New Mexico Minuteman - Spring 2012 - Keep Trees

Col. Judy Griego promoted
to brigadier general
Page 3
111th Soldiers complete
mission in Kosovo
Page 6
1-200th Infantry Soldiers
to help keep a watchful
eye in Egypt
Page 7

Governor
Susana Martinez
Bob Ulin
Publisher
Justin Ritter
Graphic Designer
The Adjutant General
Maj. Gen.
Kenny C. Montoya
Public Affairs Officer
Lt. Col. Jamison Herrera
Editor
Joseph Vigil
Public Affairs Specialist
Contributors
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ON THE COVER:
CTU training
Photo by:
1st Lt. Tabitha Baker
Marie Lundstrom
Editor
Chris Kersbergen &
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Spring 2012
C O N T E N T S
New Mexico National Guard honored at Military & Veterans’ Day at State Legislature
Col. Judy Griego promoted to brigadier general
Aragon takes charge as new RTI command sergeant major
Herrera takes command of 2nd Battalion, 515th Regiment
Chaplain Farrell promoted to colonel 5▼
Baca replaces Rivera as 111th CSM 5▼
111th Soldiers complete mission in Kosovo 6▼
1st Battalion, 200th Infantry Soldiers to help keep a watchful eye in Egypt 7▼
NMNG flight medic earns national Aviation NCO of the Year for combat excellence 9▼
La Montagne is new director of staff at JFHQ
Jaramillo, 150th Maintenance Group commander, pins on eagles
New Mexico Air National Guard What’s so important about Air Force Values?
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Outstanding Airmen of the Year winners!
Martinez hands over responsibility of 93rd to Rivera, then retires
CATC: New name, new mission
www.nm.ngb.army.mil
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Lieutenant Colonel Advisory Council focuses on strategic planning for NMNG
Sgt. Pernell Herrera takes his final flight
CTU gives realistic training to counter latest enemy threats
Guard Soldiers assist first responders to rescue family
Multi Force Observers train at Atterbury
Bragg promoted to chief warrant officer
Medina retires with more than 33 years of military service
Youth ChalleNGe cadets complete acclimation phase in Santa Fe
Warrant officers’ visit lifts Soldiers’ spirits at the Warrior Transition Unit
NMNG photojournalists sweep NGB Media Photo contest
88M course drives over 50,000 accident-free miles, earns safety awards
NMNG News Briefs
NMNG, MaxPreps honor Cleveland High School football team
Luna served New Mexico well
NMNG teams up with Taos Feeds Taos to help those in need
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Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by
the Offi ce of Public Affairs, Joint Forces Headquarters –
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Spring 2012 / NEW MEXICO National Guard 1
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New Mexico National Guard honored at
Military & Veterans’ Day at State Legislature
By Joseph Vigil
Public Affairs Specialist, New Mexico National Guard
New Mexico National Guardsmen, reservists and veterans were
honored at the 2012 Military & Veterans’ Day at the Legislature
Feb. 6, 2012, at the State Capitol Rotunda in Santa Fe.
Military & Veterans’ Day at the State Legislature is the day during
the Legislative session presented by the New Mexico Department
of Veterans’ Services and the New Mexico Department of Military
Affairs to honor the veterans of every generation and their families.
It is an opportunity for all veterans and those still serving, their
families, and anyone with an interest in military or veterans’ issues
to attend the Legislative session and meet other veterans and military
personnel, and to meet and discuss any of their concerns with
their legislators.
Veterans’ Services Secretary Timothy Hale introduced Gov.
Susana Martinez as the keynote speaker and said, “She knows
what it is to be a mother of a veteran and knows what it is to walk
in our shoes.”
“It is a great pleasure to honor those who have served our
country,” Martinez said. “It is because of your service that we are
a free country, free to make our own laws, and we remain the envy
of the world because of this freedom; and we owe it all to our
military service members.”
Martinez urged the Legislature to vote on several bills that will
assist veterans in New Mexico and to expand the defi nition of a
veteran to include National Guard Soldiers who have served a
minimum of six years; men and women who have been on call
and helped citizens across the state, such as during last winter’s
deep freeze and last summer’s wildfi res, plus assisting citizens in
other states recover from the aftermath of hurricanes and other
disasters.
Martinez recognized senators and representatives who have
served in the military and also recognized Brig. Gen. Judy Griego,
2 NEW MEXICO Minuteman / Spring 2012
the fi rst woman in the history of the New Mexico National Guard to
be promoted to this rank.
Martinez concluded by thanking military service members for
being here for us and keeping us safe at home and abroad. She
also thanked the unsung heroes, the families, for their sacrifi ces.
“They are the ones that stay behind, and we are grateful for the
things they do here at home that allow Soldiers to fi ght for our
freedom,” said Martinez.
Maj. Gen. Kenny C. Montoya, the Adjutant General, acknowledged
what a great team the governor, the Legislature and the
New Mexico National Guard are. “Your citizen Soldiers have done
some great things over the past ten years, and it is all because it’s
a team effort,” said Montoya. “Deployed Soldiers and Airmen have
accomplished great things from Afghanistan to Iraq, Guantanamo
Bay to Central America. Truck drivers drove millions of miles in
Iraq, and they didn’t know if they were going to lose their lives,
but they never failed their mission. They also knew that our state
Legislature paid for their life insurance.”
Montoya said that when the Air Guard started their new mission,
they knew state government was behind them and recently
learned that we were the only state that didn’t take a hit in the last
round of budget cuts.
“Infantry and MPs from the Las Cruces, Roswell and Hobbs
areas deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq and fought with special
equipment that no one else had because you made sure they had
the best. And when they came home, you made sure they had
free hunting and fi shing licenses so they could relax and become
citizens again,” said Montoya.
“Our medevac unit is saving Marines’ lives every day in Afghanistan,
and they will come home in April when they complete their
mission to a new aviation center,” praised Montoya. “Soldiers
deploying to Sinai will come home to new and improved
armories in Las Cruces and Farmington.”
Montoya said he could not thank the governor and
the State Legislature enough for what they have done
and said, “I can’t be any prouder of who I represent.”

Col. Judy Griego promoted to brigadier general
By Joseph Vigil
Public Affairs Specialist, New Mexico National Guard
History was made when Col. Judy Griego
was promoted to brigadier general in front of
family, friends, distinguished generals and
Air and Army National Guardsmen on Dec.
21 at the Regional Training Institute in Santa
Fe. Griego becomes the fi rst New Mexico
National Guard woman to earn the rank
of brigadier general; and it was only fi tting
that Gov. Susana Martinez, the fi rst woman
governor of New Mexico, assist Griego’s
husband David and daughter Mariah with
pinning the newly promoted general.
“I am humbled and honored to be part
of such a great organization, and what a
privilege it is to serve with our great Airmen
and Soldiers of the New Mexico National
Guard,” said Griego of her promotion. “I
did not get here alone, and I owe gratitude
for all those who in one way or another
had an impact or infl uence in my life and
my career.”
Griego currently serves as the chief of
the Joint Staff for Joint Forces Headquarters
where she directs, oversees and manages
a variety of Joint Staff programs that
include administration, coordination, planning,
development, execution and supervision
of all Joint Staff programs that prepare
the state for contingency operations
in either federal or state emergencies. She
also serves as the state’s senior federal
National Guard management offi cial and
serves as principal executive assistant and
advisor to the Adjutant General.
“As the chief of the Joint Staff, I provide
oversight to a number of ‘people’ programs
such as Family Support, Employer Support
of the Guard and Reserve, State Veterans
Transition, Sexual Assault Response Coordinator,
Military Medical Activity and Drug
and Alcohol Abuse,” said Griego. “I have
an opportunity to directly help Soldiers
and Airmen, and to make a difference.”
Griego, a native New Mexican from the
Albuquerque area, attributes her career
success to God’s blessing, great mentors,
wonderful friends and peers, and a loving
and supportive family.
“I was thinking of my mother, who
passed away when I was 10 years old, and
my father, who is still alive but in a nursing
home,” said Griego of what she
was thinking when being pinned.
“He was a WWII Navy veteran and
my personal hero. I wish they could
have both been here, and I sincerely
hope that I made them proud.”
Griego enlisted in the New
Mexico Air National Guard in June
1979. She says her husband David
played a hand in that. She served
her fi rst 12 years in the enlisted
ranks, attaining the rank of master
sergeant before earning her commission
on April 14, 1991.
“This is a great accomplishment for her
and the women serving in the military,”
said retired Chief Master Sgt. David Griego
of his wife’s promotion. “She has had a
great career, and I am very proud that she
came out of the enlisted ranks.”
The newly promoted general says it’s
indeed a great time to serve our state and
our nation. She believes in three words
which she refers to on a daily basis and
wants to share them with the Soldiers and
Airmen of the NMNG: “Duty, Honor, Country”
– They are the words of Gen. Douglas
MacArthur and the meaning behind them
“builds your basic character...they make
you strong enough to face yourself when
you are afraid, and they teach you to be
proud and unbending, even in honest failure...
Learn to stand up in the storm… and
to have compassion.”
Most may think that attaining the rank of
brigadier general would be at the top of the
list of any service member’s career highlights;
but for Griego personally, taking
the oath of offi ce in 1979, getting commissioned
in 1991, and deploying in support of
Operation Iraqi Freedom to Balad Air Base,
Iraq, in 2007 top her list, which clearly
shows her commitment to serve her country,
her state and the Soldiers and Airmen
of the New Mexico National Guard.
Spring 2012 / NEW MEXICO National Guard 3

Aragon takes charge as new RTI command sergeant major
By Lt. Col. Jamison Herrera
State Public Affairs Offi cer
Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Baca relinquished his command
responsibility for the Regional Training Institute to
Command Sgt. Maj. Matt Aragon in a formal ceremony on
Jan. 7, 2012. Baca served as the RTI commandant and
command sergeant major for about three years.
The ceremony highlighted the accomplishments of the
RTI under Baca’s leadership and allowed him to refl ect on
his command. “The RTI’s offi cers and enlisted are some of
the most professional Soldiers I’ve ever had the privilege to
serve with. Through challenging times, we stood together
as a team and made a difference in warriors’ lives and the
organization as a whole. I thank all the staff and instructors
for providing a cohesive and supportive work environment
during my tenure as command sergeant major. I wish them
the very best and look forward to working together when our
paths cross again.”
Aragon is not a newcomer to command or to the RTI. He served
as the RTI command sergeant major for about a year from 2006-
2007 until he deployed with the 111th Maneuver Enhancement
Brigade as the Joint Task Force commandant for Joint Task Force
Guantanamo, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Before his latest assignment
as the G3 sergeant major, he served as the 93d Brigade
command sergeant major after returning from deployment.
By Capt. Elizabeth Foott
Commander, 200th Public Affairs Detachment
Lt. Col. Jamison Herrera took command
of the 2nd Battalion, 515th Regiment,
replacing Lt. Col. Leo Griego on Feb. 11,
2012, at the Regional Training Institute in
Santa Fe. He takes the reins of the schoolhouse
from Griego, who moves on to
become the executive offi cer of the 111th
Manuever Brigade in Rio Rancho.
Griego, who had been in command for
the last two years, said that this was “one
of the best jobs I’ve had.” In recognizing
several key staff members with various
awards, he asked that the staff be treated
with respect as they had risen above the
standard in their performance.
Herrera responded, “I am in awe of what
you do daily and will continue to expect
greatness from all of you as individuals,
and most importantly, as the team you all
have shown you can be. You all do such
important work here, and I will support you
to ensure your continued success.”
4 NEW MEXICO Minuteman / Spring 2012
Col. Eric Judkins, commander of the
515th RTI, thanked Griego for his “phenomenal
leadership” and presented Griego with
a Meritorious Service Medal for his accomplishments
during his command. The 2nd
Battalion staff also presented an award of
appreciation to the outgoing commander
for his dedication to his profession.
Judkins challenged Herrera to continue
with the high standards and raise the bar.
”You can count on the 2nd Battalion to push
the limits of our abilities and make the RTI
the best training institution around,” said
Herrera about accepting the challenge. “I
will do all I can to assist the larger mission
here and go Beyond the Standard!”
The 2nd Battalion, 515th Regiment,
has a proud tradition of training Soldiers
to standard. The Offi cer Candidate School
and Motor Transport Operators Course
provide training, administrative support,
and detailed instruction in accordance with
“This is a huge responsibility, and I feel honored to be given
the opportunity to return to the RTI as their command sergeant
major and school commandant. I’m excited to work beside, in my
opinion, some of the best Soldiers the Guard has to offer. I’m very
happy to be back,” Aragon said.
Baca will move on to his next assignment as the 111th Combat
Support Brigade command sergeant major, backfi lling the vacancy
created by Command Sgt. Maj. James Rivera, who moved on to
become the 93d Brigade command sergeant major.
Herrera takes command of 2nd Battalion, 515th Regiment
respective course management, plans and
training doctrine regulations.
“There are great things to be done and
we will work together to move forward,”
Herrera said. He is married to the former
Ellen Estuar Reyes and has two children,
Jason, 12, and Nick, 9.

Chaplain Farrell promoted to colonel
By Joseph Vigil,
Public Affairs Specialist, New Mexico National Guard
Chaplain William Farrell was promoted to colonel in front of
family, friends and other Guard members on Dec. 2, 2011 at the
Regional Training Institute in Santa Fe. Farrell serves as the New
Mexico National Guard state chaplain, and his promotion gives
him a new level of responsibility.
Farrell was pinned by his wife Susan, daughters Ruth and
Bethany, and son Caleb who is assigned to the 5th Special
Forces as a special forces medic.
“It is special to get here to witness his promotion and to see
what he has accomplished,” said Caleb, who was deployed to
Iraq but was able to get back a couple of days early for this event.
“It is a joy to watch him do his thing. His work ethic motivates me.
He is why I joined the Army in 2000.”
Col. Brian Baca, chief of staff, recognized Farrell for the many
great things he has accomplished at National Guard Bureau and
here at the New Mexico National Guard.
“When I fi rst met you at National Guard Bureau, I was confi dent
that you would be a great fi t for the New Mexico National Guard,”
said Baca. “There are 13 colonel slots around the state and to
place you in one of those slots is recognition of your accomplishments,
your hard work and your potential.”
“He is known as a Soldier’s chaplain,” said fellow chaplain,
Ricardo Russo. “He integrates leadership, honor and duty to
his profession and sets the example for others to emulate. Other
chaplains and Soldiers from around the state look up to him.”
Farrell has a passion to recruit other chaplains into the NMNG. He
Baca replaces Rivera as 111th CSM
By Sgt. 1st Class Douglas Mallary
111th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, New Mexico National Guard
Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Baca replaced
Command Sgt. Maj. James Rivera as the
top noncommissioned offi cer of the 111th
Maneuver Enhancement Brigade during a
change of responsibility ceremony Feb. 12
at the Rio Rancho Armory. Baca came to the
111th from the Regional Training Institute in
Santa Fe. Rivera is now the 93rd Brigade
command sergeant major in Santa Fe.
During the ceremony, Baca thanked
his father, former National Guard Bureau
Chief, retired Lt. Gen. Edward Baca, and
his mother, Rita, for their support throughout
his career. Baca also paid tribute to his
brother, Col. Brian Baca, chief of staff of the
New Mexico Army National Guard, and his
sister, Master Sgt. Karen Nielsen of the New
Mexico Air National Guard, and recognized
his wife, Tricia, and their children: Kaitlin,
Jake, Cole, Nicholas, and Jason.
To the Soldiers of the 111th, Baca said,
“I pledge you my heart and soul.”
Rivera’s 37-year military career began
with service in the U.S. Navy during Operation
Frequent Wind as the Vietnam War
ended with the fall of Saigon in April 1975. He
thanked his fi ancée, Debra Morse, for traveling
from San Diego to attend the ceremony
and thanked the members of the brigade for
their efforts during his tenure. Rivera has one
son, Jared, and one grandson, Xavier.
Col. Thomas Bump, commander of the
111th, hosted the ceremony and presided
over the offi cial transition. Maj. Gen. Kenny
C. Montoya, the Adjutant General of New
Mexico, attended the ceremony along with
numerous other senior offi cers and senior
noncommissioned offi cers of the New
Mexico National Guard.
has brought fi ve new chaplains onboard this past year. He plans to
train the newly assembled team of eight chaplains, recruit the future
team to replace eventual retirements, recruit more Roman Catholic
priests, and provide care for returning warriors and their families.
He also has a chaplain school planned for this spring and will
assist with leading the chaplain annual sustainment training for the
southwest region in May.
“Ministry is hard work, but I really enjoy serving as a chaplain
for Soldiers,” Farrell said.
In his 20-plus years of military service, Farrell never thought
that he would make it this far. Maybe major, Farrell said, but doors
kept opening up.
“It states in the scriptures that promotion comes from the Lord,”
said Farrell. “God has opened these doors.”
Farrell also paid special tribute to Father Russo for the incredible
work he has done on a daily basis for Soldiers and families of
the New Mexico National Guard over the past ten years.
Spring 2012 / NEW MEXICO National Guard 5

111th 111 Soldiers
complete mission
in Kosovo
By Joseph Vigil
Public Affairs Specialist,
New Mexico National Guard
National Guard families received an
early holiday gift when Soldiers of the
111th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade
completed their mission and returned home
from their deployment in Kosovo in time to
spend the holidays with their loved ones.
The Soldiers arrived in New Mexico early
on Dec. 19, 2011, after completing a one-year
deployment. Family, friends and well-wishers
greeted Soldiers with hugs, kisses and handshakes
at the welcome home ceremony on
Dec. 20, 2011, at the Santa Ana Star Center, Rio Rancho, with a
similar ceremony being held in Las Cruces.
The 111th, which consisted of Soldiers from Albuquerque, Rio
Rancho, Las Cruces, Roswell and Santa Fe, served in Kosovo for
a peacekeeping mission that began after the late 1990s war that
tore apart much of the former Yugoslavia with sectarian violence
between ethnic Albanians and Serbs.
Leaders from the international community were surprised about
the violence that took place there during the summer. That violence
included a serious confl ict in September when 111th Soldiers prevented
a Serbian mob from breaking through a border crossing and
potentially killing a group of German soldiers on the NATO team.
“Our Soldiers’ handling of the Kosovo confl ict drew praise from
U.S. military leaders based around the world,” said Maj. Gen.
Kenny C. Montoya, Adjutant General of the NMNG. “The troops
potentially stopped a new Kosovo war by managing confl ict
situations without lethal force.”
“More destruction and killings were stopped because of the
maturity and professionalism of the Soldiers in front of you today,”
added Montoya.
Unit offi cials said Kosovo had last experienced serious violence
in 2004.
Sen. Tom Udall welcomed home the troops as well and thanked
them for their service to our nation. “You are our heroes, and New
Mexico will be forever grateful,” he said.
Both Montoya and Col. Michael Schwartz, KFOR 14 Task
Force commander thanked both the Soldiers and families for
their sacrifi ces during this deployment and apologized for their
yearlong absence.
“I wish we could give you back the time we took away from
your families—the birth of a newborn, babies’ fi rst steps, your
6 NEW MEXICO Minuteman / Spring 2012
teens’ fi rst proms, games and graduations,” said Montoya. “You
answered the call and did it better than anyone else. Thank you.”
“You had a void in your life and you made sacrifi ces,” Schwartz
said. “We will never forget what you have done for us. I am proud
of you for exceeding all expectations.”
Sgt. 1st Class Ronette Martinez was welcomed back by her
husband Eugene, their fi ve children, and her father and grandfather,
both veterans. “Working as a police offi cer and taking care of
our children was challenging,” said Eugene. “It is unbelievable to
see her again, and it will be good to hear the word ‘Mom’ again in
our house.”
Schwartz and Command Sgt. Major Abel Villesca removed the
ceremonial yellow ribbon from the tree. Montoya declared, “Your
mission is now complete. Welcome home.”

1 st Battalion, 200 th Infantry Soldiers
to help keep a watchful eye in Egypt
By Joseph Vigil, Public Affairs Specialist, New Mexico National Guard
Family, friends and well wishers attended Yellow Ribbon ceremonies hosted by the
New Mexico National Guard Jan. 27-28, 2012, in Farmington, Albuquerque and Las
Cruces to bid farewell to more than 400 Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 200th Infantry Division,
who deployed to Sinai, Egypt, in support of the Multi-Force Observer mission.
Soldiers will conduct checkpoints, reconnaissance patrols, and observation posts
along the international boundaries to observe and verify compliance with the Treaty of
Peace. The deployment is scheduled to be a peacekeeping mission for one year and
will encompass fi ve units from various locations around New Mexico.
The MFO mission was established on Aug. 3, 1981, with the signing of the Protocol
to the 1979 Treaty of Peace between Egypt and Israel. Its mission is to ensure that
the treaty is being enforced and that Egypt and Israel are adhering to the agreed-on
protocol. Under the treaty, the MFO must employ its best efforts to prevent any violation
of the security measures set forth in the treaty.
The 1-200th Infantry Battalion mission will be to observe and verify compliance
with, and to report any violations of the limitations on military personnel and equipment
that are set out in the Treaty of Peace, and to ensure freedom of navigation
throughout Sinai, Egypt, using their best efforts to prevent treaty violations, to prevent
diffi culties and to resolve problems. The mission has been in existence since the 1981
inception and is not in the immediate area of the region that has seen recent events
take place in Egypt; nor is it in response to these events.
“I am grateful to you,” said Lt. Col. Miguel Aguilar, commander of the deploying
battalion, while addressing the families in the audience. “We know our families bear
the burden and this deployment would not be possible without your sacrifi ce and hard
work. We would not go without knowing that you have our back.”
Aguilar said it is with great pride and a privilege to add this deployment to the
battalion’s proud tradition of service. He assured the governor and Maj. Gen. Kenny
C. Montoya, the Adjutant General, that his Soldiers are ready to serve honorably and
take care of this very important mission. The battalion is answering the nation’s call
once again—their third deployment in recent years.
Gov. Susana Martinez honored the Soldiers and told them she was proud of them
for serving. Martinez also told the troops that New Mexico is extremely grateful for their
service. “We love you, value you and want to see you back in New Mexico when your
tour is over,” said Martinez. “I am praying for your safety and your speedy return.”
Martinez also reminded everyone not to forget the unsung heroes who stay
behind…the spouses, children and other loved ones.
Spring 2012 / NEW MEXICO National Guard 7

Phantom Prod.
56990

NMNG fl ight medic earns national Aviation
NCO of the Year for combat excellence
By Maj. Christopher A. Holland
Commander, Charlie Co., 1st Bn., 171st Aviation Regiment
The Army Aviation Association of America
has named Sgt. Clifford Aughe as the
recipient of the Rodney J. T. Yano Army
Aviation Noncommissioned Offi cer of
the Year for 2011 award. Aughe currently
serves as a fl ight medic with the Santa
Fe-based unit, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion,
171st Aviation Regiment. That unit
has been conducting combat air medical
evacuation missions in Helmand Province,
Afghanistan, since June 2011. Aughe
is slated to receive his award on April 2,
2012, at the National AAAA convention in
Nashville, Tenn.
Each year the AAAA honors a noncommissioned
officer in the rank of sergeant
(E-5) or above who has made an outstanding
individual contribution to Army
aviation during the year. The award is
named in honor of Sgt. 1st Class Rodney
J. T. Yano, a helicopter crew chief killed
in action in Vietnam in 1969. Yano posthumously
received the Medal of Honor
for saving the lives of the other members
of his helicopter crew after being mortally
wounded.
The AAAA selected Aughe for this honor
on the basis of his technical skill and his
dedication to the medevac mission. The
AAAA selection committee also recognized
that Aughe has invariably gone the
extra mile to train, mentor and lead junior
Soldiers in his unit.
Since June 2011, Aughe’s unit has
been conducting medevac operations
in support of U.S. Marines in Helmand
Province, Afghanistan. Helmand Province
has seen signifi cant kinetic activity, and
during one 90-day period, Aughe took
part in more than 150 combat medevac
missions. The patients included U.S.
Marines, Afghan National Army soldiers,
local Afghan citizens, and Taliban fi ghters.
On every mission, Aughe gave 100%
and brought his 20-plus years of emergency
medicine experience to bear for
the patients under his care. The result
was that in each case the patient received
the best medical care possible from the
pickup site to the dropoff point at the
medical treatment facility. Dozens of U.S.
Marines, allied Soldiers and civilians are
alive today because of Aughe’s skill and
uncompromising excellence.
Many of Aughe’s medevac missions
have involved severe life-threatening injuries.
Helmand Province is riddled with
improvised explosive devices, and about
40 percent of Aughe’s medevac missions
resulted from IED blasts. Aughe treated
more than 20 Marines with amputations
and many with double or triple amputations.
Dozens more suffered from gunshot
wounds. The severity of these wounds
speaks to the challenges that Aughe faced
each day during months of sustained
combat. On each occasion he rose to
the challenge, calmly administering the
best medical care possible under diffi cult
combat circumstances.
One mission serves as an example of
the trying conditions that Aughe faced on
a daily basis. On that mission the helicopter
crew landed their aircraft at a point-ofinjury
to evacuate a U.S. Marine who had
lost a leg in an IED explosion. Due to the
conditions of the landing area, the helicopter
crew was unable to land next to
the wounded Marine; instead they landed
about 100 meters away. The landing site
was muddy, and upon touchdown, the
aircraft sank a foot into the mud. Without
hesitation, Aughe jumped from the aircraft
and slogged through the muddy minefi eld
to the wounded Marine. With the help of
the injured Marine’s comrades, Aughe
dragged the dismembered patient 100
meters through the knee-deep mud to the
waiting helicopter. Covered in mud, Aughe
hauled the Marine on board the helicopter
and calmly began medical treatment. He
stabilized and comforted the patient during
the 20-minute fl ight to the medical treatment
facility.
Aughe has served in the New Mexico
Army National Guard since 2009; his current
tour in Afghanistan is his third campaign.
He fi rst joined the Army in 1981 and
served with the 82nd Airborne Division. He
participated in the invasion of Grenada –
Operation Urgent Fury – in 1982 and left
the Army two years later. In civilian life, he
studied emergency medicine and became
a paramedic and later a registered nurse.
He rejoined the military in 2006, fi rst with
the Colorado Army National Guard and
then with the New Mexico Army National
Guard. Between 2007 and 2008 he served
as a combat medic in Iraq with a Special
Forces unit. He lives with his family in Alamosa,
Colo., where he continues his work
in the fi eld of emergency medicine as a
helicopter fl ight nurse.
The other members of Charlie Company
are very proud that one of their own
is receiving national recognition from the
AAAA. “Sgt. Cliff Aughe is as humble and
selfl ess as he is quick and relentless to
provide care for those who can no longer
take care of themselves on the battlefi eld,”
said Staff Sgt. Christian Pool, a fl ight operations
NCO with Charlie Co. “His nature
and values epitomize everything that the
medevac mission and the NCO corps
stand for.”
Sgt. Heath Petty—who nominated
Aughe for AAAA’s top NCO award—said
he did so because Aughe personifi es the
principles of the NCO Creed. “The NCO
Creed stresses that the role of the NCO is
to ensure the accomplishment of the mission
and the welfare of the Soldiers under
that NCO’s command. Sgt. Aughe lives by
those principles 24 hours a day, each and
every day.”
Spring 2012 / NEW MEXICO National Guard 9

La Montagne is new
director of staff at JFHQ
By Master Sgt. Paula Aragon
150th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Offi ce
Lt. Col. Michele La Montagne has been
selected to serve as the new director of
staff, Joint Force Headquarters. La Montagne
previously served for two years as
150th Fighter Wing inspector general.
She said she is looking forward to the
new challenge and a change in career.
Being selected for this new position gives
her the opportunity for new challenges,
growth, and learning, and she says she
is eager to make contributions to the staff
and the Guard as a whole.
With this position comes a new set of
duties and responsibilities for La Montagne.
She will serve as an advisor to the
Adjutant General, the assistant adjutant
general-Air, chief of staff and the 150th
Wing commander; and will provide counsel
for developing and coordinating all
programs, policies, and plans to ensure
the wartime and local response readiness
of the New Mexico National Guard.
One of the challenges she will face will
be to effectively perform her job duties and
provide the appropriate level of support to
10 NEW MEXICO Minuteman / Spring 2012
the command while serving as a drill status
Guardsman. The former director of staff
was a full-time employee and has transitioned
to another full-time position within
the NMNG. This is a challenge for any of
our “traditional” Guardsmen since they
have to meet all the military requirements
[i.e. ancillary training] while striving to be
profi cient in their job duties.
La Montagne’s drive and self-determination
keeps her stepping up, preparing for
new challenges, and prevents complacency
from ever settling in, she acknowledged.
“I have loved every job that I have held
in the Wing, and I don’t anticipate this
will be any different,” said La Montagne.
“Every job has its ups and downs, but
what counts is turning your obstacles into
opportunities. How could you not love a
job with countless opportunities?”
It is this kind of perseverance that has
made her career a success militarily as well
as in the private sector. She received her
commission via the U.S. Air Force Academy
in 1992 and was on active duty for eight
Jaramillo, 150th Maintenance Group
commander, pins on eagles
By Master Sgt. Paula Aragon
150th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Lt. Col. Daniel Jaramillo was promoted to colonel on Dec. 4, 2012,
at Kirtland Air Force Base, Albuquerque. With humbled refl ection
and enthusiastic forward vision, Jaramillo pinned on the eagles.
The 150th Maintenance Group commander’s promotion was
resonant with self-expressed gratitude and appreciation. His
gratitude and humility stem from the broad confi dence held by
his fellow Guardsmen. The enthusiasm of his forward vision was
clearly communicated from his commitment to duty, clarity of purpose,
and signature selfl ess nature. Jaramillo’s promotion, as well
as his entire career, is all about service—to the mission and his
fellow comrades in arms.
When asked about what this promotion means to him, the future,
and what mutual expectations he and his Airmen should have for
each other, Jaramillo provided simple, yet profound answers.
“What this promotion means to me,” said Jaramillo “is that
people trust me to serve them, meet the mission, and make
them successful.” He added, “this is simply an honor—the faith
and a half years. She left active duty in 2000
with the hope of becoming a member of the
NMANG. Her dream came true, and she
became a member of the 150th in 2001.
In the 150th, she was an aircraft maintenance
offi cer for several years before
serving as the IG. As for her ‘real’ life, she
works for The Bell Group/Rio Grande as a
business coach and is also very active in
sports and fi tness pursuits.
my superiors have
entrusted in me and
the confi dence my people have of me.”
In looking toward the future, he offered a passionate pledge and
a rousing challenge. “We have the fi nest people and most competent
professionals to meet this mission,” said Jaramillo. “This is
our future! We have to be the masters in our AFSCs (occupations),
duties, and the mission put in front of us, and our performance will
set the tone for the future of the 150th. I promise to provide a challenging
professional environment to our Airmen, and I expect them
to let me know when I am not.”
As promising and challenging as the future may be, Jaramillo
proudly proclaims that this promotion couldn’t have come to be
without all the excellent people who have supported him throughout
his military service. And to all the men and women of the 150th
Maintenance Group, he adds, “It is my honor and privilege to lead
and serve you!”

By Chief Master Sgt. Richard Mandeville
New Mexico Air National Guard
What’s so important about Air Force Values?
For want of a nail…the battle was lost!
I have often asked folks in various settings
to consider the saying “Practice
makes perfect”, and watched with amusement
when I told them it was a lie! It is, at
best, not accurate…If you practice a mistake,
what do you learn? So then, “Perfect
practice makes perfect”—everything else
just makes a mess.
The importance of the Air National
Guard and Air Force missions to our state
and nation requires us to adhere to a higher
standard than normally found in civilian life.
Every person must remain accountable for
his or her own actions, both in the performance
of duties and in personal conduct.
Our Air Force Core Values must always be
taken into account and refl ected in everything
we do:
• Integrity
• Service Before Self
• Excellence In All We Do
Consider the job site—do you want to fl y
on the aircraft of the maintainer whose attitude
is “…that’s good enough…”? Do you
want to eat food prepared by someone who
doesn’t consider their skill “professional”
in the kitchen? Do you want that uncaring,
disgruntled person keeping track of your
records or calculating your retirement?
Would you like to be in the fi eld operating
from intelligence developed by someone
who would rather be playing video games?
On occasion I have been privileged to
glimpse into troubled organizations, both
military and civilian. What I have observed
there, as they struggled for a modicum of
success in fulfi lling their mission, marks the
huge difference between an organization
that recognizes the importance of every
team member and those that don’t. Let me
be clear about what I am saying here: Air
Force Core Values are more than words to
be memorized in case a question is asked
about them during the next board. Rather,
they are thought out, universal maxims for
successful human interaction. So, then,
these core values that we identify as our
most closely held convictions, our moral
high ground, must become more than
words to be regurgitated by us at some
appropriate moment.
For instance, I ask the people who work
directly for me this question: “Tell me why
you can’t be a chief?” Assuming that a person’s
motive force will provide for essential
technical understanding that exceeds
mediocrity, there is only one answer that
truly will prevent a person from achieving
that high success, i.e. “becoming that
chief.” If a person’s
answer resembles
“it’s all about me,”
whatever the subject
matter being
considered, then
that person cannot
be, will not be successful. At the risk of
overstating the case, but in the interest
of clarity—you cannot know success
until your people have been assisted in
achieving it fi rst, so then, their success is
your own. That applies whether you are
at work, in or out of uniform, at home, at
school…pick the setting. Personal success
is predicated upon the personal
success of those who are performing the
process.
In the interest of provoking thought,
here are the Air Force Core Values and
some thoughts on each transcribed from
the Professional Development Guide (AFP
36-2241):
Integrity – Being faithful to one’s convictions
is part of integrity. Following principles,
acting with honor, maintaining independent
judgment, and performing duties with
impartiality help to maintain integrity and
avoid confl icts of interest and hypocrisy.
Service Before Self – Truthful straightforwardness
is required. Fidelity, allegiance
and devotion combine to form loyalty, the
bond that holds the nation and federal
government together and the balm against
dissension and confl ict. Accountability,
fairness, caring, respect, and promisekeeping
all have their place and role to
play when considering this core value.
Excellence in All We Do – In public service,
competence is only the starting point.
Every Airman is expected to be all they can
be and to strive beyond mediocrity.
Spring 2012 / NEW MEXICO National Guard 11

Outstanding Airmen of the Year winners!
The 150th Fighter Wing commander, Col. Joe A. Martinez, is pleased to announce the results of our 2012 Outstanding Airmen of the
Year for the New Mexico Air National Guard.
Many top-notch Airmen were nominated for this most prestigious award to represent our state for 2012 in each of the respective
categories. Although only one was selected per category, it a signifi cant accomplishment and honor to receive a nomination.
Your 2012 Outstanding Airmen of the Year are as follows:
Airman of the Year:
Senior Airman Scott Pope,
150 th Security Forces
NCO of the Year:
Sgt. Evan Jones,
150 th Security Forces
Lieutenant Colonel Advisory Council
focuses on strategic planning for NMNG
By Lt. Col. Ken Nava
Deputy Commanding Offi cer, 111th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade
The New Mexico National Guard Lieutenant
Colonel Advisory Council was chartered
by Maj. Gen. Kenny C. Montoya, the
Adjutant General in late 2009. Montoya
designated Col. Isidoro Hernandez as the
fi rst facilitator of this motley group of offi -
cers. The Advisory Council spent their initial
months developing and documenting
their mission, vision, charter statement and
business processes. Once that initial work
was done, they began working on projects
deemed high priority for the state of New
Mexico.
The Advisory Council is the “strategic
planning” arm of the NMNG. Their focus is
to proactively plan, coordinate and implement
ideas and policies that will improve
the NMNG.
In order to carry out this responsibility,
they serve as a strategic thinking council
continually looking out for the future of
NMNG. While they may think strategically,
they also realize that they may need to
infl uence tactical actions that strengthen
our foundation for strategic events. The
council holds themselves accountable to
our warriors’ future of the NMNG.
12 NEW MEXICO Minuteman / Spring 2012
First Sergeant of the Year:
Master Sergeant/1 st Sgt. Michael Cupp,
150 th Medical Group
Senior NCO of the Year:
Senior Master Sgt. Miguel Perez Jr.,
150 th Fighter Wing/
Maintenance Squadron
Several of the lieutenant colonels have
been trained as green belts or black belts in
a process called continuous improvement
process. This Department of Defense-mandated
process has been implemented several
times in New Mexico with very good
results. For example, the CIP process was
used in reducing unliquidated funds in the
G3, improving retention rates in the G1,
improving offi cer performance report submissions
in the Air Guard, improving sortie
generation in the Air Guard, and most
recently, improving the government travel
card delinquency rate in the Army Guard.
The Advisory Council has, at present,
three subcommittees: the strategic plans
subcommittee, chaired by Lt. Col. Ted
Chavez; the leadership development subcommittee,
chaired by Lt. Col. Augustine
Nakamoto; and the accountability subcommittee,
chaired by Lt. Col. Nick Aranda.
The advisory council is how the state is
trying to implement the guidance of senior
leadership through practical and effi cient
means. They are working toward our state
vision recently adopted at the off-site conference
last spring: “15 by 15.” The aim
Congratulations to ALL of
the nominees for their outstanding
performance and
continued dedication to the
mission. These Airmen are the
embodiment of the Air Force
Core Values.
The 2012 award recipients
are to be commended
for receiving this esteemed
honor in representing the New
Mexico Air National Guard as
they go on to compete in the
national program.
of this vision is to establish objective and
quantitative measures of our success in
critical areas. The goal is to be in the top
15 in the nation by 2015 in all areas evaluated
by National Guard Bureau.
The Advisory Council is a valuable tool
for the leadership of the NMNG. Recently
the deputy adjutant general, Brig. Gen.
Paul Pena, tasked the group to work with
the USPFO internal audit team to look at
the Facility Management Offi ce.
All lieutenant colonels in both Army and
Air Guard are welcome to attend and get
involved. The diversity in the group ensures
that we capitalize on all talent pools available
to the state. Colonels Severo Martinez,
Donnie Quintana, Carla Romero, Danny
Jaramillo and Isidoro Hernandez all served
on the council and have been promoted
and moved off the council.
The council has solidifi ed the corps of
lieutenant colonels by working hand in
hand on teams looking at both Army and
Air Guard improvement. The New Mexico
National Guard is continuously improving
and is well on the way to becoming “15
by 15.”

Sgt. Pernell Herrera
Sgt. Pernell Herrera
takes his final flight
By Joseph Vigil
Public Affairs Specialist, New Mexico National Guard
Sgt. Pernell J. Herrera, the recently
deceased New Mexico Army National
Guardsman, was honored Jan. 12, 2012,
by family, friends and fellow Guardsmen
in his hometown of Espanola, then laid to
rest at Santa Fe National Cemetery.
Herrera, 33, a signal support systems
specialist with C Company, 1st Battalion,
171st Aviation Regiment, out of Santa Fe,
was pronounced dead on Dec. 31, 2011,
after he suffered cardiac arrest after performing
physical fi tness training in Helmand
Province, Afghanistan.
His family and fellow Guardsmen gathered
to welcome home his remains which
were fl own to the Santa Fe Airport earlier
on Jan. 10. Following a short memorial
service on the tarmac, Herrera then took
his fi nal fl ight on a Black Hawk helicopter
to his hometown of Espanola.
Surrounded by his family, friends and
fellow Guardsmen, Command Sgt. Maj.
James C. Martinez relinquished responsibility
of the 93rd Brigade to incoming
Command Sgt. Maj. James M. Rivera Dec.
3, 2011. The ceremony also coincided
with Martinez’ retirement from the National
Guard after 24 years of service.
Accolades honoring Martinez’ service
made special mention of his instrumental
efforts to create the 126th Military Police
Company, the fi rst MP company in the
state. He served as the company fi rst sergeant
during the unit’s deployment in support
of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Herrera deployed to Afghanistan with
C company and performed a vital role
in medevac operations as a “battlefi eld
9-1-1 dispatcher.” He was responsible for
launching hundreds of missions to help
bring in wounded Marines and Soldiers
from the battlefi eld.
“Sgt. Herrera was truly an American
hero for what he did,” said Maj. Gen.
Kenny C. Montoya, the Adjutant General.
“Southern Afghanistan is a varied place
that has Marines in four different forward
operating bases. His communication kept
helicopters in the air, kept Marines alive.”
His fellow Soldiers said that everybody
loved him, his positive attitude and that it
was a pleasure to have served with him.
“He usually had a smile on his face and
was quick to offer kind words to everyone.
He was a friend to every soldier in Charlie
Martinez hands over responsibility
of 93rd to Rivera, then retires
By Spc. Charles Martinez
200th Public Affairs Detachment
He also served as command sergeant
major of the 615th Transportation Battalion
and as operations sergeant major of the
515th Regiment in Santa Fe. During this
time, he assisted in the accreditation of
the Warrior Leadership Course, the Offi cer
Candidate School, and the 88M course.
His fi nal assignment as command sergeant
major and senior enlisted advisor
of the 93rd Brigade placed the welfare of
more than 1,625 Soldiers under his care.
On top of this, he oversaw the brigade
during several state missions, including
fi res in Raton, Los Alamos, and the
Wallow fi re; as well as Operation “Deep
Freeze” during the natural gas outage in
the Española and Taos areas.
Martinez was presented with the New
Mexico Distinguished Service Medal and
received letters of commendation and
appreciation from Maj. Gen. Kenny C. Montoya,
the Adjutant General, Gov. Susana
Martinez, and the National Guard Bureau.
Company,” said Sgt. 1st Class Kelly Duran,
a lifelong friend and fellow Soldier.
Herrera enlisted in the New Mexico
National Guard on May 18, 2006, and
served honorably over the last fi ve and
a half years. According to his family, he
joined the New Mexico National Guard
because he wanted to better himself and
ensure opportunities for his children.
“We knew why he wanted to be there—
he did it for his family, for his country, for
his kids,“ said Denise Velarde, Herrera’s
cousin. “He loved his kids very much. His
whole world revolved around them, and he
would do anything for them.”
Herrera is survived by his mother Doris
Quintana, his brother Arthur Herrera, son
Julian, 13, and daughter Alicia, 9.
Additional tokens of appreciation were
presented to Martinez at a dinner for him
at Quarters in Albuquerque. He accepted
them with dignity and thanked all who
helped him along during his career.
Incoming Command Sgt. Maj. James
M. Rivera wants to “continue to train as
‘Warfi ghters’ and be prepared for any mission
we are called to perform.” He praised
all Soldiers who supported missions last
year and wants to maintain that readiness.
This includes APFT, Soldier tasks, Soldier
care and maintaining focus on resiliency
training. “I want all NCOs to make sure
this is one of our training priorities as we
continue to move forward. This is one area
I will not take lightly and expect NCOs to
pay attention to and continue to utilize the
buddy system.”
Once again, the Soldiers of the 93rd Brigade
will continue to have the professional
experience and leadership of the best NCOs
in the New Mexico National Guard.
Spring 2012 / NEW MEXICO National Guard 13

CATC: New name, new mission
By Sgt. 1st Class Patrick Williams and Staff Sgt. George Gregory
Combat Training Unit (CTU), 2-515th RTI,
New Mexico National Guard
Individual and collective training focus is shifting throughout
the New Mexico National Guard. Rapid growth of force and focus
on technology over the past decade demands profi ciency in the
technical aspects of combat. Because of the high operations
tempo and the need to learn new developments in technology,
Soldiers have had to sacrifi ce ground combat basics in order to
adapt to the equipment.
Maj. Gen. Kenny C. Montoya, the Adjutant General, has ordered
a priority shift in training—to get back to the basics. His driving
concern is for the safety of New Mexico National Guard Soldiers
and Airmen. With Guard mobilizations decreasing, Montoya has
made it clear that during this reset period, Soldiers and Airmen will
focus on realistic and relevant training to ensure that we are prepared
to serve the local communities as well as locations throughout
the world.
The Combat Training Unit—formerly Combat Arms Training
Company—has been tasked with turning the state’s training
focus back to the training on which the CATC was formed to provide
to our deploying forces. The CTU has begun internal profi -
ciency training to polish and improve skill sets to better train New
Mexico National Guard units. Emphasis on advanced weapons
training, urban operations, combatives, tactical casualty care and
survival are paramount to the success of our Soldiers and Airmen
By Sgt. 1st Class Patrick Williams
Combat Training Unit Operations NCO
Over the past year the Combat Arms Training Company, now
the Combat Training Unit, has supported our deploying NMNG
Soldiers by providing them with realistic and relevant training in
preparation for worst-case scenarios against an enemy with a
global reach.
The CTU Soldiers pride themselves on training Soldiers for
the best and worst mission sets to get the unit through required
training tasks prior to mobilization. Many instructors spend hours
of personal time doing independent research on the latest trends
and projected threats worldwide. With what they learn, they
develop instructional situations that force Guardsmen to think fast
and make good decisions. State and unit leadership and the staff
at Ranges strongly support such experience-based training.
In this past year, CATC trained 478 soldiers on critical tasks
needed for their deployment to Multinational Force Observers,
14 NEW MEXICO Minuteman / Spring 2012
on the asymmetric battlefi eld, as well as within our communities
and state missions.
Instructors for the CTU are required to maintain profi ciency
in all of these tasks and are expected to continue independent
research in order to be fl exible and adaptive to their students’
needs. CTU instructors will convey information in a multi-level
format to better develop Soldiers’ and Airmen’s skills in both individual
and collective tasks.
Montoya has directed the major subordinate commands to
work closely with the CTU to develop realistic, relevant and quality
training for all units and activities. It is through this partnership with
New Mexico’s commanders and the CTU that profi ciency of our
Soldiers and Airmen will go “beyond the standard.”
CTU gives realistic training
to counter latest enemy threats

Sinai, Egypt. Although these tasks were
taught in a classroom, CATC instructors
combined like tasks into a culminating
practical exercise. Soldiers and leaders
learned from one another and what was
expected of them in a combat simulated
environment. Nothing beats scenariobased
training involving everyone.This
proved true for units who rotated through
the Pre-mobilization Training Assistance
Element cycle with CATC. The leaders
and Soldiers worked out “bugs” instead of
having to figure things out in real combat.
Instructional changes are under way in
several directions. We currently have two
Level IV Modern Army Combatives Program
certified instructors making changes to the
Levels I and II MACP courses because
of lessons learned from Soldiers who
adapted or fell short in real-world
close conflict. The instructors
are taking the program to the next level
by incorporating restraint, detainment and
using teamwork to finish the fight when in
full kit within confined or open spaces.
What was once compartmentalized
training has become combined training,
which works to instill confidence, aggressiveness,
control and professionalism.
Urban Operations is combining with mobility
to have Soldiers and Airmen capable
of operating in peacekeeping operations
and state emergency response as well
as combat. Soldiers and Airmen must
understand the constraints needed in a
peacekeeping operation, but they need to
be prepared for any escalation to a deadly
encounter.
Leadership development will be CTU’s
priority focus so that platoon leaders can
take back to their units training plans that
closely reflect what every other unit in the
state is doing. Then, when units come
together on a mission, they’ll integrate
easily.
Finally, the plan is to integrate a unit’s
Mission Essential Task List /Civil Support
Task List into training cycles to fulfill annual
training requirements. Units can easily
make the connection between mission and
training.
Realistic training is a lifelong journey.
Troops must continually prepare for a
changing environment and learn from
those who got it right and those who didn’t.
CTU can help that ongoing education.
Contact G-3 to secure your block on the
yearly training calendar for drill and annual
training.

16 NEW MEXICO Minuteman / Spring 2012

Guard Soldiers assist first
responders to rescue family
Compiled from contributions by Chief Warrant Offi cer 2 Anna Hall, Joint Forces Headquarters property book offi cer;
Maj. Nathan Lara, 615th Transportation Battalion administrative offi cer; and Lt. Robert McDonald, N.M. State Police public information offi cer
New Mexico National Guard, New
Mexico State Police, New Mexico Department
of Transportation, Curry County Sheriff’s
Offi ce, and rescue teams conducted a
successful consolidated effort on Dec. 20,
2011, to save the lives of a family stranded
in an 8-to-10-foot snow drift along U.S. 56
near Springer during a powerful snowstorm
that blanketed the area.
David and Yvonne Higgins and their
5-year-old daughter Hannah were stranded
in their vehicle for more than 36 hours.
They had a supply of clothing, food and
water which helped to sustain them.
Soldiers from the 615th Transportation
Battalion and the 720th Transportation
Company were called upon to respond,
along with state police, search and rescue
teams in 4-wheel-drive vehicles and
NMDOT trucks with plows used to plow
through the heavy snow and 8-to-10-foot
drifts as Guardsmen and search and
rescue teams probed the snow looking for
the vehicle.
A search and rescue team member
struck the hood of the vehicle with a probe
and had to dig through four feet of ice and
snow to get to the family of three, who
were clinging to each other, though lethargic,
when found.
The mission began with three separate
missions leaving the armory and Warrant
Offi cer 1 Andrew Martinez, FMS 4A supervisor
in Springer, serving as the offi cer in
charge of the fi rst mission to leave. They
encountered demanding winter driving
conditions through which Martinez’ team
navigated 42 miles before hitting near whiteout
conditions and winds in excess of 60
miles per hour.
Martinez slowed his mission to near
crawl speeds until it was no longer feasible
to move forward. He implemented a rest
plan for Soldiers on the mission. The Soldiers
had adequate provisions and equipment
to overnight if necessary and enough
extra fuel on the movement to ensure that
vehicles could idle throughout the night.
Martinez also developed a plan to send
Soldiers affected by the long hours back
to the armory for rest in conjunction with
the recovery of a light medium tactical
vehicle which had both windows broken
out because of the extreme cold weather.
“I was contemplating switching crews,
but I was worried about losing the initiative
since the movement also involved
coordination with DOT scrapers and
loaders,” said Maj. Nathan Lara, administrative
offi cer for the 615th. “If I removed
Martinez’ crew and replaced them with
the Las Vegas crew, it might have been
necessary to re-dig to get to the same
point. Martinez’ rest plan, his identifi cation
of service members too tired to continue,
and his plan to push them to the rear told
me he was monitoring this—still making
sound and informed decisions despite
being awake for close to 24 hours.”
“Being the convoy commander of a
mission of this capacity would never have
crossed my mind,” said Martinez. “My
entire military career, having been part of
the maintenance and recovery sections,
has meant to be in the rear of convoys,
repairing and recovering vehicles. This
mission would not have been a success
without the leadership, courage, and loyalty
displayed by the Soldiers of the 615th
Transportation Battalion and 720th Transportation
Company.”
The actions of all involved in the rescue
mission were well noted by Gov. Susana
Martinez. “The bravery and dedication
demonstrated by members and employees
of the New Mexico National Guard, the
New Mexico State Police, and the Department
of Transportation was truly heroic,”
said Martinez. “Thanks to their actions, a
family was saved from a life-threatening
emergency, and a father, mother, and child
are now recovering from their injuries.
We are all grateful for the continued commitment
of the men and women who are
charged with keeping New Mexicans safe,
especially during the recent string of winter
storms and unpredictable weather.”
The New Mexico National Guard
responded to approximately 32 other
stranded vehicles carrying 63 people.
Martinez’ mission helped recover more
than 20 of the 32 vehicles.
Spring 2012 / NEW MEXICO MEXICO National National Guard Guard 17

By Staff Sgt. Matt Scotten, Camp Atterbury Public Affairs
EDINBURGH, Ind. – Thousands of
service members and civilians train at
Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training
Center every year to deploy in support of
missions around the globe, typically to
Afghanistan, Kosovo or the Horn of Africa.
More than 400 New Mexico Guardsmen
are here preparing for a different mission,
a mission that was set in place more than
30 years ago by a president, in offi ce
before many of these Soldiers were born,
to help ensure peace between the countries
of Egypt and Israel.
These Guardsmen are training to
deploy in support of the Multinational Force
& Observers, a force independent from the
United Nations or NATO, comprising twelve
contingents including Australia, Colombia,
Canada, the Czech Republic, the Republic
of the Fiji Islands, France, Hungary, Italy,
New Zealand, Norway, the United States
and Uruguay. Their mission is to monitor
the implementation of the Egypt-Israel
Peace Treaty and assist in ensuring that all
best efforts are employed to prevent violations
of that treaty.
The MFO dates back to President
Jimmy Carter. When Egypt and Israel originally
signed their peace treaty, enforcement
of it was watched over by a United
Nations force. On March 26, 1979, the day
the treaty was signed, Carter wrote identical
letters to both Egypt and Israel, promising
various commitments to the region that
would help maintain a multinational force,
should the U.N. fail to resume the responsibility
past their mandate of July 1979.
In July 1979, the U.N. withdrew from
the area. The MFO has been upholding
Carter’s promise ever since, helping the
two countries maintain peace in a turbulent
part of the world.
Lt. Col. Miguel Aguilar, Albuquerque
native and commander of the 1st Battalion,
200th Infantry, said, as they deploy in support
of MFO 56, “This mission is unique in
that our Soldiers aren’t really asked to do
anything other than observe and report.
We aren’t necessarily tasked with enforcing
the treaty, per se, so much as simply
reporting any violations so that they can be
handled accordingly.”
18 NEW MEXICO Minuteman / Spring 2012
Aguilar said that the goal is to maintain
a successful treaty that has helped maintain
peace for over 30 years, and Camp
Atterbury has done an exemplary job of
preparing him and his Soldiers for a successful
deployment.
“Camp Atterbury is a fantastic place,”
said Aguilar. “The training has been great;
we felt very welcomed, and the training
staff from the 205th Infantry Brigade has
been very good about working with the
unit that is currently in Egypt and ensuring
that the training is specifi cally tailored to
our unique mission.”
Lt. Col. Aaron West, commander, 1st
Battalion, 290th Regiment, 205th Infantry
Brigade, responsible for the MFOs’ mobilization
training, likened the unit’s training
at Atterbury to a sports team’s preseason
games, saying that it enables them to
practice skills they need on their deployment
by actually performing those skills in
a realistic, scenario-driven environment.
“We can’t duplicate what they will experience
in Egypt, but we can most certainly
replicate it,” said West. “We have access
to all the necessary training facilities, simulators
and subject matter experts to allow
them to prepare for the kinds of operations
that are happening in that part of the world
right now.”
The Soldiers training for deployment
come from diverse backgrounds, ranging
from seasoned veterans with multiple
deployments to others who have never
deployed before. Sgt. 1st Class Richard
George, a Farmington, N.M., native and platoon
sergeant with the 919th Military Police
Company, 1st Battalion, 200th Infantry,
said that many of his Soldiers have never
deployed before, and he thinks that makes
this mission particularly ideal for them.
“Because it is an observational mission,
this gives my younger Soldiers a chance
to experience a deployment, but they don’t
have to worry so much about getting shot
at or blown up on their fi rst tour overseas,”
said George.
Trainers from the 205th have done
everything they can to make sure that
the training is as thorough as possible.
Soldiers from the unit currently in theater
on the MFO mission have fl own to Camp
Atterbury to brief Soldiers personally on
what to expect when they get there. Cpl.
Chad Zollo, Albuquerque native and fi re
team leader, 1st Platoon, 2nd Squad, “B”
Company, 1st Battalion, 200th Infantry
Regiment, said his training at Camp Atterbury
has been excellent thus far.

“My squad is currently tasked with being
the North Camp response team when we
get there,” said Zollo, “so our training has
been a little more rigorous and in-depth
than some of the other squads have been
doing.”
Zollo’s squad has trained extensively
in skills such as vehicle recognition, especially
as it pertains to identifying armored
vehicles, since they are prevalent in the
area, particularly the Gaza Strip. They have
also been trained to recognize potential
improvised explosive devices and unexploded
ordnance, not only because of Al
Qaida’s known presence in the region, but
also because of the large number of land
mines in the area.
“The wind will shift and suddenly
expose mines,” said Zollo, “so we have
been doing a lot of battle drills to help prepare
ourselves.”
Zollo said he felt extremely prepared
by his training, but the opportunity to train
with Soldiers from the unit currently in theater
was possibly the most valuable part of
his time at Atterbury.
“We have gone through all the slide
shows and all the classes over and over,
trying to prepare ourselves,” said Zollo,
“but to actually talk to subject matter
experts from MFO 55, with not only real-
By Chief Warrant Offi cer 2 Anna Hall
Brig. Gen. Juan Griego, land component commander, promoted
Chief Warrant Offi cer 4 Donald Bragg to chief warrant offi -
cer 5 in a ceremony on Feb. 12, 2012. Bragg was accompanied by
his wife Sherri, whom he has been married to for 35 years. Also
present for the ceremony were his son, Sgt. Jeffrey Bragg, his wife
Julie and children Hunter and Tylon, and daughter Sunny and her
children, Casey and Alex.
Bragg’s father-in-law, retired Guardsman Chief Warrant
Offi cer 4 Willard Lamb and his wife Joan did the honor of pinning
the new rank on.
“My wife has been supportive of me my entire career,” said the
newly promoted Bragg. “She grew up in a Guard family with her
dad Willard, so she understands the time we have to be away and
all of the challenges that we encounter in the military. I attribute my
success to my wife’s never ending support.”
Bragg’s maintenance career includes 11 years in Air Defense,
10 years in Field Artillery, and the last seven years at Joint Forces
Headquarters G4 as MAIT team member and state readiness offi -
cer. Bragg will be assigned as the state command chief warrant
world experience, but recent real-world
experience, standing there telling us what
has changed and what to expect when we
get there was extremely educational.”
Although in partnership with 11 other
countries, the United States provides the
largest contingent of the MFO, even as
two-thirds of the force is fi nanced by Egypt
and Israel, as they are the parties most
directly interested in the program’s success.
According to Zollo, the long-standing
success of the mission is one of the things
that make the MFO mission unique.
“It’s one of the longest effective peacekeeping
operations,” said Zollo. “There are
a lot of other countries that come together
to form the MFO, and it is effective.”
For Spc. Jessica Griego, Albuquerque,
native and mail clerk and human resources
specialist with the 1-200, this is her fi rst
deployment. She said she feels not only
nervous, but excited as well.
“This is a whole new experience. It’s a
little nerve-wracking,” said Griego. “I feel
like we’ve been well prepared, though.
They have given us all sorts of training,
and they have made sure to take the time
to fi eld all of our questions and make us
all feel as prepared as possible. I feel like
fi rst-timers like me have a lot of really great
people here in our unit that we can rely on.
Bragg promoted to chief warrant offi cer 5
A lot of our leaders are experienced, and
they work to make sure that younger Soldiers
know what to expect.”
The Soldiers of MFO 56 will continue to
train at Camp Atterbury into early March as
they prepare for their deployment. Soldiers
like Zollo and Griego deploy with a sense
of pride at the opportunity to take part in a
successful and long-standing peacekeeping
operation.
This multinational force of a dozen
different nations from all over the world
stands watch over a lasting peace in a part
of the world that has been torn by war for
centuries.
Because of Soldiers like those from
the 1-200th, as well as their peers from 11
other countries, President Carter’s words
on March 26, 1979, continue to ring true.
“Obviously time and understanding will be
necessary for people, hitherto enemies,
to become neighbors in the best sense of
the word. Just because a paper is signed,
all the problems will not automatically go
away. Future days will require the best of
us all to give reality to these lofty aspirations.
Let those who would shatter peace,
who would callously spill blood, be aware
that we three and all others who may join
us will vigorously wage peace.”
offi cer, inactive duty training, and will remain as FMS2 shop chief
in Las Cruces.
When asked what his new job will entail, he responded “to take
care of the junior warrant offi cers and their career fi elds.”
Bragg is the only warrant offi cer left in the New Mexico National
Guard who graduated in 1991 from the only NMARNG Warrant
Offi ce Basic Course run in our state.
Spring 2012 / NEW MEXICO National Guard 19

Medina retires with more than
33 years of military service
By Chief Warrant Offi cer 2 Anna Hall
Property Book Offi cer, Joint Forces Headquarters
Chief Warrant Offi cer 4 Delfi n Medina
closed out a distinguished military career
of more than 33 years, leaving the ranks
of the New Mexico Army National Guard in
December 2011. Medina’s career started
in 1973 when he attended basic training at
Fort Ord, Calif. Leaving his home in northern
New Mexico at age 18, he embarked on
a career which would eventually lead him
back to New Mexico and to the National
Guard to become one of the most respected
warrant offi cers among his peers.
Pfc. Medina reported to his fi rst active
duty assignment in Fort Bragg, N. C., and
was immediately assigned as the UH1
helicopter crew chief. After four years, he
had moved to the position of the 18th Airborne
Corps commander’s VIP crew chief.
An assignment followed to Panama, where
his sweetheart Yolanda joined him to get
20 NEW MEXICO Minuteman / Spring 2012
married in 1976. He left
military service in 1980 as a
staff sergeant and returned
to his New Mexico home.
Sgt. 1st Class Jerry
Smith, a very persistent
New Mexico Army National
Guard recruiter, succeeded
in getting Medina to join
the Guard in 1984. His
fi rst assignment was in the Duster unit in
Springer, N. M. Eventually he was reassigned
as a mechanic to the 717th Aviation
Medical Det. in Santa Fe, and he became
a full-time technician in 1985.
Medina attended Warrant Offi cer Candidate
School in 1998, where he became
a 151A, aviation maintenance technician.
He remained at the Army Aviation Support
Facility from 1985 to 2004, holding various
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positions ranging from mechanic, maintenance
supervisor, and production control
offi cer. Medina served as the Joint Forces
Headquarters state safety manager in his
fi nal position in the Guard. He ascended
through the ranks retiring as a chief warrant
offi cer 4 after more than 33 years in
service.
”The main reason I joined was to
advance in life, and receive an education,”
Medina said when asked about why he
joined the military. “As time progressed, I
realized that serving in the military was an
honor, which is what made me decide to
remain in the military.”
His son, Mario Medina, is also a warrant
offi cer in the National Guard. “I am proud
that he became a warrant offi cer and even
prouder that he became an aviator. That
was something I always wanted to do, and
that was my life dream. However, due to
my color blindness, I could not accomplish
that dream,” said Medina.
Chief has a few words of advice for
the young Guardsmen of today. “You can
accomplish anything you want in the Guard;
it just takes hard work. You are not going to
have anything given to you. Work ethic is
what will get you places and the respect of
the community in which you serve. Respect
is something earned, not given. “
Medina was instrumental in the success
of many of the Warrant Offi cer Advisory
Council events, especially the huge and
successful visit to Fort Stanton last summer.
Medina’s expertise and knowledge will be
greatly missed. He looks forward to enjoying
time with the family, his wife Yolanda,
daughter Priscilla and son Mario.

Youth ChalleNGe cadets complete
acclimation phase in Santa Fe
Story by Sgt. 1st Class Douglas Mallary, HHC, 111th MEB, NMNG
Photos by Joseph Vigil, NMNG Public Affairs Specialist
Thirty-six cadets from the New Mexico
Youth ChalleNGe Academy recently completed
the Pre-ChalleNGe phase of their
training at the Oñate Training Complex in
Santa Fe. This phase marked the second
week of their acclimation into the program.
The youth offi cially transitioned from candidates
to cadets and unfurled their class
guidon during a ceremony at the Regional
Training Institute Jan. 27, 2012.
The cadets spent an entire week in
Santa Fe, staying at the Regional Training
Institute and training at different locations
on the complex. Their normal cadre
was supplemented by volunteers from
the New Mexico Army and Air National
Guard. Guard members split responsibility
into 26-hour blocks, rotated among members
of the 93rd Brigade, 111th Maneuver
Enhancement Brigade, 150th Fighter Wing,
and Joint Forces Headquarters.
In addition to multiple physical training
sessions led by the cadre, cadets received
survival training and navigated the complex
obstacle course and rappel tower under
the watchful eyes of instructors from the
Combined Arms Training Company. The
survival training included how to collect
water and food in the wilderness and construct
shelters. The instruction culminated
with killing, fi eld dressing, and cooking of
a chicken and rabbit.
“The training is not hard—just mentally
challenging,” said Cadet Cody Chandler
from Albuquerque. “It is helping to build
my self-confi dence.”
During the transition ceremony, Cadets
Taylor Carrasco and Priscilla Villa received
challenge coins from Brig. Gen. Paul Peña,
deputy adjutant general, for exemplary
performance. Peña was joined by NMYCA
co-directors Maj. Alric Pugh, retired Brig.
Gen. Jack Fox and JFHQ Chief of Staff Col.
Brian Baca to congratulate the cadets as
they received their certifi cates.
“Overall, this is a motivated group,” 1st
Lt. Sam Beene, NMYCA shift supervisor,
said of the cadets. “We’re hoping to see
them all here on graduation day.”
The Youth ChalleNGe program assists
high school dropouts in completing their
education by fostering discipline and confi -
dence in a quasi-military environment. The
eight core components of the program are
life skills, academic excellence, job skills,
responsible citizenship, physical fi tness,
health and hygiene, leadership and followership,
and service to the community.
“These are not bad kids,” said Pugh.
“They just – for whatever reason – do not
like going to school.” During the 22.5-week
resident course, cadets can earn a General
Equivalency Diploma and 15 to 18 hours
of college credit from Eastern New Mexico
University in Roswell. Cadets attend GED
classes during the day and college classes
in automotive technology, welding technology,
and the certifi ed nursing assistant
program in the evening.
According to Capt. Christopher Lara,
NMYCA commandant, more than half of
the cadets in each cycle leave with their
GEDs in hand, and some take home their
qualifi cations as CNAs as well. The NMYCA
conducts two training cycles a year. Each
cadet is required to have a mentor for a
yearlong follow-up after graduation. Prospective
cadets and mentors can visit
http://www.ngycp.org/site/state/nm/ for
further information.
Spring 2012 / NEW MEXICO National Guard 21

Warrant offi cers’ visit lifts Soldiers’ spirits at the Warrior Transition Unit
By Chief Warrant Offi cer 3 Thomas Nathan Trujillo, Joint Forces Headquarters Property Book Offi cer
In keeping with the fi nest traditions of
the Warrant Offi cer Corps and the New
Mexico National Guard, a group of warrant
offi cers made a special holiday visit
with recovering Soldiers at the Warrior
Transition Unit, Fort Bliss, Texas, on Dec.
7, 2011. Chief Warrant Offi cers 5 Vicente
Fernandez and Juan Espinosa, Chief
Warrant Offi cers Arthur Buhl, Manny Frias,
Delfi n Medina, Jesse Espinosa, Lawrence
Jiron, Donald Bragg, NathanTrujillo, Karl
Trujillo, Erwin Baca, Leticia Lopez and
Joseph Sanchez, along with Command
Sgt. Maj. Andy Maestas and Sgt. 1st
Class Martin Gallegos had the pleasure
of touring the beautiful WTU facility, meeting
with assigned Soldiers and interacting
with WTU staff.
Frias talked with a young Soldier who
said he was “extremely excited to be
recently evaluated as ‘fi t for duty’ and
could not wait to get back out to the fi eld.”
The Soldiers assigned to the WTU were
22 NEW MEXICO Minuteman / Spring 2012
in high spirits and were happy to see the
team of NMNG warrant offi cers there to
support their recovery.
To provide the best support possible
and maximize their short visit, the team
of warrant offi cers split into two groups
following the tour, wrapped 130 gifts and
decorated the WTU main lobby. Wrapping
the gifts was not only fun for the team,
but a learning experience for Fernandez
since he had not had much practice in
wrapping gifts. Buhl also sang Christmas
carols to the team for entertainment. The
WTU staff was enthusiastic and grateful
to the teams for decorating the Christmas
tree, lobby and donating money for the
WTU Christmas party.
Lori M. Boruff, human resources administrative
assistant, commended the warrant
offi cers and the New Mexico National
Guard by saying she was “so grateful and
truly appreciated our effort and support of
the Warrior Transition Unit.”
The warrant offi cers’ visit continued
their annual tradition of supporting those
who are less fortunate during the holiday
season. The visit not only continues
to build the already strong camaraderie
among the warrant offi cer rank; it shows
the true compassion and professionalism
of the warrant offi cers and the New Mexico
National Guard.

NMNG photojournalists sweep
NGB Media Photo contest
By Lt. Col. Jamison Herrera, State Public Affairs Offi cer
The 2011 National Guard Bureau Media Contest results
are in, and two members from the recently redeployed 200th
Public Affairs Detachment were winners in the Deployed photo
contest. Staff Sgt. Anna Doo took fi rst place with her “Ready to
Respond” photo. Spc. Evan Lane earned second place with a
photo featured on the cover of Guardian East Magazine, July
88M course drives over 50,000
accident-free miles, earns safety awards
By Lt. Col. Jamison Herrera, State Public Affairs Offi cer
The Regional Training Institute recently awarded eight
Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 515th Regiment, safety
awards for the outstanding safety training within the regiment.
The 88M course Soldiers drove more than 50,000
miles over the past two years without any incidents or
accidents. This accomplishment was achieved with
instructors driving during the course with inexperienced
student drivers on and off road. The mileage milestone
also included state missions tasked from the G-3 in
support of other programs and activities statewide. Personnel
were awarded Army Achievement Awards and a
trophy for their accomplishments. Those awarded were: Col. Eric Judkins presents awards to 2nd Battalion staff instructors for safety award recognition.
Master Sgt. Reyes Marquez
Master Sgt. Kimberly Turner
Sgt. 1st Class Wael Alyasi
Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Miera
Ready to Respond
by Staff Sgt. Anna Doo
88M Battalion Operations NCO
88M course manager
senior instructor
senior instructor
Staff Sgt. Joaquin Casias
Staff Sgt. Juan Montoya
Staff Sgt. Gabriel Lovato
Staff Sgt. Cesar Urrutia
Cover photo for
Guardian East Magazine,
July 2011 by Spc. Evan Lane
2011. More than 800 entries from 44 states and one territory
were judged.
Top Army National Guard entries are forwarded to the
Army’s Maj. Gen. Keith L. Ware Public Affairs competition. Historically,
the National Guard as a whole performs extremely
well at these higher level competitions.
primary instructor
primary instructor
primary instructor
primary instructor
Spring 2012 / NEW MEXICO National Guard 23

NEWS BRIEFS
Eleven graduate from
motor transport course
By Sgt. 1st Class Douglas Mallary
HHC, 111th MEB
Command Sgt. Maj. Andy Maestas
of the 615th Transportation Battalion
delivered the commencement address
as 11 Soldiers graduated from the Motor
Transport Operator Reclassifi cation
Course at the Regional Training Institute
in Santa Fe on Feb. 3, 2012. The
graduates of Class 002-12 have now
met all requirements to be awarded the
military occupational specialty of 88M.
Maestas, a 38-year veteran, congratulated
the graduates for being able to complete
in four weeks what normally takes
seven weeks of training. He pointed out
that the Soldiers trained on a wide variety
of “some of the world’s most complex
and advanced equipment.” Maestas
reminded the newly qualifi ed operators
of the importance of safely driving and
maintaining their vehicles while remaining
accountable for their equipment and
cargo both on and off the road.
“Transportation personnel must
have the highest discipline,” Maestas
told the Soldiers. “You were chosen
to be here for a reason,” he added. To
illustrate his point, Maestas stressed
that the transportation of Soldiers and
cargo is critical to the success of ongoing
real-world missions.
Spc. Scott Dickson from New York
was selected as the honor graduate for
the class. Cpl. Johnny Stone of Texas
served as class leader. The other graduates
and their home states were Sgt. 1st
Class Wilton Acker, New Mexico (RTI);
Spc. John Arredondo, Texas; Spc. Jeffrey
Bates, Tennessee; Spc. Michael Baze,
Texas; Spc. Justin Grantham, Texas;
Spc. Korey Thompson, Wyoming; Spc.
Ernie Saiz, New Mexico (1116th Trans.
Co.); Staff Sgt. Cecil Shuman, Georgia;
and Staff Sgt. Docklure Stephanus, New
Mexico (RTI).
The offi cial party consisted of Maestas,
RTI Command Sgt. Maj. Matt
Aragon and Master Sgt. Reyes Marquez,
operations noncommissioned offi cer
for 2nd Battalion, 515th Regiment (RTI).
24 NEW MEXICO Minuteman / Spring 2012
Staff Sgt. Michael Romero served as the
master of ceremonies. Distinguished
guests included Brig. Gen. Paul Peña,
deputy adjutant general; Col. Brian Baca,
chief of staff; Col. Donnie Quintana, construction
and facilities management offi -
cer; Lt. Col. Anthony Leal, commander
of the 515th Combat Sustainment Support
Battalion; Lt. Col. Jamison Herrera,
state public affairs offi cer; 93rd Brigade
Command Sgt. Maj. James Rivera; Sgt.
Maj. Melanie Suazo, Joint Forces Headquarters
personnel sergeant major; and
1st Sgt. Eric Giles of the RTI.
New Mexico’s transportation companies
are normally assigned to the 615th,
but are presently under the 515th, as
members of the 615th will deploy to the
Sinai Peninsula in Egypt later this year.
ESGR fosters good
working relationships
between employers and
service members
By Capt. Eizabeth Foott
Commander, 200th Public Affi ars Detachment
When service members return from
deployment, many issues and concerns
may weigh on their minds: transition
from active back to inactive duty
training status, navigating the huge
paperwork jungle, and returning to or
fi nding employment.
A critical employment piece of the
Employer Support for the Guard and
Reserve program is advocating with
employers. This program initiative was
strongly emphasized on Military and
Veterans Day at the New Mexico Legislature
on Feb. 6.
During the legislative session, a
proclamation which recognizes the
importance of having citizen Soldiers
holding and acquiring meaningful jobs
was read aloud by Senator Carroll
Leavell (R-Jal) to legislative members.
The proclamation was written and
provided by ESGR with the intent of
underlining the necessity of supporting
our service members. In addition, a
statement of support which highlights a
framework of relations in various areas
between the employer and employee
was provided to and signed by members
of the House of Representatives
and the Senate.
ESGR was instituted to assist
service members with employment
issues such as returning to work from
deployment and performing regular
inactive duty and annual training activities.
However, ESGR has now evolved
into an organization that also encompasses
employer support and recognition.
Further, ESGR seeks to promote
and encourage employers to support
and value their employees that are in
the military.
Other ESGR programs include
employer recognition, ombudsmen
resources regarding the Uniformed
Services Employment and Reemployment
Act, and the Employer Initiative
Program.
New Mexico State Guard
volunteers serve proudly
By Lt. Col. John Bowers
Chief of Staff, New Mexico State Guard
The New Mexico State Guard’s primary
mission is to support the New
Mexico Army National Guard and
communities throughout the “Land of
Enchantment.” Members of the NMSG
operate under the sole authority of the
state government and are partially regulated
by the National Guard Bureau,
but are not a part of the Army National
Guard of the United States. All members
serve as volunteers and are not
paid for the professional services they
bring to us. Many are retired military
members who continue to serve, but
others serve because of their strong
commitment to our communities and
state. The NMSG is a force multiplier
for the National Guard that enables us
to respond quickly and effi ciently to
all missions.
The volunteers who make up the

NMSG are authorized by AR 670-1, NGR
10-4, and The Adjutant General to wear
a modifi ed version of the Army combat
uniform. The modifi cations include (a) a
full-color New Mexico state fl ag in lieu of
the full-color U.S. fl ag on the right shoulder,
(b) a subdued NMSG shoulder
sleeve insignia on the left shoulder, and
(c) a NEW MEXICO tape in lieu of the
U.S. ARMY tape above the left pocket.
These three items provide for distinct
visual identifi cation of NMSG personnel.
Additionally, a special subdued
“search and rescue” tab is authorized
for those members of the NMSG who
are certifi ed by the New Mexico State
Police for SAR missions. All other Army
combat uniform items and insignia are
similar to the standard uniforms and
insignia worn by the NMARNG.
Enlisted Association state
conference slated for
April 20–21
The Enlisted Association of the New
Mexico National Guard 2012 state
conference will be held April 20-21 at
the Mountain View Club on Kirtland
Air Force Base. The New Mexico Army
National Guard’s 93rd Brigade, headquartered
in Santa Fe, will be the hosting
unit for this year’s conference.
The weekend is scheduled to begin
on Friday, April 20, at 8 a.m. with a softball
tournament at the base Bicentennial
Park. This will include a barbecue/
social from 2-7 p.m. with ongoing volleyball
games and horseshoes. Music
with a DJ is also being planned.
To raise money for the conference,
association members will be selling
raffl e tickets for a Kimber Pro Carry
pistol, a Kindle e-reader, a weekend
getaway package, a spa package, and
a disco cooking grill. Tickets are $5
each. There will also be 50-50 raffl es
during the conference, which awards
winners half of the money raised during
a specifi ed time.
Discounted early registration will
continue through April 1. Late registration
will be available on Friday, April 20,
at the Mountain View Club from 8 a.m.
to noon and at Bicentennial Park from 8
a.m. to 2 p.m.
To answer questions and assist with
the registration, each major command
in the state has designated points of
contact for their respective members.
• The POCs for the 93rd Brigade are
1st Sgt. Rudolph Checkley at Rudolph.
Checkley@ng.army.mil or (505) 474-1721
and Sgt. 1st Class Maurice Gomez at
Maurice.Gomez@us.army.mil or
(505) 474-1726.
• The POC for members of the 111th Maneuver
Enhancement Brigade is Sgt. 1st Class
Douglas Mallary at Douglas.Mallary@
ng.army.mil or (505) 474-1852.
• Sgt. 1st Class Leonard Fechter is the POC
for Regional Training Institute personnel at
Leonard.A.Fechter@ng.army.mil or
(505) 474-1912.
• Senior Master Sgt. Miguel Perez is the POC
for New Mexico Air National Guard members
and he may be contacted at Miguel.
Perez@kirtland.af.mil or (505) 846-8201.
• Sgt. 1st Class Mark Weingates is the POC
for Joint Forces Headquarters personnel.
He can be reached at Mark.Weingates@
ng.army.mil or (505) 474-1895.
NMNG helps KOATS for
Kids deliver jackets to
children statewide
By Lt. Col. Jamison Herrera,
State Public Affairs Offi cer
The New Mexico National Guard
partnered with KOAT TV, the Public
Education Department and many
other agencies to ensure that all children
needing a jacket received one.
The KOATS for Kids program, in its
23rd year, was an exceptional success
again. “We encountered new challenges
this year because of the communication
between the many different
school districts, but overall the program
was able to assist a greater population
statewide than ever before,” said Lt.
Col. Jamison Herrera, NMNG public
affairs offi cer. The National Guard was
instrumental in picking up jackets from
donation sites statewide, but more
NEWS BRIEFS
Guardswomen sing
National Anthem to open
Senate session
State Sen. Carroll Leavell (R-Jal)
congratulates two New Mexico National
Guardswomen who were invited to sing
the national anthem to open the Senate
session on Military Day and Veterans
Day at the Legislature. Leavell is shaking
hands with Chief Warrant Offi cer Anna
Christina Hall, property book offi cer at
Joint Forces Headquarters, New Mexico
National Guard in Santa Fe. Looking on
is a former captain in the New Mexico
National Guard, Victoria M. McCormack,
who co-founded the ACCORDS, a vocal
ensemble of the band.
importantly they were part of the delivery
of the approximately 9,000 jackets.
A resounding thank you is in order for all
the Soldiers and Airmen who assisted
throughout this campaign. The citizen
Soldiers and Airmen are commended
for their service and demonstrating the
reason we serve to assist the citizens of
New Mexico within our local communities
and statewide.
Spring 2012 / NEW MEXICO National Guard 25

NEWS BRIEFS
Bataan Museum hosts
milestone celebrations
The New Mexico State University
Santa Fe Alumni Chapter and
NMSU President Barbara Couture
hosted a reception to celebrate
the state of New Mexico Centennial,
the Morrill Act sesquicentennial,
the Bataan Death March 70th
Anniversary and Coach Lou Henson’s
80th birthday Jan. 27, 2012,
at the Bataan Memorial Museum
in Santa Fe.
“It was a great event for NMSU,
the Bataan Museum and the New
Mexico National Guard,” said
retired Brig. Gen. Jack Fox. “Over
200 people attended the event,
which provided great exposure for
the museum.”
Fox gave a brief history of our
Bataan heroes and said, “There
were 55 Aggies on the Bataan
Death March, many of them New
Mexico National Guard members,
and some that deployed from this
armory, which is now the Bataan
Memorial Museum.”
26 NEW MEXICO Minuteman / Spring 2012
NMNG, MaxPreps honor
Cleveland High School football team
For the fi rst time in history, the MaxPreps
Football Tour of Champions, presented by
the Army National Guard, visited the state of
New Mexico to honor the V. Sue Cleveland
High School football team at a trophy presentation
Jan. 20 during an assembly in the
packed gymnasium. Though in existence
for only two years, the Storm won their fi rstever
state championship after fi nishing the
season 13-0. Coach Kirk Potter and the
Storm fi nished the season ranked #112
in the MaxPreps Freeman Rankings poll.
MaxPreps’ Leland Gordon spoke
about what an amazing feat it was
for Cleveland to be so highly ranked after
opening their doors only two years ago.
Gordon then turned the microphone over
to New Mexico Army National Guard Lt.
Col. John D. Sedillo for the trophy presentation.
Sedillo spoke about when
you are on a football team, you rely on
the support of your teammates, coaches
and community, and how being in the
Army National Guard, you rely on that
same support system. Sedillo then
presented the coveted Army National
Guard national ranking trophy to
Potter and his players.

Luna served New Mexico well
By Spc. Charles Martinez
200th Public Affairs Detachment
Maximiliano Luna was born in Los
Lunas, N.M., June 16, 1870. He was educated
at Las Vegas College in Las Vegas,
N.M., (which was later moved to Denver,
Colo., and named Regis University), and at
Georgetown College, District of Columbia.
Upon completing his course at Georgetown,
Luna received an appointment to
the U. S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md.
Just as he was ready to begin his studies at
Annapolis, his mother died, and his plans
changed. He made a tour to Cuba, after
which, in December 1889, he returned to
his home in New Mexico.
He was married around 1890 to Berenice
Mary Keyes, granddaughter of Lucien
B. Maxwell, one of the largest landowners
in the Territory. Her younger brother Maxwell
had several things in common with his
brother-in-law Maximiliano Luna. They both
served as Rough Riders in Troop F (Keyes
provided testimony in support of Theodore
Roosevelt’s Medal of Honor). They both
served in the Philippines; both died there
(Keyes died six days after Luna); and both
are buried in the same cemetery.
On the April 15, 1945, Maj. Gen. Keyes
visited the 804th Tank Destroyer Battalion
(New Mexico National Guard) along with Lt.
Gen. John C. H. Lee (Deputy Commander
of U.S. Forces in the European Theater of
Operations). The 804th was in fi ring position
in the Po Valley. With Lee acting as
artillery loader on one of B Company’s (from
Raton, N.M.) guns, Keyes fi red the Battalion’s
200,000th round at the Germans.
Berenice’s youngest brother Geoffrey
was commanding general of the 3rd
Armored Division, 9th Armored Division, I
Armored Corps, II Corps, Seventh United
States Army during World War II, and the
Third United States Army immediately
afterward. He retired as a lieutenant general
and is also buried in the same cemetery
as his brother and brother-in-law.
In 1890 Luna was appointed interpreter
of the Second Judicial Court of the Territory;
in 1891 he was chief clerk of the
Twenty-ninth Assembly of New Mexico,
and in 1892 he was elected probate clerk,
recorder and ex offi cio county clerk of
Valencia County until 1894, when he was
elected sheriff of the county. He served as
delegate to several territorial Republican
conventions; in 1890 he was the organizer
of the Republican League of the county,
and in 1892 he was a delegate to the
National Republican League.
He served as Captain for Troop “F” of
the First U.S. Volunteer Cavalry, popularly
known as “Rough Riders.” In 1899 he
served as speaker of the House of Representatives
for the Territory of New Mexico.
He joined the 34th U.S. Volunteer Infantry
and was sent to the Philippines as a fi rst
lieutenant. It was there that he died on duty
on Nov. 18, 1899. He was buried in Arlington
National Cemetery, one of the fi rst New
Mexicans so honored.
Among the honors bestowed on his memory by the state of
New Mexico are the following:
• A bust of Luna has been placed in the
state Capitol.
• In 1929, the training site for the New
Mexico National Guard outside of
Las Vegas, N.M., was named Camp
Maximiliano Luna in his honor. In 1967
the state Legislature authorized a
vocational training facility to be built
in the area, and the site chosen was
Camp Luna. In 1969 the school was
established under the name of the Luna
Vocational Technical Institute.
• A memorial to him at the Luna Vocational
Technical Institute was rededicated in
June 1987 and stands in front of the
Technologies Building. It faces the school
campus and former training grounds of
the National Guard.
• The current name of the campus, Luna
Community College, was adopted on
Dec. 18, 2000.
Spring 2012 / NEW MEXICO National Guard 27

NMNG teams up with Taos Feeds Taos
to help those in need
By Joseph Vigil
Public Affairs Specialist, New Mexico National Guard
It is a community at its best—coming
together to give to those in need. In Taos,
the community has generously supported
the Taos Feeds Taos program for 26 years,
providing food boxes during the holiday
season for the less fortunate. The Taos
Feeds Taos program has grown to be the
largest it has ever been, and that growth
could not be any more timely, considering
the current economic climate.
“These times are more diffi cult,” said
retired 1st Sgt. Francis Cordova. “There
are more people in need because they are
unemployed and are trying to make ends
meet, and we don’t turn anyone away.”
The nonprofi t program, which began in
1986, has grown in many different aspects,
from the number of people and families
in need who benefi t from the program,
the amount of groceries in each box, the
number of volunteers who participate and
the number of participating community
sponsors.
A record 1,200 boxes of groceries were
distributed this year in comparison to 55
boxes distributed in the program’s inaugural
year. The previous few years have
averaged about 1,050 boxes. Each box
contained $120 worth of groceries such as
hams, yams, fruits, vegetables and other
holiday foods. More than 500 volunteers
worked the program in many different
capacities to make this year’s program
another huge success.
“We feel pretty good about how the program
has grown, but this event would not
be possible without the hard work of our
volunteers,” Cordova said.
Many National Guard Soldiers, retirees
and veterans join together with members
of the business and local communities to
volunteer to help with the program. The
bulk of the work begins in the two weeks
prior to donation, when collections begin
at schools and local grocery stores.
The New Mexico National Guard is
a proud program partner and has been
involved with the Taos Feeds Taos program
28 NEW MEXICO Minuteman / Spring 2012
since the inception of the program, thanks
to retired Lt. Gen. Edward Baca. Soldiers
from throughout the state volunteer annually
to fi ll and distribute boxes, assist
people with taking the food boxes to their
vehicles and transport boxes to surrounding
communities that also participate in the
program.
Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Griego from
New Mexico National Guard Recruiting
and Retention serves as the coordinator
between the NMNG and the Taos Feeds
Taos program. He coordinates food supply
pickup and truck transportation and makes
sure things get to the right place. Griego,
born and raised in Taos, has been helping
with the program since 1993, when he
returned home from serving in the Army.
“It is a very gratifying experience to
be able to help the less fortunate,” Griego
said.
This year’s event also focused on getting
younger people involved to assure
the program’s success for years to come,
according to Cordova, whose grandsons,
Antonio, 17, and Jonathan, 15, worked in
the program this year along with Christopher
Griego Jr., 12, who also volunteered
to help after school.
“This is a great event for the whole
community,” said Leroy de Baca, an Army
veteran from 1966 who is planning to volunteer
to help next year.
The event is another great example
of how the New Mexico National Guard
remains a strong part of a community.