Ready to head out to her vehicle, Spc. Jackie Bertrand, (center, wearing beret), 250th Adjutant General Detachment, picks up a free computer from Operation Homelink at the McGuire AFB Family Support Center on Dec. 8. Photo by Kryn P. Westhoven, DMAVA/PA.

Computers Keep Troops in Touch
On Dec. 8, 42 members from the 250th Adjutant General Detachment and 50th Personnel Services Battalion, which were on annual training at Fort Dix in preparation to deployment, received free personal computers in order to keep in e-mail contact with their families.

Operation Homelink, a Chicago based non-profit organization, held the computer giveaway at the McGuire Air Force Base Family Support Center. A total of 100 computers were distributed by Operation Homelink, whose mission is to facilitating email communication between service members and their families back home, that particular day.

Oftentimes families are not able to afford a computer and must rely on expensive phone calls or slow postal service to stay in touch. Operation Homelink provides a free refurbished computer to the spouse or parents of troops up to the rank of E-5.

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Sgt. John Klewicki (left, New Jersey Army National Guard) and Staff Sgt. Cliff Giampietro (right, New Jersey Air National Guard) prepare to set up remote wireless monitoring units during the 21st Civil Support Team’s (CST) training at the Memorial Tunnel.

21st CST Participates In Largest Response Exercise
From Oct. 10-13, the 21st Civil Support Team (CST) trained at the Memorial Tunnel, Center for National Response, near Charleston, W.V. This exercise, which combined the CST with urban search and rescue firemen from nine New Jersey counties, was the largest the 21st CST had been involved in.

The exercise, which simulated a tunnel explosion and collapse, was located in a half-mile long tunnel filled with destroyed cars, trucks and semi trailers along with simulated victims, that had to be stabilized before being extracted.

The Center is a flexible WMD training complex that provides multiscenario exercises, which include a post blast rubble area, subway train station, chemical, biological and drug laboratories; a highway WMD HAZMAT incident that can be configured with
chemical, biological and radiological sources and a cave and a bunker complex for military or joint operations with military and first responders.

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3-112 Gets New Commander Col. Frank Caruso passes the 3rd Battalion, 112th Field Artillery colors to Lt. Col. Henri R. Schepens during a Change of Command ceremony at the Morristown Armory on Dec. 18. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Robert Stephenson, NJDMAVA/PA.		Chojnacki Gets 2nd Star Brig. Gen. Eugene R. Chojnacki (second from right) has his major general insignia pinned on by his children (l-r) Casey, Bryan and Darin during a promotion ceremony held at the Joint Force Headquarters – New Jersey building at Fort Dix on Nov. 20. Maj. Gen. Chojnacki is the Commander of the New Jersey Air National Guard based at Fort Dix. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Mark Olsen, 177FW/PA.
Medics Provide Support Tech. Sgt. Sam Ciriaco (right) applies a cast to a Katrina victim. From Sept. 20 to the end of October, 12 members of the 177th Medical Group deployed to Belle Chasse Naval Air Station and Camp Shelby in support of Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. Photo courtesy 177FW/Medical Group.		150th Freedom Salute Sgt. Daniela Talharim (right), 150th Adjutant General Detachment, shares a moment with her mom, Maria (center), and sister, Danayta (left), during the 150th's Freedom Salute ceremony at Fort Dix on Dec. 11. The unit was deployed to Fort Dix to support the mobilization mission from Jan. 2003 to July 2004. Photo by Spc. Sherwood Goodenough, 444 MPAD.
Wing To Get New Alert Facility Dig In! (l-r) Brig. Gen. Maria Falca-Dodson, Brig. Gen. Eugene Chojnacki, Congressman Frank A. Lobiondo, N.J. 2nd District, Maj. Gen. Glenn K. Rieth and Col. Brian Webster, Commander, 177th Fighter Wing, break ground for the 177th's new alert crew complex, scheduled for completion in 18 months. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Mark Olsen, 177FW/PA.		Wing Prepares For AEF Lt. Col. Thor Himley (left), 177th Operations Group, receives help sorting through supplies from Staff Sgt. Anthony Branca (right), 177th Logistics Readiness Squadron, during the wing's preparation for the upcoming Air Expeditionary Force deployment. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Mark Olsen, 177FW/PA.
1-114th In Iraq First Lieutenant Vincent Caliguire (front), one of the 26 members of the 1st Battalion, 114th Infantry; who volunteered to serve with a Pennsylvania Army National Guard unit, is seen here during a lull in a battle with insurgents. Photo courtesy 1st Battalion, 114th Infantry.
Troops Receive Awards Three members of the New Jersey National Guard (NJNG) Counterdrug Task Force, (starting second from left) Sgt. 1st Class John Figueroa, Staff Sgt. Pedro Pena and Sgt. 1st Class Willie Johnson were given Eagle statues by Kyle Hutchins (left), Special Agent in Charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Newark, in appreciation for their service in support of the Global War on Terrorism. Also shown in the photo is Lt. Col. John Sheard (right), NJNG Counterdrug Coordinator. Photo courtesy New Jersey National Guard Counterdrug Task Force.