The
253rd Transportation Company, NJARNG,
commanded by CPT Michael Ciarrocca, as part of
the United States led coalition forces conducting
stability operations within Iraq, continue to serve
their country and state in a proud and professional
manner. CPT Ciarrocca, in a brief telephone conversation
from Iraq (exact location undisclosed), stated
that all of his soldiers are safe, accounted for,
and that the unit has traveled over 410,000(+)
miles of convoy missions in 160(+) degree heat. The
Commander of the active duty unit that the 253rd is
currently assigned to is so impressed with the
high level of expertise and esprit de corps of
the NJARNG soldiers, that he has invited the unit
to train with his unit for Annual Training after
they return to the United States. CPT Ciarrocca
thanked everyone for the cards, Youth Camp banner,
and packages of personal use items sent to his
soldiers. We wish him and all his soldiers victory
in their mission and a safe and speedy return home.
DMVA
receives IT Infrastructure Grant.
The
Office of Information Technology awarded DMVA a
$304,000 infrastructure grant, and has issued purchase
orders in that amount for items such as routers,
switches, and other IT equipment. DMVA has received
its first shipments of this equipment. Most items
are being used to replenish stock since we supported
major system upgrades last year at the Homeland
Security/Center of Excellence, the Veterans Memorial
Homes, BG Doyle Cemetery, Veterans Haven, and the
Veteran Service Offices. Other items will be used
to support replacing old switches at Menlo Park,
which will provide their system with greater speed. This
grant is very timely and will assist us in meeting
our needs in Fiscal Year '04.
Doris
Neibart, Chief Executive Officer, Veterans
Memorial Home at Paramus, is elected 2nd Vice
President.
Doris
Neibart was selected as the 2nd Vice
President of the National Association of State
Veterans Homes (NASVH). This organization is very
active in representing the needs of our facilities. The
Association also provides a forum for networking
with over one hundred homes such as ours throughout
the country. Congratulations, Doris!
New
Jersey National Guard ChalleNGe Youth Program
Graduation.
Sixty-two
Cadets graduated from the NJ National Guard ChalleNGe
Youth Program on Saturday, 9 August 2003. Senator
Nia H. Gill from the 34th District was
Guest Speaker. The Oath of Office was administered
to eight graduates who have enlisted in the Active
Army, Army National Guard, Air Force, and the Navy
respectively.
Vietnam,
Distinguished and Meritorious Service Medal
Presentation Ceremonies are scheduled.
28
August
11
a.m. & 1 p.m.
|
Distinguished Service Medal and Meritorious Service
Medal
|
Orange
Elks
475
Main Street, Orange, NJ
|
9
September
11
a.m. & 1 p.m.
|
Distinguished Service Medal and Meritorious Service
Medal
|
Strawbridge's
Court
Echelon
Mall, Voorhees, NJ
|
23
September
11
a.m. & 1 p.m.
|
Distinguished Service Medal
And Meritorious Service Medal
|
Toms
River Elks Lodge
600
Washington Street, Toms River, NJ
|
30
September
11
a.m. & 1 p.m.
|
Vietnam Service Medal
|
Hall
of Heroes, Institute of Safety
281
Camp Gaw Rd., Mahwah, NJ
|
Veterans honored with Distinguished and Meritorious
Service Awards.
On
Wednesday, 20 August 2003, Colonel (Ret) Emil Philibosian,
Deputy Commissioner for Veterans Affairs, assisted
by Mr. Angelo Romeo, Director of Veterans Programs,
CW5 (Ret) Robert Wimblerly, Chief, Veterans Benefits
Bureau, Ms. Karen Hansen and Ms. Michelle Johnson,
presented 251 veterans with the Distinguished Service
and Meritorious Service Medals in a ceremony held
at Middlesex Community College in Edison, New Jersey. Also
attending the ceremony were Senator Barbara Buono,
Assemblymen Gary Guear, Upendra Chivukula, Peter
Barnes, Patrick Diegnan, and John Wisniewski. Ms.
Susan Tisker, representing Assemblyman Samuel Thompson,
and Mr. Scott Crass, representing Assemblywoman
Linda Greenstein, also attended the ceremony.
Automation
comes to Records and Archives.
DMVA
recently contracted with PMI to automate its records
and archives. We now have the ability to scan
original documents into an off-the-shelf filing
system at 80 pages per minute. This will permit
document retrieval through a personal computer
without leaving the desk. Additionally, the method
the system uses to microfilm documents will result
in saving thousands of dollars in microfilming
costs. The State Human Resources, Fiscal, and
Installations Divisions will become part of the
system in the future, and this will save countless
man-hours researching various documents.
DMVA
continues to upgrade its video teleconferencing
capabilities.
DMVA
has been proactive in providing video teleconferencing
capabilities in Homeland Security's Conference
Room H, the TAG Conference Room, Somerset, Atlantic
City, Sea Girt, and Fort Dix Armories. Near-term
plans include expanding capabilities in Conference
Room A and the 177th Fighter Wing. The
108th Air Refueling Wing is working
to purchase equipment. Veterans Haven and the
three Veterans Memorial Homes will be added as
funding permits. This will give the department
important tools in carrying out normal business
and emergency operations. Staff is encouraged
to use these tools to carry out business, thus
reducing travel time and increasing productive
use of time.
Korean "Good
Neighboring Day".
On
Thursday, 7 August 2003, the New Jersey National
Guard ChalleNGe Youth Program hosted "Good Neighboring
Day." The purpose of the event was to help the
Cadets gain knowledge and insight into Korean culture
and history. The ChalleNGe Program was honored
to have MG James E. Donald, the Deputy Chief of
Staff for Personnel and Installation Management,
United States Army Forces Command, as a guest speaker. Among
the day's events was an introduction to the Korean
American community by Mr. Sunny Park and Reverend
E. C. Hwang, a Tae Kwon Do demonstration, and a
luncheon featuring Korean cuisine. A good time
was had by all!
NJ
Army National Guard (NJARNG) welcomes another
new Warrant Officer Army Aviation Appointment.
CW5
Al Curving, Command Chief Warrant Officer (CCWO)
of the NJARNG, and COL Paul Ciervo, State Army
Aviation Officer (SAAO), jointly announce the appointment
and accession of WO1 Daryl J. Lynch to the Corps. Congratulations
go to our newest Warrant Officer One appointment. Mr.
Lynch was pinned in graduation ceremonies at Fort
Rucker, Alabama on 19 August 2003. Mr. Lynch,
a former Air Guard full-time technician with the
177th Fighter Wing, and more recently
an Army Guard temporary technician at the West
Trenton Flight Facility, will remain at Fort Rucker
for the next year while he attends Initial Entry
Rotary Wing (IERW) flight school.
Online
Resource to Military Benefits.
The
recently launched website http://www.Militarybenefits.com is
an all inclusive insider guide to military benefits,
and includes both general overviews on major benefits
topics, as well as in-depth explanations of specific
benefits. From pay to the GI Bill, from VA home
loans to health care, your military service has
earned you valuable benefits, whether you're active
duty, Reservists, National Guard, a veteran, or
a retiree. This website is not an official U.S.
Department of Defense or military service site.
Today
is the 234th day of 2003. There are
131 days left in the year. On this date:
® In
1775, Britain's King George III proclaimed the
American colonies in a state of open rebellion.
® In
1787, inventor John Fitch demonstrated his steamboat
on the Delaware River to delegates of the Continental
Congress.
® In
1902, Theodore Roosevelt became the first U.S.
Chief Executive to ride in an automobile in Hartford,
Connecticut.
® In
1911, it was announced in Paris that Leonardo da
Vinci's "Mona Lisa" was stolen from the Louvre
Museum. The painting turned up two years later
in Italy.
® In
1998, President Clinton signed an Executive Order
putting Osama bin Laden on a list of terrorist
groups.
Armory
Happenings - Check to see what's happening
at an Armory near you.
27 -31 August
|
Tool
Show & Sale
|
Lawrenceville
Armory
|
6-7 September
|
Table
Tennis Tournament
|
Woodbridge
Armory
|
13 September
|
Classic
Car Show
|
NGTC,
Sea Girt
|
9-14 September
|
Antique
Show & Sale
|
Morristown
Armory
|
9-14 September
|
Tool
Show & Sale
|
Toms
River Armory
|
13 September
|
Irish
Festival
|
Sea
Girt
|
20 September
|
Computer
Show & Sale
|
Teaneck
Armory
|
21 September
|
Sports
Card, Comics & Beanies
|
Bordentown
Armory
|
25-28 September
|
Ceramics & Porcelain
Doll Show & Sale
|
Morristown
Armory
|
29 Sep - 8 Oct
|
Carpet & Furniture
Show & Sale
|
Morristown
Armory
|
12 October
|
Sports
Card, Comics & Beanies
|
Bordentown
Armory
|
2 November
|
NASCAR
Collectibles
|
Bordentown
Armory
|
New Catch-up contributions for the Thrift Savings
Plan.
Thrift
Savings Plan (TSP) participants age 50 and over
are now eligible to make a new type of tax-deferred
contribution to the TSP. These "catch-up" contributions
are in addition to regular TSP contributions. You
are eligible if you are a federal employee or a
member of the uniformed services who will be age
50 or older this calendar year, and are already
contributing the maximum amount of regular TSP
contributions (8% of basic pay). This year, eligible
participants may invest up to $2,000 in catch-up
contributions. The amount will increase to $3,000
in 2004, $4,000 in 2005, and $5,000 in 2006. Servicemembers
can elect to make catch-up contributions immediately. To
begin contributions, complete form TSP-U-I-C, which
can be obtained from the TSP website, http://www.tsp.gov.
Fiscal/Information,
Administrative Services Division welcomes new
employee to their staff.
F/IASD
welcomes Christina Taylor to the Accounting Bureau.
She will assist in the timely payment of vendors' bills
and ensuring we receive the appropriate "Prompt
Payment" discounts. Tina, welcome to DMVA's family!
NJ
Vietnam Veterans' Memorial and Vietnam Era
Education Center Announces its Calendar of
Events for the summer.
8 Sep
|
9 a.m.
|
Golf Outing Olde York Country Club
|
19 Sep
|
11 a.m.
|
POW/MIA GSM Recognition Day Ceremony
|
21 Sep
|
11 a.m.
|
Rolling Thunder POW/MIA Awareness Motorcycle Run
|
17 Oct
|
9 a.m.
|
Capturing the Imagination - The Art, Music, Theater,
Poetry, and Prose of the Vietnam Veteran
|
For
more information about any of these events, please
call the NJ Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation
office at (732) 335-0033.
J Dragonflies
have six legs, but cannot walk.
J Penguins
have an organ above their eyes that converts seawater
to freshwater.
J A
crocodile cannot move its tongue.
J Honeybees
navigate by using the Sun as a compass.
J A
single coffee tree produces only about one pound
of coffee beans per year.
J The
city of Los Angeles has three times more automobiles
than people.