The 1-150th
Assault Helicopter Battalion will hold a change
of command ceremony at the flight facility in
West Trenton
on Dec. 1 at 10:30 a.m. to recognize Lt. Col.
Daniel J. Dreher as the outgoing battalion commander
and welcome Lt. Col. Francis A. Matreale as the
new commander.
The ceremony
will also recognize Soldiers of the battalion
with awards and promotions.
108th welcomes
home Security Forces detachment
On Nov.
20, the twelve-person detachment from the 108th
Air Refueling Wing Security Forces Squadron arrived
at their home unit after successfully completing
a six-month deployment to Iraq. Family, friends, unit members and leadership
were on hand to welcome the Airmen.
The 108th
Air Refueling Wing has more than fifty members
of the Security Forces Squadron still deployed
to Iraq
and await their return in 2008.
21st CST
holds change of command
Family,
unit members and members of the military community
gathered at the Lawrenceville Armory on Wednesday,
Nov. 28 to witness the change of command of the
21st Civil Support Team.
Air Guard
Maj. Jesse M. Arnstein assumed command of the
unit from Army Guard Lt. Col. Gerard R. Gagnon
during the ceremony.
This unit is the only one in the state
that has members from both the Army and Air Guard.
Arnstein
joined the Air Guard in 2003 after serving as
a Judge Advocate for eight years. After a short
stay at Joint Force Headquarters-Air, he joined
the Civil Support Team serving as the deputy commander.
After more
than six years as the commander of the 21st Civil
Support Team, Gagnon will be serving the NJARNG
as the Counterdrug coordinator, Counterdrug Task
Force.
177th raises money for one of their own
By Tech. Sgt. Mark Olsen, 177FW/PA
It was a perfect day - crisp fall weather;
the sun was out - a day truly made to order.
In front of the 177th Fighter Wing
Base
Fitness
Center,
154 runners plus a group of volunteers gathered
for the First Annual Jack Green 5K Run/Walk.
The event was held in memory of Master
Sgt. Jack Green, a 26-year veteran assigned to
the Avionics shop and his step-daughter Alexa
who were killed in an accident on Jan. 16.
Proceeds from the Run will go to a special scholarship
fund for Jack's son Jake.
Following a presentation of a shadowbox
of Jack's medals, awards and rank to his widow
Lori and Jake by Wing Commander Randall S. King,
Chief Master Sgt. Bill Sciarretta, one of the
Run's organizers, briefed the runners on the route
they would be taking.
Lori started the race, the runners and
walkers took off. Three point one miles;
out and back from the circle by the new alert
facility.
Cruising in first and barely breaking a
sweat was Liam Dingman, son of Tech. Sgt. William
Dingman, with a time of 19 minutes, 20 seconds.
Second and third place went to John Knight and
Senior Airman Brandon Wood with times of 20 minutes
and 20 minutes, 25 seconds respectively.
First place for women went to Capt. Yvonne Mays
with a time of 24 minutes, 21 seconds.
The final tally of money raised was close
to $3,000; and more importantly the opportunity
to help the family of one of our own.
The day truly couldn't get any better.
State Employees'
Toy
Drive looking for
toys, gifts
The New
Jersey State Employees Toy Drive will start on
Nov. 26, and will run through Dec. 17. The toys
and gifts will be distributed to children under
the supervision of the Department of Children
and Families, Division of Youth and Family Services.
Gifts are needed for all age groups, the greatest
need each year is for children ages 10-17 years
old. Gifts should be new and unwrapped. A suggested
list is provided for age appropriate gifts.
Toys can
be dropped off at the drop off boxes that were
used for the annual coat drive located in various
locations. For Central Office the drop off box
is located in the central lobby.
If you have
any questions, contact Paul Serdiuk, coordinator
at 609-530-6878. He can supply you with gift suggestion
lists for the children.
Position
openings in Family Programs
There are
several contractor positions open in Family Programs.
Family Assistant
Center Coordinator - 2 openings
Locations: Jersey City
and Morristown
General
Duties: Serve
as liaison between NJNG members, family members,
the local community and the State Family Programs
Director. Provide
assistance to family members of deployed service
members to include referral service, resource
assistance/management, Family Readiness Group
training and moral support .
Must also be able to develop working relationships
with state and local agencies, military, government
and social services agencies, business and civic
organizations that are willing to offer assistance
and provide services in support of National Guard
members and their families.
Family Readiness Assistant - 1 opening
Location:
Joint Force Headquarters, Ft.
Dix
General
Duties: Assist
the State Family Programs Director in developing
and maintaining Family Readiness Groups (FRG)
throughout NJ.
Train FRG committee members on overall
conduct to include regulatory guidelines, limitations,
duties and responsibilities.
Serve as a liaison between Rear Detachments,
military points of contact and volunteers.
Resumes
should be submitted no later than Dec. 28 to:
NJ Army
National Guard
JFHQ-NJ, Attn: Family
Programs, CPT Glatz
3650 Saylor's
Pond
Road
Fort Dix, NJ 08640
For more
information call Capt. Amy Glatz,
State Family Programs Director at 609-562-0668.
Time to
register for DMAVA holiday party is now
From
the desk of Darlene Laarz, Holiday
Committee
Hurry up
and get your reservations in for the DMAVA /JFHQ's
Holiday Party which will be held on Dec. 14.
There will be a mandatory Town Hall will be at
11:30 a.m., with the holiday party immediately
following. The cost of the event will be
$10, which will include a raffle ticket for a
big flat screen TV and a meal from Amici Milano's.
If you wait too late, payment to attend the party
will be $20 at the door and limited to only 35
more people. Those
employees who chose not to attend the holiday
party must return tho their regular duty station
after the Town Hall for a full and normal workday.
Buses will be provided to and from Fort
Dix for those attending the Town Hall
only.
See your
department representative to make your reservations:
v
DMAVA - Darlene Laarz, 609-530-6992; Karen Wallace,
609-530-6766; Dawn Esposito, 609-530-6717; and
Tina Taylor, 609-530-7170
v
Fort
Dix
- Marie Durling, 609-562-0739; and Barbara Alcott,
609-562-0870
v
HSCOE - Kevin Hearn, 609-530-7069
Commissary
agency offers scholarships for 2008
The Defense
Commissary Agency's 2008 Scholarships for Military
Children are now available in commissaries worldwide.
The $1,500 scholarships are for children of active-duty
and retired military, as well as children of Guard
and reserve servicemembers. Applicants must be
must plan to attend an accredited college or university
full time in the fall of 2008. The deadline to
apply is Feb. 20, 2008. At least one scholarship
will be awarded at every commissary location with
qualified candidates. Applications and further
eligibility requirements are available in commissaries
and online at http://www.commissaries.com or at http://www.military scholar.org.
Enlisted
Association wants YOU!
By retired
Command Sgt. Maj. Mike
Hughes, EANG-NJ
The Enlisted
Association National Guard-New Jersey is off to
a good start for 2008 as we have realigned all
the committees and filled both the Executive Council
and Committees with a cross section of Army and
Air, uniformed and retirees, and several junior
NCOs. Everyone
appears to be enthused and pledges to support
the Association in all its efforts.
All we need now is for you to get on board
as a member and bring your fellow soldiers and
airmen with you.
We have
many challenges facing us over the next few years
whether it is another round of base closures via
the Base Realignment Commission (BRAC), reduction
in TRICARE benefits, reduction in troop strength,
attempts to maintain the retirement age at 60,
etc. We
need a powerful voice to put our message across
to the State and Federal Legislators and this
can only be accomplished through a strong membership
in our State Association (EANG-NJ) and the National
Association (EANGUS).
The new
membership year starts on 1 January 2008 and we
need your help in making our Association grow.
We encourage all enlisted soldiers and
airmen to join the Association as Active Members
and also welcome all officers, warrant officers,
federal, and state employees to join as Associate
Members. Applications
for membership can be obtained from our website
www.eang-nj.org.
VA offers
video magazine for military, vets, families
The Department
of Veterans Affairs has a monthly half-hour video
news magazine to inform military members, veterans
and their families about the benefits earned through
their service. "The American Veteran" tells the
stories of veterans who have taken advantage of
the many benefits and services available to them.
The program
is available on the VA Web site, www.va.gov. Click on "public affairs" and then
"featured items."
"The American
Veteran" is produced for veterans of all eras
and includes stories of heroism and sacrifice.
The December
edition includes an interview with a survivor
of the Bataan Death March in World War II and
a profile of a Vietnam veteran who lost a leg in
combat, but has become an award-winning athlete
and singer.
Gifting
service members, families during the holidays
Are you
looking for a way to give a gift to service members
and their families? Here are three programs that help the men
and women in uniform and their families.
The Army
and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) will send
Military Exchange Global Prepaid Phone cards through
the "Help Our Troops Call Home" program.
Designed for the unique needs of deployed Soldiers,
Airmen, Sailors and Marines, any American can
help connect troops and their families with a
Military Exchange Global Prepaid Phone card by
logging on to www.aafes.com or calling 800-527-2345. From there, "Help
Our Troops Call Home" phone cards can be
sent to individual servicemembers (designated
by the sender) or even directed to "any servicemember"
through various military aid societies. The cards are 300 and 550 minute global phone
cards and a Ship to Shore prepaid card for those
serving on ships. Cost of the cards starts at $18 per card.
Also at
www.aafes.com is the "Gifts from the Homefront" program.
Here you can purchase military exchange
gift certificates from $5 to $50 that can be sent
to specified individuals or to groups who will
distribute the cards to service members and their
families.
When you
go to www.commissaries.com, you will find "Gifts of Groceries." This program
gives you're the opportunity to give a commissary
gift certificate to either a specific commissary
patron or will send your gift to one of five organizations
who will give the card to a family in need. You have a choice of the following organizations
to send your $10 or $25 gift: Air Force Member
and their Families; Fisher House Foundation, Inc.;
Operation Homefront; Operation Interdependence;
or, the United Service Organization (USO).
Holiday cause stress for most
From
the desk of Sgt. Maj. Nick Kampf, Safety and Occupational
Health, NJARNG
The holidays
are getting closer and closer.
Here are a few suggestions to help you
cope with the extra stress from the holiday season.
v
Manage your time wisely - make a list of chores
to be done and allow sufficient time for each
chore.
v
Talk out problems - talking with a trusted friend
can help put problems in prospective.
v
Eat and drink in moderation - it's easy to overindulge
during the holidays.
v
Get enough sleep - this will help ensure you meet
each day's challenges with energy and alertness.
v
Take a break - an occasional "time out" from your
hectic schedule will help you relax and feel refreshed.
Military
launches new program to assist spouses with
employment
By Christian
Lowe, Military.com
Any savvy
individual in or around the military knows that
it's not just the person wearing the uniform
that matters; it's also the support of a spouse
that makes those deploying overseas truly "combat
effective."
Recently,
the Pentagon launched a new program aimed at supporting
spouses who want to build or continue a career
despite the frequent moves from base to base that
are the hallmark of any military family.
Dubbed the
"Military Spouse Career Advancement Initiative,"
the new effort teams the Pentagon with the Department
of Labor to expand job opportunities for spouses
in "high-demand, high-growth occupations,"
such as healthcare, education and information technology and helps guarantee those jobs will still be
available even if the spouse relocates.
The pilot
program will begin in January backed by $35 million
in Labor and DoD funds to give grants to eligible
spouses that can help them pay for education,
training, licensing fees, books and other materials
to get their careers off the ground. The program
is intended for spouses with family pay grades
of E-1 through E-5 or O-1 through O-3, and the
grants total $3,000 per year for each spouse.
Starting
out, the program will be available at 18 military
installations in eight states, including Camp
Pendleton, Calif., Fort Benning, Ga., and Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. The number of bases and states could
expand as the program evolves, said Pentagon personnel
chief, Dr. David Chu.
Aside from
the grant money available for spouses through
this effort, the Department of Labor is stepping
in to make sure more jobs are open to military
spouses even if they move from one state to another.
Military
spouses interested in taking advantage of the
new program are encouraged to visit a nearby "One
Stop
Career
Center"
located on one of the 18 participating installations,
Pentagon officials said.
Better Business
Bureau partners with Air Force
The Air
Force began an official partnership with the Council
of Better Business Bureaus (BBB) recently. The
partnership encourages Airmen and their families
to use the bureau's free programs, services and
materials.
The BBB
Air Force Line website aimed specifically at its
Air Force audience. The site includes BBB products
and services such as reliability reports on businesses
and charities, consumer tips and alerts, and a
link to file complaints. The site also includes
news items of particular interest to military
consumers. Through the website, Airmen may sign
up for a monthly newsletter that contains a regular
"scam alert" feature. Visit http://www.bbb.org/airforce for more information.
Military Training,
Schools, Opportunities
254th conducting
military police course
The 254th
Regiment is conducting a 31B Military Police military
occupational specialty course. It is an IDT course
at the National Guard Training Center, Sea Girt,
NJ commencing Jan. 5, 2008.
The course
provides soldiers the military knowledge and skills
required to function as a military policeman to
include; maneuver and mobility support operations,
area security, interment and resettlement and
law and order and police intelligence operations.
It is intensive
instruction in the latest techniques of self-defense,
police ethics, military law, and techniques to
searching and responding to anti-terrorism threats.
Minimum
required score in aptitude area ST on ASVAB is:
v
95 if administered prior to 2 January 2002.
v
92 if administered 2 January 2002- 1 July 2004.
v
91 if administered after 1 July 2004.
Security
clearance required is CONFIDENTIAL.
This is
part one of a three phase MOS course. Seats are
available. School code is 1004.
For information contact: Master Sgt. Gary Davidson,
at 732-974-5912 or e-mail: Gary.M.Davidson@us.army.mil.
254th offers
Combat Lifesaver course
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 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/.
Speaking,
recognition opportunities for diverse Soldiers
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.
254th Regiment
holding training courses
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, 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.
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.
Farewell
to Brig. Gen. Harvey
Come and
say goodbye and relive the good old days at the
retirement dinner for Brig. Gen. Charles Harvey
on Dec. 15 at the Lawrenceville Army. The dinner will be held on the drill floor,
6-11 p.m. Cost
is $35 per person and the dress is business casual.
RSVP by
Dec. 7 to Marie Durling, 609-562-0739.
Send your check, made payable to DMAVD
Employee Activity Fund, to: Joint Force Headquarters,
ATTN: Marie Durling, 3650 Saylors Pond Road, Fort Dix
NJ 08640.
For Your Calendar
108th holding
holiday party on Dec. 9
From
the desk of 1st Lt. April Kelly, 108th ARW PAO
On Sunday,
Dec. 9, the 108th Air Refueling Wing will be hosting
a Commander's Call to include a Holiday Party
for unit members and their families. The 108th
will sponsor Operation Youth Deployment where
family members will be able to take part in a
simulated deployment.
DMAVA Holiday party slated for Dec. 14
From
the desk of Darlene Laarz, Holiday
Committee
The DMAVA/JFHQRS
Holiday Party will be held this year on Dec. 14.
The mandatory Town Hall will be at 11:30 a.m.,
with the holiday party immediately following.
The cost of the event will be $10, which will
include a raffle ticket for a big flat screen
TV and a meal from Amici Milano's. Keep
the date open so we can celebrate the holiday
together!
School will
hold veterans program, Dec. 12
On Dec. 12, for the third year, the Midtown Community Elementary School
(formerly Ridge
Ave) will host a veterans
program to honor those who served our country.
We invite
the veterans from around our area and our family
members. First there will be a small breakfast
with the veterans. The high school ROTC will present
the color guard and the high school band will
play taps.
Students
grades three through five have a writing contest
to see who will read their writing to the veterans
during the program.
The students will sing a variety of patriotic
songs. Veterans will receive tokens of the student's
appreciation.
Following
the program, the veterans will have a chance to
speak to the entire school population. Then the
vets will be placed in smaller groups with our
students to share special thoughts with them.
If you wish
to participate, call Brenda Cook Johnson, Educational
Media Specialist/ Librarian, 732-776-2200 extension
3401.
Honorable Mention
Affordable
TRICARE benefit for drilling National Guard
members
The John
Warner National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2007 (P.L. 109-364), enhanced the
TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) health plan. Under this new TRS health plan, effective
October 1, 2007, certain members of the Selected
Reserve may qualify for health care coverage under
TRS at $81 for single coverage and $253 for family
coverage. Selected
Reserve members who are enrolled or eligible to
enroll in a health benefit plan under chapter
89 of title 5 U.S.C. Federal Employees Health
Benefit Program (FEHBP), IRR and ING Soldiers
are excluded from purchasing TRS.
Soldiers
currently enrolled in the three tier TRS program
must have transitioned to the new program by Sept.
30, 2007. For
more information or to enroll contact your state
representative listed on http://www.tricare.mil/mybenefit, select the "benefits update" link
for the Tricare Reserve Select information page.
N.J. licenses,
registration extended for deployed troops
New Jerseyans who are active
duty military, including the National Guard and military reserves, serving in the war on terrorism, are eligible
for automatic extensions of a valid driver license,
registration or inspection expiration dates. Go
to www.nj.gov/mvc/ for more information.
DMAVA Suggestion
program alive and well
The DMAVA
Suggestion Program is still in effect and the
Suggestion Box is located in the cafeteria on
the center column wall.
You can
find the suggestion form at www.nj.gov/military; click on Blank Forms. Unsigned
suggestions may/or may not be answered, depending
on their importance. Unsigned suggestions,
if they warrant a response, will be answered at
Town Hall Meetings. All signed
suggestions will receive a response
from Col. Alan Bunting, TAG-SEA.
If you have
any questions regarding this program, call Renee
McGuire, 609-530-6983.
Free downloadable
CD available for military
By Samantha
L. Quigley, American Forces Press Service
Just in
time for the holidays, 13 major recording artists
have created a musical "Thank You" for the troops.
"CD for
the Troops" will be available for anyone with
a valid military identification card to download
at no cost from the Army and Air Force Exchange
service Web site, www.aafes.com, beginning tomorrow, Nov. 17.
Musicians
such as Billy Joel, Brooks & Dunn, the Goo
Goo Dolls, Jewel, Josh Groban, Los Lonely Boys,
Melissa Ethridge, the Neville Brothers, Sarah
McLachlan, the Lt. Dan Band, Montgomery Gentry,
the Fray and Five for Fighting contributed to
the project.
John Ondrasik,
the singer-songwriter who performs under the stage
name "five for fighting," spearheaded the project.
Ondrasik is a staunch support of America's service members. He hopes the downloadable version of the CD
will be available on the AAFES Web site through
April. Hard copies of the CD will be sent to troops
in theater, military hospitals and Fisher Houses.
Onderasik hopes the music "inspires, motivates,
provides and avenue for reflection or simply distracts
you from a mission few can imagine, much less
undertake."
"If anything,
let each tune be a small piece of home to carry
you forward," he said. "Thank you for all you
do, and feel free to shoot me an e-mail with requests
for 'CD for the Troops II.'"
New recycling
rules for Lawrenceville, West
Trenton
From
the desk of Joseph K. Dunleavy, Environmental
Specialist
The state
has hired a new contractor to implement the Governors
Executive Order pertaining to recycling at all
State owned and operated facilities. This
guidance is targeted for the workforce within
the DMAVA Lawrenceville complex and West Trenton
NJARNG locations only. The contractor and the
Treasury Department have provided new collection
containers for recyclable items. These containers
are to be placed on the loading dock prior to
the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month so that
the collection truck can pick them up. Please
inform all personnel of the requirements.
All aluminum
& steel cans, plastic and glass bottles (coded
1 & 2) need to be placed in the "Decorative
Containers" or the blue containers with round
openings, in the Headquarters
Building
for disposal. Please no caps or
lids! These items will be collected
on Fridays at the loading dock.
The new
company will be conducting participatory audits
and notify the Governors Office of participation
rates. Encourage everyone in your office
to recycle office paper, white paper, colored
paper, Post It T notes, newspaper, magazines,
envelopes, folders, junk mail, and paper wrappers.
Federal
benefits open season coming soon
The Federal
Benefits Open Season for 2008 is 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.
Guard, Reserve
members, families encouraged to nominate employers
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.
New Jersey Bar Association offers pro bono
military legal assistance
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 volunteers qualified to assist them with their
specific legal issues.
Volunteers who accept a case through the
program must agree to handle such case from inception
to resolution without compensation or reimbursement
for expenses.
If interested
in the program, call toll free 1-888-541-1900
for referral or visit the New Jersey State Bar
Association web site at www.njsba.com and click on the button for the Military Legal
Assistance program.
VA Launches
Suicide Hotline
To ensure
veterans with emotional crises have round-the-clock
access to trained professionals, the Department
of Veterans Affairs (VA) has begun operation of
a national suicide prevention hot line for veterans.
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson said:
"Veterans need to know these VA professionals
are literally a phone call away. All service members
who experience the stresses of combat can have
wounds on their minds as well as their bodies.
Veterans should see mental health services as
another benefit they have earned, which the men
and women of VA are honored to provide."
VA's hot line will be staffed by mental health
professionals in Canandaigua, N.Y.
They will take toll-free calls from across the
country and work closely with local VA mental
health providers to help callers. The toll-free
hot line number is 1 (800) 273-TALK (8255).
Discounts
offered for State employees
Are you
a state employee looking to save a few $$$?
Visit www.state.nj.us/personnel/discounts/index.htm and you can find a number of businesses who
offer discounts to New
Jersey state employees.
From amusement parks to fitness to computer
to phones and lots of other discounts between,
you will find many ways to save money. For more
information, please contact Cindy Leese at cindy.leese@njdmava.state.nj.us
or call 609-530-7056.
For the Families
Identity theft and your child
With all the talk of identity theft, one group
has been completely forgotten: your children.
In 2004, more than 400,000 children were identity
theft victims; double the number from 2003.
So how is this possible? Simple, children
are registered for social security numbers almost
immediately after being born. Because they
have no history, their records are the perfect
opportunity for abuse by identity thieves.
Here are some simple steps to prevent this from
happening:
v
Discuss with your child about the importance of
keeping their information private and never share
that information with strangers.
v
Watch the mail for offers from credit card companies
or bills with their name on them; report any suspicious
activity to credit bureaus.
For more information on identity theft; go to
www.ftc.gov/credit.
Photography contest for military youths
From the desk of Amanda Balas, State Youth
Coordinator
Operation Military Kids project in New Jersey is sponsoring
a photo contest.
The theme is "Families in the Military."
Any youth of a military family in any branch of
the service, including active duty, National Guard
and Reserves is eligible to enter.
The age categories for entries are grades 2-5,
grades 6-8 and grades 9-12.
Photos can be black and white or color
and can be in digital or 35mm format.
Photos must be taken by the youth and should
capture a unique moment or setting their family
life or in their community that means something
special to them.
They will be judged on originality and
creativity. First and second places will be awarded in
each age category.
Contact Amanda Balas, N.J. National Guard State
Youth Coordinator, for entry forms and more information
at 609-562-0742 or Amanda.balas@us.army.mil. Deadline
for submissions is Jan. 14, 2008.
Army Information Line: 1-800-833-6622
The Army Information Line (1-800-833-6622) is
designed to help all Soldiers and their Family
members whether they are deployed; stationed stateside
or overseas; are brand new to the Army; or are
30 year veterans.
In addition to The Army Information Line, Army
Well-Being's Army Families Online Web site www.ArmyFamiliesOnline.org recently
welcomed its 2-millionth visitor this year.
The Army Information Line also celebrates its
25-year existence of providing information and
referral services to those Soldiers and Family
members.
Support for military children of deployed and
injured Guard members
From the desk of retired Command Sgt. Maj. Mike Hughes, Family Assistance specialist
Our Military
Kids (OMK) provides tangible support to
the children of deployed and severely injured
National Guard and Military Reserve personnel
through grants for enrichment activities and tutoring
that nurture and sustain the children during the
time a parent is away in service to our country.
OMK grants are made to honor the sacrifices military
parents make and to ensure that the children have
access to activities and support that help the
children better cope with challenges arising during
a parent's deployment or injury recovery. For
additional information go to www.ourmilitarykids.org
N.J.
State
Family Readiness Council offers Family Grants
Program
The New Jersey National Guard State Family Readiness
Council has expanded its Family Grants Program
to include an additional grant. There are
now two levels of Family Grants; TIER I is the
$2,500 grant that has been in place for the past
couple of years. The TIER II opens family
grants to New Jersey Army and Air National Guard
non-deployed service members who were on State
Active Duty or State Missions (e.g., hurricanes,
floods, border missions) for more than 20 consecutive
days. Service members meeting these criteria
are eligible to apply for a financial hardship
grant up to $1,500. Applications are available
at all New Jersey Army and Air National Guard
Family Assistance Centers.
Program offers assistance to spouses of deployed
military
The Deployed Military Spouses Assistance Program
provides direct assistance and referrals to existing
programs for spouses of deployed military personnel
(active duty, reserve and National Guard) who
face unusual financial and emotional stress as
a result of the deployments.
Applicants should contact Fawn Mutschler at 609-543-6200
ext. 325 or wocmilitarygrant@ymca-bc.org to obtain
an application. In addition to the completed
application form, applicants will also need to
submit the following documentation: LES/paystub
for applicant and spouse; statement of Financial
Need (i.e. reason for applying and how the grant
will help); bill or pricing of expenditure as
well as any other supporting information the applicant
feels may be helpful. Additional information can
be found at: www.state.nj.us/dca/dow/depmilspouseasst.shtml
Travel Help, Ideas
Armed Forces Vacation Club offers affordable
lodging
The Armed Forces Vacation Club is a "space
available" program offering Department of
Defense affiliated personnel affordable condominium
vacations at over 3,500 resorts around the world.
Visit http://www.afvclub.com/ for more
information.
Shades of Green offers Disney for military
Now that the summer is almost over, thoughts
of how to spend next summer or your next vacation
week, can start to pop into your mind.
"Can we go someplace better or different,
nearer or farther from home, all without breaking
the bank?"
One place to consider if Florida
is one of your next vacation places is Shades
of Green in Orlando. Minutes
from the Disney attractions, this resort is also
close to golf, dining and other Florida
attractions.
Their web site, www.shadesofgreen.org can give
you tours of their rooms and family suites, the
local attractions and other amenities that are
offered by the resort.
The rates are reasonable and will be a
opportunity to visit Orlando with your family.
Visit West Point,
take in the Ike Hall theater
Are you looking for a different place to visit
to find history, food and performances of a good
variety? Think about visiting the United States Military
Academy.
While there you can tour the historic grounds,
find lodging and meals, go to the visitor center
where you can purchase something to remember your
visit and then enjoy live entertainment at the
second-largest theater in New
York - the Eisenhower
Hall theatre.
The list of upcoming entertainment includes stage
productions of musicals and plays, ballet, and
music - orchestra, jazz and individual performers.
Three performances in September included
acrobats, opera and a comedian.
Individual ticket prices range from approximately
$25-50 for most performances.
The post is open to civilians; everyone 16 and
older must present photo ID.
Find out more information about Eisenhower Hall
at http://www.ikehall.com/. To find out more about the United States Military Academy,
visit http://www.usma.edu/.
Scholarship, Education
News
Free SAT/ACT Offer Extended
A group of NFL, NFL Europe, AFL, and CFL football
players have announced they are extending their
sponsorship of the SAT/ACT training to all military
families.
The sponsorship allows any military person (active,
Guard, reserve, or retired) to request as many
programs as they need for the students in their
lives. There is a secure website to confirm
a person's military status before directing the
user to the software order site.
Logon to:
www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil/portal/page/itc/MHF/MHF_DETAIL_0?current_id=20.20.100.30.0.0.0.0.0
Programs are shipped to domestic U.S. addresses and APO
addresses. The
sponsorship covers the purchase price of $199
and the family pays only the shipping and handling
of $9.95.
American Legion offers scholarships, booklet
on their Web site
The American Legion has scholarship information
on their Web site - www.legion.org - including
the 152-page booklet, Need
a Lift, which is a complete financial aid
reference guide for veterans, family members and
the American Legion family.
When you get on the site, click on "Scholarship
Information" in the "Useful Links" block.
Association News
NGANJ group life insurance available to members
Are you
covered by the NGANJ Group Life Insurance Program? As a member of either the Officers or the
Enlisted Association, you are entitled to enroll
in your Association Life Insurance Program.
This special program provides from $5,000
to $50,000 of Life Insurance for you, "round the
clock". Premiums
range from as little as $2 per month and may be
payroll-deducted from your drill check. Family coverage is also available at low rates
designed for you as a member of the New Jersey
Army and Air National Guard.
Think of it!! No aviation exclusions...No hazardous duty
restrictions...No war clauses.No checks to write. Dependent coverage includes spouses and all
children. Information
can be obtained by contacting retired CWO Jack
Petrosilli at 609-530-6843, or retired Brig. Gen.
Robert S. Dutko
Sr. at 609-273-1004.
Enrollment forms can be obtained by calling
retired Col. Frank L. Carlone, Program Coordinator
at 732-249-8335.
Enlisted Association of the National Guard of
New Jersey
The Enlisted Association is seeking members to
help give our state a larger voice.
The Association speaks on legislative issues
that benefit military members and families. The
association works at the Federal & State level
on all important issues. Visit the web site EANG-NJ.org, click on Become a Member for the application and find out more about what
the association does.
Veterans Information
N.J.
Militia
Museum
conducting Retiree Oral History Program
The National Guard Militia Museum of New Jersey
has put together a National Guard Veteran Retiree
Oral History Program. In the past, the NJNG
has not conducted oral exit interviews of commanders,
full-time personnel, and retirees to preserve
history. The museum is going to institute
a volunteer program to try to catch up. If
you wish to participate, contact the museum at
732-974-5966.
The New Jersey State Building and Construction
Trades Council's Helmets to Hardhats Program (NJ
H2H) is designed to help transitioning military
personnel, National Guardsmen and Reservists find
the careers in the building and construction industry. The program seeks to help military members
find a career in one of 15 affiliated trades,
such as electrical workers, carpenters and painters.
They work in cooperation with the national Helmets
to Hardhats program, adding a personal component
to the program's on-line services.
NJ H2H offers veterans preparation for
successful application to any of New Jersey's registered apprenticeship programs
in the building and construction trades. Services
include career counseling, entrance test preparation
and referral to supportive services.
For program registration and information, visit
online at www.njbctc.org/h2h or contact at 732-499-7295
or at H2H@njbctc.org.
Vet Career Connect helps military members find
jobs
Vet Career Connect is a program designed to connect
military service members with New
Jersey employers. Vet
Career Connect matches veteran's specific abilities,
drives and interests with jobs requiring those
specific abilities.
Participants complete a Caliper Profile, which
is an on-line self assessment. They will receive
an Individual Developmental Guide outlining personal
motivators and areas of developmental opportunity.
Participants will then have the opportunity to
place the results of the Caliper Profile, their
resume and military achievements onto a database
which will be viewed by New Jersey-based companies
who have indicated a strong interest in employing
veterans.
Vet Career Connect program is available at no
cost to service members. In order to participate
in this program, or if you have additional questions
please email or call Barbara
Foos, Project Administrator,
at 609-524-1228 or bfoos@calipercorp.com.
DMAVA Veterans Outreach Campaign continues
The DMVA Veterans Outreach Campaign continues
with kiosk displays at selected malls throughout
New Jersey. The schedule is as follows:
January 8,9, 2008 |
Woodbridge
Center |
February 5, 6, 7 |
Moorestown Mall |
March 4*, 5, 6 |
Paramus
Park
Shopping Center |
April 1, 2, 3 |
Voorhees
Town
Center |
May 6*, 7, 8 |
Ocean County Mall |
*Medal ceremonies begin at 10:30 a.m. on these
dates. The
kiosk will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
N.J. Vietnam Veterans
Memorial
N.J. Vietnam Veterans' Memorial and Vietnam Era Educational
Center's
upcoming events:
On Saturday,
December 8, at 1 p.m., the New Jersey Vietnam
Veterans' Memorial Foundation will host a lecture
and slide show by Vietnam
veteran Craig J. Barber about his book of photography,
Ghosts in the Landscape: Vietnam Revisited.
This program will be held at the Vietnam Era Educational
Center
in Holmdel.
Over a four year period beginning in 1995, Barber,
a former combat Marine and now a professional
photographer, returned to Vietnam several times
to visit many of his former military routes, making
images with an 8 x 10-inch pinhole camera.
Part cathartic exercise, part curiosity
about what had become of this once war-torn country,
Barber has created a series of diptych and triptych
panorama platinum images that capture the serene
beauty of the country and the all-too-memorable
landscapes. From
April 1966 to December 1967, Barber served as
an infantry sergeant with the U.S. Marine Corps,
1st Battalion, 7th Marines Regiment, in the Chu
Lai, Da Nang, and Phu Bai area of northern South Vietnam. During his photography tour, he wrote in his
journal, "More than once, as I wander the small
hamlets, I have felt on patrol, the weight of
my pack reminiscent of those days and the tripod
feeling like a weapon.
But now I am searching for images instead
of 'Charlie' [the enemy]."
The images in the book, Ghosts in the Landscape:
Vietnam Revisited, and those that will be
on display and projected on a screen in a slide
show are not documentary images. The minutes-long exposure required to record
pinhole images produce blurring in anything that
was in motion during the exposure.
This sense of movement contributes to both
a sense of mystery and a dreamlike, introspective
quality. They
capture the haunting power of wartime memory and
trauma, while at the same time they convey beauty
and peace. They
will appeal to a wide audience and to Vietnam
veterans who may find some comfort, as does Barber,
in seeing Vietnam in a
different light.
=================
Free guided tours of the Memorial are offered
on the first Saturday of each month at 11 a.m.
and 1 p.m.
Dec. 1, 6 p.m. - Holiday
Lighting Ceremony at the N.J. Vietnam Veterans Memorial: Christmas
Tree, Hanukkah Menorah, and Kwaanza Candles.
Dec. 8,
1 p.m. - Ghosts in the Landscape: Vietnam Revisited, a
photo gallery display and book discussion by the
author/photographer, N.J. Vietnam Veteran Craig
J. Barber.
Jan. 19,
1 p.m. - The U.S. Air Force in the Battle
of Khe Sanh, an oral-history presentation by N.J.
Vietnam Veteran, ret. Maj. Gen. Clark W. Martin,
U.S. Air Force.
Feb. 2,
1 p.m. -
In the Navy in Vietnam, an oral history presentation
by N.J. Vietnam Veteran and Monmouth University
President, ret. Vice Adm. Paul G. Gaffney II,
U.S. Navy.
Mar. 1,
1 p.m. - American Vietnam Veterans Who Wouldn't
Come Home, an oral-history discussion about
American ex-patriots recently encountered on a
trip to Thailand by Steve Lonegan, Mayor of Bogota,
N.J.
Apr. 12, 1 p.m. - We Were There:
Voices of African American Veterans, from World
War II to the War in Iraq, a book
discussion by the author, Yvonne Latty.
May 7, 11 a.m. - New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Remembrance Day
Ceremony at the Memorial.
May 17, 1 p.m. - On the Road to
Recovery, an oral-history discussion by NJ Vietnam-Era
veteran Bishop Fred Rubin about his service tending
wounded G.I.s in the Army hospital in Hawaii during the Vietnam
War.
May 26, 11 a.m. - Memorial Day
Ceremony at the N.J. Vietnam
Veterans' Memorial.
====================
For further information call 1-800-648-VETS or
visit www.njvvmf.org.