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MA Minuteman Spring 2009.qxd:InProgress
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Features
Staff Sgt. Michael Downing Honored . . . . 3
Massachusetts Army Guard Unit
Fields New Air Ambulance. . . . . . . . . . 4
On the Cover
More than 1,500 Massachusetts Guardsmen assisted
455,000 residents in 53 Massachusetts communities
following a devastating ice storm that swept across the
state in December 2008.
Visit the Massachusetts
National Guard Web site
www.ma.ng.mil
The Adjutant General
Maj. Gen. Joseph C. Carter
Public Affairs Officer
Maj. Lisa Ahaesy
Managing Editor
Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Maes
Staff
Lt. Col. Chuck Perenick
Maj. James Sahady
Master Sgt. Pallas Wahl
Sgt. 1st Class Steven Tedeschi
Staff Sgt. Don Veitch
Sgt. James Lally
Senior Amn. Eric J. Kolesnikovas
Spc. Karleen Murphy
Army North Evaluates Massachusetts
National Guard Civil Support Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Otis Airmen Support Local Flu Clinic,
Flu Pandemic Exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Mustang Enthusiast Continues
Fallen Hero’s Dream . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Firefighters Take on Hazardous Duty . . . . . . . . . .10
Soldiers Receive Warm Welcome on Cold Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Remembering Sgt. Scott Miller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Guard Mobilizes to Support Operation Big Ice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Defense Department Opens Psychological Health Center . . . . . . . . . 18
Boston Celtics Partner with MANG
on Hoops for Heroes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Guard’s Counterdrug Warriors
Endeavor to Test All. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Intelligence Mission Moves Forward . . . . . . . 21
Massachusetts Guardsmen Hailed as Heroes . . . . . . 23
Teen Rekindles Spirit of Giving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Janus Simulation Tests Paraguayan Military . . . . . . 25
Redesigned MANG Web Site Launched . . . . . . . . . . . 25
8537 Corbin Dr., Anchorage, AK 99507
(907) 562-9300, Fax: (907) 562-9311
Toll Free: (866) 562-9300
www.AQPpublishing.com
This magazine is an authorized publication for members of the
Massachusetts National Guard. Contents of this magazine are not
necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S.
Government, the Department of Defense, the National Guard
Bureau or the Massachusetts National Guard.
The appearance of advertising in this publication does not
constitute endorsement by the U.S. Government, the Department
of Defense, the National Guard Bureau or the Massachusetts
National Guard.
57-Year-Old Joins Massachusetts
Army National Guard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Departments
Command Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Safety Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Short Takes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
www.ma.ng.mil
The Nation’s First
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Command Message
NCOs, Backbone of the Army
Army Medical Center. Despite recovering from
serious wounds he received while serving in
Afghanistan, Staff Sgt. Downing remains
positive about his future, the future of our
Army and the Massachusetts Army National
Guard in particular. During this visit, I had the
honor to make several presentations to
Downing; foremost was a well-deserved promotion to staff sergeant, followed by the presentation of the Combat Infantry Badge and the
Bronze Star Medal.
Staff Sgt. Downing is an example of how, even
in the face of adversity, our NCOs remain strong
and continue to provide the positive example for
our younger Soldiers to emulate. Downing’s
positive attitude and spirit are strong points of
inspiration and motivation to us all.
By Army Brig. Gen. Thomas J. Sellars
Commander, Massachusetts Army National Guard
On Thanksgiving Day 2008, Command Sgt.
Maj. David Costa and I had the privilege to visit
with Staff Sgt. Michael Downing at Walter Reed
The U.S. Army has designated 2009 as the “Year
of the Noncommissioned Officer.” The year will
be highlighted by a number of events designed
to tell the NCO story and illustrate why NCOs are
known as the “Backbone of the Army.”
More than seven years after the events of 9/11,
the Massachusetts Army National Guard finds
itself challenged regularly by deployments
abroad in support of our nation’s war fight, as
well as domestic missions here at home, such as
“Operation Big Ice” this past December. Despite
being faced with the highest operational and
training tempo seen since World War II, we
always accomplish the mission. This would not be
possible without the dependability, consistency
and reliability of the NCO Corps. They are military
professionals and are the standard keepers who
train, lead, mentor and care for our Soldiers.
Competence is their watchword. NCOs are role
models for all of us and they represent the
strength and moral character of the nation.
The men and women of the NCO Corps have
made countless contributions to the strength of
our nation and of the commonwealth for
hundreds of years. I look forward to celebrating
the “Year of the Noncommissioned Officer”
alongside “The Nation’s Best,” the NCOs of the
Massachusetts Army National Guard. *
Staff Sgt.
Michael Downing
Honored
Army Brig. Gen. Thomas J. Sellars (right), commander,
land component command, Massachusetts, visited
Walter Reed Army Medical Center to award Army Staff
Sgt. Michael Downing, Massachusetts Army National
Guard, the Bronze Star Medal on Thanksgiving.
Downing, who is recuperating at Walter Reed, suffered
the loss of both legs after a road-side bomb blast last
September in Afghanistan.
U.S. Air Force photo: Maj. Lisa Ahaesy
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A flight crew from C Company, 3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation
Regiment, takes to the skies above Westfield Jan. 10, 2009,
in the unit’s recently fielded HH-60M Black Hawk helicopter.
C Company is one of the first Army units to receive the new
aircraft, which is slated to replace the UH-60A utility Black
Hawk as the Army’s newest air ambulance.
U.S. Army photo: Sgt. Jerome Bishop
Massachusetts Army Guard Unit
Fields New Air Ambulance
By Army Sgt. Jerome Bishop, 65th Public Affairs Operations Center
BARNES AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mass. –
As part of the Army’s ongoing service-wide
transformation, its aerial medical capabilities
have been enhanced with the addition of a new
piece of equipment. The Soldiers of C Company,
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Minuteman Spring 2009
3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment,
Massachusetts Army National Guard, were one
of the first units to receive the Army’s newest
air ambulance, the HH-60M Black Hawk, in
December 2008.
Since the UH-60 Black Hawk utility helicopter
was first introduced to the U.S. military in the
1980s, it has filled roles ranging from air assault
combat missions to cargo and troop transport to
medical evacuation air ambulances, according to
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Army Staff Sgt. Tim Messar, a Barre native who
serves as a Black Hawk crew chief and detachment noncommissioned officer-in-charge for
C Company.
“The UH-60As are over 20 years old,” he noted.
“We deployed with them but they’re tired;
they’re old.”
The HH-60M Black Hawk hospital helicopter
was redesigned to incorporate built-in features
specific to the medical evacuation mission
carried out by the Soldiers of C Company, said
Warrant Officer Alex Engelson, a Framingham
native who serves as a Black Hawk pilot and
production control officer for C Company.
In contrast to the current UH-60A Black Hawk,
which is used Army-wide for a variety of
missions to include aerial medical evacuations,
the new HH-60M has been specifically designed
for the mission of medical evacuation, increasing its lifesaving potential, he added.
Some of the new features built into the HH-60M
include more powerful engines and longer rotor
blades to increase movement efficiency; built-in
litters and medical devices, such as oxygen and
suction hook-ups for superior trauma assistance;
and an all-digital “glass” cockpit and autopilot
flight mode to assist ease of use for the pilots.
By increasing the effectiveness of movement
and maneuvering, the medical evacuation team
can enter, assist and evacuate a casualty with
greater speed, which adds time for treatment
during the critical first hour of care a patient
requires.
“Minutes can save a life,” said Messar. “If we
can cut two minutes by the time we get in the air,
cut five minutes getting to the destination, cut
another 10 or 15 minutes getting the casualty to
the hospital, we’ll save more lives – bottom line.”
The new helicopter in use by the Soldiers of
C Company is so new, its engine only has a total
of six flight hours since its arrival to the unit,
including its delivery, he added.
While improved transportation performance can
add crucial minutes to a casualty’s life, the
redesigned cabin where the patient rides makes
treatment easier to conduct by the medics on
board by increasing space for them to operate.
“The configuration will give us better access to
critical parts of the body like the head and
chest,” said Army Sgt. Paul Dubenetski, a
Charlton native who serves as a flight medic
with C Company, “whereas in the other aircraft,
it was much more difficult to access those parts.”
Since trauma care systems, such as oxygen and
suction, are built into the interior of the helicopter it decreases the amount of gear the
Two Massachusetts National Guard Soldiers from C Company, 3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment, conduct
on-site familiarization training, Jan. 10, 2009, on the new HH-60M Black Hawk helicopter, the Army’s newest air
ambulance. C Company is one of the first Army units to receive the new aircraft slated to replace the UH-60A
utility Black Hawk currently used for medical evacuation missions. U.S. Army photo: Sgt. Jerome Bishop
medics have to take with them, such as spare
oxygen tanks, increasing movement room in the
cabin, he noted.
The new HH-60M Black Hawk is quickly gaining
favor among the pilots, crew chiefs and medics,
and is sure to gain favor with the wounded
warriors who have yet to be saved by it. Despite
the leaps in technology, one critical component
will always remain the same in this lifesaving
operation.
“It’s just equipment, as great as it is, but it’s
going to be the people who really make the
biggest difference,” Dubenetski said. “You can
have the best ambulance and the newest equipment, but it’s not anything unless you put the
right people behind it, and I think we have the
right people.”
The company’s newest addition is just the first of
six aircraft the unit is scheduled to receive; and
in 2010, the medics, pilots and crew of C
Company will put the new aircraft to the test and
give the HH-60M the chance to help save lives
during their next deployment in support of the
Global War on Terror. *
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Army North Evaluates Massachusetts
National Guard Civil Support Team
By Army Sgt. James Lally, Joint Force Headquarters Public Affairs
MILFORD, Mass. – The Massachusetts National Guard’s 1st Civil Support
Team was assessed for certification by an Army North evaluation team
during an exercise last October at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy
in Bourne.
The exercise began with a no-notice call-out at 4:30 a.m. to support the
FBI. The scenario required the CST to respond to the Maritime Academy’s
training vessel, “The Enterprise,” docked at the school. This no-notice callout was intended to test the capabilities and readiness of the unit as part
of an external evaluation that all civil support teams must pass.
The mission of the CST is to assess hazards, advise civil authorities and
facilitate military support during emergencies and incidents of suspected
weapons of mass destruction. In addition, the team advises civilian
responders on appropriate actions through on-site testing and expert consultation, and assists and facilitates the arrival of follow-on military forces.
The Massachusetts National Guard’s Directorate of Military Support acts
as a liaison between the CST and local, state and federal organizations. The
DOMS ensured the unit could conduct its evaluation exercise while
making full use of the Massachusetts Maritime facility, including their
15,500-horsepower, 540-foot steamship, “The Enterprise.”
Upon arriving at the scene, the CST advance team met with the incident
commander, role-played by Dan Robbins, Army North’s lead evaluator for
CSTs. Robbins briefed the team about the scenario.
After the briefing, the survey team prepared their hazardous material
detection equipment and donned chemical suits and respiration apparatus.
The survey team searched the school grounds while the decontamination
team set up an area to decontaminate people who might have been
exposed to chemical or biological agents.
After the team surveyed the school grounds, they took the samples to their
mobile laboratory for testing before sending them to the Massachusetts
Department of Public Health for further analysis. The team treated the area
as a crime scene and kept detailed notes to record findings.
The second scenario, with the training vessel, involved a ship carrying 87
passengers pulling into port with 12 passengers who complained of flulike symptoms.
The evaluators watched the team members to ensure they followed
procedures, asking them knowledge-based questions and offering advice.
The evaluators see many CSTs in action and are able to collect a lot of
information about how the teams perform and use this experience to
advise them.
“The teams will have to demonstrate proficiency in 12 areas to attain their
certification,” said Russ Stevens, CST evaluator for Army Northern
Command. “One of those areas will be how well does the team communicate with each other and what standard operating procedures they have in
place to ensure that.”
The team conducted three entries as part of their evaluation and passed all
12 of their required tasks. When the exercise ended for the day, the team
conducted an on-scene after-action review, departing the school at
approximately 11 p.m. The team reconvened at home station the next
morning to perform after-action recovery and maintenance.
Members of the 1st Civil Support Team, Massachusetts National Guard, survey a
parking lot during a certification evaluation exercise at the Massachusetts Maritime
Academy in Bourne, Mass., Oct. 21, 2008. U.S. Army photo: Sgt. James Lally
6
The CST is composed of 22 full-time Army and Air National Guard
personnel divided into six sections: command, operations, communications, administration/logistics, medical and survey. Members of the unit
receive more than 600 hours of high-tech training by agencies such as the
Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Energy, the
Department of Justice, and the Environmental Protection Agency. *
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SAFETY MESSAGE
Failure to Follow Procedures
and Poor Supervision: a Killer Combination…
By Army Lt. Col. Chuck Perenick, State Safety and Occupational Health Manager, Joint Force Headquarters
As the State Safety and Occupational Health
Manager, I receive fatality notices from military
organizations throughout the nation. This time
I decided to share with you two incidents that
drive home just how critical improper supervision and not following procedures can be.
These accidents did not involve Massachusetts
Guardsmen.
Many accidents occur during what is considered
a routine task like daily equipment operations.
Often these missions, thought of as “low
risk,” have resulted in a Soldier losing their life
or sustaining serious injury and permanent
disability.
they are supervised appropriately can significantly affect the result of “low-risk” operations.
Lesson learned: Know your job, follow procedures and receive proper supervision.
Every day, Soldiers are challenged to be smart
about managing risk, both on and off duty.
A guiding principle of Composite Risk
Management is making risk decisions at the
appropriate level, and full engagement is
essential to ensure Soldiers understand their risk
approval authority. Soldiers rely on supervisors’
experience and guidance to learn how to safely
navigate the risk management process.
The State Safety and Occupational Health Office
will be hosting Composite Risk Management
Courses at the Regional Training Institute at
Camp Edwards beginning in April 2009. Contact
the State Safety Manager, Army Lt. Col.
Chuck Perenick, at (508) 233-6566, or
[email protected] for an exact
schedule. Be proud to be safe! *
There are two primary factors which, when
combined, significantly increase the likelihood
of a “low-risk” mission turning into a disaster –
lack of supervision and failure to follow procedures, including not using available safety
devices, either through complacency or taking
short cuts.
In two recent fatalities in the United States, one
involving a Palletized Load System and the other
a Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck cargo
truck, failure to use proper safety devices
resulted in tragic consequences. In one incident,
two junior Soldiers were using a PLS with a
Container Handling Unit to move containers. On
the last container of the day, while deploying the
CHU, the ground guide moved out of the driver/
operator’s sight and into the path of the CHU.
The hook detached from the CHU, crushing the
ground guide and ultimately resulting in his
death. Sadly, a failsafe device required to secure
the hook to the CHU was not used.
In the other incident, a Soldier assisting with
the operation of a material handling crane on a
HEMTT was crushed when the vehicle moved,
pinning him between the vehicle and a building.
The vehicle was not chocked, and the outriggers
were not deployed. Both of these fatal accidents
occurred during what most would consider
“low-risk” operations.
Completion of recurring tasks and routine
missions is a key factor in sustaining our
military, and equipment handling is a major part
of daily operations. Investing time to train
Soldiers on the correct procedures and ensuring
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Otis Airmen Support Local Flu Clinic,
Flu Pandemic Exercise
By Evan C. Lagasse
102nd Intelligence Wing Public Affairs
OTIS AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mass. –
Airmen from two units at Otis Air National
Guard Base provided key support to a local
combination “drive-thru” flu clinic and flu
pandemic exercise, Nov. 14, 2008., in Sandwich.
The 267th Combat Communications Squadron
provided communications support to more than
100 flu clinic workers and volunteers with their
Joint Incident Site Communications Capability
while the 102nd Medical Group assisted civilian
public health officials and nursing students from
Cape Cod Community College, administering flu
shots to more than 950 residents and employees of the town.
While the number one priority of the day was
the real world, “drive-thru” flu clinic for town
residents and employees, the secondary focus
was testing the town’s emergency mass dispensing plan which would go into effect in the
event of a real world flu pandemic or similar
emergency medical situation.
With the importance of effective communications
to the success of any event, the 267th Combat
Communications Squadron’s job was a big one
– a job made easier thanks to the JISCC system.
“The JISCC system was developed in the aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001, and Hurricane Katrina.
During the initial response to those disasters,
communication between federal, state and local
agencies proved difficult because the communications equipment of different agencies were not
compatible. Federal authorities recognized the
need for an interoperable communications
package that could bridge the gap between first
responders. The JISCC system was designed to
meet this need. Every U.S. state and territory has
at least one JISCC supported by its Army and Air
National Guard. There are a total of 92 JISCC
systems across the country, with three operated
by the Massachusetts National Guard; one
stationed at Otis with the 267th Combat
Communications Squadron, one with the 26th
Maneuver Enhancement Brigade and one at
Joint Force Headquarters in Milford,” said 1st Lt.
John Stringfellow, 267th Combat Communications Squadron communications officer.
The flu clinic and flu pandemic exercise, which
lasted seven hours, was a perfect example of
Massachusetts Air National Guard Airmen
executing their primary mission of service to the
community. The town of Sandwich planned the
exercise, submitted a formal request for military
support with Joint Force Headquarters in
Milford, and the two Otis units were mobilized to
provide support as needed.
“The Air National Guard met all of my expectations, including the communication and
vaccination distribution functions ... I wanted to
show that the Air Guard and civilian components
could function as one,” said John J. Burke, town
of Sandwich fire prevention officer and operations section chief for the exercise.
After seamlessly providing communications
support for flu clinic volunteers from the town of
Sandwich, Department of Health and Human
Services, Civil Air Patrol, United States Coast
Guard and the 102nd Intelligence Wing, the
feelings of mission accomplishment were shared
by all.
Airmen from the 267th Combat Communications Squadron work in the Joint Incident Site Communications
Capability tent at the Sandwich, Mass., flu clinic Nov. 14, 2008.
U.S. Air Force photo: Master Sgt. Sandra Niedzwiecki
8
“The exercise was outstanding. It met and
exceeded all of my expectations, and I can’t wait
to assist with another exercise like this on an
even bigger scale,” said Capt. Stephen Dillon,
267th Combat Communications Squadron
operations officer and the incident commander’s
military representative for the exercise. *
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By Army Sgt. 1st Class Steven Tedeschi
Joint Force Headquarters Public Affairs
BOSTON – Surrounded by gleaming exotic cars,
trucks and motorcycles at the World of Wheels
auto show sat a fallen hero’s beat
up 1988 Ford Mustang GT. Onlookers glancing
at the car were puzzled until Sgt. Fabio Falorni,
a member of the 26th Signal Battalion of
the Massachusetts Army National Guard,
approached them and explained the story
behind the Mustang.
The car had belonged to Maj. Jeff Calero, a
special forces officer who was killed by the blast
from an IED Oct. 29, 2007, while on a combat
reconnaissance patrol in Kajaki, Afghanistan.
His fellow Soldiers said the Mustang was a love
of Calero’s and he had dreams of restoring it.
Falorni asked permission from Calero’s family
and the commander of the armory to restore the
car. After 10 anxious days of waiting for a reply
from Calero’s unit and family, he was granted
permission to pick up the car.
Falorni reached out to his fellow Mustang enthusiasts through Internet forums and Mustang
clubs in the area to recruit help in restoring the
car. The response was overwhelming. “I had no
idea I would get over several hundred responses
overnight,” said Falorni.
Carol Meyer, a Mustang enthusiast from
Marlborough, joined Falorni on his mission to
restore the car. “I’m a huge supporter of the
troops. I have a lot of family members overseas.
It’s nice to send care packages and stuff, but
Carol Meyer, left, of Marlborough and Sgt. Fabio Falorni lift the hood of
Maj. Jeffrey Calero’s Mustang to display some of the work that is needed to
restore the car. A team of Mustang enthusiasts is restoring the car as a tribute to
Calero who was killed in Afghanistan in 2007.
U.S. Army photo: Sgt. 1st Class Steven Tedeschi
M
Falorni spoke to some of
the Soldiers in the armory
about the Mustang. They
told him that the car had
belonged to Calero. Upon his passing, the family
was unsure of what to do with the car. It remained
at the armory where Calero parked it when he
deployed to Afghanistan in 2006. The commander of the armory was planning to have the
car towed away since the family didn’t want it.
M
One year later, on the date of Calero’s death,
Falorni, a Mustang enthusiast, noticed the car
sitting in a fenced-in area behind the National
Guard armory in Springfield
while he was picking up
supplies for his unit. “It was
an eerie feeling. I felt like
someone was pushing me
or leading me to the car,”
said Falorni.
Maj. Jeffrey Calero’s 1988 Ford Mustang GT on exhibit at the Town Fair Tire
World of Wheels Car Show at the Bayside Expo Center in Boston Jan. 10, 2009.
U.S. Army photo: Sgt. 1st Class Steven Tedeschi
this is a way to give back for the ultimate price
paid by Major Calero. It’s a gift, and I just had
to do it. All this Mustang knowledge I have,
I wanted to put it to better use. What better
cause than to rebuild somebody’s dream like
his,” said Meyer.
have a new engine and a new transmission for
it,” said Falorni.
The team leaders for the project, Falorni, Meyer
and Ed Yessian of Tewksbury, decided to put the
car on display to help promote the restoration
project. The team was on hand at the auto show
with the Mustang to talk about the project and
honor Calero for his service to his country.
“We are going to be racing it at New England
Dragway in late April. Hopefully, we will have
most of the car done by then. We are going to
have a memorial day for it,” said Falorni.
Falorni spoke to members of Calero’s unit while
planning the restoration of the car.
“They said he was very enthusiastic about fixing
the car up. He wanted new tires and rims; he
wanted the air conditioning to work; he wanted
to fix all the leaks that the car had; he also
wanted to spruce up the interior and get a new
stereo system. Basically, that is what we are
going to do. We are going to repaint the car and
redo the interior and put new tires and rims. We
The team estimates the cost of restoring the
Mustang at around $20,000. They are planning
future events involving the restored Mustang.
The restoration team is planning to sell T-shirts
and wristbands to raise funds to help them
complete the project. All proceeds will go to the
restoration of the car. Money raised over the
amount needed for the restoration will be
donated to the Maj. Jeff Calero Scholarship Fund.
Once the job is complete, the project leaders
plan to present the car to the Calero family.
To read more about the project and follow the
Mustang’s progress, and to donate to the
project, visit www.projectfallenhero.com. *
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Firefighters Take on Hazardous Duty
By Army Sgt. James Lally
raising five children while attending the online
Columbia School for Fire Science.
MILFORD, Mass. – Leading Soldiers during
training exercises is demanding, but motivating
them to follow you into a burning building is an
extra challenge faced by firefighters in the
Massachusetts Army National Guard.
“On drill weekends we maintain our proficiency
as Soldiers and as firefighters by conducting
the firefighter challenge here at Camp Edwards.
The challenge is an endurance test consisting
of 25 minutes of hard labor condensed into a
four-minute exercise. We also perform our
Warrior tasks, Army physical fitness training
and civilian-equivalent firefighter training,”
said Inkley.
Consequently, the Massachusetts Army National
Guard’s tactical firefighting units have a lot to do
during their weekend drills. The 179th Engineer
Detachment (Firefighting) and the 180th Engineer
Detachment (Firefighting) work together to practice directing rescue and firefighting operations
during structural fires, aircraft crash incidents,
vehicle emergencies and forest fires. They also
direct emergency response crews during
hazardous material incidents and maintain equipment ranging from M1142 fire trucks to M16A2
rifles. The units’ missions range from domestic
emergencies to tactical deployments to theaters
of operation such as Iraq or Afghanistan.
The Guard prepares recruits to become Soldiers
by sending them to basic training and then
advanced individual training for specific jobs. To
learn how to be firefighters, the Soldiers of the
179th and 180th attended the 14-week
Apprentice Firefighter course held at the Louis F.
Garland Department of Defense Fire Training
Academy at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas.
“Upon graduation from the Apprentice Firefighter
course, the graduates have the knowledge and
skills to perform all aspects of firefighting
operations inclusive of aircraft, structural and
hazardous materials as well as first responder/
first aid skills,” said Sgt. 1st Class Allen Schultz,
operations sergeant at the Louis F. Garland
Department of Defense Fire Training Academy.
Schultz has been a Soldier for more than 22
years and has served as an Army firefighter, fire
The firefighters of the 179th and the 180th
are housed at the Massachusetts Military
Reservation Fire Department making things
convenient for Sgt. Dennis J. Ragazzini, lead
firefighter, 179th Engineer Detachment
(Firefighting). Ragazzini is also a lieutenant and
full-time firefighter with the Massachusetts
Military Reservation Fire Department.
Army Sgt. Heather F. Inkley, a fire team chief with
the 179th Engineer Detachment (Firefighting),
Massachusetts Army National Guard, fights a fire
during a live-burn exercise at the Louis F. Garland
Department of Defense Fire Training Academy at
Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Dec. 3, 2008. Inkley
graduated the academy Dec. 19, 2008. Courtesy photo
department noncommissioned officer, fire
instructor and drill sergeant. He is currently the
observer controller/trainer for all Army National
Guard and Army Reserve firefighting units in the
western half of the country.
“Overall, I believe we have the best fire academy
in the world. All the armed services come
together to produce a highly skilled firefighter
ready to step into any fire department in the world
and be a very effective crew member,” Schultz
said. “The students are challenged physically
and mentally. For most, this will be the most
challenging personal and professional goal they
accomplish in their life to date. They will complete tasks and challenges they never thought
they could accomplish and learn the limits of
their endurance in the process of doing so.”
Sgt. Heather F. Inkley, training noncommissioned
officer for the 179th Engineer Detachment
(Firefighting), graduated from the Firefighter
Course Dec. 19, 2008.
Members of the 179th Engineer Detachment (Firefighting) and the 180th Engineer Detachment
(Firefighting) prevent fuel that was leaking from a
vehicle from becoming a fire hazard at an accident on
Interstate 90 in Massachusetts, Nov. 9, 2008.
Courtesy photo
10
“The school was very demanding both physically
and mentally. I was one of the oldest students –
one of about 15 females – and there was only
one other female there that had children. During
training, I was able to push myself beyond what I
ever believed I could do physically and mentally
so I am very proud to have graduated [from] the
Firefighter Course,” said Inkley.
In addition to her duties as the 179th’s training
noncommissioned officer, Inkley is married and
“Our mission covers homeland defense,
emergencies and [the unit] is prepared to deploy
tactically to and out of a forward operating base
in a theater of operations such as Iraq or
Afghanistan,” said Ragazzini.
These Massachusetts National Guard firefighters
are also trained to control accident scenes, look
for victims and prevent cars from burning. They
ensure safety at the scene, stabilize patients and
prepare them for transport.
These skills were put to the test after some of the
members of the 179th and the 180th witnessed
a car accident on Interstate 90 while returning
to Camp Edwards after a live-burn exercise
Nov. 9, 2008.
“A turkey flew across two lanes and caused a
driver to hit her breaks, spin out of control and
cause a three-car accident. We checked one
patient whose car had hit the guard rail and
prepared her for transport. We assessed her
injuries as non life-threatening; she had been hit
by her car’s airbag, which can cause serious to
minor injuries,” Ragazzini said. “It was difficult
for the Soldier driving behind the car to stop with
a truck full of water traveling at 50 miles per
hour; fortunately the driver was able to stop
without being involved in the accident.
Firefighters are trained to operate fire trucks
safely during a driver training and emergency
vehicle operations course.”
To ensure safety at the accident scene, the firefighters made sure the vehicles would not cause
further damage by rolling, and they disconnected
all of the vehicles’ batteries to prevent shock or
fires from damaged equipment.
“For a young unit starting out they have done a
great job,” said Ragazzini. *
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Soldiers Receive Warm Welcome on Cold Day
The New England Patriots Play Host to the Massachusetts Army National Guard
A Soldier salutes during a reenlistment ceremony on the field at Gillette
Stadium, Dec. 21, 2008. The New England Patriots hosted 50 National
Guard Soldiers from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York,
Connecticut and Rhode Island during the final home game of the season
against the Arizona Cardinals. U.S. Army photo: Pfc. Steven C. Eaton
By Army Pfc. Steven C. Eaton, 65th Public Affairs Operations Center
FOXBORO, Mass. – The Massachusetts Army National Guard held a
reenlistment ceremony for 50 National Guard Soldiers from
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Connecticut and Rhode
Island on the field at Gillette Stadium before the New England Patriots
played their final home game of the season against
the Arizona Cardinals, Dec. 21, 2008.
The 50 Soldiers were lined up on the field in rows of 10 when
Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick administered
the oath of enlistment. The crowd in the
stadium seats came to their
feet as the Soldiers swore to
continue to protect and serve their country.
“I think that the ceremony is yet another fantastic
indication of the support and dedication that the New England
Patriots and our communities have for the National Guard,”
said Staff Sgt. Stephen Fiola, recruiting noncommissioned
officer with the Massachusetts National Guard, after participating in
the ceremony.
Before the ceremony, members of the Patriots, including Randy Moss,
Larry Izzo, Junior Seau, Matt Cassel and Ellis Hobbs, greeted the
Soldiers, shaking hands and thanking them for their service.
“It creeped up on us. I literally turned around and found myself staring
at Randy Moss, or should say staring up at him. He shook my hand and
said thank you. That sincere gratitude is what makes a Soldier feel
proud,” said Fiola.
Following the pre-game ceremony, Patrick and Army Maj. Gen. Joseph
C. Carter, The Adjutant General of the Massachusetts
National Guard, took part in the coin toss.
The Soldiers watched the game comfortably
from a luxury box provided by the National
Guard Bureau.
These Soldiers left Gillette Stadium with smiles on
their faces and a memory to last a lifetime. The
Patriots’ victory over the Arizona Cardinals, 47-7, was
a great ending to an unforgettable day. *
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8:58 AM
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The Adjutant General of Massachusetts, Maj.
Gen. Joseph C. Carter, promotes Scott A. Miller
to the rank of sergeant, March 19, 2008, at the
Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.
U.S. Army photo: Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Maes
Remembering Sgt. Scott Miller
By Army Maj. Allen D. Aldenberg
211th Military Police Battalion
MILFORD, Mass. – Throughout our careers as
Soldiers, we understand that along with the many
highs we have all enjoyed that there are also
moments of sadness, such as when a fellow
Soldier falls on bad times. The Soldiers of the
972nd Military Police Company and the 211th
Military Police Battalion recently had to deal with
one of those sad moments after the passing of
Sgt. Scott A. Miller.
I served as the commander of the 972nd Military
Police Company in 2002-2003 during the unit’s
deployment to Pakistan and Uzbekistan in
support of Operation Enduring Freedom. During
that time, one of my Soldiers, Spc. Scott Miller,
fell ill and was transported to Walter Reed
Hospital to undergo further evaluation. I quickly
learned that Scott was suffering from an operable brain tumor, and I clearly remember he told
me that he was going to be fine and would return
to the unit sooner rather than later. Although
Scott was not able to return to finish out the
mission, the manner in which he dealt with his
medical issues served as a great example for the
entire unit.
Scott did remain true to his word, however, and
returned to the unit and deployed to Iraq in 2007
with the 972nd, then commanded by Capt.
Bryan Pillai. In February 2008, I learned that
Scott had once again fallen ill. Upon his arrival at
Walter Reed, he joked that the hospital was
becoming the venue for his welcome home
ceremony. This time Scott was suffering from an
aggressive form of liver and colon cancer, and
the prognosis was grim.
Army Sgt. Scott Miller’s wife, Alex, and brother, Mark, accept Miller’s service awards at the homecoming event
for the 972nd Military Police Company at Faneuil Hall, Boston, Oct. 19, 2008.
U.S. Army photo: Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Maes
12
Scott eventually returned to Massachusetts
where he immediately starting receiving treat-
3/18/09
ment at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in
Boston. Throughout the entire ordeal, his wife,
Alex, was his rock. She cared and provided for
Scott with great compassion while she was
dealing with the reality that she probably did not
have much time left with her husband. Scott and
Alex had only been married for one month
before he deployed.
Scott was promoted to the rank of sergeant,
March 19, 2008, at Dana Farber while undergoing chemotherapy. His platoon supported him
and cheered for him from Baghdad via a cell
phone call as The Adjutant General affixed the
insignia of rank to his uniform. Scott proudly
read the Noncommissioned Officer’s Creed
aloud in front of his wife and family, friends
and comrades, and hospital staff members.
Scott’s strength and determination did not go
unnoticed by anyone who witnessed the
ceremony.
Later in 2008, the 211th Military Police Battalion
Commander, Lt. Col. Richard Johnson, directed
the staff to create an award that would be
awarded annually at the military police ball to a
8:58 AM
Page 13
Soldier from the battalion who truly lives the
Warrior Ethos in all aspects of his or her life. We
quickly determined that the first recipient of the
award would be Scott, and the award would be
named the “Sgt. Scott A. Miller Warrior Ethos
Award” in his honor.
Despite Scott’s worsening condition, he made it
a point to be at the military police ball in
September 2008. It was truly great to see Scott
spend some quality time with his fellow Soldiers
from the 972nd who had recently returned from
deployment. Scott accepted the Warrior Ethos
Award to a standing ovation from all in
attendance. It was very clear to everyone present
that Scott and Alex truly cherished their time at
the ball.
Through his horrible ordeal, Scott served as an
example for all of us. He carried himself with
the utmost humility and dignity. Scott’s “never
give up and never quit” approach to battling
this horrible disease must serve as an
example to every Soldier in the Massachusetts
Army National Guard. He truly lived the Army’s
Warrior Ethos. *
WARRIOR
ETHOS
I will always place
the mission first.
I will never
accept defeat.
I will never
quit.
I will never
leave a
fallen comrade.
Members of the 972nd Military Police Company gathered at their headquarters in Baghdad, March 19, 2008, to support Scott Miller by a long distance call as he was
promoted to sergeant at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Courtesy photo
13
3/18/09
8:58 AM
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14
3/18/09
8:59 AM
Page 15
By Joint Force Headquarters Public Affairs
MILFORD, Mass. – Soldiers and Airmen of the Massachusetts National
Guard responded in force to support Massachusetts residents affected
by a powerful ice storm that swept across the state in December.
More than 1,500 Soldiers and Airmen answered the governor’s call to
state active duty and spread out across the state to assist those most
seriously affected by the storm. Many trees and power lines were
toppled by the ice, knocking out power in more than 325,000
Massachusetts homes and darkening many National Guard facilities.
The 26th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, stationed at Camp Curtis
Guild in Reading, was tasked to lead relief operations supported by
elements of the 51st Troop Command, 79th Troop Command, 101st
Engineer Battalion, 102nd Intelligence Wing, 104th Fighter Wing, 181st
Infantry Regiment, 182nd Cavalry Regiment and the 212th Engineering
Installation Squadron.
The 26th relocated its headquarters to the Combined Support
Maintenance Shop at Fort Devens to be closer to the affected areas of
the state as the mission tempo steadily increased.
“The biggest problem is unpredictability,” said Col. Paul G. Smith, commander of the 26th MEB. “What was first thought to be an immediate
support response for victims turned into an ongoing recovery mission.
The need for support actually increased as time went on.”
According to Lt. Col. Mark Schulze, operations officer for the 26th,
missions included clearing debris, establishing shelters, delivering food
and fuel, and providing security.
“This mission brings us back to our traditional role: to support the
people. This is our roots,” said Schulze.
Guardsmen also went door-to-door in some communities to ensure the
safety and well-being of residents without power and heat, according
to Smith.
Soldiers from B Company, 1st Battalion, 181st Infantry Regiment in
Gardner and the 747th Military Police Company in Ware responded to
Westminster to provide the additional manpower and resources needed
to ensure the safety, security and wellness of residents there.
(Continued on next page.)
Background: Guardsmen clear debris in Philipston during Operation Big Ice.
U.S. Army photo: Sgt. James Lally
Photo 1: Spc. Jonathan Cosmo, a Dartmouth, Mass., resident who serves as
an engineering specialist with 3rd Platoon, 379th Engineer Company, 101st
Engineer Battalion, disposes of debris on Route 9 in Leicester Dec. 15 during an
emergency response mission days after a crippling ice storm in the western portion of the state. U.S. Army photo: Sgt. Jerome Bishop
Photo 2: Staff Sgt. Patrick J. Kelley, Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 181st
Infantry Regiment, sets up a cot in a storm shelter at the Fitchburg Senior Center.
U.S. Army photo: Pfc. Steven C. Eaton
Photo 3: More than 1,500 Massachusetts National Guardsmen worked across the
state to assist residents affected by a strong ice storm in December of 2008.
U.S. Air Force photo: Senior Airman Eric J. Kolesnikovas
2
3
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3/18/09
8:59 AM
Page 16
“The damage to trees and power lines across town is the worst I have
ever seen here in my 41 years in the department,” said Brenton W.
MacAloney, emergency management director and fire chief of
Westminster. “The National Guard provided the additional manpower
and resources to go door-to-door on the streets ensuring safety and
wellness while police, fire and emergency medical technicians could be
used for emergencies.”
The Soldiers helped get people from homes without power to a shelter
that was set up at Westminster Elementary School.
“We came across many people, especially the elderly, who were glad to
see us; and we helped them get to shelter,” said Staff Sgt. Casey Reid,
an infantryman with B Company.
The Soldiers of the 747th also conducted wellness checks of more than
5,000 residents in 1,400 homes in Fitchburg. Guardsmen from
Headquarters Company of the 1st Battalion, 181st Infantry Regiment,
supported shelters at the senior center and Fitchburg Middle School.
“We are here to provide support to the shelter, (and) help reassure
people,” said Capt. John Quinn, fire effects coordinator, Headquarters
Company, 1st Battalion, 181st Infantry Regiment.
Twenty-nine Airmen from the 104th Fighter Wing in Westfield and 28
Airmen from the 102nd Intelligence Wing on Cape Cod converged in
Warwick to ease the workload of town employees who had been working around the clock for four days to clear town roads.
“The effort by the Massachusetts Air National Guard is critical to us
clearing the roads so National Grid can come in to restore power,” said
Warwick’s Chief of Police Brian Peters.
The Airmen also helped clear debris in Beckett to allow emergency
vehicles and utility crews clear access to the communities’ residents.
“The Massachusetts National Guard is the commonwealth’s first military
responders to natural and man-made disasters,” said Col. Robert T.
Brooks, commander of the 104th Fighter Wing. “We stand ready to
support, either with manpower support or equipment, whenever the call
for help is made.”
The Massachusetts National Guard conducted more than 150 separate
missions of support; assisting 455,000 residents in 53 communities
and successfully clearing debris from over 850 miles of roadway.
The men and women of the Massachusetts National Guard stand ready
to help their fellow citizens whenever called, as they have done for
372 years. *
Maj. James Sahady, Capt. Matthew Mutti, Spc. Charles Espie, Pfc. Michael
Broughey and Pfc. Steven Eaton contributed to this story.
Photo 1: Soldiers of the 379th Engineer Company work to clear debris from the
streets of Gardner, Mass., so that utility crews can restore power.
U.S. Army photo: Staff Sgt. Donald Veitch
Photo 2: Sgt. David J. Posluszny of Hudson, and Sgt. Caroline E. Olson of
Attleboro, both assigned to the 26th Signal Company in Hudson, crimp wires in
order to establish communication with shelters across the state by satellite
phone. U.S. Army photo: Pfc. Michael V. Broughey
Photo 3: Army Brig. Gen. Thomas J. Sellars, commander of the Massachusetts
Army National Guard, discusses ongoing relief operations in Gardner, Mass.,
with local media, Dec. 15, 2009. U.S. Army photo: Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Maes
Photo 4: Sgt. Larry Miller, a Taunton resident, and Staff Sgt. Carl May, a
Stoughton native, who both serve as engineer noncommissioned officers from
3rd Platoon, 379th Engineer Company, 101st Engineer Battalion, direct a front
loader operator while emptying a load of debris into a dump truck on Route 9 in
Leicester Dec. 15. U.S. Army photo: Sgt. Jerome Bishop
Photo 5: Staff Sgt. Casey Reed and Spc. Seth R. Beach discuss their response
and recovery mission with a Westminster police officer following December’s
devastating ice storm. U.S. Army photo: Spc. Charles P. Espie
Photo 6: Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick holds a press conference
Dec. 15, 2009, outside the National Guard Armory in Gardner, Mass. More than
1,500 Soldiers and Airmen of the Massachusetts National Guard were called to
state active duty by the governor as part of Operation Big Ice to assist with relief
efforts across the state. U.S. Army photo: Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Maes
2
1
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3/18/09
8:59 AM
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Engineers Clear Roads
During State Emergency
Massachusetts Citizen Soldiers Respond
to Devastating Results of Ice Storm
By Army Sgt. Jerome Bishop, 65th Public Affairs Operations Center
MILFORD, Mass. – Soldiers of the Massachusetts National Guard have fought
wars overseas and braved the harsh deserts of Iraq and Afghanistan, but two
platoons of engineers faced a new force this past holiday season – the effects of
devastating weather.
3
4
Guardsmen from the 379th Engineer Company, based at Buzzards Bay, responded
to the state emergency resulting from ice storms that hit Central and Western
Massachusetts. The engineers worked from the edges of town toward the center,
clearing vital roads of debris on Dec. 14 and 15 in Leicester to make way for future
power line repairs working from the edges of the town and moving inward, while
other units conducted similar operations in various parts of the state.
“We’re helping out the citizens during this state of emergency and we have crews all
over the state,” said Sgt. 1st Class Fred Sommers, a Brockton auto technician who
serves as a platoon sergeant with 3rd Platoon of the 379th. “This is what the National
Guard is all about, helping out wherever we’re needed.”
Sommers and the Soldiers of the 379th began recovery and debris-clearing operations Dec. 12 in neighboring Gardner and moved to Leicester Dec. 14.
The Soldiers took to the streets of Leicester removing fallen trees and branches to
clear a way for both passing traffic and to allow for repairs to damaged power lines,
according to Sommers.
“This is the best thing that could have happened to the town,” said Steve Lucero,
a Leicester native who came out of his home on Route 9 to watch the Soldiers.
“It looked like a war zone before the Army showed up.”
While the engineers were on the roads clearing way for traffic and repairs, they
weren’t the only Guardsmen out serving during the state of emergency.
Officer Craig Guertin, a Leicester police officer, who also serves as a staff sergeant
with the 181st Infantry Regiment of the Massachusetts Guard, was on duty to ensure
the safety of the troops working to clear roads by directing and blocking traffic.
“It’s great that [the Soldiers] can get out here and help the local Department of Public
Works,” said Guertin.
5
6
The Soldiers’ response to the conditions resulting from the bad weather wasn’t the
only good will being passed along during the recovery operations. Not only were the
recovery efforts a joint task undertaken by both the Guard members and the local
authorities, the citizens of the town also pitched in and set up shelter for the troops
to help make their stay as comfortable as possible.
“I can’t say enough about the civilian supervisor and giving us all the support,” said
Sommers. “Everywhere we go the local people can’t thank us enough for what we
are doing. These guys [Guardsmen] leave their families and their civilian lives behind
to come out here to help out.”
Although the roads of Leicester aren’t as dangerous as the streets of Iraq, the work
being done in the town, and elsewhere through out the hard-hit areas of
Massachusetts by the recent ice storms, shows the Guard’s ability to help those in
need, whether their feet are buried in sand or snow. *
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3/18/09
9:00 AM
Page 18
Defense Department
Opens Psychological Health Center
By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON – Defense Department officials
announced the opening of a new outreach center,
Jan. 15, 2009, that will provide service members,
veterans and their families a new resource for
psychological health problems and traumatic
brain injuries.
The Defense Centers of Excellence for
Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury
is operating the 24-hour center, to be open 365
days a year and staffed by behavioral health
consultants and nurses, including some former
military psychologists.
“We’re providing 24/7 support to assist callers
with questions regarding psychological health
and traumatic brain injury,” said Army Brig. Gen.
Loree K. Sutton, M.D., director of the Centers of
Excellence. “Getting the best possible information and tools, hassle-free, will empower and
strengthen warriors and their families to
successfully manage what can be confusing and
disturbing circumstances.”
The center promotes resilience, recovery and
reintegration of service members facing
18
psychological health and traumatic brain injury
issues while working to advance research,
education, diagnosis and treatment of these
conditions, Sutton said.
symptoms a caller may be experiencing. Its staff
can also help a caller find appropriate health care
resources within the Defense Department or in
other federal agencies, she added.
Its staff is equipped to handle not only routine
information requests, but also questions about
“What we want to make sure is … that we
provide the accurate information to allow folks
to understand what’s really true,” Sutton said. “If
we need to research a question, we’ll do the legwork and quickly reconnect with the caller.”
“This outreach center
will be a way where, even
at 2 in the morning [and]
whether you’re
on the home front or
downrange …
you’ll have someone
at the other end
of that line who cares.”
– Army Brig. Gen. Loree K. Sutton, M.D.
The outreach center will always be there for
members, leaders, and health care providers of
the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard,
the reserve components and veterans, Sutton
said. Family members of service members and
veterans can call or e-mail the outreach center
staff with questions pertaining to psychological
health or traumatic brain injury.
The center can be reached toll-free by calling
(866) 966-1020, or by sending an e-mail to
[email protected].
“This outreach center will be a way where, even
at two in the morning [and] whether you’re on
the home front or downrange … you’ll have
someone at the other end of that line who
cares,” Sutton said. *
3/18/09
9:00 AM
Page 19
BOSTON – The Boston Celtics, in partnership with the Massachusetts Army
National Guard, hosted a re-enlistment ceremony for 40 Massachusetts
Army National Guardsmen during half time at the sold-out home game
against the Toronto Raptors at the TD Banknorth Garden on Jan. 12, 2009.
The Soldiers who re-enlisted either returned from, or are expected to
deploy to, Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom. The
Soldiers stood at center court on the famous parquet floor to receive the
oath of re-enlistment administered by Maj. Gen. Joseph C. Carter,
The Adjutant General of the Massachusetts National Guard.
The Soldiers who participated in the ceremony watched the game from
executive box seats and enjoyed catered food and beverage service.
The Celtics also hosted more than 300 members from all branches of the
U.S. military and their families at the Jan. 12 game as part of the second
annual Seats for Soldiers program. Seats for Soldiers gave Celtics fans the
opportunity to donate tickets to allow members of each branch of the
armed services to attend the game in their place. More than 50 tickets were
donated to Soldiers from the Massachusetts National Guard due to the
Guard’s robust presence in Massachusetts.
During a break in the action in the second quarter, the Celtics and the
Massachusetts State Lottery honored Massachusetts Army National Guard
Spc. James N. Brown, a machine gunner from A Company, 1st Battalion,
181st Infantry Regiment, as part of their “Heroes Among Us” program.
Brown and another member of his unit, 2nd Lt. Brian Shaffer, saved a
woman’s life on Dec. 14 when their unit was called to state active duty
for storm relief efforts. For their actions, Brown and Shaffer were awarded
the Massachusetts Medal of Merit in a ceremony Dec. 19, 2008,
in Agawam.
Another Soldier, Massachusetts Army National Guard Sgt. Daniel W.
Bertrand, a signal information service specialist with the Headquarters and
Headquarters Detachment of the 211th Military Police Battalion, joined
color commentators Tommy Heinsohn and Mike Gorman on Comcast
SportsNet New England, a live-broadcast sports program, to discuss the
game, sports and his experience as Soldier.
“It was an honor to sit down with Mike Gorman and a legend like Tommy
Heinsohn to talk shop about sports and the military,” said Bertrand. “Thank
you to everyone who donated their tickets; it was a very generous thing
to do.”
Bertrand, 27, from Lynn, has been in the Massachusetts Army National
Guard for nine years. Bertrand volunteered to deploy to Iraq in October
2004 with the 42nd Infantry Division. He was primarily stationed north of
Tikrit, serving as a communications sergeant and a .50 caliber heavy
machine gunner, participating in most of his unit’s combat logistical
patrols. Bertrand is slated to deploy to Iraq again in the summer of 2009
with the 211th.
Some Soldiers were also given ticket upgrades during the game. Army Sgt.
Stacey M. Chapman, a signal systems operator with the 26th Signal
Network Company, Massachusetts Army National Guard, was one of the
Army Spc. James N. Brown, a machine gunner with A Company, 1st Battalion, 181st
Infantry Regiment, Massachusetts Army National Guard, waves to Boston Celtics
fans Jan. 12, 2009, at the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston. Brown was recognized
by the Boston Celtics and the Massachusetts State Lottery as part of their “Heroes
Among Us” program for his part in saving a woman’s life while he served on state
active duty during an ice storm that struck large portions of Massachusetts in midDecember. U.S. Army photo: Sgt. James Lally
lucky Soldiers selected to receive a court-side seat. Chapman deployed to
Iraq in 2004 and served as team member on the 42nd Division Artillery’s
Personal Security Detachment. Chapman recently returned to
Massachusetts after touring with the U.S. Army Soldier Show where she
entertained Soldiers and their families by singing and dancing in 2007 and
by working as a lighting technician to support the show in 2008.
“To be back among Boston sports fans made me really feel like I was
home,” said Chapman. “The Celtics and the people who donated the
tickets really went all out for us. It reminded me that what we do as
Soldiers is important and it felt good to know that people recognize it.”
During a break in the action, the Celtics announcer asked that all military
personnel in attendance stand up and be recognized; when they did, the
packed house of fans gave them a standing ovation. Many Soldiers who
attended the game were surprised by the quality of their seats and by how
much attention was devoted to the Massachusetts Army National Guard,
like Army Spc. Dominique E. Sherburne, a supply specialist with
Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 211th Military Police
Battalion, Massachusetts Army National Guard.
“Being invited to watch the game court-side was great – the whole night
felt like it was just for us,” said Sherburne.
Boston Celtics Team President Rich Gotham said, “We are very proud to
partner with the Massachusetts Army National Guard to honor the men and
women of all our armed forces. The Seats for Soldiers program was a great
success last season, and we could not have done it without all the fans who
graciously donated their tickets to these courageous individuals who
defend our country. We look forward to providing the Soldiers in attendance with a fun and special night.” *
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9:00 AM
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A lab specialist at the military drug testing facility in Texas points out samples prepared for analysis with a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer. The military
laboratory’s high-tech equipment can find and identify any drugs present. U.S. Air Force photo: Tech. Sgt. Cheryl Hackley, National Guard Bureau
By Air Force Tech. Sgt. Cheryl Hackley
National Guard Bureau
BROOKS CITY-BASE, Texas – Finding a single
drug abuser among thousands of service
members can compare to a shell game, but the
National Guard is placing all odds in its favor.
The National Guard is striving to keep its CitizenSoldiers and -Airmen drug free through an
increase in drug tests and the integration of new
prevention programs.
Current Defense Department policy
dictates that each service component
test 100 percent of their end-strength,
and increased funding since 2003
has helped the Guard’s counterdrug
experts toward their 100 percent drug
testing goal.
“We want to test everyone, every year,
in addition to random testing to keep
testing fair,” said Army Col. Ronald
Shippee, director, Defense Department
Drug Testing and Program Policy.
Shippee said he receives a Quarterly
Illicit Drug Positive Rate Report com-
20
piled from six laboratories that test for the
Defense Department.
Three years ago, the National Guard tested 50
percent and 40 percent of its Soldiers and
Airmen. It now tests about 70 percent of nondeployed units. In comparison, the Army tests
about 200 percent and the Air Force tests about
100 percent of service members, said Shippee.
“It’s a challenge to test the National Guard
[more] because they only drill two days a month,
“We deter and detect illicit use
of controlled and illegal drugs
by military personnel
through random urinalysis testing;
we report test results and prepare
documentation for courts-martial;
and we develop new methods
for drug testing.”
– Air Force Lt. Col. Kabrena Rodda
and there’s a lot to pack into a drill weekend,”
said Shippee. “Deployments also affect testing;
although, once on active duty, Guard members
are tested frequently.”
Shippee’s report identifies the military’s highest
at-risk population as enlisted men, ages 18 to 25.
To reduce drug positives, the Guard implements
a program of smart testing, post testing and
education. Smart testing includes decentralized
testing; more frequent and random testing;
testing on different days; testing at
different times during drill; testing fulltime Guard members during their work
weeks; and testing their own counterdrug personnel throughout the year.
“The National Guard administers drug
tests to deter use, bring awareness,
maintain unit readiness and reduce
drug positives,” said Army Master Sgt.
Ervin Steinly, eastern regional program
manager.
Guard members coordinate closely with
the other service components and their
state-of-the-art detection laboratories.
Effective early 2008, Guard drug test
specimens are analyzed here at the
Headquarters, Air Force Drug Testing
Laboratory. The high-tech Texas facility is one
of six drug abuse detection laboratories used
by the Defense Department.
“We shifted all Guard specimens here to help
balance the workload among the six laboratories,” said Shippee.
The 54-person staff at Brooks also maintains
testing for the Air Force, Army and Air Force
Reserve, which totals 700,000 specimens
annually or about 55,000 per month. In all,
the laboratories test 4.5 million specimens a
year. According to its unit commander, drug
testing at Brooks serves a three-pronged
mission.
“We deter and detect illicit use of controlled
and illegal drugs by military personnel
through random urinalysis testing; we report
test results and prepare documentation for
courts-martial; and we develop new methods
for drug testing,” explained Air Force Lt. Col.
Kabrena Rodda, commander.
The Guard’s Substance Abuse Prevention
Program is just one component of its larger
counterdrug program, which supports
community-based organizations and law
enforcement agencies in their fight against
illicit drug use.
In early 2007, the National Guard initiated its
Prevention, Treatment, and Outreach Program.
It built strong partnerships with other organizations, including the Substance Abuse and
Mental Health Services Administration and the
Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America.
The PT&O Program is now implemented in
35 states.
“Resources from the PT&O Program can help
prevent and minimize post-traumatic stress
and its related issues,” said Steinly.
The Guard’s counterdrug experts said they
hope to help Guard members in their communities who are at risk for, or are combating,
substance abuse and mental health issues.
They target the reintegration of those who
return from deployments and transition back
as traditional Guard members.
“Drug abuse continues to threaten the health
of the American people and the safety of
our communities,” said Air Force Lt. Col.
Dwight Hall, chief, Substance Abuse
Prevention Program, National Guard Bureau.
“We lead by example as we protect and serve
our nation.” *
3/18/09
9:00 AM
Page 21
Intelligence Mission
Moves Forward
By Air Force Senior Airman Matt Benedetti, 102nd Intelligence Wing Public Affairs
OTIS AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mass. – As the wing embarks on establishing a new
tradition of excellence at Otis, 13 members of the 102nd Intelligence Wing recently returned
from training at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, sporting hard earned intelligence
badges.
They completed their career development courses in short order and were then deployed
to Alabama for 90 days of specialized training and certification.
“They have completed six months of training at Goodfellow Air Force Base and are
supporting U.S. Central Command (from) Alabama,” said Master Sgt. Ed Veneto, intelligence flight supervisor. Veneto graduated from Goodfellow Air Force Base and is an
electronic systems analyst.
“The training is commensurate with an Airman going overseas," said Veneto. The members
are tasked in an air and space expeditionary force rotation with a unit line number.
“Even though they are going to a stateside base to do a manning assist and get some
certifications from the 117th Intelligence Squadron in Alabama, they are technically
supporting a (U.S. Central Command Air Forces) pre-deployment. They have to be 100
percent overseas deployable to take these ULNs (Unit Line Numbers). They technically
could be forward deployed from that location,” said Veneto.
Lt. Col. Dave McNulty, 101st Intelligence Squadron commander, described the training
process as a journey and is proud of their performance thus far.
“Colonel Anthony Schiavi handed out 17 coins last month to our honor graduates,” said
McNulty. “Five different specialties are awarded at Goodfellow Air Force Base, and we have
had at least one distinguished graduate from each of those courses.”
McNulty is impressed with the commitment of the group. “They returned from Goodfellow
Air Force Base, cranked out their CDCs within 60 days and headed down to Alabama,”
he said.
The deployed Airmen faced additional challenges due to the fact that their coursework is
classified, forcing them to study at the vault at Otis or at a sensitive compartmentalized
information facility at Hanscom Air Force Base.
During the first 30 days, Airmen take open- and closed-book tests and a “check ride” with
the mission examiner.
“The process is similar to a pilot going through his or her training – you have to know
your academics as well as be able to demonstrate proficiency in the actual task,”
explained McNulty.
The deployment requires each individual to be Title 10 active duty, as they will be making
“kill chain” decisions. The 13 Otis Airmen were embedded as members of the 117th
Intelligence Squadron for the 90-day duration of their training.
McNulty is mindful of the diligent efforts of the newly minted intelligence Airmen as well as
the sacrifices of their families. “We know family members are putting up with a lot with
these deployments, and we appreciate their support,” said McNulty.
“It’s a team effort. The logistics readiness folks, Senior Master Sgt. Joann Letourneau and
2nd Lt. Jenn O’Connell, have done an outstanding job,” said McNulty.
As the mission moves forward, Otis Airmen continue to excel in their training and are
poised for this vital undertaking.
“It is great to see people showing up with their intelligence badges. They have worked hard
getting through Goodfellow Air Force Base, completing their CDCs and going to a formal
training unit,” said McNulty. “It is fantastic to see it taking shape.” *
21
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Page 22
EOD training is a blast
A demonstration vehicle is struck by the explosive force of a half pound of explosives during an
exercise at Barnes Air National Guard Base, Oct. 23, 2008. Explosive ordnance disposal technicians
from the 104th Fighter Wing teamed up with EOD professionals from the Air Force Reserve; the
Massachusetts Army National Guard; the Nashua, N.H., Police Bomb Squad; and the
Transportation Security Administration. U.S. Air Force photo: Senior Master Sgt. Robert Sabonis
22
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9:00 AM
Page 23
Massachusetts Guardsmen Hailed as Heroes
MILFORD, Mass. – Two Massachusetts Army
National Guardsmen were awarded the
Massachusetts Medal of Merit in a ceremony
Dec. 19, 2008, in Agawam.
Army Spc. James Brown and Army 2nd Lt. Brian
Shaffer, both assigned to A Company, 1st
Battalion, 181st Infantry Regiment, saved the
life of a 71-year-old woman who was overcome
by carbon monoxide caused by a generator at
her home in Blandford.
Soldiers from A Company were called to state
active duty for storm relief efforts and sent to
Blandford to conduct door-to-door, well-being
checks of homes that were left without power by
an ice storm Dec. 11.
At midnight on Dec. 14, a man arrived at the
Blandford Emergency Operations Center and
told Shaffer he thought his wife was deceased at
their home. Shaffer alerted firemen, who
assessed the man and questioned him about his
wife’s location. Shaffer, Brown and members of
the Blandford Fire Department went to the man’s
residence and found the woman unconscious on
the floor.
“I started CPR and Specialist Brown came and
assisted me,” said Shaffer. “I am a trained firefighter, but my combat life saver skills were all
that were required to help her. Brown is certified
as a combat life saver and we had excellent crew
coordination.”
Army Maj. Gen. Joseph C. Carter, The Adjutant
General of the Massachusetts National Guard,
presented the Massachusetts Medal of Merit to
Shaffer and Brown in front of the members of
A Company.
Army Maj. Gen. Joseph C. Carter, The Adjutant General of Massachusetts, awards the Massachusetts Medal of
Merit to Army Spc. James Brown, right, of A Company, 1st Battalion, 181st Infantry Regiment, in Agawam.,
Dec. 19, 2008. Brown and Army 2nd Lt. Brian Shaffer saved a woman’s life, Dec. 14, 2008, during a state of
emergency in Massachusetts following a powerful ice storm. U.S. Army photo: Sgt. James Lally
“She is alive today because of what these
Soldiers were able to do in an emergency,” said
Carter. “Our Airmen and Soldiers act with notable
bravery every day. Not all acts measure up to the
Medal of Merit.”
Members of the armed forces of the commonwealth can be awarded the Massachusetts Medal
of Merit for distinguishing themselves with
marked service of national or state significance.
“It’s not the kind of thing you expect to do; it
gives me the jitters when I think about it. I feel
honored to get this award, especially from
General Carter. It’s not every day you get an
award from a general,” said Brown. *
The 26th (Yankee) Infantry Division Veterans Association (YDVA) will
hold its 90th Annual Convention and Reunion at the Margate Resort in
Laconia, N.H., June 9-11, 2009.
Anyone who served in any unit of the 26th (Yankee) Infantry Division at
any time is welcome to attend. Family and friends are also invited.
If you are interested in attending, please contact Robert R. Raney at
(978) 531-2257.
23
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9:00 AM
Page 24
Teen Rekindles
Spirit of Giving
By Army Staff Sgt. Donald Veitch
65th Public Affairs Operations Center
BOURNE, Mass. – As the holidays approached,
most Americans focused on the economy and
how to make ends meet. Sixteen-year-old Dylan
DeSilva isn’t like most Americans. The Brewster
native focused his efforts on giving even more
to others during the holiday season. DeSilva is
giving even more because he’s been giving for
over four years.
When DeSilva was 12 years old, he started Cape
Cod Cares for Our Troops. His goal that year
was, with the help of his family and friends, to
send a few care packages to U.S. troops in Iraq
and Afghanistan.
This past holiday season more than 30 volunteers gathered in Bourne’s Trowbridge Tavern to
assemble care packages. Mountains of purchased and donated goods lined the tables and
walls of the Tavern’s function hall. Affectionately
referring to themselves as “Dylan’s Army,” the
volunteers happily worked to spread hope and
cheer to America’s finest.
Each package, containing a Christmas stocking,
greeting cards, candy bags, toiletries and various
snacks, was mailed to a selected service
member. The care packages were sent to
Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines who
might not otherwise receive a package. “We
receive names from commanders, chaplains
and individuals,” said Michelle DeSilva, Dylan’s
mother. “We’re always adding more names to
the list.”
The generosity of others was an enormous
factor in the success of this year’s holiday drive.
DeSilva raised over $11,000 in donations to
fund this season’s mailing. “The majority of
donations come from individuals,” said DeSilva.
More than monetary donations are responsible
for the success of the drive. Dedicated volunteers
like Orleans resident Dave Gilmore are boxing
up the donations and shipping them overseas.
“I’ve been here helping Dylan for the past four
years,” said Gilmore.
Mary Ellen McCarthy, owner of the Tavern,
donated the lavish space used to put together
the more than 500 packages sent out this holiday
season. Meals for the “army” of volunteers were
also graciously provided by McCarthy.
DeSilva, who works year-round for his charity,
doesn’t let up when the fundraising is done. He’s
not content with coming up with the idea and
raising the money; rather, DeSilva has his hand
in every package mailed overseas and has from
the beginning. “It started with one care package
to a friend from my Boy Scout troop who had
joined the Army,” said DeSilva. “I got the idea
from there.”
Cape Cod Cares had modest beginnings, but it
quickly grew in scale. In four years, DeSilva has
Brewster teen Dylan DeSilva kneels alongside some of
the more than 500 care packages assembled during a
Cape Cod Cares for Our Troops drive held in Bourne.
U.S. Army photo: Staff Sgt. Donald Veitch
shipped more than 4,000 packages to service
men and women.
With 4,000 packages and counting for Dylan
DeSilva and his “army,” he has accomplished a
great deal for the military and plans to join the
service in the future.
For more information and to make donations,
visit http://www.capecod4thetroops.com or call
(508) 896-6424. *
www.uso.org
24
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9:00 AM
Page 25
JANUS
SIMULATION
Tests Paraguayan
Military
By Army Sgt. 1st Class Steve Tedeschi
CAMP CURTIS GUILD, Mass. – After traveling
over 4,700 miles, a contingent of Paraguayan
soldiers embraced a challenging 36-hour training event here last December. These soldiers
conducted a first-hand, computerized training
exercise using the JANUS system at Camp
Edwards’ simulation center. JANUS is an interactive, digital simulation of combined-arms
warfare named after the Roman god, “Janus”,
who guarded Rome’s city gates.
Army Maj. Tim Byrne, 188th Engineer
Detachment, coordinated the training and
offered the full support of his unit. He said all the
soldiers performed very well considering they
jumped into the exercise after such a long journey. They were well-tested in tactical operations
center procedures during a multitude of joint
war fighter exercises.
Col. Ruben Pena, commander of the Joint
Peacekeeping Operation Training Center for the
Paraguayan army, said, “We want to be good
partners in this relationship. We had a very
Sub-Official Segunda Francisco Lopez, left, shakes hands with The Adjutant General of Massachusetts, Army Maj.
Gen. Joseph C. Carter, during a ceremony following a Joint War Fighter Exercise at the JANUS Center, Camp
Edwards, Dec. 7, 2008. The Massachusetts National Guard has worked with the Paraguayan military through the
State Partnership Program since 2004. U.S. Army photo: Sgt. 1st Class Steve Tedeschi
stressful exercise, but it was very successful
because of the good will and cooperation of our
American friends.”
The four-day visit ended with a brief ceremony
and awards presentation presided over by The
Adjutant General of Massachusetts, Army Maj.
Gen. Joseph C. Carter. This successful training
event further strengthened the engagement
between the Paraguayan military and the
Massachusetts National Guard. *
Redesigned MANG Web
Site Launched
By Joint Force Headquarters Public Affairs
The Massachusetts National Guard is proud to announce the recent launch of its
newly redesigned public Web site. The Joint Force Headquarters Public Affairs
Office and the Directorate of Information Management teamed up to create the
site, which uses Microsoft SharePoint® and is hosted on National Guard Bureau
servers.
Visitors to the site will find a simple-to-navigate interface with regularly updated
content. The home page features news stories from the Massachusetts National
Guard and around the nation, a photo gallery, Really Simple Syndication feeds and
links to commonly used Guard sites. Information on resources, leadership biographies and employment opportunities are also available on the site.
All stories, photos and videos posted are free for use in publications and multimedia venues. Through the use of RSS feeds, users will be notified when new
content gets posted. Come visit the site at www.ma.ng.mil today!
If you would like to submit stories or photos, please e-mail the public site
webmaster at [email protected]. Submissions should be in “JPEG”
picture format and Microsoft Word® for text files. *
www.ma.ng.mil
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Page 26
Soldier Slated to Deploy;
Marries Girlfriend at
Joint Force Headquarters
By Army Sgt. James Lally, Joint Force Headquarters Public Affairs
MILFORD, Mass. – A Soldier slated to deploy this spring was married on
Dec. 29, 2008, in a civil ceremony at the Massachusetts National Guard
Joint Force Headquarters in Milford, Mass.
Army Pfc. Danilo Gomez, a finance specialist from the 101st Finance
Detachment, married Steffany Castillo, his girlfriend of four years and the
mother of their 17-month-old daughter, Amaia.
With an upcoming deployment, Gomez went to JFHQ to prepare his family
for his absence by ensuring that they receive all of the benefits they are
entitled to as a military family.
“With our busy schedule, we figured we could take care of getting married
and our life insurance in one day, since we have our daughter, Amaia, and
another baby due in June,” said Gomez.
“Being married is the formal union that my family and I have accepted
to recognize our love,” said Gomez. “We were committed before to be
together, but this is what lets the rest of the world know how we feel about
each other and how we vow never to separate, ‘til death do us apart,’”
said Gomez.
The ceremony was performed by Deputy State Judge Advocate General,
Army Col. Christopher C. Henes. “I have been a justice of the peace for
more than 25 years and have performed several ceremonies for Soldiers
going back to Operation Desert Storm,” said Henes.
“I didn’t know Col. Henes before the ceremony, but he made me feel like a
son the way he helped me and my wife with all of our questions,” said
Gomez. “He assisted us with paperwork that without his help, we would
Army Pfc. Danilo Gomez, a budget clerk in the 101st Finance Detachment, marries
Steffany Castillo, his girlfriend and the mother of his 17-month-old daughter Amaia,
at Joint Force Headquarters in Milford, Mass., on Dec. 29, 2008.
U.S. Army photo: Sgt. James Lally
have had to make multiple trips to headquarters from our home in New
Hampshire,” said Gomez.
Gomez’s civilian career working for the Bank of America mirrors his
military career as a finance specialist for the 101st Finance Detachment.
Finance specialists perform duties such as computing payroll and other
allowances, auditing accounting records and disbursing cash to Soldiers.
Gomez is a resident of Salem, N.H., and has been a member of the
Massachusetts Army National Guard since Aug. 20, 2007. *
MANG Youth Program
Offers Multiple Options
By Susan Pixley, State Youth Coordinator
WELLESLEY, Mass. – Meeting new friends who have the Guard in common, learning all about your service member’s unit, having fun with other
Guard kids, building leadership skills, learning about deployment, having
support when a person you love is deployed, appreciating your military
family, these are all things that the Massachusetts National Guard Youth
Program can offer, plus more.
The Massachusetts Guard Youth Program offers many educational and
social opportunities for children and teens, such as Operation Youth
Deployment, Gear Up, Operation Military Kids and Speak Out for Military
Kids. Our state program also provides information and referral services on
a variety of issues concerning Guard Youth.
The Massachusetts National Guard’s Youth Program offers many opportunities for
Guard Youth. Courtesy photo
26
Operation Youth Deployment is a fun-filled “call-up to active duty day”
where children whose parents are preparing to deploy experience events
3/18/09
9:01 AM
Page 27
The 101st Engineer
Battalion Takes a
Look Back
By Army 2nd Lt. Ben Smith, 101st Engineer Battalion
BOSTON – Soldiers of the 101st Engineer Battalion, bound by a strong
sense of esprit de corps, gathered in Boston’s Faneuil Hall, Sept. 11, 2008,
to conduct professional development training by celebrating the battalion
and its distinguished history. The event was designed to study the
profession of arms; increase regimental cohesion; and spark an interest in
the heritage of one of the nation’s oldest units. The 101st Engineers
proudly carry the lineage of the East Regiment, which was one of the
three original militia units created in 1636 to defend the Massachusetts
Bay Colony.
Hosted by the Massachusetts Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company,
this gathering of the successors of the East Regiment Minutemen highlighted the recent overseas service of the 182nd Engineer Company –
(Sapper) – in Iraq. Those in attendance recognized veterans of all conflicts
and observed a moment of silence for the fallen warriors from The Global
War on Terror.
Seven years earlier, on Sept. 11, America marked one of the darkest hours
in her history. Since that day, Soldiers of the Massachusetts National
Guard have shown their devotion to duty and patriotism as Guardsmen
have shown in every conflict since 1636. East Regiment Minutemen have
proudly served the commonwealth of Massachusetts and the nation for
372 years in both foreign and domestic calls to arms.
Members of the battalion’s leadership held professional discussions
about the common past and shared experiences back to colonial
times with members of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company.
Brig. Gen. (Mass.) Emery A. Maddox delivered a historical lecture about
the colonial American military from the First Muster to the end of the
designed to simulate what their Soldier encountered during Soldier
Readiness Processing prior to deployment. Sponsored by the state youth
coordinator and supported by the unit youth volunteer and the unit’s rear
detachment, stations are provided for children to experience everything
from camouflage to survival tactics. Teens are encouraged to participate
and expand their leadership experience by supporting many of the OYD
stations which present information on topics such as physical fitness,
health values and the American flag. The kids can also write letters to their
loved ones.
Army Command Sgt. Maj. Peter K. Chase, 101st Engineer Battalion, stands on the
steps leading to the meeting room for the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company
in Faneuil Hall, Boston, Sept. 11, 2008. Chase’s ancestor, Pvt. John Chase, was a
survivor of the Bloody Brook Battle in Deerfield, Mass., May 18, 1676. Courtesy photo
Revolutionary War. He pointed out many interesting facts about the
lineage of the 101st Engineers, notably that Gen. George Washington had
chartered Col. John Glover’s East Regiment Militiamen to cross the
Delaware River. *
join with our state coordinator and youth volunteers at many Guard events
such as Gear Up training, summer camps and pre- and post-deployment
briefings. Their latest initiative, a Mobile Technology Lab, has been
extensively used by our Guard Youth. The MTL consists of multiple laptops
and a digital and video camera. The technology lab is transported to youth
events and used to create greeting cards as well as to record messages
for deployed loved ones. It is indeed a high-tech experience for our
Guard Youth.
Gear UP and Gear UP Jr. are programs designed to help Guard Youth build
leadership skills in a fun and interactive way. Have you ever wanted to be a
leader? Have you ever thought of what kind of leader you may be? As you
meet new friends, experience challenges, work as a team, laugh and enjoy
yourself, you will find the answer to those questions and more.
Speak Out for Military Kids is a program designed for military and nonmilitary teens to talk about what it is like to be a “military kid.” SOMK is
often produced at a public television studio where Guard Youth experience
television fame and learn the ins and outs of film production. This is their
opportunity to reach out to non-military youth and express their feelings
and educate their peers about military life.
The National Guard Youth Program partners with Operation Military Kids, a
national program which interacts with local communities to support
military children. OMK is instrumental in supporting our unit family
readiness group youth by sponsoring field trips, parties and activities. They
The State Youth Program values the importance of our youngest generation and understands that today’s Guard Youth are facing unique
challenges. If you would like to learn more about the Guard Youth
Program, please call (888) 301-3103, ext. 7290. *
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57-Year-Old Joins
Massachusetts Army National Guard
By Air Force Senior Airman Eric Kolesnikovas
MILFORD, Mass. – It’s never too late to serve.
Dr. Martin Lesser of Holyoke proved that fact as
he was sworn into the Massachusetts Army
National Guard on Jan. 11, 2009, at the age of 57.
Lesser was born in 1951 and grew up in a
public housing project in Brooklyn, N.Y. He
graduated from the New York College of
Osteopathic Medicine in 1988 with a Doctor of
Osteopathic Medicine Degree. He performed his
internship at Coney Island Hospital from 1988 to
1989 and completed a family practice residency
at the Catholic Medical Center of Brooklyn and
Queens from 1989 to 1991. Lesser moved to
Western Massachusetts in 1992 and opened his
own family practice in Holyoke.
The Adjutant General of Massachusetts, Army Maj.
Gen. Joseph C. Carter (left) and Army Maj. Martin
Lesser of Holyoke pose for photographs following
Lesser’s appointment as a medical officer in the
Massachusetts Army National Guard, Jan. 11, 2009.
Lesser, age 57, received a waiver so that he could
join the Guard.
U.S. Air Force photo: Senior Airman Eric Kolesnikovas
“For the last sixteen years I’ve been a solo
family practitioner in Holyoke, and I’ve always
been a military ‘wannabe,’” said Lesser, whose
father and uncles served during World War II.
He said he had always aspired to serve his
country and is now getting his chance.
One year ago when Lesser met Joe Guerriero, a
retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel who is now
a healthcare recruiter for the military, he was
glad to have a conversation with him. From what
was first expected to be just informal military
“chit-chat,” Guerriero’s message came off as
very profound and serious. He told Lesser that
not only were there serious shortages of physicians in the military, but the need was so great
they would likely grant him a waiver for his age
so that he could enlist. Lesser felt that the armed
forces had given so much, he had the choice of
continuing to be an observer from the sidelines
or of making some small sacrifices and adjustments so that he could respond to his country’s
need. In the end his choice was very easy.
Lesser was appointed at the rank of major
because of his advanced education, internship
and residency training and professional experience. During his medical career, he has provided
hospital care, emergency medicine, critical care
and newborn care.
He is scheduled to attend formal military education designed to train newly commissioned
medical officers to function effectively in their
first duty position. The first phase will be
conducted through distance learning, while the
second phase will be conducted as a 25-day
resident course.
Lesser will continue to be a primary care physician at his practice in Holyoke, with a very large
volume of patients of all ages, including many
from the military. While he is away at training or
other military duty, he has a well-established
network of doctors that will help take care of his
patients.
Lesser’s wife Joan is a mental health provider in
Holyoke and a professor of social work at Smith
College in Northampton. He has a son, Eric, 23,
and two daughters, Rebecca, 20, and Julia, 14.
The Army National Guard is seeking healthcare
professionals in general dentistry and physicians
in the following specialties: orthopedic surgery,
family practice; emergency medicine; and internal
medicine. If you are a medical professional and
would like to find out more about joining the
Massachusetts Army National Guard in the
medical field, contact Chief Warrant Officer 2
Andrea Couture at [email protected]
or (508) 962-5072; Staff Sgt. Brooks Johnson
at [email protected] or (774)
930-7770; or visit www.1800goguard.com/
explore/medical/. *
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Transcription

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