Summer 2010 - STATES - The National Guard

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In the Spirit of Giving By Sgt. 1st Class Daniel C. Maes, 211th Military Police Battalion CAMP TAJI, Iraq – U.S. Soldiers working at the Taji Theater Internment Facility and Reconciliation Center strengthened their partnership with their Iraqi counterparts through the simple act of giving here, Dec. 30. Twenty-five Iraqi corrections officers were invited by the Taji TIFRC Warden, Mr. Hassan Al-Mohammadawi, and the 211th Military Police Battalion Commander, Lt. Col. Richard Johnson, to join the Soldiers of the 211th for an American-style holiday gathering at the battalion’s morale, welfare and recreation center, called “The Burn Pit.” This event was designed for the Iraqi and American leadership to show their appreciation for the hard work carried out by the Iraqi corrections officers and to present gifts for them and their families. Mr. Al-Mohammadawi expressed his gratitude to the men and women of the 211th and to the Iraqi corrections officers in attendance. He let the corrections officers know that their work is very important, and they were doing a good and honorable job. Lt. Col. Johnson welcomed the Iraqis and told them how the joint leadership team at the Taji TIFRC was concerned with their well-being as much as with their work performance. “We reach out to you in friendship as well as work partners,” said Johnson. “I talk frequently with your leadership. We talk about the things we need to do to make you successful in running the TIFRC,” he added. The gift bags were put together with donations from the Soldiers of the headquarters company and the battalion’s subordinate units: 1st Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment of Fort Myer, Va.; and the 23rd Military Police Company of Fort Drum, N.Y. 16 Minuteman Summer 2010 Lt. Col. Richard Johnson, commander of the 211th Military Police Battalion, shakes the hand of an Iraqi corrections officer Dec. 30, 2009, as Warden Hassan Al-Mohammadawi, center, looks on (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Daniel C. Maes). Through an interpreter, one of the Iraqi corrections officers said that until this day he had only known the hardworking side of American Soldiers and didn’t realize their hearts were so big. “Today we want to give you gifts for your children and families to say thank you for your efforts and hard work every day,” said Johnson. ✯
Massachusetts Governor Signs Tax Legislation to Help Reservists By Army Sgt. James C. Lally, Massachusetts National Guard Public Affairs QUINCY, Mass. – Gov. Deval Patrick signed legislation at the City Council chambers in Quincy, Mass., Feb. 24, 2010, that permits the City of Quincy to grant property tax abatements to members of the Massachusetts National Guard and reservists for the periods they were on active duty outside the U.S. Kevin Coughlin, Quincy City Council president, petitioned the idea, and the Quincy City Council approved it. State Sen. Michael Morrissey was the lead sponsor at the statehouse but state Reps. Bruce Ayers, Stephen Tobin and Ron Mariano all signed on. After Patrick signed the legislation, Coughlin said, “It’s just a small way of saying thank you for your service. Hopefully it’s something that we are also going to make statewide. Quincy has done it, and the push is on to make this a local option to every city and town across the commonwealth as a way of saying thank you,” said Coughlin. Depending on individual circumstances, the abatements may be retroactive to fiscal year 2002, and the city may continue the program through the fiscal year 2010, with an option for the city council to vote to extend it further. Before he signed the bill, Patrick expressed his thinking on the issue to an audience of veterans who were there to witness the event. In doing so, Patrick referred to a recent send-off ceremony for members of the Massachusetts Army National Guard, saying, “I am so struck, over and over again, by how ordinary people undertake the extraordinary. They choose to put themselves in harm’s way for the rest of us, and they set aside their own plans, their own ambitions, their own lives, to go for reasons of patriotism. It’s a humbling thing, and let me tell you, it gives me more than pleasure to be able to sign this bill or to do anything else that I can to honor your service,” said Patrick. ✯ 102nd Earns Sixth Outstanding Unit Award By Tech. Sgt. Andrew Reitano 102nd Intelligence Wing Public Affairs The 102nd Intelligence Wing has been awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for outstanding performance from Dec. 1, 2007, through Oct. 31, 2009. “This award is not given out to just any unit,” said Col. Anthony Schiavi, 102nd Intelligence Wing commander. “I am proud of the work that every member of the wing does to succeed both personally and as a much larger team. It’s their accomplishments that have set the standard of excellence across the Air National Guard and the Air Force.” The wing’s significant accomplishments during its transformation from a fighter wing to an intelligence wing, assumption of real-world Operational Battle Watch Missions a full year before their scheduled Initial Operational Capability, completion of more than $22 million Gov. Deval Patrick signs legislation at the City Council Chambers in Quincy, Mass., Feb. 24, 2010, to permit the City of Quincy to grant property tax abatements to members of the Massachusetts National Guard and reservists for the periods they were on active duty outside the U.S. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. James C. Lally). of major construction projects, recruitment of 315 new accessions and retraining of more than 100 personnel to intelligence career fields, were only part of the reason it captured the award. “The dedication and commitment of the members of the 102nd Intelligence Wing enable the Air National Guard to fulfill its commitment to the missions of peacekeeping, humanitarian relief, domestic improvement, and most important of all – defense of America,” said Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III, Air National Guard director. All Airmen assigned to the 102nd during the award period are authorized to wear the associated ribbon. The Air Force Outstanding Unit Award is awarded to an organization that has performed meritorious service or outstanding achievements that clearly set the unit above and apart from similar units. ✯ The wing has previously been awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for the following periods: July 1, 1974 – June 30, 1975 Aug. 1, 1989 – March 31, 1991 July 15, 1997 – July 14, 1999 Sept. 11, 2001 (one day only) Sept. 12, 2001 – Aug. 14, 2003 “This award is not given out to just any unit.” – Col. Anthony Schiavi 102nd Intelligence Wing Commander The Nation’s First 17
Page 3: On the Cover EAST FREETOWN, Mass. -
Page 6 and 7: Service Member Spotlight Army Spc.
Page 9 and 10: Massachusetts National Guard Gives
Page 11 and 12: Story and photos by Air Force Capt.
Page 14 and 15: 101st FA Medic Provides Care at Car
Page 16 and 17: NationalGuard Celebrates the 373rd
Page 20 and 21: Friend of 102nd Continues Model Air
Page 23 and 24: Oldest FA Battalion Takes Charge at
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Page 27 and 28: Celtics and Soldiers Host Black His
Page 29 and 30: Marksmanship Training with the Afgh

Summer 2010 - STATES - The National Guard

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