The Ranger

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Serving Joint Base
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Gunfire and mortars echoed, as soldiers from 610th Engineer Support Company
(ESC) conduct the company’s inaugural Ghost Rider Stakes. During the Warrior
Skills competition, 12 teams competed to earn the title of best Ghost Rider Stakes
Team and Soldier. {FULL STORY PAGE 7}
AMO2COMMERCE,
a full-service
pilot program
geared toward helping
servicemembers transition
into the civilian workforce,
held its first graduation
of the Heroes Corporate
Fellowship Academy at
the John D. “Bud” Hawk
Transition Center on Joint
Base Lewis-McChord North,
April 9.
Jan. 12, the first
cohort of transitioning
servicemembers began
their 13-week fellowship
through the newly launched
Heroes Corporate Fellowship
Academy. This program
provides members an
opportunity to learn through
hands-on experience by
working with a corporate
company in the local area,
and additionally through
120 hours of in-classroom
corporate management
training at City University of
Seattle.
“The only way something
like this comes together
is through partnerships,”
said Sean Murphy, project
director, Camo2Commerce.
CityU, a local institution of
higher learning, partnered
with Camo2Commerce and
provided courses for the
Heroes Corporate Fellowship
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Sgt. Alidou Ali Ouro Nille, right,
a Camo2Commerce Heroes
Corporate Fellowship Academy
fellow graduate from 46th
Aviation Support Battalion, 16th
Combat Aviation Brigade, poses
for a photo with Washington State
Congressman Denny Heck, United
States House of Representatives at
the C2C graduation ceremony on
Joint Base Lewis McChord North,
April 9, 2015. Ali Ouro Nille, who
is fluent in several languages, not
only impressed Heck, but also
Amazon, resulting in landing a job
offer from the company.
Academy to help prepare
JBLM servicemembers to
transition from the military
into civilian life and the 21st
century workforce
through business
and on-the-job
training. As
the education
partner, CityU has
begun teaching
service men and women
foundational business
strategies, project
management and leadership
skills.
The companies that
partnered with the
fellowship thus far included
Amazon, Compass Group,
Fred Hutch, Tacoma-Pierce
Chamber, Thurston EDC,
ThyssenKrupp, TrueBlue,
Starbucks, Williams-Sonoma,
Pottery Barn Kids, West Elm
and Pottery Barn.
“You have truly lead the
way in something that was
experimental and you have
proven yourself,” said Col.
H. Charles Hodges Jr., JBLM
garrison commander.
The servicemembers
spent Mondays and
Wednesdays with their host
learning through hands-on
experience about
the company
and refining
networking
abilities.
Thursdays, they were back
in the classroom gaining
additional knowledge that
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Q EOD: The Explosive Ordnance Disposal
team from Joint Base Lewis-McChord
destroyed a live Civil War-era artillery round
discovered in Ilwaco, Washington. Soldiers
from 20th CBRNE Command (Chemical,
Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives)
were called in by law enforcement officials
after the military munition was found.
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QRODEO: Air Mobility Command
announced the 2015 Rodeo readiness
competition, which was scheduled to
take place at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in
August, has been canceled.
General Darren McDew, AMC commander,
decided to cancel the competition largely
because of the high current operations
tempo for mobility airmen and budget
constraints.
“During these challenging times, we
need to be good stewards of our very
limited funds and our airmen’s time,”
McDew said. “It’s unfortunate, but given
the circumstances, this is the right decision.
We’re looking forward to the possibilities
of tailoring future Rodeo events, to ensure
we’re getting the most training and
international partnership building value
from this event.”
It is not the first time Rodeo has been
canceled for budgetary or operational
tempo reasons. In both 1988 and 2013,
Rodeo was canceled due to budgetary
shortfalls, and 2003 was canceled because of
worldwide commitments for the Global War
on Terror and humanitarian efforts. The last
Rodeo event was held at JBLM in July 2011.
“An event of this magnitude could not
be successfully completed without the
strong relationships built together with our
community partners and businesses that
support Joint Base Lewis-McChord,” said
Col. David Kumashiro, 62nd Airlift Wing
commander. “We value and appreciate our
continued partnerships and very much look
forward to the day when we can bring this
event back to JBLM and our surrounding
communities.”
Rodeo competitions are held to train and
improve the abilities of U.S. and international
partners’ air mobility operations skills. {62ND
AW PAO}
QWELCOME: The 17th Field Artillery
Brigade welcomed the Jordanian Armed
Forces (JAF) to JBLM.
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The 1st Battalion 94th Field Artillery Regiment, 17th Field Artillery Brigade non-comissioned officers and
soldiers introduces the Jordanian Armed Forces to High Mobility Artillery Rocket System live-fires at Yakima
Training Center.
live-fire. We all train different but we had
seen them trained multiple times in their
country and we wanted to show them
something.”
“I know that Jordanians took good notes
during the visit and would combine all the
information together so the JAF would be
a great team. I would like to deploy with
the JAF again because we helped each
other as a team and got the mission done,”
said Specialist Chris Raysdale, 1-94th FAR
Medical Specialist. “The Jordanians are very
open and humble. I would like for them to
continue visiting and see how we trained as
a team.”
“We have a good relationship with the
JAF,” said Morrow. “We worked hard as a
team. I’m glad they had the opportunity
to see us execute the HIMARS.” {SGT.
QUANESHA DELOACH}
During the visit, the JAF conducted meet
and greets with the 17th FAB command
group and toured the brigade area. After the
tour, the JAF visited Yakima Training Center
the following day.
While at YTC, the Jordanians met with the
1st Battalion 94th Field Artillery Regiment (194th FAR) leadership. The leadership gave a
site orientation and live-fire observation. The
1-94th FAR and JAF had deployed multiple
times together.
“The purpose for this orientation was to
give the Jordanians time to ask questions
about the High Mobility Artillery Rocket
System (HIMARS) because this is something
new for them,” said Sgt. 1st Class Monty
Morrow, 17th FAB Master Gunner. “We have
been doing HIMARS training for years and
the JAF just started HIMARS training. This is
an opportunity to see what we do different
as a team and makes the correction to
become a better HIMARS team.”
“The 17th FAB, Bravo Battery 1-94th
FAR had deployed and trained with JAF
numerous of times but the purpose of
the visit was to show them how we do
HIMARS training,” said Sgt.1st Class Chad
Reynolds, 1-94th FAR Master Gunner. “We
also wanted to expand our relationship with
JAF government because we are always
welcome into their country.”
“The HIMARS training is a new training
for the JAF,” said Sfc. Jamar Broom. “We
welcomed the Jordanians to get guidelines
on the HIMARS training and executed the
QCONTRACT: Versar, Inc. announced the
team of AGEISS, Inc. (prime contractor) and
Versar, Inc. (subcontractor) was awarded
a new contract from U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers Seattle District to provide
comprehensive environmental quality
support services at JBLM and Yakima
Training Center. The firm fixed price
contract has a maximum five-year period
of performance consisting of a base year
and four option years. Versar’s portion of
this contract during the stated period of
performance is $11 million.
said the program was very fulfilling and was
instrumental in getting him off on the right
foot.
“This transition process is a scary situation;
you have to get out of your comfort
zone,” said Kurt Erickson, a transitioning
servicemember from, 1st Battalion, 17th
Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry
Division, “You are going to be challenged and
you have to pick yourself up.”
“We have been a great support group for
each other,” he added. “Think big and take
risks.”
The Camo2Commerce program assists
transitioning servicemembers by helping
obtain gainful employment through
coordination with the JBLM Service Member
for Life Transition Assistance Program which
can help with such things as training costs,
funds for work clothes, work tools, gas cards,
certificate fees and a business network team
to market your skills to local employers.
Guest speaker for the event, Washington
State Congressman Denny Heck, United
States House of Representatives, said he was
also proud of the fellows and wished them
well.
“You are going to make any company that
hires you bigger, better and stronger, and it is
a privilege to be here,” said Heck, “Thank you.”
The program is geared towards providing
the Fellows the opportunity to maximize
their experience in serving by learning the
skills needed to be successful in transitioning
into careers in corporate America.
To register for this service, visit the Stone
Education Center, 6242 Colorado Ave., JBLM,
room A-202 or call 253.966.7366.
Staff Sgt. Patricia McMurphy is with the 28th
Public Affairs Detachment.
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4 The Ranger
April 30 ➜ May 6 2015
PILOT PROGRAM GRADUATES HEROES
CONTINUED FROM COVER
supplemented their learning in areas such as
project management, business writing and
other topics necessary for success in their
transition.
Fridays were available to continue service
obligations and efforts needed to transition.
“I am very proud of what you’ve done,” said
Hodges as he spoke at the ceremony. “Job
well done.”
Camo2Commerce and the U.S. Chamber
of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our
Heroes program seeks to capitalize on senior
noncommissioned officers and junior to
mid-grade officers with fellowships at partner
companies in the Seattle and Tacoma area.
One of the fellows that has already
accepted a job offer from his host company
www.northwestmilitary.com