Short Rounds
Compiled by the Guardlife Staff
Computers Keep Troops in Touch
On Dec. 8, 42 members from
the 250th Adjutant
General Detachment and 50th Personnel Services
Battalion, which were on annual training at
Fort Dix in preparation to deployment, received
free personal computers in order to keep in e-mail
contact with their families.
Operation Homelink, a
Chicago based non-profit organization, held the
computer giveaway at the McGuire Air Force
Base Family Support Center. A total of 100
computers were distributed by Operation
Homelink, whose mission is to facilitating email
communication between service members and
their families back home, that particular day. Oftentimes families are not able to afford a computer
and must rely on expensive phone calls or
slow postal service to stay in touch. Operation
Homelink provides a free refurbished computer to
the spouse or parents of troops up to the rank of
E-5.
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21st CST Participates In
Largest Response Exercise
From Oct. 10-13, the 21st Civil Support Team (CST)
trained at the Memorial Tunnel, Center for National
Response, near Charleston, W.V. This exercise,
which combined the CST with urban search and
rescue firemen from nine New Jersey counties, was
the largest the 21st CST had been involved in.
The
exercise, which simulated a tunnel explosion and
collapse, was located in a half-mile long tunnel filled
with destroyed cars, trucks and semi trailers along
with simulated victims, that had to be stabilized before
being extracted.
The Center is a flexible WMD training
complex that provides multiscenario exercises, which
include a post blast rubble area, subway train station,
chemical, biological and drug laboratories; a highway
WMD HAZMAT incident that can be configured with
chemical, biological and radiological sources and a
cave and a bunker complex for military or joint operations
with military and first responders.
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3-112 Gets New Commander
Col. Frank Caruso passes the 3rd Battalion, 112th Field Artillery colors to Lt.
Col. Henri R. Schepens during a Change of Command ceremony at the Morristown
Armory on Dec. 18. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Robert Stephenson, NJDMAVA/PA. |
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Chojnacki Gets 2nd Star
Brig. Gen. Eugene R. Chojnacki (second from right) has his major general insignia
pinned on by his children (l-r) Casey,
Bryan and Darin during a promotion ceremony held at the Joint Force Headquarters – New
Jersey building at Fort Dix on Nov. 20. Maj. Gen. Chojnacki is the Commander
of the New Jersey Air National Guard based at Fort Dix. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Mark
Olsen, 177FW/PA. |
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Medics Provide Support
Tech. Sgt. Sam Ciriaco (right) applies a cast to a Katrina victim. From Sept.
20 to the end of October, 12 members of the 177th Medical Group deployed to
Belle Chasse Naval Air Station and Camp Shelby in support of Hurricane Katrina
relief efforts. Photo courtesy 177FW/Medical Group. |
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150th Freedom
Salute
Sgt. Daniela Talharim (right), 150th Adjutant General Detachment, shares a moment
with her mom, Maria (center),
and sister, Danayta (left), during the 150th's Freedom Salute ceremony at Fort
Dix on Dec. 11. The unit was deployed to Fort Dix to support the mobilization
mission from Jan. 2003 to July 2004. Photo by Spc. Sherwood Goodenough, 444 MPAD. |
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Wing To Get New Alert Facility
Dig In! (l-r) Brig. Gen. Maria Falca-Dodson, Brig. Gen. Eugene Chojnacki, Congressman
Frank A. Lobiondo, N.J. 2nd District, Maj. Gen. Glenn K. Rieth and Col. Brian
Webster, Commander, 177th Fighter Wing, break ground for the 177th's new alert
crew complex, scheduled for completion in 18 months. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Mark
Olsen, 177FW/PA. |
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Wing Prepares
For AEF
Lt. Col. Thor Himley (left), 177th Operations Group, receives help sorting through
supplies from Staff Sgt. Anthony Branca (right), 177th Logistics Readiness Squadron,
during the wing's preparation for the upcoming Air Expeditionary Force deployment.
Photo by Tech. Sgt. Mark Olsen, 177FW/PA. |
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1-114th In Iraq
First Lieutenant Vincent Caliguire (front), one of the 26 members of the 1st
Battalion, 114th Infantry; who volunteered to serve with a Pennsylvania Army
National Guard unit, is seen here during a lull in a battle with insurgents.
Photo courtesy 1st Battalion, 114th Infantry. |
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Troops Receive Awards
Three members of the New Jersey National Guard (NJNG) Counterdrug Task Force,
(starting second from left) Sgt.
1st Class John Figueroa, Staff Sgt. Pedro Pena and Sgt. 1st Class Willie Johnson
were given Eagle statues by Kyle
Hutchins (left), Special Agent in Charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement,
Newark, in appreciation for their service in support of the Global War on Terrorism.
Also shown in the photo is
Lt. Col. John Sheard (right), NJNG
Counterdrug Coordinator. Photo courtesy New Jersey National Guard Counterdrug
Task Force. |
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