GUARD A YEAR IN THE
2023 387 TH NATIONAL GUARD BIRTHDAY GALA
CELEBRATING LEGACY: LINKING THE PAST, THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE
Always Ready, Always There.
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HAPPY 387 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 387 years of proud service to the nation.
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A YEAR IN THE GUARD 2023 COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE 387 YEARS OF SERVICE
CONTRIBUTING STAFF: BG (Ret) Timothy Wojtecki, President, USFAA MMC LTC Antonio J. Barroso, Vice President USFAA MMC Ms. Shirley G. Artis, ARNG NGB, USFAA MMC LTC Stephan Toussaint, ARNG NGB MSG Taylor Chase, NGB T-10 EANGUS Chapter MSG Sylvia Bastian, ARNG NGB
DESIGN AND AD SALES BY:
Tel: 571-516-3086
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
GEN Hokanson: ‘We serve for the future’ Lt. Gen. Jensen: ANG better than ever Lt. Gen. Michael A. Loh: Defend, Deter, Dominate 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
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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 The National Guard Song
Minnesota Mississippi
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“They didn’t drive by or call and wait for help to arrive,” Hokanson said. “They took action. Because of their call to serve and their drive to make a difference, those New York Guardsmen kept their promise to be Always Ready, Always There. “When faced with a crisis, some people freeze, unsure of what to do. Some people flee, running away from danger. But some people fight back — and a rare, special few fight for the lives of others. That’s what being a Guardsman is all about.” Hokanson listed priorities for taking care of Guardsmen, including continued efforts to provide no-fee health care across the force. An operational planning team is addressing the complexity of no-fee health care and finding ways to address the access and continuity of care challenges unique to the National Guard. Where it makes sense, Hokanson also encourages telework. The National Guard Bureau Telework and Remote Work Pro- gram was established in May. “The program is designed to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of our workforce, both military and civilian,” he said. “Not only is it a tool for operational readiness, it helps us support, recruit and retain a resilient and productive workforce [and] gives our people both opportunity and flexibility.” And a pilot program for drill weekend childcare for Army Na- tional Guard members that Hokanson announced last year has expanded from six to 15 states. Initiatives like no-fee health care and drill weekend childcare are more complex and challenging to implement than they might seem: There are nationwide childcare shortages. Pro- viders are reluctant to deliver childcare on weekends, citing insufficient staffing and reimbursement rates. Nevertheless, the quest continues.
rotations for Guardsmen; and formations that look the same and are interoperable.
On the Air Guard side, Hokanson said there is progress in fighter recapitalization efforts, with the goal of maintaining the Guard’s 25 fighter squadrons. With almost 30 percent of the Space Force’s operational read- iness residing in the National Guard, “It is imperative we align our Air Guard space assets to ensure they remain manned, trained, equipped and modernized in line with Space Force standards and Space Command priorities.”
Last month, the 100-nation State Partnership Program cele- brated its 30th anniversary.
“Our impact does not stop at our borders,” Hokanson said. “We serve for the world and to preserve the free, open, rules-based international order. We are in an era of strategic competition — and the competition is fierce. “The State Partnership Program remains the most success- ful and valuable security cooperation program in the entire defense enterprise. We’re interested in expanding the pro- gram in the years ahead, and we’re finding other nations are interested as well.”
National Guard Chief Hokanson: ‘We serve for the future’ By Master Sgt. Jim Greenhill, National Guard Bureau | AUG. 23, 2023
The National Guard protects the homeland, builds enduring partnerships, and fights our nation’s wars.
“It’s our success in the homeland that creates the most dra- matic pictures and the most indelible impressions,” Hokan- son said. “It’s why for so many people the National Guard is synonymous with disaster response.
RENO, Nev. – For years, the National Guard’s most senior gen- eral has urged Guardsmen to tell our story; last week, he also stressed explaining why we do what we do. “We serve for the future, for global stability, for the continu- ation of the American experiment,” Army Gen. Daniel Hokan- son told attendees at the 145th General Conference of the National Guard Association of the United States on Aug. 19. “These are not self-executing endeavors. They are not given; they are not granted. They are earned, and they are earned anew by every generation of American service members.” The 29th chief of the National Guard Bureau listed recent examples of how Guard members have served at home and overseas: Almost 7.5 million personnel days supporting our combatant commands at home and around the world last year. 8,500 people rescued from disasters. Four more nations added to the Department of Defense Na- tional Guard State Partnership Program.
The Guard, Hokanson said, is a local force with global reach.
“But let’s zoom out and get a different perspective.
“We serve because there is a calling inside each of us to make a difference,” he said. “We seek challenges, wanting to learn more, do more, and be more. We are driven by an innate internal force to do something good — the 1% who bears the weight of our national and global security and defends the international rules-based order. “The rare drive that leads us to take an oath to the Constitu- tion is the same drive that propels us into action — both in and out of uniform.” One example among many: On May 20, seven New York Guardsmen en route to a training exercise came upon two people trapped in a car after a crash. The team drew on mili- tary training and civilian-acquired skills to cut airbags, free the injured, and stabilize them until an ambulance arrived.
“Because, if the question is why we serve, we cannot forget our primary purpose: We exist to fight and win our nation’s wars.
“We prioritize childcare because our National Guard families matter,” Hokanson said. “They are another reason we serve.”
“Why we serve is to serve our nation.”
On the Army Guard side, Hokanson said that after three years of work with the Army, division commands, and the adjutants general, the Guard has reached full operating capability for division alignment. Advantages include greater training consistency; increased cooperation between the active and reserve components; better integration with the regular Army’s divisions and the Joint Force; more predictable training and deployment
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and thousands more activated domestically in support of federal and state missions.
Command Sgt. Maj. John Raines, the senior enlisted leader of the Army National Guard, said without the tough and realistic training the Guard conducts annually, the Army Guard would not be as strong and ready as it is today. “When our forces go to combat training center rotations, we must take advantage of those events,” Raines said. “Our units that go there is just one example of how we build genera- tional readiness. We’re about trying to be better and make sure that the leaders that replace us are falling into better formations than we fell into years ago.”
And Jensen doesn’t expect the need for the Army Guard involvement to decrease anytime soon.
“The demands on the Army Guard are not going down,” Jensen said. “I really deeply appreciate the traditional Guardsmen who continue to serve their communities and this nation while they are balancing full-time careers, as well as their family and everything else that you all are doing. “What we ask you to do today is significantly different than was what asked of me when I joined,” he said. “I’m so proud to serve with you.” As the Army’s integrated reserve, the Army Guard must con- tinue to be ready to serve at a moment’s notice, according to Jensen.
The Army Guard is good at training and building readiness, but also at winning, said Raines.
Raines excited the crowd on the final day of the conference when he listed many of the accomplishments the Army Na- tional Guard achieved in the past year. Since the NGAUS general conference in 2022, teams from the Army National Guard have: - Won the 2023 Army’s Best Sniper Competition - Won the 2023 Army’s Gainey Cup Best Scout Squad Competition - Won the 2023 Army Forces Command Best Squad Competition As Jensen’s final NGAUS conference as the director of the Army Guard concluded, he had one message to leave with the attending Soldiers and leaders. “When we give you a mission, you accomplish the mission. And that’s a testament to you as a professional but also to your families and your employers,” Jensen said. “It has been my honor to serve with you these last few years. … It’s been the privilege of a lifetime to stand up here, represent you,
Jensen isn’t the only Army senior leader to emphasize the readiness and relevance of the Army Guard.
Gen. Randy George, the Army’s vice chief of staff and nominee to become the next chief of staff, also spoke at the conference and reiterated how impressed he is with the Army Guard, which makes up roughly 40 percent of the Total Army. “Our Army is the global Army. And we’re going to have to be ready to go wherever we’re going to go,” George said. “And wherever we go, it’s going to be a multi-compo(nent) solution. … The Army is as busy as ever, and the Guard is as busy as ever.” To be able to support the Total Army and respond whenever and wherever, the Army Guard needs to continue to build generational readiness and be an integrated reserve, Jensen said. “Every operation that the Army is doing across the entire globe, we are either directly involved in or supporting it in a way. We are integrated in everything that the Army does,” Jensen said. “The Army can’t do what our nation is asking it to do without an integrated reserve.” To build the readiness needed, Jensen told conference at- tendees the preparation and training completed annually by the Army Guard is paramount to success.
Lt. Gen. Jensen: Army National Guard better than ever
By Capt. James Mason, National Guard Bureau | AUG. 28, 2023
pany grade officers at the annual National Guard Association of the United States general conference Aug. 18-21. “This is the best the Army Guard has ever been, and it’s, quite frankly, because of your leadership and what you’re doing to keep moving us forward.” Jensen, who just began his fourth year as the director, has led the more than 300,000 members of the Army Guard through unprecedented times over the past three years. He took a moment at the 145th annual conference to reflect on these challenges and opportunities. Since Jensen assumed responsibility as the director in August 2020, he has overseen tens of thousands of Soldiers deployed overseas in support of combat and peacekeeping operations
RENO, Nev. – Lt. Gen. Jon Jensen, the 22nd director of the Army National Guard, says the Army Guard is the best it’s ever been. Jensen, who has commanded at the company, battalion, bri- gade and division levels since commissioning as an infantry officer in 1989, told National Guard members from the 54 states, territories, and the District of Columbia that the Army Guard today is “so much better” than it was when he joined. “Your talent, your experience, your abilities, everything that you bring to the table, is head and shoulders above the Army Guard that I joined in 1982,” Jensen told a room full of com-
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Defend, Deter, Dominate By Lt Col Amber Schatz and Maj Lauryn Thomas, National Guard Bureau | NOV. 21, 2023
Right now, ANG Airmen are deployed to every geo- graphic Combatant Command around the world. Guardsmen are also sitting ACA alert, manning the NCR-IADS, watching the skies over North Ameri- ca and its approaches at the Air Defense Sectors, conducting DCGS Operations, Cyber Command Support, Targeting, operating RPAs, supporting USTRANSCOM mission requirements, and manning Civil Support Teams. Of the 90 ANG wings, 32 are currently serving on Title 10 employ-in-place orders.
All this outstanding transformational work does put a strain on our Airmen as change can be difficult. This is the driving factor behind recent investments in the First Ser- geant corps. First Sergeants provide leadership, guidance, and support to the force and are integral in the overall readiness to defend, deter, and dominate. The ANG will be the lead component to resource First Sergeant positions at all squadron levels increasing our First Sergeant end strength by 160. These additional First Sergeants will pro- vide States and Territories the ability to enhance welfare and well-being of our most important weapon system… people.
25 nations conducted 1,826 total sorties totaling 5,655.9 flight hours with 4.3 million pounds of cargo transported and 3.4 million pounds fuel offloaded by tankers. This was a tremendous collaboration with our allies and partners that sent a strong message about the ANG’s ability to move forces around the globe quickly, efficiently, and safely. When the ANG comes together to deploy, we are un- touchable. We demonstrate strength and energy, not just in a local exercise or Inspection, but on a global scale. In support of Air Defender, we opened air bridges and moved a tremendous amount of airpower to EUCOM almost over- night. Immediately following the conclusion of Air Defend- er, we moved into supporting Exercise Mobility Guardian. C-17s from the New York ANG transported Kentucky’s 123rd Contingency Response Group from Europe to the Indo Pacific, bringing air power around the globe in mere days. This sent another clear message to adversaries displaying global reach readiness while simultaneously promoting security, stability, and peace around the world. This is as a clear example of how the ANG operationalizes the National Defense priorities of Campaigning and Integrated Deter- rence while assuring allies and strengthening our competi- tive advantage. Of the nearly 3,000 ANG members that deployed in Air Defender and Mobility Guardian 85% were enlisted aircrew, maintainers, and support personnel. The enlisted force is truly the backbone of our service. This exercise was also a great example of how we are transforming the enlisted force. It provided the opportunity to evaluate the multi-ca- pable mindset in austere locations and environments; the lessons learned will help us become a more effective, adapt- able, and successful force. We are also stepping up enlisted roles in Integrated Deterrence by driving a Multi-Capable Airman mindset within SOUTHCOM mission requirements. The ANG continues to set the pace by working seamlessly across all combatant commander domains, joint force allied partners, and policy makers.
The 108,400 Air National Guard members are Always Ready, Always There, and Always on Mission!
We provide 30% of the combat power of the greatest Air Force on the planet. Our wings provide 27% of the fighter fleet, 38% of the mobility fleet, and source 44% of the Air Force’s combat taskings in 2022, and on track for 47% in 2023. There is no doubt the ANG is America’s fight tonight force, accessible, and combat ready. Go Guard!
The Air National Guard is a critical component of the Joint Force delivering combat capability every day while bear- ing the weight of securing our Nation. Carrying out these responsibilities wouldn’t be possible without outstanding Airmen. Our command teams have been busy supporting the overall force, while prioritizing the implementation of our National Defense Strategy. One of the ANG’s major accomplishments this year was our participation in Air Defender 2023, the single largest air exercise in the history of NATO. Partnering with the German Luftwaffe and 24 allied nations, the ANG conducted the larg- est collective training event and large-scale readiness exer- cise in NATO’s history. This historic exercise hosted 235 total aircraft, 110 of which were from the ANG. 50 ANG units and more than 2.6K ANG members deployed in total with many supporting from home station. Over a two-week period, the
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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.
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ALABAMA
Alabama Air Guard red tails conducts communication exercise
By Billy Blankenship 187th Fighter Wing | SEPT. 11, 2023
As an Agile Combat Employment enabler, communications in an austere environment have become increasingly important. With a growing theatre and consistently changing technology, ensuring legacy and new systems and joint service systems can commu- nicate is one of the more critical factors of operability moving forward. “Generating combat airpower takes a lot of coordination and communication,” said Maj. Stephen Sides, the 226th Comb at Com- munications Group’s section chief of plans and programs. “Bringing everyone together and ensuring we can use all of our equipment with fluidity between the units and get quality training reps at the individual units provided realism and assured we can all do ACE as intended. This is a good test because of how separated we all were during the exercise. The 226th serves as one of two Air National Guard Combat Com- munications Groups nationwide, amounting to almost 60% of the Air Force’s tactical communications capability.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. –The 187th Fighter Wing’s 226th Combat Com- munications Group conducted Exercise Copperhead Beacon 2023 throughout the east coast Sept. 8-10. Exercise Copperhead Beacon 2023 was an expeditionary com- munications east coast group exercise built with the objective of increased coordination and relationships between disparate Air Na- tional Guard Combat Communications Squadrons, Joint Communi- cations Support Squadrons, a Special Operations Communications Squadron, and higher level ACCC and command entities. “We have to prepare for the real thing,” said Master Sgt. Caelen Love, one of the 226th Communications Group’s ACCC team leads. “The exercise allows us to figure out what we need to work on to be bet- ter at our job, to document our processes to ensure all Airmen know what to do, and to ensure that we are always ready.” Copperhead Beacon tested communications pathways and efforts across the eastern U.S. for synchronization while allowing each participating unit to train and exercise at their respective home stations. Participating units included members throughout the East Coast, Puerto Rico, and naval assets at sea.
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ALASKA Alaska Air Guard Demonstrates ACE Readiness By Senior Master Sgt. Julie Avey 168th Wing Public Affairs | APRIL 17, 2023 JVOLK FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Wis. – Multiple teams from the Alaska National Guard’s 168th Wing demonstrated the Air Force’s priority of Agile Combat Employment during a flyaway readiness exercise April 1-7. The ACE concept utilizes multicapable Airmen to maintain, refuel and recover aircraft and ensure they are ready to deploy rapidly. The 168th Wing employed multicapable Airmen as part of its KC-135
As operations were underway, multicapable Airmen launched, re- covered, refueled and relaunched the tankers, rapidly turning them with multiple sorties to meet up and refuel fighters. “Both Staff Sgt. Kalib Dunlap from the R&R shop and Tech. Sgt. Kara Goodness-Tisland from the inspection shop were crew chiefs out on the line for this exercise,” said Tech Sgt. Cody Albert. “They are fo- cused primarily on inspections and systems of the aircraft when at home station. They were both incredible while off-station. Kara and Kalib have both been deployed before, but the tempo of accom- plishing this exercise was at a whole new level. Without them, we wouldn’t have been as successful as we were.” Multiple refueling operations were accomplished from locations across the United States, tied back to Volk and the home station in Alaska.
Participants faced challenges for realistic situations units would
face in future conflicts, such as communications and equipment issues while operating out of airfields with limited or no ground support. Aircrews worked with maintenance and fuel teams to conduct hot pit refueling — refueling immediately after landing, with engines running, to reduce turnaround times and generate more combat air power.
Stratotanker operations, increasing survivability while generating combat air power.
“This exercise allowed us to practice several of the conceptual methods in which we may be asked to deploy and fight in the future,” said Lt. Col. Matthew McClurg, 168th Aircraft Maintenance commander. “We were able to cross-utilize AFSCs, particularly in maintenance, to broaden our capabilities with fewer people and with a smaller footprint toward the aircraft sortie generation effort.” Four KC-135 Stratotankers from the Alaska Air National Guard 168th Wing and one C-17 Globemaster from Alaska’s 176th Wing departed Eielson Air Force Base Alaska with just over 100 Airmen and minimal equipment needed to conduct air refueling in an austere environment. The 168th Wing set up operations at Volk Field, Wisconsin, coor- dinating hangar and ramp space to simulate the challenges of an austere environment. The team had to become familiar with the installation and the limited resources available.
Upon arriving at Volk Field, the teams quickly set up operations with limited personnel to sustain operations.
“For maintenance teams, the MCA program enables more efficient operations while operating on the road, away from home station,” said Master Sgt. David Fant, 168th Wing crew chief. “The ability to step outside of our primary AFSC, learn more about the aircraft, and correctly identify and troubleshoot maintenance issues drastically reduces aircraft downtime by reducing our reliance on sending main- tenance recovery teams out to recover aircraft.” Maintenance back shop Airmen took to the flight line generating aircraft to send off for refueling. Communications Airmen conducted cybersecurity.
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ARIZONA
ARKANSAS
Arizona Guard, Oman Partner in state partnership program By Capt. Erin Hannigan Arizona National Guard Public Affairs | MARCH 13, 2023
“The state of Arizona is grateful for the Omani hospitality and the privilege to work with the Sultan’s Armed Forces,” said Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs. “This partnership is grounded in our Arizona National Guard military relationship but expands to other sectors of the government, bringing valuable interoperability opportunities for both countries.” The SPP program delivers a significant return on investment by broadening the pool of security partners willing and able to support defense and security cooperation objectives around the world. The partnership will also enable Arizona National Guard members to build trusting, long-lasting relationships by training and learning alongside the Sultan of Oman’s Armed Forces. “The official signing ceremony of the State Partnership Program to- day culminates the efforts of both countries’ leaderships to enhance the long-existing bilateral cooperation and the strategic partnership between the brotherly countries of the Sultanate of Oman and the USA,” said Vice Admiral Abdullah bin Khamis Al-Raisi, chief of staff of the Sultan’s Armed Forces. ”It reaffirms the importance of strength- ening the joint military and security efforts to reinforce common strategic and national interests of both friendly countries and paves the way for more cooperation in the field of joint defense and securi- ty in pursuance of common interests and objectives.” Since the State Partnership Program began in 1993, with Arizona being one of the first participants with Kazakhstan, it has grown to 100 partner nations.
39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team to work with Ukrainian forces
“This mission is vital to help deter aggression in Europe,” said Maj. Gen. Jonathan Stubbs, Arkansas’ adjutant general. “These Arkan- sans will execute their mission with great professionalism and will no doubt have a strategic impact on the outcome of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. They are well led, well trained, and they will make Arkansas proud.” JMTG-U is a rotational mobilization under the operational com- mand authority of U.S. European Command, U.S. Army Europe and Africa, and 7th Army Training Command. “We are eager and privileged to contribute to the Ukrainian armed forces’ capability,” said Col. Chad Bridges, 39th IBCT commander. “Our Soldiers are committed to doing all they can to make max- imum impact to this important mission. Additionally, we thank our families and employers. We are grateful for their sacrifice and support that enables us to serve our nation during this critical time.”
MUSCAT, Oman - The Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs, Arizona National Guard, and the Sultanate of Oman’s Ministry of Defense signed a State Partnership Program agreement March 13, becoming partners in the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau program. “This is a unique and exciting time for the state of Arizona and the Arizona National Guard,” said Maj. Gen. Kerry Muehlenbeck, Arizona National Guard adjutant general and director of the Department of Emergency and Military Affairs.
By John Oldham Arkansas National Guard Public Affairs Office | APRIL 6, 2023
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - More than 160 Guardsmen from the Arkansas National Guard‘s 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team headquarters departed April 4 for mobilization training at Fort Bliss, Texas, before deploying to Germany for a year-long mission to work with members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Members of the 39th IBCT will assume command of the Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine at Grafenwoehr, replacing the New York Guard‘s 27th ICBT. They will mentor and advise Ukrainian troops to enable combat training center capability and capacity to help the Ukrainians defend their country from Russia’s unprovoked aggression.
Muehlenbeck noted that Arizona has been partners with the Repub- lic of Kazakhstan since the SPP program began 30 years ago.
“With today’s signing, Arizona now also welcomes the newest state partnership with the Sultanate of Oman,“ Muehlenbeck said.
The signing ceremony, held in the capital city of Oman, signifies the forging of an enduring partnership that will bolster capabilities, improve interoperability, and enhance principles of responsible governance.
A reciprocal visit between Arizona and Oman is planned in May.
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CALIFORNIA
California Army Guard trains with 3rd Infantry Division
By Sgt. 1st Class Kimberly Hill 69th Public Affairs Detachment | JUNE 23, 2023
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The quiet room is a far cry from what most would imagine a military warfare exercise looks like. The only sounds are low voices, the hum of computers and keyboards clacking. Airmen and Soldiers stare intently at their screens, blue glow lighting up their faces as their eyes move over streams of information. These quiet rooms are where service members from all over the West Coast are training to face one of the most ominous threats on the battlefield — the cyber threat. From hackings of utility and public entities to the disruption of infrastructure and services before military conflict, cyber and electronic warfare is increasingly the first strike in sowing chaos and disinformation. “Our aim is to train incident responders in FEMA Region IX so that in the state of California, if there are any cyber security incidents, we can respond,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Mikael Magnuson, the cy- ber network defense chief with the California Military Department. Service members with the California Military Department partici- pated in Cyber Dawn, an annual regional, multi agency exercise at Okinawa Armory, Sacramento, June 3-17. National Guard units, like California’s Joint Cyber Team, are increas- ingly used on a state and federal level to help combat these at- tacks. Magnuson said training exercises like Cyber Dawn are crucial to developing cyber warfare protocols and best practices. “It’s not very often that these teams with their units get to really put their skills to the test like this. It also keeps us ready to respond,” said U.S. Marine Cpl. Gabriel Justinich, a cyber warfare operator with the 6th Communications Battalion. The exercise included members of the California National Guard’s 144th Fighter Wing, the 195th Wing, CMD’s Joint Task Force Cyber, the Hawaii and Arizona National Guard, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Cyberspace Command, U.S. Coast Guard’s 1790 Cyber Protection Team and the U.S. Air Force’s 48th Intelligence Support Squadron.
Service members spent the first week of the training exercise train- ing on individual skills. In the second week, they divided into teams pitted against each other. Blue team members worked to identify and assess threats to the networks they were assigned to protect. Local and state agencies, including the City of Roseville, California Franchise Tax Board, Cal- ifornia Highway Patrol and the town of Truckee, were the network operators.
While the blue team was busy defending, the opposing red team attacked the blue team’s networks.
For those new to the field, the exercise was a difficult but rewarding opportunity to practice their skills.
“As I kept asking questions and bringing it back to my laptop and trying to push it through, it helped me a lot, and it made me want to come back to Cyber Dawn next year,” said U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Ranessa Spencer, a cyber systems operator journeyman with the 222nd Information Support Squadron, 195th Wing. These exercises aim to share best practices among the branches and state and federal agencies and establish relationships because all the attendees are part of FEMA Region IX and may be working together if a cyber incident threatens the region. “We’re able to not only trade the best tools and practices but also in case of a large-scale cyber incident response, it’s likely that we would see some of these same characters,” said Magnuson. “It’s nice to just know who people are so we have connections and we have relationships built already.“
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COLORADO
Colorado electromagnetic warfare squadron celebrates new facility
By Colorado Air National Guard Public Affairs AUG. 9, 2023
Guard Bureau partners, and numerous other individuals and agen- cies who helped see this project through to success.”
The new facility provides 138th Airmen with a state-of-the-art build- ing that will increase readiness and modernization through more ef- ficient training so they can focus on accomplishing their real-world mission. The centralized location will enable more Colorado Guard members to train for critical federal and state missions. Air National Guard Space EW squadrons have consistently deployed to the U.S. Central Command and U.S. Africa Command theaters since 2018. The units typically deploy to Space EW Counter Commu- nications Systems already in theater. The 138th Space Control Squadron was formed in May 2019 and has rapidly improved the training environment to create the most realistic wartime scenarios possible, preparing space professionals for future wartime missions. U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Edward Vaughan, director of space opera- tions for the National Guard, who attended the ceremony, said Air National Guard space units constitute 32% of all U.S. Space Force unit-equipped space operations squadrons, and the Guard works hand-in-hand with the U.S. Space Force to provide the National Guard’s proven and critical space capability to meet National Securi- ty Strategy/National Defense Strategy priorities.
BUCKLEY SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. – The Colorado National Guard’s 138th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of its new facility at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs Aug. 5. The ceremony represented the next step in Colorado Air National Guard Space operations and resulted from a multi-year effort by hundreds of people. The facility will be the permanent home of the 138th EWS and the foundation for unit — or according to their motto — “Ghostrider” operations. “This ribbon-cutting ceremony, demonstrated by our squadron’s military construction project as ready for beneficial occupancy, symbolizes a major step toward the 138th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron achieving full-operational capability,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Andrew Gold, commander, 138th EWS. “This is a momentous event for our squadron, the 233rd Space Group, and the 140th Wing,” he said. “This day would not be possible without the incredible dedication and support of the 140th Civil Engineering Squadron, 140th Wing Contracting Office, our National
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Connecticut Army Guard Medics conduct mass casualty training CONNECTICUT
ambulance can transport four litter patients or eight ambulatory patients.
“I think this was the first time I actually had to care for more than one patient at a time,” said Spc. Riley Sullivan, a combat medic specialist and part of an ambulance team with the 141st Medical Company (Ground Ambulance). “I’m an EMT, civilian side, and we rarely have more than one patient that we are transporting. “It was my first AT [annual training]. My squad leader was right next to me, and he was like, ‘You’re doing good, grab him, you have to be louder.’ I had to care for the person on top [rack of the ambu- lance], care for the person on the bottom. It was a little stressful.” The ambulance traveled to the next prepositioned ambulance team and the patients were transferred to that team. The process continued until the patient reached the battalion aid station. “It’s a lot of reassessments,” said Sullivan as she recounted her duties during the ride to the next ambulance team. “If they [the patient] have a tourniquet [applied], you have to make sure it is actually working and they’re not bleeding out. If it’s not [working], then you reapply another one. If [the medics who cared for the patient before being picked up by Sullivan] weren’t able to do secondary measures, maybe they haven’t given them antibiotics, that could be helpful.” For the medics, this is their crucible. If the time comes, thanks to exercises like these, Connecticut’s medics will know what they need to do to save lives, and they will be ready.
By Sgt. Matthew Lucibello 130th Public Affairs Detachment | SEPT. 14, 2023
FORT DRUM, N.Y. - Medics from the Connecticut Army National Guard’s 143rd Regional Support Group trained for a mass casualty event at Fort Drum. From Aug. 11-13, medics attached to units across the 143rd Regional Support Group, including the 192nd Engineer Battalion, triaged and treated waves of simulated casualties at their Role 1, a mobile, tent- based facility to treat wounded personnel near the point of injury. Role 1 facilities have a small footprint and thus do not have the equipment or staff to conduct complex medical interventions such as surgeries. They provide a central location for casualty collection where medics can perform immediate lifesaving methods. Patients are stabilized and then evacuated to a Role 2 facility. Role 2s, usually at the brigade or higher level, are equipped with a trauma section and a lab where personnel can have X-rays and emergency dental treatment. Soldiers typically stay at this facility until they can return to duty or, if they require specialized care, be evacuated to a Role 3 facility. After a medic received or came upon a casualty during the exercise, they performed tactical field care, part of tactical combat casualty care. TCCC is a process of assessing and applying lifesaving measures to stabilize the wounded for evacuation to a more advanced military medical facility, usually Role 2 or 3. “We had a lot of patients with amputations of the extremities, large abdominal wounds, sucking chest wounds, respiratory distress, burns, fractures. We had patients with heatstroke, we had patients with shock,” said Cpt. Melissa D’Amato, a physician assistant for the 192nd Engineer Battalion. “The most common things we see [are the result of] indirect fire.” As the casualties came in, there were radio requests for medical evacuation. The simplified radio transmissions ready an air or ground ambulance to transport a casualty from a Role 1 to a Role 2 or 3 mil- itary medical treatment facility — in this case, the 118th Multi-func- tional Medical Battalion’s battalion aid station. When a medevac request was received, the closest M997A3 am- bulance from the 141st Medical Company (Ground Ambulance) traveled to the Role 1 and picked up the patient or patients. Each
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DELAWARE
Delaware Air Guard demonstrates readiness in graded exercise
perform MACE, which is a multi-modal tool that assists providers in the assessment and diagnosis of a concussion. The MACE score- card streamlines the assessment process so clinical and non-clini- cal medical Airmen can effectively care for a service member. “It was important to get our members out there for some hands- on training,” said 2nd Lt. Henry Leighton, 436th MDG Medical Readiness flight commander. “When it’s just videos, or conceptual instruction, it doesn’t serve as a repeatable process which our peo- ple can use to inform their future actions in a combat setting.” Providing this skill set to medics not involved in patient care, the 436th MDG creates MCA who will be able to assist in healthcare operations to include, medication procedures, pain level assess- ment, vital monitoring, respiratory care and critical emergency response. “When our Airmen are deployed and resources are limited, our medics need to know how to perform some level of patient care,” said Master Sgt. Jason Jones, 436th MDG Medical Readiness flight chief. “In a challenging environment downrange, the priority is not going to be completing administrative tasks, it is going to be sav- ing lives. We need to build that knowledge base and create muscle memory so that these life-sustaining proficiencies are instinctive to our medical war fighters.” Although onloading and offloading patients from a fixed wing aircraft and MACE are only two of 52 required MEDIC-X skills to be exercised annually, Team Dover medics continue to learn new skills and maintain deployment readiness. “The 142nd AES did an outstanding job in training our medics on that important MEDIC-X skill,” said Quijano. “We received some great feedback from our medics that the patient onload and offload training with the AE team was well-received, and for some, it put in perspective how much more than just being in the clinic, our roles as medics matter.”
By Staff Sgt. Marco A. Gomez 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs | AUG. 14, 2023
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- The 436th Medical Group partnered with the 142nd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, Delaware Air National Guard Base, New Castle, Delaware, to assist with MEDIC-X training on Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, Aug. 9, 2023. The train- ing consisted of onload and offload procedures for an AE on a C-17 Globemaster III and Military Acute Concussion Evaluation for 127 Team Dover medics. MEDIC-X is the Air Force Surgeon General’s Multi-Capable Airmen initiative to ensure all military medical personnel, clinical and non-clinical, are equipped with life-sustaining skills needed for future conflicts with near-peer adversaries where resources may be limited. “We coordinated with the 142nd AES to come in and teach our medics how to properly onload and offload patients from a fixed- wing aircraft,” said Lt. Col. Dino Quijano, 436th MDG chief nurse. “We have a lot of brand-new medics and even for those not new, a lot of them have never deployed, have never been around an aircraft, nor carried litters with patients.” “In a deployed setting, transporting litter patients off an ambulance bus and onto an aircraft, and vice versa, is an important step in the aeromedical evacuation patient movement process,” he said. “As a prior AE flight nurse, I felt it was important for our medics to gain that realistic experience working with an actual AE team.”
Along with AE training, Team Dover medics also trained on how to
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FLORIDA
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
National Guard defends skies over Nation’s Capital
and providing ground-based air defense. We remain vigilant and dedicated to performing our no-fail mission — defending the homeland.”
By Sgt. 1st Class Whitney Hughes National Guard Bureau JUNE 14, 2023
NORAD utilizes 24/7/365 multilayered air defense systems to protect the skies over the National Capital Region. The JADOC is a part of that, said Army Lt. Col. Greg Rogers, who was the deputy commander of the JADOC mission in 2015 and is now the commander of the Ohio Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 174th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, which has as- sumed responsibility for the mission after mobilizing to the National Capitol Region last week. About 220 unit members support JADOC by providing ground-based air defense and radar coverage to protect the region as part of Operation No- ble Eagle. The 1-174th is one of only seven National Guard units nationwide that man, organize, train, equip and deploy to execute this mission — an assignment unique to the National Guard. The Integrated Air Defense System in the NCR also consists of sensors, alert fighters and ground-based air defense weapons systems. Guard members staff the defense and radar systems that are controlled by Command and Control, or C2 homeland defense system. Data and information from those assets feed into the JADOC, where military leaders can properly evaluate threat assessment. ”The fact that defense of the NCR has been entrusted to the National Guard is a testament to the confidence and expectation of excellence that our national leadership has in our Soldiers and Airmen who have proved them- selves time and again for the last 20 years,” Sasseville said.
JARLINGTON, Va. – The crack of the sonic boom over Washington from Dis- trict of Columbia Air National Guard F-16s scrambling to intercept a private plane flying off course in restricted airspace June 3 was a reminder of the Guard’s vital role in air defense over the nation’s capital. The 121st Fighter Squadron jets were alerted to the aircraft that later crashed near the George Washington National Forest in Southwest Virginia, tragically killing all three passengers and the pilot. The alert came from the North American Aerospace Defense Command, which is fed information by the Joint Air Defense Operations Center (JADOC) at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington. Since 2003, Guard units have operated the Joint Air Defense Operations Center on a rotating basis. The JADOC is the critical element of the com- mand-and-control system that drives the National Capital Region Integrated Air Defense System. The mission is responsible for defending Washington and surrounding areas from hostile aerial threats by combining air-to-air and ground-to-air missile defense assets. ”The National Guard plays a crucial role in operationalizing the National Defense Strategy. Especially the No. 1 priority, defend the homeland,” said Air Force Lt. Gen. Marc Sasseville, vice chief of the National Guard Bureau. “We do that by providing fighter jets available to respond at a moment’s notice
Florida National Guard activated to assist with hurricane response
By David Vergun DOD News | AUG. 30, 2023
assets or any forces that might be needed in the aftermath of the storm,” Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said Tues- day at a Pentagon press conference.
AWASHINGTON - Some 6,500 Florida National Guard members were supporting the response to Hurricane Idalia Wednesday, focused on search and rescue, clearing roads of debris and assessing damage caused by the storm that made landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Guardsmen from numerous other states were standing by to assist as needed. At a midday news conference at the state emergency operations center in Tallahassee Wednesday, Maj. Gen. John Haas, Florida adjutant general, said the Guard’s response included 2,400 vehicles, 14 aircraft and 23 small watercraft. The Kentucky National Guard was contributing UH-60 helicopters, with the South Carolina and Tennessee National Guard also available to help. Idalia made landfall on Florida’s West Coast at Keaton Beach Wednesday morning and, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, “may bring a life-threatening storm surge to portions of the Florida Gulf Coast, as well as strong winds and signif- icant flooding across Southeastern states.” FEMA is closely coordinating with affected states and stands ready to provide support. FEMA Incident Management Assistance Teams are deployed to affected areas and additional supplies and teams were on standby. “This is a storm that we are certainly taking seriously, the state of Florida is taking seriously, in terms of not only making sure that we have the appropriate number of people in the state of Florida to help with any response that’s needed but also prepositioning any
Singh also provided an update on the relief efforts in the aftermath of the western Maui wildfire in Hawaii.
As of Tuesday morning, approximately 580 National Guardsmen, 133 additional Defense Department personnel and 119 Coast Guardsmen were actively engaged in the coordinated response, she said. U.S. Army Pacific is executing mission assignments from FEMA. The most recent mission assignment is potable water distribution support, she said. Navy mobile diving salvage unit teams from Pacific Fleet concluded their dive operations. Joint Task Force 5-0 continues search and rescue activities with the Hawaii National Guard teams, the FBI and the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Singh said. Hawaii National Guard continues round-the-clock support of local law enforcement. The 25th Infantry Division’s fueling trucks distrib- uted about 470 gallons of fuel over the past 48 hours in support of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ temporary power operations, she said. Pacific Fleet’s Navy Environmental Preventive Medicine Unit Six will deploy two sailors to Maui to support potable water testing for the task force’s water distribution mission, Singh said.
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