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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. ✯