New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs

1. RALLY FOR OUR TROOPS SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY, 5 APRIL 2003, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM, AT MERCER COUNTY PARK, WEST WINDSOR (SKATING RINK). The rally will be held RAIN OR SHINE. Everyone is invited to attend a rally to show our troops and their families how grateful we are for their sacrifices and efforts. Included at the event will be performances from local residents to honor our troops and a drop off station for USO donations for our troops. Items required are: lip balm, disposable cameras, swim goggles, pre-paid international phone cards, baby wipes and monetary donations.

2. GOVERNOR JAMES E. MCGREEVEY VISITED THE TEANECK ARMORY AND ANNOUNCED ENHANCED BENEFITS FOR MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD. On Tuesday, 1 April 2003, Governor McGreevey visited members of the NJ National Guard on active duty patrolling area bridges and tunnels as part of Operation Liberty Shield. Governor McGreevey announced that Senate President Codey and Assembly Speaker Sires will introduce legislation to increase the pay from $50 to $100 per day and to provide health benefit coverage for Guard members and their family when Guard members are on State active duty that exceeds 30 days. With the signing of Executive Order No. 54, Governor McGreevey implemented the following additional benefits for National Guard members: Half-price discounts on New Jersey Transit buses and trains; automatic extensions of their drivers license and vehicle registrations and inspections; the extension of application deadlines for Tuition Aid Grants; the creation of a Scholarship Program for children, spouses, and dependents of NJ military personnel killed or severely disabled during the war on terrorism or war in Iraq; the ability to collect tuition refunds or to re-enroll in a state college or university if Guard members had to leave in order to fulfill active duty requirements; and job training, counseling, and job search workshops for returning Guard members.

3. SPRING FORWARD…FALL BACK…DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME BEGINS THIS SUNDAY, 6 April 2003, at 2 a.m. Remember to set your clocks ahead one hour. By doing so, you effectively move an hour of daylight from the morning to the evening. The main purpose of Daylight Saving Time (DST) is to make better use of daylight and to save energy. Studies by the US Department of Transportation show DST trims the entire country’s electricity usage by a significant, but small amount, of less than one percent each day. Fire departments throughout the country encourage people to change the battery in their smoke detectors when they change their clocks because it can be so easy to forget otherwise. More than 90 percent of the homes in the United States have smoke detectors, but one-third are estimated to have worn-out or missing batteries. Don’t be foolish…change those batteries!

4. 177th CIVIL ENGINEERING SQUADRON (CES) FIRE FIGHTER NEWS FROM SOUTHWEST ASIA AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY. Staff Sergeant Alex Cadavid, who is deployed to the Southwest Asia Area of Responsibility with the 177th CES, recently extinguished an F-15 Strike Eagle wheel fire with direct flame impingement on multiple pieces of live ordinance with minimum damage to the aircraft. The aircraft took the departure end barrier and caught fire in the cable and the Firefighters responded. SSgt Cadavid led off with a hand line of dry powder and charged in even though the aircraft was carrying a maximum load of air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions! The aircrew self-egressed, and SSgt Cadavid extinguished the fire. Crash recovery changed the wheel and the aircraft was turned over to the trans/alert line. Great job!

5. NEW JERSEY NATIONAL GUARD WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE GOVERNOR’S CONFERENCE ON VOLUNTEERISM AND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS that is being held this weekend, 4-5 April 2003, at the Atlantic City Convention Center. Deputy Adjutant General, Colonel Maria Morgan, will facilitate a workshop on the NJ Domestic Preparedness Security Task Force and CWO (Ret) Robert Brownlee will act as presenter and facilitator of the workshop, Human Needs – Response and Impact. CW4 Ralph Cwieka and SFC Minnie Hiller will present two 80 minute workshops entitled “The Impact of War on Military Families.”

6. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CAMDEN/GLOUCESTER COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE OFFICE. During the month of February, veterans who had previously filed claims through the Veterans Service Office in Thorofare, New Jersey, received notification of awards. The total amount of those awards will be more than $708,000 over the next twelve months. Guy Wiener is the Veterans Service Officer responsible for this office that serves the veterans in Camden and Gloucester Counties. Nice job, Guy!

7. THREE NEW WARRANT OFFICER WOMEN. A great way to closeout March as Women’s History Month was the accession of three women of the NJ Army National Guard (NJARNG) into the Warrant Officer Corps. CW5 Al Curving, Command Chief Warrant Officer (CCWO) of the NJARNG announces the following accessions to the Technical Service Warrant Officer Corps: From SGT/E5 to WO1 Diane Ramirez, MOS 001A0, effective 30 January 03. Ms. Ramirez serves as a full-time technician in the position of Administrative Officer/Military Personnel Technician (420A0) for the Director of Information Management (DOIM/G6). From SFC/E7 to WOC Josephine C. Grey, MOS 09W00, effective 27 February 03. Ms. Grey serves as the full-time AGR Health Services Advisor/Military Personnel Technician (420A0) for the Director of Human Resources (HRO/J1). From SSG/E6 to WOC Denise Balderama, MOS 09W00. Ms. Balderama has been accepted to fill a traditional drilling Guard (TDG) position in the 28th Infantry Division PAARNG, where she will serve as a Legal Administrator (550A0) for the Judge Advocate General (JAG). Congratulations and best wishes to all three soldiers on these milestone accomplishments in their Army careers. Chief Curing noted there has never been a better time to become a Warrant Officer.

8. ARMY KNOWLEDGE ONLINE – KNOWLEDGE COLLABORATION CENTER (AKO-KCC) PROVIDES UNITS WITH A LOCATION TO ORGANIZE, STORE AND SHARE FILES AND INFORMATION. An area in the KCC is provided specifically for the Army National Guard, which is further organized by state and units in the chain of command. NJ is working to develop our community for unit information. Units will designate administrators for their area on the KCC. The KCC allows administrators to determine who may subscribe to folders and whether an administrator’s permission is required for someone to subscribe to a community or knowledge center. The KCC may be used to post unclassified, FOUO, and SBU information. Classified information may not be posted on the KCC. The KCC should be used to disseminate information that is not appropriate for posting on ARNG public websites.

9. THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY ASSISTS THE 108TH AIR REFUELING WING (ARW) IN ITS RECRUITMENT EFFORT. On 26 March 2003, the 108th ARW met with Mr. Ronald R. Gravino, Commissioner of the New Jersey Highway Authority, and Mr. Dennis Ingoglia, Public Affairs Director, to discuss advertising on the PNC Bank Arts Center’s electronic billboards located on the North and Southbound sides of the Garden State Parkway in Holmdel. Both gentlemen were very interested in our 108th ARW story and were totally supportive of our recruiting efforts. Within minutes, the 108th’s ad was placed on the electronic billboards, which are passed by approximately 450,000 vehicles daily. What’s even better is the fact that they agreed to run the ad indefinitely and at no charge. The ad reads: “Refuel Your Future…NJ AIR NATIONAL GUARD (108TH ARW).

10. STATESIDE SPACE A TRAVEL AVAILABLE TO MILITARY FAMILIES. Beginning 1 April, the US Air Mobility Command is offering space-available travels to families who travel with their sponsors within the continental United States. Space A flights will be available to dependents of active-duty members and retirees. Here’s how Space A Travel works: Travelers hitch a ride on an aircraft already on a military mission. If there are unused seats, travelers can fly virtually free. Typically, Space A users pay a “head tax” of $12.80 and, if leaving from or returning to the United States, an $11.00 federal inspection fee. For more rules and eligibility see the Space A Travel section at: http://military.com/Travel/SpaceATravel/0,11886,57,00.htm.

11. DISTINGUISHED SERVICE, VIETNAM SERVICE, AND MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL PRESENTATION CEREMONIES ARE SCHEDULED.

10 April – 1100 hrs Distinguished Service MedalMeritorious Service Medal National Guard Training CenterBuilding 35Sea Girt, NJ

12. 177TH FIGHTER WING IS SCHEDULED TO RECEIVE AN ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD FROM NATIONAL GUARD BUREAU. The General Thomas D. White Environmental Awards Ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, 7 May 2003. The 177th Fighter Wing will be honored for their Environmental Program at the ceremony, which will be held in Auditorium 5A1070 at the Pentagon.

13. MILITARY THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN (TSP) NOTES. The next two open seasons are currently scheduled to run from 15 April – 30 June and from 15 October – 31 December 2003. Service members can increase their basic pay contribution from 7 percent to 8 percent, and continue to contribute up to 100 percent of their special, incentive, or bonus pays. In 2003, the IRS elective deferral limit will increase from $11,000 to $12,000. For those serving in a combat zone, the ceiling for contributions is $40,000. For additional information, visit the Thrift Savings Plan website at http://www.tsp.gov.

14. NATIONAL GUARD ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY SELECTS ITS WINNERS. Annually, the National Guard Association of New Jersey (NGANJ) selects individuals as winners of Association awards. NGANJ is proud to announce the following winners: CPT David Moses, winner of the MG Cantwell Outstanding Company Grade Officer – Army Award; Capt Brian Griefer, winner of the MG Cantwell Outstanding Company Grade Officer – Air Award. The winner of the MG Strait Outstanding Soldier Award is Sergeant Frederick Derry, and the winner of the MG Strait Outstanding Airman Award is Staff Sergeant Clifford A. Giampietro. The winner of the BG Patrick McCarthy Outstanding Senior Warrant Officer Award is CW3 Guy C. Remig. Tech Sergeant David M. Falkowski has been selected winner of the Maj Gen Gerard Trophy, and the first ever winner of the LT Thomas E. Williams Leadership Award is LT Reginald Washington. Congratulations to these outstanding individuals and to all of the other fine individuals who were nominated by their commands.

15. NJ VIETNAM VETERANS’ MEMORIAL AND VIETNAM ERA EDUCATIONAL CENTER ANNOUNCES UPCOMING CALENDAR OF EVENTS.

29 March 1:00 pm Devil Doc: A Navy Corpsman in Vietnam A slide show and discussion presented by Albert Naar (USN/USMC, 1965-1969, 3rd Marine Division, 3rd Medical Battalion, Phu Bai and Quang Tri)
26 April 1:00 pm Thirteen Months, Thirteen Stories, One Tour
7 May 11:00 am Remembrance Day Ceremony
10 May 1:00 pm Not at Ease: Photographs of America’s Continuing Engagement with the Vietnam War
26 May 11:00 am Memorial Day Ceremony
14 June 1:00 pm Unknown Soldier
27 July 9:00 am 5th Annual Classic Car & Motorcycle Show
10 Aug 9:00 am Rain Date for 5th Annual Classic Car & Motorcycle Show

16. ARMORY HAPPENINGS – CHECK TO SEE WHAT’S HAPPENING AT AN ARMORY NEAR YOU.

2-6 Apr Antique Show & Sale Morristown Armory
12 Apr Medieval Festival Washington Armory
19 Apr Wrestling Cherry Hill Armory
23-27 Apr Ball & Dinner Dance Morristown Armory
28 Apr – 7 May Carpet & Furniture Show Morristown Armory

17. GETTING TO KNOW OUR STATE – NEW JERSEY. The State Flower of New Jersey is the violet, as officially declared in Assembly Concurrent Resolution NO. 4 of 1913 that passed the Assembly and Senate on March 28 and April 2, respectively, of that year. Later in 1971, the Legislature adopted a bill officially designating the violet, Viola Sororia, as the state flower. Garden clubs feared the earlier concurrent resolution had no permanence in law.

18. QUOTE OF THE DAY…

When in England at a fairly large conference, Colin Powell was asked by the Archbishop of Canterbury if our plans for Iraq were just an example of empire building by George Bush. He answered by saying that,

Over the years, the United States has sent many of its fine, young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return is enough to bury those that did not return.”

It became very quiet in the room.