Short Rounds


DAG Pins Brigadier General
On April 17, Brig. Gen. Maria Falca-Dodson (center), Deputy Adjutant General, became the first woman general in the New Jersey National Guard. Her husband Lt. Col. William "Dr. Buck" Dodson (right) and Brig. Gen. Glenn K. Rieth (left), The Adjutant General of New Jersey, pin the Brigadier General star on Col. Falca-Dodson. The ceremony was held at the Training and Training Technology Battle Lab at Fort Dix. Brig. Gen. Falca-Dodson was appointed by Governor James E. McGreevey as the Deputy Adjutant General of New Jersey on Mar. 1, 2002. She previously served as the Commander of the 108th Medical Squadron, 108th Air Refueling Wing. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Mark Olsen, 177FW/PA.

Perez Sworn In By Brother
2nd Lt. Anthony W. Perez was sworn in as an officer during a ceremony Feb. 12. What is unusual is that his brother, Capt. Johnny Perez, swore him in from Fort Wainwright, Alaska (2,888 miles away). The brothers raised their right hands and completed the oath, and then Capt. Perez watched as 2nd Lt. Perez’s first insignia of rank, once worn by Capt. Perez, were pinned to his uniform. Compiled by By Spc. Nikki St. Amant, Bayonet staff. Photo by Sgt. Kim Dooley, Bayonet assistant editor.

NJARNG Picks Top Troops
State Command Sgt. Maj. Richard Adkins (center) presents Staff Sgt. William D. Collier (left), and Spc. Raymond Ostrowski (right) with the 2004 New Jersey Army National Guard Outstanding Non-Commissioned Officer and the 2004 New Jersey Army National Guard Outstanding Enlisted Soldier awards. Staff Sgt. Collier is currently assigned to E Company, 1st Battalion, 114th Infantry Regiment and Spc. Ostrowski serves with A Company, 2nd Battalion, 102nd Armor. The award's basic criteria includes being or in the process of being MOS qualified, within Army height and weight standards and weapons qualified. Once selected, they then compete against other units within the command, regional and national levels.

Rosenberg To Command Cav
Lt. Col. James Rosenberg (right) accepts the 5th Squadron, 117th Cavalry’s colors from Col. Frank Caruso (left), Commander, 50th Brigade, at the Change of Command ceremony at the Joint Force Headquarters – New Jersey May 2. Col. Michael V. Shute is the outgoing commander. Prior to taking command, Lt. Col. Rosenberg served in a variety of positions within the National Guard during his 26 years of service to include: tank platoon leader, tactical intelligence officer, company commander, battalion intelligence officer, battalion training officer, personnel officer and brigade personnel officer. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Declan Callan, NJDMAVA/PA.

Brigade Gets New Commander
Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Trainor (right), 50th Armored Brigade, New Jersey Army National Guard, presents the Brigade’s colors to (l-r) Col. Stephen Hines (outgoing commander), Maj. Gen. Joseph Taluto, Commander, 42nd Infantry Division and Lt. Col. Frank Caruso (incoming commander) during a Change of Command ceremony Apr. 4, at the National Guard Armory in Lawrenceville. Photo by Staff Sgt. Michael Druz, JFHQ-NJ/PA.

Eight Graduate From CGSOC
Eight members of the New Jersey Army National Guard graduated from the United States Army Command and General Staff Officers Course (CGSOC).  The CGSOC educates field grade officers in the values and practice of the profession of arms, with emphasis on tactical and operational skills required for warfighting at the division and corps levels.  (Front Row, l-r) Maj. Deborah Kennedy, Maj. John Metzler and Maj. Theresa Acocella. (Back Row l-r):  Maj. Mark Boogaard, Maj. Robert Jarvis, Maj. Jemal J. Beale, Maj. William Peace. Not pictured: Maj. Ricci Anderson. Photo Courtesy Maj. Jemal J. Beale.

Commanders Meet
Governor James E. McGreevey (right) shakes hands with Lt. Gen. Stephen Blum (center), Chief, National Guard Bureau, Washington, D.C., Apr. 15. Brig. Gen. Glenn K. Rieth (left), The Adjutant General of New Jersey hosted the Region 1, Northeast Adjutants General meeting. Ten adjutants general from across the northeast discussed issues affecting the National Guard. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Mark Olsen, NJDMAVA/PA.

Woodbury FAC Opens
May 14 at 2 p.m., the New Jersey National Guard opened a Family Assistance Center (FAC) at the National Guard Armory in Woodbury. Cutting the ribbon are (l-r) Brig. Gen. Glenn K. Rieth, The Adjutant General of New Jersey; Heather Altman, Woodbury FAC coordinator; Lt. Col. Tommie Bellamy, Commander, 1st Battalion, 114th Infantry, and Leslie Clark, Mayor of Woodbury. This was the eighth FAC in New Jersey to be opened to support families of deployed New Jersey Army National Guardsmen. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Mark Olsen, NJDMAVA/PA.

CSMs Hold Meeting
On Mar. 13, the annual Command Sergeants Major Seminar was held at the Training and Training Technology Battle Lab. Back row (l-r): Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph Tatem, Master Sgt. Tim Maskery, Command Sgt. Maj. James Marshall, Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Crossley, Command Sgt. Maj. Howard Wright, Command Sgt. Maj. Jerome Jenkins, Command Sgt. Maj. William Kryscnski, Command Sgt. Maj. Stephen Barna, Command Sgt. Maj. James Blazakis, State Command Sgt. Maj. Richard Adkins Jr.; Command Sgt. Maj. David Kenna and Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Trainor. Front Row (l-r): Command Sgt. Maj. Cora Byrd, Command Sgt. Maj. Anthony Marino, Command Sgt. Maj. Charles Thomas, Command Sgt. Maj. Eloyd Britt and Command Sgt. Maj. Richard Bammert. Photo by Staff Sgt. Barbara Harbison, NJDMAVA/PA.

Burkel Takes First
Master Sgt. Joe Burkel, 108th Air Refueling Wing Marksmanship Team, topped the field at the Highpower Rifle Match at HH Range in Winslow May 16. Shooting a 474 out of a possible 500 points enabled Master Sgt. Joe Burkel to walk away with first place honors. The 108th's Marksmanship Team competes in matches on weekends from March through October. Photo courtesy 108th Marksmanship Team.