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PRESORTED STANDARD<br />

U.S. POSTAGE PAID<br />

PERMIT <strong>#88</strong><br />

ENFIELD, CT


Staff Sgt. Caron from Security Forces trains with the<br />

State Police. (Photo ill<strong>us</strong>tration by Master Sgt. Mark<br />

Fortin, 104th Fighter Wing.)<br />

Visit the Massach<strong>us</strong>etts<br />

National Guard Web site<br />

www.state.ma.<strong>us</strong>/guard<br />

The Adjutant General<br />

Brig. Gen. Oliver J. Mason Jr.<br />

Dire<strong>ct</strong>or of Public Affairs<br />

Lt. Col. Charles Perenick Jr.<br />

Public Affairs Officer<br />

Maj. Winfield Danielson<br />

Managing Editor<br />

Maj. Lisa Ahaesy<br />

Art Dire<strong>ct</strong>or<br />

Staff Sgt. Don Veitch<br />

Staff<br />

Maj. Peter Lucht<br />

Maj. Robert Whalen<br />

CW3 Richard Woodlock<br />

Master Sgt. Pallas deBettencourt<br />

Sgt. 1st Class Steven Tedeschi<br />

Sgt. Jordan St. John<br />

Sgt. June Norton<br />

Spc. Eric J. Kolesnikovas<br />

8537 Corbin Dr., Anchorage, AK 99507<br />

(907) 562-9300, Fax: (907) 562-9311<br />

Toll Free: (866) 562-9300<br />

www.AQPpublishing.com<br />

This magazine is an authorized publication for members of the<br />

Massach<strong>us</strong>etts National Guard. Contents of this magazine are not<br />

necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S.<br />

Government, the Department of Defense, the National Guard<br />

Bureau or the Massach<strong>us</strong>etts National Guard.<br />

The appearance of advertising in this publication does not<br />

constitute endorsement by the U.S. Government, the Department<br />

of Defense, the National Guard Bureau or the Massach<strong>us</strong>etts<br />

National Guard.<br />

Spring 2007<br />

Features<br />

Massach<strong>us</strong>etts<br />

Instant Service Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5<br />

Army Unveils Light Utility Helicopter UH-72A Lakota . . . . . . . . . . . 6<br />

Air Force A.B.U Ready for Duty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7<br />

RTI Starts Warrant Officer Candidate School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9<br />

Cooperative Civil-Military Effort to Bring Jobs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10<br />

Vets Helping Vets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11<br />

Night Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12<br />

M.O.U.T. Training for SFS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13<br />

True Patriots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14<br />

Marching With Bundeswehr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16<br />

PTSD Primer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17<br />

All American Bowl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20<br />

Manager of the Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21<br />

The Core of an Army Value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22<br />

Departments<br />

Command Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3<br />

From the Dire<strong>ct</strong>or’s Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4<br />

The Promotion Pages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18<br />

Short Takes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24<br />

Let <strong>us</strong> know<br />

how we rate!!!<br />

Take the Minuteman survey and tell <strong>us</strong> what you want to see…<br />

Visit <strong>us</strong> on the Internet @ www.mass.gov/guard/PAO/Public Information.htm<br />

or on GKO @ https://gkoportal.ngb.army.mil/sites/mang/pao/default.aspx.<br />

It’s your publication!<br />

The Force of Freedom 1


Command Message<br />

The Enlisted Promotion System<br />

Ten Years Later<br />

By Command Sgt. Maj. Richard Belanger,<br />

Massach<strong>us</strong>etts National Guard Joint Force Headquarters<br />

Command Sgt. Maj.<br />

Richard Belanger<br />

“I am a Noncommissioned Officer, a<br />

leader of Soldiers,” the second sentence<br />

in the NCO Creed.<br />

The operative word is leader. The purpose<br />

of the promotion system is to identify and<br />

sele<strong>ct</strong> Soldiers who can lead. Its purpose<br />

is not to reward Soldiers for outstanding<br />

work or service; that is what the Army<br />

Awards Program is for.<br />

Our Enlisted Promotion System was<br />

implemented in 1996 after many years of<br />

study and pilot programs. It has changed<br />

several times since its implementation<br />

and today the EPS is a model for other<br />

armies around the globe.<br />

In 1992, the dire<strong>ct</strong>or of the Army National Guard created a team to determine<br />

why many Soldiers sele<strong>ct</strong>ed for promotion did not have the NCO<br />

courses required. This team found that the Soldiers attending NCO professional<br />

development courses were not always the ones being promoted.<br />

Faced with shrinking training accounts, the dire<strong>ct</strong>or then charged the team<br />

to find a way to fix the problem. The team studied all the promotion<br />

systems in the Army. Their analysis of the Army National Guard system<br />

showed varying pra<strong>ct</strong>ices and <strong>standard</strong>s. The team found evidence that<br />

Soldiers who were found “best qualified” for assignment to vacancies<br />

might never be sele<strong>ct</strong>ed for promotion and assigned to those positions.<br />

The analysis also showed little confidence by Soldiers in the sele<strong>ct</strong>ion<br />

process for NCOs.<br />

In addition to the team’s findings, the Total Army was concerned that it was<br />

training far more Soldiers in NCOES than were needed for promotion and<br />

that too many Soldiers sele<strong>ct</strong>ed for promotion were not attending the<br />

courses.<br />

A new regulation was written, based on the wartime replacement model<br />

<strong>us</strong>ed by the Army for decades. In that system a unit takes stock of its<br />

available personnel, cross levels within the unit, then requests replacements<br />

based on shortfalls.<br />

The new system did several things to increase fairness and efficiency:<br />

Used the established national database<br />

Used a local database to store information not in the national database<br />

Limited promotion boards to one each per pay grade<br />

Eliminated waivers<br />

Increased the linkage between the assignment and<br />

promotions regulations<br />

Used the promotion list as the NCOES priority of training list<br />

Assured all eligible Soldiers were considered for promotion<br />

Allowed Soldiers to choose assignment considerations<br />

Provided a single promotion list by grade, MOS and<br />

assignment consideration<br />

Today’s EPS is still based on the replacement model principle; when a<br />

vacancy occurs within a unit, the commander may reassign qualified<br />

Soldiers to vacancies. However, Soldiers may only be promoted when they<br />

are on the top of the current promotion list and are eligible.<br />

I should mention that the Air National Guard promotion process is very<br />

different. Airmen should ask their chain of command for more information<br />

on that process.<br />

The current EPS has four major components:<br />

1. Identifying Soldiers who display the ability to lead at the<br />

next higher grade<br />

2. Preparing eligible Soldiers for consideration<br />

3. Sele<strong>ct</strong>ing and assigning those identified to leadership positions<br />

4. Promoting and training those assigned<br />

Identifying Soldiers who display the ability to lead<br />

Not every person who joins the military is ready to lead, but I believe with<br />

proper coaching and mentoring most Soldiers can be developed into<br />

successful leaders.<br />

A Soldier’s readiness to lead m<strong>us</strong>t be determined by those who know that<br />

Soldier best. Our promotion system recognizes this fa<strong>ct</strong>, dire<strong>ct</strong>ing unit<br />

commanders to recommend for promotion only those who demonstrate<br />

the potential to lead.<br />

Soldiers who are clearly not ready m<strong>us</strong>t also be identified, and identified<br />

early to ensure this determination is well-documented and j<strong>us</strong>t. They m<strong>us</strong>t<br />

then be counseled, mentored and shown ways to improve so they will be<br />

ready for future consideration.<br />

Preparing Soldiers for promotion<br />

Having high expe<strong>ct</strong>ations for promotion candidates is the only way to<br />

maintain a professional NCO Corps.<br />

Soldiers m<strong>us</strong>t prepare every day for sele<strong>ct</strong>ion, seeking education oppor -<br />

tunities and challenging assignments; intera<strong>ct</strong>ing thoughtfully with<br />

superiors, peers and subordinates; and ensuring all accomplishments are<br />

documented on the Noncommissioned Officer Evaluation Report.<br />

Everything a Soldier does to enhance his or her skills and demonstrate a<br />

willingness to improve will count toward promotion, but it m<strong>us</strong>t be<br />

documented.<br />

Sele<strong>ct</strong>ing and assigning leaders<br />

The sele<strong>ct</strong>ion process begins with a board for Soldiers recommended by<br />

their commanders.<br />

The board receives a computer generated NGB form 4100 with up to 600<br />

total points earned in several categories of individual achievement or<br />

competency – education, awards, weapon and physical fitness scores, etc.<br />

The board then grants up to 400 additional leadership points based on the<br />

NCOER, military school evaluations and other documents in the Soldier’s<br />

official file.<br />

Finally, the board generates a sele<strong>ct</strong>ion list by grade and military occupational<br />

specialty, in the order determined by the total points earned by each<br />

Soldier. Sele<strong>ct</strong>ion and assignment is determined by the Soldier’s position<br />

on this list.<br />

The strength of the system is that it is designed to be fair and impartial,<br />

based on measurable points. On the other hand, inaccurate and incomplete<br />

data submission results in a disservice to both Soldier and system.<br />

Therefore, it is critically important that the 4100, NCOER and other documentation<br />

in the Soldier’s file are accurate and complete.<br />

.Continued on page 4<br />

The Force of Freedom 3


Command Message continued .<br />

From this point the unit replacement process takes over. After a<br />

realignment of personnel in a unit – due to other promotions, transfers,<br />

retirements, etc. – commanders request a fill for resulting shortfalls from<br />

the sele<strong>ct</strong>ion list. The first eligible and available Soldier on the sele<strong>ct</strong>ion list<br />

is notified and then transferred to the vacancy.<br />

The EPS provides commanders with a fair and impartial means to fill<br />

vacant leadership positions, but it requires that commanders request<br />

replacements on a timely basis and that their higher headquarters quickly<br />

process the request and resulting personnel a<strong>ct</strong>ions.<br />

Promoting and training those assigned<br />

Today’s regulations allow promotion prior to the required training. This<br />

feature reduces the wait time for promotions, but NCOs can find themselves<br />

in a leadership position prior to receiving the necessary training. For<br />

this reason, it is critical that commanders recommend only those Soldiers<br />

they believe are ready to lead.<br />

Recommending a Soldier who isn’t ready is a disservice to that Soldier,<br />

and the men and women who will be subordinate to that Soldier.<br />

From the Dire<strong>ct</strong>or’s Chair...<br />

‘Looking for a Challenge?’<br />

4 Minuteman Spring 2007<br />

By Lt. Col. Charles Perenick,<br />

Dire<strong>ct</strong>or of Public Affairs<br />

Recently I celebrated 27 years in the<br />

Massach<strong>us</strong>etts National Guard.<br />

As I refle<strong>ct</strong> back on my career, I realize<br />

that out of all the positions I have held,<br />

dire<strong>ct</strong>or of public affairs has probably<br />

been the most challenging and rewarding<br />

to date.<br />

Public affairs does not take an inordinate<br />

amount of physical stamina or endurance.<br />

It does demand the ability to multitask,<br />

Lt. Col. Charles Perenick<br />

mental acuity, patience and a high degree<br />

of attention to detail. My tenure in public affairs, both as the battalion<br />

commander of the 65th Public Affairs Operations Center and as the<br />

dire<strong>ct</strong>or of public affairs at Joint Force Headquarters, have helped me<br />

sharpened these traits.<br />

The power a well-written sentence or well-prepared speech possesses can<br />

boggle the mind. A well-taken pi<strong>ct</strong>ure truly is worth a tho<strong>us</strong>and words. The<br />

Massach<strong>us</strong>etts National Guard can offer Soldiers and Airmen first-class<br />

education and training in public affairs.<br />

Public affairs training for all services is condu<strong>ct</strong>ed at Fort Meade, Md., right<br />

outside of our nation’s capitol. The training lasts approximately 10 weeks<br />

and consists of writing, photography, broadcasting and videography – all<br />

taught by professionals from the military public affairs community.<br />

Once a graduate of the public affairs course, you will be tasked with<br />

getting out the Guard’s story. Local hometown news releases, submissions<br />

to command publications and local cable access television programs are<br />

j<strong>us</strong>t a few of the many avenues available to inform and educate the military<br />

and civilian community.<br />

There are, however, a limited number of public affairs Soldiers and Airmen<br />

in the Massach<strong>us</strong>etts National Guard and an unlimited number of stories<br />

to tell.<br />

Sadly, I have often heard of a unit condu<strong>ct</strong>ing exciting, dynamic and<br />

realistic training, but I never saw a photograph or a story. A unit public<br />

NCO education is not optional. Though Soldiers can be promoted prior to<br />

completion of training, failure to demand professional development can<br />

ruin a Soldier’s career and weaken the overall readiness of the unit.<br />

In summary, we cannot allow the promotion into the NCO ranks of Soldiers<br />

who are not skilled or prepared to handle the responsibility to train Soldiers<br />

for war.<br />

It is up to leaders at all levels to help each Soldier develop their potential<br />

to lead and recommend for promotion only those who are ready.<br />

Information m<strong>us</strong>t be accurately recorded in NCOERs and other documents<br />

in Soldiers’ official military files.<br />

The system isn’t perfe<strong>ct</strong>, but it is fair provided everyone in the system fully<br />

participates in each and every step of the process. If we do, we will maintain<br />

a strong, professional and competent NCO Corps that embodies the<br />

warrior ethos; if we do not, we fail our Soldiers and our mission.<br />

Failure is not an option. ✯<br />

affairs representative, or UPAR, could have submitted a story that captured<br />

the unit’s training or operation. UPARs are Soldiers and Airmen first, but<br />

are tasked by the commander with public affairs as an additional duty.<br />

Talented unit members who have a keen sense for taking a pi<strong>ct</strong>ure or for<br />

writing a few lines summarizing your unit’s experience make great UPARs.<br />

And the Joint Force Headquarters Public Affairs Office will help<br />

train them. For more information, call Master Sgt. Pallas deBettencourt<br />

at (508) 233-6866.<br />

But one does not have to be a UPAR to tell the unit’s story. Each one of <strong>us</strong><br />

can make the difference when it comes to public affairs.<br />

I encourage Soldiers who are interested in writing or photography,<br />

whether to become a public affairs Soldier, UPAR, or j<strong>us</strong>t to submit an<br />

occasional article about your unit to the Minuteman, to log onto<br />

http://www.atsc.army.mil/accp/aipdnew.asp and to check out the<br />

correspondence courses in public affairs training. I think you will find the<br />

training different from anything you have experienced in the military<br />

before, but equally challenging and rewarding.<br />

Airmen should consult their base training office for more information on<br />

public affairs training.<br />

Soldiers and Airmen who decide to pursue public affairs as a military<br />

career have several options in Massach<strong>us</strong>etts.<br />

The 65th PAOC, which is located in Lexington and falls under the 51st<br />

Troop Command, is always looking for Soldiers. In addition to writing and<br />

photography, the 65th provides media credentialing and escorting, media<br />

briefs, Web design and management, and command information<br />

periodicals to military units in its area of operations. For further information<br />

about the PAOC, conta<strong>ct</strong> Staff Sgt. Robert Hickey at (781) 402-0170.<br />

The fighter wings and the 26th “Yankee” Brigade Combat Team also have<br />

public affairs positions. Airmen should conta<strong>ct</strong> their base public affairs<br />

officer and Soldiers should consult their chain of command for more information<br />

on these opportunities.<br />

Finally, the Joint Force Headquarters Public Affairs Office has a limited<br />

number of public affairs opportunities for Soldiers and Airmen in grade<br />

E-6 and above. Call (508) 233-6866 for more information.<br />

Regardless of which options you choose, I think you will find public affairs<br />

work as interesting, challenging and rewarding as I have. ✯


Instant Service Records<br />

By Maj. Winfield Danielson, Massach<strong>us</strong>etts National Guard Public Affairs<br />

So, you’re applying for a job with the city that offers veterans preference.<br />

Your application packet has to be in tomorrow. You thought you had your<br />

Department of Defense Form 214, but now you can’t find it. Was it lost in<br />

the move last year?<br />

Regardless, you need it today. Where can you turn?<br />

If you served while a citizen of Massach<strong>us</strong>etts, your DD-214 and other<br />

important documents are j<strong>us</strong>t a phone call away!<br />

Formerly known as the War Records Office, the Military Records Branch<br />

now consolidates DD-214s, not only for wartime service, but for any a<strong>ct</strong>ive<br />

duty service. The branch also maintains Massach<strong>us</strong>etts National Guard<br />

service records.<br />

“The genesis of the office goes back to 1897,” said retired Col. Leonid<br />

Kondratiuk, dire<strong>ct</strong>or of the Massach<strong>us</strong>etts National Guard Historical<br />

Services Office, of which the Military Records Branch is a part. He added<br />

that the War Records Se<strong>ct</strong>ion was founded to record the service of all<br />

Massach<strong>us</strong>etts Soldiers, Sailors and Marines who served in the Civil War<br />

– a proje<strong>ct</strong> finally completed and published by The Adjutant General of<br />

Massach<strong>us</strong>etts in 1933.<br />

Since then, the War Records Office’s mission grew to record the service of<br />

Massach<strong>us</strong>etts citizens in the Spanish-American War, World War I, World<br />

War II, Korea, Vietnam and all other confli<strong>ct</strong>s<br />

to the present day. But accessing the<br />

records, which were filed in hard copy, could<br />

be a slow process.<br />

“You <strong>us</strong>ed to have to mail in a request, and<br />

you were lucky to get a response in a week to<br />

10 days,” said Robert Sweeney, deputy<br />

dire<strong>ct</strong>or of Springfield Veterans’ Services.<br />

Clearly an upgrade was needed. In 2001 the<br />

Commonwealth of Massach<strong>us</strong>etts provided<br />

$1 million in grants through the Information<br />

Technology Division to begin digitizing the<br />

records.<br />

“The out-moded manual system we had was<br />

a nightmare for legislators, community<br />

groups and government agencies alike,” said<br />

Richard Dowdell, legislative liaison for the<br />

Massach<strong>us</strong>etts National Guard. “With a<br />

digital system you’re not dependent on<br />

someone’s arcane knowledge of where a<br />

three-by-five card is in a shoe box.”<br />

The result was much quicker access to<br />

records. The average time to locate a record<br />

dropped from 15 minutes to mere seconds.<br />

Initially the mandate was to simply scan war<br />

service DD-214s and record them ele<strong>ct</strong>ronically<br />

in a database. But over the next five<br />

years, the proje<strong>ct</strong> grew to include all a<strong>ct</strong>ive<br />

duty and National Guard records.<br />

Ill<strong>us</strong>tration by Staff Sgt. Donald Veitch<br />

“The goal is to provide one-stop shopping,” said Michael Perna, chief of<br />

the Military Records Branch. “Originally, if you wanted Army Guard, Air<br />

Guard and wartime service records, you had to call three different places.<br />

Now you can make one phone call.”<br />

Or, if you are a town veterans’ agent, you visit one Web site. In June 2004<br />

the Military Records Branch demonstrated a new Web site that provides<br />

veterans service offices with online access to service records.<br />

“Now we have it – boom – instantaneo<strong>us</strong>ly,” Sweeney said about Web<br />

access. “That’s a great asset for vets, beca<strong>us</strong>e sometimes they need their<br />

records yesterday. Particularly when they’re applying for a government job<br />

or filing for Social Security and they thought they had their records, but<br />

discover at the last minute they were lost.”<br />

Perna believes the comprehensive ele<strong>ct</strong>ronic database of service records<br />

in Massach<strong>us</strong>etts is unique, and said that other states have expressed<br />

interest in the system, as has the National Personnel Records Center, in St.<br />

Louis.<br />

“It’s helpful for <strong>us</strong>,” said Carolyn Stewart, an expert archive technician with<br />

the NPRC. She added that the Massach<strong>us</strong>etts Web site was particularly<br />

<strong>us</strong>eful in accessing information on service members that the NPRC lost in<br />

a fire in 1973. “I wish all states had this.”<br />

Massach<strong>us</strong>etts veterans and former National Guard members looking for<br />

copies of their service records can visit their town veterans’ agent; call the<br />

Military Records Branch at 888-301-3103, extension 7781; or e-mail the<br />

branch at military.records@state.ma.<strong>us</strong>. ✯<br />

The Force of Freedom 5


Army Unveils Light<br />

Utility Helicopter<br />

UH-72A Lakota<br />

By Lt. Col. Martin Downie and Kim Henry<br />

Gen. Richard A. Cody, Vice Chief of Staff of the<br />

Army, and Joe RedCloud, a chief of the Oglala<br />

Sioux Tribe, Lakota Nation, accepted the Army’s<br />

first Lakota Light Utility Helicopter, UH-72A, in a<br />

December ceremony in Columb<strong>us</strong>, Miss.<br />

“The Light Utility Helicopter – from concept<br />

development to material fielding to rapid deployment<br />

– is not only serving as a catalyst for change<br />

across the Army, it is also accelerating the speed<br />

of Army aviation modernization and integration<br />

with other services and government agencies,”<br />

said Cody.<br />

The Army has a long-standing tradition of <strong>us</strong>ing<br />

American Indian names, such as terms, tribes<br />

and chiefs for its helicopters. In the case of the<br />

Lakota aircraft, the linkage is between the Lakota<br />

legacy as stalwart defenders of their homeland<br />

and the nature of the aircraft's intended domestic<br />

missions.<br />

“We’re pleased that you honor our tribe by naming this helicopter Lakota.<br />

You are not only honoring our past, you are recognizing that we are still<br />

here, joint partners in the heritage of the promise of America.” RedCloud<br />

told the audience.<br />

6 Minuteman Spring 2007<br />

The Army's first Lakota Light Utility Helicopter is displayed during a Dec. 11 ceremony in Columb<strong>us</strong>, Miss.<br />

(Photo by Dianne Bond.)<br />

The fielding of the LUH is part of an ongoing Army level effort to transform<br />

its aviation capability through the deliberate reinvestment of funds from the<br />

canceled 2004 Comanche program.<br />

The Army National Guard will receive the majority of<br />

the 322 new aircraft. Initial aircraft were to be sent to<br />

the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, Calif., for<br />

medical evacuation missions in January 2007. The<br />

UH-72A Lakotas will replace UH-60 Black Hawks,<br />

which will be transferred to the National Guard for<br />

operational missions.<br />

“The Lakota heralds a new beginning for our Army<br />

and for our communities across every state,” said<br />

Cody. “It is our nation’s responsibility and the Army’s<br />

duty to provide our National Guard Soldiers with the<br />

tools they need to respond fully and rapidly to homeland<br />

security missions and national disasters.<br />

“This exceptional platform will fly for years to come in<br />

America’s skies. It is an aircraft we needed and we are<br />

proud to see it take flight,” he said.<br />

The UH-72A is a commercial aircraft designed to<br />

condu<strong>ct</strong> light general support tasks in permissive,<br />

non-combat environments. Those tasks include civil<br />

search and rescue, personnel recovery, evacuation,<br />

counter-drug and limited civil command and control<br />

operations in the condu<strong>ct</strong> of Homeland Security. ✯<br />

(Downie serves with the Office of the Chief Army<br />

Public Affairs, Henry with Army Aviation and Missile<br />

Command.)


Air Force A.B.U<br />

Ready for Duty<br />

The new Airman battle uniform will go out to the field<br />

around the middle of next year. Airmen assigned to Air<br />

Expeditionary Force rotations 7 and 8, scheduled to<br />

deploy between May and Aug<strong>us</strong>t, will be among the<br />

first to get it. They can buy the ABU about six weeks<br />

before they leave, officials say. It should be available to<br />

other Airmen by next summer. Once the ABU is<br />

available in base clothing stores, Airmen are authorized<br />

to wear it. In all, the new gear will cost about $370<br />

pl<strong>us</strong> badges and rank. Clothing allowances will<br />

increase in O<strong>ct</strong>ober.<br />

ABU Features<br />

The pants now feature an elastic waistband for easy<br />

give and take and added calf pockets. A pocket within<br />

a pocket will allow airmen to stow smaller items such<br />

as cell phones.<br />

Uniform officials added a slender vertical pocket<br />

to the blo<strong>us</strong>e’s left forearm.<br />

Inside, there is space<br />

to store maps or small<br />

notebooks. ✯<br />

The Force of Freedom 7


RTI Starts Warrant<br />

Officer Candidate School<br />

By Capt. Brad Leighton, 65th Public Affairs Operations Center<br />

With a half century in the rearview mirror, Mr. Charles Eaton started anew<br />

on Dec. 10.<br />

The former master sergeant became the first Massach<strong>us</strong>etts Soldier<br />

awarded a warrant officer commission through the new Reserve<br />

Component Warrant Officer Candidate School.<br />

His 19-year-old son, Steven, pinned the new rank on his father in front of<br />

family and friends in the Veterans of Foreign Wars hall in Rockland.<br />

“This is a true testament, well, to me,” said Eaton, drawing laughs from the<br />

crowd of about 100. “Many people have asked why, at 49 to 50 and as a<br />

master sergeant, I decided to go to a demanding school where most of the<br />

other students are a decade younger. Well, one thing I worked on all my<br />

career was to keep going forward. I realized all the sergeant majors in the<br />

state are too damn young, so, at age 50, there was no place to go.”<br />

With some prodding from his friend Chief Warrant Officer David Cunniff,<br />

Eaton applied and was accepted to the warrant officer school’s pilot<br />

program. He was one of only 119 students from 13 sites across the nation<br />

to graduate from the program at the War Memorial Auditorium<br />

in Indianapolis Sept. 30. He waited a few months to accept his commission<br />

so he could have two years time in grade as a master sergeant. That will<br />

allow the maintenance expert an earlier promotion to chief warrant officer.<br />

The mentally and physically demanding program is nine months long.<br />

Three months are done through a computer-based distance learning<br />

program. Then there are five weekend drills running Friday evenings<br />

through Sunday night followed by two weeks of annual training.<br />

While Eaton attended drill at Camp Rell in Conne<strong>ct</strong>icut and AT at Camp<br />

Atterbury, Ind., new Massach<strong>us</strong>etts Guard warrant officer candidates will<br />

go to the 101st Regional Training Institute on Camp Edwards.<br />

The 101st RTI’s first class started in January with 11 candidates, said state<br />

Command Chief Warrant Officer Peter Georgenes.<br />

Those that graduate from the warrant officer candidate school and receive<br />

their commissions are then required to attend a course in whatever<br />

technical area they choose. The new warrant officer can either attend the<br />

full-time Army school or can go through a reserve component school that<br />

involves two two-week AT periods and two distance learning phases,<br />

Georgenes said.<br />

The Massach<strong>us</strong>etts National Guard needs warrant officers, Georgenes<br />

said. “Right now we are at 67 to 68 percent strength. We have 167 warrant<br />

officer slots and only 105 warrant officers.” Shortages in property book<br />

officers, military personnel technicians and military intelligence<br />

technicians are particularly acute.<br />

Eaton will boost the Massach<strong>us</strong>etts Guard’s warrant officer ranks as the<br />

new maintenance officer for the 211th Military Police Battalion.<br />

“He is the guy we need to do the job at the right time,” said Lt. Col. John<br />

MacPherson, the battalion commander. He has known Eaton for 17 years.<br />

“It was a demanding course, with (physical training), ruck marches,<br />

demanding classroom training, studies at home and home proje<strong>ct</strong>s,” Eaton<br />

said. He thanked his wife, Kathy, for encouraging him when he strained to<br />

keep up with his younger classmates.<br />

Balancing work and family demands along with the course proved difficult.<br />

“I was on academic probation at one point and got counseled for it,” Eaton<br />

said. But he drove on. Kathy said that his whole family was rooting him on.<br />

“He did it. We’re very proud,” she said. “It motivated him. Now he runs five<br />

miles a day.” ✯<br />

Those interested in attending the Reserve Component – Warrant Officer<br />

Candidate School can conta<strong>ct</strong> CW4 Mary Pond, the state warrant<br />

officer strength officer, at 508-233-7304.<br />

The Force of Freedom 9


Cooperative Civil-Military Effort<br />

to Bring 550 Jobs to State<br />

By Capt. Brad Leighton, 65th Public Affairs Operations Center<br />

Thanks to cooperation between the National Guard and several other state<br />

and federal agencies, a major drug manufa<strong>ct</strong>urer is investing $1.1 billion<br />

in Massach<strong>us</strong>etts and plans to create 550 high-paying jobs.<br />

Bristol Meyers Squibb was on a nationwide search for a place to build a<br />

1.5 million square-foot plant that would manufa<strong>ct</strong>ure Orencia, an antirheumatoid<br />

arthritis drug.<br />

Massach<strong>us</strong>etts was competing with four other states for the development,<br />

said William Burke, executive vice president of military initiatives for<br />

MassDevelopment, the state agency charged with spurring growth on<br />

Devens.<br />

Bristol Meyers Squibb found close to 90 acres on the former Army fort that<br />

would be ideal, but a crucial 13 of those acres were still owned by the Army<br />

– including a motor pool leased to the 1st Battalion of the 25th Marine<br />

Regiment.<br />

The Army said it would sell the site as long as MassDevelopment found a<br />

suitable new home for the Marines.<br />

“If the Marines couldn’t be moved in a timely manner, it was a deal<br />

breaker,” Burke said. “Bristol Meyers wasn’t going to wait around and they<br />

had other suitors.”<br />

That’s when the Massach<strong>us</strong>etts National Guard stepped in. With the<br />

approval of the National Guard Bureau, the Massach<strong>us</strong>etts Guard offered<br />

the Marines a building near the Combined Service Maintenance Shop j<strong>us</strong>t<br />

outside the Devens gate. MassDevelopment agreed to invest $1.5 million<br />

to renovate the building to suit the Marines’ needs.<br />

10 Minuteman Spring 2007<br />

“The Massach<strong>us</strong>etts National Guard showed such great generosity to<br />

extend this building for our <strong>us</strong>e,” said Marine Col. Michael Belcher,<br />

the commander of the 25th Marine Regiment. “This proje<strong>ct</strong> went from<br />

conception to chaos to completion in less than a year. That was a tribute<br />

to everyone involved. This was a true joint effort.”<br />

Assistant Adjutant General Raymond Murphy said the deal helped the<br />

state, but also helped the Guard. In a few years, the Marines will move to<br />

a new facility on Devens as part of the federal Base Realignment and<br />

Closure plan.<br />

“When the Marines move out, we’ll get a newly renovated facility back,”<br />

said Murphy, a retired Guard colonel.<br />

Charles Duval, Deven’s public works manager, said that everything had to<br />

be in place quickly or the drug manufa<strong>ct</strong>urer would choose another site<br />

outside Massach<strong>us</strong>etts. “It only took 150 days from the decision to move<br />

the Marines to completion. That took a lot of teamwork from everyone<br />

involved.”<br />

The Massach<strong>us</strong>etts State Legislature passed a special appropriation to<br />

fund the renovation work at the Guard facility, with Gov. Mitt Romney<br />

helping to p<strong>us</strong>h the bill through, Duval said.<br />

In Washington, U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy and U.S. Rep. Marty Meehan<br />

helped pave the sale of the Army property to the state, he added.<br />

Burke said the National Guard’s involvement should not be understated.<br />

“Without the building, I’m not sure we could’ve got the Marines moved in<br />

time,” he said. “But, thankfully, we did. So, everyone wins.”<br />

The average yearly salary for the drug manufa<strong>ct</strong>uring plant will be $60,000<br />

a year, Burke said. The constru<strong>ct</strong>ion should start in the spring. Within two<br />

to three years, 350 workers will be making the arthritis drug. Within five<br />

years the plant should reach full produ<strong>ct</strong>ion, he added. ✯<br />

Marine Col. Michael F. Belcher, the commander of the 25th<br />

Marine Regiment, presents a certificate of appreciation to the<br />

Massach<strong>us</strong>etts National Guard’s Chief Warrant Officer John<br />

Lemire, the assistant superintendent of the Combined Service<br />

Maintenance Shop in Ayer. About 20 Soldiers from the shop<br />

helped move the Marines into a Guard-owned building next to<br />

the CSMS. The move helped spur the development of a drug<br />

manufa<strong>ct</strong>uring plant on Devens.


Vets Helping Vets<br />

By Spc. Charles Espie,<br />

65th Public Affairs Operations Center<br />

The holiday season is all about tradition, and after a<br />

three-year hiat<strong>us</strong>, the Bristow Football League, which<br />

for nine years was a four-on-four flag football league,<br />

finally got back together. In a small park on Bristow<br />

Street in Saug<strong>us</strong> November 26, they started a new<br />

tradition: Raising money for the Chelsea Soldier’s<br />

Home, which provides veterans quality medical care<br />

and living accommodations.<br />

The inaugural Pro-Bowl fundraiser game was the<br />

brain child of J<strong>us</strong>tin Barrett, who is a lieutenant in the<br />

Massach<strong>us</strong>etts Army National Guard and an<br />

Iraqi Freedom veteran. Barrett began the process of<br />

putting together the game by making phone calls to<br />

old buddies from the league.<br />

“The league disbanded after I deployed to Iraq, so I<br />

decided we get together for a game and give back to<br />

the community that could <strong>us</strong>e some extra support.<br />

But this fundraiser will be bigger next year,” said<br />

Barrett.<br />

Once Barrett <strong>us</strong>ed the phrase, “Pro-Bowl Fundraiser,”<br />

BFL veterans, as well as some new recruits, did not<br />

want to turn him down. “It’s fun, great to see the guys<br />

again, and for a good ca<strong>us</strong>e. I am down here today<br />

beca<strong>us</strong>e of J<strong>us</strong>tin,” said Jim Abbott, an Army veteran<br />

and participant in the game.<br />

Rick May, one of Barrett’s long-standing rivals, said,<br />

“It’s nice to come down here and give back to the<br />

veterans and Soldiers who help prote<strong>ct</strong> America’s<br />

freedom.”<br />

Army Capt. Mark Glenn, also an Iraqi Freedom<br />

veteran, said, “As soon as I found out it was for other<br />

veterans, I jumped at the chance beca<strong>us</strong>e unlike<br />

veterans from the current war, Vietnam vets were not<br />

given the recognition they deserved for their service.”<br />

Almost every player donated money, but besides the<br />

players, two local b<strong>us</strong>inesses lent their support.<br />

Holovak & Coughlin, a sporting goods and apparel<br />

store in Arlington, provided game equipment – flags,<br />

cones, and mouth guards. Davis Enterprises, an<br />

embroidery shop in Watertown, provided c<strong>us</strong>tom<br />

made shirts for the Most Valuable Players of the game.<br />

The fundraiser was a beneficial means to get<br />

community residents as well as National Guard and<br />

Army veterans together in order to have some fun and<br />

give back to the community. Barrett hopes that other<br />

BFL members will participate next year to s<strong>us</strong>tain the<br />

tradition.<br />

“We invite anyone to come out and play.<br />

Help referee or stand on the sidelines and cheer, I<br />

don’t care. Look at my wife. She spent six hours here<br />

today,” Barrett said post-game. ✯<br />

The Force of Freedom 11


NIGHT LIGHTS<br />

Story and photos by Lt. Col. David Grenier,<br />

Installations Officer from the 212th Engineering Installation Squadron<br />

The Boston Red Sox may never play under the lights at Kendrick field on<br />

the North side of Worcester, but 450 boys and girls of the Joe Schwartz<br />

Little League will.<br />

Thanks to numero<strong>us</strong> volunteers and the efforts of the 212th Engineering<br />

Installation Squadron, Massach<strong>us</strong>etts National Guard in Milford, night<br />

games will be played here for the first time in 50 years.<br />

The proje<strong>ct</strong>, coordinated by the Schwartz Little League board of dire<strong>ct</strong>ors<br />

president Joe D’Agostino, called on parents and local contra<strong>ct</strong>ors to<br />

volunteer or donate labor and materials to offset the cost of the light<br />

installation. According to Capt. Phil Barbon of the 212th EIS, a parent and<br />

coach in the league, the proje<strong>ct</strong> was over two years in the making. He<br />

explained the goal of the installation was to “give the kids an opportunity<br />

to play and pra<strong>ct</strong>ice more during the months of limited daylight we have<br />

here in the Northeast. This also makes it possible for other city leagues to<br />

<strong>us</strong>e the facility.”<br />

D’Agostino said, “We are truly grateful for the 212th’s efforts. In my eyes<br />

they are all heroes.”<br />

Valuable training was given to 15 installers from the 212th’s Cable and<br />

Antenna se<strong>ct</strong>ion. A low-profile utility vehicle operated by Tech. Sgt. Keith<br />

Delage was <strong>us</strong>ed to raise two 60’ and 70’ light poles. This vehicle not only<br />

lifts and guide poles into position, but can bore holes 30” in diameter to a<br />

depth of 20’. Ditch Witch trenchers and backhoes were <strong>us</strong>ed for 1,100 feet<br />

of ele<strong>ct</strong>rical conduit and cable. Due to rock and debris left over from<br />

previo<strong>us</strong> constru<strong>ct</strong>ion proje<strong>ct</strong>s, old fashioned picks<br />

and shovels were <strong>us</strong>ed on portions of the trench.<br />

Barbon and other parents shared overnight security<br />

detail watching over the lights and equipment<br />

until everything was safely in the air. The weather<br />

cooperated and allowed the four-day proje<strong>ct</strong> to be<br />

completed on time.<br />

Installation proje<strong>ct</strong> manager Master Sgt. Rob<br />

To<strong>us</strong>ignant said, “This is a great opportunity to display<br />

our skill and professionalism. The c<strong>us</strong>tomer gets a cost<br />

effe<strong>ct</strong>ive solution and we get great experience for our<br />

troops. We also get the satisfa<strong>ct</strong>ion of completing a<br />

proje<strong>ct</strong> that will enhance the Little League experience<br />

for so many kids.”<br />

Lt. Col. Mark Kelley, commander of the 212th,<br />

encourages members to be an a<strong>ct</strong>ive part of their<br />

community. “The opportunity to serve the community<br />

while training our personnel is a win-win situation for<br />

everyone. Many unit members have children and<br />

anytime we can be involved with helping kids, we feel<br />

like we are doing it for our own family. There is a lot of<br />

satisfa<strong>ct</strong>ion in that.”<br />

The first time the home team takes the field under the<br />

lights, Little League players, volunteers, and fans will<br />

be sharing the night and enjoying the fun. ✯<br />

12 Minuteman Spring 2007<br />

A low-profile utility vehicle of the 212th EIS was <strong>us</strong>ed to raise two<br />

60' and 70' light poles. This vehicle not only lifts and guide poles into<br />

position, but can bore holes 30" in diameter to a depth of 20'.


M.O.U.T.<br />

Training for SFS<br />

By Chief Master Sgt. Jeffery Johnson,<br />

104th Security Forces Squadron<br />

Security Forces m<strong>us</strong>t train to operate in an urban environment,<br />

keeping in mind that the purpose of any Military Operations on<br />

Urbanized Terrain operation is to seize or hold terrain and or<br />

disrupt or destroy an enemy force. Combat in MOUT consists<br />

mostly of close quarters battle, which is a very violent and highly<br />

stressful environment.<br />

This past November, 26 members of the 104th Security Forces<br />

Squadron, with the support from personnel from 104th Civil<br />

Engineer Squadron and 104th Medical Group, traveled to the<br />

Massach<strong>us</strong>etts State Police Academy in New Braintree to condu<strong>ct</strong><br />

MOUT training. The security forces personnel were first given<br />

classroom instru<strong>ct</strong>ion and a weapons safety briefing prior to<br />

hands-on training. The exercises and training techniques were<br />

designed to be executed by a <strong>standard</strong> four-person fire team.<br />

“This couldn’t have happened without the support of Chief Master<br />

Sgt. Lawrence Heller and the staff at the State Police Academy,”<br />

said Lt. Col. Peter Green. “Our unit has been looking for a facility<br />

that would allow <strong>us</strong> to build our skills in MOUT for quite some time<br />

and the facilities at the academy were outstanding. The<br />

multiple ho<strong>us</strong>es created a real setting that challenged the security<br />

forces team to adapt and overcome obstacles with each new<br />

environment.” ✯<br />

Members of the 104th Security Forces Squadron enter an abandoned home while<br />

condu<strong>ct</strong>ing MOUT Training with the Mass State Police. (Photo by Master Sgt. Mark Fortin,<br />

104th Fighter Wing.)<br />

Members of the 104th Security Forces Squadron prepare to enter an abandon home while<br />

condu<strong>ct</strong>ing MOUT Training. (Photo by Master Sgt. Mark Fortin, 104th Fighter Wing.)<br />

The Force of Freedom 13


True Patriots:<br />

Silver Star Winner, Guard Re-enlistments Highlight of Football Game<br />

Story and photos by Capt. Brad Leighton, 65th Public Affairs Operations Center<br />

It was the first time in three years that Army Chief Warrant Officer<br />

Christopher Palumbo was home.<br />

In 2003, he came home on leave and spent some quiet time with friends<br />

and family. On Dec. 17, he was greeted by a cheering crowd of 60,000.<br />

Win the Silver Star and things change a bit.<br />

Maj. Gen. Robert Bray, The Adjutant General of Rhode Island, presented<br />

Palumbo with a coin at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro j<strong>us</strong>t prior to the<br />

National Football League game between the New England Patriots and the<br />

Ho<strong>us</strong>ton Texans. Palumbo is a native of Rhode Island.<br />

Bray was accompanied by Brig. Gen. Stephen Burritt, The Deputy Adjutant<br />

General of New Hampshire and New Hampshire Army National Guard<br />

Commander.<br />

Members of the Massach<strong>us</strong>etts National Guard’s 215th Army Band sing the National Anthem j<strong>us</strong>t prior to<br />

the National Football League game between the New England Patriots and the Ho<strong>us</strong>ton Texans on Dec. 17<br />

in Foxboro. The band’s “Voices of Freedom” include, from left, Sgt. 1st Class James LaFlame, Staff Sgt.<br />

Steven Cohen, Sgt. Joseph Alves and 1st Sgt. Jeffrey Hyde. Close to 100 National Guard Soldiers from all<br />

over New England took the Oath of Office at midfield at halftime of the game.<br />

The generals were also there to cheer on their own troops. Close to 100<br />

National Guard troops from all over New England took the Oath of Office at<br />

halftime of the game to the roar of the crowd. These include 20 from<br />

Rhode Island, 17 from New Hampshire and 10 from Massach<strong>us</strong>etts. It was<br />

the third such ceremony hosted by the Patriots this year.<br />

Palumbo, now stationed at Fort Rucker, Ala., earned the Silver Star in<br />

Afghanistan in 2005.<br />

Palumbo was the pilot in command of a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter that<br />

came under fire while supporting special operations Soldiers.<br />

While inserting a quick rea<strong>ct</strong>ion force and extra<strong>ct</strong>ing two wounded<br />

Soldiers, Palumbo and his crew were credited with killing more than six<br />

enemy and were constantly under fire from small arms and rocketpropelled<br />

grenades.<br />

The crowd also cheered for the Patriots, who won, 40-7. ✯<br />

With a television crew zooming in, Maj. Gen. Robert Bray, The Adju<br />

National Guard coin to Silver Star awardee and Ocean State native<br />

a National Football League game between the New England Patriots


Cpl. Melinda Crosby of the Vermont Army National Guard’s Recruitment and Retention Command gives ‘Pat the Patriot’ a high-five as Pfc. Sarah Palhete of<br />

the Vermont Guard’s 131st Engineer Co. looks on. The two Vermonters officially re-enlisted near midfield during half-time of the National Football League<br />

game between the New England Patriots and the Ho<strong>us</strong>ton Texans on Dec. 17 in Foxboro.<br />

tant General of Rhode Island, presents a Rhode Island<br />

Chief Warrant Officer Christopher Palumbo j<strong>us</strong>t prior to<br />

and the Ho<strong>us</strong>ton Texans on Dec. 17 in Foxboro.<br />

2nd Lt. Kevin Elmer of the Vermont Army National Guard, left, leads a rank of Soldiers as they recite the Oath of Office<br />

during halftime of the National Football League game at Gillette Stadium between the New England Patriots and the<br />

Ho<strong>us</strong>ton Texans on Dec. 17.<br />

The Force of Freedom 15


Marching<br />

with Bundeswehr<br />

Story and photo by Pfc. James Deady, Massach<strong>us</strong>etts National Guard Public Affairs<br />

On O<strong>ct</strong>. 5, 2006, seven Soldiers from the Massach<strong>us</strong>etts National Guard’s<br />

Recruit S<strong>us</strong>tainment Program and three other Soldiers from<br />

Massach<strong>us</strong>etts, Rhode Island and Maryland, participated in an 18.7-mile<br />

rucksack march in Restin, Va., to earn the German Armed Forces Sports<br />

Efficiency Badge, courtesy of the Bundeswehr, or the German Armed<br />

Forces.<br />

“We had 10 participants, seven of which were from the Recruit<br />

S<strong>us</strong>tainment Program,” said Massach<strong>us</strong>etts National Guard Sgt. 1st Class<br />

Steven Degnan, of Recruiting and Retention Command.<br />

The Soldiers arrived outside the nation’s capital at approximately 11 p.m.<br />

and set up camp on the site of the ruck march. After a night’s sleep in the<br />

field, the participants awoke at 5:30 a.m. and prepped their 25 pound<br />

ruck gear.<br />

Colle<strong>ct</strong>ively participating in the event, the Soldiers were a mix of National<br />

Guard, A<strong>ct</strong>ive Duty and German Armed Forces soldiers. The primary<br />

spokesman for the event was German Armed Forces Sgt. Maj. Walter<br />

Roher.<br />

16 Minuteman Spring 2007<br />

(From left to right) Sgt. Ryan Martin of the 182nd Engineer Company (Sapper), Pfc. Allen Membreno, Recruit S<strong>us</strong>tainment Program; Pfc.<br />

Omid Gharony, RSP; Pfc. Troy Bickford, RSP; Sgt. 1st Class Steven Degan, Recruiting and Retention Command; Pfc. Michael Sutherland,<br />

RSP; Pfc. John Coyne, RSP; Pfc. Sean Martin, RSP and Staff Sgt. Ryan McNamara from Headquarters 181st Infantry Battalion, at the<br />

German Armed Forces Consulate, or Bundeswehr, outside of Washington, D.C., after a 30-kilometer ruck march.<br />

After receiving a warm welcome to the event from Roher, the participants<br />

received a safety and course guide briefing, followed by the march kickoff<br />

at roughly 8 a.m. The Massach<strong>us</strong>etts Soldiers now had to complete the<br />

undulant course in less than five hours.<br />

Soldiers were previo<strong>us</strong>ly required to complete other events to test their<br />

physical and mental endurance including a timed 200-meter swim in under<br />

six minutes, a 3,000-meter run in less than 13 minutes, a 100-meter sprint<br />

under 13.4 seconds, a long jump with a distance of at least at least 4.75<br />

meters, a shot throw of at least eight meters, qualify in certain first-aid<br />

skills and qualify for marksmanship with an M-9 pistol. All the physically<br />

oriented events are adj<strong>us</strong>ted accordingly to age and gender.<br />

For our 10 Guardsmen, they would have to do three laps on the course to<br />

earn their German Proficiency Badge. At check points, Soldiers get signed<br />

off for proof of participation; they rest, eat and hydrate, receive medical<br />

attention and perform medical maintenance on themselves. Time management<br />

is the responsibility of the Soldier or in the case of the RSP soldiers,<br />

the responsibility of Degnan and Sgt. 1st Class Jodie Dove, a medic in the<br />

Rhode Island National Guard.<br />

“The event is an outstanding, motivating experience for Soldiers,<br />

especially for RSP Soldiers,” said Degnan. “Some Soldiers can be in the<br />

RSP program for almost a year, so it’s a great opportunity and accomplishment<br />

to wear the German Armed Forces Sports Proficiency Badge on your<br />

Class A’s after basic training or advanced individual training.”<br />

The event is open to any member of the U.S. Armed Forces. Based on their<br />

performance, Soldiers can earn a gold, silver or bronze badge that is<br />

authorized to be worn with the Class A and Army dress blue uniform. ✯


PTSD Primer<br />

By Col. Alexandra Accardi, Massach<strong>us</strong>etts Army National Guard State Surgeon<br />

The syndrome known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a growing concern<br />

with respe<strong>ct</strong> to our troops returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan.<br />

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder has been recognized since the Civil War. It<br />

has had many names, but it has never been as accepted or understood as<br />

it is today.<br />

More than 35 percent of Soldiers returning home have sought treatment<br />

for PTSD, but many others have not recognized the symptoms.<br />

Symptoms tend to be more prevalent in those who have experienced<br />

greater combat experience; those who received some kind of trauma or<br />

were engaged in a firefight, for example. Symptoms include nightmares,<br />

difficulty relating to stressful situations – excessive anger, sadness or<br />

irritability – an inability to openly disc<strong>us</strong>s previo<strong>us</strong> events, insomnia,<br />

decreased concentration, isolation, detachment or feelings of event<br />

recurrence.<br />

Many veterans will discount the importance of these symptoms, despite<br />

the profound impa<strong>ct</strong> they have on themselves and, above all, on those<br />

around them.<br />

Aside from the mental and physical stress, PTSD can also lead to problems<br />

with substance ab<strong>us</strong>e, disrupt interpersonal relationships and ca<strong>us</strong>e feelings<br />

of shame and worthlessness; all of which only compound the impa<strong>ct</strong><br />

of PTSD.<br />

Our greatest obstacles in addressing PTSD is recognizing it in our service<br />

members and our approach to providing adequate treatment and support<br />

for our Soldiers and Airmen returning from a<strong>ct</strong>ive duty.<br />

We m<strong>us</strong>t not only <strong>us</strong>e screening tools, medications<br />

and, potentially, psychotherapy, but also involve the<br />

family and community as part of the overall treatment<br />

and support stru<strong>ct</strong>ure our veterans require.<br />

In conjun<strong>ct</strong>ion with our veterans’ hospitals, we need<br />

screening processes to determine who may need<br />

support, despite the relu<strong>ct</strong>ance of many veterans to<br />

seek such help.<br />

There are multiple medications <strong>us</strong>ed to treat the<br />

cl<strong>us</strong>ter of symptoms and emotions involved with Post<br />

Traumatic Stress Disorder, including antidepressants,<br />

antipsychotics and benzodiazepines. These medications<br />

can help facilitate a better reintegration for the<br />

Some PTSD Warning Signs:<br />

Physical – Difficulty sleeping, upset stomach,<br />

shaking, excessive sweating, headaches, diarrhea,<br />

dizziness, rapid heartbeat, change in appetite,<br />

hyper-alertness, exha<strong>us</strong>tion.<br />

Mental – Difficulty making decisions, shortened<br />

attention span, difficulty concentrating, intr<strong>us</strong>ive<br />

memories, re-experiencing events, nightmares.<br />

Behavioral – Irritability, aggressive behavior, social<br />

isolation or withdrawal, problems at work,<br />

increased alcohol consumption.<br />

Emotional – Fear, guilt, shame, sadness, numbness,<br />

anger, mood swings, apathy.<br />

returning veteran, but psychosocial support from psychiatrists,<br />

psychotherapists, clergy and, above all, other veterans is the key to the<br />

returning veteran’s well-being when PTSD is s<strong>us</strong>pe<strong>ct</strong>ed.<br />

If we are to successfully address PTSD in our returning Soldiers and<br />

Airmen, our overall approach to this very real and potentially devastating<br />

syndrome m<strong>us</strong>t be:<br />

1. Screening/recognition 2. Reassurance<br />

3. Medications when needed 4. Psychosocial/therapeutic support<br />

5. Peer/family/community support<br />

Above all, we m<strong>us</strong>t allow the dedicated veterans with PTSD to have a voice<br />

– without shame or guilt – so we can help release the visual, physical and<br />

mental horrors they have experienced. They have done their duty; this duty<br />

is ours.<br />

Soldiers, Airmen or family members with questions regarding PTSD can<br />

get more information from VA Centers and Massach<strong>us</strong>etts Outreach<br />

Centers. ✯<br />

Veterans Centers in Massach<strong>us</strong>etts:<br />

VA - http://www1.va.gov/dire<strong>ct</strong>ory/guide/home.asp<br />

Boston Vet Center (617) 424-0665 Brockton Vet Center (508) 580-2730<br />

Lowell Vet Center (978) 453-1151 New Bedford Vet Center (508) 999-6920<br />

Springfield Vet Center (413) 737-5167 Worcester Vet Center (508) 856-7428<br />

Massach<strong>us</strong>etts Outreach Centers<br />

Amesbury - Our Neighbor’s Table (978) 388-1907<br />

Beverly - Vets Counseling Services (978) 921-4851<br />

Fall River - Veterans Association (508) 679-9277<br />

Falmouth - Cape Cod Free Clinic (508) 477-7090<br />

Gardner - Veterans Outreach Center (978) 632-9601<br />

Haverhill - Northeast Outreach (978) 521-9668<br />

Hyannis - Nam Vets Association (508) 778-1590<br />

Marlborough - Vets Outreach Center (508) 460-9993<br />

Middleborough - Vets Outreach (508) 947-9109<br />

Roxbury - Veterans Clearingho<strong>us</strong>e (617) 541-8846<br />

Springfield - Puerto Rican Vets (413) 731-0194<br />

The Force of Freedom 17


1 JUL 06 through<br />

30 SEP 06<br />

Congratulations to the following<br />

promotion recipients:<br />

E-2<br />

ALVAREZ HARVEY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHT 1ST SQDN 182ND CAV<br />

ANAIR FRANCES A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHC (-) BDE SPC TRPS BN<br />

ANDRADE LUCINDA R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .379TH ENGR CO (HORIZ)<br />

BARTLETT KYLA D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DET 1 HHC BDE SPC TRPR BN<br />

BARTLETT MICHAEL A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .G CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

BEAUBRUN LUCETTE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .G CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

BERGEN ALEXANDER R . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C TRP 1ST SQDN 182ND CAV<br />

BLANCHARD KYLE W . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B TRP 1ST SQDN 182ND CAV<br />

BROWN CCSHRON A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CO C 1ST BN 181 INF<br />

BROWN CHRIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHT 1ST SQDN 182ND CAV<br />

BURKE DEANA M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .972ND MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

CALDERONE JONATHAN A . . . . . . . . . . . .747TH MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

CANTONI JONATHON M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DET 1 ENGINEER CO BSTB<br />

CARUSO JOHN P JR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .G CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

CHRISTENSON ROLAND V . . . . . . . . . . . .B TRP 1ST SQDN 182ND CAV<br />

COOPER EDWARD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C TRP 1ST SQDN 182ND CAV<br />

CORREIA GREGORY B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .379TH ENGR CO (HORIZ)<br />

COSTA SARAH N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .772ND MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

COTE RAYMOND R JR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CO C 1ST BN 181 INF<br />

COX RICHARD J III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .181 EN COMPANY (VERTICAL)<br />

CURTIS DOUGLAS A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DET 1 CO B 1ST BN 181 INF<br />

DELGADO LUIS E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HHC (-) BDE SPC TRPS BN<br />

DEPINA JEROME J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .379TH ENGR CO (HORIZ)<br />

DUPELLE NICKOLAS E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

DYKSTRA JOSHUA T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CO D 3RD BN 126TH AVN<br />

EGAN JESSICA L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

ESPINAL ANNA L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .D CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

FERREIRA LUIS A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .D CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

FIELD NATHAN J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CO C 1ST BN 181 INF<br />

FIGUEROA ANGEL J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DET. 1, 181 EN CO (VERT)<br />

FLECHSIG CHRISTOPHER P . . . . . . . . . . .A TRP 1ST SQDN 182ND CAV<br />

FLEMING HOLLY E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125TH QUARTERMASTER CO<br />

FLETCHER DONALD M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .272 CHEMICAL CO (-DET 2)<br />

FURTADO JOAO S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .220TH QM TEAM (WTR SUP)<br />

GARCIA PENA CARLOS A . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHT 1ST SQDN 182ND CAV<br />

GRAY CANDRIA L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHC 26TH INF BDE (YANKEE)<br />

HUDSON STERLING P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHS 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

HUNTER ALARIC K . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .G CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

IRELAND SABRINA B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

JOHNSON NICOLE A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .747TH MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

JOHNSON WILLIE R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .D CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

KIMANI THEOPHILO M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BTRY A 1ST BN 101 FA<br />

KOSUDA ALLYSON M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .747TH MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

LACERTE SEAN M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHC 3RD BN 126TH AVN<br />

LATOUR ANTHONY T III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DET 1, 181 EN CO (VERT)<br />

LATTIMER ASHLEIGH E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42ND MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

LEPAGE WILLIAM P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125TH QUARTERMASTER CO<br />

LOEUP EDWARDE S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C TRP 1ST SQDN 182ND CAV<br />

LOPES ELVIS G . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A TRP 1ST SQDN 182ND CAV<br />

LUIPPOLD JASON A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ENGINEER CO (-) BSTB<br />

LUNA FRANCISCO J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHC (-) BDE SPC TRPS BN<br />

MAGUIRE FREDERICK J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .182 EN CO (SAPPER)<br />

MALASI ALEXANDER V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B TRP 1ST SQDN 182ND CAV<br />

MATOS LUIS F . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CO A 1-181 INF (REAR)<br />

MCALLISTER ANDREW S . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CAMP EDWARDS TNG SITE<br />

MCFADDEN ALEXANDER P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHC 1ST BN 181 INF<br />

MEDEIROS CAITLYN M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .772ND MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

MELENDEZ JOSE III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A TRP 1ST SQDN 182ND CAV<br />

NDUNGU JAMES G . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHT 1ST SQDN 182ND CAV<br />

NHEAN SOPHAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .182 EN CO (SAPPER)<br />

NUON KHEMARO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHT 1ST SQDN 182ND CAV<br />

NUTILE PAUL M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DET 1, HSC, 101 EN BN<br />

OLANIYI KAREEM A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

OLIVER ERIC J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .G CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

PAGE STEPHANIE L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1166TH TRANS (LT/MED) TC<br />

PATENAUDE WALTER R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1166TH TRANS (LT/MED) TC<br />

PINEDA JOHAN A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CO C 1ST BN 181 INF<br />

PITTSLEY JASON W . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .379TH ENGR CO (HORIZ)<br />

PRIESTLY JONATHAN A . . . . . . . . . . . . . .772ND MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

PURINTON MICAH S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DET 1 CO B 1ST BN 181 INF<br />

RENDE JESSE A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHC 1ST BN 181 INF<br />

REVETT COREY O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CO C 181 ENGR BN<br />

ROBINSON ADAM R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CO E 3RD BN 126TH AVN<br />

ROBINSON JEFFERY N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CO A 1-181 INF (REAR)<br />

ROCHADESA FREDERICO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CO C 1ST BN 181 INF<br />

ROSS ASHLEY S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .772ND MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

SALMI PAUL A JR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110TH MAINTENANCE CO<br />

SCATTO STEVEN J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C TRP 1ST SQDN 182ND CAV<br />

SCOTT FLEMING RYAN M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110TH MAINTENANCE CO<br />

SEVOVA MARIA H . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .272 CHEMICAL CO (-DET 2)<br />

SEXTON DEREK R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1166TH TRANS (LT/MED) TC<br />

SHOLOMITH JOSEPH M JR . . . . . . . . . . .972ND MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

SMITH EVAN P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .182 EN CO (SAPPER)<br />

SMOLA NICHOLAS S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .379TH ENGR CO (HORIZ)<br />

SQUIRES JAMES F . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BTRY B 1ST BN 101 FA<br />

STEPANOV VLADIMIR Y . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

SYLVIA VICTORIA L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .772ND MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

THIBODEAU MATTHEW W . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DET 3, B CO, 638 SPT BN<br />

THOMPSON BRENDAN A . . . . . . . . . . . . .A TRP 1ST SQDN 182ND CAV<br />

THRASHER ALAN M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .747TH MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

TURNER ADAM W . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHS 1ST BN 101ST FA<br />

VLK JEFFREY F JR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .181 EN COMPANY (VERTICAL)<br />

WILSON LISSA F . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DET 4, HHC 3-126TH AVN<br />

WOODFIN DAVID W . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BTRY B 1ST BN 101 FA<br />

E-3<br />

AGHAJANIAN GREGORY D . . . . . . . . . . . .C TRP 1ST SQDN 182ND CAV<br />

AGUIRRE DENNYS J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

ALLEN SEAN R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

ANAND MONICA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .772ND MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

ANG BORIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C TRP 1ST SQDN 182ND CAV<br />

ARANGO EDWIN F . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CAMP EDWARDS TNG SITE<br />

ASTROFSKY MICHAEL D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .182 EN CO (SAPPER)<br />

BENOIT GLENN G . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .272 CHEMICAL CO (-DET 2)<br />

BERGGREN NICOLAS K . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42ND MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

BISHOP MICHAEL J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .972ND MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

BRADBURY THOMAS H . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DET 1 ENGINEER CO BSTB<br />

BROWN NEMIAH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHT 1ST SQDN 182ND CAV<br />

BUTLER JOHN P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C TRP 1ST SQDN 182ND CAV<br />

CAISSIE SHAUN J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CO A 1-181 INF (REAR)<br />

CAMARA MATTHEW E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C TRP 1ST SQDN 182ND CAV<br />

CANTWELL JOSEPH A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CO A 1-181 INF (REAR)<br />

CATANIA NICHOLAS T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CO D 1ST BN 181 INF<br />

CHAREST STEPHEN F . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHC 1ST BN 181 INF<br />

CLARKE JOHN M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HSC (-) 101 EN BN<br />

CLERVERSEAU ROMEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A TRP 1ST SQDN 182ND CAV<br />

COBB CHRISTOPHER J . . . . . . . . . . . . . .181 EN COMPANY (VERTICAL)<br />

COLAMECO PAUL M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C TRP 1ST SQDN 182ND CAV<br />

COLBY ALEX A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DET 1, HSC, 101 EN BN<br />

COLLINS JASON J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHC 1ST BN 181 INF<br />

COLON CHRISTIE A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

DALTON ROSS W . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A TRP 1-182ND CAV FWD<br />

DAPONTE JONATHAN J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .772ND MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

DEFELICE MARCO L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C TRP 1ST SQDN 182ND CAV<br />

DEFREITAS JESSIKA P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1166TH TRANS (LT/MED) TC<br />

DELLICKER BENJAMIN H . . . . . . . . . . . . .747TH MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

DEMATTOS DAVID P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .189TH EN TM (ASPHALT)<br />

DERBY STEPHEN F . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHT 1ST SQDN 182ND CAV<br />

DESMARAIS KAREN L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .772ND MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

DINIZ MICHAEL A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .772ND MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

DOWNEY PATRICK M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1166TH TRANS (LT/MED) TC<br />

ELLIS THOMAS E JR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110TH MAINTENANCE CO<br />

FAY JEFFREY D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

FERREIRA DEREK S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A TRP 1ST SQDN 182ND CAV<br />

FIELDS JACK T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BTRY B 1ST BN 101 FA<br />

FISHLIN SETH M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .179 EN DET (FIREFIGHTING)<br />

FLOOD CHRISTOPHER S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHC (-) BDE SPC TRPS BN<br />

FOREHAND ELIZABETH M . . . . . . . . . . . . .747TH MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

FRAZER SARA A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .747TH MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

GENEROUS MICHELLE M . . . . . . . . . . . . .772ND MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

GIBSON THOMAS Z . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .772ND MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

GONZALEZ JOSHUA M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHC (-) BDE SPC TRPS BN<br />

GOTHING STEVEN P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHC 101ST ENGR BN FWD<br />

GRAVES NICOLE M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

GREENE NICHOLAS R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DET 1 CO B 1ST BN 181 INF<br />

HACKATHORN CHRISTOPHER J . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CO D 1ST BN 181 INF<br />

HALL TERRYL A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHC (-) BDE SPC TRPS BN<br />

HARDY BRANNICK T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B TRP 1-182ND CAV FWD<br />

HARSH BRANDON R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHC 1ST BN 181 INF<br />

HAYES LOLA J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .MI CO BSTB<br />

HILL ZYKIYAH A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .181 EN COMPANY (VERTICAL)(<br />

HOUSTON MICHAEL P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DET 1, HSC, 101 EN BN<br />

HYNES JOSEPH M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .272 CHEMICAL CO (-DET 2)<br />

JACKSON LINCELL A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .D CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

JONES RYAN C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DET 1, 181 EN CO (VERT)<br />

KALLON DUSU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHD 802ND TRANS BN<br />

KEARNS DAVID M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C TRP 1ST SQDN 182ND CAV<br />

KENNEY SEAN M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .747TH MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

KNOBLOCK SAMUEL J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BTRY E (TAB) 101ST FA<br />

KUTARNIA ERIC J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHC 1ST BN 181 INF<br />

LABRECQUE LAURA L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .272 CHEMICAL CO (-DET 2)<br />

LAJOIE WILLIAM D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .379TH ENGR CO (HORIZ)<br />

LALIBERTE JOSEPH B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHC 1ST BN 181 INF<br />

LATORRA KELLY A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .747TH MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

LEAHY PATRICE D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .272 CHEMICAL CO (-DET 2)<br />

MARTIN KYLE J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .772ND MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

MATTHEWMAN JAMES B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CO C 1ST BN 181 INF<br />

MENDOZA JONATHAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A TRP 1ST SQDN 182ND CAV<br />

MONIZ AUSTIN J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .772ND MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

MORALES BRANDON U . . . . . . . . . . . . . .772ND MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

MORALES JESSAMYN I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HSC (-) 101 EN BN<br />

MORENO JOSE L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHD 211TH MP BN<br />

NELSON JAMES F JR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .182 EN CO (SAPPER)<br />

NEYLON KIMBERLY A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .747TH MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

NORMAN EVAN L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125TH QUARTERMASTER CO<br />

OBRIEN JOSEPH H . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .G CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

OBRIEN ROBERT T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .D CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

OKEEFE PERRY J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHS 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

OKEEFE TARA A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHC 26TH INF BDE (YANKEE)(<br />

ONEIL CHRISTOPHER J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CO C 1ST BN 181 INF<br />

ORR WILLIAM G . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CO C 1ST BN 2O SFG<br />

ORTIZ JOSE L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .772ND MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

OSTER CHRISTIAN W . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42ND MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

PALIZZOLO JOSEPH M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .772ND MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

PARKS PATRICK J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .189TH EN TM (ASPHALT)<br />

PASTENA ROBERT A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A TRP 1ST SQDN 182ND CAV<br />

PEREZ NELSON A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .972ND MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

PETERS MICHELLE M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1164TH TRANS (LT/MED) TC<br />

PHILIPPE ISAAC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .MI CO BSTB<br />

PIERRE LOUIS R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .D CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

PILLAI SEAN B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .972ND MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

QUINN MARY J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .772ND MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

REYES DAVID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CO D 3RD BN 126TH AVN<br />

RICHARDSON STANLEY K III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CO C 1ST BN 181 INF<br />

RIVAS JEREMY C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .747TH MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

ROBINSON MICHELLE E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .G CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

RODRIGUEZ ANGEL L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B TRP 1ST SQDN 182ND CAV<br />

ROMANS BRAD A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DET 1, HSC, 101 EN BN<br />

ROQUE LEE A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHC (-) BDE SPC TRPS BN<br />

ROSE ROBERT R III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

RYAN EDWARD J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125TH QUARTERMASTER CO<br />

SANJURO DENNIS L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .FSC, 101 EN BN<br />

SHUMAN KARL M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CO C 1ST BN 181 INF<br />

SILVA COREY J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .972ND MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

SILVA DERRICK M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .272 CHEMICAL CO (-DET 2)<br />

SLEEPER JASON K . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHC 1ST BN 181 INF<br />

SMITH SHAWN C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CO A 1-181 INF (REAR)<br />

SUTHERLAND MICHAEL R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHC 1ST BN 181 INF<br />

TOLAND SEILEEN M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42ND MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

TONRY JASON J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CO C 1ST BN 181 INF<br />

TRAN BRANDON T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C TRP 1ST SQDN 182ND CAV<br />

VALLIERE NATHANIEL J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DET 1, HSC, 101 EN BN<br />

WALLACE ASHLEY D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

WHALEN MATTHEW J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .972ND MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

WILLIAMS DONALD D JR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .379TH ENGR CO (HORIZ)<br />

WILSON JEROME D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .D CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

WITT BRIAN S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1060TH TC CO MDM TRK FWD<br />

WOOTEN KYRELL J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C TRP 1ST SQDN 182ND CAV<br />

WORSLEY BRIAN P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A TRP 1ST SQDN 182ND CAV<br />

YELISEYEV KONSTANTIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHS 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

E-4<br />

AHLERS CARL R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DET 1, HSC, 101 EN BN<br />

AIELLO DENNIS C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHT 1ST SQDN 182ND CAV<br />

ALDEN STEPHANIE D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

AULD RENEE D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

BAIN TIMOTHY M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHC 26TH INF BDE FWD 6<br />

BARAN SHAWN P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DET 1 ENGINEER CO BSTB<br />

BEST MICHAEL A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .772ND MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

BRAIMAH SULLEYMAN A . . . . . . . . . . . .1060TH TC CO MDM TRK FWD<br />

BROWN NICHOLAS A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .215TH ARMY BAND<br />

BROWN ROGER W . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1166TH TRANS (LT/MED) TC<br />

BUEHRENS DANA J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .747TH MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

BULGER SHANE P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHS 1ST BN 101ST FA FWD 8(<br />

BUZANOSKI ADAM M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DET 3, B CO, 638 SPT BN<br />

CARDIN, ROBERT J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 MAINTENANCE SQ<br />

CASALETTO MATTHEW R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHC 101ST ENGR BN FWD<br />

CORREIA RUSSELL S JR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .215TH ARMY BAND<br />

CROPPER CHRISTOPHER L . . . . . . . . . . . . .DET 1 ENGINEER CO BSTB<br />

DONOVAN MELISSA J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CO C DET 1 3RD BN 126 AVN<br />

DONOVAN SHAWN P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CAMP EDWARDS TNG SITE<br />

DOOLEY PETER C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C TRP 1ST SQDN 182ND CAV<br />

DUCHARME JOSEPH A II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CO D 3RD BN 126TH AVN<br />

DURKIN CIARA M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .JFHQ-FWD 28 FI DET HQ<br />

DYKE JAMES G . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B TRP 1-182ND CAV FWD<br />

ELWOOD JOHN F . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .D CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

EMMANUEL RUDY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B TRP 1-182ND CAV FWD<br />

FARRELL JEFFREY J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

FERN DAVID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .379TH ENGR CO (HORIZ)<br />

FIORE, JONATHON W. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102 AIRCRAFT MAINT SQ<br />

FLEMMING PATRICK M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1058TH TRANS (LT/MED) TC<br />

FORAND ROBERT W . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .179 EN DET (FIREFIGHTING)<br />

FRANK JOSHUA R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CO D 1ST BN 181 INF<br />

GABRIELLE RAYMOND E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .379TH ENGR CO (HORIZ)<br />

GALLANT SHANE P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CO D 3RD BN 126TH AVN<br />

GRADEN JACQUELINE M . . . . . . . . . . . .181 EN COMPANY (VERTICAL)<br />

GREEN, JAIME J. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102 CIVIL ENGINEERING SQ<br />

GREEN TALVIN L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHT 1ST SQDN 182ND CAV<br />

HALL ROBERT S JR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

HARRINGTON MARK J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .379TH ENGR CO (HORIZ)<br />

HERNANDEZ, NAISHA I . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 LOGISTICS READINES SQ<br />

HERRERA THOMAS J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .772ND MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

HIGHTOWER, JAMES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102 SECURITY FORCES SQ<br />

HOGAN JAMES F . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

HOWE JESSICA L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHD 26TH PERS SVC DET<br />

HURTT SEAN R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B TRP 1-182ND CAV FWD<br />

JOE SAMELIA N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .379TH ENGR CO (HORIZ)<br />

JOHNSON DARYL S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .379TH ENGR CO (HORIZ)<br />

JOHNSON PAUL M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .747TH MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

JONES, KENNETH J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .567 AIR FORCE BD<br />

KENT, KYLE A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102 OPERATIONS SUPPORT FT<br />

KINDL MARK R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CAMP EDWARDS TNG SITE<br />

KLEPACKI, KEVIN A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .567 AIR FORCE BD<br />

KRUSZYNA JUSTIN A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DET 1 ENGINEER CO BSTB<br />

LAI DAVID NHATANH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CO D 1ST BN 181 INF<br />

LAQUERRE JACQUELYN A . . . . . . . . . . . . .1164TH TRANS (LT/MED) TC<br />

LAWTON ANDREW P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .747TH MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

LILJA ALLEN W . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHC 101ST ENGR BN FWD<br />

LIPOMI ARASIMO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .972ND MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

LIPTAK, GREGORY J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 CIVIL ENGINEER SQ<br />

MACHADO DEREK M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHS 1ST BN 101ST FA<br />

MARKGREN JR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHS 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

MCCUE THOMAS J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

MCGOWAN KIMBERLY K . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110TH MAINTENANCE CO<br />

McLAUGHLIN, JOHN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102 SECURITY FORCES SQ<br />

MCPHEE SHANNON E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42ND MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

MELCHER, RICHARD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102 STUDENT FT<br />

MILLER TODD E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .747TH MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

MIRANDA THIAGO O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .747TH MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

MIZE MICHAEL A II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHC 101ST ENGR BN FWD<br />

MORALES JOVANNIE A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CO C 1ST BN 181 INF<br />

MURPHY MATTHEW T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .972ND MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

MYLES VIOLA D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .SIG NETWORK SPT CO BSTB<br />

18 Minuteman Spring 2007


The Force of Freedom 19<br />

NARDO TIMOTHY T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHC 3RD BN 126TH AVN<br />

NDURURI GEORGE K . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B TRP 1-182ND CAV FWD<br />

NUNEZ JESUS E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110TH MAINTENANCE CO<br />

PAGE SEAN M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1060TH TC CO MDM TRK FWD<br />

PARRISH JAMES A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHC (-) BDE SPC TRPS BN<br />

PEREIRA ANDREW L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A TRP 1-182ND CAV FWD<br />

PEREZ DARIO A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B TRP 1-182ND CAV FWD<br />

PHELPS, JAMIE E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .567 AIR FORCE BD<br />

QUINLAN NICHOLAS P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .379TH ENGR CO (HORIZ)<br />

REUL STEPHEN D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BTRY A 1ST BN 101 FA<br />

ROCHELEAU PATRICK J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHC 1ST BN 181 INF<br />

RODRIGUES ODILON N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C CO 126TH CS<br />

RODRIGUEZ, JENNIFER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .131 FIGHTER SQ<br />

SANTIAGO ANGELA M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DET 5, CO E 3-126 AV<br />

SANTIAGO SHAVONNE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HSC, (-) 226TH DASB<br />

SCHLANGEN DAVID G . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .MI CO BSTB<br />

SHERMAN, MICHELLE M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 SECURITY FORCES SQ<br />

SHINE MICHAEL W . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHD 802ND TRANS BN<br />

SPURLEY CHRISTOPHER W . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHC 1ST BN 181 INF<br />

SPURR JEFFREY A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B TRP 1-182ND CAV FWD<br />

STANDE ALBERT W JR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHC 101ST ENGR BN FWD<br />

SUKEFORTH SCOTT D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CAMP EDWARDS TNG SITE<br />

SYNNOTT CHARLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CO D 3RD BN 126TH AVN<br />

TEVES, KEVIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102 SECURITY FORCES SQ<br />

TOWNSEND MARK E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BTRY E (TAB) 101ST FA<br />

TYLER JONATHAN R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110TH MAINTENANCE CO<br />

WARNER, KATIE L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 SERVICES FT<br />

WILLIAMS CHARLES R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHC 101ST ENGR BN FWD<br />

WILSON RASHAD F . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHC (-) BDE SPC TRPS BN<br />

E-5<br />

ALECTINE ROSE S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .MAARNG ELE JFHQ FWD 26<br />

ATWELL WINIFRED N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DET 1, CO F 3-126 AV<br />

BARON RAYMOND F . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .JFHQ-FWD 28 FI DET HQ<br />

BEAULIEU ROGER H II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

BECKER, SEAN T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 AIRCRAFT MAINT SQ<br />

BELLINGER LAWRENCE L . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

BUJOLD NATALIE J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

BURKE KEVIN T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHS 1ST BN 101ST FA FWD 8<br />

CARDONA CARLOS A JR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHT 1ST SQDN 182ND CAV<br />

CAROFANIELLO A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .747TH MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

CHAMBERS, PATRICK M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .567 AIR FORCE BD<br />

CHAPMAN ANTHONY J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CO E 3RD BN 126TH AVN<br />

COUTO SCOTT J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CAMP EDWARDS TNG SITE<br />

ERNST ROBERT E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110TH MAINTENANCE CO<br />

ESGUERRA, DANILLO G. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102 AIRCRAFT MAINT SQ<br />

FLORESCASTRO JOSE O . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHS 1ST BN 101ST FA FWD 8<br />

FLORESTORRES PABLO L . . . . . . . . . . . .DET 1 HHC BDE SPC TRPR BN<br />

FOSTER, STEVEN F . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 MAINTENANCE SQ<br />

GILLMAN BRIAN D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .972ND MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

GREGORY, MARK J. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102 MAINTENANCE SQ<br />

HARRIS, DAVID L. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102 LOGISTICS READINESS SQ<br />

HART JESSICA L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .747TH MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

HOYT WILLIAM E II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .G CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

HUMBER STEPHEN J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .747TH MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

IKLES, FREDERICK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102 CIVIL ENGINEERING SQ<br />

INGARI, JAMES C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 AIRCRAFT MAINT SQ<br />

INGRAHAM TRAVIS K . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .747TH MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

JONES, SONIA D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102 FW<br />

KING KEVIN D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHC 1ST BN 181 INF<br />

KOZA KAITLYN L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHC 3RD BN 126TH AVN<br />

KRIDER, ROBERT D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 SECURITY FORCES SQ<br />

LAPRE ANDREW K . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

LAVARNWAY, KAREN D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 MEDICAL GP<br />

LEACH DANIEL J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .G CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

LENZO JEREMY R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BTRY A 1ST BN 101 FA<br />

LORENZ, ANDREAS K . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 SECURITY FORCES SQ<br />

LUCIER DEREK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .379TH ENGR CO (HORIZ)<br />

MAHON KEITH A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .D CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

MCCOTTERY DAVID A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110TH MAINTENANCE CO<br />

MILLER ROBERT A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .747TH MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

MILLS CHRISTOPHER T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHC 1ST BN 181 INF<br />

MORALES FRANK J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

MORLEY GARY L JR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .747TH MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

NASON, BRIAN A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 AIRCRAFT MAINT SQ<br />

OLSON CAROLINE E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .SIG NETWORK SPT CO BSTB<br />

OSGOOD, CHRISTA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .202 WEATHER FT<br />

OUELLETTE ERIC M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .747TH MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

PELISSIER DANIEL Z . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

PERRY JOSEPH W . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .272 CHEMICAL CO (-DET 2)<br />

PIKE RICHARD E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHS 1ST BN 101ST FA FWD 8<br />

PIRES MANUEL M JR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110TH MAINTENANCE CO<br />

POKUMENSAH CHARLES . . . . . . . . . . . . .1166TH TRANS (LT/MED) TC<br />

POULLAIDES JAMES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

PRENDIVILLE JESSICA F . . . . . . . . . . .MA ARNG MEDICAL COMMAND<br />

RAMIREZ CARLOS S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .179 EN DET (FIREFIGHTING)<br />

RAVAGNO CARMEN M III . . . . . . . . . . . . .747TH MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

REGAN DANIEL J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CO C 1ST BN 181 INF<br />

SABENS, HENRY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102 CIVIL ENGINEERING SQ<br />

SALES ANDREW J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHC 1ST BN 181 INF<br />

SASLAV JERRY L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65TH PRESS CAMP HQ<br />

SEVERANCE NEIL D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHC 1ST BN 181 INF<br />

SKJERLI, LEIF K . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .131 FIGHTER SQ<br />

SMITH SARAH K . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .FSC, 101 EN BN<br />

SOARES BRIAN J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CO C 1ST BN 2O SFG<br />

SWEET MICHAEL R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .747TH MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

TEDFORD JEFFREY A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42ND MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

VARGAS JOHN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .972ND MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

WESMAN TODD A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DET 1, HSC, 101 EN BN<br />

WILLIAMS MICHAEL P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .685TH FINANCE DET FWD<br />

WINSLOW PATRICK M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .747TH MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

YOUNG STEVEN J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .JFHQ-FWD 28 FI DET HQ<br />

E-6<br />

AARON JAMES T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .972ND MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

ALVARADOSANTOS, PAUL . . . . . . . . . . .104 LOGISTICS READINES SQ<br />

ANTESKI, JOSEPH E. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102 MAINTENANCE SQ<br />

BARNICA HUMBERTO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

BEAUVAIS DANA L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110TH MAINTENANCE CO<br />

BENCE LAURIE E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .181 EN COMPANY (VERTICAL)<br />

BERUBE JAY A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .181 EN COMPANY (VERTICAL)<br />

BESSETTE TREVOR J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DET 1, CO F 3-126 AV<br />

BURKE JAMES P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CO C 1ST BN 181 INF<br />

BUSHEME RENEE M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .972ND MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

CARTER TANIA S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHS 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

CHAISSON DERRICK R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1164TH TRANS (LT/MED) TC<br />

COSTA, SUEANN M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102 MAINTENANCE SQ<br />

DEMARCO MICHAEL A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .272 CHEM CO (TDA-AUG)<br />

DORMAN, SCOTT M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 MAINTENANCE SQ<br />

FLORES, NICHOLAS L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 MAINTENANCE OPS FT<br />

FORTUNE CHRISTIAN D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BTRY E (TAB) 101ST FA<br />

FOURNIER, MARK A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 LOGISTICS READINES SQ<br />

GENDREAU, TABITHA M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102 MISSION SUPPORT FT<br />

GOMES, DAVID M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102 MAINTENANCE SQ<br />

GREEN DANIEL G . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHC 3RD BN 126TH AVN<br />

HOLLETT JEFFREY C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125TH QUARTERMASTER CO<br />

ITALIANE, SEAN J. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102 CIVIL ENGINEERING SQ<br />

JAEGER CLIFF D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHD 151 REGIONAL SPT GRP FWD<br />

JASINSKAS GREGORY J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42ND MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

LEBLANC ROBERT C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .972ND MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

MACDONALD JOSEPH P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .189TH EN TM (ASPHALT)<br />

MARCHETTI ANTHONY JR . . . . . . . . . . . .1164TH TRANS (LT/MED) TC<br />

MOREIRA GERMANO A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHS 1ST BN 101ST FA<br />

OBREBSKI JASON J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BTRY E (TAB) 101ST FA<br />

PARISSE NEDDY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1164TH TRANS (LT/MED) TC<br />

RAMOS JORGE L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BTRY E (TAB) 101ST FA<br />

RENNA, PATRICK G . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 LOGISTICS READINES SQ<br />

RIVERA RICHARD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1164TH TRANS (LT/MED) TC<br />

ROSADONIEVES C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110TH MAINTENANCE CO<br />

SANTIAGO JOHNNY R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .D CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

SILVA, PAUL J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 AIRCRAFT MAINT SQ<br />

STONE ROBERT C JR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .972ND MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

TORRES, STEVEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102 CIVIL ENGINEERING SQ<br />

TUCKER KEVIN J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .D CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

WIGGINS PETER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BTRY E (TAB) 101ST FA<br />

ZIMMERMAN HERBERT J JR . . . . . . . . . . .B CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

E-7<br />

ALMEIDA RONALD W . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CO E 3RD BN 126TH AVN<br />

ANDO GREGORY R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

BENNETT ANDREW R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .FSC, 101 EN BN<br />

BOWMAN , KENNETH R. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102 CIVIL ENGINEER SQ<br />

CAPERCI ANTHONY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHD 151 REGIONAL SPT GRP<br />

CHASE ERNEST P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1166TH TRANS (LT/MED) TC<br />

COMISKEY SEAN P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .D CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

DOYLE ROBERT P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1060TH TC CO MDM TRK FWD<br />

DULTZ, TONY C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 CIVIL ENGINEER SQ<br />

FAVREAU, JOHN P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 CIVIL ENGINEER SQ<br />

FORTIN, MARK W . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 COMMUNICATIONS FT<br />

FUENTES, ORLANDO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 MAINTENANCE SQ<br />

LOGUE WILLIAM D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .972ND MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

MARTIN GREGORY S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42ND MILITARY POLICE CO<br />

MARTINS STEPHEN M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .MA ARNG REC AND RET CMD<br />

MOGIL ARTHUR B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CO C 1ST BN 2O SFG<br />

MONTEIRO JOSE F . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BTRY E (TAB) 101ST FA<br />

MULLETT RONALD JR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CO D 1ST BN 181 INF<br />

PATRAS NORMAN J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1ST BN 101ST REGIMENT(FA)<br />

PERRIN MARIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DET 1, HSC, 101 EN BN<br />

PITTA, JOSEPH D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102 OPERATIONS SUPPORT FT<br />

SINKWICH, JEFFREY T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 MAINTENANCE OPS FT<br />

SPINNEY ROBERT W . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .MA ARNG REC AND RET CMD<br />

STACKPOLE THOMAS F . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CO D 1ST BN 181 INF<br />

STEELE, JOHN E II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 OPERATIONS SUPPORT FT<br />

VAN DAMME, MARY E. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102 FIGHTER WING<br />

WHITCOMB, JON M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .253 CBCG<br />

E-8<br />

CANDELARIO GUILLERMO . . . . . . . . . . . .HHC 26TH INF BDE (YANKEE)<br />

DEJESUSDIAZ WILFREDO . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B CO 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

ELLSWORTH TIMOTHY C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHC (-) BDE SPC TRPS BN<br />

FOSTER JOHN D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .JFHQ-FWD 28 FI DET HQ<br />

GOODWIN MICHAEL K . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .JFHQ MASSACHUSETTS<br />

GREGOIRE TONI A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110TH MAINTENANCE CO<br />

JENSON ERIK L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .188TH EN DET (FAC MGT)<br />

JOHNSON WAYNE S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1060TH TC CO MDM TRK FWD<br />

KIEPKE, KYLE D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 MISSION SUPPORT GP<br />

KILEY, MICHELLE C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .MASSACHUSETTS ANG HQ<br />

PELLETIER SHEILA E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHD 151 REGIONAL SPT GRP<br />

STEC, JOHN T JR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 MAINTENANCE OPS FT<br />

STJEAN, JEFFREY S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 MAINTENANCE SQ<br />

E-9<br />

SCOTT WILLIE K . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .JFHQ MASSACHUSETTS<br />

0-2<br />

REMER, SUSAN O. . . . . .212 ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING SQUADRON<br />

SIMMONS WILLIAM E IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHD 211TH MP BN<br />

TATLOCK, KEITH E. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 MAINTENANCE SQUADRON<br />

0-3<br />

CURRIE MICHAEL J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHC 26TH INF BDE (YANKEE)<br />

MCMAHON JAMES F . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A TRP 1-182ND CAV FWD<br />

DEMAMBRO ALEX H . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHD 211TH MP BN<br />

GINGRAS THOMAS P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CO A 1ST BN 181 INF<br />

JONES JAMES AII . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHD 211TH MP BN<br />

KAMINSKI JOHN T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C TRP 1ST SQDN 182ND CAV<br />

RILEY BRYAN M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHT 1ST SQDN 182ND CAV<br />

ROMANO JOSHUA M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHC 26TH INF BDE (YANKEE)<br />

0-4<br />

ANDREWS MARK H . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHS 126TH CS BATTALION<br />

DUGRE CHRISTOPHER A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHC 3RD BN 126TH AVN<br />

FIORENTINO PETER E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHS 1ST BN 101ST FA<br />

KEEGAN KATHLEEN A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DET 1 HQ STARC (SEL SVC)<br />

MACOMBER JACKSON G JR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DET 1, HSC, 101 EN BN<br />

OCONNELL ROBERT W . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHC 3RD BN 126TH AVN<br />

REGAN TIMOTHY J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHC 3RD BN 126TH AVN<br />

SACCHETTI ARON T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .MAARNG ELE JFHQ FWD 26<br />

SAPP, JOHN C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101 FIGHTER SQUADRON<br />

0-5<br />

DINGMANN PHILIP A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DET 1 HHC 118TH MED BN<br />

0-6<br />

KEZER, THATCHER W. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .253 COMBAT COM GRP<br />

WO-1<br />

EATON CHARLES S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHD 211TH MP BN<br />

WO-2<br />

DECASSE NEIL J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HHD 151 REGIONAL SPT GRP<br />

Sgt. Maria L. DiTaranto, a member of the<br />

26th Personnel Service Detachment,<br />

Massach<strong>us</strong>etts Army National Guard, was<br />

sworn in by Chief Warrant Officer Richard<br />

F. Raymond, State Security Manager and<br />

close family friend who has served in the<br />

Guard for 38 years. DiTaranto enlisted in<br />

2001 and deployed to Iraq last year. Here<br />

she has taken the oath to reenlist for six<br />

more years. “I’ve enjoyed everything the<br />

military has to offer. Good friends and<br />

new experiences.” DiTaranto, a<br />

resident of Worcester, currently<br />

works full time for the<br />

Guard’s Fiscal Support Team.


All American Bowl<br />

By Spc. Nicole Dykstra,<br />

65th Public Affairs Operation Center<br />

The country’s top high school football players huddled<br />

with Soldiers in January for a celebration and some<br />

football at the U.S. Army All American Bowl at the<br />

Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas. Players from the<br />

two teams, the West All Stars and the East All Stars,<br />

were paired with a Soldier who a<strong>ct</strong>ed as a mentor in<br />

team building for the week.<br />

To be a mentor for the event, the Soldier m<strong>us</strong>t have<br />

received a Distinguished Flying Cross, Silver Star,<br />

Bronze Star or Purple Heart. Eligible Soldiers are<br />

chosen for nomination based on a packet, which<br />

included a short biography, photo and a questionnaire.<br />

“Soldiers who deploy are held to the highest esteem,<br />

and those who earn a Bronze or Silver Star or a Purple<br />

Heart should be especially commended for their<br />

service,” said Lt. Col. Norman S. Long, commander of<br />

the 126th Brigade Support Battalion, Massach<strong>us</strong>etts<br />

National Guard. Sgt. 1st Class John C. Caplis of C<br />

Company, 126th Brigade Support Battalion, was<br />

sele<strong>ct</strong>ed to participate and be recognized at the event.<br />

Caplis was the only Soldier nominated from the<br />

battalion, said Long. “There were others who were<br />

strong candidates, but he rose to the top of the list,”<br />

he said. Caplis received a Purple Heart during<br />

Operation Iraqi Freedom while deployed from 2003<br />

to 2005.<br />

The week before the big game, Soldiers and players<br />

spent time getting to know one another at several<br />

social events. Soldiers offered support and guidance<br />

for the high schoolers and helped them set goals for<br />

the future. “The players were superior athletes,” said<br />

Caplis. “The pairing up was for building leadership and<br />

teamwork among the players.”<br />

The recognized Soldiers were also able to meet<br />

Secretary of the Army Francis J. Harvey, Vice Chief of<br />

Staff of the Army Gen. Richard A. Cody and Sgt. Major<br />

of the Army Kenneth O. Preston. “They stuck around<br />

and talked with <strong>us</strong> for quite awhile and gave <strong>us</strong> some<br />

really positive feedback,” said Caplis. Each Soldier was<br />

also given a Sgt. Major of the Army coin. After the<br />

game, the Soldiers were brought to the center of the<br />

field before a cheering audience for a special tribute<br />

concert by Lonestar. “It was a humbling experience to<br />

be center stage,” said Caplis. “I would recommend this<br />

great experience to anyone.” ✯<br />

20 Minuteman Spring 2007<br />

Sgt. 1st Class Caplis mentored Darnell Thompson, a student at Florida State University during the<br />

All American Bowl. (Photo by Sgt. Christine Caplis, 1060th Transportation Company.)


Engineering Chief Named<br />

‘Manager of the Year’<br />

By Senior Airman Matthew Benedetti, Public Affairs<br />

It doesn’t take long to notice that Chief Master Sgt. Frederick “Buddy”<br />

Manamon is a leader committed to the Air Force mission. Similar to a town<br />

manager, he explains his role as the Civil Engineering Squadron<br />

superintendent and the infrastru<strong>ct</strong>ure of Otis Air National Guard Base with<br />

a familiarity that refle<strong>ct</strong>s expert knowledge of the installation.<br />

Like Patriots coach Bill Belichick in Foxboro on a Sunday afternoon, he is<br />

in his element and prepared for any contingency here at Otis.<br />

A Plymouth resident, Manamon was sele<strong>ct</strong>ed as the “Outstanding Civil<br />

Engineering Manager of the Year” O<strong>ct</strong>ober 2004 to September 2005.<br />

This prestigio<strong>us</strong> award is sponsored by the Society of American Military<br />

Engineers, the National Society of Professional Engineers and the<br />

Northeast Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives, as<br />

well as the Air Force Civil Engineering Community.<br />

“He is an expert in his field and has earned a reputation for getting the job<br />

done,” said Lt. Col. Eric Pauer, 102nd Fighter Wing, Civil Engineering<br />

Squadron commander. He went on to describe Manamon as a true professional<br />

in everything he does.<br />

Assigned to the 102nd CES as a superintendent, Manamon leads 80 fulltime<br />

civilian and military personnel as well as 103 traditional Air National<br />

Guard engineers in support of wing missions. His area of responsibility<br />

includes 110 buildings and a major airfield on the 1,200 acres of Otis Air<br />

National Guard Base.<br />

Last fall in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Manamon was instrumental<br />

in organizing eleventh-hour assistance to vi<strong>ct</strong>ims evacuated from the Gulf<br />

Coast to Camp Edwards.<br />

The snowy winter brought its own challenges. Manamon’s snow removal<br />

team performed remarkably, clearing base roads and maintaining a fully<br />

operational airfield in blizzard conditions. By completing the mission<br />

successfully and without damage or injury, his team earned the wing<br />

commander’s safety award.<br />

Manamon volunteered for duty in Iraq and served at Ali Air Base from May<br />

through September 2006. “We were chomping at the bit to be involved.<br />

Our deployment cycle had come up and we were put into the bucket. We<br />

looked at each other as senior NCOs and decided we should all volunteer,”<br />

he remembered.<br />

Forty members of the civil engineering unit followed suit and reported to<br />

Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa., for predeployment training.<br />

“We were very proud to be sele<strong>ct</strong>ed as the lead unit heading into theatre,”<br />

Manamon said.<br />

The Iraq tour lasted about five months and tested the unit’s ability to<br />

perform in a hostile environment.<br />

“We lived in tents and completed the tasks assigned to <strong>us</strong>. It was gratifying<br />

to employ methods we had learned over several years of training,” he said.<br />

Systems in place at Ali Air Base were designed to be in place for three<br />

years and the engineers arrived after that time had passed.<br />

“We worked long hours, but we were proud of our accomplishments,” he<br />

Chief Master Sgt. Frederick “Buddy” Manamon poses under a thermometer<br />

during his tour in Iraq. The heat forced the civil engineers to wear gloves to<br />

prote<strong>ct</strong> themselves from burns when <strong>us</strong>ing their equipment.<br />

(Photo courtesy of 102nd Fighter Wing.)<br />

said. Among other duties, CE members identified incorre<strong>ct</strong> airfield lighting<br />

and implemented proper procedures, led damage assessment and postattack<br />

accountability and designed a wind cone for airfield <strong>us</strong>e, which was<br />

a significant improvement for flight safety operations.<br />

Despite the a<strong>us</strong>tere conditions and stifling heat – 118 degrees some days<br />

– the unit stuck together and achieved the obje<strong>ct</strong>ives of the mission.<br />

“Morale was very high among our personnel. We were integrated with<br />

other Guard and a<strong>ct</strong>ive duty units. I consider civil engineering a family,<br />

and we shared everything we got from home with one another,” Manamon<br />

recalled.<br />

Master Sgt. Ken Bowman of Wareham has known Manamon for several<br />

years and served with him in Iraq. “He is a great friend and serving in Iraq<br />

was a very rewarding experience for all of <strong>us</strong>. It was a culmination of years<br />

of training, and we finally got the chance to go,” Sgt. Bowman said.<br />

“Our unit is like a family and we know that we can count of each other.” Ali<br />

Air Base experienced sporadic enemy fire that <strong>us</strong>ually occurred during the<br />

daytime, but one evening a mortar fell on the compound.<br />

“It was unsettling and kept <strong>us</strong> awake for a few nights, but we got through<br />

it,” Chief Manamon recalled. He was awarded the Meritorio<strong>us</strong> Service<br />

Medal for his service in Iraq.<br />

“I am very proud to have a dire<strong>ct</strong> impa<strong>ct</strong> on the day-to-day mission<br />

requirements for the 102nd Fighter Wing as the facility manager and operations<br />

chief. Also, I am proud of the fa<strong>ct</strong> that the 102nd Civil Engineering<br />

Squadron maintains one of the highest retention rates in the northeast<br />

region for a civil engineering squadron,” Manamon said.<br />

Manamon’s son, Andre, is a 2006 graduate of Massach<strong>us</strong>etts Maritime<br />

Academy and expe<strong>ct</strong>s to receive his commission in the Navy in early 2007.<br />

His daughter, Cassandra, attends North Hampton Community College and<br />

is scheduled to graduate in 2008.<br />

Manaman is preparing his team for service next year along the U.S.-<br />

Mexican border as an element of Task Force Diamondback in support<br />

of Operation Jump Start.<br />

Lt. Col. Pauer knows they will be ready. “Buddy is a fine leader and an outstanding<br />

citizen-Airman,” he said.<br />

The Force of Freedom 21


The Core of<br />

an Army Value<br />

By Pfc. James T. Deady,<br />

65th Public Affairs Operation Center<br />

Selfless service is one of seven core Army values<br />

and is defined as putting the welfare of the nation,<br />

the Army and your subordinates before your own.<br />

Selfless service was demonstrated by a recruit<br />

and observed by Sgt. 1st Class Keith Kennedy,<br />

Recruiting and Retention Command in Westfield.<br />

Recruit Benjamin Whitten enlisted in the<br />

Massach<strong>us</strong>etts Army National Guard after graduating<br />

from Westfield Technical Vocational High<br />

School and shipped to Basic Combat Training in<br />

November 2004. He graduated from Advanced<br />

Individual Training in April 2005 and became part<br />

of A Company 3rd Battalion 126th Aviation.<br />

In June 2005, Spc. Benji Whitten assumed an<br />

a<strong>ct</strong>ive duty for special work maintenance position<br />

working on UH-60 Black Hawks at Barnes Air<br />

National Guard Base in Westfield. During his stay<br />

at Barnes, Whitten worked alongside an<br />

experienced mechanic and the two became good<br />

friends. The mechanic received orders to Kuwait<br />

to perform missions in Iraq for a year.<br />

During ongoing conversations, the mechanic<br />

confided to Whitten that his sister was dying of<br />

cancer and didn’t have much time to live. The<br />

Soldier told Whitten that in order to stay with his<br />

sister on her last days he would have to find a<br />

replacement for himself.<br />

“Benji said he would do it, that it would be<br />

wrong not to,” said Whitten’s mother Laura. “All<br />

he needed was permission to proceed.”<br />

Whitten was granted permission to substitute for<br />

the Soldier and eventually went to his mobilization<br />

22 Minuteman Spring 2007<br />

station at Fort Dix, N.J., where he trained for<br />

deployment for the next three months.<br />

In the meantime, Whitten’s mother Laura, an<br />

admissions nurse at a hospice, was asked to care<br />

for a coworker’s patient for a couple of weeks and<br />

Laura eagerly accepted. Laura was told that the<br />

patient was a young girl dying of cancer.<br />

Laura went to the ho<strong>us</strong>e to meet the family she<br />

was to care for. One of the family members<br />

noticed an Army sticker on Laura’s car, and they<br />

said that the dying girl <strong>us</strong>ed to be in the Guard and<br />

that their son was currently in the Guard. Through<br />

passing conversation, Laura realized she had<br />

coincidently accepted a position to care for the<br />

sister of the Soldier that her son was replacing for<br />

deployment.<br />

After three months of training, Whitten returned<br />

home prior to his deployment only to be met by<br />

the Soldier he had substituted for. Whitten was<br />

also told that the Soldier’s sister had died hours<br />

before Whitten’s b<strong>us</strong> had arrived in Springfield.<br />

“If Benji had not have gone in place of him three<br />

months ago it would’ve been the last time this<br />

Soldier saw his sister,” said Laura Whitten.<br />

While in Springfield the Soldier told Whitten about<br />

how great his sister was and thanked Whitten for<br />

what he had done for him.<br />

“I’m always willing to help anyone if I can, and if I<br />

had the choice to do what I did again I’d do it in a<br />

heartbeat,” said Whitten.<br />

“Benjamin took the place of another and was away<br />

from his life and family for a year serving in the air<br />

ambulance company in Kuwait. He wasn’t<br />

supposed to go, that’s selfless service and that kid<br />

is an outstanding Soldier and an exemplary<br />

person,” said Kennedy.<br />

Whitten’s sellfless service gave a fellow Soldier a<br />

gift that cannot be wrapped. ✯<br />

Spc. Benjamin Whitten is<br />

interviewed by Westfield<br />

Evening News Staff Writer<br />

Dan Moriarty upon returning<br />

home from a year-long<br />

deployment to Kuwait.<br />

(Photo by Sgt. June Norton,<br />

Massach<strong>us</strong>etts National<br />

Guard Public Affairs.)


Recruit S<strong>us</strong>tainment<br />

Program Picks Up Speed<br />

By Chief Warrant Officer James Girard, Recruiting and Retention Command,<br />

As the Massach<strong>us</strong>etts Recruit S<strong>us</strong>tainment Program continues to grow,<br />

the state is sending better trained Soldiers to basic training – and more of<br />

them.<br />

There currently are 385 new enlistees being trained in the soldier arts at<br />

the Massach<strong>us</strong>etts Military Reservation (MMR) at Camp Edwards on Cape<br />

Cod. That number is expe<strong>ct</strong>ed to rise to 800 in the next few months as the<br />

program continues to accelerate. The Recruiting Command met its overall<br />

mission by signing more than 1,279 new Soldiers this year.<br />

“Counting the new trainees and the Soldiers that have already shipped to<br />

basic training, there are 652 Soldiers in the RSP,” said Sgt. 1st Class Tony<br />

Palmieri, the RSP’s top noncommssioned officer. “The increase in numbers<br />

of recruits in the program is dire<strong>ct</strong>ly related to cutting-edge efforts of the<br />

Recruiting Command and programs it has instituted in the past year.”<br />

“We incorporate instru<strong>ct</strong>ion in academic subje<strong>ct</strong>s, physical readiness,<br />

common task training and dynamic Soldier training,” said Capt. Jason<br />

Oberton, commander of the RSP. “The dynamic training, which is regularly<br />

supported by units in the field, motivates the young Soldiers to keep on<br />

track and become fully trained. It also serves as a recruiting tool, motivating<br />

our Soldiers to refer friends and conta<strong>ct</strong>s to the Massach<strong>us</strong>etts Army<br />

24 Minuteman Spring 2007<br />

National Guard, not only beca<strong>us</strong>e of the benefits they receive but also<br />

beca<strong>us</strong>e of the high-speed training.”<br />

“The intent of the Recruit S<strong>us</strong>tainment Program is to reduce state training<br />

pipeline losses by introducing newly enlisted Soldiers to the military<br />

environment, easing their transition to Basic Combat Training and<br />

Advanced Individual Training,” Oberton added. “Overall, this fiscal and<br />

training year has been very successful. We’ve reached an average of 300<br />

drilling Soldiers each month at the RSP and over 600 total Soldiers in the<br />

program. We have also dropped our Training Pipeline Loss percentage by<br />

17 percent, and, in turn, raised our ship rate by the same.” ❇<br />

Sgt. 1st Joe Toohey in his ghillie suit teaches camouflage techniques to the<br />

Recruit S<strong>us</strong>tainment Class on Camp Edwards. (Photo by Sgt. Jamie Gaiton,<br />

Recruiting and Retention Command.)<br />

2nd Lt. Richard J. Haddon II poses with Col. Michael L.<br />

Wagget, commander of the ANG Training and Education<br />

Center and Maj. Gen. Roger P. Lempke, The Adjutant<br />

General of the Nebraska National Guard, after being<br />

presented with a Citizen-Soldier Award at the Academy of<br />

Military Science at McGee Tyson Air National Guard Base,<br />

Tenn. The award honors an officer candidate’s dedication<br />

and devotion to duty, honor and country; Lt. Haddon was<br />

sele<strong>ct</strong>ed by his fellow candidates.


REDLEGS Win 3rd Title in Four Years<br />

By Staff Sgt. Svein Ormseth, A Battery, 1st Battalion, 161st Field Artillery<br />

On O<strong>ct</strong>. 8, 2006, The Massach<strong>us</strong>etts Army National Guard Redlegs won<br />

their third Armed Services Hockey title in four years. The yearly<br />

tournament is held in Las Vegas, Nev., and draws teams from across the<br />

country, Europe and Canada.<br />

Although hampered by the deployments of key personnel, the Redlegs<br />

deployed a strong squad to Sin City. “Without Chris Cobb, Tom So<strong>us</strong>a and<br />

Dave Rucker, the need to recruit skill players was paramount,” said team<br />

captain Patrick Burke of the Fires Battalion. The answer came in the form<br />

of Sean Noonan (802nd Transportation Battalion), Mike Barrett (181<br />

Infantry) and William O’Brien (Joint Force Headquarters) all of which were<br />

named MVPs.<br />

Somerset High School<br />

Memorial Proje<strong>ct</strong><br />

Story and photo by Lt. Col. Charles Perenick,<br />

Massach<strong>us</strong>etts National Guard Public Affairs<br />

The Somerset High School art department created a memorial sculpture<br />

dedicated to service men and women who have lost their lives in Iraq.<br />

“The obje<strong>ct</strong>ive is to simply, yet eloquently honor these lives with the intent<br />

of creating a humane tribute, rather than a political statement,” said the<br />

school’s art teacher and creator Merilee Bowers.<br />

The proje<strong>ct</strong> consisted of more than 500 students working on this proje<strong>ct</strong>,<br />

which lasted for three days in December, with seven hours dedicated each<br />

day. Each student chose a name of a military person who has died in Iraq,<br />

then created a small figure <strong>us</strong>ing natural materials. The centerpiece for the<br />

figurine was a boiled tea bag adorned with pieces of fabric all fastened to<br />

a cross frame which consisted of tree twigs.<br />

The tea bag was chosen specifically for its reference to comfort, sharing<br />

and conversation. Tea, in many cultures, has evolved into a ritual that<br />

evokes spirituality and mindfulness, said Bowers.<br />

The finished installation will embody these concepts, while also<br />

memorializing each American life lost in Iraq. ✯<br />

The Redlegs went 3-0 in the round robin tournament by beating teams<br />

from Travis, Luke and Kirtland Air Force Bases before entering the playoff<br />

round. A rematch with the Travis team in the semi-final ended in a 9-2<br />

Redleg vi<strong>ct</strong>ory. That vi<strong>ct</strong>ory enabled the artillerymen to face Nellis Air Force<br />

Base for the championship. Down 4-2 at the end of one period, the Redlegs<br />

stormed back with a 6-4 vi<strong>ct</strong>ory and the title.<br />

The Redlegs now begin their 24th year with a move to the Foxboro<br />

Sports Center, where they skate on Mondays from 9 a.m. until complete.<br />

For information about the Redlegs see their Web site at<br />

www.eteamz.com/redleghockey. ✯<br />

Standing L-R: Dave Pereira, Tom Lester, Scott Frank, Dan Doherty, Pete Fiorentino, Jamie Chambers, Gary Jewell, Steve Macleod, John Wiggin, Bob Coleman.<br />

Kneeling: William O’Brien, Sean Noonan, Sterling MacLeod, Jim Billie, Patrick Burke, Mike Barrett. (Photo by Pellerins Photography.)<br />

Art teacher Merilee Bowers dire<strong>ct</strong>s Somerset High School students in the creation<br />

of the memorial sculpture.<br />

The Force of Freedom 25


ARMY<br />

STRONG<br />

The Army is replacing its main ad slogan “An Army of<br />

One” with a new slogan in an effort to boost recruiting<br />

efforts.<br />

The “Army Strong” campaign is the result of a $200<br />

million-a-year contra<strong>ct</strong> with a major advertising agency.<br />

“Army Strong will be the centerpiece of a multimedia<br />

ad campaign launched to coincide with Veterans Day<br />

weekend,” said Secretary of the Army Francis J.<br />

Harvey.<br />

In addition to the new ad campaign, increasing financial<br />

and education incentives, the Army met its 2006<br />

goal of signing 80,000 Soldiers into the Army’s ranks.<br />

“There’s no question that we want to have a marketing<br />

boost right now, it’s important to <strong>us</strong>,” said Lt. Gen.<br />

Robert L. Van Antwerp, who oversees the recruiting<br />

effort as commander of U.S. Army Accessions<br />

Command.<br />

Army Strong stands for a big idea. It speaks to the truth<br />

about the U.S. Army, that Soldiers develop mental,<br />

emotional and physical strength forged through shared<br />

values, teamwork, experience and training; that by<br />

making the decision to join the Army, an individual is<br />

choosing to recognize potential strength within him or<br />

herself and develop it further; that an individual Soldier<br />

is choosing to take charge of his or her future and<br />

career; that Soldiers a<strong>ct</strong>ively choose to make a<br />

difference in their lives, their families, their communities<br />

and their nation. ✯<br />

Satellite Enlisted PME<br />

Airmen:<br />

Tired of Career Development Courses?<br />

Can’t get away for 6 weeks?<br />

Check this out!<br />

Qualified noncommissioned officers and<br />

Airmen can now attend the satellite NCO<br />

Academy or Airman Leadership School<br />

program at home station, two nights per week,<br />

and receive full in-residence credit.<br />

26 Minuteman Spring 2007<br />

The new commander of 101st Engineer Battalion, Maj. Mark Merlino, passes the Battalion Colors to<br />

Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph Conlon during Regimental Day ceremonies at the Old North Bridge in<br />

Concord Dec. 3.<br />

Regimental Day<br />

at Minuteman<br />

National Park<br />

Story and photo by Sgt. Jordan St. John<br />

Visitors to the Minuteman National Park in<br />

Concord on a chilly, windy Sunday, Dec. 3,<br />

got a special treat in the form of a<br />

Massach<strong>us</strong>etts Army National Guard<br />

battalion change of command.<br />

Members of the 101st Engineer Battalion<br />

marched across the Old North Bridge as the<br />

Regimental Day ceremony got underway<br />

shortly after noon. The ceremony saw the<br />

battalion’s colors and its command passed<br />

from Lt. Col. Gregory McDonald to Maj.<br />

Mark Merlino.<br />

The setting for the ceremony, the historic<br />

battlefield at the Old North Bridge, was<br />

sele<strong>ct</strong>ed beca<strong>us</strong>e of the special part it played<br />

in the linage of the 101st. The start of the<br />

Boston Campaign in 1775 is were the<br />

battalion earned its first battle streamer,<br />

which now sits atop the unit’s colors.<br />

While the events of more than 230 years ago<br />

carry a special significance, it is the events<br />

since Sept. 11, 2001, that Merlino chose<br />

as the foc<strong>us</strong> of his remarks following the<br />

As a satellite Enlisted Professional Military<br />

Education student you will:<br />

Professionally develop yourself for leadership<br />

opportunities<br />

Fulfill a requirement for future promotion<br />

opportunities<br />

Receive one <strong>paid</strong> PT day for each night of<br />

class<br />

Complete 10 hours of Community College of<br />

the Air Force credit for NCOA or nine hours<br />

for ALS<br />

To start a new site or continue an existing one,<br />

please conta<strong>ct</strong>:<br />

passing of the colors. He said the battalion’s<br />

recent accomplishments refle<strong>ct</strong> how the<br />

battalion has lived The Adjutant General’s<br />

Vision 500, citing the battalion’s missions,<br />

from providing security at installations<br />

across the commonwealth to the 101st<br />

Soldiers who served in Iraq and<br />

Afghanistan.<br />

“We have proven that we are ready, reliable,<br />

essential, rob<strong>us</strong>t and respe<strong>ct</strong>ful, and that we<br />

will continue to be so,” Merlino said.<br />

The 101st is considered to be one of the four<br />

oldest units in the U.S. military, with the<br />

service of its members reaching back 370<br />

years. The battalion was originally organized<br />

in 1636 as the East Regiment from existing<br />

militia companies of Saug<strong>us</strong>, Salem,<br />

Ipswich and Newbury. The 101st played<br />

significant roles in the Revolutionary and<br />

Civil Wars, and its Citizen-Soldiers served in<br />

World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam,<br />

Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom<br />

and Operation Iraqi Freedom.<br />

The ceremony concluded with orders that<br />

reorganized the battalion’s elements as part<br />

of the Army’s transformation. Merlino said<br />

the transformation is one of the challenges<br />

facing the battalion as it moves into the<br />

future, learning new jobs and new<br />

equipment. ✯<br />

NCOA<br />

Tech. Sgt. Bonnie McGuffin<br />

DSN 266-3829<br />

Commercial (865) 985-3829<br />

bonnie.mcguffin@angtec.ang.af.mil<br />

ALS<br />

Master Sgt. Kevin Thomas<br />

DSN 266-3496<br />

Commercial (865) 985-3496<br />

kevin.thomas@angtec.ang.af.mil


A New Dire<strong>ct</strong>ion<br />

for Otis<br />

By Senior Airman Alexis Colonna<br />

Vice President, Airmen’s Council<br />

In the summer of 2005 there wasn’t a soul associated<br />

with Otis Air National Guard Base that wasn’t touched<br />

by the winds of change. Many of the base’s seasoned<br />

employees, regardless of branch, seemed confident<br />

that we wouldn’t make the final BRAC list. How could<br />

we be closed, as often as we’ve successfully prote<strong>ct</strong>ed<br />

national security and safety?<br />

Well, we’re still here, and very much open for<br />

b<strong>us</strong>iness, according to the recent UCI results. It’s true,<br />

decades of air defense missions are coming to an end<br />

here at the 102nd, and our aircraft are going to be<br />

nesting elsewhere; who’s not going to miss them flying<br />

overhead? It doesn’t change what we’ve accomplished<br />

or what we have yet to accomplish.<br />

This is a conf<strong>us</strong>ing and uncertain time for many of <strong>us</strong>.<br />

For newer unit members and new recruits who realize<br />

they are “low on the list” both in rank and tenure, their<br />

question is, “Do I go, or stay and hope there’s a place<br />

for me, and will I manage to at least partially finish<br />

what I’ve started?”<br />

For those close to retirement, the concern may be, “Am<br />

I ready to retire?” For the many somewhere in<br />

between, the seasoned technicians and AGRs, the<br />

questions are, “Will I need to take a cut in rank, leave<br />

my home and family to cross train, and am I able and<br />

willing to cross train?” For all of <strong>us</strong>, the winds of<br />

change blow hard, despite outward appearances, such<br />

as our UCI performance.<br />

We have a lot to be proud of, and we are very proud,<br />

but we are also uncertain. As the Cape Cod winter<br />

winds and chills set in, so does the new mission. For<br />

many of <strong>us</strong>, the next few months will bring <strong>us</strong> to<br />

warmer climates and the promise of something new, a<br />

new role in the world, a new mission, and the legacy of<br />

our proud aviation past to carry forward. ✯<br />

MOS IQ Needs<br />

Your Submissions<br />

Do you have a tip for your fellow soldiers? Want to<br />

share a timesaving technique? To participate send<br />

an e-mail with your tip, trick or technique to<br />

donald.veitch@<strong>us</strong>.army.mil. Be sure to include your<br />

Name, Rank, Unit and MOS with your submission. All<br />

MOSs are encouraged to submit tips.<br />

28 Minuteman Spring 2007<br />

Deployment<br />

Policy Changes<br />

The nation’s governors and adjutants<br />

general have expressed universal support<br />

and appreciation for the recently announced<br />

change to Department of Defense policy that<br />

will limit total mobilization time of Guard and<br />

Reserve units to 12 months.<br />

In a Jan. 11 conference call attended by representatives<br />

from every state, the territories<br />

of Guam and the Virgin Islands, the<br />

Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the<br />

Distri<strong>ct</strong> of Columbia, Lt. Gen. H. Steven<br />

Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau,<br />

answered questions and addressed concerns<br />

about the deployment extension in Iraq of<br />

Minnesota's 1st Brigade, 34th Infantry<br />

Division, and Secretary of Defense Robert<br />

Gates' announcement that several Defense<br />

policies were changing.<br />

Chief among these were that, from this point<br />

forward, Guard and Reserve mobilizations<br />

will be managed on a unit basis, not an<br />

individual basis. Gates also announced that<br />

involuntary mobilizations would be for<br />

a maximum of one year. That is “in contrast<br />

to the current pra<strong>ct</strong>ice of 16 to 24 months,”<br />

he said.<br />

The defense secretary also stated that the<br />

goal would be to have five years of demobilization<br />

following every year of mobilization.<br />

He acknowledged, however, that “today's<br />

global demands will require a number of<br />

sele<strong>ct</strong>ed Guard and Reserve units to be<br />

remobilized sooner than this <strong>standard</strong>.”<br />

With the announcement of the new policies<br />

limiting total mobilization time to one year,<br />

Blum stated, “Your citizen-Soldiers will only<br />

be away from their families or jobs and their<br />

hometown units for the maximum period of<br />

one year in the future, starting with the next<br />

mobilizations coming up.”<br />

Reducing total mobilization or remobilization<br />

time will have a dramatic impa<strong>ct</strong> on how<br />

Guard units train for and deploy to combat.<br />

Training condu<strong>ct</strong>ed during ina<strong>ct</strong>ive duty<br />

weekend drills and annual training periods<br />

will gain importance as a measure of<br />

readiness. ✯

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