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Greening the Guard
Story and photo by Tech. Sgt. Mark Olsen, NJDMAVA/PA

With the newly installed photovoltaic solar electric power system above them, Maj. Gen. Glenn K. Rieth, left, The Adjutant General of New Jersey; President Jeanne M. Fox, center, Commissioner, Board of Public Utilities and retired Brig. Gen. Jeff L. Pierson, right, Superintendent, National Guard Training Center, cut the ribbon inaugurating the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs newest onsite solar generation system on August 26 at the NGTC, located at Sea Girt.

The photovoltaic solar electric power system is expected to save the Department more than $55,000 annually and lower its use of conventionally-generated power. It also has the capability of producing 300 Solar Energy Renewable Credits annually, which are currently selling for $650 per credit.

Covering more than 20,000 square feet, the 230 kilowatt photovoltaic system uses 1,064 modular pre-engineered solar panels tilted at a ten degree angle to maximize energy output and convert sunlight directly into electricity, generating power to the facility.

With the completion of this project, the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs represents the largest commitment to install solar power by a military agency on the East Coast. With an estimated 300,000 kilowatt hours per year, the photovoltaic solar electric power system will reduce more than 7 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions during the next 30 years; the equivalent to planting 1,000 acres of trees or by not driving 9 million miles on New Jersey’s roadways.

108th wins honors for mission accomplishment
By Sgt. Wayne Woolley, NJDMAVA/PA

The 108th Air Refueling Wing of the New Jersey Air National Guard has won a prestigious national award for meeting the highest standards of mission accomplishment in 2008.

Judges of the Curtis N. “Rusty” Metcalf Trophy cited the Wing for flying more than 5,000 mishap-free hours in a year when the McGuire Air Force-based unit deployed more than 200 airmen to 13 countries on four continents, including missions in support of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The award, named for a former deputy chief for plans and operations at the National Guard Bureau in Washington, D.C., also cited the wing for supporting its local community by volunteering at the New Jersey Vineland Veterans Memorial Home and at the “Stand Down” to help homeless veterans.

To be considered for this award, units are evaluated in the areas of exercises and deployments, human resources, accident rate history, accident prevention and significant accomplishments during the award period.

Wing leadership accepted the award during the 131st National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) General Conference and Exhibition, which was held in Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 11-13.

During 2008, the 108th ARW deployed more than 200 unit personnel world-wide in support of assignments on four continents and thirteen countries. Currently, the 108th has filled more than 4,400 deployments in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, Noble Eagle and Jump Start. The wing executed more than 5,000 mishap-free flying hours supporting these missions.

This is the second time the wing has won this trophy. Its previous award was in 2002.

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Volume 34 Number 5 Staff / Information
     
(c) 2009 NJ Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
http://www.nj.gov/military