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DMA Military Newsletter | March 18, 2026 |
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| Ready to serve ★ military.nj.gov |
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Brig. Gen. Yvonne L. Mays briefs senior leaders of the NJ Air National Guard on March 7, 2026. |
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Developing Leaders and Strengthening Readiness |
Earlier this month, I spent time with our New Jersey Air National Guard leaders for a series of professional development sessions. Opportunities like this matter. They allow us to step away from the pace of daily operations and focus on something just as critical to our success: the deliberate development of our people.
The environment we operate in continues to evolve. Missions are expanding. Expectations are rising. From global commitments to domestic response here at home, the demands placed on our force require leaders who are agile, informed, and ready to act. That applies across our formations, to our Soldiers, our Airmen, and our civilian professionals who support the mission every day.
Across these sessions, we focused on what it means to lead in today’s environment. That includes understanding the broader strategic landscape, communicating effectively, and ensuring our teams are prepared for the challenges ahead. Whether supporting operations in the Indo-Pacific, participating in Agile Combat Employment exercises, or responding to local needs here in New Jersey, our success starts with strong leadership at every level.
We also took time to reinforce the importance of professional dialogue. The exchange of ideas, perspectives, and experiences across ranks, units, and roles strengthens our organization. It builds trust, sharpens decision making, and ensures we remain aligned as one team.
At the same time, I ask that we remain mindful of our personnel who are currently deployed and serving away from home. Their work continues in complex and demanding environments, and they carry the mission forward on behalf of all of us. We are thinking of them, and we remain committed to supporting them and their families.
Thank you for everything you do each day for our Soldiers, our Airmen, our civilian workforce, and the state of New Jersey. |
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As always, thank you for staying connected to DMA.
We invite you to share ideas, events and feedback. Please email our team at outreach@dma.nj.gov.
Brigadier General Yvonne L. Mays
Adjutant General & Commissioner |
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Community Calendar |
New events are added to the calendar on a daily basis so please bookmark and check back often. |
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U.S. Army Warrant Officer Albert R. TrudeauMore than 50 years after he was lost during the Vietnam War, U.S. Army Warrant Officer Albert R. Trudeau, of Teaneck, New Jersey, was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery on March 11, 2026.
In October 1971, Trudeau was serving as the pilot of a CH-47B Chinook helicopter assigned to the 68th Aviation Company, 52nd Aviation Battalion, 17th Aviation Group. On Oct. 26, while flying from Tuy Hoa to Cam Ranh Bay, the aircraft went down over water during severe weather. Although search and rescue teams recovered several crew members shortly after the incident, Trudeau remained unaccounted for.
Over the decades, multiple investigation and recovery efforts were conducted to locate the crash site. From May to July 2024, a DPAA Underwater Recovery Team excavated a wreck site linked to the incident, recovering evidence that was later analyzed in the DPAA laboratory. Through anthropological and dental analysis, material and circumstantial evidence, and mitochondrial DNA testing conducted by the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System, scientists were able to identify Trudeau’s remains.
Trudeau’s name is recorded on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., and on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu. A rosette will now be placed next to his name, signifying that he has been accounted for.
Read more at the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.
Image and caption courtesy of the DPAA. |
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108th WingThe 108th Medical Group conducted a Combat Lifesaver 'Train the Trainer' Course at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ on March 8, 2026.
This course was designed to certify representatives from each squadron as instructors across the 108th Wing. The training was held using medical mannequins to simulate multiple traumatic conditions. View Images |
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Last FormationBrig. Gen. Arthur C. Roscoe Jr., Deputy Adjutant General of New Jersey, and Command Sgt. Maj. John R. Hicks, State Command Sergeant Major, officiated a Last Formation ceremony at the Bordentown Armory on March 8, 2026.
The Last Formation ceremony is held to bid farewell to Soldiers, Airmen and their families who are departing or starting a much-deserved retirement from military service.
Congratulations and good luck in your future endeavors!
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1-114th Infantry Regiment1st Battalion, 114th Infantry Regiment, 44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, held its annual Night Out in Atlantic City, NJ on March 14, 2026.
The event celebrates the battalion and fosters esprit de corps and camaraderie among Soldiers. View Images |
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CSM Mark Leonard
CSM Mark Leonard’s journey to New Jersey State Command Sergeant Major began in 1984, when he joined the Army Reserve at age 20, seeking to be fully trained and ready for the global challenges of the era. Growing up during the Cold War he was surrounded by veterans, including his father, grandfather, and uncles. After Ronald Reagan was elected president, Leonard felt it was inevitable that he would do his part to stop Communist expansion.
Throughout his career, Leonard always believed it was important to get as much experience in the role you are currently in rather than being focused on rapid advancement. While he initially looked up to the professionalism of his Platoon Sergeant, he didn't consider the rank of Command Sergeant Major was possible until he served as an E8 for three years.
One thing Leonard wishes he started earlier in his career is knowing the need for self-development by reading regulations, doctrine, and contemporary military publications. But luckily for the young Soldiers of today he knows it’s a lot easier thanks to the internet, so they don’t need to search armories for a printed copy.
Leonard’s service record is a testament to the versatility of the National Guard. He participated in peacekeeping in the Sinai, deployed to Iraq in 2008 to support democratic elections, provided critical domestic support by protecting the airports after the 9-11 terrorist attacks, restored order to the state after Hurricane Sandy and provided safety and comfort to the citizens of the state during the Covid 19 Pandemic.
As State CSM, he took immense pride in witnessing New Jersey Guardsmen provide stability across the Middle East and the Balkans. CSM Leonard transferred responsibility as the State Command Sergeant Major to the current State Command Sergeant Major, CSM John Hicks, on February 20, 2026, during a ceremony at the Lawrenceville Armory.
As he looks toward the future, Leonard hopes his legacy is one of professional excellence and structural improvement, particularly regarding promotion boards that ensure the best qualified Soldiers lead the formation. He believes the Guard has successfully transformed into an elite operational force and emphasizes that the next challenge is sustaining this excellence by never forgetting that every task, no matter how small, carries worldwide importance. |
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 | Family Members Honored
Krista Romano, wife of Technical Sergeant Seth Schoenfeld, and Stefanie Garcia, twin sister of Sergeant First Class Darlene Gomez and a service member herself, were recognized by Governor Mikie Sherrill during her March 10, 2026 budget address.
Schoenfeld and Gomez, both members of the New Jersey National Guard, are currently deployed to the Middle East. Romano and Garcia represent the strength of our New Jersey National Guard family members who serve alongside our service members, supporting them at home while they serve overseas.
See the moment they were recognized by Governor Sherrill at Facebook Reel. |
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 | SFC Christopher Robinson
The New Jersey Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion is proud to congratulate SFC Christopher Robinson on his promotion from Staff Sergeant to Sergeant First Class.
His story within the battalion is unique, as he has served this great state and nation for 12 years. SFC Robinson was part of the Hurricane Maria mobilization, contributing to the mission as a Human Resources Specialist.
Following this, he transitioned to the NJ Recruiting and Retention Battalion, where he served as a Recruiting and Retention NCO in Vineland, NJ. While in this position, Robinson also took on the role of an Assistant Military Science Instructor at Rowan University, mentoring and developing future U.S. Army officers.
In 2021, SFC Robinson attended the Drill Sergeant Academy and helped develop the next generation of NJ Army National Guard Soldiers prior to Initial Entry Training through the Recruit Sustainment Program.
We are eager to see the great things he will accomplish as he takes his first steps as a senior noncommissioned officer. |
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NGTC Policies For 2026 Are Now AvailableThe National Guard Training Center in Sea Girt, NJ has posted the Beach Parking Pass Policy, Billeting Policy and RV Site Policy for 2026.
Get all the information on our website at NGTC MWR Facilities. |
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Quintessa Nash Division Director | Division of Information Services
Quintessa Nash joined the New Jersey Department of Military Affairs (DMA) in February 2008 as a telecom assistant. Through dedication and consistent performance, she advanced to telecom manager following her supervisor’s retirement.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, she stepped into a critical leadership role by backfilling the Chief Information Officer (CIO) position while the incumbent was deployed. After applying for and serving as a Principal Staff Officer, she was recently appointed as CIO following the department’s transition to the DMA structure.
Nash, a proud service member, entered the military in 2000 at the age of 18, joining the Pennsylvania National Guard and following in the footsteps of her mother, whose active-duty service inspired her journey. She completed basic training in a single cycle and served for four years before joining the New Jersey National Guard.
Over the course of her military career, she reclassified from transportation to Human Resources (42A) and has completed three deployments in support of overseas operations, including Afghanistan (2006–2007), Iraq (2008–2009), and Kuwait (2017). In February 2025, she was promoted to the rank of Master Sergeant (E-8), marking a significant milestone achieved through perseverance and dedication to her craft.
Prior to her time with DMA, Nash served as a clerk typist with the Philadelphia Police Department and later supported homeland security operations on state active duty with the Port Authority.
Nash is driven by a strong sense of purpose and service, which continues to guide her work with DMA. Her commitment to both mission readiness and supporting service members reflects her personal and professional values.
Among her most notable accomplishments, Nash selflessly donated bone marrow during the COVID-19 pandemic after being identified as a rare match for a patient in need. Having registered over a decade earlier for a friend battling cancer, she answered the call when selected and underwent an intensive, multi‑day process to complete the donation. Her actions exemplify extraordinary compassion, resilience, and dedication to helping others. |
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National Guard deputy chief travels to US for military cooperation talksPhilenews.com | March 12, 2026
Cyprus National Guard Deputy Commander Major General Neofytos Pachoulides visited the United States from 28 February to 3 March, leading a delegation of General Staff officers for high-level defence talks at the Pentagon.
During the visit, Pachoulides met with National Guard Bureau Deputy Chief General Thomas M. Garden and New Jersey National Guard Commander Brigadier General Yvonne L. Mays.
Discussions covered specific proposals for military cooperation as well as current geopolitical developments affecting security and stability in the broader Eastern Mediterranean region.
The visit forms part of the Cyprus-US strategic defence cooperation framework and reaffirms the importance of the State Partnership Program (SPP) as the institutional basis for long-term military cooperation between the two countries.
Read Full Story |
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Charles Earnest Hosking Jr. |
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| March 20,1874 |
The Washington Association of New Jersey was formed to oversee the preservation and maintenance of the Ford Mansion, George Washington’s Morristown headquarters, recently purchased at auction by a group of prominent local citizens. | March 20, 1991 |
Governor James J. Florio authorized Executive Order 29 which established the New Jersey Desert Storm Medal to recognize and commemorate honorable service as a citizen of the State of New Jersey for participation on active duty with the Armed Forces of the United States during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. |
March 21, 1778 | Loyalist raiders under Colonel John Simcoe massacred New Jersey militiamen, inadvertently killing a Loyalist judge in the process, in a night bayonet attack at Hancock’s Bridge. |
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March 21, 1967 |
Ramsey-born U.S. Army Master Sergeant Charles Ernest Hosking Jr. of the Fifth Special Forces Group was mortally wounded attempting to capture a Viet Cong sniper. The enemy soldier pulled the pin on a hand grenade, and Hosking grabbed him, taking the full force of the blast and saving his comrades. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism. Hosking is buried in Ridgewood. |
March 24, 1782 | The blockhouse at Tom's River, commanded by Captain Joshua Huddy, was attacked by a Loyalist raiding force. Huddy and sixteen other captured survivors of the twenty-five man garrison were taken to New York as prisoners. Huddy was eventually hanged in Highlands April 12th of that year. |
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 | Grace Taylor
World War II |
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 | Bonalyn Selb
World War II |
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Christine GoetzDesert Storm |
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Helene CattaniWorld War II |
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Pope Francis VisitNew Jersey National Guard Soldiers and Airmen provided security on the Benjamin Franklin Bridge as pedestrians crossed from Camden, NJ to Philadelphia for the Mass led by Pope Francis on September 27, 2015. |
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We Are Hiring!At the New Jersey Department of Military Affairs we take our work in support of Servicemembers and their families very seriously. The Department provides valuable services and can offer rewarding career opportunities to members of the public.
In addition, we have job openings for members of our military to serve in AGR and Federal Technician roles.
Subscribe to the MilVets 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, please visit our website at military.nj.gov to get contact information. |
| Contact DMA |
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Please email us at outreach@dma.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. |
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military.nj.gov NJ Department of Military Affairs 101 Eggerts Crossing Road
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
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Disclaimer: The appearance of any non-DMA information or hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement of the products or services on the part of the NJ Department of Military Affairs. |
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