Official Site of The State of New Jersey
Spotlight
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Same Call Sign, First Flight
Mark Olsen | NJNG Public Affairs | October 3, 2023
Seventeen Airmen walked into New Jersey Air National Guard history October 3, 2023. The 108th Wing’s 141st Air Refueling Squadron officially flew its first KC-46 Pegasus local sortie. Sixteen of the 17 Airmen – pilots, boom operators, and crew chiefs are with the 141st Air Refueling Squadron. A 514th Air Mobility Wing boom operator also participated in the mission. The sortie marks the continuing evolution of the New Jersey Air National Guard and specifically, keeping the 108th on the leading edge in aerial refueling. See full story on NJNG DVIDS.
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Guard Serves Veterans at Vineland Home
More than 70 New Jersey National Guard Soldiers and Airmen served at the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home at Vineland, in Vineland, New Jersey as certified nursing assistants and in Food Services, Infection Control, Information Technology, Life Enrichment, Logistics, and COVID-19 Testing. See the images on NJNG Flickr.
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100% Free College Tuition
Serve part-time and go to college full-time. New Jersey state law mandates that every member of the New Jersey Army National Guard is authorized to attend any New Jersey public college or university tuition free for undergraduate and graduate studies. Soldiers may take 16 credits per semester. Get all the details and more at njarmyguard.com.
Deputy Adjutant General of New Jersey
Brig. Gen. L. Mike LaPoint
Brig. Gen. L. Mike LaPoint is the Deputy Adjutant General of New Jersey. He is the principal advisor to The Adjutant General and Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs on all matters concerning military readiness, mobilizations, homeland security, defense support to civil authorities, human resources, logistics, training, and financial management. The duties include the supervision and management of the Department’s 3,200 full-time State and Federal employees, and more than 30 armories and associated properties.
Brig. Gen. LaPoint’s military career began in 1994 when he enlisted into the New Jersey Army National Guard as an Ammunition Specialist. He received his commission as a Second Lieutenant from New Jersey Military Academy in 1996. During the course of his career, Brig. Gen. LaPoint served in a variety of leadership positions including platoon leader, company executive officer, company commander, battalion personnel officer, battalion executive officer, battalion commander, state tactical operations officer, 57th Troop Command operations officer, 44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Deputy Commander, the State Army Aviation Officer, and the 57th Troop Command Commander.
Brig. Gen. LaPoint was deployed overseas four times as Aviation Headquarters and Headquarters Company Commander to Iraq, 2004–2005; Aviation Battalion Executive Officer to Iraq, 2008–2009; Aviation Battalion Commander to Kosovo, 2014–2015; and 44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Deputy Commanding Officer to Kosovo, 2019-2020. In addition to his overseas mobilizations, he was mobilized by the New Jersey Army National Guard for several domestic operations including the initial response on Sept. 11, 2001 in New York City, Operation Noble Eagle, and Superstorm Sandy recovery.
Prior to his dual assignment as Deputy Adjutant General and Assistant Adjutant General-Army for the New Jersey National Guard, Brig. Gen. LaPoint served as commander, 57th Troop Command, Atlantic City, New Jersey, April 1, 2021–March 31, 2024. The 57th Troop Command’s wide-ranging missions include command and control, logistics, and joint reception, staging, onward movement, and integration (JRSOI) operations for the New Jersey National Guard in support of domestic and overseas operations. Its units include the 1-150th Assault Helicopter Battalion; 21st Civil Support Team (Weapons of Mass Destruction); 444th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment; 63rd Army Band; Detachment 1, 173rd Cyber Protection Team; 831st Judge Advocate General Detachment; Detachment 19, Operational Support Airlift; and the National Guard Training Center Headquarters.
