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Official Site of The State of New Jersey
Governor Murphy Signs Legislation Supporting Veterans and Servicemembers
Governor Murphy signed legislation (S-278, S-956, and S-961) which supports New Jersey veterans and servicemembers and grants them easier access to higher education, expands access to the disabled veterans’ property tax exemption, and establishes an annual grant program within the Troops to College Program to recognize institutions of higher education that offer extensive veteran programs and services.
“Our veterans and servicemembers have put their lives on the line for their state and for their country,” said Governor Murphy.“The least we can do for them is to make their lives easier by expanding access to higher education, broadening eligibility for the disabled veterans’ property tax exemption, and encouraging higher education institutions to provide needed services. This legislation will doubtlessly help our veterans and servicemembers in their civilian lives and recognize their service properly.”
NJ Youth ChalleNGe Graduate Attends West Point
New Jersey Youth ChalleNGe Academy (NJYCA) graduate Kevin Stone talks about the Academy and his acceptance to West Point - The U.S. Military Academy.
The National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program, a preventive rather than remedial at-risk youth program, targets voluntary participants, who have dropped out of school or are not satisfactorily progressing, are unemployed or under employed, drug-free, and crime-free.
The New Jersey Youth ChalleNGe Academy is a community-based program that leads, trains and mentors 16-18 year old so that they may become productive citizens in America’s future.
New Jersey National Guard Pioneered the End of Segregation
Although history credits President Harry Truman with desegregating America’s military, the truth is that racial integration had already arrived in New Jersey, thanks to a governor and National Guard leaders who had stubbornly insisted on equality in their forces.
In the space of four months, from November 1947 to February 1948, the New Jersey National Guard changed history.
The story begins at a time when the New Jersey National Guard was growing.
World War II had been over for more than a year and the New Jersey National Guard was recruiting new members to fill the recently created 50th Armored Division. The National Guard Bureau, which fell under the War Department, had authorized New Jersey to organize the 372nd Anti-Aircraft Artillery group. Because integration did not yet exist in the military, the 372nd would reflect the United States Army’s policy toward Blacks – the unit was to be composed entirely of Black Soldiers.
And this is where the story would have ended except for one event. Read the rest of the story.
Dates in History
January 1957
The New Jersey National Guard ceased to be an all-male organization when the first women soldiers in its history, two nurses, Captain Frances R. Comstock and 1st Lieutenant Lucille Valentino of Paterson, were sworn in as members of the 114th Mobile Surgical Hospital.
May 2009
Maj. Gen. Maria A. Falca-Dodson became the first female to be promoted to the rank of Major General in the New Jersey National Guard.
June 2009
The New Jersey Army National Guard closed its largest combat deployment since World War II - the 2,900 soldiers of the 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team served 10 months in Iraq - with a parade and celebration in downtown Trenton, NJ.
The Adjutant General
Brigadier General Lisa J. Hou, D.O.
Brigadier General Lisa J. Hou, D.O., is the Adjutant General and Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
Brigadier General Hou commands the more than 8,400 Soldiers and Airmen of the New Jersey National Guard. She leads, directs, and manages the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs in the execution of federal and state missions. In addition, she manages all state veterans’ programs, commissions, and facilities in New Jersey.
Prior to being selected by Governor Philip Murphy on October 18, 2020, Brigadier General Hou served as the Assistant Commissioner for Operations, Deputy Adjutant General (DAG) for New Jersey.
In addition to her responsibilities with DMAVA, Dr. Hou is an active Brigadier General in the New Jersey National Guard. In 2018 she became the first Joint Surgeon of the New Jersey National Guard, overseeing medical readiness and medical personnel statewide.
Previously, Dr. Hou served in the dual roles of commander of the Medical Command and the State Surgeon. In those capacities, she was responsible for the medical and dental readiness of more than 6,000 soldiers.
