13 June 2003

Volume 2, Number 9

NJ Dept of Military and Veterans Affairs

BG Glenn K. Rieth

The Adjutant General

COL Maria F. Morgan

Deputy Adjutant General

COL 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

Happy Father's Day

15 June 2003

"His heritage to his children wasn't words or possessions,

but an unspoken treasure,

the treasure of his example as a man and a father."

.Will Rogers, Jr.

Flag Day

14 June 2003

You're a Grand Old Flag

By George M. Cohan

You're a grand old flag,

You're a high flying flag

And forever in peace may you wave.

You're the emblem of

the land I love,

The home of the free and the brave.

Ev'ry heart beats true

'neath the Red, White and Blue,

Where there's never a boast or brag.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

Keep your eye on the grand old flag.

There is still time to sign up for the DMVA Picnic.

Friday, 27 June 2003

12:30 - 5 p.m.

John F. Mann Recreational Park

Bldg 6045

Doughboy Loop

Fort Dix, NJ

Cost:     $10 Adults

                    $5  Children

Reservations must be made by 20 June 2003.

Contact your office rep or call Marie Durling at  609-530-4802.

This year's DMVA Picnic will be held on Friday, 27 June 2003, at the John F. Mann Recreational Park, Fort Dix, NJ.  Cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children.  Reservations must be made by 20 June 2003.  Contact your office representative or   Marie Durling at 609-530-4802.

The New Jersey Army National Guard's 63^rd Army Band has announced its 2003 schedule.  Here is your chance to come on out and enjoy the best military band in the country.   The 63^rd Army Band, under the direction of Bandmaster, CWO Dorinda Roth, features a Concert Band, Jazz Band, Marching Band, and small ensembles, and has performed throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York.  Since most of the concerts are held outdoors, be sure to bring lawn chairs and/or blankets.  If you would like directions to any of the concert sites, please call 732-974-5963.

During the week of 1-6 June 2003, NJ and DMVA hosted the 11^th Annual NASMRM Conference at the Taj Mahal Casino Resort in Atlantic City.  The 118 registered attendees represented 39 states and Puerto Rico.  Welcome remarks by The Adjutant General, BG Glenn K. Rieth, opened the conference, which was directed by NASMRM Executive Director, Mr. Al Christian, of the state of Michigan.  The first three days of the conference focused on National Guard updates, Homeland Security, Facility Management, and Federal and State financial management issues.  During the final two days, attendees completed a course on the Cooperative Funding Agreement (CFA).   The CFA is an integral part of fiscal operations and management between the states and National Guard Bureau.  The numerous compliments about the accommodations, hospitality, and organization of the conference are a testament to the team effort and hospitality of this Department and the state of New Jersey.  Jim Brey, Chairman of the Host Committee, would like to thank LTC Eric Anderson, COL Bill Bertsch, Tom Comyack, Linda Croteau, Tom DeShields, Nancy Ettenger, Tom Flynn, CPT Rob Hughes, Liz Hutchison, Grace Mulder, Nancy Slavin, and the support staff from the Fiscal Division, Installations Division, and the Information and Administrative Services Division for their outstanding effort and support.  

As of 31 May 2003, the MOSQ percentage of assigned strength for the NJ Army National Guard is 78.37%.  The National Guard Bureau's goal is for all states to reach a MOSQ rate of 79% by 30 September 2003.  New Jersey currently ranks 20^th out of the 54 states and territories, but is well on its way of meeting this NGB readiness goal.

Along with their paycheck last week, state employees received a letter from Governor McGreevey asking that they update their personal emergency information located on NJ Direct.  As part of the state's workplace security measures, this updated personal information will provide the state with the ability to identify and contact employees associated with a specific facility in the event of an emergency.  This information should be updated using NJ Direct http://njdirect.state.nj.us from your state office PC.  Your password is set as the last four digits of your Social Security Number.  You should make these changes from your desk.  Do not send your information to the Human Resources Division.  The deadline for making these updates is June 27, 2003.

The G4-Transportation Section (G$-Trans), HQ STARC, NJ Army National Guard, completed all tasked and implied transportation mission coordination requirements during the period 7-8 June 2003, for the successful redeployment of the 1-150^th GSAB, NJARNG, from their tour of duty in Panama (New Horizons 03) to AASF #1, Trenton-Mercer Airport, West Trenton, New Jersey.  SGT Thomas Russo (G4-Trans) provided direct on the ground assistance and coordination at the Philadelphia seaport (port of debarkation) with Port Operations personnel, Military Traffic Management Command personnel, and the New Jersey State Police.  The unit's convoying of equipment from the port of debarkation to home station was accomplished in a highly professional military manner with no reported accidents or incidents.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has revised its application form to make requesting a VA grave marker easier.  The new form, Application for Standard Government Headstone or Marker (VA Form 40-1330), includes updated information about changes that expand eligibility for a government marker.  The VA has also introduced a toll-free fax service for submitting applications, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  The application form on the website, http://www.cem.va.gov, can be filled in and submitted by fax or mail.  Questions about a headstone or marker application can be directed to the VA's Memorial Programs Service, Applicant Assistance Unit, at 1-800-697-6947. 

The National Personnel Records Center has made it easier for veterans with computers and Internet access to obtain copies of documents from their military files.  Military veterans and the next of kin of deceased former military members may now use a new online military personnel records system to request documents.  Other individuals, who require documents, must still complete the Standard Form 180, which can be downloaded at the following website:  http://www.military.com/Resources/
ResourceSubmittedFileView?file=Forms.htm. 

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

Mr. Dave McDonald, OIT Customer Relations Manager to the Department of Military & Veterans Affairs, and Mr. Paul Cranmer, OIT Network Manager, were presented with the NJ Civilian Commendation medal on Thursday, 12 June 2003.  COL (Ret) Michael B. Smith, DMVA's Joint Chief of Staff, and LTC Wayne Hunt, DMVA's Chief Information Officer, representing BG Glenn K. Rieth, The Adjutant General, made the presentation at the Office of Information Technology offices at the Trenton Riverview complex.  Also in attendance for the presentation were Mr. Steve Dawson, State CIO and CTO of OIT, Mr. Ray Hayling, II, OIT Chief of Staff, and other members of OIT.  Mr. McDonald was recognized for the outstanding support he has provided DMVA during his four years as our Customer Relations Manager.  His attention to detail, responsiveness, and involvement has fostered a strong sense of teamwork and partnership between OIT and DMVA, and have strengthened the relationships of the two organizations.  He recently served on the Quality Review Board (QRB) of the Homeland Security Center of Excellence project.  His presence on that QRB ensured that OIT was kept involved on the Information Technology aspect, which in turn supported timely approval of the IT installation.  Mr. Paul Cranmer has also demonstrated responsiveness and a strong involvement with DMVA.  His initiative identified weak areas in our network, and he provided recommendations that have been critical to the upgrade of servers at our three Veterans Memorial Homes and their medical software upgrade.  Their "Can Do" attitudes are appreciated by the employees, soldiers, airmen, and veterans we service.

The National Guard Militia Museum at Sea Girt is featuring an exhibit by World War II artist, William A. Foley, Jr.  The museum has one original and 40 laser copies of Mr. Foley's artistry.  Mr. Foley was an 18-year-old untrained artist during the Battle of the Bulge in company G, 302^nd Regiment, 94^th Division.  Sketching on any material available, he produced haunting and detailed scenes of combat.  The sketches were carried through the war wrapped in a blanket, remaining lost until four years ago when his children found them in the attic of his sister's house in Sea Girt.   Mr. Foley has just published a book, Visions from a Foxhole, in which he details his combat experiences and presents 25 of his sketches, all of which the museum has.  The museum is pleased to have such a serious collection of art, and to be able to present it to the public for viewing.  The museum is open every weekend and every Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

After months of preparation and implementation, the G-6 has unveiled a new network topology that will significantly improve the speed at which end users can access network services, i.e., internet, personal folders, and e-mail.  The total monthly recurring costs with the new design are lower than the previous design.  The old design used concentration points and slow access speeds to connect to the central servers in Fort Dix.  Our new design has all armories connecting directly to Fort Dix with T-1 speed.  Additionally, all armories' Local Access Network (LAN) connections switches have been upgraded to newer, faster models.  These initiatives were started to reduce end-users frustration with slow and unreliable connection speeds.

DoD recently announced the start of the new Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) program.  Those eligible are military retirees with 20 years of service for retired pay computation and who have either been awarded VA disability compensation due to combat injuries for which they have been awarded the Purple Heart, or who are rated at least 60 percent disabled because of armed conflict, hazardous duty, training exercise, or mishaps involving military equipment.  Approved payments will be backdated to June 1, 2003, with first payments possible as early as July 1^st.  Payments will equal the amount of VA disability compensation for combat-related disabilities, but will be reduced for those retirees whose retired pay exceeds what they would have received for length of service. 

Any military servicemember who uses selected Army Morale, Welfare, and Recreation clubs and eateries has a chance to win a Harley-Davidson motorcycle this summer.  The U.S. Army Community and Family Support Center has teamed up with Miller Brewing Company to stage "A Legendary Summer," an MWR promotion, designed as a tie-in to Harley Davidson's 100^th Anniversary celebration.  "A Legendary Summer" features instant-win scratch cards with guaranteed winners, local events, and contests that support the Legendary Summer/Harley theme and a grand prize drawing for the Harley-Davidson motorcycle.  Each time customers purchase food or beverages at a participating MWR outlet, they receive scratch cards. 

·          During the manufacture of the flag, the material left over is never allowed to fall upon the floor.  It always falls into containers.

·          There should be no guide wires on a flagpole.  It must be free standing.

·          The flag planted on the moon is made of nylon and set in an aluminum frame.

·          The ball at the top of the flagpole is a "truck."  On an official government installation inside the truck is a .45 caliber bullet, a .38 caliber bullet, and a bullet for a M-16 rifle.

·          In the event the "truck" falls and hits the ground, it is to break into 13 pieces, representing the original colonies.

·          At the base of each flagpole on an official government installation is a box buried in concrete.  This box contains one saber, a .38 caliber pistol, and a book of matches.  In the event the enemy overtakes the last government installation, the survivor is to defend the Flag with the saber and pistol, and burn the Flag with the matches so that the enemy cannot capture the Flag.

J            ¼ of the bones in your body are in your feet.

J            You blink 10,000,000 times in a year.

J            A sneeze travels out of your mouth at over 100 miles an hour.

J            Brain waves can be used to run an electric train.

J            The tongue is the fastest healing part of the human body.