DMVA Weekly Highlights
17 January 2003
Joint Chief of Staff,
COL (Ret) Michael B. Smith
Current
DMVA Highlights
-
FEDERAL
AND STATE OFFICES CLOSED ON MONDAY, 20 JANUARY 2003, IN CELEBRATION OF
THE LIFE OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
-
THE
ADJUTANT GENERAL PRESENTED A
STATE OF THE DEPARTMENT BRIEFING TO
DMVA EMPLOYEES.
-
RECOGNITION
AND THANKS TO COL ALAN BUNTING AND THE MEMBERS OF THE 177TH
FIGHTER WING, NJ AIR NATIONAL GUARD.
-
CLASS
18 OF THE NEW JERSEY NATIONAL GUARD CHALLENGE YOUTH PROGRAM WILL BEGIN
ON 9 MARCH 2003.
-
LtCol
RONALD ALFORS AND THE 108TH COMPTROLLER ORGANIZATION ARE HONORED
AS WINNERS OF THE AIR NATIONAL GUARD'S FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND COMPTROLLER
ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR FOR FY 2002.
-
NEW
JERSEY ASSEMBLYMAN JOSEPH AZZOLINA AND ASSEMBLYWOMAN MARY PREVITE VISITED
THE DEPARTMENT'S NEW HOMELAND SECURITY/CENTER OF EXCELLENCE.
-
CHIEF
MASTER SERGEANT CRAIG CZARNECKI HONORED BY THE DETECTIVE ENDOWMENT ASSOCIATION
OF THE NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT.
-
2003
ARMED SERVICES YMCA ART CONTEST DEADLINE APPROACHES.
-
448
TROOPERS OF THE 5/117TH CAVALRY SQUADRON REPORT TO FT. DIX,
NEW JERSEY.
-
20
JANUARY 2003 IS THE DEADLINE FOR ORDERING DISCOUNTED TICKETS FOR THE NEW
JERSEY DEVILS VS. THE PHILADELPHIA FLYERS HOCKEY GAME ON 30 JANUARY 2003.
-
MILITARY
OFFICERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA (MOAA) WILL GIVE $1,000 COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS
TO RANDOMLY SELECTED SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF MILITARY PEOPLE, INCLUDING RESERVISTS.
-
ARMY
KNOWLEDGE ONLINE - DO YOU HAVE AN ARMY KNOWLEDGE ONLINE (AKO) ACCOUNT?
-
NEW
JERSEY NATIONAL GUARD WELCOMES ITS NEWEST WARRANT OFFICER.
-
2003
SOLDIER/NCO OF THE YEAR COMPETITION RESULTS.
-
ARMORY
HAPPENINGS - CHECK TO SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING AT AN ARMORY NEAR YOU.
-
STATE
EMPLOYEE OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT FORMS DISTRIBUTED.
-
DISTINGUISHED
SERVICE, VIETNAM SERVICE, AND MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL PRESENTATION CEREMONIES
ARE SCHEDULED.
-
SAFETY
TIP - REFUEL SAFELY BY STOPPING STATIC ELECTRICITY BUILD-UP.
-
177th
FIGHTER WING TAKES TO THE SKIES OVER PHILADELPHIA'S VETERANS STADIUM.
-
WORDS
OF WISDOM.
* * * * * *
-
FEDERAL
AND STATE OFFICES CLOSED ON MONDAY, 20 JANUARY 2003 IN CELEBRATION OF THE
LIFE OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., pastor and civil rights leader
who advocated nonviolent protest in the fight to secure the human and civil
rights of all Americans. In 1963 Dr. King helped organize the March on
Washington, an assembly of more than 200,000 protestors. The march influenced
the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. That same year, Dr. King was
awarded the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize. He broadened his advocacy to address
the plight of the poor of all races and to oppose the Vietnam War. In 1968,
while in Memphis, Tennessee to support a sanitation worker strike, Dr.
King was assassinated. In 1983, President Ronald Reagan designated the
third Monday in January a federal legal holiday in honor of Martin Luther
King, Jr.'s birthday.
-
THE
ADJUTANT GENERAL PRESENTED A STATE OF THE DEPARTMENT BRIEFING TO
DMVA EMPLOYEES at
the Central Office facility in Lawrenceville and to the employees at the
Headquarters Building at Fort Dix on Friday, 17 January 2003. BG Rieth
reviewed the year's highlights and accomplishments of the NJ Army and Air
National Guard, the employees who serve our state's veterans community,
and the support staff who make it all possible. TAG expressed his gratitude
for the teamwork that has made our Department one that we can all be proud
of.
-
RECOGNITION
AND THANKS TO COL ALAN J. BUNTING AND THE MEMBERS OF THE 177TH
FIGHTER WING, NJ AIR NATIONAL GUARD who
responded rapidly to the scene of a major water main break at the Veterans
Memorial Home at Vineland with emergency heaters to ensure continuity of
heat to the veteran residents of Unit One. This reinforces TAG's emphatic
statement that we at DMVA are truly one Department. Well Done!
-
CLASS
18 OF THE NEW JERSEY NATIONAL GUARD CHALLENGE YOUTH PROGRAM WILL BEGIN
ON 9 MARCH 2003. The ChalleNGe Youth Program is a 17-month military
style program (22-week rigorous residential phase and a 12-month post-residential
phase) located at Fort Dix, New Jersey. The program is geared for youth
who are high school dropouts 16 ½ to 18 years old. The goal of this
program is to give students a second chance at life through education,
(GED curriculum), life skills, leadership training and employment training.
ChalleNGe is not a traditional "boot camp" environment. Placement Test
dates are scheduled for 25 January and 15 February 2003 at 9:00 a.m., Building
5402, 1st Street, Fort Dix, NJ 08640. If you are aware of anyone
who might be interested in attending, please have him or her contact Mr.
Donald Alexander at 609-562-0577 or at e-mail address Donald.Alexander@njchallenge.com.
-
LtCol
RONALD ALFORS AND THE 108TH COMPTROLLER ORGANIZATION ARE HONORED
AS WINNERS OF THE AIR NATIONAL GUARD'S FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND COMPTROLLER
ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR FOR FY 2002
in an announcement by Col Virginia Kelly, Air National Guard Comptroller.
Competition was keen and a record number of nominations were submitted.
The award will be presented on 4 February 2003 at a formal Awards Luncheon
to be held during the FY 03 Air National Guard Comptrollers Conference,
4-6 February 2003, at the Double Tree Hotel, Arlington, VA. Congratulations
on an outstanding job!
-
NEW
JERSEY ASSEMBLYMAN JOSEPH AZZOLINA AND ASSEMBLYWOMAN MARY PREVITE VISITED
THE DEPARTMENT'S NEW HOMELAND SECURITY/CENTER OF EXCELLENCE during
the past week. They toured our new state-of-the-art facility and met with
BG Rieth and Col Morgan to discuss military and veterans issues.
-
CHIEF
MASTER SERGEANT CRAIG CZARNECKI HONORED BY THE DETECTIVE ENDOWMENT ASSOCIATION
OF THE NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT. CMSgt Czarnecki, currently
assigned to Headquarters, New Jersey Air National Guard, continues to try
to make a difference for some of the survivors of September 11, 2001. Chief
Czarnecki witnessed the carnage of Ground Zero while assisting with "Light
Carts" to light up the immediate area around the fallen buildings. After
being assigned to NJANG Headquarters, he met First Lieutenant Andrew Mattson,
a traditional Guardsman and a member of The New York City Police Department.
Lieutenant Mattson and Chief Czarnecki found a way to help survivors by
soliciting donations for the NYPD Widow and Orphans Fund. Their product
was a slide show of photos of the destruction taken after September 11.
The funds collected by Chief Czarnecki were turned in and matched by a
financial organization in New York for a total of over $1,000. For his
efforts, Chief Czarnecki was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation
from the Detectives Endowment Association of the New York City Police Department
by Major General Clark Martin, Commander, New Jersey Air National Guard,
and 1Lt Andrew Mattson.
-
2003
ARMED SERVICES YMCA ART CONTEST'S DEADLINE APPROACHES. Elementary school
artists of military families have until January 27 to enter the 2003 Armed
Services YMCA Art Contest and earn a chance to win a $500 US Savings Bond.
The annual talent hunt is open to kindergartners through sixth graders
of active and reserve-component military families in all the services,
including the Coast Guard. Winners are selected from each service and are
awarded a $500 bond. Runners-up receive a $100 bond. Department of Defense
and Coast Guard civilian's children may enter in an honorary category for
a $100 bond. Winners' artwork will be judged on the theme, "My Military
Family" and will be featured on the Military Family Month 2003 poster.
For more information, visit the Armed Services YMCA web site at www.asymca.org
or call (703) 313-9600.
-
448
TROOPERS OF THE 5/117TH CAVALRY SQUADRON REPORT TO FT. DIX,
NEW JERSEY to conduct
a 5-day Soldier Readiness Processing (SRP) exercise in preparation for
their federal activation for the Air Force Base security mission. They
have been tasked to support McGuire AFB and the Atlantic City International
Airport NJ Air National Guard Base at Pomona. HQ STARC personnel are supporting
this 5-day exercise, ensuring the 5/117th CAV soldiers are ready
for deployment. The 5/117th CAV mission will begin in February
2003 and will last initially for one year. Good luck to all of the soldiers
that will deploy, we know they will represent the NJ Army National Guard
proudly.
-
20
JANUARY 2003 IS THE DEADLINE FOR ORDERING DISCOUNTED TICKETS FOR THE NEW
JERSEY DEVILS VS. THE PHILADELPHIA FLYERS HOCKEY GAME ON 30 JANUARY 2003.
If you are interested in obtaining tickets, contact SMSgt Dave Whalen,
108th Air Refueling Wing, at 609-754-3616.
-
MILITARY
OFFICERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA (MOAA) WILL GIVE $1,000 COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS
TO RANDOMLY SELECTED SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF MILITARY PEOPLE, INCLUDING RESERVISTS.
Formerly known as The Retired Officers Association, the MOAA will honor
100 college-bound or current undergraduate students with individual $1,000
scholarship grants for the 2003-2004 school year. The association's scholarship
program is part of an ongoing effort to assist young people from military
families. Deadline to complete the online application is March 1st.
For more information and to apply, visit http://www.moaa.org/Education/2003.
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ARMY
KNOWLEDGE ONLINE - DO YOU HAVE AN ARMY KNOWLEDGE ONLINE (AKO) ACCOUNT?
If you do, then you are familiar with the Army's portal and capabilities
that are being expanded every day for access to Army information resources
from any Internet connected computer. One of the first resources that everyone
can use is the e-mail service. If you use it as your primary e-mail address,
it means contact listings don't have to change when you move or change
assignments, providing a great way to stay connected with people. Army
dependents are eligible for guest accounts, making communicating with deployed
soldiers convenient and secure. Go to www.us.army.mil
to check out AKO and create an account.
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NEW
JERSEY ARMY NATIONAL GUARD WELCOMES ITS NEWEST WARRANT OFFICER. WO1
Jason M. Swingle was pinned by the State Comand Chief Warrant Officer (CCWO)
Al Curving on Friday, 10 January 2003, at graduation ceremonies held in
Fort Rucker, Alabama. A real story in the value of persistence, SRA Swingle
started his quest to become an Army Aviation Warrant Officer nearly three
years ago following a chance meeting with CW4 Fred Menschner at a local
7-11 store. After being selected for the third time through an order of
merit board process, the Air Guard's mission was finally able to authorize
an inter-branch transfer to move Airman Swingle over to the Army Guard.
Graduating from a very rigorous Warrant Officer Candidate School (WOCS)
with The Red Devils Class #2003-04, Mr. Swingle will now remain
at Fort Rucker for nearly a year of Initial Entry Rotary Wing (IERW) training.
He will return to the 5/117th CAV of the NJ Army National Guard
as an Army Aviator helicopter pilot.
-
2003
SOLDIER/NCO OF THE YEAR COMPETITION RESULTS. A selection board convened
on Saturday, 11 January 2003, at the State Area Command Headquarters (STARC)
Building, Fort Dix, to select new Jersey's nominees for the Soldier/NCO
of the Year program. This board selected those soldiers who will represent
the New Jersey Army National Guard at the First Army Competition at Camp
Rowland, Connecticut.
Enlisted
Soldiers (PV1-CPL) |
Unit |
SPC Christopher
Nettleton |
A Co 250
SIG BN |
SPC Jose
M. Perez |
1st
BN 150th AVN |
CPL Michael
Traenkner |
C Co 1/114th
INF |
SPC Maria
E. Velez |
T3BL |
|
NCO (SGT-SFC) |
|
SFC Steven
Katkics |
HHC 50th
BDE |
SFC Nester
R. Smith |
T3BL |
SGT Johnathon
M. Sodamin |
1st
BN 150th AVN |
SGT Daniel
F. Yuill |
HHC DISCOM |
The winners who will represent New
Jersey are SGT Johnathon Sodamin from the 1st Battalion 150th
Aviation as the NCO and SPC Maria Maria Velez from the T3BL as the enlisted
soldier. All of the soldiers who competed are to be congratulated for a
job well done. These soldiers were selected as the best from their units
and Major Commands.
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ARMORY
HAPPENINGS - CHECK TO SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING AT AN ARMORY NEAR YOU.
16-19 Jan |
Tool Show |
Cherry Hill
Armory |
18-19 Jan |
Dog Show |
Vineland
Armory |
19 Jan |
Emcee Sports
Card & Comics Show |
Bordentown
Armory |
16-20 Jan |
Home Design
& Landscape Show |
Morristown
Armory |
23-24 Jan |
Antique Show |
Morristown
Armory |
23-26 Jan |
Tool Show |
Lawrenceville
Armory |
25 Jan |
Medieval
Festival |
Westfield
Armory |
28 Jan -
2 Feb |
Tool Show |
Mount Holly |
23 Feb |
NASCAR Collectibles
Show |
Bordentown
Armory |
28 Feb |
Wrestling |
Atlantic
City Armory |
7 Mar |
Tool Show |
Bordentown
Armory |
4 Mar |
Tool Show |
Woodbridge
Amory |
21-23 Mar |
Craft Show
& Sale
Home Design & Landscape Show |
Morristown
Armory
Westfield Armory |
30 Mar |
NASCAR Collectibles
Show |
Bordentown
Armory |
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STATE
EMPLOYEE OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT FORMS DISTRIBUTED. Every state employee
should have received a memo and form from the DMVA Ethics Officer concerning
Outside Employment with this week's pay statement. Every employee is required
to complete and return the form, even if they do not have any other employment.
The completed form should be given to your supervisor, who will also sign
it and send it to your Director for signature. All signed forms are to
be returned to LTC (Ret) Jack Dillie, DMVA Ethics Officer.
-
DISTINGUISHED
SERVICE, VIETNAM SERVICE, AND MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL PRESENTATION CEREMONIES
ARE SCHEDULED.
16 Jan -
1100 hrs. |
Distinguished
Service/
Meritorious Service Medal |
Salem Community
College (Theater) |
29 Jan -
1100 hrs |
Vietnam Service
Medal |
Middlesex
County College |
4 Feb --
1000 & 1300 hrs. |
Distinguished
Service/
Meritorious Service Medals |
Toms River
Elks Lodge |
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SAFETY
TIP - REFUEL SAFELY BY STOPPING STATIC ELECTRICITY BUILD-UP. The Army
and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) reminds motorists of the importance
of avoiding potential problems with static electricity at gas pumps. In
many parts of the country, static electricity build-up is most likely to
occur during the fall and winter months, when air is cool or cold and dry
- the typical climate conditions for static electricity buildup. Static
electricity builds up when a motorist exits or re-enters the vehicle during
fueling. Upon returning to the vehicle fill pipe during or at the end of
refueling, the motorist may experience a static discharge at the fill point,
which may cause a flash fire or small sustained fire with gasoline refueling
vapors. The most effective means by which a motorist can avoid static electricity
problems at the gas pump is to stay outside the vehicle while refueling.
In the rare event a motorist does experience a fire while refueling, it's
important to remember to leave the nozzle in the fill pipe of your vehicle
and back away from it. Immediately notify the station attendant to shut
off all dispensing devices and pumps with emergency controls. Consumers
can minimize these and other potential fueling hazards by following safe
refueling practices.
-
177th
FIGHTER WING TAKES TO THE SKIES OVER PHILADELPHIA'S VETERANS STADIUM.
Members of the NJ Air National Guard's 177th Fighter Wing will
provide a fly over Veterans Stadium at the start of the Eagles League Championship
Game on Sunday at 3:00 p.m.
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This
week's Words of Wisdom come from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
-
"We must learn to live together as brothers
or perish together as fools."
-
"Love is the only force capable of transforming
an enemy into friend."
-
"Life's most urgent question is: what
are you doing for others?"
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