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By SPC Pablo G. Vizcaino, 444 MPAD
Brig. Gen. John M. Nunn
Betty Nunn (right) mother of newly promoted Brig. Gen. John M. Nunn (center) applauds as Maj. Gen. Glenn K. Rieth pins on a star. Photo by Staff Sgt. Joe Donnelly, 444MPAD.

Thirty years of experience are represented by a single silver star sitting on the shoulder boards John M. Nunn’s Class A uniform.

A large crowd watched at the Somerset Armory on March 9 as the red one-star flag was unfurled for Brig. Gen. Nunn as he accepted his new responsibilities as the Assistant Adjutant General of the New Jersey Army National Guard.

 

The Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Glenn K. Rieth was assisted by Nunn’s proud mother, Betty, in pinning on the new rankthe New Jersey Army National Guard in 1977.. Her pride was shared by the audience for this former enlisted active duty artilleryman, who joined the New Jersey Army National Guard in 1977.

“I don’t think this is about me,” commented Nunn. “It’s about the people you serve with.”

Nunn’s rise through the officer ranks started with his graduation from Officer Candidate School in Sea Girt in 1979. He served as Company Commander of the 50th Adjutant General Company from 1980 through 1984. Moving to the 50th Division Support Command (DISCOM) until 1987 before returning to Sea Girt to be the New Jersey Military Academy’s Director of Logistics until 1991. In 1995, Nunn returned to the 42nd DISCOM, then three years later he moved to the 250th Forward Support Battalion as the Executive Officer. He then served as Commander of the 50th Personnel Service Battalion until December 2000, when he was reassigned as the DISCOM Executive Officer and was deployed to Iraq in 2004.

Now once again Nunn’s concerns are shifting when he wears the uniform as he is responsible for the Joint Training and Training Development Center among other duties.

Just a few weeks before his promotion, Nunn accepted the civilian position as Director of the New Jersey Youth ChalleNGe Academy at Fort Dix. The state-funded program targets at-risk teenagers who have dropped out of high school, and gives them the motivation and direction they need to complete their schooling.

“Right now we graduate an average of around 100, but we are going to look to graduate 200 in the future,” stated Nunn.

Nunn can put to good use some of his experiences from his 27-years as a police officer in Newark to help make sure the Youth ChalleNGe cadets are successful.

By SPC Pablo G. Vizcaino, 444 MPAD

Lt. Col. Roch A. Switlik (left) was presented the 42nd Regional Support Group (RSG) colors by Brig. Gen. Frank W. Dulfer, Joint Force Headquarters-New Jersey during the Change of Command Ceremony held at RSG Headquarters in Somerset on March 9.

Looking to the RSG's future, Switlik says, “It is important to continue with the direction Colonel Nunn established – continue to reconstitute the RSG.” The RSG is comprised of the 50th Finance Battalion, 117th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion and 50th Personnel Service Battalion.

Switlik to command RSG
Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Joe Donnelly, 444MPAD

Switlik, who has served in the Army for more than 20 years, has had a meritorious career having earned multiple awards among which include the Bronze Star and Defense Meritorious Service Medal.

“We have a very important mission coming up,” added Switlik as the support elements during annual training will help prepare the 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team for deployment.

Table of Contents
Volume 33 Number 6 Staff / Information
     
(c) 2008 NJ Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
http://www.nj.gov/military