Winter 2010 - STATES - The National Guard
Winter 2010 - STATES - The National Guard
Winter 2010 - STATES - The National Guard
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On the Cover<br />
Members of the Massachusetts <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>’s 1st<br />
Civil Support Team load one of their vehicles onto a<br />
Mississippi Air <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> C-17 as they prepare to<br />
depart for a Vigilant <strong>Guard</strong> exercise in western New York,<br />
Nov. 2, 2009 (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Don Veitch,<br />
65th Press Camp Headquarters).<br />
Visit the Massachusetts<br />
<strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> Web site<br />
www.ma.ng.mil<br />
<strong>The</strong> Adjutant General<br />
Maj. Gen. Joseph C. Carter<br />
Public Affairs Officer<br />
Maj. Lisa Ahaesy<br />
Managing Editor<br />
Maj. James Sahady<br />
Staff<br />
Lt. Col. Chuck Perenick<br />
Lt. Col. Jack McKenna<br />
Capt. Brett Walker<br />
Master Sgt. Pallas Wahl<br />
Sgt. 1st Class Steven Tedeschi<br />
Staff Sgt. Don Veitch<br />
Sgt. James Lally<br />
Sgt. Cynthia Brabant<br />
Senior Amn. Eric Kolesnikovas<br />
Spc. Michael Broughey<br />
8537 Corbin Dr., Anchorage, AK 99507<br />
(907) 562-9300, Toll Free: (866) 562-9300<br />
www.AQPpublishing.com<br />
Features<br />
Nation’s Oldest Relieves Steel Spike . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6<br />
Teamwork in the Massachusetts <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8<br />
Military Police Soldiers Return Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10<br />
Not Just a Shooting Match . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13<br />
Vigilant <strong>Guard</strong>: Task Force Massachusetts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14<br />
Camp Edwards Hosts Air Assault and Pathfinder Schools . . . . . . . . 18<br />
102nd Intelligence Wing Dedicates DGS Facility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20<br />
<strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> Soldiers Steal Spotlight at PGA Event . . . . . . . . . . . 22<br />
<strong>Guard</strong> Provides Support at Fall River Celebrates America Festival . . 25<br />
<strong>Guard</strong> Unit Changes Command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28<br />
Departments<br />
Command Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3<br />
Service Member Spotlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5<br />
Short Takes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26<br />
Spc. Juan Carlos Leon, 211th Military Police Battalion,<br />
Massachusetts <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>, greets his family in a<br />
taped message from Iraq. <strong>The</strong> video, a surprise for the<br />
family, aired on the scoreboard at the Boston Bruins’<br />
Seats for Soldiers event at the TD Garden in Boston,<br />
Nov. 12, 2009 (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Don Veitch,<br />
65th Press Camp Headquarters).<br />
www.ma.ng.mil<br />
Maj. Gen. Joseph C. Carter, <strong>The</strong> Adjutant<br />
General of the Massachusetts <strong>National</strong><br />
<strong>Guard</strong>, took time at the 39th Legislative<br />
Conference, sponsored by the Congressional<br />
Black Caucus Foundation, Inc., to pose for a<br />
Cape Verde newspaper photo (Courtesy<br />
photo by Ervin “Tootsie” Russell).<br />
This magazine is an authorized publication for members of the Massachusetts <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>. Contents of this magazine<br />
are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, the <strong>National</strong><br />
<strong>Guard</strong> Bureau or the Massachusetts <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>.<br />
<strong>The</strong> appearance of advertising in this publication does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Government, the Department<br />
of Defense, the <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> Bureau or the Massachusetts <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Nation’s First 1
Command Message<br />
Enduring Sacrifice and<br />
Demonstrated Bravery<br />
I would like to take this opportunity to highlight<br />
an enduring example of unequalled sacrifice and<br />
courage displayed by Massachusetts Soldiers<br />
about 150 years ago during a period when our<br />
great nation struggled with ending the existence<br />
of the long and degrading practice of slavery.<br />
<strong>The</strong> prelude to the American Civil War included<br />
John Brown’s raid on the federal arsenal at<br />
Harpers Ferry, W. Va., in an effort to secure arms<br />
for his vision of a slave rebellion, further fueling<br />
the fire of ideological differences between the<br />
North and South.<br />
Secession of the southern states from the United<br />
States began with South Carolina on Dec. 20,<br />
1860, just prior to the March 4, 1861, inauguration<br />
of President Lincoln, and continued through<br />
the firing by Confederate forces on federal Fort<br />
Sumter on April 12, 1861, starting the American<br />
Civil War.<br />
At the outset, abolitionist Gov. John A. Andrew of<br />
Massachusetts petitioned the federal government<br />
to allow him to form a regiment of black Soldiers<br />
within the Massachusetts Militia for service in<br />
the Union Army.<br />
Gov. Andrew was repeatedly denied the authority<br />
to officially raise a black regiment for federal<br />
service. Finally, on Jan. 26, 1863, shortly after<br />
President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation<br />
had gone into effect Jan. 1, 1863, Gov. Andrew<br />
received correspondence from Edwin M. Stanton,<br />
secretary of war, authorizing him to enlist into<br />
service of the United States, “persons of African<br />
descent.”<br />
Recruiting for the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer<br />
Infantry Regiment began immediately. <strong>The</strong> first<br />
recruits arrived at Camp Meigs in Readville,<br />
Mass., – now Hyde Park – in February 1863.<br />
<strong>The</strong>se new recruits who volunteered for service<br />
in the Union Army displayed tremendous sacrifice<br />
and courage, considering the many years of<br />
degradation and omission of citizenship and<br />
equality they previously suffered.<br />
It took nearly two years of bloody warfare<br />
before blacks were allowed to even fight for the<br />
Union in hopes of securing full citizenship for<br />
themselves and future generations. Yet even<br />
without guarantee of equal treatment, they<br />
volunteered to help end the rebellion and restore<br />
the union of the states despite unequal pay<br />
and no authorization to receive commissions as<br />
officers.<br />
Consider for a moment the fact that they faced<br />
the potential of being killed not only in combat<br />
Col. Sterling D. MacLeod,<br />
54th Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment Commander<br />
but even had to overcome the threat of a death<br />
sentence if captured by Confederate forces as<br />
proclaimed by Jefferson Davis, Dec. 23, 1863.<br />
Despite these obstacles, the 54th Massachusetts<br />
Volunteer Infantry Regiment was formed,<br />
trained and deployed to South Carolina where on<br />
July 18, 1863, their accomplishments at Battery<br />
Wagner immortalized the bravery and courage of<br />
Soldiers of African descent. ✯<br />
LUXEMBOURG – Members of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts, conducting its annual Fall Field Tour of Duty by visiting European battle<br />
sites in Normandy, Belgium and Luxembourg, stand before a monument here, Oct. 9, 2009 (Courtesy photo).<br />
<strong>The</strong> Nation’s First 3
Service Member Spotlight<br />
Pfc. Andrea Miedzionoski<br />
By Staff Sgt. April Mota, 101st Engineer Battalion<br />
BAGHDAD – Less than one year ago, Pfc. Andrea Miedzionoski, Forward<br />
Support Company, 101st Engineer Battalion, found herself signing on the<br />
dotted line at her local military entrance processing station.<br />
Miedzionoski, 30, from Peabody, Mass., now serves as a signal support<br />
systems specialist, working on the company’s convoy support team and<br />
helping maintain their radios.<br />
Miedzionoski was inspired by her cousin, an Army Ranger, to join the<br />
Massachusetts Army <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>. She saw the sense of pride he had<br />
for himself and his country. “I was looking to have that same pride in<br />
myself as my cousin had. I was looking for some meaning in my life,” said<br />
Miedzionoski.<br />
Miedzionoski attended basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C., then went on<br />
to her military occupational specialty school at Fort Gordon, Ga. She<br />
graduated and immediately reported to her home station with the 101st<br />
Engineer Battalion in Whitinsville, Mass. One day later, the unit departed<br />
for their mobilization station at Fort McCoy, Wis., to begin the train up for<br />
deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.<br />
“Reporting to a unit that was leaving the next day was a little nerve<br />
wracking; it definitely had its ups and downs. Ultimately, I think it was the<br />
best situation though. I was still focused on my military training I had just<br />
received,” Miedzionoski explained.<br />
Her main concern with deploying so soon after graduating was that she<br />
knew no one in the unit. But as soon as she arrived, she was welcomed<br />
Spc. Nickolay Bashko<br />
Spc. Nickolay Bashko monitors a radio at a check point in Iraq during his 2007-<br />
2008 deployment with the 557th Maintenance Company from Fort Irwin, Calif.<br />
Bashko is now assigned to the 182nd Area Support Medical Company, Concord,<br />
126th Brigade Support Battalion, 26th “Yankee” Brigade, Massachusetts Army<br />
<strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> (U.S. Army photo by 2nd Lt. Amanda Ponn, 182nd Area Support<br />
Medical Company, Massachusetts <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>).<br />
with open arms. “I came into a tight-knit group and was instantly taken in<br />
and warmly welcomed. I’ve quickly created a very strong bond with<br />
everyone here. We’ve got a great team,” said Miedzionoski.<br />
Since joining the unit, Miedzionoski has continuously stepped up to the<br />
plate to get the job done, displaying the initiative and motivation of a well<br />
seasoned Soldier. ✯<br />
Pfc. Andrea Miedzionoski, Forward Support Company, 101st Engineer Battalion,<br />
225th Engineer Brigade, from Peabody, Mass., works on verifying<br />
communication frequencies of the command post’s radio (U.S. Army photo by<br />
Staff Sgt. April Mota, 101st Engineer Battalion, 225th Engineer Brigade).<br />
By 2nd Lt. Amanda Ponn, 182nd Area Support Medical Company<br />
READING, Mass. – Eight years ago at the age of 14, Spc. Nickolay Bashko,<br />
182nd Area Support Medical Company, boarded a plane in the Eastern<br />
European country of Belarus and traveled with his parents and younger<br />
brother to establish a new home in the United States.<br />
After graduating from Lynn, Mass., High School in 2004, Bashko enlisted<br />
in the active duty Army and was stationed at Fort Irwin, Calif. “I was<br />
looking for adventure,” he explains. In 2007, Bashko deployed for 14<br />
months with the 557th Maintenance Company, an element of the <strong>National</strong><br />
Training Center Support Battalion. His unit was tasked with missions<br />
different than what you might expect of a maintenance element, to include<br />
convoy-recovery missions. Bashko’s primary job was security of entry<br />
control points at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. On the transition from Fort Irwin<br />
to Iraq, he jokes, “I was already used to the desert. Sometimes I felt like<br />
we were just on the other side of Fort Irwin!”<br />
While in Iraq, Bashko gained his U.S. citizenship and describes the<br />
naturalization ceremony as one of the most memorable moments of the<br />
deployment. “I was sworn in with over 200 others at the Al-Faw Palace in<br />
Baghdad. <strong>The</strong>re were soldiers from Russia there, but no one else from my<br />
country, Belarus. It was really neat!”<br />
Bashko, now 22, reported to the 182nd ASMC in March 2009 after serving<br />
on active duty for three and a half years. He is a generator equipment<br />
repair specialist in the company’s headquarters section. Bashko enjoys<br />
serving in the Massachusetts Army <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> because he is able to<br />
attend college and also for the camaraderie he has found with his unit. ✯<br />
<strong>The</strong> Nation’s First 5
BAGHDAD – Mark this date: history was made.<br />
On Aug. 30, 2009, the 46th Engineer Combat<br />
Battalion (Heavy) and 101st Engineer Battalion<br />
swapped places in a symbolic transfer-ofauthority<br />
ceremony at Camp Liberty, Baghdad.<br />
As the Steel Spike 46th steps down, the Nation’s<br />
Oldest, the 101st, rises to fill their place in<br />
support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.<br />
Serving in Iraq for 15 months, the 46th has been<br />
awaiting the moment of departure. After nearly<br />
three months of mobilization training, the<br />
101st Engineer Battalion has been eager to take<br />
the helm.<br />
<strong>The</strong> 101st Engineer Battalion has a distinguished<br />
record of service to the nation that dates back<br />
more than 373 years. <strong>The</strong> unit participated in<br />
numerous conflicts from the Colonial wars to the<br />
present day Global War on Terror. Answering<br />
the call yet again, the 101st began its journey to<br />
Iraq in mid-June 2009. <strong>The</strong> only organic units<br />
come in the form of Headquarters Support<br />
Company and Forward Support Company, both<br />
hailing from Massachusetts. <strong>The</strong> other units to<br />
6 Minuteman <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2010</strong><br />
Soldiers of the 101st Engineer Battalion and the 46th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy) face each other at attention<br />
during the transition-of-authority ceremony. On Aug. 30, 2009, at Camp Liberty, Baghdad, the 101st Engineer<br />
Battalion officially relieved the 46th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy) of duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom<br />
(U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Tracy Knowles, 101st Engineer Battalion, Multi-<strong>National</strong> Division Baghdad).<br />
By 1st Lt. Michael R. Lind, 101st Engineer Battalion,<br />
Multi-<strong>National</strong> Division Baghdad<br />
Maj. Joshua Goodrich of Webster, Mass., and Command Sgt. Maj. Peter Chase of Derry, N.H., unfurl the 101st<br />
Engineer Battalion colors during the transition-of-authority ceremony at Camp Liberty, Baghdad. On Aug. 30,<br />
2009, the 101st Engineer Battalion officially relieved the 46th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy) of duty in<br />
support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Tracy Knowles, 101st Engineer Battalion,<br />
Multi-<strong>National</strong> Division Baghdad).
join are the 1434th Engineer Company (Vertical)<br />
from Michigan, the 1192nd Engineer Company<br />
(Horizontal) from Ohio, and the 621st Survey &<br />
Design Team from North Carolina. Though all<br />
elements left their home stations as separate<br />
units, they came together to form one unified<br />
battalion at Fort McCoy, Wis. <strong>The</strong> 101st<br />
Command Sgt. Maj. Peter Chase said that the<br />
unit “came together faster and closer than I<br />
could have hoped for.”<br />
From June until the beginning of August, the<br />
101st worked long and hard to validate its<br />
necessary mobilization tasks which included<br />
construction effects, convoy operations, and<br />
base defense. Once August rolled around, the<br />
101st was deemed ready and flew to Camp<br />
Buehring, Kuwait.<br />
In Kuwait, the Nation’s Oldest acclimated to<br />
the harsh desert environment while focusing<br />
on IED defeat training, convoy operations,<br />
counter-insurgency briefings and weapons<br />
familiarization. Following a two-week stay at<br />
Camp Buehring, the 101st packed up for<br />
Baghdad.<br />
Arriving in Iraq in mid-August, the 101st<br />
conducted relief in place operations under the<br />
guidance of the 46th. <strong>The</strong> intent of this transition<br />
is to familiarize an incoming unit with the current<br />
battlefield environment and to offer advice on<br />
how to conduct in-theater operations. Chase<br />
noted that because of the Steel Spike Battalion,<br />
“<strong>The</strong> relief in place/transition of authority was<br />
From left to right, Lt. Col. Matthew Zajac, Maj. Gen. Daniel Bolger, Maj. Joshua Goodrich and some special<br />
guests salute during the national anthem at the transition-of-authority ceremony in Camp Liberty, Baghdad.<br />
On Aug. 30, 2009, the 101st Engineer Battalion officially relieved the 46th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy)<br />
of duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Tracy Knowles, 101st Engineer Battalion,<br />
Multi-<strong>National</strong> Division Baghdad).<br />
smooth because our leaders in the 101st and<br />
the 46th prepared us for success.”<br />
In a symbolic transfer of authority ceremony,<br />
Maj. Gen. Daniel Bolger, commanding general,<br />
Multi-<strong>National</strong> Division Baghdad, said, “Every<br />
combat engineer battalion that comes to Iraq<br />
comes to fight and to work.” He conveyed to<br />
each Soldier his satisfaction about a job well<br />
done by the 46th while offering a few words to<br />
the Soldiers of the 101st. “<strong>The</strong> 101st is tough,<br />
smart ... ready to fight, ready to work, which<br />
makes it easier for the 46th to go home today<br />
with honor,” he said.<br />
While the future remains uncertain, the Nation’s<br />
Oldest is prepared with full confidence to meet<br />
the challenges ahead. ✯<br />
<strong>The</strong> Nation’s First 7
By Army Capt. Dustin Walker, 126th Brigade Support<br />
Battalion, Massachusetts <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong><br />
CAMP EDWARDS, Mass. – I had never been to<br />
an annual training. My friends thought I was<br />
going on a vacation paid for by the commonwealth<br />
as they only heard “Cape Cod” when I<br />
told them I would be gone for two weeks with<br />
the 126th Brigade Support Battalion. It was no<br />
vacation. It was something much more rewarding,<br />
and to sum up my experience in one word<br />
it would be Teamwork.<br />
Teamwork is often an overused term that should<br />
be used with more discretion. However, it was<br />
evident from the start of our annual training that<br />
this word was appropriate . With many of our<br />
Soldiers gone for deployments, at military<br />
occupational specialty qualifying schools and<br />
alternate ATs, our battalion had just over 100<br />
Soldiers of widely varying MOSs. <strong>The</strong>y had to<br />
hone their MOS skills while maintaining tactical<br />
proficiency that will keep them alive in combat.<br />
With limited personnel numbers, a company<br />
level task force was created integrating all of the<br />
medical, signal, supply, transportation and<br />
maintenance units for annual training, which<br />
was named Task Force Viper.<br />
Task Force Viper was responsible for executing<br />
combat logistical patrols and humanitarian<br />
8 Minuteman <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2010</strong><br />
medical missions in conjunction with realistic<br />
enemy and civilian situations that patrols could<br />
face overseas. An opposing force controlled by a<br />
training team in Task Force Mohawk – battalion<br />
headquarters – was constantly waiting for these<br />
Viper patrols to put their MOS and tactical skills<br />
to the test. Operating out of Tactical Training<br />
Base Kelley, Viper executed the troop leading<br />
procedures and refined standard operating<br />
procedures. Soldiers gained tactical proficiency<br />
in their battle drills. Logistical support was<br />
transported and received; vehicles from both<br />
Delta Company,1st Battalion, 181st Infantry Regiment<br />
(quick reaction force), provides covering fire to a<br />
126th Brigade Support Battalion element being<br />
engaged by an opposing force during annual training<br />
2009 at Camp Edwards, Mass. (U.S. Army photo<br />
courtesy of the 126th Brigade Support Battalion).<br />
inside and outside Mohawk were recovered and<br />
maintained; and medical training was conducted<br />
on the training lanes at Falmouth Hospital and<br />
during sick call. Watching Soldiers from<br />
different companies and MOSs come together<br />
was an amazing evolution during my time at<br />
Camp Edwards.<br />
Additionally, the 1st Battalion, 181st Infantry,<br />
was concurrently training at Camp Edwards.<br />
Realizing the training opportunities our units<br />
could create, we both came up with some new<br />
coordinated scenarios for the Soldiers. <strong>The</strong><br />
181st’s B Company augmented some of our<br />
opposing force elements, while Viper was<br />
tasked with providing logistical support to 181st<br />
headquarters with 181st’s D Company as a<br />
quick reaction force element. After getting<br />
attacked, Viper elements coordinated directly<br />
with 181st battle space owners for help just as<br />
they would in a real combat situation. Combined<br />
after-actions reviews were conducted with the<br />
181st, and many of the intricacies of coordinating<br />
with inorganic elements in a combat situation<br />
were identified by both units.<br />
More teamwork was shown by Detachment<br />
One, Company C of the Air Ambulance Unit<br />
that flies out of Camp Edwards. <strong>The</strong>y eagerly<br />
showed the Viper Soldiers how to load a
Opposite page: Detachment One, Charlie Company,<br />
provides air evacuation support to the 126th Brigade<br />
Support Battalion (U.S. Army photo courtesy of the<br />
126th Brigade Support Battalion).<br />
casualty onto their new Pave Hawk helicopters<br />
at Otis Air <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> Base. Viper executed<br />
medical evacuation missions later in the day,<br />
and the pilots conducted several rotations to<br />
ensure the maximum training value for their<br />
crews and the Soldiers of the 126th BSB.<br />
Lastly, the training would not have been possible<br />
were it not for the coordination between the<br />
126th BSB, the 26th Yankee Brigade and the<br />
staff at Camp Edwards. Training needs and<br />
requirements based on constant evaluations<br />
drove the scenarios and exercises as opposed<br />
to being inflexible to changes in the planned<br />
training calendar.<br />
I was left with one overarching theme driven<br />
down from the leadership into the Soldiers’<br />
ethos – genuine teamwork. This was epitomized<br />
at the end of the training cycle when Lt. Col.<br />
Thomas Stewart, commander of the 126th BSB,<br />
brought his battalion together to watch the<br />
movie “Miracle,” about the teamwork of the<br />
1980 U.S. Men’s Olympic Hockey Team defeating<br />
the Soviet Union. Stewart talked not only<br />
Opposing Force personnel get ready prior to an engagement with 126th Brigade Support Battalion elements<br />
(U.S. Army photo courtesy of the 126th Brigade Support Battalion).<br />
about this application of teamwork to the 126th<br />
internally, but about our bigger role as a player<br />
in the <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> and U.S. Army. As Stewart<br />
said, “Extra attention to resourcing your unit’s<br />
training enables us to train as we fight. <strong>The</strong> Battle<br />
Focused Training manual spells it out when it<br />
references the responsibilities of leaders to provide<br />
Soldiers with realistic, exciting, challenging<br />
and demanding training. Partnering with other<br />
units and agencies enables us to exponentially<br />
increase this realism.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> 126th BSB showed me that they are capable<br />
of being the type of team players necessary<br />
to accomplish their missions and that this<br />
application of teamwork doesn’t end with the<br />
126th BSB – it is widespread throughout the<br />
Massachusetts <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>. ✯<br />
Multi-echelon training with the 182nd Air Support Medical Company and Detachment One, Charlie Company, Massachusetts <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> (U.S. Army photo<br />
courtesy of the 126th Brigade Support Battalion.)<br />
<strong>The</strong> Nation’s First 9
Military Police Soldiers Return Home<br />
By Army Maj. James Sahady<br />
Massachusetts <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> Public Affairs<br />
TAUNTON, Mass. – Not even the cold and cloudy<br />
afternoon distracted the more than 200 family<br />
members, friends and fellow Soldiers welcoming<br />
home the 165 members of the 772nd Military<br />
Police Company of the Massachusetts <strong>National</strong><br />
<strong>Guard</strong> at the Taunton Armory on Oct. 17, 2009.<br />
Flags, signs, balloons, yellow bows and a stream<br />
of red, white and blue were lined up outside the<br />
armory, as the large crowd anxiously awaited<br />
the return of the Soldiers.<br />
Capt. Derek Baran, commander, 772nd Military Police<br />
Company, Massachusetts <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>, marches<br />
his unit in front of a cheering crowd outside the<br />
Taunton Armory, Oct. 17, 2009 (U.S. Army photo by<br />
Maj. James Sahady).<br />
10 Minuteman <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2010</strong><br />
Nearly one year ago, Soldiers of the 772nd said<br />
goodbye to their families on the Green. <strong>The</strong><br />
772nd Military Police Company mobilized in<br />
October 2008 at Fort Dix, N.J. This October day,<br />
they were home marching on Route 44, headed<br />
toward a cheering crowd.<br />
“It is good to be home!” said Spc. Stephen<br />
McKenna of Natick, a three-year veteran of the<br />
Massachusetts <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> surrounded by<br />
several family members and friends. McKenna<br />
said he conducted security patrols as part of his<br />
duties and that it was a relief to be back home.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Soldiers spent the last year in Iraq training,<br />
mentoring and coaching Iraqi Police. <strong>The</strong> unit<br />
was led by Capt. Derek Baran of Marblehead,<br />
Mass., a 12-year veteran of the Massachusetts<br />
<strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>, and 1st Sgt. Edward Peterson<br />
of Billerica, Mass., a 21-year Massachusetts<br />
<strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> veteran.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Soldiers of the 772nd are no strangers to<br />
law enforcement. Baran has been a trooper for<br />
four years with the Massachusetts State Police,<br />
and Peterson is a four-year officer of the<br />
Billerica Police Department. About 40 percent of<br />
the unit are employed by federal, state and<br />
municipal agencies, and about 50 percent have<br />
deployed overseas in the past.<br />
Sgt. Jon Rose of Fall River, Mass., a team leader<br />
for the 772nd with 18 years in the Massachusetts<br />
<strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>, said, “We conducted security<br />
patrols and vehicle checkpoint operations as<br />
part of our mission; it was very satisfying to<br />
complete it and return home.”<br />
Rose, who has now completed tours of duty<br />
in both Afghanistan and Iraq, was reunited<br />
with his wife, Sarah, and his two daughters,<br />
Lauren and Maegan. Rose is also a five-year<br />
veteran of the Fall River Police Department.
“I’m looking forward to returning to the force,”<br />
he said.<br />
Sgt. Glen MacDonald, also of Fall River, Mass.,<br />
a team leader for the 772nd with 13 years in the<br />
<strong>Guard</strong>, echoed that it was good to be home.<br />
MacDonald, who served four years in the U.S.<br />
Marine Corps, has also been deployed to both<br />
Afghanistan and Iraq.<br />
MacDonald said the company served as a<br />
“Police Transition Team” and assisted the Iraqi<br />
Police to become a better trained force.<br />
MacDonald also has a background in law<br />
enforcement and has spent five years with the<br />
Fall River Police Department.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re were thoughts Saturday of Spc. Matthew<br />
Pollini of Rockland, Mass., who wasn’t among<br />
the group returning home. Pollini, a newlywed,<br />
was killed in January when his vehicle overturned<br />
near al-Kut, Iraq.<br />
Sen. Marc Pacheco, D-Taunton, was in attendance<br />
to show his support for the troops. “We’re very<br />
Outside the Taunton Armory, Oct. 17, 2009, Sgt. Jon Rose, team leader, 772nd Military Police Company,<br />
Massachusetts <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>, reunites with his family after a one-year deployment to Iraq. From left to right,<br />
Rose’s daughter Lauren, his wife, Sarah and daughter Maegan (U.S. Army photo by Maj. James Sahady).<br />
pleased that all but one member came back<br />
to us safe and sound,” Pacheco said. “We did<br />
lose one man in an accident, and our hearts go<br />
out to his family. This is a real celebratory day<br />
for the families who have been waiting a year<br />
for their return. <strong>The</strong>se men and women are<br />
true patriots.”<br />
A more formal welcome home ceremony for the<br />
Soldiers has yet to be scheduled. ✯<br />
After a one-year deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Sgt. Glen MacDonald, team leader,<br />
772nd Military Police Company, Massachusetts <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>, reunites with his family outside the Taunton<br />
Armory, Oct. 17, 2009. From left to right, MacDonald’s wife, Tracie, his daughter, Rylie, sons, Aiden and Logan<br />
(U.S. Army photo by Maj. James Sahady).<br />
<strong>The</strong> Nation’s First 11
Not Just a Shooting Match<br />
By Sgt. 1st Class Steve Tedeschi, Massachusetts <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> Public Affairs<br />
FORT DEVENS, Mass. – For some Soldiers, the Northeast Marksmanship<br />
Competition can be a shooting match for competing regionally.<br />
<strong>The</strong> 2009 competition was held over a four-day period, from Sept. 10-13.<br />
Not even the rain kept the Soldiers from competing. <strong>The</strong> inclement<br />
weather did slow the competition down at times, wetting down the targets<br />
and making the scoring difficult for the competitors. “If you live in New<br />
England, you learn to shoot in every weather condition that there is,” said<br />
Sgt. 1st. Class Peter Scirpo, senior marksmanship coordinator, Small<br />
Arms Readiness and Training Section, Joint Force Headquarters,<br />
Connecticut <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>.<br />
Although the number of competitors was down this year from last year<br />
because of many units deploying, Sgt. 1st Class Millard Butler of SARTS<br />
JFHQ Vermont <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>, the Pistol Range NCOIC, and a four-year<br />
veteran of the regional match, said, “<strong>The</strong>re is starting to be more participation<br />
because we are going to war now. People are realizing they need<br />
to stay alive. <strong>The</strong>y need to learn how to shoot. So they now know they<br />
need to get into the program instead of sitting back like before.” SARTS<br />
organizers of the competition are hoping that the word will get out about<br />
the annual match for next year’s competition.<br />
Soldiers and Airmen are starting to see the competition as an opportunity<br />
to sharpen their skills to keep themselves alive if and when they are<br />
deployed. “Matches encourage competition, and competition encourages<br />
people to do better at what they do,” said Sgt. 1st Class Rocky Richards,<br />
SARTS JFHQ, New Hampshire <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>, and NCOIC of the rifle<br />
range during the competition.<br />
Sgt. David Hobbs of the 110th Maintenance Company, a match competitor,<br />
said, “This is extremely important. Most <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>smen only get to<br />
shoot once a year. As much time as you can get on the range is important<br />
to your fundamentals. Shooting is a perishable skill. If you don’t do it that<br />
often, you lose whatever you learned the last time you went,” noted Hobbs.<br />
“You can’t go wrong with getting trigger time. <strong>The</strong> thing about the <strong>Guard</strong><br />
is everyone gets to shoot once a year. No one gets the trigger time that<br />
they really need,” echoed Sgt 1st Class Tighe Spady, also from the 110th<br />
Maintenance Company.<br />
“It is an important skill – shooting,” said Butler. “All the other stuff seems<br />
to get a lot of attention, but the bottom line is what brings a Soldier back<br />
home to his family if he gets into a firefight and is able to hit his target.<br />
So this is one of the most important skills, and I’m glad it is getting a little<br />
recognition.”<br />
SARTS organizers of the competition are hoping that the word will get out<br />
about the annual match for next year’s competition. Soldiers and Airmen<br />
wanting to compete in the annual event should start preparing in the<br />
spring for the September match. ✯<br />
<strong>The</strong> Nation’s First 13
By Army Staff Sgt. Don Veitch, 65th Press Camp Headquarters<br />
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. – More than 230 Massachusetts <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong><br />
Soldiers and Airmen traveled to Western New York to participate in<br />
Operation Vigilant <strong>Guard</strong> on Nov. 2, 2009.<br />
Vigilant <strong>Guard</strong> is a national exercise providing an opportunity for <strong>National</strong><br />
<strong>Guard</strong> units to train in emergency response situations and work with<br />
local, state and federal agencies. <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> Bureau and United States<br />
Northern Command sponsor the quarterly Vigilant <strong>Guard</strong> exercises.<br />
<strong>The</strong> five-day military/civilian disaster response exercise simulated a 5.9magnitude<br />
earthquake striking the Niagara Falls region. <strong>The</strong> scenario<br />
called for catastrophic damage throughout the area and multiple training<br />
sites to simulate an overwhelmed local response force, requiring outside<br />
assistance.<br />
<strong>The</strong> size of the exercise provided training for individuals and units as well<br />
as command and control elements managing the logistics involved in<br />
moving housing and feeding the troops from multiple states.<br />
14 Minuteman <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2010</strong><br />
Sgt. 1st Class Michael Kleinebreil, reconnaissance noncommissioned officer,<br />
1st Civil Support Team, Massachusetts <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>, listens to a training<br />
mission brief prior to entry into an earthquake damaged building as part of a<br />
Vigilant <strong>Guard</strong> exercise in Lockport, N.Y., Nov. 3, 2009. <strong>The</strong> training scenario<br />
outlined the damaged building as a PVC pipe factory that became a chemical<br />
danger to the community and the environment (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt.<br />
Don Veitch, 65th Press Camp Headquarters).<br />
“This is the first time we’ve seen anything of this magnitude,” said Warren<br />
DeTemple, technological hazard program specialist, Federal Emergency<br />
Management Agency. Exercises like this strengthen the interoperability<br />
between the <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> and civilian teams, he said.<br />
Massachusetts <strong>Guard</strong>smen role-played assisting the local response<br />
teams as different states rotated through the exercise. <strong>The</strong> 1st Civil
Members of the Massachusetts <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>’s Chemical, Biological,<br />
Radiological, Nuclear or High Yeld Explosive Enhanced Response<br />
Force Package remove a casualty with a flexible litter from the ‘rubble<br />
pile’ training site in Tonawanda, N.Y., Nov. 3, 2009. <strong>The</strong> CERFP<br />
provided casualty search and rescue, casualty decontamination and<br />
medical support on site (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Don Veitch,<br />
65th Press Camp Headquarters).<br />
<strong>The</strong> Nation’s First 15
Support Team loaded their equipment and personnel onto a<br />
Mississippi Air <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> C-17 and flew out of Hanscom<br />
Air Force Base and set up at an abandoned building in<br />
Lockport, N.Y.<br />
<strong>The</strong> building represented a PVC pipe factory that had been<br />
damaged during the quake and posed a hazard to the community<br />
and environment. CST members donned protective<br />
gear and searched for toxins. During the search, team members<br />
discovered evidence of drugs and documented their<br />
findings.<br />
<strong>The</strong> main training area, “the rubble pile,” was more than 20<br />
miles northeast in Tonawanda, N.Y. <strong>The</strong> rubble pile is filled<br />
with debris that simulates a multi-story building leveled by<br />
an earthquake with mass casualties and obstacles.<br />
<strong>The</strong> casualties were a combination of medical dummies<br />
and live role-players with various applications of trauma<br />
makeup. <strong>The</strong> pile’s obstacles included uneven terrain,<br />
collapsed concrete and crushed cars.<br />
<strong>The</strong> site provided room for the hundreds of military and<br />
civilian workers to spread out their personnel and<br />
equipment for chemical, biological, radiological,<br />
nuclear or high yield explosive training exercise.<br />
“You need to have something like this,” said Lt. Col.<br />
Matthew Cooper, weapons of mass destruction<br />
branch chief, Joint Force Headquarters-N.Y. “Look at<br />
Staff Sgt. Edward M. Cole, ropes squad leader, Massachusetts CERFP, monitors radio traffic during a Vigilant <strong>Guard</strong> exercise in Tonawanda, N.Y., Nov. 3, 2009<br />
(U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Don Veitch, 65th Press Camp Headquarters).<br />
16 Minuteman <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2010</strong><br />
Sgt. James Kivlehan (left) and Staff Sgt. Maxime McKenna, 1st Civil Support Team,<br />
Massachusetts <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>, reconnoiter a damaged PVC pipe factory for contamination<br />
hazards during a Vigilant <strong>Guard</strong> exercise in Lockport, N.Y., Nov 3, 2009 (U.S. Army photo by<br />
Staff Sgt. Don Veitch, 65th Press Camp Headquarters).
the number of people being trained. You can’t<br />
replace that.” He said the rubble pile here is<br />
important because it is a live pile that isn’t<br />
strapped down and provides more realistic<br />
training.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Massachusetts CBRNE Enhanced Response<br />
Force Package provided casualty search and<br />
rescue, casualty decontamination and medical<br />
support on site. Search and rescue personnel<br />
scoured the debris looking for casualties and<br />
carefully moved them out to either medical<br />
decontamination or treatment areas.<br />
“This is the biggest exercise I’ve been involved<br />
in,” said Staff Sgt. Edward M. Cole, ropes squad<br />
leader, Massachusetts CERFP.<br />
Cole said his team was responsible for evaluating<br />
and extracting casualties and was excited to be<br />
out training to save lives. Disaster response<br />
training is a break from the regular drill, he said.<br />
“<strong>The</strong> site was very realistic,” said Sgt. Charles<br />
Rozier, a medic team leader with the 79th<br />
Troop Command, Massachusetts <strong>National</strong><br />
<strong>Guard</strong>. “<strong>The</strong> most rewarding part of the exercise<br />
was getting everyone together and building<br />
some cohesion,” he said.<br />
<strong>The</strong> injured that were moved off the rubble pile<br />
were moved through the decontamination<br />
stations when necessary. <strong>The</strong> decontamination<br />
teams would then sanitize the casualty so they<br />
could receive proper medical treatment.<br />
“We can treat anything from advanced cardiac<br />
life support, intubation, stabilization through<br />
fractures,” said Air Force Capt. Christina<br />
Sampsonis, physician assistant, 102nd Medical<br />
Group, Massachusetts <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>. During<br />
the training day, the medical personnel treated<br />
18 critical patients, said Sampsonis.<br />
Sampsonis said the CERFP’s mission was to<br />
replace the local counterpart without disruption.<br />
“Our medical group is outstanding,” said<br />
Sampsonis. “Everyone does a great job.” <strong>The</strong>ir<br />
success is a result of the quality of the personnel<br />
assigned, she said.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Massachusetts <strong>Guard</strong>smen left New York<br />
better prepared to handle the real-world situations<br />
the exercise simulated and with invaluable<br />
experience on the rubble pile.<br />
DeTemple said the event was beyond expectations<br />
and felt that each state should host a<br />
Vigilant <strong>Guard</strong> exercise. ✯<br />
Members of the Massachusetts <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>’s<br />
Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Explosive<br />
Enhanced Response Force Package prepare to<br />
decontaminate a simulated casualty as part of a<br />
Vigilant <strong>Guard</strong> exercise in Tonawanda N.Y., Nov. 3,<br />
2009. <strong>The</strong> CERFP provided casualty search and rescue,<br />
casualty decontamination and medical support<br />
on site (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Don Veitch,<br />
65th Press Camp Headquarters).<br />
<strong>The</strong> Nation’s First 17
Soldiers from the Massachusetts <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>, the Virginia <strong>National</strong><br />
<strong>Guard</strong> and the Pennsylvania <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> practice rappelling out of a<br />
hovering UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter at the Regional Training Institute<br />
Air Assault school in Camp Edwards, Mass., Aug. 20, 2009<br />
(U.S. Army photo by Capt. Brett Walker).<br />
Camp Edwards Hosts Air Assault and<br />
Pathfinder Schools<br />
By Army Capt. Brett Walker, Massachusetts <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> Public Affairs<br />
CAMP EDWARDS, Mass. – More than 150 Soldiers from across the<br />
country earned the privilege of wearing the Army’s coveted Air Assault<br />
badge through completion of an intensive 10-day school at Camp<br />
Edwards’ Regional Training Institute in August. <strong>The</strong> school trained Soldiers<br />
in methods of harnessing equipment and personnel to helicopters for<br />
expedited transportation to and from the battlefield.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Camp Edwards Air Assault school began Aug. 11, 2009, with more<br />
than 250 students. Army Staff Sgt. Scott Corbin, an Air Assault instructor<br />
with Company B of the <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> Warrior Training Center, said that<br />
within the first few hours nearly 50 of those students had already been<br />
excused from the training – screened out by a rigorous obstacle course<br />
recently built to specific Air Assault standards. <strong>The</strong> attrition rate continued<br />
to climb as 50 more students were dismissed for failing to complete the<br />
six-mile and 12-mile ruck marches in the allotted time and using improper<br />
procedures for passing the sling-load test.<br />
Army Spc. Brett Smith of the 116th Infantry Regiment, Virginia <strong>National</strong><br />
<strong>Guard</strong>, agreed that the most difficult part of the school was the sling-load<br />
test, in which students had to identify proper techniques of affixing large<br />
pieces of military equipment to a helicopter. He also asserted that his<br />
favorite part of the school was rappelling out of a helicopter hovering 80<br />
feet above the ground.<br />
Army Sgt. Miranda Carter, Virginia <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>, who graduated from<br />
Air Assault school last summer, said, “Rappelling out of the aircraft is the<br />
most fun – it’s the adrenaline of the moment.”<br />
18 Minuteman <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2010</strong><br />
Sgt. 1st Class Allen Watts, noncommissioned officer in charge of Air Assault<br />
school at Camp Edwards, demonstrates the reliability of his equipment to Soldiers<br />
gathered 80 feet below on Lee Field at Camp Edwards, Mass., Aug. 20, 2009<br />
(U.S. Army photo by Capt. Brett Walker).
This year, it was Carter’s responsibility to provide administrative assistance<br />
to the 55 cadets attending the school. <strong>The</strong> cadets, all of whom are drilling<br />
members of their respective state <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>s, demonstrated a higher<br />
graduation rate than the general ratio in the class.<br />
“I think their college studying skills have a lot do with it,” said Carter. She<br />
also noted that the cadets were in particularly good physical condition<br />
because they had recently completed their leadership development camp.<br />
<strong>The</strong> cadets hailed from colleges in South Dakota, Montana, Virginia and<br />
North Carolina. Some Soldiers traveled even further than that to attend<br />
the Air Assault school here. <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> Soldiers from as far west as<br />
Washington and Oregon supplemented members of the Massachusetts<br />
<strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> participating in the training.<br />
Simultaneous with the Air Assault training taking place on Camp Edwards,<br />
noncommissioned officers from the Warrior Training Center were also<br />
instructing 37 <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> Soldiers on Pathfinder operations elsewhere<br />
on the same Army installation.<br />
Army Staff Sgt. Benjamin Raudszus, a Pathfinder instructor, said,<br />
“Pathfinder school is similar to Air Assault school, but more detailed.”<br />
Pathfinder school is four days longer than Air Assault school. It also<br />
includes a two-day culmination exercise in which students are evaluated<br />
on their knowledge of the course material, ability to apply that knowledge<br />
in a field environment, ability to devise a proper plan, and leadership skills.<br />
<strong>The</strong> course includes procedures for harnessing military equipment to<br />
helicopters, but mainly focuses on teaching Soldiers to set up drop zones<br />
for individuals and equipment parachuting out of aircraft.<br />
“I would say right now the focus of Pathfinder operations<br />
is leaning toward Afghanistan for aerial resupply missions,”<br />
said Staff Sgt. Troy Richardson, a Pathfinder instructor.<br />
Richardson said the two hardest parts of the training<br />
are the written drop zone test and the practical<br />
sling-load inspection.<br />
<strong>The</strong> difficulty of the sling-load test is a recurring theme<br />
linking the Pathfinder school and the Air Assault school,<br />
but it is also may be the most important part.<br />
Army Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Crookstan, a member of the<br />
141st Military Intelligence Battalion, Utah <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>,<br />
and one of the Air Assault school students, said, “<strong>The</strong><br />
ability to properly use sling-load techniques is the most<br />
important part of the school because it will allow Army<br />
forces to transport Soldiers and equipment over natural<br />
and enemy-emplaced obstacles.”<br />
Army Spc. Sterling Hacker, another member of Virginia’s<br />
116th Infantry Regiment, was among the 153 Soldiers who<br />
graduated from Air Assault school at Camp Edwards Aug. 21, 2009. Hacker<br />
has only one regret regarding the training he received, “If only they’d let us<br />
do the Aussie rappel,” he said, referring to a face-first form of rappelling.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Air Assault and Pathfinder students learned a lot over the two weeks.<br />
Among the lessons learned were methods of integrating air assets into<br />
ground maneuver operations and knowledge of the first-class training<br />
facilities available on the Massachusetts Military Reservation. ✯<br />
Cadre member Cpl. Derek Bates, Company B, Army <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> Warrior Training Center, commands an Air Assault student to rappel from a UH-60 Black Hawk<br />
helicopter as part of the final task in the course at Lee Field on Camp Edwards, Mass., Aug. 20, 2009 (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Michael V. Broughey).<br />
<strong>The</strong> Nation’s First 19
102nd Intelligence Wing Dedicates DGS Facility<br />
By Air Force Tech. Sgt. Andrew Reitano, 102nd Intelligence Wing Public Affairs<br />
OTIS ANG BASE, Mass. – <strong>The</strong> 102nd Intelligence Wing officially marked<br />
the initial operating capability of the 102nd Intelligence Group’s $1.8<br />
million Distributed Ground Station facility with a ribbon cutting ceremony<br />
Nov. 6, 2009.<br />
Maj. Gen. Joseph C. Carter, Massachusetts <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> Adjutant<br />
General, presided over the event, which was attended by Maj. Gen. Michael<br />
Akey, Massachusetts Air <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> Commander, Col. Anthony<br />
Schiavi, 102nd Intelligence Wing Commander, Col. David DeNofrio, 950th<br />
Electronic Systems Group Commander, as well as elected officials and<br />
community leaders.<br />
“With each change in unit designation and mission and the arrival of new<br />
and more advanced aircraft, in each era of its existence, Otis Air <strong>National</strong><br />
<strong>Guard</strong> Base has been on the cutting edge of America’s air defense system,”<br />
said Carter. “So it’s really not remarkable that we gather here today to<br />
acknowledge the beginning of a new mission for Otis and a new era for<br />
the 102nd Intelligence Wing.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> intelligence facility is part of the Air Force’s larger network-centric<br />
Distributed Common Ground System of ground stations, distributed<br />
sites, collaborative work centers, and remote sites that produce strategic,<br />
operational, and tactical intelligence supporting combat operations.<br />
“This interim facility will allow intelligence analysts to execute their<br />
wartime mission while awaiting construction of the new facility,” said<br />
Col. James LeFavor, 102nd Intelligence Group Commander.<br />
<strong>The</strong> permanent $14.4 million, 33,000-square-foot facility is scheduled to<br />
be operational in 2011 and will allow the intelligence group to perform the<br />
full range of its mission.<br />
20 Minuteman <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2010</strong><br />
<strong>The</strong> Air Force DCGS is a weapon system that provides multi-discipline<br />
intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance decision superiority information<br />
to U.S., allied, coalition military forces, government agencies, and<br />
emergency first-responders.<br />
“This is a world-class weapons system,” said DeNofrio. “<strong>The</strong>re is no other<br />
Air Force, service or combat support agency that has anything that can<br />
hold a candle to what is in front of you.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> 950th ELSG, based at Hanscom AFB, Mass., was responsible for<br />
developing, acquiring and integrating the highly classified technologies<br />
behind the weapons system.<br />
<strong>The</strong> 102nd Intelligence Wing, Otis Air<br />
<strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> Base Operations Center of<br />
the new Distributed Common Ground<br />
System mission. <strong>The</strong> new mission provides<br />
multi-discipline intelligence, surveillance<br />
and reconnaissance decision superiority<br />
information to U.S., allied and coalition<br />
military forces, government agencies and<br />
emergency first-responders across the full<br />
range of military operations (U.S. Air Force<br />
photo by Master Sgt. Sandra Niedzwiecki).<br />
A member of the 102nd Intelligence Wing,<br />
Otis Air <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> Base, Cape Cod,<br />
Mass., analyzes mission data as part of<br />
the Intel Wing’s new Distributed Common<br />
Ground System mission. <strong>The</strong> new mission<br />
provides multi-discipline intelligence,<br />
surveillance and reconnaissance decision<br />
superiority information to U.S., allied<br />
and coalition military forces, government<br />
agencies and emergency first-responders<br />
across the full range of military operations.<br />
(U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt.<br />
Sandra Niedzwiecki)
Otis intelligence analysts have been performing<br />
the DGS mission at other locations worldwide<br />
since 2008. With the addition of this facility, those<br />
same <strong>Guard</strong>smen will now be able to support the<br />
fight on terrorism from their home state of<br />
Massachusetts.<br />
<strong>The</strong> new Otis facility, dubbed DGS-Massachusetts,<br />
is the 11th such location to commence operations<br />
– joining five active duty and five Air <strong>National</strong><br />
<strong>Guard</strong> sites within the Air Force. Once the permanent<br />
facility is completed, Otis will become the<br />
third Air <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> site, after Kansas and<br />
Indiana, to operate a full-range DGS.<br />
Following the ribbon cutting ceremony, the official<br />
party and more than 100 Otis personnel attended a<br />
ground breaking ceremony at the future site of the<br />
permanent DGS facility.<br />
“With the support of our federal and state civilian<br />
and military leadership, we were fortunate to<br />
secure the funding to build this state-of-the-art<br />
intelligence facility,” said Schiavi. <strong>The</strong> new facility<br />
will be energy efficient and environmentally<br />
compliant.<br />
In an effort to facilitate the construction process,<br />
Schiavi, a licensed heavy equipment operator,<br />
climbed into an excavator and began demolishing<br />
an old security forces operations center where the<br />
new intelligence center will be located. ✯<br />
<strong>The</strong> Nation’s First 21
<strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> Soldiers Steal Spotlight<br />
at PGA Event<br />
By Army Capt. Brett Walker<br />
Massachusetts <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> Public Affairs<br />
NORTON, Mass. – Hall of Fame Red Sox outfielder<br />
Jim Rice is notorious for his aversion to<br />
reporters, but there was no evidence of that<br />
when he was approached by a military journalist<br />
Sept. 1, 2009, at the opening of the PGA Tour’s<br />
Deutsche Bank Championship in Norton, Mass.<br />
“You protect us and provide us that important<br />
service, so we try to provide entertainment to<br />
you through sports,” said Rice, who played 16<br />
seasons with the Boston Red Sox. “If we didn’t<br />
have a strong military working for us, we’d be at<br />
war all of the time and never have time to play<br />
baseball or golf.”<br />
PGA Tour golfer Brad Faxon gives advice to Hall<br />
of Fame outfielder Jim Rice. <strong>The</strong>y won the PGA’s<br />
Deutsche Bank Pro-Am in Norton, Mass., Sept.<br />
1, 2009. Both athletes took time to converse with<br />
members of the Massachusetts Army <strong>National</strong><br />
<strong>Guard</strong> during the tournament (U.S. Army photo<br />
by Capt. Brett Walker).<br />
Capt. Brett Walker, public affairs officer, caddies for<br />
PGA Tour golfer Rick Price (center), while Boston<br />
Bruins Color Commentator Andy Brickley, sporting<br />
a yellow ribbon, approaches his ball during the<br />
PGA’s Deutsche Bank Pro-Am in Norton, Mass.,<br />
Sept. 1, 2009 (Photo by Brad Owens).<br />
22 Minuteman <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2010</strong><br />
Pictured from left to right: Brett Quigley, current professional golfer; Fred Lynn, former Boston Red Sox player;<br />
Sgt. John O’Riordan, Massachusetts <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> and Purple Heart recipient; Staff Sgt. Dale Beatty, former<br />
member, North Carolina <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> and Purple Heart recipient; Sgt. Gerald Tehan, Massachusetts <strong>National</strong><br />
<strong>Guard</strong> and Purple Heart recipient; and Andy Brickley, former Boston Bruins player, pose before the start of the<br />
Pro-Am golf tournament preceding the official Deutsch Bank Championship on Sept. 1, 2009, in Norton, Mass.<br />
(U.S. Army photo by Maj. James Sahady).<br />
Rice joined 20 other legendary Boston-based<br />
athletes, 21 professional golfers, 63 talented<br />
amateur duffers and the Massachusetts Army<br />
<strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> at the Players Club of Boston for<br />
a charitable Pro-Am golf tournament preceding<br />
the official Deutsche Bank Championship.<br />
<strong>The</strong> spotlight was certainly on the athletes, but<br />
the presence of the Massachusetts Army <strong>National</strong><br />
<strong>Guard</strong> was apparent and appreciated. Three<br />
M-109 howitzers firing 12 rounds made sure of<br />
that – both announcing the presence of the <strong>Guard</strong><br />
and serving an integral role in signaling the start<br />
of the shotgun style Pro-Am game.
“Having the military out here is really a big deal,”<br />
attested Matt Toenjes, tournament coordinator<br />
for the PGA, succinctly summarizing the sentiment<br />
of the PGA and the 1,700 volunteers<br />
supporting the Deutsche Bank Tournament, the<br />
vast majority of whom were sporting yellow<br />
ribbons on their chests.<br />
“All PGA tournaments have a military focus now,”<br />
said Toenjes.<br />
He noted that most PGA tournaments have at<br />
least one day where members of the military are<br />
granted free admission. Some tournaments go<br />
even further, such as the AT&T <strong>National</strong> in<br />
Washington, D.C., where wounded veterans do<br />
some of the television commentary.<br />
In his eight years as the PGA’s tournament<br />
coordinator, this was the first time Toenjes had<br />
seen howitzers participate in the festivities.<br />
Sgt. 1st Class William Murphy was the gunnery<br />
sergeant for the detachment of the 1st Battalion,<br />
101st Field Artillery Regiment, that attended the<br />
Deutsche Bank Championship. Murphy has participated<br />
in about 300 ceremonial artillery events,<br />
10 already this year. He concurred that this was<br />
the first time his unit supported this particular<br />
event. “Every time you fire the guns, it’s training,<br />
even if they’re blanks,” said Murphy. “Plus it’s fun.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> same Soldiers who fired blank rounds from<br />
M-109 howitzers at the golf tournament will likely<br />
be firing live rounds out of M-119 howitzers in Iraq<br />
soon, as they will be deploying to Iraq in <strong>2010</strong>.<br />
<strong>The</strong> extent of the military involvement at the PGA<br />
Tour event far exceeded the artillery salute. Brig.<br />
Gen. Thomas J. Sellars, commander of the<br />
Massachusetts Army <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>, gave the<br />
opening remarks and emphasized the professionalism<br />
of the PGA. “<strong>The</strong> mark of a truly<br />
professional organization is how they give back<br />
to the community in which they live.”<br />
Two wounded Soldiers from the Massachusetts<br />
<strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>, Sgt. Gerald Tehan and Sgt. John<br />
O’Riordan, and one wounded Soldier from the<br />
North Carolina Army <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>, Staff. Sgt.<br />
Dale Beatty, were honored before the assembled<br />
participants of the Pro-Am.<br />
Maureen O’Conner, course chairwoman for the<br />
tournament, said that free tickets will also be<br />
offered to Soldiers for the tournament, along<br />
with access to the exclusive Master Card Club,<br />
where refreshments may be purchased.<br />
Speculating on the origin of the tournament’s<br />
military focus, Dave Anderson, chairman of the<br />
championship support staff for the Deutsche<br />
Bank Championship, said, “I think it was just<br />
proposed at a meeting and received overwhelming<br />
support.”<br />
Beyond the obvious gestures of recognition, the<br />
tournament’s participants proved their individual<br />
appreciation for military service by taking time<br />
Brig. Gen. Thomas J. Sellars, Massachusetts Army <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> Commander, poses with former Red Sox<br />
stars Dennis Eckersley, Jim Rice and Fred Lynn at the PGA’s Deutsche Bank Pro-Am in Norton, Mass.,<br />
Sept. 1, 2009 (U.S. Army photo by Maj. James Sahady).<br />
to sign autographs, take photos and converse<br />
with members of the Massachusetts Army<br />
<strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>.<br />
Former Patriots linebacker and recent Football<br />
Hall of Fame inductee Andre Tippett stopped<br />
between the 11th and 12th hole to address a<br />
uniformed Soldier.<br />
“Any time we can reach out to the military<br />
service, be it through donations or charity<br />
events or professional sports, it’s a good thing,”<br />
said Tippett. “We appreciate their service and<br />
what they’re doing.”<br />
Brad Owens, a professional caddie, hailed a<br />
<strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> Soldier from the sidelines and<br />
offered him the opportunity to caddie a hole for<br />
PGA Tour golfer Rick Price.<br />
“I like the military’s involvement with this<br />
event,” said Owens handing over the bag of golf<br />
clubs. “If you’re American, you better.”<br />
Price was equally outgoing in his appreciation of<br />
members of the Massachusetts Army <strong>National</strong><br />
<strong>Guard</strong>. “It’s awesome to have you guys out here,”<br />
said Price to his interim caddie. “I do not have<br />
any military background, but I certainly support<br />
the troops.”<br />
Brad Faxon, a front runner on the PGA Tour,<br />
approached a uniformed Army officer just before<br />
teeing off on the 14th hole to greet him and<br />
make small talk.<br />
“Ask any athlete what is the most important<br />
tournament to win, and they’ll say the majors<br />
followed by the tournament closest to home,”<br />
said Faxon, who is from Rhode Island. “This is<br />
my Fenway Park. This is my Gillette Stadium.”<br />
Faxon realized the preliminary part of his goal.<br />
His five-some, which included Rice, won the Pro-<br />
Am portion of the tournament. Ultimately, he did<br />
not win the Deutsche Bank Championship, but<br />
he, along with the Boston sport legends and the<br />
PGA, certainly created a winning atmosphere<br />
for the members of the Massachusetts Army<br />
<strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>. ✯<br />
<strong>The</strong> Soldiers of Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 1st Battalion, 101st Field Artillery Regiment,<br />
Massachusetts Army <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>, fire their M-109 howitzers to signify the start of PGA’s Deutsche Bank<br />
Pro-Am in Norton, Mass., Sept. 1, 2009 (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Brett Walker).<br />
<strong>The</strong> Nation’s First 23
By Army Capt. Brett Walker, Massachusetts <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> Public Affairs<br />
FALL RIVER, Mass. – Various elements of the Massachusetts <strong>National</strong><br />
<strong>Guard</strong> assisted the Fall River Chamber of Commerce in providing<br />
wholesome entertainment for nearly 100,000 people at the Fall River<br />
Celebrates America Festival Aug. 8-10, 2009.<br />
“<strong>The</strong> <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> is a very important component,” said Robert<br />
Mellion, chief executive officer of the Fall River Chamber of Commerce.<br />
“Not just for security, but also to help spotlight volunteerism and<br />
community involvement.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> festival featured carnival rides, live bands, illusionists, dance troupes,<br />
an exotic animal display, obstacle courses for children, locally prepared<br />
foods and beverages, fireworks and an amateur singing competition<br />
called Fall River Catches a Star.<br />
Members of the 101st Field Artillery Battalion, 181st Engineer Battalion and<br />
the 976th Military Police Battalion all volunteered to provide assistance<br />
to the city of Fall River in administering the annual event. Sgt. Gabriel<br />
Amaral of the Recruiting and Retention Command, Massachusetts Army<br />
<strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>, described the Soldiers’ mission as providing security,<br />
helping the chamber of commerce and simply maintaining a presence.<br />
Recruiters were also on hand to discuss opportunities in the<br />
Massachusetts Army <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> with eligible citizens.<br />
Mellion was very pleased with the conduct of the <strong>Guard</strong> members at the<br />
festival. “We are very, very grateful that the Massachusetts <strong>National</strong><br />
<strong>Guard</strong> has volunteered to participate in this festival. It’s been discussed<br />
repeatedly by our board how appreciative we are,” he said.<br />
Dressed as a pirate and toting a live parrot, Rick Oliveros was the<br />
manager of the Kids World section of the festival for the second year<br />
in a row.<br />
“<strong>The</strong> Massachusetts <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> gives everyone the sense of a quiet,<br />
controlled, safe environment,” said Oliveros. “It’s really important to<br />
give parents that sense of security that comes from having the <strong>National</strong><br />
<strong>Guard</strong> here.”<br />
In addition to placating the fears of parents, the presence of the<br />
Massachusetts <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> also convinced the Department of<br />
Homeland Security to allow the carnival section of the festival to extend<br />
onto an international shipping dock. According to Oliveros, that was a<br />
strict stipulation imposed by the Department of Homeland Security.<br />
“We couldn’t put on the festival without the Massachusetts <strong>National</strong><br />
<strong>Guard</strong>,” said Oliveros.<br />
Organizers of the festival were not the only ones to welcome the Soldiers.<br />
Michael DeAlmeida was the Fall River Catches a Star singing competition<br />
champion in 2006 and was asked to come back this year as the master<br />
of ceremonies. “It’s nice to put a face to the men and women serving our<br />
country,” he said.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Massachusetts <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>’s tent was overwhelmed with visitors<br />
who stopped briefly to extend their gratitude.<br />
One such visitor was from Mississippi and<br />
thanked them for the flood relief efforts the<br />
Massachusetts <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> provided to her<br />
after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast.<br />
Jason Rua, chairman of the Fall River<br />
Celebrates America Festival, estimated that as<br />
many as 50,000 people may have attended on<br />
Saturday night alone. A constant level of<br />
approximately 5,000 people was additionally<br />
maintained throughout the day.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Fall River Celebrates America Festival is an<br />
annual event that takes place in mid-August. ✯<br />
Courtney Faris of Fall River demonstrates push-ups<br />
for Sgt. Gabriel Amaral of the Recruiting and<br />
Retention Command, Massachusetts Army <strong>National</strong><br />
<strong>Guard</strong>, as Spc. Casey O’Brien of the 379th Engineer<br />
Company, Massachusetts Army <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>,<br />
and members of the Recruit Sustainment Program<br />
watch on Aug. 8, 2009, at the Fall River Celebrates<br />
America Waterfront Festival, Fall River, Mass.<br />
(U.S. Army photo by Capt. Brett Walker).<br />
<strong>The</strong> Nation’s First 25
Instructors Wanted at<br />
Regional Training Institute<br />
A U.S. Army Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT) unloads a military equipment storage container.<br />
<strong>The</strong> HEMTT mission is to provide heavy transport capabilities for supply and re-supply of combat vehicles and<br />
weapon systems for the Army and Marine Corps (U.S. Army stock file photo).<br />
<strong>The</strong> Massachusetts <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> Regional<br />
Training Institute needs 88M – motor transport<br />
operator – instructors for the summer of <strong>2010</strong>.<br />
<strong>The</strong> 101st Regional Training Institute, formerly<br />
known as the Massachusetts Military Academy,<br />
26 Minuteman <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2010</strong><br />
is the oldest state-run military academy and<br />
officer candidate school in the United States.<br />
It has served as the prototype on which all<br />
other state military academies have been<br />
modeled. Today, the 101st RTI, Massachusetts<br />
Army <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>, is the premier military<br />
training facility in the Northeast. If you are<br />
motivated, enjoy working with troops and<br />
present a professional appearance, this is an<br />
excellent opportunity to enhance your career<br />
advancement prospects.<br />
We are looking for sharp staff sergeants and<br />
above who meet height/weight and APFT<br />
standards with a desire to pass along knowledge<br />
and experience to other Soldiers. Training<br />
Soldiers is one of the most fulfilling tasks that a<br />
noncommissioned officer undertakes. Teaching<br />
new Soldiers how to drive some of the largest<br />
vehicles in the Army inventory is critical to our<br />
commonwealth and nation.<br />
Prospects must be 88M and Army Basic<br />
Instructor Course qualified. If you aren’t ABIC<br />
qualified, the RTI provides nationally recognized<br />
instructor credentialing. Getting ABIC qualified<br />
is a great way to earn promotion points and<br />
further your career. If you have recent combat<br />
experience, your expertise may save lives.<br />
While recent combat experience is preferred, it<br />
isn’t mandatory.<br />
For more information contact Lt. Col. Chuck<br />
Perenick at chuck.perenick@us.army.mil or<br />
(508) 968-5978. ✯
Fun with Plastic Explosives<br />
By Army Sgt. James C. Lally, Massachusetts <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> Public Affairs<br />
FORT DEVENS, Mass. – Combat Engineers<br />
from the Massachusetts Army <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong><br />
trained with plastic explosives at Fort Devens,<br />
Mass., Aug. 1, 2009.<br />
<strong>The</strong> 182nd Engineer Company (Sapper),<br />
Massachusetts Army <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>, conducted<br />
demolition training during their drill weekend<br />
using a variety of plastic explosive charges.<br />
“I became a<br />
combat engineer<br />
to blow stuff up.”<br />
✯ ✯ ✯ ✯<br />
–– Army Pvt. Matthew Regis<br />
182nd Engineer Company (Sapper)<br />
Massachusetts Army <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong><br />
Combat engineers use explosives to disable<br />
minefields and other obstacles intended to stop<br />
friendly forces from advancing on the battlefield.<br />
It is necessary for a unit that handles<br />
explosives as part of their prescribed duties to<br />
achieve and maintain a high level of proficiency<br />
and safety while handling them.<br />
Army 1st Sgt. Michael T. St. Cyr of the 182nd<br />
Engineer Company (Sapper), Massachusetts<br />
Army <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>, said, “Normally, we use<br />
explosives for the purpose of destroying roads<br />
and bridges to prevent the enemy from using<br />
them. We also clear minefields so our forces can<br />
advance to their objectives, but when we were in<br />
Iraq, we also had six Soldiers who were qualified<br />
to blow up improvised explosive devices.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> range at Fort Devens provides a safe environment<br />
for the Soldiers to practice individual<br />
tasks of preparing, placing and detonating small<br />
explosive charges. After placing their charges,<br />
the Soldiers could watch them explode from a<br />
protective trailer equipped with safety glass.<br />
Army 1st Sgt. Michael T. St. Cyr from the 182nd<br />
Engineer Company (Sapper), Massachusetts Army<br />
<strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>, teaches Pfc. Brendan Dekoschak<br />
how to arm a Bangelor charge for blowing up<br />
obstacles on Fort Devens, Mass., Aug. 1, 2009<br />
(U.S. Army photo by Sgt. James C. Lally).<br />
Army Staff Sgt. Michael Rosa from the 182nd<br />
Engineer Company (Sapper), Massachusetts<br />
Army <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>, made sure the newest<br />
Soldiers in the unit prepared their charges<br />
properly and safely but also made them feel<br />
comfortable by cracking jokes and making small<br />
talk with them about his passion for being a<br />
combat engineer. “I really love blowing things<br />
up,” Rosa said.<br />
Army Pvt. Matthew Regis from the 182nd<br />
Engineer Company (Sapper), Massachusetts<br />
Army <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>, was new to the unit,<br />
and the drill was his first opportunity to use<br />
explosives. Regis said, “I became a combat<br />
engineer to blow stuff up. I thought it sounded<br />
fun and figured why not?”<br />
When the unit detonated a large underground<br />
cratering charge, the shockwave from the blast<br />
could be felt under foot like a rippling wave,<br />
causing all of the Soldiers to laugh and enjoy<br />
their weekend doing what they love – blowing<br />
stuff up. ✯<br />
<strong>The</strong> Nation’s First 27
<strong>Guard</strong> Unit Changes Command<br />
By Army Maj. James Sahady<br />
Massachusetts <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> Public Affairs<br />
REHOBOTH, Mass. – <strong>The</strong> Massachusetts Army<br />
<strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>’s 79th Troop Command has a<br />
new commander and an emerging mission in<br />
support of Joint Task Force – Massachusetts<br />
and Homeland Security.<br />
Lt. Col. Paul M. Landry assumed command of<br />
the 79th Troop Command from Col. John G.<br />
Chapman in a ceremony conducted on Redway<br />
Plain in Rehoboth, Aug. 9, 2009. This historical<br />
field was part of the Redway Farm in Colonial<br />
times and used as a training ground for the<br />
Rehoboth militia. <strong>The</strong> Homestead of Capt. James<br />
Redway, commander of the Rehoboth militia in<br />
the mid-1700s, was located across the road<br />
from Redway Plain.<br />
<strong>The</strong> 79th Troop Command of the Massachusetts<br />
Army <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> is responsible for planning,<br />
enabling and supervising matters of homeland<br />
security under direction of the president of the<br />
United States or the governor of Massachusetts.<br />
Maj. Gen. Joseph C. Carter, <strong>The</strong> Adjutant General,<br />
Massachusetts <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>, presided over the<br />
passing of the command’s organizational colors<br />
between Chapman and Landry.<br />
28 Minuteman <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2010</strong><br />
Col. John Chapman, outgoing commander, 79th Troop Command, right, relinquishes the colors to Maj. Gen.<br />
Joseph C. Carter, <strong>The</strong> Adjutant General, Massachusetts <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>, who will then transfer the colors to Lt.<br />
Col. Paul Landry, center, incoming commander, 79th Troop Command, at the historic Redway Plain located in<br />
Rehoboth, Mass., Aug. 9, 2009 (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Brett Walker).<br />
Carter praised Chapman for his service and<br />
leadership. “His stewardship of the 79th Troop<br />
Command has ensured that the incoming<br />
commander receives a well trained and highly<br />
motivated unit capable of accomplishing any<br />
mission,” he said.<br />
In officially appointing Landry as the commander<br />
of the 79th, Carter ordered of him, “Above all<br />
else, may you provide your Soldiers a leadership<br />
example so that they can continue to exemplify<br />
the values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless<br />
service, honor, integrity and personal courage.”<br />
Landry, 45, has been a member of the<br />
Massachusetts <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> for 26 years and<br />
has served in numerous command and staff<br />
positions within the <strong>Guard</strong>. He has a variety of<br />
experience uniquely suited to the mission of<br />
the 79th Troop Command. He has served as a<br />
chemical officer, military police officer and<br />
public affairs officer.<br />
“In 1636, Massachusetts organized the first<br />
militia forces, the birth of the <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> –<br />
the Nation’s First,” said Landry. “Today on this<br />
field used by the militia forces to train in 1700,<br />
we continue that legacy of being the Nation’s<br />
First,” he said.<br />
In his civilian job, Landry is a lieutenant with<br />
the city of Everett Police Department and is<br />
currently on military leave serving as the<br />
team chief for the Pre-Mobilization Training<br />
Assistance Element preparing mobilizing<br />
Massachusetts <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> Soldiers for<br />
future deployments in support of Overseas<br />
Contingency Operations.<br />
Other dignitaries included Brig. Gen. Thomas<br />
J. Sellars, commander, Massachusetts Army<br />
<strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>; State Command Sgt. Maj.<br />
David Costa, Massachusetts <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>;<br />
Rehoboth Town Selectman Kevin R. McBride,<br />
who also holds the rank of major general in the<br />
Army <strong>National</strong> <strong>Guard</strong>; and Rehoboth Police<br />
Chief Stephen J. Enos.<br />
Landry lives in Sudbury, Mass., with his wife,<br />
Susan, and children, Brooke and Sean. ✯