New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
DMAVA Highlights Archives


   4 July 2003

       Volume 2, Number 12

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

".We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.  That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.  That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."

.The Declaration of Independence of the Thirteen Colonies

In Congress, July 4, 1776

Happy 4th of July!

On July 4, 1776, we claimed our independence from England and Democracy was born.  Every day thousands leave their homeland to come to the "land of the free and the home of the brave" so they can begin their American Dream.  The United States is truly a diverse nation made up of dynamic people.  As you celebrate our independence with barbecues, picnics, and family gatherings, be sure to keep in mind the sacrifices that were made ensuring these freedoms for us.  We should never take them for granted.Happy Birthday, America!

TAG TY-03 Championship Marksmanship Matches are held.

The Combat Rifle matches were held 12-13 April and the Combat Pistol matches were conducted on 17 May 2003 at Fort Dix, NJ.  Listed below are this year's winners:

Rifle Team Results:

1.       Co A 50th MSB

2.       253rd Trans Co.

3.       254th RTI (OCS)

Rifle Individual Results:

1.       OC Kenneth Wuerker (254th RTI [OCS])

2.       SPC Peter Finamore (1/150th GSAB)

3.       1LT Benjamin Stoner (CoA 50th MSB)

High New Shooter:

SSG Ellezer Viera (Co A 50th MSB)

Pistol Team Results:

1.       HHC 2/113 IN and Trp E 5/117 Cav

2.       42nd MP Det and 1/150th GSAB

3.       42nd MP Det

Pistol Individual Results:

1.       SGT Timothy Rawcliffe (HHC 2/113th)

2.       CW2 Frederick Schipke (Trp E 5/117th)

3.       SGT Victor Garcia (HHC 2/113)

High New Shooter

CPL James Murphy (42nd MP)

Congratulations to all of this year's winners!

Induction of 26 Into the Wall of Achievement!

The 254th Regiment (Combat Arms) NJARNG conducted the inaugural induction ceremony of the New Jersey Army National Guard Officer Candidate School Wall of Achievement at the National Guard Training Center on Sunday, 29 June 2003. 

The OCS wall of achievement recognizes the graduates of New Jersey's OCS program who have attained the rank of Colonel or above and or significantly contributed to the success of New Jersey's OCS program.  Twenty-six New Jersey OCS alumni were inducted into the Wall of Achievement in a ceremony conducted at the National Guard

Training Center's building 28.  Two honorary members were inducted - BG Glenn K. Rieth, The Adjutant General, and the late MSG (Ret) James R. Goddard Sr. for their significant contributions to the OCS program.  Inaugural Inductees are:

Ø COL Eugene R. Jakubowski - Class 3  MG Vito Morgano - Class 5
Ø BG Holsey Moorman - Class 7  BG Jeffrey L. Pierson - Class 7
Ø COL Michael B. Smith - Class 11  COL William I. Apgar - Class 12
Ø COL Kenneth J. Prossick - Class 12 COL Frank J. Smith - Class 14
Ø COL Larry S. Stroud - Class 15  COL William A. Walsh - Class 15
Ø COL Steven L. Bell - Class 16 COL John F. McLean - Class 16
Ø BG Thomas J. Sullivan - Class 16 COL Carlo J. Accardi - Class 17
Ø COL Ronald Cefalone - Class 17  COL Stephen J. Hines - Class 17
Ø COL Edward A. Slavin - Class 18 COL Ronald F. Diana - Class 20
Ø COL William H. Finck - Class 20 COL Robert E. Watson - Class 20
Ø COL Kenneth J. Baker - Class 21 COL Charles A. Harvey - Class 21
Ø COL Shawn P. Keyes - Class 21 COL Charles A. Ragucci - Class 21
Ø COL Frank W. Dulfer - Class 23 COL Thomas W. Simpson - Class 25

Armory Happenings - Check to see what's happening at an Armory near you.

30 June - 5 July

Carnival

Lawrenceville Armory

5 July

Tool Show and Sale

Washington Armory

12 July

Flea Market

Teaneck Armory

18 July

Tool Show and Sale

Dover Armory

19 July

Tool Show and Sale

Riverdale Armory

50th Anniversary Signing of the Korean War Armistice Commemoration Scheduled.

DMVA will host a ceremony in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary Signing of the Korean War Armistice on Monday, 28 July 2003, 11 a.m. at the New Jersey Korean War Memorial On the Boardwalk, near Brighton Park Atlantic City, New Jersey.  This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the Armistice that that ended hostilities.  The United States Post Office will set up a one-day cancellation station to commemorate this event.

63rd Army Band celebrates the Holiday with concerts around the State.

Come out and enjoy the NJ National Guard's 63rd Army Band during the holiday weekend.  The 63rd 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.

Thursday, 3 July

7 p.m.

Ocean County Library, Toms River, NJ

Friday, 4 July

5 p.m.

4th of July Parade, Willingboro, NJ

Sunday, 6 July

7 p.m.

Howe Commons, Pennington, NJ

Monday, 7 July

7 p.m.

Chubb Park, Chester, NJ

Tuesday, 8 July

7:30 p.m.

Veterans Park, Berkley Twp., NJ

Wednesday, 9 July

7 p.m.

Morrison Field, Hackettstown, NJ

Thursday, July 10

7 p.m.

National Guard Training Center, Sea Girt, NJ

Friday, 11 July

10:15 a.m.

Veterans Memorial Home at Menlo Park, NJ

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

9 July

11 a.m. & 1 p.m.

Distinguished Service &

Meritorious Service Medals

Millville Elks Lodge

1815 E. Broad St., Millville, NJ

15 July

Vietnam Service Medal

Morristown Armory

430 Jockey Hollow Rd., Morristown, NJ

23 July

Vietnam Service Medal

Athenia Veterans Post

Clifton, NJ

Army Knowledge Online (AKO) Use.

The number of registered National Guard users on the Army Knowledge Online website is just under 80%.  Many states are in the upper 90% range, however New Jersey is at 57.15%.  We need to re-energize our efforts to get this percentage up.  Registration is a requirement by DA Directive.  To find out what the percent is for your unit, log into GKO, http://gko.ngb.army.mil, and look on the right hand side under quick links.  Click NG AKO user reports.  To help get NJ fully registered, there are reports that show registered and non-registered Guardsmen by unit.  A spreadsheet is available for download.  Many states are now using this download to mass e-mail the Guardsmen in their unit using AKO e-mail.  To find these reports, go to https://gko.ngb.army.mil and log in.  Look under quick links and click NG AKO User Reports.  Click Search by State and UIC.  Then select your state and the "AKO Users" button.  Lastly, click Search and when the results show up, a link to a spreadsheet for your state's AKO users will be present.  New Jersey is one of many states that are starting to use the Knowledge Collaboration Center (KCC) on Army Knowledge Online (AKO), https://www.us.army.mil.  It is a central place to store documents that need to be shared with other members of a unit.  It is available to any computer connected to the Internet.

Did You Know?

Effective with the July 2003 semester, Thomas Edison State College is participating in the NJ National Guard Free Tuition Program.  Requirements are basically the same as they are now.  The Branch Chief in the Army Guard Education Office at Fort Dix is working on the implementation.  Information on Free Tuition Program is on the DMAVA website with a link to Thomas Edison's website.  If you have any questions, and need more clarification, contact LTC Schepens at DSN 944-0654, 609-562-0654 or henri,schepens@nj.ngb.army.mil.

New Jersey Air Guard Serve Vineland Vets.

Members of the 177th Fighter Wing and the 108th Air Refueling Wing held a barbeque for residents of the Vineland Memorial Veterans Home at the Warren Grove Training Range, today.  Following the lunch, Veteran home residents and Air Guardsmen watched A-10 Thunderbolts and F-16 Fighting Falcons perform strafing runs on the range.  The New Jersey Air National Guard has had a long-term relationship with the Vineland Memorial Veterans Home for more than 10 years.  Both wings support the Home through various fundraising efforts, as well as volunteer work during the holidays.

Camden River Sharks Military Appreciation Night on Wednesday, 16 July 2003.

All active duty, Guard & Reserve members and their families are invited to the Sharks vs. the Newark Bears baseball game at Campbell's Field.  Game time is 6:35 P.M. and upper box tickets are only $4.50!  For tickets and information contact SMSgt Dave Whalen at 609-754-3616.

Warrant Officers Scheduled to Change Over Insignia and Branch Colors.

Phase III of the Army Training and Leadership Development Panel (ATLDP) Study, recommended to the uniform policy section of Headquarters Department of the Army (HQDA) G1 dates for the change-over of insignia and branch colors for the Warrant Officer Corps:

Ø       Effective 9 July 2004, Warrant officers will replace the Warrant Officer Device, otherwise known as the "Rising Eagle", with the insignia of their branch affiliation on all uniforms.

Ø       Not later than (NLT) 9 July 2006, all uniforms with branch accouterments (e.g., service caps used with the Blue and White Dress Mess, all White and Evening Mess uniforms) will be converted (i.e., shoulder boards, braiding, hatbands, lapels, etc.) on all uniforms.

CW5 Al Curving, CCWO of the NJARNG noted that these are the first steps of some 63 ATLDP recommendations that are intended to make the Warrant Officer Corps more viable and competitive in the future.  Some of the other ATLDP recommendations as a result of this Study directed by General Shinseki, the Army Chief of Staff are:

Ø       Improved technical training and education to ensure the maintenance of expertise in emerging technologies.

Ø       Army staff skills training to WOs using the advanced distributed learning version of CAS3.

Ø       Expand eArmyU.com online degree programs to include WOs.

Ø       Commissioning at Warrant Officer One (WO1).

Ø       Institution of a formal, Army-wide WO recruiting program.

Ø       Allowing NCOs to retain reenlistment bonuses when becoming WOs.

Ø       Allowing WO Candidates to attend state/regional OCS instead of WOCS.

Ø       Review of PL 90-486 (Technician Act of 1968) and NGR 600-25 that addresses military technician dual status and grade inversion.

Ø       Direct accession of technical service WOs from certain civilian occupations and technical schools.

Ø       Retention bonuses for WO-MOSs that have too few senior WOs.

Ø       Amending the pay scale to give WO1, CW2, and CW3s with prior enlisted service more pay; e.g.; to make WO1E pay comparable to the difference between O1 and O1E pay.

Chief Curving noted these proposed changes are exciting, and some will take several years to fully implement; but there has never been a better time in the history of the Warrant Officer Corps to become a Warrant Officer in the NJARNG.

New Jersey Graduates 20 New Second Lieutenants

Families, friends and graduates, both past and present, attended the graduation ceremony for Officer Candidate School Class 46 at the National Guard Training Center Sunday, 29 June 2003.

Twenty National Guard Soldiers walked across the graduation stage and took the oath of office before pinning on their gold bars among family and friends on Sunday.  Their graduation marked the final day of a rigorous three phase training program that started 12 months ago where their training carried them to Camp Rowland, CT; Fort Benning, GA and the National Guard Training Center, Sea Girt, NJ.  Joining their fellow 2,727 OCS graduates from New Jersey's previous 45 classes are:

Ø  2LT Gustavo Arana   2LT Jack Barker 2LT Alyson Beausoleil-Holt
Ø 2LT Hjalmar Canela 2LT Richard Colton 2LT David Decandia
Ø 2LT Patrick Delvalle 2LT Mehdi Kohanbani 2LT Martin Murphy
Ø 2LT Jamie Murray 2LT Brain O'Hern 2LT Shane Paugh
Ø 2LT Stephen Pecorelli 2LT Paul Segro 2LT James Sharp
Ø   2LT Michael Tarricone 2LT Gordon Thomas 2LT Umpapan Trakoontripop
Ø      
Ø
2LT Jeffrey Williamson
2LT Kenneth Wuerker

Firework Safety

According to Prevent Blindness America, nearly 13,000 fireworks victims keep hospitals busy every year.  More than half of those injured are children.  Fireworks not only injure users, but also 40 percent of fireworks mishaps injure bystanders.  The three types of fireworks that keep hospital emergency rooms busy during this holiday are bottle rockets, firecrackers, and sparklers.  Bottle rockets and firecrackers can fly in any direction prior to exploding, and sparklers burn at temperatures hot enough to melt gold.  One of the reasons fireworks injuries continue to occur is because people just don't consider how dangerous these devices can be.  People don't realize-until they are injured-that the risk of blindness or injury outweighs the excitement of taking risks with fireworks.  Giving fireworks to young children can mean a trip to the hospital emergency room.  Be smart, be safe, and leave the fireworks to the experts.

Interesting but useless facts.

J            Chinese is the most spoken language in the world.

J            Koalas and humans are the only animals with unique fingerprints.

J            The first VCR was made in 1956 and was the size of a piano.

 

Contact Us | Privacy Notice | Legal Statement | Accessibility Statement NJ.gov
NJ National Guard Family Programs Open Public Records Act
The Governor's Office The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs The Department of State The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs