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October 2, 2025 |  |
Ready To Serve ★ Proud To Have Served |
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 | Esther Chucaralao, Director of Veterans Services, speaks at the Passaic County Veteran Suicide Prevention Seminar in Wayne, NJ. |
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Suicide Prevention Awareness |
Every September, we pause to say something out loud that should never be left unsaid: you matter. Suicide Prevention Awareness Month is our reminder to check in, listen without judgment, and act when someone is hurting, including ourselves.
For the New Jersey National Guard, prevention starts with connection. In armories, flightlines, and offices across our state, small acts; sending a text, walking to the DFAC together, asking “How are you, really?”, can interrupt isolation and open a door. Leaders at every level set the tone: normalize help-seeking, protect time for medical and behavioral health appointments, and model the courage to speak up when life gets heavy.
On September 29, Vincent Solomeno, Commissioner Designate of Veterans Affairs, and Esther Chucaralao, Director of Veterans Services, both spoke at the Passaic County Veteran Suicide Prevention Seminar in Wayne, NJ on September 29, 2025. It was more than a seminar. It was a gathering of voices united around one message: we are stronger together, and resources are here for those in crisis. Events like this demonstrate the power of partnership and remind us that raising awareness must lead to real action.
For the larger community of Garden State service members, veterans, and families, we have the Governor’s Challenge which focuses on three critical priority groups in the fight to combat suicide: Identify At-Risk Service Members and Veterans, Promote Connectedness and Improve Care Transitions, and Lethal Means Safety. For more information, visit SaveNJVets.gov.
We also train to act. If you notice changes in behavior or mood, ask directly about suicide. Care by listening and removing access to lethal means where possible. Escort your teammate to help, do not leave them alone.
New Jersey is leaning in. That network exists so none of us has to navigate a hard day alone.
Help is not only available, it’s immediate, confidential, and tailored to our community: To those who are struggling: reaching out is an act of strength. You have carried others through storms, let us carry you for a while. Call, text, or chat 988. We will listen. We will get you to safety. We will stay with you. This mission has no bystanders. |
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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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Stand Down of South JerseyOn September 26, 2025, the NJ Department of Military and Veteran Affairs joined 30+ partner agencies for the SFC Robert H. Yancey Sr. Stand Down of South Jersey at the National Guard Armory in Cherry Hill, NJ.
Together we served more than 350 Veterans with VA support, medical & mental-health screenings, immunizations, hot meals, haircuts, clothing, legal aid, housing help & so much more! |
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 | 177th Fighter Wing
Airmen with the 177th Fighter Wing, New Jersey Air National Guard, pose for a photo with the Eagles' mascot Swoop during the Rams vs. Eagles game at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA on September 21, 2025
The 177th Fighter Wing performed a two-ship F-16C flyover during the national anthem before the game. View Images |
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 | SPP leverages civilian partnerships to boost medics’ combat readiness
Lt. Col. Agneta Murnan | NJNG | September 12, 2025
Medical personnel from the New Jersey Army National Guard and the Albanian Armed Forces traveled to Chicago this month for an advanced trauma training course offered by the Rush University Medical Center September 3-12, 2025.
The Rush International Advance Trauma Training Course and Medical Exchange Event was designed to give medical response members state-of-the-art knowledge and hands-on skills required to provide advanced acute management for trauma patients in combat environments and domestic incidents.
“I was privileged to observe the incredible trauma training that our National Guard Soldiers, Airmen and State Partnership Program colleagues are receiving at Rush University Medical Center,” said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Lisa J. Hou, D.O., director of the National Guard Bureau Office of the Joint Surgeon General and a combat surgeon herself during the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. “Trauma training, such as this, is crucial to maintaining the combat readiness of our medical personnel to ensure the best possible care for our combat warriors.”
Read Full Story |
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 | NJ Guard pilots SPP equipment transfer to generate cost savings
Lt. Col. Agneta Murnan | NJNG | September 18, 2025
LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. - Garden State Citizen-Soldiers and Citizen-Airmen supported a key Defense Security Cooperation Agency and National Guard Bureau initiative in coordination with the state’s longtime partner, the Republic of Albania. The initiative uses space on Air National Guard flights to transport Building Partner Capacity materials to State Partnership Program participants.
“The New Jersey National Guard is honored to stand with Albania, our partner of nearly 25 years,” said U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Yvonne L. Mays, the Adjutant General of New Jersey. “This effort reflects the strength of our alliance; delivering modern equipment, enhancing training, and reinforcing the trust that underpins our shared security and NATO partnership.”
Read Full Story |
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 | Recruiting and Retention Battalion
The NJ Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion is proud to congratulate its newest Recruiting and Retention NCOs on graduating from the Recruiting Course at the National Guard Professional Education Center in Little Rock, AR.
This fresh wave of talent is the result of a commitment in finding, developing, and cultivating Soldiers skilled in the art of retaining our state’s end strength.
With these additions, the Recruiting and Retention Battalion is eager to see the lives they will change and the impact they will have in their new roles as qualified recruiters. |
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Join Our Team |
100% Free College Tuition
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Passaic County Veteran Suicide Prevention SeminarVincent Solomeno, Deputy Commissioner of Veterans Affairs, and Esther Chucaralao, Director of Veterans Services, both spoke at the Passaic County Veteran Suicide Prevention Seminar in Wayne, NJ on September 29, 2025.
The seminar, which was hosted by the New Jersey SOS Veterans Stakeholders Group with support of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Paterson, was held to foster an open dialogue and engage in discussion on the difficult topic of Veteran suicide. Attendees were able to obtain key points of contact and resources for assistance in combating suicide in the Veteran community.
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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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New Jersey Youth ChalleNGe Academy
Class 60 of the New Jersey Youth ChalleNGe Academy reunited with their loved ones for Family Day.
Family Day marks the halfway point in Class 60's journey to graduation in December 2025.
We would like to thank all of our Cadet's families, friends, mentors and supporters for making the trip to our campus for Family Day! |
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New Jersey State PoliceRecently, troopers visited Veteran's Haven South, a state-run transitional housing program in Winslow Township dedicated to supporting homeless Veterans.
Troops Supporting Troops is a partnership between the NJSP and Veteran's Haven South that allows troopers to help military Veterans transition from homelessness back into society.
Troopers offer friendship, support, and the camaraderie they once shared while serving. We visit this location monthly to connect with and support the residents. Troopers played a friendly basketball game during the visit, while others enjoyed a meal and shared stories.
These visits reaffirm our commitment to standing beside our Veterans and ensuring they know they are never alone in their journey.
Image and caption courtesy NJ State Police. |
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 | Rutgers Army ROTC
Cadets with the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) at Rutgers University participated in a fall field training exercise at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ on September 27, 2025. View Images |
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National Guard Exceeds Fiscal Year 2025 Recruiting GoalsMSG Zach Sheely | NBG | September 23, 2025
WASHINGTON - Amid a historic surge in military recruiting, the National Guard exceeded its fiscal year 2025 goals, reflecting a broader trend of robust enlistment across the U.S. military.
Since November 2024, the Department of War has achieved its strongest recruiting performance in 30 years, with fiscal year-to-date accessions as of the end of August reaching 106% of active-duty targets. The Army National Guard and the Air National Guard have combined to enlist almost 50,000 new members this fiscal year as of this month, bringing total National Guard end strength to over 433,000, surpassing each component’s goals and marking one of the most successful recruiting years in over a decade.
“Young Americans are eager to serve,” Air Force Gen. Steve Nordhaus, chief of the National Guard Bureau, said. “Today’s recruits are seeking long-term value, and the National Guard delivers through career training and hands-on, practical experience in more than 200 career specialties.
Read Full Story |
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 | Morris County Expands Support for Veterans at CCMmorriscountynj.gov | September 16, 2025
Beginning this month, a Morris County Veterans Services Officer (VSO) is now available on site at the County College of Morris (CCM) Veterans Resource Center two days each month, providing student veterans with direct access to assistance and benefits guidance.
A Veterans Services Officer from the county will be at the center from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the first and third Thursday of each month during the semesters, with the exception of county holidays.
Read Full Story |
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SPC Francisco Mateo Specialist Francisco Mateo, a supply specialist and Task Force Integrator BOS-I billeting assistant, was selected as Hero of the Week at Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve combined joint operations area (CJOA) during the week of September 9-16, 2025.
Mateo, a resident of Kearny, NJ, is responsible for assisting with housing and relief-in-place coordination of more than 1,400 military service members and coalition forces, as well as more than 1,000 civilian contractors.
Prior to his current deployment with the 42nd Regional Support Group, Mateo was working on his bachelor's degree in computer science, while working part-time as a rehab technician for a healthcare facility. He joined the New Jersey Army National Guard three years ago for the educational benefits, as he wishes to be debt free from college tuition. |
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SGT Ronald A. KubikNational Gold Star Mother's Day was observed on September 28, 2025. One of the mothers honored was Eileen Daly, whose son Ronnie Kubik was killed in Afghanistan in April 2010.
Eileen continues to honor Ronnie’s memory, sharing his story to inspire others, and to enshrine his legacy as a leader and a hero.
In May 2024, Eileen paid tribute to her son with a veteran oral history interview that is posted on our museum website at SGT Ronald A. Kubik. |
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 | CPT Michael Tarlavsky
This weekend, our Ranger Challenge Team Captains had the privilege of honoring Gold Star mother Rimma Tarlavsky, delivering a personal letter from 1st Cavalry Division Commander, Major General Feltey, a fellow ROTC Cadet who once trained alongside her son, CPT Michael Tarlavsky.
A proud Rutgers ROTC alumnus and former Ranger Challenge Captain, CPT Tarlavsky’s courage, leadership, and ultimate sacrifice will never be forgotten. His legacy continues to guide and inspire us.
Image and caption courtesy Rutgers Army ROTC. |
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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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Chestnut Neck Monument |
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October 2, 1779 |
General George Washington ordered that the uniform coats of the New Jersey Continental Line regiments be dark blue, with buff colored facings. | October 6, 1778 |
A British force under Colonel Patrick Ferguson entered the Mullica River and attacked the “nest of Rebel Pirates” at Chestnut Neck. The local militia retreated in face of the 800-man British force and Ferguson burned thirty ships, many of them privateer prizes, looted the town and set the fort afire before withdrawing. | October 6, 1911 |
The General Lafayette Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution erected a fifty-foot monument topped by a figure of a Minute Man to commemorate the “battle” of Chestnut Neck. | October 8, 1778 |
The Pulaski Legion, a Continental Army outfit, arrived at Little Egg Harbor to counter Colonel Patrick Ferguson’s expedition. The Legion, a combined arms infantry/cavalry unit, camped on a farm near the Quaker settlement of Middle of the Shore (today’s Tuckerton). Lieutenant Juliat (who had previously deserted from the British) deserted from the Legion and informed Ferguson, who was still in the area, of the unit’s location and the British commander launched a surprise night bayonet attack on October 15, killing between thirty and fifty men. |
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October 15, 1845 |
Ellis Hamilton was born in Philadelphia. Hamilton moved to Camden, New Jersey, with his family at the age of four. Commissioned a second lieutenant in Company E, Fifteenth New Jersey regiment, in 1862, at the age of sixteen, he was the youngest New Jersey officer and perhaps the youngest officer in the Union army. Hamilton was promoted to first lieutenant and captain before being mortally wounded at the Battle of the Wilderness on May 6, 1864. He died at a Washington hospital on May 16 and was buried in Trenton. His letters survive in Rutgers University’s Alexander Library in New Brunswick. |
October 15, 2001 |
The battleship USS New Jersey officially began its career as a “museum ship” docked in Camden. Originally launched on December 7, 1942 across the river in Philadelphia, the New Jersey was commissioned and decommissioned several times, serving a total of twenty-one years in the active fleet before finally retiring in 1991. Over its career, the ship earned a Navy Unit Commendation for service in Vietnam and nineteen battle and campaign stars for combat operations during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Lebanese Civil War, and Persian Gulf service. |
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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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