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DMA Military Newsletter | August 26, 2026 |
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| Ready to serve ★ military.nj.gov |
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Brig. Gen. Mays observed survey team members with the NJ National Guard’s 21st Weapons of Mass Destruction-Civil Support Team during training on August 18, 2026. |
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Modernization in Practice | The challenges we face in the operational environment are evolving rapidly. Our responsibility is to build a force capable of recognizing change, adapting faster than the threat, and responding when New Jersey and our nation need us.
I saw that approach firsthand this month when I visited the New Jersey National Guard’s 21st Weapons of Mass Destruction-Civil Support Team during its Army North-mandated training proficiency evaluation at the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center in Egg Harbor Township.
The 21st WMD-CST’s Soldiers and Airmen are trained to identify chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear hazards, assess their potential effects, and provide technical advice to civil authorities responding to a man-made incident or natural disaster.
I’m proud to report that the team successfully passed its evaluation. Advances in technology, the movement of hazardous materials, and an increasingly complicated security environment require our specialists to continually sharpen their expertise. Passing an external evaluation demonstrates that the team can bring that expertise to a crisis when local, state, and federal partners need it most.
Elsewhere in the New Jersey National Guard, another training event illustrated the same principle in a different way.
During annual training at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 112th Field Artillery trained to emplace their M777A2 howitzers while reacting to a Skydio X10D small, unmanned aircraft system operated by Soldiers from Detachment 1, D Company, 104th Brigade Engineer Battalion. The equipment and mission may look very different from those of the 21st WMD-CST, but the lesson is the same: The modern battlefield is changing.
Unmanned systems have altered how forces observe, identify, and engage one another. Technologies that were once available to only the most advanced militaries are increasingly accessible and widespread. For our formations, adapting to that reality must happen during training, when our Soldiers and Airmen can encounter new problems, test their assumptions, and learn how to respond quickly.
It is easy to think of modernization as a new vehicle, aircraft, facility, or weapons system. Those investments are important, but equipment alone does not create an adaptable force. Modernization also means taking the capabilities we already have and asking hard questions about how they must be employed in a changing environment.
Modernization means exposing our formations to emerging technologies rather than insulating them from them. It means maintaining specialized expertise in threats that may be difficult to detect but devastating if ignored. Most importantly, it means developing Soldiers, Airmen, and civilian teammates who are comfortable learning, adjusting, and solving problems that do not always come with an established playbook.
We are building a force that expects change because the future will not wait for us to catch up. |
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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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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, 13 September 2026, at 11:00 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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Community Calendar |
New events are added to the calendar on a daily basis so please bookmark and check back often. |
| View Full Calendar |
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254th Regional Training InstituteThe New Jersey Army National Guard's 2nd Battalion, 254th Regional Training Institute hosted the Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (SUAS) Master Trainer Course at the Joint Training and Training Development Center, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ on August 11, 2026.
The SUAS Master Trainer Course was the inaugural course hosted by the NJARNG designed to prepare Soldiers to employ drone capabilities in support of reconnaissance, terrain analysis, and mission planning.
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 | 104th Brigade Engineer Battalion
Soldiers assigned to the 104th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, New Jersey Army National Guard, participated in a reenlistment ceremony at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ on July 25, 2026. View Images |
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 | 21st WMD-CST
Soldiers and Airmen with the 21st Weapons of Mass Destruction-Civil Support Team, New Jersey National Guard, passed an Army North-mandated training proficiency evaluation at the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center at Egg Harbor Township, NJ on August 20, 2026.
The 21st WMD-CST identifies chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear substances; assess and advises civil authorities on response measures to man-made or natural disasters. View Images |
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SSgt Joshua HeathSSgt Bela Vaszlavik | 108th Wing | August 24, 2026
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. - What would you do if your paycheck stopped working? For the more than 1,300 members of the New Jersey Air National Guard’s 108th Wing, it comes down to one person.
Staff Sergeant Joshua Heath, a financial management technician with the 108th Comptroller Flight (CPTF), is responsible for ensuring that Airmen are processed and paid accurately, especially with deployments, changing orders and current missions.
“Heath is solely responsible for making sure around 1,300 members are processed and paid,” said Master Sgt. Conan Clark, Heath’s supervisor in financial management. “He has dedicated himself to this office like no one else and puts it all into his work.”
As a financial management technician, Heath operates in a position that would normally have at least two people to handle the workload. With deployments and missions such as Operation Epic Fury, that workload only continues to grow. Read Full Story |
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NJ Service MedalsIn accordance with New Jersey statute, the Adjutant General of New Jersey is the approving authority for the award of New Jersey state service medals.
The State of New Jersey awards medals to honorably discharged Veterans of the state who served during peacetime and 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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Hank Anderson
Customer Support Supervisor
Hank Anderson joined the New Jersey Department of Military Affairs in April 2026, bringing a deep curiosity for how things work and a steady, people-focused leadership style. He currently works in the Customer Support Center within the IT Division, where he oversees daily operations, guides staff development, ensures every user receives respectful and thorough assistance.
Anderson describes himself as a “mental explorer” a mindset that began in seventh grade after failing a math test on the Pythagorean theorem. Instead of accepting the grade, he became determined to understand why he got it wrong. That moment sparked a lifelong drive to break down complex ideas, study root causes, and understand the building blocks of things. Although he enjoyed science, he never pursued engineering because once he fully understood something, he was ready to move on to the next challenge.
Before joining DMA, Anderson spent many years with the State of New Jersey beginning in January 2010 at the Youth Challenge Academy in Sea Girt. He began as a 944 limited-hours employee and quickly reached the 944-hour cap in just two and a half months, far ahead of the typical class cycle which eventually secured him a full-time position with the state. He transitioned into IT in 2020 with DMAVA and was originally assigned to DVA at the organizational split before applying to and joining the DMA IT team in April 2026. The Youth Challenge’s quasi-military environment exposed him to NCOs and senior leaders who shaped his mindset and expectations. He describes the experience as transformative and credits it with helping him grow personally and professionally.
In his current role, Anderson manages security of assets of on our network, device accountability, onboarding new users, license and software oversight, and staff development. He said his greatest accomplishment is being accepted at DMA and building the team he now leads. Anderson considers his team priceless and measures success one satisfied user at a time. For him, his work milestone is not a single achievement but an ongoing opportunity to grow alongside his team.
Outside of work, Anderson is a dedicated Eagles fan and sports enthusiast. He genuinely enjoys fall festivities and the quiet peace of winter. He also supports his wife's junk journaling hobby and is an avid gamer who uses gaming as a way to connect with his son. His son recently attended our 2026 "Take your child to work day" and showed an interest in aviation, a sign that curiosity runs within the family. |
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NJ Employer Support of the Guard and ReserveLocal mayors, CEOs, and business leaders from Southern New Jersey recently took part in an inside look at National Guard and Air Force Reserve operations during an ESGR familiarization tour on August 18, 2026 at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.
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 | Bergen County
In a show of support for our communities, the New Jersey Army National Guard proudly held an aviation static display at a fair in Bergen County on August 22, 2026.
The New Jersey Army National Guard is thrilled to showcase its commitment to supporting and engaging with communities across the state. |
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 | Lunch Break
On August 15, 2026, select Cadets from the NJ Youth ChalleNGe Academy provided assistance to Lunch Break's Annual Community Picnic.
The Community Picnic supplies children in the community with backpacks and schools supplies, showcases other organizations to assist with various needs and creates a great day out for residents to spend time together.
Lunch Break freely provides food, clothing, housing solutions, life skills, and fellowship to those in need in Monmouth County and beyond. |
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Learn More About Our Supporters
DMA works closely with many nonprofit organizations, community groups, and private organizations. We are grateful for their support and efforts to help our military communities. |  |
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Public Use of FacilitiesThrough an active community relations program, DMA strives to be a good neighbor and community partner. As a result, many of the facilities maintained by DMA 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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General Donald McGowan |
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August 27, 1932 |
Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt of New York arrived at the National Guard Camp in Sea Girt, where a crowd of over 100,000 enthusiastic people greeted the Democratic candidate. Following a speech in which he promised to end Prohibition, FDR and New Jersey Governor A. Harry Moore reviewed the New Jersey National Guard soldiers at the Camp. | August 29, 1839 |
Josiah Johnson Brown was born in Newark. Brown graduated from Rutgers College in 1860, and, in 1861, enlisted in the Second New Jersey Infantry. He served in that unit through August 17, 1864, when he was captured by Confederates at Winchester, Virginia after being assigned to the Fifteenth New Jersey Infantry after reenlisting. After spending time as a POW at Lynchburg and Danville, Virginia, Brown was exchanged and rejoined his regiment in February 1865. In the postwar era he became a minister, and then an attorney, practicing in Newark. Brown’s 1885 reminiscences of his army service, preserved in the New Jersey Historical Society collections, are a valuable primary source on New Jersey soldier life during the Civil War. When he died on January 20, 1936, Brown was one of the last survivors of his regiment and the oldest living Rutgers graduate.
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August 30, 1899 |
Donald McGowan was born in Orange. McGowan, one of New Jersey’s most notable soldiers, joined the National Guard on graduating from high school, served in the Mexican Border campaign of 1916 and rose from private to sergeant major of the 114th Infantry in World War I at the unheard of age of nineteen. In the postwar era, he attended West Point but left the military academy to be commissioned a lieutenant in the New Jersey National Guard. McGowan rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel and was assistant adjutant general of New Jersey in 1940, when he was promoted to colonel and appointed to command the Guard’s 102nd Cavalry, and led the 102nd ashore at Omaha Beach, Normandy, on June 8, 1944.
Following World War II, McGowan served again as New Jersey’s assistant adjutant general and was promoted to brigadier general in 1947. He commanded the New Jersey National Guard’s 50th Armored Division as a major general from 1948 to 1955, when he was appointed chief of the Army National Guard Bureau and then chief of the entire National Guard Bureau in Washington, a position from which he retired in 1963. General McGowan died on September 24, 1967 in Lawrence Township and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. |
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Explore NJ Military History |
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National Guard Militia Museum of New Jersey | One Museum | Two Locations
Admission Is Free |
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 | Sea Girt |
Monday-Friday 10AM to 3PM
Closed: Weekends and State Holidays |
| Plan Your Visit |
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 | Lawrenceville |
Monday-Friday 9AM to 3PM Saturday 10AM to 3PM
Closed: State Holidays |
| Plan Your Visit |
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September 3, 2026 |
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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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| Vacancies |
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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
Privacy Notice
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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