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April 16, 2025 |  | Ready To Serve ★ Proud To Have Served |
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Brig. Gen. Yvonne L. Mays, The Adjutant General of New Jersey, addresses the audience during the Welcome Home Ceremony for the 44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team on April 12, 2025. |
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High level support – 44th IBCT & Albanian State Partners |
This past week, I joined Gov. Phillip D. Murphy, Sen. Cory Booker, U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver, Piscataway Mayor Brian Wahler, a number of additional elected officials, NJ National Guard Leadership, veterans service organizations, family, and friends at the Jersey Mike’s Rutgers Arena in Piscataway, New Jersey, to ceremonially welcome home and celebrate the accomplishments of 1,500 New Jersey Army National Guard Soldiers of the 44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
Between pre-deployment training and operations overseas, the unit was mobilized in support of Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq and Syria for most of 2024. More than 300 Massachusetts Army National Guard Soldiers also deployed under the leadership and structure of the 44th IBCT. While deployed, the 44th was the U.S. military’s only fully deployed brigade in a combat theater.
As part of the Combined Joint Task Force, the brigade helped enable the enduring defeat of the Islamic State, and the advisement, assistance and enabling of partner forces. The Soldiers were unquestionably in harm’s way, and their safe return has been the joy of communities all throughout New Jersey. The unit’s flag was ceremonially uncased and unfurled, and New Jersey officials presented unit awards.
It was a special honor to also be joined for the ceremony by Albania’s Chief of Defense, Lt. Gen. Arben Kingji. Albania has been New Jersey’s state partner for nearly 25 years in the Department of Defense National Guard State Partnership Program.
I so appreciate the attendance of General Kinji and his staff – traveling from so far. That participation symbolized both the strength of the relationship, but also the goodwill of the Republic of Albania toward our New Jersey team.
Senior staff of the Albanian Armed Forces and the New Jersey National Guard continued to Washington, D.C. to meet with U.S. Air Force General Steven S. Nordhaus, Chief of the U.S. National Guard Bureau.
The group discussed Albania’s ongoing collaboration with the New Jersey National Guard to enhance the readiness and interoperability of our respective military forces, including joint participation in U.S. European Command’s DEFENDER 25 exercise. Nordhaus lauded Albania for the continued modernization of its military capabilities and for Tirana’s contributions to NATO forces and activities.
Having served as the New Jersey National Guard’s Bilateral Affairs Officer to the Republic of Albania earlier in my career, I can attest to the positive outcomes of the SPP relationship. These two special events highlight the support from our senior state, federal and international partners for our missions at home and abroad, and we look forward to continuing these partnerships. |
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As always, thank you for staying connected to DMAVA.
We invite you to share ideas, events and feedback. Please email our team at outreach@dmava.nj.gov.
Brigadier General Yvonne L. Mays
Adjutant General & Commissioner |
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DMAVA Calendar |
DMAVA is sponsoring or will participate in the events below. A DMAVA Veterans Service Officer will be present at many of these events. Please check details to confirm. | |
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We add new events to our calendar on a daily basis so please bookmark and check back often. |
| View Full Calendar |
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 | 44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
A Welcome Home Ceremony was held for the 44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team at the Jersey Mike’s Arena, Piscataway, NJ on April 12, 2025.
More than 1,500 44th IBCT Soldiers deployed to Iraq, Kuwait, and Syria in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, the largest deployment of NJ Army National Guard Soldiers since 2008.
View Images | View Video |
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 | State Partnership Program
General Steven Nordhaus | CNGB | April 15, 2025
I was honored to host Lt. Gen. Arben Kingji, Albania’s Chief of Defense, for an office call in the Pentagon yesterday. Our respective teams highlighted the enduring, mutually beneficial security cooperation relationship between Albania and The New Jersey National Guard established under the Department of Defense National Guard State Partnership Program in 2001.
We reviewed Albania’s ongoing collaboration with the New Jersey National Guard to enhance the readiness and interoperability of our respective military forces, including joint participation in U.S. European Command’s DEFENDER 25 exercise. I also lauded Albania for the ongoing modernization of its military capabilities and for Tirana’s contributions to NATO forces and activities.
Image and caption courtesy Chief of the National Guard Bureau. |
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 | 177th Fighter Wing
The Philadelphia Phillies kicked off their home season at Citizens Bank Park with a little help from our very own 177th Fighter Wing.
Four U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons executed a flyover during the national anthem of the Phillies Opening Day ceremony, March 31, 2025. View Images |
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 | 1-254th Regional Training Institute
Soldiers from Active Duty, National Guard, and Reserve forces conducted live-fire battle drills with the M240B machine gun during the 1-254th Regional Training Institute, New Jersey Army National Guard’s Infantry Advanced Leaders Course, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ on April 10, 2025.
ALC is a branch-specific course that provides Soldiers selected for promotion to staff sergeant the opportunity to enhance their leadership, tactical expertise, and technical skills needed to lead squad-size units. View Images |
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 | The Transportation Guide has been updated effective April 10, 2025. |
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 | Annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon
The New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home at Menlo Park hosted their 41st Annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon at Pines Manor in Edison, NJ on April 14, 2025.
The luncheon was held to recognize more than 50 individuals and organizations that volunteer their time towards bettering the lives of residents at the home. View Images |
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 | State Medal Ceremony
The New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs held a State Medal Ceremony at VFW Kenilworth Post 2230 in Kenilworth, NJ on April 10, 2025. View Images |
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 | Sibley Smith, Hunterdon County VSO
Sibley Smith is the DMAVA Veterans Service Officer (VSO) for Hunterdon County.
If you know anyone in need of assistance regarding Veteran’s benefits, please contact Sibley or one of his colleagues by visiting our website at Veterans Service Offices. |
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 | Get Connected to Resources & Services |
The New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs has partnered with Unite Us to connect individuals and families to a wide variety of services and resources.
Unite Us is a coordinated care referral network of health and social service providers. Unite Us can connect our New Jersey military and veteran community to resources to obtain benefits, food assistance, housing, education, transportation, behavioral health services, peer support and more. |
| Learn More / Request Assistance |
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Veteran Homelessness | The mission of Bringing Veterans Home (BVH) is to effectively end veteran homelessness in New Jersey by enhancing existing systems, creating rapid access to housing, and ensuring homelessness becomes rare, brief, and non-recurring.
BVH creates a clear path to stable housing for veterans experiencing homelessness through a coordinated network of services and support. |
| Learn More / Refer a Veteran |
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VA expanding prosthetic and orthotic care to Veterans throughout Delaware and southern New Jersey Alyssa N. Lisenbe | March 27, 2025
In its newest step towards improving accessibility for Veterans needing prosthetic or orthotic care in rural areas the Wilmington VA has launched a mobile unit to provide these services in Delaware and southern New Jersey through a grant it received from the Office of Rural Health (ORH).
ORH is a Veterans Health Administration Office established by Congress in 2006 with a goal to break down the barriers separating rural Veterans from quality care. Read Full Story |
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VA in need of volunteer drivers to provide transportation for Veterans to medical appointments in Cumberland County
Wilmington VA is actively trying to expand the Volunteer Transportation Network in Cumberland County, NJ aimed at helping Veterans in need of transportation to VA medical appointments from their home to the VA.
"Without our Volunteer Drivers, many Veterans who rely on the free service wouldn't be able to make their medical appointments," said Jasmine Chisholm, Volunteer Service Specialist at the Wilmington VA Medical Center.
Veterans who need transportation call the DAV transportation phone line and speak with a scheduler. Rides are provided on a first-come, first-serve basis Monday through Thursday.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer driver, please call 302-633-5414 to speak to one of our volunteer specialists. |
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Private First Class Luz RiofrioPFC Luz Riofrio is the one of the newest members of the New Jersey Army National Guard.
PFC Riofrio is a senior at Irvington High School. She is member of their Junior ROTC where she is their Battalion Commander with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Thanks to her time in Junior ROTC she enlisted as a Private First Class and will become a Specialist before she graduates thanks to our Stripes for Buddies program.
PFC Riofrio will be going off to her initial training after graduation and upon returning she will go right into college where she committed to Montclair State University to study Psychology and become a therapist.
She will be doing this without the worry of paying for college thanks to the National Guard's 100% Free Tuition Waiver.
Congratulations on joining our team. |
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 | Technical Sergeant Brittany Fralick
Congratulations Tech. Sgt. Brittany Fralick, from the NJ Air National Guard's 108th Wing, on being named one of the National Operation Blue Suit XLVI Award Winners!
This prestigious recognition is awarded to recruiters who not only surpass all goals but also showcase outstanding development by making a direct impact on our end strength mission. |
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 | Master Sergeant Danielle Todman
Congratulations to Master Sgt. Danielle Todman, from our very own 177th Fighter Wing, on being named the Department of the Air Force's Female Athlete of the Year for 2024!
Read Full Story |
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 | New Jersey Fallen Heroes Memorial |
In Honor of all those from New Jersey who gave their lives in the fight against terrorism during Operation Enduring Freedom & Iraqi Freedom. In humble gratitude, we remember their sacrifice. |
Memorial Inscription"But on the battlefield their feet stood fast, and in an instant at the height of their fortune, they passed away from the scene, not of their fear, but of their glory." ~ Pericles |
| NJ Fallen Heroes Memorial |
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The Intelligent Whale on the way to its new home in April 2020. |
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| April 19, 1780 |
General George Washington welcomed distinguished visitors “the Chevalier de la Luzerne, Minister of France, with another French gentleman, and Don Juan de Miralles, a gentleman of distinction from Spain,” to the Ford Mansion, his Morristown headquarters.. | April 19, 1899 |
In compliance with General Orders No. 5, the New Jersey National Guard was reorganized according to federal military standards into four infantry regiments of twelve companies each, two Gatling gun companies, two troops of cavalry and two battalions of naval militia |
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April 23, 2020 |
In preparation for the National Guard Militia Museum of New Jersey's move to its new facility, the only surviving Civil War-era submarine - the Intelligent Whale - took a short trip down the road at the National Guard Training Center in Sea Girt, NJ. |
April 25, 1898 | The United States declared war on Spain following the sinking of the Battleship Maine in Havana harbor on February 15, 1898. NJ National Guardsmen would subsequently be called to Sea Girt to form volunteer regiments for service in the ensuing Spanish-American War. The NJ Naval Militia was called up to serve on various navy ships, some of them engaged in the blockade of Cuba. |
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We Are Hiring!At the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs we take our work in support of Veterans, Servicemembers and their families very seriously. Whether supporting our Veterans with nursing care, transitional housing, or assisting them in navigating access to their Veteran benefits, the Department provides valuable services and can offer rewarding career opportunities to members of the public.
We also have opportunities in facilities management and program management. In addition, we have job openings for members of our military to serve in AGR and Federal Technician roles.
Subscribe to DMAVA Jobs Bulletin to stay updated on job openings.
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We hope you enjoy receiving our newsletter and find it both educational and engaging. If you have questions about our department, our programs or your benefits, please visit our website at nj.gov/military to get contact information. |
| Contact DMAVA |
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Please email us at outreach@dmava.nj.gov with feedback and comments regarding the newsletter. If you would like to contribute with an item of interest to our subscribers, please email us your proposal.
Visit the DMAVA archives to view previous editions of our newsletter. |
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nj.gov/military NJ Department of Military & Veterans Affairs 101 Eggerts Crossing Road
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
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Disclaimer: The appearance of any non-DMAVA information or hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement of the products or services on the part of the New Jersey Department of Military & Veterans Affairs. |
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