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Ready To Serve ★ Proud To Have Served |
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Never Forget | Twenty-four years.
For some of us, that is a lifetime. For others, we remember it like it was yesterday.
On this twenty-fourth anniversary of September 11, 2001, I am reminded of the sudden, terrible change which reverberated through American society as nearly three thousand lives ended in that horrible day. It was an attack not just on key infrastructure, but on our entire American way of life. It was an attack on the bastion of freedom that is our nation.
I am reminded of the feeling of waking up on September 12 into a new and uncertain world, as an era of persistent conflict was poised to transform the very nature of the National Guard from a reserve to a strategic force.
I am reminded of the months-long combat air patrols by the 177th Fighter Wing and the “Bridges and Tunnels” missions that followed. Nearly every Army and Air unit in our New Jersey National Guard was involved in security, recovery, and logistical support missions or military operations connected with the September 11 attacks (9/11 NJNG Response Timeline | page 7).
I am reminded of the decades of deployments that followed, and continue to follow, as overseas contingency operations and the call to federal service remain a part of life for the 8,400 Citizen-Soldiers and Citizen-Airmen of the New Jersey National Guard, our families, and our civilian employers.
But importantly, I am reminded of the resolute and resilient character of our New Jersey family. Together, we have risen to every challenge, honored every memory, and never, ever forgotten what we have sacrificed.
On this day, I ask that we remember not only what has been lost, but the generation that has grown up into the resulting world. Let us teach and guide one another, so that the past may be remembered and the future remain one of life, hope, and the continued freedom we treasure as Americans. On this day, I ask that we pause and think about what that freedom means and how we cherish and uphold it in our daily lives.
On this day, never forget. |
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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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Brigadier General Yvonne L. MaysThe Adjutant General of New Jersey
and the New Jersey National Guard cordially invites you to attend the
Annual Governor’s Military Review
Sunday, 14 September 2025, at 10:00 am
National Guard Training Center
Camp Drive and Sea Girt Avenue
Parade Field
Sea Girt, New Jersey 08750-0277
Military: Duty Uniform
Civilian: Business Casual |
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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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September is Suicide Prevention Month
Join the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs for a special webinar in partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. This year’s session focuses on suicide prevention and the VA’s evolving Whole Health model - a proactive, person-centered approach to supporting mental wellness.
The webinar will feature opening remarks by Deputy Commissioner of Veteran Affairs Vincent Solomeno, Chair of the Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide Among Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families, and training led by Heather Church-Soto, VA Suicide Prevention Coordinator. This is a vital opportunity to learn, engage, and support suicide prevention efforts across New Jersey.
The webinar will be held on September 18, 2025 from 10am to 11am. Learn more and register.
Get additional resources by visiting the DMAVA website at SaveNJVets.gov. |
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 | 177th Fighter Wing Strengthens Pacific Readiness Through Historic Exercise
SrA Darion Boyd | 177th Fighter Wing | August 8, 2025
The 177th Fighter Wing of the New Jersey Air National Guard participated in exercise Resolute Force Pacific (REFORPAC) 2025, a first-of-its-kind Department Level Exercise (DLE) at Komatsu Air Base, Japan, this July and August. The DLE was designed to demonstrate the armed forces’ ability to rapidly deploy personnel, equipment and aircraft to the Indo-Pacific theater of operations.
The DLE series encompasses all branches of the Department of Defense, along with allies and partners, employing more than 400 Joint and coalition aircraft and more than 12,000 members at more than 50 locations across 3,000 miles.
“REFORPAC will help solidify Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concepts and execution among the men and women of the 177th Fighter Wing,” said Lt. Col. Eric Emerson, 119th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron commander. “Lessons learned from this exercise will have a direct effect on how we train, fight and win our nation’s future conflicts.”
Read Full Story |
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 | Marksmanship Team
The New Jersey National Guard State Marksmanship Team competed at the Marksmanship Advisory Council (MAC) Region 2 at Fort Indiantown Gap, PA.
They competed against other teams within our Region from Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Virginia.
The Team placed 2nd overall in the Combined Arms Team Match. SFC Joseph Garback from the 1-114th Infantry placed 3rd overall.
Congratulations to all of the competitors. |  |
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Join Our Team |
100% Free College Tuition
Bonuses | GI Bill
Student Loan Repayment |
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 | NJ Service Medals
The State of New Jersey awards medals to honorably discharged Veterans of the state who served in various conflicts and combat theaters.
State medals include the Distinguished Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, POW/MIA Medal, Desert Storm Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Medal.
Learn More |
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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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 | This event is free, virtual, and all are welcome. |
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Switch from DS Logon to Login.gov or ID.me by September 30
After Sept. 30, 2025, Veterans will have two secure options to sign in to VA.gov and VA mobile apps - a Login.gov account or ID.me account.
Most Veterans have already made the switch. If you’re still using a DS Logon username and password, we want to make sure you’re prepared when this option is discontinued by the end of September.
Learn More |
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 | Local Veterans Celebrated at Annual Veterans Appreciation Day
morriscountynj.gov | August 18, 2025
Veterans from across Morris County were honored this week at the second annual Veteran Appreciation Day hosted by local veteran organizations, where more than 100 attendees gathered at Watnong VFW Post 3401 in Morris Plains.
Morris County Commissioners Thomas Mastrangelo and Christine Myers attended to show their appreciation, joined by Morris County Sheriff James Gannon, U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, Assemblywoman Aura Dunn, Assemblyman Christian Barranco and Morris Plains Mayor Jason Karr.
The event was hosted by Welcome Home Vets of New Jersey, Catholic Charities, NJ SOS Veteran Stakeholders, VFW 3401 and Morristown American Legion Post 59. Read Full Story
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$40M affordable housing complex with 80 units for veterans opens in N.J. town
Patti Sapone | NJ Advanced Media | August 22, 2025
A $40 million affordable 80-unit housing community for veterans and their families called Valor Pointe has opened in Middlesex County.
The development on Cranbury Half Acre Road in Monroe Township includes a computer lab and smart card laundry center.
Valor Pointe has already leased more than half of its units to military veterans since opening on July 31, according to a statement from Conifer Realty.
Of the 80 apartments, 37 will be dedicated specifically to veterans. The 43 remaining apartments at Valor Pointe will have a waitlist with a preference for veterans.
Read Full Story |
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 | New Jersey veterans heal at Salvation Army sleepaway camp
Jim Vasil | PIX11 News | August 19, 2025
PITTSTOWN, N.J. (PIX11) — For veterans hoping to find peace, some find it in the rolling hills of Hunterdon County once a year.
“This is something that’s so special and dear to my heart that I look forward to every year,” said Gregory Backer, a 12-year Army veteran from Bergen County.
Here, Backer is among veterans whose wounds can’t be seen.
“I suffer from PTSD, depression, all that stuff, anxiety,” said Backer. “For me, doing this clears my mind.”
Full Video Story
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 | Eric Rodriguez
The 177th Fighter Wing welcomes Mr. Eric Rodriguez, 177th Fighter Wing Personal Financial Counselor, to the Wing!
Mr. Rodriguez's services are open to Airmen and their families with resources provided by the Department of Defense. His services include financial counseling, financial support services, financial trainings, and financial workshops. Find a Personal Financial Counselor |
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Public Use of FacilitiesThrough an active community relations program, DMAVA strives to be a good neighbor and community partner. As a result, many of the facilities maintained by DMAVA are available for public use.
Our facilities have been used by the public for everything from fitness competitions to wedding receptions. Potential users can inquire about availability and obtain a no obligation cost estimate by phone or email. |
| Use of Facilities |
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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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SS Morro Castle anchored off Sea Girt. |
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September 8, 1934 |
The SS Morro Castle, a cruise ship bound from Havana to New York, caught fire off the New Jersey coast. The ship’s controls burned out off Sea Girt, where it dropped anchor and chaos ensued as lifeboat launches failed and people jumped into the ocean. Governor A. Harry Moore, in his summer residence at Sea Girt, deployed the African-American soldiers of the First Separate Battalion training there at the time to assist survivors and took off in a plane from the parade ground to direct rescue ships to the area. Later that day, a Coast Guard cutter began to tow the burned out hulk north, but the towline snapped off near Asbury Park and the Morro Castle drifted into the beach by Convention Hall
| September 11, 1944 | Philip A. Brodziak from Denville, NJ assigned to the 38th Bomber Squadron, 30th Bomber Group Heavy. Missing In Action on this date. Lost in the Pacific during a bombing run over Marcus Island from Saipan aboard the B-24 Pistol Packin’ Mamma. |
September 15, 1864 | Theodore Edwards from Morristown, NJ assigned to the 1st New Jersey Cavalry. Missing while on a scout mission, August 29, 1863. Died in Libby Prison in Richmond, VA on this date. |
September 16, 1823 | President James Monroe selected US Senator Samuel Southard of New Jersey to be Secretary of the Navy. |
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September 16, 1940 |
Governor A. Harry Moore traveled to the Philadelphia Navy Yard to address a crowd of workers, naval officers and government officials assembled to celebrate initiation of construction on the battleship USS New Jersey. | September 17, 1862 |
The Battle of Antietam was fought near Sharpsburg, Maryland between the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia under General Robert E. Lee and the Union Army of the Potomac under Major General (and future New Jersey governor) George B. McClellan. It was the first battle for the Thirteenth New Jersey Infantry regiment, a unit recently organized at Camp Frelinghuysen in Newark. The Thirteenth lost ten men killed, including Captain Hugh C. Irish of Paterson, twenty-three wounded and one missing in action. Captain Irish's statue, waving a sword, is on top of the NJ monument at Antietam. |
September 17, 2013 |
Declared “Harold Gantert Day” in Parsippany, NJ. On April 29, 1944, as a flight navigator, Lt. Harold Gantert took off on a bombing mission when his plane was shot down over Germany forcing him to parachute down. He was captured four days later and spent the next year as a POW in Stalag Luft III. After a grueling march the prisoners of war were forced to endure, they were liberated by the Allied troops in 1945. |
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NJ Militia Musket Model 1808On display at the National Guard Militia Museum of New Jersey in Lawrenceville is a newly donated model 1808 Contract Musket.
The Militia Act of 1808 required Congress to provide arms and equipment for the militias across the country. The $200,000 provided annually over a five year period of arming the militias was furnished to 19 contractors for just over 85,000 total muskets.
This artifact was built by the Evan’s brothers of Evansburg, PA and eventually issued to the Salem Brigade, as marked on the stock.
Thank you to Mr. Timothy Murphy for another rare piece of NJ military history. |
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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
Privacy Notice
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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