New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
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DMVA Highlights

12 December 2003

   Volume 2, Number 34

NJ Dept of Military and Veterans Affairs

BG Glenn K. Rieth

The Adjutant General

Col Maria Falca-Dodson

Deputy Adjutant General

COL (Ret) Emil H. Philibosian

Deputy Commissioner for Veterans   Affairs

Contacting us is easy!

Office of the

Joint Chief of Staff

COL (Ret) Michael B. Smith

Mrs. Laura A. Branham

Phone:

(609) 530-6987

Fax: 

(609) 530-7109

Email:

branham@njdmava.state.nj.us

We’re on the Web!

www.state.nj.us/military

“The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, not the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it’s the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him with his friendship.”

 

 

…Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

Calendar Notes…

 

Happy 367th Birthday to the

Army National Guard

13 December 2003

 

 

DMVA Holiday Dinner

TONIGHT!

Friday, 12 Dec 03

Garden Room

Lawrenceville Armory

 

 

 

Thank you to everyone who generously donated a toy or gift to the Governor’s Annual

Gifts for Kids Drive.

DMVA employees donated 70 gifts.

 

 

The Four Stages of Life  

You believe in Santa Claus.

 

You don’t believe in Santa Claus.

 

You are Santa Claus.

 

You look like Santa Claus.

The Army National Guard celebrates its 367th birthday on 13 December 2003. 

On 13 December, the Army National Guard will celebrate its 367th birthday.  They are an organization older than the United States itself.  The 350,000 men and women of the Guard are citizens in times of peace and soldiers in times of war.  With the rebuilding of Iraq, peacekeeping in Bosnia, and the battles in Afghanistan, many American citizens have been activated for full-time service in the Army National Guard.  Guard members also protect our homeland:  guarding our federal buildings, bridges, power plans, and national monuments.  Everyday, citizens have, and continue to choose to, place their personal and professional lives on hold in order to make our world a safer place.  Celebrate the Army National’s Guard’s birthday and take a moment to say “Thanks, Soldier” when you see a member of the Guard on duty.  Happy birthday!

American Legion Post 170 donates awning to veterans.

The American Legion Post 170 recently donated a 26 ft. by 6 ft awning, which has been installed over the Garden of Love outdoor area at the NJ Veterans Memorial Home at Paramus.  This awning has extended access to the outdoors for the veterans, their families, and staff.  Special thanks to the American Legion for their generous donation and their help in enhancing the quality of life for our Veterans.

Commissary Access for Reserve Members.

In accordance with Section 651 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004, effective immediately, the following members and their dependents will be permitted unlimited access to commissary stores:

Ø       Members of the Ready Reserve (which includes members of the Selected Reserve, Individual Ready Reserve, and Inactive National Guard) and members of the Retired Reserve who possess a Uniformed Services Identification Card.

Ø       Former members eligible for retired pay at age 60, but who have not yet attained the age of 60 and who possess a Department of Defense Civilian Identification Card.

Ø       Dependents of the members described above who have a Uniformed Services Identification Card, or who have a distinct identification card used as an authorization card for benefits and privileges administered by the Uniformed Services.

DD Form 25298, “DoD Reserve Component Commissary Privilege Card,” is cancelled.

State Employee Donated Leave Program.

In accordance with Departmental Directive No. 230.55, dated 10 February 1993, State employees interested in contributing paid leave (Sick or Vacation) to Joanne Danna should contact Cindy Leese, HRD-PMRS, at 609-530-7056 for a copy of the required donor form.

DMVA employees receive flu shots.

On 3 December 2003, approximately 60 DMVA employees received flu shots, courtesy of the Veterans Memorial Home at Menlo Park.  Mr. Joseph Brandspiegel, Chief Executive Officer of the Home, was kind enough to send two members of his staff to the Lawrenceville Headquarters building to inoculate our employees.  Special thanks to nurses, Claire Brown, Supervisor of Nursing Services, and Patricia Christensen, Employee Health Nurse, for the tender, loving care given to the flu shot recipients.

National Guard Bureau will begin conducting a Network Modernization project in the new year.

The National Guard Bureau will be conducting a Network Modernization project next year that will change the way the new Jersey Army National Guard connects to the Army and the Internet.  The modernization project will migrate the GuardNet XXI ATM backbone to a totally IP centric network that will enhance the security, modernize the current WAN architecture, and increase the bandwidth capability.  Some of the project features include:

          Scalability – can scale 6 to 22 Mbps over 5 years.

          Flexibility – will have the ability to add new sites or to change bandwidth

          Future proof – will be able to support Ipv6.

          Cost effectiveness – will support native IP functionality on an all IP backbone.

          Security – will encrypt all IP traffic using AES encryption.

This network modernization, in conjunction with the total software update currently under way, will provide much improved communication services to the National Guard.

Specialist Five Clarence T. Warren, Chaplain at the Veterans Memorial Home at Paramus, was recently honored for his military service.

Specialist Five Clarence T. Warren was recently presented with the Distinguished Service Medal and a 25th Anniversary Commemorative Citation for his patriotic and dedicated service in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam conflict.  The ceremony was held at the Veterans Memorial Home at Paramus, where Clarence is the Supervisor of Chaplain Service, a position he has held for ten years.  Reverend Warren was in Vietnam for one year, assigned to the Combined Reconnaissance Intelligence Platoon.   Congratulations, Reverend Warren!

Distinguished, Meritorious, and Vietnam Service Medal Presentation Ceremonies are scheduled.

17 December

11 a.m.

Distinguished Service Medal

Meritorious Service Medal

National Guard Armory

151 Eggert Crossing Rd., Lawrenceville, NJ

MOBEX Food Service Support.

Congratulations to LTC Joseph F. Sarama, J4 Supply Management Officer, and all participating Food Service personnel from HHD, JFHQ-NJ, 50th BDE and 57th Troop Command, NJARNG, for their professional effort in providing timely and quality meals for the 650 soldiers participating in the MOBEX Exercise, conducted at the National Guard Training Center, Sea Girt, New Jersey, during the period 21-23 November 2003.  All soldiers were subsisted in accordance with the Mobilization Readiness Office’s time schedule with no disruption of scheduled activities.

New Jersey Army National Guard welcomes two new Chiefs.

The New Jersey Warrant Officer Corps announces the promotion of two new Chiefs to its ranks.

          CW2 Diane Ramirez, MOS 420A, effective 12 September 2003, is a Military Personnel Technician assigned to the Directorate of Information Systems Management at the Joint Force Headquarters militarily, and as a full-time technician.

          CW2 Cornell W. El, MOS 920A, effective 9 November 2003, is a Property Book Technician assigned to the 42d Infantry Division Property Book Office militarily, and to the Property Management Branch of the United States Property and Fiscal Office as a full-time technician.

NJ Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial and Vietnam Era Education Center Announces its Calendar of Events.

For more information about any of these events, please call the NJ Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation office at (732) 335-0033.

13 Dec

3 p.m.

Author Lana Noone will discuss her book, Global Mom:  Notes From a Pioneer Adoptive Family.

13 Dec

6 p.m.

Holiday Lighting Ceremony will include lighting of the tree and menorah, and a reading on Kwanza.  A memorial service and wreath laying ceremony will follow.

Today in History…

Today is Friday, December 12th, the 346th day of 2003. There are 20 days left in the year.   On this day…

J          1787 – Pennsylvania became the second state to ratify the U. S. Constitution.

J          1800 – Washington, DC, was established as the capital of the United States.

J          1901 – First radio signal to cross the Atlantic was picked up near St. John’s Newfoundland by inventor Guglielmo Marconi.

J          1946 – A United Nations’ committee voted to accept a six-block tract of Manhattan real estate to be the site of the UN’s headquarters.   The land was a gift of John D. Rockefeller, Jr.

J          1995 – The U. S. Senate stopped a constitutional amendment giving Congress authority to outlaw flag burning and other forms of desecration against the American flag.

J          2002 – North Korea announced that it would reactivate a nuclear power plant that U.S. officials believed was being used to develop weapons.

The Liberty USO and the Battleship New Jersey have partnered to bring Breakfast with Santa to the military and their families.

The Liberty USO of Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey and the Battleship New Jersey are hosting a special Breakfast with Santa for families from military bases throughout the area on Saturday, 13 December 2003.  The fun begins at 9:00 am from the ship’s chowline.  Santa will be there along with live entertainment.  Don’t miss a special presentation of the movie “Santa Claus 2” at 10:30 at the South Jersey Performing Arts Center at the Tweeter Center.  There will also be lots of prizes and giveaways for everyone!  This event is FREE for all families of military.  Families need to call 856-966-1652, ext. 109 to reserve space for breakfast with Santa and the “Santa Claus 2” movie (space is limited). 

Department Directories have been updated.

Department Directories have been updated are located as follows:

Federal Employees on the RCAS Network – Directories are located on the Fort Dix file server, Public Folder named “Directories.”  The location is as follows:  NGNJ-34256-NAS/Public/Directories. 

State Employees on the Garden State Network – Directories are located on the DMAVA file server, Public Folder named “Directories.”  The location is as follows:  Dhqfl2/Shared/TelDir.

Future updates will be placed in these folders, and a reminder will be sent out periodically.  This will eliminate the e-mailing of the actual directories.  Posted directories include:  MS Access Lookup, Directory Listing by Name, NJNG Facilities, and FAX Number Listing.  If you have any changes to the Directories, they should be submitted to Sophie Guzikowski, F/IASD-T, using DMAVA Form 28.

Armory Happenings – Check to see what’s happening at an Armory near you.

12-14 December

Craft Show and Sale

Morristown Armory

14 December

Nascar Collectibles Show

Bordentown Armory

26-28 December

Wrestling Tournament

Teaneck Armory

28 December

Sports Card & Comics Show

Bordentown Armory

Fun Facts 

J          February 1865 is the only month in recorded history not to have a full moon.

J          Al Capone’s business card said he was a used furniture dealer.

J          No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple.

J          On a Canadian two-dollar bill, the flag flying over the Parliament building is an American flag.

J          Rubber bands last longer when refrigerated.

 

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