Guardlife - The Magazine of the New Jersey National Guard

Short Rounds

Compiled by the Guardlife Staff

ESGR Holds Law Seminar

On June 10, the first New Jersey Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve Law Seminar was held at the Sea Girt National Guard Training Camp. The focus of the Law Seminar was to advance members' education across a broad range of multiple laws pertaining to service members (to include their families) and employers. Topics ranged from USERRA, Civil Relief Act, N.J. Law for military members and ombudsman techniques. The attendees were given a chance to question intent and the application of the law and relative court cases under present military operations. Photo by Al Smith, NJESGR.

108th Invades Curacao

1st Lt. Matthew Maiorano serenades 108th Air Refueling Wing members as they board a KC-135E Stratotanker Curacao, Netherland Antilles, in support of Operation Carib Shield March 1-31. Twenty-six personnel flew 19 missions, offloading 971,000 pounds of fuel for drug interdiction. The operation, headed up by Southern Command, looks for ships and planes carrying narcotics. Photo courtesy 108ARW/PA.

Helmets To Hardhats

Governor Jon S. Corzine (seated) signs a proclamation in support of Helmets to Hardhats, a program designed to pair former and current service members with union construction employment opportunities June 12. Also pictured are (l-r) Iz Cakrane,Chairman of North American Contractors; Maj. Gen. Glenn K. Rieth, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez and Maj. Gen. (ret) Matthew Caufield, Executive Director of the Helmets to Hardhats Program. Photo by Kryn Westhoven, NJDMAVA/PA.

Airman Receives Top Award

Tech. Sgt. Charles A. Redford (right), an aerospace repair mechanic with the 108th Maintenance Squadron, seen here being coined by Maj. Gen. Eugene Chojnacki (left), received the John L. Levitow Honor Graduate Award during the graduation ceremony at the Non-Commissioned Officer Academy at McGuire Air Force Base. Photo by Senior Airman Robbie Finley, 108ARW/PA.

RAAF Visits 108th ARW

Boom operator Master Sgt. Edwin Montalvo (right) briefs Royal Australian Air Force Flight Lieutenant Ian Wallace (left) on the functions of the KC-135E Stratotanker during the lieutenant's tour of the 108th Air Refueling Wing's facilities on May 9. Photo by Staff Sgt. Beth Pritchard, 108ARW/PA.

MPs Award Supply Sergeant

Staff Sgt. Priscilla Karcher (left) looks on as Staff Sgt. Timothy Hoke (center) and Sgt. 1st Class Franklin Smith (right) applaud Karcher for her work supporting the unit while it was deployed. Karcher received the Detachment 2, 42nd Military Police Company's Center of Influence award during the unit's Welcome Home and Freedom Salute ceremony held at the National Guard Armory in Lawrenceville on June 4. The 25 members of the Military Police Detachment served in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from February to November 2005. Photo by Capt. Jon Powers, 444MPAD.

PSB On Guard

Pictured left to right: Staff Sergeant's Louis Tuck and Curtis Hellings along with Chief Warrant Officer 2 Frank R. Albanese, Jr., of Task Force 50th Personnel Services Battalion in Salerno, Afghanistan pose, for a photo on Radar Hill over looking the Forward Operating Base. According to Albanese, "On a clear day you can see Pakistan in the distance." The 50th PSB assumed the human resources and postal services mission in Afghanistan. Photo courtesy Chief Warrant Officer 2 Frank R. Albanese, Jr., TF 50PSB.

Taking Charge

Incoming Commander Lt. Col. Dean T. Spenzos, left, receives the 102nd RSTA regimental colors from 50th Brigade Commander Col. Frank S. Caruso (second from right) as outgoing Commander Lt. Col. James D. Rosenberg (far right) looks on during the Change of Command ceremony on May 21 at the National Guard Armory at West Orange. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Robert Stephenson, NJDMAVA/PA.

Wing Participates In Food Drive

Wing and family members (l-r) Senior Master Sgt. Freddie D. Lavan, Sr.; Tech. Sgt. Sue Milam, Master Sgt. Radames Soto Jr. and Matthew Milam were part of the 31 volunteers from the 177th Fighter Wing who helped pick up, unload and sort more than 40,000 pounds of food items during the annual National Association of Letter Carriers Stamp-Out Hunger Food Drive May 13, which benefits the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, Southern Branch. This year's volunteer turnout was the largest since the Wing began participating in the food drive 16 years ago. Photo by Master Sgt. Rebecca Lee, 177FW/MSF.

AT Under Way

Members of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 102nd Armor's Mortar Platoon hone their skills on the M-29A1 mortar during Annual Training at Fort Dix on June 16. From left, Gunner Spc. Bryan Mulvihill, Assistant Gunner Pvt. 1st Class Matthew Miczulski and Ammo Bearer Pvt. Robert Knoble prepare to send an 81mm round downrange. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Robert Stephenson, NJDMAVA/PA.

RSTA Leaves Their Mark

Soldiers from the 1st Platoon, C Troop, 5th Squadron, 117th Reconnaissance, Surveillance, Targeting, Acquisition pose in front of their mural in Kuwait prior to leaving for Iraq. Photo courtesy 5-117RSTA.

School Visit

Command Chief Master Sgt. Herb Mimler, members of the 177th Chief's Council and senior enlisted representatives visited Seaview Avenue School in Linwood on May 26. The visit was to thank the students for their support of the Vineland Veterans Memorial Home during the December holiday season. A 177th lithograph was presented to the school and photos of 177th F-16s were awarded to the students. Photo by Master Sgt. Robert Orme, 177FW/CCA.

108th Volunteer Receives National Volunteer Award

Warren George (left) presents Kathryn Hardy (center), wife of Tech. Sgt. Richard Hardy (right), 108th Air refueling Wing, was awarded the Veterans of Foreign Wars Military Family Member Volunteer Service Award for the United States Air Force during the National VFW and Ladies Auxiliary Community Service Conference held in Washington, D.C. March 6. She also received a $500 check, which she donated to the 108th ARW Family Readiness Center. Photo courtesy 108ARW/PA.

Flemington Open House

Spc. Brianne King, 50th Finance Battalion, smiles at a job well done as a new warrior looks at the camera in alarm wondering if the camouflage paint will wash off. The Battalion held it's Annual Open House at the Flemington Armory May 6. The Battalion also held a blood drive in conjunction with Red Cross. Photo by Maj. Carl Palmer, 444MPAD.

253rd Hosts Appreciation Day

Sgt. Thunder (the big guy) plays basketball with area children during the 253rd Transportation Company's Community Appreciation Day in Cape May Courthouse June 3. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Mark Olsen, NJDMAVA/PA.

JT2DC Holds Ceremony: Recognizes Student

The Joint Training and Training Development Center (JT2DC) held a ceremony at it's Soldier Memorial on May 6 to commemorate it's new walkway and to recognize Kristin Catalanotto, a student whose family lives in New Orleans. Kristin's story began in New Orleans when JT2DC Soldiers were deployed as the command and control element. During a survey mission, Col. Jim Grant, Commander, Task Force Guard State and JT2DC Commander, met Kristin's father and learned that Mr. Catalanottos' daughter, Kristin, was attending a college in Philadelphia. After returning to New Jersey, Col. Grant found out that Kristin would not be able to return home because of the financial burden. During the dedication ceremony, Kristin was presented with a round trip airline ticket to New Orleans as well as a check for $500.

"It Really Isn't a Video Game"

One of the more than a dozen children of Soldiers and Airmen peers through the hatch of a M1A1 Abrams tank simulator at the Joint Training and Training Development Center (JT2DC) at Fort Dix. The National Guard Youth Coordinator, Amanda Balas, arranged for a tour of the high-tech facility on April 22. During the tour the children got the opportunity to use the M1A1 Abrams tank simulator, experience the Virtual Convoy Operations Trainer; and visit the Woodland, Desert and Urban Training Lanes. The best was saved for last, however, when the kids got the opportunity to fire M-16 rifles hooked electronically to a large screen upon which a computer-generated battle was projected. "It's fun to shoot a weapon and see what my dad does," said 15-year-old Beth Ambrose. Photo by Spc. Shawn Morris, 444th MPAD.

NASCAR Visits Sea Girt

Members of the Recruiting Holding Company cadre pose for a photo around a show car version of the #16 National Guard sponsored NASCAR Nextel Cup racer driven by Greg Biffle at the National Guard Training Center at Sea Girt on May 20. Photo courtesy RHC.