The New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, under the direction of The Adjutant General of New Jersey, is both the Headquarters for the New Jersey Army and Air National Guard and the governmental agency responsible for the administration of veterans programs and services within the state. The Department is preparing to enter the twenty-first century with the right personnel, the right systems in place, the right facilities, and the right tools and skills needed to be a viable and relevant part of the New Jersey economy. The National Guard is positioning itself for the next century by shifting force structure and units to those areas that can support unit strength. All force reductions and major reorganizations have been accomplished.  Though there still will be minor adjustments, the New Jersey Army National Guard has stabilized at approximately 7,500 authorized positions and the New Jersey Air National Guard at approximately 2,500 authorized positions.

    Veterans services provided by the Department include operation of the Veterans Memorial Homes at Paramus, Menlo Park (Edison Township) and Vineland; Veterans Haven, a transitional housing program for homeless veterans; and the only state Veterans cemetery, the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery located in Arneytown.  There are also 15 Veterans Service Offices throughout the state which provide outreach and assistance to the estimated 735,000 veterans residing within the Garden State.

   The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMAVA) is a unique blend of federal and state missions which bring in $4.1 federal dollars for each state dollar expended in its annual operating budget. DMAVA is staffed by state employees, federal technicians, military technicians, federally funded state employees, AGR (Active Guard/Reserve) personnel and active duty military personnel; all with different work hours, holidays, pay scales, benefits, and position descriptions.

     The New Jersey Army National Guard currently maintains 32 active armories in 20 of the state’s 21 counties; Passaic County currently is the only county without an active armory.  In 1998, DMAVA concentrated most construction efforts on improving life, safety, and accessibility which improve the quality of life and availability of these facilities for multi-purpose or joint use with community and governmental agencies.  The Department is continuing the process of inviting other state agencies and community organizations to use the available space in armories for their activities.  Some of these examples of expanded use include: major motion picture filming using the Jersey City and Teaneck armories, motor vehicle testing sites at Dover and Morristown, the Drug Enforcement Agency’s use of Lodi, the Department of Labor’s training facility at the Franklin and Flemington armories; the Department of Education’s use of Phillipsburg armory as a school, as well as the shared use of the facilities at the National Guard Training Center at Sea Girt with the State Police and the Division of Criminal Justice. The Department continues to seek community organizations to use armories for various activities such as blood drives, voting locations, computer and antique shows, scouting, Civil Air Patrol, and other youth organizations and activities.  The message is clear: the Guard is a community-based organization and as good neighbors wants to be involved.  It draws its strength from the community and returns it in service to both state and nation.

    The New Jersey Air National Guard is headquartered at McGuire Air Force Base, with its two primary subordinate commands, the 108th Air Refueling Wing (ARW) at McGuire AFB and the 177th Fighter Wing (FW) at Atlantic City Airport in Egg Harbor Township.  The New Jersey Air National Guard continues to provide a worldwide presence in support of many varied and substantial missions in the interest of national defense.  In 1998, the 108th ARW supported NATO’s peacekeeping efforts in Eastern Europe, most recently flying refueling missions in support of Operations Deliberate Guard over Bosnia and Northern Watch over Iraq.  The 108th deployed to Australia, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Turkey, and many other nations in support of its worldwide mission.  The 177th FW deployed to Howard Air Force Base in Panama for Operation Coronet Nighthawk, carrying out its counter-drug role.  As a result of North American Aerospace Defense Command tasking, the 177th began conversion to the general-purpose F-16 mission on October 1.  In this role, the Wing will be capable of assuming a variety of Air Force missions to include overseas deployments and assignments with the Air Expeditionary Forces.

     In its role as a state militia, the National Guard responds to emergencies within the state upon the declaration of a state of emergency or limited state of emergency by the Governor, who serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the New Jersey National Guard (NJNG). This emergency response mission is unique to the National Guard and distinguishes the Guard from the active duty military and other reserve components.  The Guard’s civil mission has included a number of efforts this year. These have ranged from counter drug and drug demand reduction programs to emergency response and domestic action programs to the New Jersey National Guard Challenge Youth Program.  The same training, troops and equipment (all paid for with federal dollars) used to support the national defense (combat) mission can be used in response to local emergencies. This makes our citizen-soldiers both an extremely valuable and most cost effective resource capable of protecting the lives and property of the citizens of New Jersey.

    Over the past year, the National Guard has continued to play a major role in the community.  The Guard responded to a number of emergency situations including two major winter coastal storms that caused extensive flooding and erosion.  The NJNG collected and transported 50 truckloads of donated goods as part of the relief effort for the victims of Hurricane Mitch in the Honduras.  In total, 1,120 emergency missions were executed, involving a total of 2,500 man days.  Also during the year, more than 3,600 personnel supported 458 domestic non-emergency civil support missions.  These included Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps summer camps hosted at Fort Dix and two Operation Stand Down events at Fort Dix and Essex County Community College.

    1998 marked the fourth year of the highly successful New Jersey National Guard Challenge Youth Program.  As one of only 15 states involved in this program, New Jersey and DMAVA have taken the lead in investing in our future. The Challenge Youth Program is a federally funded, 22-week program for “at-risk” youth ages 16 through 18.  These individuals are unemployed, high school dropouts who are drug free and not in trouble with the law.  The program gives them a chance to obtain their General Education Diploma, develop a positive self-image and discipline, as well as acquire the skills necessary to function as contributing members of society.

    The New Jersey National Guard continued its war on drugs in 1998.  The Counter Drug and Support Operations and Drug Demand Reduction Programs employ a federally funded staff of more than 66 full-time National Guard soldiers.  These soldiers work directly with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies at the Port Newark-Elizabeth and other ports of entry to assist in the interdiction and seizure of illegal drugs.  They also serve as role models and guest speakers in various drug demand reduction programs to schools and community organizations.  Since 1989, in excess of two billion dollars in contraband was seized ensuring that a significant portion of illegal drugs and weapons never reached their intended destinations.  Last year alone, $314 million dollars in contraband was seized through this program.  Guardsmen working in conjunction with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms played a key role in developing a software package which will help law enforcement officials track and prosecute illegal firearms dealers.

    The Guard continues to expand both its global role and involvement in international affairs.  In its expanded missions, the New Jersey Guard was an active participant in the Partnership for Peace program, in which the National Guard’s of various states are matched with former Soviet bloc or emerging third world nations to assist them in their quest to establish themselves as democratic societies.  The NJNG was partnered with Albania and South Africa.  Delegations from both countries visited and observed New Jersey National Guard troops in 1998 and Guard personnel visited these countries to exchange ideas and provide technical guidance in military organization, procedures, and operations.  The goodwill established and expertise provided  have laid the foundation for these emerging democracies to take their first bold steps in joining the free world and enabled Guardsmen to play a significant role in the process.

     More than 60 percent of our state’s veterans are 55 or older.  Ensuring that they receive the highest quality health care is a prime concern of this Department.  Providing long-term health care at the three Memorial Homes is the most visible aspect of the Department’s support to the state’s veterans.  For many years, when funding was reduced, the first thing done was to cut back on the number of beds occupied in the memorial homes to save money.  But, in actuality, the state was losing money.  At the rate of $70 per day per empty bed.  In 1992 that amounted to $2.5 million.  By keeping all three veterans homes at 97 percent daily capacity; usage, revenues, and services are maximized for those veterans in need of long-term care.

     The new, $42 million replacement facility for the Menlo Park Veterans Memorial Home is scheduled to open during the summer of 1999.  This will be a state of the art facility with 332 beds and also will include a day care center for 32 veterans.  Approximately $100,000 in construction funds will be used to upgrade the veterans home in Vineland to Medicare standards.  Over the past several years, the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs has worked address homelessness among our nation’s veterans.  New Jersey has an estimated 7,000 homeless veterans.  The Department has been working to reduce these numbers through several programs and activities which include assistance through “Stand Downs,” Veterans Haven, and the Office on Homeless Intervention.

    The Department continues to provide burial services at the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery which assures dignity for the deceased veteran and compassion for the families. During the past year, the number of interments has increased to 1,900 annually.  New Jersey’s veterans cemetery is now the third most active in the state and the most active of all state veteran cemeteries in the country.

The ChalleNGe Youth Program

     The New Jersey National Guard Challenge Youth Program, located at Fort Dix, is a 22-week residential program  for 16 to 18 year-old high school dropouts.  The program’s goal is to give eligible students a second chance through education, cultivating life skills, leadership, and employment training. Challenge is a voluntary program aimed at developing well-rounded citizens.  After the residential phase has been completed, each student is assigned a mentor for one year.  These mentors provide guidance and advice while charting each student’s progress in the working world or in the next phase of education.

    Since its inception in 1994, 653 cadets have graduated.  Of those 653 cadets, 67 percent have obtained their General Education Diploma (GED) which places New Jersey’s Challenge program above the national average of 54 percent in a traditional educational setting.  Challenge graduates also have gone on to vocational, technical, or four-year colleges.  Many are now employed full time while others have joined various branches of the armed forces to take full advantage of the military’s tuition assistance programs.

    The Challenge Program has worked closely with other state, local, and military organizations over the past year.  Cadets have received environmental training from the staff at Pequest Hatchery and have gone on orientation flights with the 108th ARW.  One of the most prestigious duties cadets perform is post retreat.  Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Challenge cadets have the honor of lowering the flag at the end of each day.  Although Challenge is located at Fort Dix, nearby McGuire AFB has provided invaluable opportunities for job training skills in areas ranging from outdoor recreation to aircraft maintenance.

    In the true spirit of community service, Challenge has conducted several blood drives at Fort Dix.  With more than 1,100 patients benefiting from their efforts.  The New Jersey National Guard Challenge Youth Program will continue to instill positive values and a sense of duty, honor and pride into the minds of New Jersey’s youth.

Selective Service

     A unique mission for The Adjutant General is to provide support for the Selective Service System, an independent branch of the federal government.  Selective Service’s mission is to provide manpower to the armed forces in times of emergency and administer the alternate service program for conscientious objectors.

    The Military Selective Service Act and Selective Service regulations provide for local boards, allocated according to county or corresponding political subdivision.  There is also a provision for appeal boards to be established by federal judicial districts, in addition to a National Appeal Board.  The appeal boards act in cases where persons do not agree with the classification given them by the local boards.  The review boards act on claims relating to job assignments from alternative service workers.  Board members are appointed by the Director of Selective Service in the name of the president upon recommendation of the governor.  There are eight Selective Service officesin New Jersey consisting of  local boards, one review and one district appeal board.

    The New Jersey State Director of Selective Service is Mr. John E. Coley, Jr., of Warren Township, a civilian appointed by the Governor.  The Selective Service Detachment is comprised of members of the New Jersey Army National Guard and other military reservists.

    The Detachment is responsible for identifying and recruiting individuals to serve as board members.  To the maximum extent possible, the membership of each board is proportionately representative of the race and national origin of the registrants in the area it serves.  Members also must reside within the area served by the board to which they have been appointed.

    At present, there is no requirement to induct people into military service.  The integrity and credibility of the entire Selective Service System depends on a fair and effective classification process maintained by trusted and objective leaders in local communities.  Accordingly, the Detachment provides local board members with formal training in the interpretation of Selective Service regulations for processing claims submitted by registrants.

    The Detachment contracted with all high schools throughout the state to advise them of the laws requiring registration in order to ensure a federal, or state post-secondary education loan.  At their request, 50 high schools were visited by members of the Detachment and 1,100 students were registered.

    To maintain their qualifications, board members attend internal training sessions on a monthly basis and a three-day training course at Regional Headquarters in Great Lakes, Illinois.  Detachment members also attended a National Conference held by the National Headquarters in New Orleans, Louisiana.

National Guard Militia Museum

     The National Guard Militia Museum of New Jersey is located at the National Guard Training Center in Sea Girt.  Located off Route 71, it is open for guests every Tuesday and Thursday, the first weekend of the month, and by appointment.  The Museum’s mission is to preserve and explain New Jersey’s militia history and enhance public understanding of how armed conflicts and military institutions have shaped our state and national experience.

    Volunteers from the private sector and the New Jersey National Guard serve as the Militia Museum staff.  The Trustees of the National Guard Militia Museum of New Jersey Inc., a support organization, assist staff efforts to educate visitors about New Jersey’s militia and its many valuable contributions throughout our nation’s history.

   The Militia Museum made great strides this past year in establishing facilities to better serve visitors, as well as increasing display areas.  New displays and exhibits include a 1950’s Cold War Era F-84 jet fighter (with New Jersey Air National Guard markings) employed during the Berlin crisis.  A model of the New Jersey-built USS C.K. Bronson, the World War II Navy destroyer that rescued Ensign George Bush and his crew when the former president’s torpedo bomber was shot down in the Pacific on June 19, 1944.  The Militia Museum’s mobile display trailer made its debut at the Whippany Railroad Museum in September and has visited several locations since its creation.

Installations Division

The following projects were started, continued, or finished during 1998:

• Contracted and removed all underground storage tank’s at organizational maintenance shops, combined support maintenance shops, and aviation facilities at Mercer and Picatinny.
• Recycled 471 tons of material for a 200 percent increase over the previous year.
• Received $35,000 from turn-in of recyclables.
• Implemented a recycling plan at every NJARNG facility.  NJDMAVA was chosen as a model program for recycling and presented its program to other state agencies.
• Reduced hazardous waste disposal by 20 percent.
• NJDMAVA was in full compliance with the Clean Air Act for 1998 emissions.
• Conducted cultural resource surveys for all artifacts and facilities.
• NJDMAVA selected to present the department’s cultural resource plan at the National Conference for Historic Preservation.  NJDMAVA was the only National Guard entity chosen to present their plan.
• The Installation Division Environmental Office assisted the department’s numerous satellite facilities in becoming environmentally compliant during 1998.
• The department terminated three New Jersey Pollution Discharge Elimination System permits because pollutants were no longer being discharged into the environment.
• Replaced all solvent parts washers at Guard maintenance facilities with aqueous parts washers, eliminating 90 percent of hazardous materials and wastes.
• Remediated eight facilities with asbestos.
• Surveyed all organizational maintenance shops for asbestos, resulting in the department having surveyed 100 percent of its facilities.
• Conducted lead abatement clean up at NJDMAVA facilities using departmental resources at a cost savings of $65,000.
• Completed 80 percent of the departmental statewide facilities master plan.
• Finished $1.2 million renovation to the Jersey City Armory.
• Concluded $1 million renovation to four barracks at the National Guard Training Center at Sea Girt.  These barracks are being used by the National Guard for military training and the Department of Corrections to train correction officers.
• Finished construction of a remote committal shelter at the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Arneytown.
• Accomplished renovation of the Vineland Veterans Memorial Home canteen.
• Completed $300,000 renovation to the Veterans Haven transitional housing facility at Ancora.
• Finished the installation of a fire suppression and alarm system at Morristown Armory.
• Continued working toward completion of the replacement nursing home at Menlo Park.  The project is 95 percent complete and scheduled to accept residents in January.
• Completed an $85,000 project to replace three boilers at the Teaneck Armory.
• Sold the Red Bank National Guard Armory.
• Upgraded two Vineland Veterans Home elevators in compliance with Americans With Disabilities Act.
• Initiated change of use procedures with the Department of Community Affairs for the Teaneck and Jersey City Armories.  These procedural changes will allow the motion picture industry to use the facilities as sound stages.
• Developed a school at the Phillipsburg Armory in collaboration with the Phillipsburg Board of Education.
• Managed 42 projects totaling $3.4 million for renovation and rehabilitation of various NJDMAVA facilities.

• $460,000 in electrical upgrades to the United States Property and Fiscal Office.
• Installation of a $400,000 fire suppression and alarm system at West Orange Armory.
• Installation of fire suppression and alarm system at the Westfield Armory and the West Orange Combined Surface Maintenance Shop.
• Replacement of vehicle ramp at the DMAVA Headquarters.
• Installation of water main at the West Orange Armory.
• Waterproofing of the Atlantic City Armory and the Fort Dix Unit Training and Equipment Site.
• Received $700,000 in federal funds for construction of an indoor range and upgrades to outdoor ranges at the Sea Girt Training Center.
• Replacement of windows at the Dover and Riverdale Armories.
• Managed 36 construction projects totaling $7.8 million during 1998.
• Renovation of the 50th Brigade Headquarters building using departmental resources, saving over $100,000 in labor costs.
• Saw a 400 percent increase in facilities usage by private and public entities.
• Implemented a bar coding system for managing inventory.
• Implemented a program to use departmental resources to maintain fire extinguishers saving $25,000 per year.

The Division of Personnel reported the following accomplishments in 1998:

• Represented The Adjutant General on the State Employee Recognition Committee.
• Concluded a successful New Jersey State Employee Charitable Campaign.
• Initiated safety and training newsletters.
• Provided Workers Against Violence Efforts (WAVE) training to department employees.

      The Affirmative Action Department joined with the Department of Community Affairs Center for Hispanic Policy Research and Development’s Hispanic Interns in Community Service program.  This program provided the Offices of Government Relations and Information Management with two talented interns.

    The department conducted several special emphasis programs this year which included the Federal Women’s Program, Black Employment Program, Hispanic Employment Program, and the Take Our Daughters To Work Day

    The Affirmative Action office resolved eight formal and seven informal discrimination and sexual harassment complaints at a significant cost savings to the department.

Directorate of Information Management

      During the past year, the Directorate of Information Management greatly enhanced the digital infrastructure of the department.  Great strides have been made with regard to connectivity with both state and federal government and the management of the boundaries between the two networks.  High speed Internet access has been provided to many department users.   Windows NT is used as a secure environment for local and wide area networks.  This provides the required security while making the systems compatible with industry standards.  These improvements have been done with commercial technology and are compatible with other government organizations and outside agencies.

    The Adjutant General has initiated the partnership process with the Community Learning and Information Network (CLIN).  CLIN is a public-private partnership creating a community linked learning and information system that provides everyone equal access to education, training, and information required for lifelong learning, new skills development, and enhanced quality of life.  A state advisory board will be established to encourage state and private sector investment in the growth of statewide distance learning program.  This program will include a system of public and private classrooms as well as the establishment of courseware repositories available to everyone where distance learning sites are located.  The partnership of government and private agencies will allow rapid expansion of the program to the benefit of all concerned.
 
 

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