177th
supports Atlantic City air show
Aug. 15
By
Lt. Col. James Garcia, Public Affairs Officer
Next
week, visitors to the Atlantic
City beach and boardwalk will be
in for a treat: a free air show over the water.
"Thunder over the Boardwalk" brings aerial demonstration
teams to the AC shore again, in what has turned into an
exciting annual event for lucky spectators. The air show is Wednesday, August 15.but if
you're in the area on Tuesday, August 14, you might be
able to catch the practice sessions. The New Jersey Air
National Guard's 177th Fighter Wing will be hosting the
USAF Thunderbirds and Army Golden Knights. Providing the security and support that can
only be found on a military installation, the 177th also
happens to have the same type of aircraft used by the
Thunderbirds: the F-16C Fighting Falcon.
Annual
Training coming up for 50th Infantry Brigade Combat
Team
By
Capt. Jason Fetterolf, 50th IBCT Public Affairs Officer
The
more than 3,000-strong 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
(IBCT), New Jersey Army National Guard, departs
Lawrenceville on Aug. 11 to conduct two weeks of Annual
Training.
Commanded
by Col. Jorge J. Martínez, the IBCT is composed of six
battalions and will train at Fort Drum, N.Y., Fort Dix, N.J., and Fort
Indiantown Gap, Pa.
This
year's Annual Training is an important step towards transformation
and prepares the unit for future deployment. When the
transformation from an Infantry Brigade to an Infantry
Brigade Combat Team is complete, the IBCT structure will
facilitate rapid response to worldwide and state civil
support missions.
Under
the "Partnership For Peace" program, the 50th IBCT will
also host and train with an Albanian rifle platoon at
Fort
Drum.
This is an unprecedented opportunity to cultivate a fledgling
democracy and forge a partnership with a potential future
NATO ally.
The
113th Infantry Battalion, 114th Infantry Battalion, 250th
Brigade Support Battalion, and 102nd Cavalry Squadron
will train at Fort Drum,
N.Y., while the 112th
Field Artillery Battalion will train at Fort
Dix, N.J.,
and the 50th Special Troops Battalion will train at Fort
Indiantown Gap, Pa.
OCS
Class 50 graduates 19 new officers
The
254th Regiment in Sea Girt held the Officers' Candidate
School Graduation ceremony on August 5 for OCS Class 50
in Sea Girt at 10 a.m. There were 19 Officer Candidates
who graduated from the program. OCS is an intensive program
consisting of three Phases: Phase I, Annual Training (AT)
conducted in Connecticut, Phase II Inactive Duty Training (IDT) during
the course of one year in Sea Girt, and Phase III AT in
Alabama. Congratulations
to our graduates!
Vets
Haven gets two cars for the residents
From
the desk of Robert Sauselein, Superintendent of Veterans
Haven
Veterans
Haven recently obtained vehicles that will be raffled
off to two residents of Veterans Haven.
The vehicles are a 1991 Chevy Caprice and a 1987
Dodge van. They were donated by Clinton Crable,
Jobstown,
N.J., who
donated the Chevy Caprice and Camille Fanning
who donated the Dodge van.
These
vehicles will enable two of our current residents to seek
better employment beyond the range of the local public
transportation system and significantly increase their
changes of improving their quality of life.
Inaugural
Joint Base Race to be held Sept. 29
MGUIRE
AFB, N.J. -- McGuire Air Force Base, Fort
Dix
and NAES Lakehurst will hold the Inaugural Joint Base
Race Sept. 29 at 8:30 a.m.
The
race, featuring a half-marathon, a 5-K Run/Walk and a
Kid's Run, will be open to any interested participants,
and all DoD cardholders are encouraged to participate.
All are invited to compete against the men's and women's
military academy marathon teams from the Air
Force Academy,
Naval Academy
and West Point in the
first of what base leadership plans to be an annual event.
"This
will be a good event for us," said Col. Tom Kastner,
U.S. Army Academy Marathon Team officer in charge. "The
cadets will enjoy the sister academy competition and the
whole experience."
The
13.1-mile route will be on paved surfaces within McGuire
AFB and Fort
Dix's Cantonment
Area and will pass static displays such as McGuire's "Pudgy's"
aircraft, a replica of the P-38 flown by Maj. Thomas B.
McGuire Jr, and a C-118 that actually flew Elvis Presley
to the U.S.
from Germany
in March 1960. On Fort
Dix, runners will see U.S. and Soviet military tanks including
a Huey Helicopter, a Russian T-72 Main Battle Tank and
more.
Participants
will receive a T-shirt (if registered before Sept. 1),
a participation medal, a pasta dinner the night before
the race, post-run snacks as well as entertainment. Runners
will also compete against each other in various categories.
For
more information or to register, call 1st Lt. Terry Demille,
305th Services Squadron, at (609) 754-4750 or go online.
Registration deadline is noon Sept. 24.
A
day to celebrate our State
Governor
Jon S. Corzine and Secretary of State Nina Mitchell Wells
invite you to New Jersey's Cultural
Festival, Saturday, Sept. 29. The festival will
be held at the South Riverwalk Park, Riverview Plaza,
Trenton, N.J. (next to Waterfront Park - Route 29 South),
from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Rain Date - Sunday, Sept. 30).
Great Food...Cultural Exhibits and Speakers..Exciting
Performances!
Summit to address health problems
From
the desk of Dorinda Sapp, Affirmative Action Officer
The
2007 Minority Women's Health Summit, Women of Color: Addressing
Disparities, Affirming Resilience, and Developing Strategies
for Success will be held Aug. 23-26, 2007, in Washington,
DC.
This
Summit is the third to address health disparities among
women of color living in the United
States.
Summit Goals:
v
Build on the knowledge gained in the previous conferences
and identify distinct health issues disproportionately
impacting minority women so that programs can be improved;
v
Highlight successful models of health promotion and prevention
that can be replicated in the community.
Visit
the Web site: http://www.womenshealth.gov/mwhs/
for more information.
VA
Launches Suicide Hotline
To
ensure veterans with emotional crises have round-the-clock
access to trained professionals, the Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) has begun operation of a national suicide
prevention hot line for veterans. Secretary of Veterans
Affairs Jim Nicholson said: "Veterans need to know
these VA professionals are literally a phone call away.
All service members who experience the stresses of combat
can have wounds on their minds as well as their bodies.
Veterans should see mental health services as another
benefit they have earned, which the men and women of VA
are honored to provide." VA's hot line will be staffed
by mental health professionals in Canandaigua, N.Y.
They will take toll-free calls from across the country
and work closely with local VA mental health providers
to help callers. The toll-free hot line number is 1 (800)
273-TALK (8255).
From
the desk of Sgt. Maj. Nick Kampf, Safety and Occupational
Health, NJARNG
Rays
Awareness is The Weather Channel's national campaign
designed to educate people about the dangers of sun overexposure,
while helping them to enjoy the outdoors in a safe and
healthy manner. The Weather Channel is taking its
message into communities across the U.S.,
sharing information through local schools, civic groups
and community boards.
The
Sun Safety Advisor and the UV Outlook Index are handy
tools to help you plan ways to protect yourself when working
or playing outdoors.
You
can get your personalized sun safety recommendation. Tell
them where you're going, what you'll be doing and how
long you'll be out in the sun and they will tell you how
to protect yourself from the sun.
Just
answer these 5 easy questions:
v
When is the event?
v
How long will it last?
v
What is your skin type?
v
What activity?
v
What is your age group?
It's
that simple! Visit
them at their website -http://www.weather.com/activities/
health/skin/raysawareness.html
The
New Jersey State Building and Construction Trades Council's
Helmets to Hardhats Program (NJ H2H) is designed to help
transitioning military personnel, National Guardsmen and
Reservists find the best careers in the building and construction
industry. Our program
seeks to honor and reward military service with a solid,
family-sustaining career in one of our 15 affiliated trades,
such as electrical workers, carpenters and painters.
We
work in cooperation with the national Helmets to Hardhats
program, adding a personal component to the program's
on-line services. NJ
H2H offers veterans preparation for successful application
to any of New
Jersey's registered apprenticeship
programs in the building and construction trades. Services
include career counseling, entrance test preparation and
referral to supportive services.
For
program registration and information, visit us online
at www.njbctc.org/h2h
or contact us at 732-499-7295 or at H2H@njbctc.org.
For Your Calendar
Pre-retirement
seminars slated for AGR, technicians
From
the desk of Lorraine
Jamison, Human Resource Development Specialist
HRO
is sponsoring two retirement seminars on Fort
Dix
at the JT2DC in August.
The technician pre-retirement planning seminar
is Aug. 21-22.
The AGR pre-retirement planning seminar is scheduled for
Aug. 23.
These
seminars are important step in planning for your future. For more information, call Lorraine Jamison
at 609-562-0874 or e-mail lorraine.jamison@us.army.mil.
Town
Hall meeting for DMAVA scheduled for Sept. 6
Deputy
Adjutant General, Brig. Gen. Maria Falca-Dodson, and retired
Col. Stephen G. Abel, Deputy Commissioner for Veterans
Affairs, will conduct a Town Hall meeting on Sept. 6,
2007 at 8 a.m.
At
8:45 a.m. retired Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Pierson and retired
Col. Jay Lovas will brief employees on the COOP/COG, which
is how the department would function in the event of a
disaster.
The
Town Hall meeting and briefing will take place on the
Drill Floor at the Lawrenceville Armory. Attendance for
DMVA state employees is mandatory.
Celebrate
Labor Day at Jenkinson's on the Boardwalk
Jenkinson's
on the Boardwalk in Point Pleasant, N.J., is hosting a
New Jersey National Guard Appreciation Day on Sept.
3, at Jenkinson's Pier, open only to N.J. National
Guard personnel (with IDs) and their immediate family.
Details will follow in a future issue.
Honorable Mention
TRICARE dental
coverage; enroll today
From
the office of J1-HRO
Did
you know..... Your patriotism ENTITLES you to dental coverage.
The TRICARE dental program is affordable and comprehensive.
It's
the ONLY dental insurance plan sponsored by the Department
of Defense for:
v
National Guard and Reserve Members
v
National Guard and Reserve Family Members
v
Active Duty Family Members
Enroll
today to claim the dental benefits you've earned and experience
the service you and your family deserve.
Call 800-866-8499 or visit www.TRICAREdentalprogram.com
for more information.
Pilot
bonus program for Army to aid recruiting effort; reward
helpers
From
the desk of Cyndi McCoy, NJARNG Recruiting, Marketing
Representative
Every
Soldier a Recruiter (ESAR) is a pilot referral bonus program
of the Active, Reserve and National Guard components of
the Army that provides select Soldiers and retired members
of the U.S. Army the opportunity to assist with recruiting
efforts and rewards those efforts with referral bonuses
up to $2,000. For more information, contact NJARNG Marketing
Representative Cyndi McCoy at 609-672-6308.
Discounts
offered for State employees
Are
you a state employee looking to save a few $$$?
Visit
www.state.nj.us/personnel/discounts/index.htm and you can find a number of businesses who
offer discounts to New
Jersey state employees.
From amusement parks to fitness to computer to
phones and lots of other discounts between, you will find
many ways to save money. For more information, please
contact Cindy Leese at cindy.leese@njdmava.state.nj.us
or call 609-530-7056.
For the Families
Military Family Day at Six Flags
on Aug. 27
Bring the family to Family Appreciation
Day at Six Flags, Great Adventure, Jackson, on Aug.
27. The park
opens at 10:30 a.m. and the discounted tickets cost $20
per person, children under 3 have free admittance.
Parking will cost $15 per car.
Tickets include all the rides and
the safari. Tickets can be purchased at JFHQ', Family
Program's Office (see Marie or Amanda) or at any Family
Assistance Center.
For further information, please contact the Family Program
Office at marie.durling@nj.ngb.army.mil or amanda.balas@us.army.mil. This is a one-day ticket only, not
a season pass. This offer is available to all New
Jersey National Guard soldiers, airmen and DMAVA
State
and Federal civilian employees.
Job assistance for military spouses,
retirees, injured military
From the desk of retired Command
Sgt. Maj. Mike Hughes, Family Assistance Specialist
Re/Max in conjunction with the US
Department of Defense Military Spouse Employment Initiative
launched Operation Re/Max in 2006 to help mentor interested
military members and their family members in a career
in real estate. Interested military spouses, retirees
and injured soldiers can obtain detailed Operation Re/Max
information at http://www.remax.com/inside_remax/become_an_agent/new_to_
real_estate/index.aspx or contact operation
remax@remax.net or 1-800-826-7720.
Youth trip to Camp
May
zoo, lighthouse on Aug. 23
Family Programs is conducting a youth
trip to Cape May zoo and lighthouse on Aug. 23 for youths, ages 8-15. Cost
is $5 per child for the T-shirts
The Family Programs staff is renting
a charter bus for the day and taking 35 children and 10
staff members as chaperones. There will be two pick-up and drop-off points
- Fort
Dix Reserve
Center
on Route 68 at 7:15 a.m./5:15 p.m. and the Hammonton Armory
at 8:30 a.m./4:30 p.m.
Reservations can be made by calling
Amanda Balas, State Youth Coordinator, at 609-562-0742
or by e-mail at Amanda.balas@us.army.mil. They will
be taken on a first come, first serve basis and children
of deployed service members have
priority.
Sports and Entertainment
Trenton Vets Center, Trenton Thunder offer
"cheap" seats
The Trenton
Vet Center
with support from our community partner, Trenton Thunder
Baseball, will sponsor baseball tickets at a special rate
for Active Duty, Reserve, and National Guard, separated,
and retired veterans. A regular $10 season ticket will be offered at $7 for veterans and family
members. The primary purpose of the program is to
allow veterans and their families an opportunity to experience
Trenton Thunder baseball due to their service and sacrifice
for our country. If you have questions, call Matt Petima, director
of ticket operations for the Trenton Thunder at 609-394-3300,
ext 1200 or the ticket box office at 609-394-3300.
Proof
of Veteran Status: Interested veterans
must have a picture I.D. and provide proof of their veteran
status by showing one of the following documents:
Military I.D.
card; Federal Department of Veteran Affairs medical I.D.
card; DD Form 214.
ESGR Golf tourney on Sept. 18
From the desk of Hank Pierre,
NJ ESGR
The NJ Friends of the Guard and Reserve
is proud to present the 2007 State Chairman's Annual Golf
Outing. The golf outing will be held on Sept.18, at the Miry Run Country Club
in Robbinsville,
N.J. The
rain date is Sept. 25.
The $95 per golfer registration fee includes greens
fees, cart, registration, continental breakfast, food
and beverages on the course, door prizes and a buffet
luncheon at the golf club.
Corporate, hole and cart sponsors are also being
sought. All proceeds to benefit the activities of
the NJ Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and
Reserve. For additional information please contact
Hank Pierre at 609-562-0156 or Tammy Cartagena at 609-562-0157.
Dave Savino Golf Tournament to be
held Sept, 17
The 11th Annual Lt. Col. Dave Savino
Memorial Golf Tournament will be held on Sept.
17 at the Fountain Green Golf Course, Ft.
Dix. Shotgun start is at 8 a.m., with a two-person
scramble (best ball).
Cost to play is $85 per person, with checks made
payable to "Lt. Col. Dave Savino Memorial Fund."
Call Senior Master Sgt. Mike Balas at 609-330-4069
or Connie Cisek at 609-562-0901 for more information.
Proceeds from the tournament go to help fellow
Guardsmen in need.
Here's to the Heroes provides a
single day's free admission to any one SeaWorld or Busch
Gardens park, Sesame Place, Adventure Island or Water
Country USA for the service member and as many as three
direct dependents.
Any active duty, active reserve,
ready reserve service member or Guard member is entitled
to free admission under the program. He or she need only
register, either online at www.herosalute.com or in the entrance
plaza of a participating park, and show a Department of
Defense photo ID.
Scholarship, Education News
Scholarships for OIF/OEF veterans
The Horatio Alger Association of
Distinguished Americans is offering scholarships to combat
veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. It offers a scholarship
of up to $1,250 per year for person pursuing a BA/BS degree.
You must have an honorable service record and a 2.0 GPA.
The deadline for applying is Sept. 28, 2007. Contact: www.horatioalger.org.
Free SAT/ACT Offer Extended
A group of NFL, NFL Europe, AFL,
and CFL football players have announced they are extending
their sponsorship of the SAT/ACT training to all military
families.
The sponsorship allows any military
person (active, Guard, reserve, or retired) to request
as many programs as they need for the students in their
lives. There is a secure website to confirm a person's
military status before directing the user to the software
order site. Logon
to::
www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil/portal/page/itc/MHF/MHF_DETAIL_0?current_id=20.20.100.30.0.0.0.0.0
Programs are shipped to domestic
U.S. addresses and APO
addresses. The
sponsorship covers the purchase price of $199 and the
family pays only the shipping and handling of $9.95.
American Legion offers scholarships,
booklet on their Web site
The American Legion has scholarship
information on their Web site - www.legion.org
- including the 152-page booklet, Need
a Lift, which is a complete financial aid reference
guide for veterans, veterans' dependents and members of
the American Legion family. When you get on the site, click on "Scholarship
Information" in the "Useful Links" block.
Association News
NGANJ group life insurance available
to members
Are you covered by the NGANJ Group
Life Insurance Program?
As a member of either the Officers or the Enlisted
Association, you are entitled to enroll in your Association
Life Insurance Program.
This special program provides from $5,000 to $50,000
of Life Insurance for you, "round the clock".
Premiums range from as little as $2 per month and
may be payroll-deducted from your drill check.
Family coverage is also available at low rates
designed for you as a member of the New Jersey Army and
Air National Guard. Think
of it!! No aviation
exclusions...No hazardous duty restrictions...No war clauses.No
checks to write. Dependent coverage includes spouses and all
children. Information
can be obtained by contacting retired CWO Jack Petrosilli
at 609-530-6843, or retired Brig. Gen. Robert S.
Dutko Sr. at 609-273-1004.
Enrollment forms can be obtained by calling retired
Col. Frank L. Carlone, Program Coordinator at 732-249-8335.
Enlisted Association of the National
Guard of New Jersey
Give our state a larger voice by
becoming a member of the Enlisted Association.
The increased numbers will help us speak on all
legislative issues that will benefit you and your families.
The association works hard for you at the Federal &
State level on all important issues. Visit the web site
EANG-NJ.org, click on Become a Member for the application and find out more about what
the association does.
Enlisted Association of NGNJ Conference
slated for Oct. 5-7
The
34th annual conference of the Enlisted Association of
the National Guard of New Jersey will be held at the Radisson
Hotel, Valley
Forge, Penn.,
Oct. 5-7.
Proceeds
from this weekend event are spent directly on our membership. It is a nice feeling to know that for every
50/50 ticket and Chinese Auction ticket you buy helps
fund the scholarship program, allows junior enlisted to
attend the National Conference and supports legislative
actions for benefits and so much more.
Friday
night features "The American Game Show Challenge," which
is a series of fun trivia contests and physical challenges.
Saturday
is back to business with a business meeting and elections
for the executive council. The new Junior Enlisted Team is sponsoring
the Chinese Auction. Local
attractions are abundant; register for trips to Valley
Forge and/or Longwood Gardens. Saturday Night wraps up our conference with
our customary formal Military Ball.
There
are several package plans to fit your particular needs. If you have any questions, call retired Sgt.
Maj. Jerome Zebrowski at 609-214-6959 or e-mail at jcptfalc@aol.com
or Co-Chairman retired Sgt. Maj. Edward Goetschius at
609-965-1972 or e-mail at esgtmaj@comcast.net. Visit the association's web site at www.eang-nj.org/conference_2007.pdf for additional information, updates and applications.
NGANJ's calendar for members in 2007
The National Guard Association
of New Jersey will be conducting the following event.
All members (active and retirees) are encouraged
to participate:
§
National
Guard Association of the United
States (NGAUS) 129th Conference - this conference will be held in San Juan, Puerto Rico
from August 25-27,
2007. The New
Jersey delegation will be staying
at the Caribe Hilton (15 minutes from airport).
Our hotel is located on the beach, has a great
pool for the family and is located close to the convention
center (10 minutes). We
have reserved 30 rooms on a first come, first gets basis. Additional information and registration forms
will be coming out shortly.
If you are interested, please contact Capt. Jose
Maldonado.
§
NGANJ
Website - The above information is posted on the NGANJ
website. If you
need copies of the forms, specific contacts or additional
information, please go to the website at:
www.nganj.org.
Veterans Information
DMAVA Veterans Outreach Campaign
continues
The DMVA Veterans Outreach Campaign
continues with kiosk displays at selected malls throughout
New Jersey. The schedule is as follows:
August
8, 9, 10 |
Newport
Centre Mall |
September
12, 13*, 14 |
Livingston
Mall |
October
2, 3, 4 |
Deptford
Mall |
October
30*, 31, November 1 |
Brunswick
Square Mall |
November
27, 28, 29 |
Quaker
Bridge Mall |
*Medal ceremonies begin at 10:30
a.m. on these dates.
The kiosk will be open from 10
a.m. to 6 p.m., July-Sept.; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Oct.
and Nov.
N.J. Vietnam
Veterans Memorial
N.J. Vietnam Veterans' Memorial and
Vietnam Era
Educational Center's
upcoming events:
=================
Free guided tours of the Memorial are offered on the first
Saturday of each month at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.