New Mexico Minuteman - Winter 2012

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NEWS BRIEFS Wreaths Across America Gov. Susana Martinez offi cially proclaimed Dec. 10 as Wreaths Across America Day in New Mexico. National Guard Soldiers, veterans and community members gathered at the state Capitol rotunda as Martinez unveiled a wreath on Dec. 6 to honor fallen members of the military. Simultaneous wreath unveilings took place at each state capitol across the country as part of an initiative by Wreaths Across America. The wreath features fl ags from each branch of the military and recognizes POW/MIA designated service members. In 2007, the Worcester family teamed up with veterans and other groups to form Wreaths Across America. The U.S. Congress unanimously voted to establish Wreaths Across America Day on Dec. 13, 2008. Over 300 locations held wreath laying ceremonies in each state across the U.S, Puerto Rico and 24 overseas cemeteries, in which over 100,000 wreaths were laid on veterans’ graves. Last year, 220,000 memorial wreaths were laid by volunteers at 545 locations. The Wreaths Across America mission is to Remember, Honor and Teach about the service and sacrifi ces of our nation’s veterans. Azzalina earns top recruiter honors Photo: Clyde Mueller By Sgt. 1st Class Henry Garciasalas Staff Sgt. Ashley Azzalina was named New Mexico’s top Recruiting and Retention NCO of the Year for 2011. Azzalina recruited the most recruits, had the best ship rate and best overall retention in the state. 24 NEW MEXICO Minuteman / Winter 2012 Staff Sgt. Ashley Azzalina poses with one of her recruits, Pfc. Abigail Licea, who enlisted as a high school junior in January 2010. Licea is currently assigned as a military police to the 919th MP Company in Albuquerque, N.M. In addition, Azzalina was awarded the Top Recruiter Award from the Recruiting and Retention Advisory Committee Board held on Nov. 9, 2011. Azzalina distinguished herself through untiring review and rehearsals in preparation for the RRAC V Challenge Board. Her enlistments, 100 percent ship rate, physical fi tness, personal appearance, positive attitude and interview skills were signifi - cant contributors to her success. Azzalina outperformed top recruiters from Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Nebraska, Missouri, Arkansas and Kansas. Azzalina’s FY11 recruiting statistics and being selected as New Mexico Director’s 54 recipient qualifi ed her to compete in this year’s challenge. This achievement advances her to compete at the national level representing New Mexico at the Director’s Strength Maintenance Award Ceremony in Orlando, Fla. This is the fi rst time in history of the competition that a recruiter from New Mexico has been recognized for this honor. NMESGR fl ies employers to D.C. for bosslift By Capt. Elizabeth Foott, 200th Public Affairs Detachment commander The New Mexico Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve sponsored 30 New Mexico employers to participate in a bosslift to Washington D.C. Oct. 26-28, 2011. The purpose of the bosslift was to acknowledge and thank the employers for their efforts in hiring and supporting Guard and Reserve members. The employers were nominated by current service members and NMESGR personnel. The main criterion was that those participating were veterans themselves. The bosslift included a fl ight from Albuquerque, N.M., to Washington, D.C., on a KC-135 tanker supplied by the Arizona Air National Guard, a luncheon hosted by the United Carpenters Union and a banquet. The following day, the group laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown at Arlington National Cemetery. Maj. Gen. Kenny C. Montoya, the Adjutant General; Col. Brian Baca, chief of staff; Col. Joel Harris, Operations Group commander, and State Command Sgt. Maj. Kenneth Adair also attended the banquet and were able to meet and speak with many of the employers. During his speech, Montoya thanked the employers for their support of New Mexico service members and asked for their continuing support in employing those that are coming back from deployment. Other military representatives included Lt. Cmdr. Damon Slutz of the U.S. Navy Reserve. Gary Kaiser, NMESGR program support, said that the turnout for this event was outstanding and that he was grateful for the support that Montoya, Baca, and Adair showed by attending the event. NMNG takes third at Army Ten-Miler By Chief Warrant Offi cer Jesse Espinoza, Deputy Military Personnel Offi cer The 2011 New Mexico National Guard Army Ten-Miler team raced to a third place fi nish at the 27th Annual Army Ten-Miler in Washington, D.C., Oct. 9, 2011, competing against 22 other co-ed teams from across the National Guard. Members of the team were Chief Warrant Offi cer Jesse Espinoza, team captain; Col. Brian Baca, Maj. Michelle Jaramillo, Sgt. 1st Class Darrick Coriz,
The New Mexico National Guard’s 2011 Army Ten-Miler Team displays their third place fi nish plaque. Team members are Spc. Jacobo Hernandez, Officer Candidate Benjamin Jensen, Maj. Michelle Jaramillo, Sgt. 1st Class Darrick Coriz, Chief Warrant Offi cer Jesse Espinoza and Col. Brian Baca. Spc. Jacobo Hernandez and Offi cer Candidate Benjamin Jensen. The team’s third place fi nish refl ects hard work that paid off. In preparation for the Army Ten-Miler, team members had to qualify with one of the fastest 10K race times in the state. After being selected for the team, members followed a 10-week, 340-mile training program, which included long-distance runs, speed work and dozens of miles running hills. If you are interested in competing in running events for the New Mexico National Guard (e.g., Marathon Team, Army Ten-Miler) contact Jesse Espinoza at (505) 474-1249 or jesse.espinoza@ ng.army.mil. Kirtland honors POWs, MIAs By Danny Monahan, 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs Six members from the 150th Maintenance Squadron supported Team Kirtland’s 24-hour vigil run on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011, to honor American men and women who have been prisoners of war or are missing in action. The event was a prelude to the National POW/MIA Recognition ceremony held on Friday, Sept. 16, 2011, at the New Mexico Veterans’ Memorial on Louisiana Boulevard. The command chiefs on Kirtland Air Force Base coordinate the event each year. Volunteers participating in the event run in 15-minute increments as individuals or groups and may sign up for multiple increments. Volunteers from Kirtland started the vigil run at 9:30 a.m. and kept the POW/ MIA fl ag in motion around Hardin Field at Kirtland until 9:30 a.m. on Sept. 16, 2011, when it was delivered via a mass running formation to the New Mexico Veterans’ Memorial for the ceremony. According to the Defense Prisoner of War and Missing Personnel Offi ce, more than 83,000 Americans are missing from World War II, the Korean War, the Cold War, the Vietnam War and the Gulf War. The fi rst National POW/MIA Recognition Day was observed July 18, 1979. Since 1986, National POW/MIA Recognition Day is an annual event held the third Friday in September. It is one of six days throughout the year that Congress has mandated the fl ying of the National League of Families POW/MIA fl ag. The others are Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, and Veterans Day. NMNG will celebrate 150th anniversary of local Civil War battles By Dr. David L. Geary, El Rancho de Las Golondrinas Museum volunteer The New Mexico National Guard will participate in New Mexico’s largest 150th anniversary observance of its Civil War battles May 5-6, 2012, on 200 acres south of Santa Fe among 34 historic structures at El Rancho de Las Golondrinas living history museum. Beginning in September 1861, thousands of New Mexico citizen-Soldiers, mostly Hispanic, rallied to the call to arms of territorial Gov. Henry Connelly to defend their homeland against an invasion of Texas Confederates. “Today’s New Mexico National Guard carries on the tradition of defending the homeland with its citizen-Soldiers NEWS BRIEFS serving in various combat and peacekeeping operations, so it’s an honor for us to honor those Soldiers from both North and South – Americans all – who fought in New Mexico 150 years ago,” said Maj. Gen. Kenny Montoya, New Mexico’s Adjutant General. In a dramatic “old and new” honors ceremony on May 5, at Las Golondrinas, units of the New Mexico National Guard will pass in review and salute Civil War Union and Confederate re-enactors from throughout the nation who will gather to commemorate the Civil War battles in New Mexico. The commemoration at Las Golondrinas, sponsored by the New Mexico Civil War Commemorative Congress, will feature skirmishes and battles with muskets and cannon, tent camps, exhibits, songs of the Civil War, candlelight tours, a military ball for re-enactors, and other living history events. In addition to the New Mexico National Guard, the National Park Service’s Fort Union National Monument and Pecos National Historical Park, the state of New Mexico, Las Golondrinas and others are helping the New Mexico Civil War Commemorative Congress plan the event. Admission is free for National Guard Soldiers and their immediate families. NGAUS offi cer conference moves to fall The National Guard Association of the United States held its fi rst annual Offi cer Fall Festival Oct. 15-16, 2011, at Buffalo Thunder Resort and Casino. The NGAUS Executive Council put on the Fall Festival event as a trial run to possibly move the spring event to the fall. “People’s spring schedules are busy, and that makes it diffi cult to attend the annual spring conference,” said Col. Judy Griego, chief of the joint staff. “The fall event was a great success, and I want to thank everyone who contributed and participated in this event.” Save the date. Next year’s NGAUS Offi cer Conference is scheduled for Sept. 30 through Oct. 1, 2012, at the Buffalo Thunder Resort and Casino in Santa Fe. Winter 2012 / NEW MEXICO National Guard 25
Page 1: NGB Chief visits N.M. Soldiers in K
Page 4 and 5: A message from the Adjutant General
Page 6 and 7: Veteran Stand Down assists less for
Page 8 and 9: Sena retires; trades in his uniform
Page 10 and 11: Diversity Day strengthens National
Page 12 and 13: NMNG celebrates Red Ribbon Week By
Page 14 and 15: 12 NEW MEXICO Minuteman / Winter 20
Page 16 and 17: By Chief Warrant Offi cer David Bur
Page 18 and 19: Multipurpose protectors: military p
Page 20 and 21: Building legal relations with local
Page 22 and 23: Family teams strengthen bonds Story
Page 24 and 25: At 4 a.m. March 9, 1916, the border
Page 28 and 29: Revving up for the Soldiers focus o
Page 30: Do we really need SAFETY? By Chief

New Mexico Minuteman - Winter 2012

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