’t have access to them in high schools, we didn’t have access to

The Army Guard is innovating its communication platforms to accomplish that.

Harris touted the Army Guard’s 11% attrition rate for fiscal year 2022, which exceeded the goal to maintain attrition below 13%, as a positive sign that Soldiers are choosing to stay in uniform. Yet, he acknowledged the Army Guard’s biggest challenge is putting resources toward recruiting more enlisted members. “I’m not talking about just accession and retention bonuses,” said Harris. “While they provide a short-term fix, they do not fix the underlying conditions that are impacting our ability to recruit and retain talent.“

Brig. Gen. Stefanie Horvath, mobilization assistant director of oper- ations at U.S. Cyber Command, described a data-centric approach that distributes timely and relevant information to the networked division staff to use when planning operations. “We know that staffs have had to manage a high volume of data while executing major contingency operations and conducting mul- tidomain operations,” she said. “With data-centricity, division staffs no longer have to chase spreadsheets in the inbox or push data that’s not relevant because everyone is now using the same data source in a variety of views. This opens up staffs to conduct more analysis and do more division coordinating activities.”

And that impact must be addressed, he said, adding that long-term retention of Soldiers is important as it helps build cohesive teams.

“It is imperative that we build cohesive, disciplined teams that are fit to fight,” said Harris.

It also has applications off the battlefield, including helping Soldiers get paid on time.

Maj. Gen. Timothy Thombleson, commander of the 38th Infantry Division, Indiana Army National Guard, outlined how those teams are reorganizing and preparing for the future fight as part of Total Army modernization efforts. That includes a return to the division as the primary combat formation. “It’s a great time to be one of the Army National Guard division commanders as we re-establish the division across the nation as the unit of action and move away from a brigade-centric unit of counterinsurgency,” said Thombleson. “We’re bringing back division artillery and converting or fielding electronic warfare battalions. We’re bringing more staff functionality into space, cyber and elec- tronic warfare for multidomain operations.” This realignment will better enable the Army Guard to plan training and operations with subordinate units in different states, setting the conditions for large-scale operational readiness. It also means the Army Guard will modernize in a predictable and sustainable manner. Jensen explained that under the regionally aligned readiness and modernization plans, timelines are tailored to provide predictabil- ity and spread out the impacts of demanding implementation re- quirements on units, Soldiers and families as much as possible. He encouraged leaders to communicate modernization and life cycle schedules to keep Soldiers fully aware of their role in the process. “We have to be very careful of the perception that if my unit is not part of a modernization effort now, then I’m not relevant,” said Jensen. “We’re going to have a period of time where there’s tiered modernization – not tiered readiness – and I would say that’s the case across the Army. Our Soldiers ask for predictability to balance their obligations and ensure that they are ready to meet the mis- sion successfully.” Thombleson emphasized the Army Guard’s commitment to readi- ness through continued realistic battlefield training. That includes multiple Army Guard brigade rotations at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California, the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana, and the Army National Guard’s eXportable Combat Training Center program. He also stressed the need for interoperability and synchronized information across the force.

“Many states increased state active duty deployments for emergen- cy responses to COVID, civil unrest, hurricane relief and supporting wildfires, but there is not one good application that accurately reports all Soldiers’ performance,” said Horvath. “Data-centricity connects their performance of duties with the Defense Finance Accounting Service, to pay them for the active duty performed.”

Modernization, she said, drove “us to create something that didn’t exist before.”

Similarly, modernization also means the Army Guard is implement- ing projects aligned with Army climate strategy goals for installation resiliency and training for extreme weather conditions. “The Army Guard is adhering to the Army climate strategy by con- structing microgrid projects, incorporating alternate energy sources, transitioning to an all-electric non-tactical vehicle fleet, retrofitting our facilities to improve energy efficiency and savings,” said, Col. Anthony Hammett, the Army Guard’s chief of installations, environ- ment and energy. “As Secretary [of the Army Christine] Wormuth has stated, climate change isn’t a distant future; it’s a reality and must be addressed now. We in the Army National Guard are doing just that.” When asked what issue keeps him up at night, Jensen said he is most concerned about doing everything he can to make Army Guard life more predictable and sustainable for Soldiers, families and employers. “There’s always been friction between three pieces of a Reserve Component Soldier’s life,” said Jensen. “As leaders, we have to be mindful of the Soldier, their family, and their employer. Every unit counts, every Soldier counts and readiness counts. And it all starts with filling our formations.”

United States Field Artillery Association Minuteman Cannoneers Chapter

111 South George Mason Dr. Arlington, Virginia 22204-1382

The Minuteman Cannoneers Chapter fosters pride in the heritage of the Army National Guard. Our chapter was established on Feb. 23, 1996 sworn in by the United States Field Artillery Asso- ciation. Since the origination our Minuteman Cannoneers Chapter has been in good standing with our parent association. Over the years our chapter has been active chapter at the Herbert R. Temple Jr. Army National Guard Readiness Center holding Saint Barbara, the patron saint of the field artillery, events annually to present awards and recognize excellence in the field artillery and air defense artillery. We have sponsored various scholarship, staff rides, golfing events and even held the high honor of naming a conference room after our chapter. In 1998 our Minuteman Cannoneers chartered an award named after our chapter’s founder, retired Brig. Gen. William C. Bilo. The Brig. Gen. William C. Bilo Support Forward Award was estab- lished to recognize junior leaders for outstanding contributions to the Army National Guard ar- tillery community; field artillery, air defense artillery, or both. Over the past five years the chapter has hosted the National Guard Birthday gala celebration. Held each December, the event typically includes more than 800 attendees. If you have interest in joining our austere chapter please contact Antonio Barroso at antonio.j.barroso.mil@army.mil or Ramon Ramos at ramon.m.ramos3. mil@army.mil for more information.

The future is now. UH-72B Lakota is ready.

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ALABAMA Alabama National Guard Soldiers hydrate partner nations

ical equipment repairer for the 1208th. “Next, it goes into reverse osmosis, and then we add chlorine and other chemicals in order to get it ready to drink.”

The HIPPO must be filled to near capacity to safely transport the water to prevent the load shifting while traveling.

“Anyone that has delivered high loads of liquids knows these types of trucks cannot stop on a dime,” said O’Neal.

By Staff Sgt. Andrew Dickson 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Members of the 1208th planned to deliver one HIPPO a day, but they found the need was for double that. They also discovered one of the four tanks they brought to Belize was damaged during transport to the country. “Coming here, getting the equipment here, seeing the equipment do what it was made to do, and seeing the Soldiers get to do their job has been a great accomplishment for this unit,” said O’Neal. “It was tough getting here, to get the equipment set up and ready to work. But to actually see my Soldiers doing what they are trained to do and being very productive at it, it’s great to see.”

PRICE BARRACKS, Belize - Alabama Army National Guard Soldiers have been purifying and delivering potable water to service members participating in Operation Tradewinds 2022 in Belize in May. Sgt. 1st Class Veronica O’Neal and 16 other Soldiers from the 1208th Quartermaster Company used the tactical water purification system (TWPS) to deliver over 17,000 gallons of water in the first eight days to U.S. service members and partner nations across many training sites.

Once purified and tested, the Soldiers fill a 2,000-gallon load handling system compatible water tank rack (HIPPO) for delivery. The potable water is used for cooking, drinking and personal hygiene, especially at one of the more remote locations in the exercise. “This equipment, we have had it for years but never took it out of the state of Alabama or on annual training,” said O’Neal. “This is the first time our unit has done a mission with this particular equipment.” The Alabama Soldiers usually deploy a reverse osmosis water purifica- tion unit (ROWPU) system. The ROWPU can purify 3,000 gallons, while the TWPS can purify 1,500.

American Equity thanks the National Guard active personnel and veterans for their service, sacrifices and bravery.

The TWPS cleans water using several stages of purification; the first in- volves letting the drawn water sit in a large bag until sediments settle.

“We then pull water from the source and the water goes through screens and filters,” said Sgt. Shawn Phillips, a quartermaster and chem-

ALASKA Alaska Air National Guard helps rescue plane crash victims By David Bedard 176th Wing Public Affairs | MARCH 11, 2022 JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - Alaska Air National Guardsmen of the 176th Wing worked with Alaska State Troopers and the U.S. Coast Guard to rescue five victims of a March 5 crash of a Cessna 206 airplane at Lake Iliamna.

Both the HH-60G and HC-130J carried Guardian Angel pararescue- men, highly trained paramedics.

Poor weather initially prevented both services from reaching the area, but by early evening both helicopters arrived at the crash site. The Coast Guard MH-60 hoisted two of the crash victims, and the 210th RQS HH-60 landed on the ice, transporting three crash victims from the scene. The victims were evacuated to Iliamna and loaded onto the HC- 130J and civilian medical evacuation aircraft. The Combat King crew transported one injured victim to JBER and transferred the patient to an ambulance to be taken to a hospital.

Alaska State Troopers said all five occupants were receiving medical care at Anchorage area hospitals as of March 6, with one listed in serious condition, one fair and three stable. Alaska Air National Guard Lt. Col. Christen Brewer, AKRCC director, said interagency coordination was key for the complex rescue mis- sion. “This joint effort required extensive teamwork between the Alaska Air National Guard, the Alaska State Troopers, the Coast Guard, and good Samaritans on the ground,” she said. “With Alaska weather and distance, teamwork is crucial to ensure the best outcome of an unfortunate situation.” For this mission, 210th RQS, 211th RQS, 212th RQS, the Alaska State Troopers, Coast Guard District 17 and the AKRCC were credited with five saves.

The Alaska Rescue Coordination Center received an emergency loca- tor transmitter signal from the Cessna early in the afternoon showing the Cessna’s location on the lake’s ice 7 miles southwest of Iliamna and about 200 miles southwest of Anchorage. The Alaska State Troopers launched a King Salmon-based R44 helicopter to the area while local crews and privately owned aircraft from Iliamna attempted to access the crash site. A good Samaritan flying a Cub aircraft on skis located the Cessna 206 and landed at the crash site. He reported the five adult occupants were alive but had sustained serious injuries.

The Alaska Rescue Coordination Center requested assistance from the 176th Wing and from the Coast Guard at Air Station Kodiak.

At the request of and under the direction of the AKRCC, Alaska Air National Guardsmen of 210th, 211th and 212th Rescue Squadrons launched on a 210th RQS HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter and a 211th RQS HC-130J Combat King II from JBER. The Coast Guard launched an MH-60 Jayhawk from Kodiak.

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ARIZONA

Arizona Army Guard Team in Kosovo Conducts Evacuation Mission By Staff Sgt. Amouris Coss By Staff Sgt. Amouris Coss | OCT. 27, 2022 CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo – Arizona National Guard Soldiers as- signed to Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 149th Aviation Regiment, had a three-year journey leading up to their arrival in Kosovo. Just eight days after arriving, they received their first medevac mission as a unit. At approximately 10:15 p.m. Oct. 15, Kosovo Force’s Regional Command-East received a warning of a possible medevac mission brewing at their northernmost base, Camp Nothing Hill. A Soldier at the installation required evacuation for a higher level of care as soon as possible. The crew on duty, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Anderson, the pilot in command; Chief Warrant Officer 2 John Carey, the second pilot in command; Sgt. Jacob Anderson and Sgt. Jon Atcitty, both inflight paramedics, began preparing for the mission. “I think that being able to give the service members that are else- where throughout the country some peace of mind by them knowing that we’re only 20 minutes away is a huge boost to their confidence when doing their missions,” said Robert Anderson. When the team arrived at Camp Nothing Hill, they assessed the situation and knew the Soldier needed to get to a hospital as soon as possible. Jacob decided to take the Soldier to Spitali Amerikan Hospi-

tal in Pristina, Kosovo, a 20-minute trip. If the medic at Camp Nothing Hill had decided to drive the patient, it would have taken more than an hour and a half to reach the facility. “It was excellent to see all the pieces coming together and getting a lot of help from the medic on the ground,” said Jacob. “We’ve done it in training scenarios over and over, but it was pretty fulfilling to come together as a group and actually pull off the mission and take care of somebody.” For the paramedics, training extends for more than two years and adds several courses to the already challenging Army combat medic course. Pilots’ school typically takes two years to complete, with countless hours of add-on training once assigned to a unit. Carey had flown Boeing AH-64 Apache helicopters, so had to be trained on the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk. “It’s about a two-year pipeline because you have to go to paramedic school, critical care school, flight school, and then come home and go through progression training,” Jacob said. “It’s a little over two years to be fully mission capable as a flight paramedic. It’s a lot of work, and you have to be passionate about it and love it, but getting able to actu- ally get in the aircraft and do it was pretty fulfilling.”

The mission’s success was due to the crew of the aircraft and countless other Soldiers, all the way down to the maintenance crew and fuelers.

One of KFOR’s defining missions in Kosovo is to maintain a safe and se- cure environment. For the troops working in the region, it is important to have medical assets available to keep them safe. “It was super helpful (for) me to have somebody that did such a good initial job on the ground, and then being able to call us for transpor- tation really shows how working together like that is paramount to getting troops taken care of,” said Jacob.

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ARKANSAS

Arkansas Air Guardsmen Provide Medical Care in Guatemala

Continuing Promise 2022 began with the departure of the U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) from Miami to the U.S. Southern Command area of operations. The Comfort is visiting Guatemala, Honduras, Colombia, the Domini- can Republic and Haiti from October to December. During these mis- sion stops, medical teams work with partner nation medical personnel to provide care on board and at land-based medical sites. The goal is to increase medical readiness, strengthen partnerships, and enhance the capabilities of the U.S. Navy and partner nations to respond to public health disasters and humanitarian crises.

By Staff Sgt. Christopher Sherlock 188th Wing | OCT. 31, 2022

PUERTO BARRIOS, Guatemala – Arkansas Air National Guard members helped provide medical care in Guatemala alongside U.S. and foreign military, government and civilian personnel during the Continuing Promise 2022 mission Oct. 26-31. Senior Airman Tabari Matthews, 189th dental technician, assisted Canadian Army Capt. Cleve Kim, dentist, in planning treatment for 35 people Oct. 28. “It is a lot of fun talking to other military forces,” Kim said. “I get to know them and how they operate. It has been an interesting and memorable experience.” “It was a great learning experience,” Matthews said. “Capt. Kim was very precise, and it was interesting to work with him and the other dentists.”

Since 2007, Continuing Promise medical personnel have treated more than 582,000 people and conducted more than 7,000 surgeries.

The Guatemala mission was supported by U.S. military personnel from Joint Task Force-Bravo, U.S. State Department, U.S. Health and Human Services, U.S. Public Health Services, and the U.S. Agency for Interna- tional Development supported the mission. Also part of the team: non-federal entities and academic institutions and medical personnel from Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecua- dor, Honduras, The Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Continuing Promise 2022 encourages partnerships between nations, non-federal entities and international organizations. The mission uses the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program with Guatemala to support security cooperation, interoper- ability, and humanitarian assistance with expeditionary medical care while increasing readiness.

Kim also recognized some challenges that arise when working with foreign personnel.

“I have to convert the system for numbering teeth that I’m used to and use the American system,” said Kim. “So I slow down in order to make sure we are communicating clearly with one another.”

The Arkansas National Guard and Guatemala have been paired in the State Partnership Program for two decades.

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CALIFORNIA

By Maj. Orlandon Howard U.S. Army Combined Arms Center | DEC. 2, 2022 California Army Guard Trains with 3rd Infantry Division

FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kan. - The California Army National Guard’s 40th Infantry Division and the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division conducted warfighter exercises at Fort Stewart, Georgia, and Camp Atterbury, Indiana, supported by the Mission Command Training Program. The Nov. 5-14 exercises were part of an ongoing series of divi- sion-level exercises with regular Army active and reserve component elements training side by side to build proficiency and readiness to conduct multidomain operations in large-scale combat operations. Gen. James McConville, chief of staff of the Army, suggested the importance of the two components training together at a recent National Guard conference. “We [the regular Army] don’t go anywhere or do anything without the National Guard,” he said. “We cannot do what we do as an Army without the National Guard.” The 3rd and 40th Infantry Division elements simulated operating as adjacent divisions, charged with expelling an invasion force from an occupied allied country. The scenario allowed them to practice pacing offensive operations as adjacent units within their respective sectors to limit potential vulnerabilities on their flanks. They also worked on coordinating cross-boundary and deep-area support and sharing information to round out each element’s understanding of the situation.

functional and multifunctional brigades ahead of deployments.

The Colorado-based 4th Infantry Division headquarters and its sustainment brigade also completed warfighter exercises in October. They deploy to Europe in 2023, with the 3rd CAB aligned under their command and support in Europe. The 40th Infantry Division brought a unique perspective to the exercise. It has significant expertise in urban operations, having con- ducted real-world support missions in California in highly urbanized cities such as Los Angeles. It also leads an urban planners’ course and recently partnered with the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, Cali- fornia, to enhance the urban terrain it replicates in its training areas.

Their perspective gave them a keen sense of civilian considerations and led to a focus on precision targeting in their area of operations.

The exercise enabled them to train on complementary skills of facing a near-peer threat in less densely populated areas, akin to some oper- ations in Ukraine.

The exercise proved timely and operationally relevant.

The California National Guard, from which the 40th hails, has a state partnership with Ukraine.

It occurred amid the official announcement of the 3rd Infantry Divi- sion’s combat aviation brigade deployment to Europe as part of the Atlantic Resolve mission. Atlantic Resolve began in 2014 with the U.S. providing rotational de- ployments of combat-credible forces to Europe to show its commit- ment to NATO and strengthen interoperability, according to U.S. Army Europe and Africa sources.

The 3rd Infantry Division also had a connection to the conflict in Ukraine. One of its brigade combat teams deployed to Europe on short notice as soon as the invasion began. It supported Joint Task Force Dragon to assure NATO allies and partners in the region. “Soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Division regularly deploy to support com- batant commands all over the world, assisting our allies and partners in a wide range of environments and missions,” said Col. Pete Moon, 1st ABCT, 3rd Infantry Division commander.

The combat aviation brigade honed its ability to support division-lev- el operations in the exercise ahead of its deployment.

MCTP’s warfighter exercises are emerging as the Army’s go-to combat training center rotations for readying echelons above brigade and

The brigade had only recently returned from its deployment before the exercise began.

Connecticut Army Guard completes Black Hawk fleet conversion CONNECTICUT

The new helicopter has wider blades for more lift capacity, an au- to-pilot feature, a more rigid frame, more crash and electromagnetic protection, more vibration absorption in the seats, a rotor break, and fully digital displays and navigation. “Everyone loves [the new model],” said Maher. “The upgrades give us more situational awareness, reduce our workload, and allows us to complete more complex missions with less stress.” The upgrade is more than just a convenience. Since the conversion process began, the unit’s M-model craft have acquired no more than 100 total flight hours, compared to the more than 9,000 hours on the L-models. That reduces required maintenance, allowing the unit to keep more helicopters ready for missions. The old frames were transferred to other state National Guards and civilian organizations. The Theater Aviation Sustainment Mainte- nance Group in Groton also received one. The UH-60 Black Hawk has been the primary multi-mission rotary aircraft since Sikorsky developed it in 1978. The new helicopter was constructed at the Sikorsky plant in Stratford, Connecticut, and outfitted with additional modifications at the U.S. Army Communi- cations-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center Flight Activity at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

By Timothy Koster Connecticut Army National Guard Public Affairs Office | MAY 2, 2022

FWINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. – Soldiers from the Connecticut Army National Guard’s Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 142nd Aviation Regiment, retrieved a new UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, and delivered it to the Army Aviation Support Facility in Windsor Locks April 28.

This new airframe completes the conversion of the unit’s five heli- copters from the legacy L- model to the most modern M-model.

Army Capt. Andrew Maher, commander of Charlie Company, said most new aviators come out of the schoolhouse trained on this new M-model, so converting the fleet creates a seamless transition from training to operational environments. While the Army’s newest helicopter pilots come out of training well- versed on the M-model aircraft, the legacy pilots had a big learning curve. To become more familiar with the new airframe, the L-models pilots attend a five-week training course and maintain their certifica- tions with at least 96 hours of flight training every year, including 18 in a flight simulator.

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