Over 2500 New Jersey National Guard soldiers boarded trucks this morning and departed for two weeks of tactical training and gunnery at Fort Drum, New York. During this period of annual training, soldiers will practice tank gunnery and maneuvers, infantry squad tactics, field artillery fire, scout tactics, as well as providing vehicle maintenance, medical support, and fuel and ammunition delivery. Fort Drum is located in northern New York State and has about 100,000 acres of maneuver space and ranges to accommodate large formations of soldiers and armored vehicles. 

Units deploying are:

HQ 50th Brigade    Fort Dix
1st Battalion, 114th Infantry                 Woodbury, Atlantic City, Burlington, Red Bank, Mt Holly
2nd Battalion, 102nd Armor                Washington, Newton, Somerset, West Orange
3rd Battalion, 112th Field Artillery       Morristown, Lawrenceville, Cherry Hill, Toms River
5th Squadron, 117th Cavalry               Vineland, Dover, West Orange, Woodstown
HQ 42nd Support Command               Somerset
50th Main Support Battalion                Teaneck, West Orange, Jersey City, Dover
250th Forward Support Battalion         Sea Girt, Bordentown, Hammonton
HQ NJ State Area Command             Fort Dix

On Wednesday, 6 June, about 50 employers of National Guard soldiers will fly to Fort Drum aboard a C-130 cargo plane to observe their employees in training. This trip, called a “bosslift,” is sponsored by the New Jersey Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) and is meant to foster greater understanding of what Guard soldiers do when they are deployed away from their civilian jobs. Major General Paul J. Glazar, the Adjutant General of New Jersey, will host the employers. The itinerary includes the C-130 flight, a live-fire demonstration of M-1 Abrams tanks, flights in UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters, a visit to a working field hospital, and a tactical meal with soldiers in the field. The ESGR committee normally handles problems that may arise when employees must take time off for military duty. 

The New Jersey National Guard is comprised of over 9,000 citizen-soldiers who are trained and ready to respond to any emergency here in the state, or anywhere in the world. Soldiers and airmen normally perform one weekend of duty per month, and two weeks of annual training during the year. Guard soldiers and airmen have deployed to over 20 states and 16 foreign nations this training year alone supporting peacekeeping operations, humanitarian missions, and support of the national defense. Guard men and women get free tuition at state colleges and universities, and are paid equivalent salaries to active duty personnel while performing military training. 

If you have questions about this deployment or job opportunities in your local National Guard unit, please contact COL John Dwyer, Public Affairs Officer at 609-530-6939.