By Capt. Jason Fetterolf, 50 IBCT, PAO

Hello. Pershendetje. Yia Su. Salute. These were just a few greeting heard in English, Albanian, Greek and Moldovan by a platoon of C Company, 2-113th Infantry Battalion, New Jersey Army National Guard during the Cooperative Lancer 07 Exercise.

Conducted in Albania, this exercise will serve as a framework for the 1st Albanian Coy (Company) to be evaluated to further Albania's goal of becoming a NATO member.

The leadership positions were composed of service members of all the participating nations. The senior NCO was Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas J. Clark of the 2-113th.

Benefits from the exercise were broad. "It has opened my eyes to a whole new way a military can function," said Spc. Scott W. Kowalski, 2-113th Infantry.

"Exchange of experience, to know the culture of each other and friendship," were the benefits as seen by 1st Lt. Ervis Tusha, command of Lion Heart Company, 2nd Battalion, Rapid Reaction Brigade.

The COLR 07 exercise proved to be a rare opportunity and mutually beneficial for the NJARNG, the Albanian hosts and all other nations involved.  As the exercise ended, what might have been the voice heard in the various languages? Good job. Pune tem bare (Albanian). Kali-thuya (Greek). Au avut success (Moldavan).

From the 254th Regiment

The Combat Lifesaver Course (CLS) is a 40 hour course taught over three days by the 254th Regiment at Sea Girt.

It is intensive and instructs non-medical soldiers in the latest techniques of self aid and buddy aid. The course is centered on reducing the number of combat deaths due to the three top causes: bleeding from an extremity, tension pneumothorax (lung collapse) and traumatic brain injury.

The instruction and hands-on training includes Tactical Combat Casualty Care, Medevac procedures, improvised litters, and numerous other subjects.

Point of contact for this training at the Regiment is Sgt. 1st Class Stephen Cosmanic at 732 974-4878 or STEPHEN.R.COSMANIC@NJ.NGB.ARMY.MIL.

For questions about this or any other course also contact Master Sgt. Gary Davidson at 732 974-5912 or Gary.m.davidson@us.army.mil. Or see your Unit Readiness NCO.

More information can be found at AKO in the medical knowledge network in med training: HTTP://WWW.CS.AMEDD.ARMY.MIL/CLSP/.

By Lt. Krystof Stachura, Canada, Cooperative Lancer 07

During the Cooperative Lancer 07 exercise, held in Albania, the soldiers from the many nations participated in Challenge Day.  The day consisted of three scored events: running, firing and grenade throwing and was a chance for "friendship through sport," said Lt. Col. Bardhyl Kollcaku, commander of the 2nd Battalion, Rapid Reaction Brigade, Albanian army. The winner of the competition was 1st Platoon, Alpha Company made up from soldiers from Switzerland, Belarus, U.S., and Israel.  In second place was 1st Platoon Charlie Company, made up of soldiers form Georgia, Albania, U.S.A. and Greece. And third place was 2nd Platoon Bravo Company with soldiers form the Ukraine and Hungary. The spirit of the competition continued into the evening as the soldiers participated in a soccer tournament.

Note: Soldiers from the U.S.A., are members of the 2-113th Infantry, New Jersey Army National Guard.

Join the Philadelphia Phantoms on Military Appreciation Night as they take on the Norfolk Admirals on Friday, Dec. 7 at 7:05 p.m., at the Wachovia Spectrum.  The Phantoms will have historical displays on the concourse and will also be remembering the anniversary of Pearl Harbor.  Tickets for the game are only $10 for U. S. Veterans and U. S. military personnel (regular price $19). To order your tickets, call Nick Milillo at 215-952-5772 or visit:

Click here 

 

The Veterans Cemetery Advisory Council of the Brig. Gen. William C. Doyle Veterans Cemetery is offering the sale of Grave Blankets for placement on grave sites in the Doyle Cemetery for the 2007 holiday season.

The blankets are 2 feet by 3 feet and cost $30.  They must be ordered by Nov. 30. Profits from the sale of the grave blankets will benefit the beautification of the cemetery.

Call 609-758-7250 or visit www.state.nj.us/military/cemetery for more information.

On Nov. 2, Governor Jon S. Corzine signed a bill making it a primary offense for motorists to talk on or text message with hand-held wireless telephones or electronic communication devices while driving. Motorists may use a wireless telephone or electronic communication device if it is hands-free.

The fine for this offense is $100 and no motor vehicle points or insurance eligibility points will be assessed for this offense.

From the desk of Dorinda Sapp, Affirmative Action Officer

National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month is celebrated to recognize the intertribal cultures and to educate the public about the heritage, history, art, and traditions of the American Indian and Alaska Native people.  Throughout the history of our nation, American Indian and Alaska Native service members have embodied the military core values for generations.  From the birth of our nation to the current Global War on Terrorism, American Indian and Alaska Native service members have effectively provided strength and leadership in defending freedoms of the United States. 

For the next four weeks in celebration of National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month, DMAVA will highlight major accomplishments and American Indian and Alaska Native contributions to military service.

The Creation of National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month

What began at the turn of the century as an effort to gain a day of recognition for the significant contributions the First Americans made to the establishment and growth of the United States has resulted in the month of November being designated for that purpose. 

Early Proponents: One of the early proponents of an American Indian Day was Dr. Arthur C. Parker, a Seneca Indian who was the Director of the Museum of Arts and Science in Rochester, New York. He persuaded the Boy Scouts of America to set aside a day for the "First Americans," and for three years the Scouts adopted such a day. In 1915, at the annual Congress of the American Indian Association meeting in Lawrence, Kansas, a plan celebrating American Indian Day was formally approved. The Association directed its president, Rev. Sherman Coolidge, an Arapahoe, to call upon the country to set aside a day of recognition. Rev. Coolidge issued a proclamation on Sept. 28, 1915, which declared the second Saturday of May as American Indian Day and contained the first formal appeal for recognition of American Indians as citizens.

The year before this proclamation was issued, Red Fox James, a Blackfeet Indian, rode horseback from state to state, seeking approval for a day to honor American Indians. On Dec. 14, 1915, Red Fox James presented the endorsements of 24 state governments to the White House. There is no record, however, of such a national day being proclaimed.

State Celebrations: The first American Indian Day to be celebrated in a state was declared on the second Saturday in May 1916 by the governor of New York. Several states celebrate the fourth Friday in September. In Illinois, for example, legislators enacted such a day in 1919. Presently, several states have designated Columbus Day as Native American Day, but it continues to be a day we observe without any legal recognition as a national holiday.

Heritage Months: In 1990 President George Bush approved a joint resolution designating November 1990 as "National American Indian Heritage Month." Similar proclamations have been issued each year since 1994.

Operation Tribute to Freedom is seeking OIF/OEF Soldiers who trace their roots to Spain, Mexico or the Spanish-speaking nations of Central America, South America and the Caribbean, and Soldiers of Middle Eastern descent to share their story at events. If you are interested in participating in this program, send an e-mail to PAO@njdmava.state.nj.us. Responses should include the Soldier's name, contact information, bio with brief deployment history, awards and PAO contact information. Include "Diverse Soldier" in the subject line.

TDY available if necessary, but local/hometown Soldiers are preferred. Responses will be taken on an ongoing basis.

From the desk of Sgt. Maj. Nick Kampf, Safety and Occupational Health, NJARNG

How many times a day, do you wash your hands? Mom was right: - You need to wash your hands more often.  It is just not enough to rinse under some lukewarm water. 

Infectious diseases are the third leading cause of death in the US, and the CDC calls hand washing "the most important means of preventing the spread of infection."  The Food and Drug Administration recommends that hand sanitizers not be used in place of soap and water but only as an adjunct.

Here's how to clean hands properly:

v    Remove rings and bracelets.

v    Wet hands using a stream of warm running water.  Excessively hot water is harder on the skin, dries the skin, and is too uncomfortable to wash with for the recommended amount of time.  Because cold water prevents soap from lathering properly, soil and germs may not be washed away.

v    Use soap (any kind).  Dispensers deliver the proper amount of soap, while protecting the rest from contamination.  Use the right cleanser for the task.  Use a nickel-size amount of general-purpose cleanser or a quarter-size quantity of anti-microbial cleansers.  Follow the instructions on the label.

v    Later thoroughly.  Scrub hands, including the wrists, palms backs, fingers, and under the fingernails for total of at least 20 seconds.

v    Rinse thoroughly.  Dry hands completely with a paper towel.  Leaving sap residue on the skin and incomplete drying contribute to dermatitis.

v    Repeat steps 2-5 if hands are particularly dirty or greasy. 

v    Use a paper towel to turn off the faucet without re-contaminating hands.

v    Use hand cream after washing and during the day to restore the skin's natural oils, keeping it resilient.  Skin conditioning agents (emollients) soften and smooth skin.  Moisturizers reduce shedding of dry skin flakes and inhibit the growth of microorganisms.

It is recommended that you follow this routine before you prepare or eat food; treat a cut or wound; tend to someone who is sick; or insert or remove contact lenses.  Also wash after you go to the bathroom or handle uncooked foods.

Hand Sanitizer:  apply about a teaspoon (dime size) of the sanitizer in palm of hand - spread thoroughly (front & back, fingernail areas) by briskly rubbing hands together until dry.  Remember, hand sanitizers do not replace soap and water.

The Department of Defense will open the nomination season for the 2008 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award on Nov. 1, 2007.  National Guard and Reserve members and their families are eligible and encouraged to nominate employers who have gone above and beyond in their support of military employees.  Nominations will be accepted at www.esgr.mil from Nov. 1, 2007 to Jan. 21, 2008.  The Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award is the U.S. government's highest recognition given to outstanding employers.

For questions regarding the nomination process, please contact New Jersey ESGR at 609-562-0156.

The Federal Benefits Open Season for 2008 is almost here!  Don't miss out on this opportunity.  Federal employees can enroll or make changes to their enrollment in Federal Employees Health Benefit and in one of the seven dental plans, three vision plans and set up flexible spending accounts for health care and dependent care. 

Flexible spending accounts are easy.  You pay for a wide range of common, out-of-pocket dependent and health care expenses and then receive reimbursement from your dependent and/or health care flexible spending account(s).  By setting aside pre-tax dollars, you reduce your taxable income, thereby paying less in taxes and saving money. 

Eligible non-medical expenses for the dependent care account include child care and adult daycare.  Eligible expenses for the health care account include co-payments, co-insurance, deductibles, over-the-counter medicines like cold remedies, prescription drugs, vision and dental expenses, and much more.

Current 2007 Participants:  you MUST re-enroll to participate in 2008.  Enrollments do NOT carry forward year-to-year.

Visit www.FSAFEDS.com to learn more about the FSAFEDS Program.

To find out more about the other available programs, visit http://opm.gov/insure/. Or call Sgt. Jacquelyn Bertrand at 609-562-0866.

The New Jersey United Christian Academy, Cream Ridge, is invites all veterans from New Jersey to join them on Nov. 5 at 1-2:25 p.m. to join them in a special program honoring Veterans. Refreshments will follow the program.

The academy is located at 73 Holmes Mill Road, Cream Ridge, NJ 08514.

For the past 6 years, Golden Corral has been honoring the U. S. military with a free "thank you" dinner and beverage at any Golden Corral restaurant on Military Appreciation Monday (first Monday after Veteran's Day). This year, Golden Corral has designated Monday, Nov. 12, from 5 to 9 p.m., to honor any person who has ever served in the United States military.

From the first Military Appreciation Monday in 2001 to the present, Golden Corral has donated 1.5 million free "thank you" meals and $1.9 million dollars to the Disabled American Veterans.

The Disabled American Veterans Organization will accept contributions on Nov. 1-12 to be used in the local and state DAV chapters.

In concert with the Veterans' Cemetery Advisory Council, the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs will host a Veteran's Day Ceremony beginning at 11 a.m., Nov. 11, at the Brig. Gen. William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 35 Provinceline Road, Wrightstown. The public is invited to attend.

The Blue Star Memorial Highway program began in New Jersey on Route 22 (then Route 29) in 1944 to honor the servicemen and women who had served in the military during World War II.  This program started with the planting of 8,000 dogwood trees by the New Jersey Council of Garden Clubs. The program has since grown to highways and byways across the United States and to honor "all who have served, are serving or will serve in the nation's armed forces."

Individual garden clubs throughout the nation coordinate with their state's Department of Transportation on the projects.  Signs with the Blue Star and landscaping surrounding it mark thousands of miles of highway in the continental U.S.

Nov. 11, 2 p.m. - the marker in Bay Head, on Lake Ave (take Bridge Ave. west from Route 35); ceremony sponsored by the Seaweeders Garden Club.

Two New Jersey clubs are having re-dedication ceremonies of their sites during the Veterans Day weekend.

Nov. 12, 11 a.m. - the marker on Route 22, west bound side near the Cushetunk rest area and the Ryland Inn; ceremony sponsored by the Huntingdon Garden Club.

The 2nd Annual Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski II Memorial 3.5 mile run and two mile walk will be held on Nov. 11 - rain or shine - at PNC Bank Arts Center, located at exit 116 on the Garden State Parkway. The run/walk begins at 10 a.m.

Lt. Zilinski grew up in Middletown, N.J. and graduated from Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft.  He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and in 2004.  He completed Airborne School while a student at West Point. He completed Ranger School and was then assigned to the 1/187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).  He deployed with the 101st Airborne Division on Sept. 17, 2005.  Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski II died in Iraq on Nov. 19, 2005 as a result of a roadside bombing.

The LT Dennis W. Zilinski II Memorial Fund was created in his honor. The Fund has supported programs such as Underwater Warriors Foundation, Inc; Operation Support Our Troops - Wheels for Warriors; Fisher House and Warrior and Family Support Center.

Same day registration begins at 7:45 a.m.  There will be a ceremony and tribute to Lt. Zilinski from 8:50-9:30 a.m. and late registration after the ceremony until 9:45 a.m.  A post-run reception will be hosted by Carabba's of Middletown.  Award will be given to the top three male and female finishers.

Runners can register early through the web site at http://www.runwithdennis.org/ index.html. Cost is $25 for adults who register before Oct. 31 and $15 for runners age 18 and under.  T-shirts are only guaranteed to those who register before Oct. 31.  For those who register after Oct. 31, the cost is $35 for adults and $20 for those 18 and younger.

Vehicle access into PNC Bank Arts Center will be closed starting at 9:45am for the duration of the Race. This is a scenic course with challenging hills going through the complex and ending at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.  There will be no strollers or bicycles allowed on the 3.5 Mile Run course.

The Department of Veteran Affairs/Readjustment Counseling Service requests your company at their annual Veterans Day celebration on November 7 at noon at their office located at 934 Parkway Avenue, Ewing.  Their will be a reception immediately following the ceremony.

For more information contact Darryll Johnson at 609-882-5744.

From the desk of retired Chief Master Sgt. Paul Gunning, Wing Family Program coordinator

McCormick & Schmick's to honor veterans with free entree a part of its ninth annual Military Veterans Appreciation Event http://www.roa.org/site/ R?i=d9OCwxPsQ7V5y0Ccu4TpCQ. McCormick & Schmick's seafood restaurant will offer all retired U.S. military veterans a free entrée on Nov. 11, in appreciation for their service to our country. The offer extends to all who are defined as a veteran by the Veterans Administration, Title 38 US Code 101, which is a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable. All veterans must show proper identification. Traditionally, the McCormick & Schmick's Veterans Appreciation event is held on the Sunday prior to the formal Veterans Day holiday. Since Veterans Day falls on a Sunday this year, the McCormick & Schmick's Appreciation event will take place this year on the formal holiday itself.

From the desk of Ronald Slate, Supervisor of Visual, Performing and Practical Arts, Springfield Public Schools

Springfield, NJ - Florence M. Gaudineer Middle School would like to extend an invitation to all of our service men and women to our performance of Rogers and Hammerstein's South Pacific on Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. The performance will take place at Jonathan Dayton High School's Halsey Hall Auditorium, 139 Mountain Avenue, Springfield, NJ 07081.

The school plans to honor our local service organizations such as the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Jewish War Veterans, and the Vietnam Veterans Association along with active members of our armed forces at this performance and would like to have you join this celebration.

The school has been working on character education and our students have been researching our service people and the sacrifices they have endured to ensure our nation's freedoms.  The students are also working with Operation Shoebox, an organization that takes supplies, items and letters from home and delivers them to our troops overseas.

Students and faculty are sure this will be a special evening for our students, veterans and community.

The New Jersey National Guard Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) has officially kicked off its 2007 campaign which will run until the last week of November 2007. This year's theme is "Help Our World Forward."

The CFC provides each federal employee with an annual opportunity to voluntarily help others and ourselves by donating to the community, national and international level human, health and environmental organizations.  With more than 3,000 human and health service organizations listed in the CFC catalog, there is certainly at least one cause deserving consideration for your personal contribution.

Contributions may be made via easy payroll deductions each pay period or by check.

Over the years, our department has been most successful in this endeavor because of your personal generosity and concern.  We urge every employee to support this worthy cause.  Catalogs and payroll deduction forms will be going out to all full time Federal Technicians and AGRs. 

The CFC Coordinator for this year's Combined Federal Campaign is Jo Anne Miller, J1-HRO Office.  For more information, call 609-562-0851.

The New Jersey State Employees Charitable Campaign has officially kicked off its 2007/2008 Campaign which will run until Nov. 27, 2007.

The ECC provides each of state employee with the annual opportunity to voluntarily help others and ourselves by donating to any of the more than 1,400 participating agencies and organizations listed in the ECC Code Book.  Contributions may be made by payroll deductions each year or by cash or check.

Over the years, DMAVA has been most successful in this endeavor because of the employee's personal generosity and concern.  We urge everyone to support this worthy cause.  Code books and payroll deduction forms will be going out to all full-time state employees.

This year's ECC Coordinator for the campaign is Paul Serdiuk, DMAVA-HRD office.  For more information, please contact him at 609-530-6878.  Information can also be accessed online at www.njsecc.org.

The 254th Regiment (CA) will be holding training courses in the upcoming months at the National Guard Regional Training Institute, Sea Girt.

Inactive Duty Training -

Small Group Instructor Training Course, (SGITC) Jan. 5-6, Feb. 2-3, March 1, 2008. You can learn about personality types and the human thought process, how to control the sharp shooter in class, and how to present the best class possible. Few seats remain, sign up now.

Basic NCO Course,(BNCOC) next course starts in April 2008 .

Military Police (31B10 MOS-T) Phase I, Nov. 3, 2007, June 7-8, 2008; 5 seats available. Class starts in 3 weeks, get your soldiers registered today.

PRE WARRIOR Leadership Course, three weekends: Jan. 5-6, Feb. 2-3 and March 1-2, 2008; seats available. Tune up those map reading skills, pass Warrior Leadership Course.

Officer Candidate School Class 52 (OCS)- Project officers interviewing candidates at this time.

Active Duty Training -

Combat Medic Training Course (68W Sustainment), Dec. 3-12, 2007, 20 seats will be available. Look for course in ATRRS on Oct. 22.

Combat Lifesaver (CLS), 1st class will be held Oct. 29-31, 2nd class will be held Nov. 1 -3, 2007. 3rd class will be held Nov. 13-15, 2007; 30 seats have been filled for each class. Thank you for a great job!

For more information, contact Master Sgt. G. Davidson, 254th Regiment operations sergeant, 732-974-5912, Gary.Davidson@us.army.mil or your unit Readiness NCO.  You can also visit our school information on ATRSS at https://www.atrrs.army.mil/atrrscc/, school code is 1004.

By Karen Jowers - Army Times Staff writer

If you want to get holiday gifts to a service member deployed overseas by Dec. 25, it's time to start thinking about mail deadlines.

The first suggested deadline of Nov. 13 is for packages going by parcel post to deployed troops and those living on overseas installations, according to the U.S. Postal Service. Parcel post may be the slowest option, but it's the cheapest, too. For packages to arrive by the start of Hanukkah, at sundown Dec. 4, they should be mailed by Oct. 23.

You can check the cost of mailing your package through different avenues on the Postal Service's Web site.

Postal officials strongly advise families to consider these deadlines because of the volume of mail during the holiday season. Many groups are already gearing up to send packages to deployed troops.

Some tips from the Postal Service:

v    Packages must be addressed to an individual service member. Mail cannot be delivered to "any service member." Use the member's full name, military organization or unit and APO/FPO address.

v    Do not include the country name in any part of the address when using an APO/FPO address.

v    Choose a box strong enough to protect its contents, and use plenty of cushioning material such as popcorn or newspapers.

v    Consider using the Postal Service's free Military Kit - eight boxes of three different sizes popular for mailing to military personnel, along with mailing labels, tape and U.S. Customs forms. Kits can be obtained by calling toll-free to (800) 610-8734. Choose option 1, and when a live agent responds, ask for Care Kit 4.

v    Write the delivery and return addresses on one side of the package.

v    Place a return address label inside the package.

If you miss the parcel post deadline, here are your options for getting mail to an APO/FPO address by Dec. 25 (subtract 21 days from these deadlines to ensure delivery in time for Hanukkah):

v    Space Available Mail (SAM): Nov. 27.

v    Parcel Airlift Mail (PAL): Dec. 4, except for ZIP codes starting with 093, which are all areas of contingency operations. The suggested deadline for those locations is Dec. 1.

v    Priority Mail: Dec. 11 (093 ZIP codes, Dec. 4).

v    First-class letters and cards: Dec. 11. (093 ZIP codes, Dec. 4).

v    Express Mail Military Services: Dec. 18 (not available to 093 ZIP codes).

Visit the following Web site to check out mailing guidelines. http://www.usps.com/ send/preparemailandpackages/preparingpackages.htm.

We want your stuff!!  Is your unit doing some unique training?  Did someone in the New Jersey Guard receive accolades for accomplishing something extra special? Is your unit running a special event for the community? Does your section of DMAVA have something they need to tell the rest of the department? We want to know about it. 

Send us a short piece on what is happening so we can publish it in DMAVA Highlights.  Let us know who wrote it so we can give them credit.  If there are photos, you can send those too.  While we do not publish photos in Highlights, we can give them to the editor of Guardlife and they may be used in that publication.

When you send in your article:

ý    Identify all people in the article with rank, first and last names and job title or position.

ý    Spell out all acronyms. 

ý    When it comes to equipment, do not just give the nomenclature, also include the "name" of the equipment.  Do not use M998 alone, HMMWV is also needed.

ý    Give us as much as possible of the meat of the story - who, what, when, where, why and how concerning the event.

ý    Photos need identification of people in the photo and what is happening in the photo.

Deadline for each week is noon Thursday and should be e-mailed to Barbara.harbison@njdmava.state.nj.us. We do not publish flyers or Adobe files.  If a Web site is out there to give people more information or to get a registration form, put that in your article.

Don't be intimidated by writing, we edit it for understanding and grammar. Your article may look a different when it is published as we also edit to fit the standards of the AP Style Guide.

Show us your stuff!!

The New Jersey Bar Association established and administers the Military Legal Assistance Program.  This pro bono program provides assistance to New Jersey residents who have served overseas as active duty members of reserve components of the armed forces after Sept. 11, 2001.

Individuals who have been adversely affected upon their return from deployment and cannot be represented by military lawyers can use this program. The program currently offers assistance to the following areas: family law, employment law, veterans' benefits and debtor-creditor law.

The Military Legal Assistance program will refer members of the military who contact the state bar association to