NJ Dept of Military and Veterans Affairs

BG Glenn K. Rieth

The Adjutant General

COL Maria Falca-Dodson

Deputy Adjutant General

COL (Ret) Emil H. Philibosian

Deputy Commissioner for Veterans   Affairs

Contacting us is easy!

Office of the

Joint Chief of Staff

Col (Ret) Michael B. Smith

Mrs. Laura A. Branham

Phone:

(609) 530-6987

Fax: 

(609) 530-7109

Email:

branham@njdmava.state.nj.us

We're on the Web!

www.state.nj.us/military

"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet.  Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened,  ambition inspired, and success achieved."

  .Helen Keller

Calendar Notes.

NJ State Employees Charitable Campaign is now underway.

Flag Retirement Ceremony

11 November 2003    10:30 a.m.

BG Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery

2003 World Series

begins this weekend.

Weekend game times

Game 1 - Saturday

 18 October

7:35 p.m.

Game 2 - Sunday

 19 October

7:35 p.m.

The 108^th Air Refueling Wing received the coveted Air National Guard Distinguished Flying Unit plaque and the Curtis N. "Rusty" Metcalf Trophy at the 125^th annual National Guard Association of the United States convention held recently in Gulfport, Mississippi.  Lt Gen Daniel James, Director of the Air National Guard, presented the awards.

The Metcalf Trophy recognizes the airlift or air refueling flying unit demonstrating the highest standards of mission accomplishment.  The 108^th was recognized for overall outstanding performance for the 2002 calendar year. 

In 2002, the 108^th ARW completed its wartime mission to near perfection in support of the Global War on Terrorism.  Over 600 members of the wing were mobilized for Operations Noble Eagle (ONE) and Enduring Freedom (OEF).  The wing achieved a 99.5 percent mission effectiveness rate while flying nearly 700 combat and combat support refueling missions over Afghanistan.  In ONE, the unit maintained 24-hour alert status and flew an average of two Combat Air Patrol refueling missions daily for a total of 2300 hours on 540 sorties.  Overall, the 108^th flew over 20% of all Air National Guard tanker missions in support of these two operations.

The 108^th Security Forces Squadron mobilized every available member to support multiple locations worldwide including duty at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, guarding Al-Quaeda detainees.  Phoenix Raven teams deployed to classified sites overseas and regular forces support Homeland Defense at McGuire and other U.S. locations.

According to 108^th ARW Commander, Colonel Larry Thomas, "I couldn't be more proud of the men and women of this wing.  Receiving these two prestigious awards shows the defense community, as well as the American people, the 'stuff' we're made of." 

Ø       55% of the Air Force's airlift capability

Ø       50% of the Army's strategic and tactical manpower

Ø       63% of the Air Force's air traffic control capability

Ø       55% of the Army's combat capability

Ø       45% of all in-flight refueling missions

Ø       75% of all domestic combat air patrols in the war on terror.

Ø       89,000 mobilized airmen and soldiers

Ø       Over 300 yearly missions providing domestic disaster relief

Ø       Front door to Homeland Security in hours

Ø       Front door to combat in hours

The National Guard is transforming to meet the needs of a changing nation.  But one thing will not change; the National Guard will remain America's best value.  We serve at home, in more than 3,300 communities nationwide and abroad in over 80 countries around the world, such as Afghanistan, Kosovo, Iraq, Bosnia, and Korea. 

We are lighter, faster, and quicker than we have ever been - ready to meet the needs of overseas combat operations, the global War on Terror, Homeland Defense, and answer the calls of Governors; all on a budget that would make a miser blush.  We remain ready, reliable, relevant and accessible.  (The New York Times, 14 October 2003, pg A8)

The Army National Guard (ARNG) is currently in the process of establishing training sets of various types of equipment at four (4) different locations across the United States.  This is to support Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) rotational training for deploying reserve and active component forces.  These locations are Fort Bragg, NC, Fort Drum, NY, Fort Stewart, GA, and Fort Hood, TX.  To support this effort, the NJ Army National Guard (NJARNG) is preparing to transport and transfer twelve (12) M1025 Truck, Utility, 1¼ ton, Armament HMMWVs to Fort Bragg, NC prior to 28 October 2003.  The NJARNG team is working to ensure that selected vehicles are Fully Mission Capable (FMC) and equipped with critical weapon components and SINGARS installation kits prior to their commercial transport to the designated training site.

On a beautiful Sunday morning, 5 October 2003, the 19^th Army Ten-Miler began at 8 a.m. in Washington, DC.  The Army Ten-Miler is America's largest ten-mile race:  18,463 runners registered, 14,782 runners picked up registration packets, 13,249 runners crossed the start line, and a record 13,195 runners crossed the finish line.  Competing in the National Guard (Men) Team Division, "The Jersey Guard" came in second place behind the Michigan National Guard, besting their third place finish last year.  The team's top four finishers are used to calculate the team qualifying team.  Team Captain, MSG Alex Estrada of the RTSM, led the team with a time of 1:06:40.  The other top three finishers were MAJ John Sheard, JFHQ-Counter Drug (1:06:49), MAJ Mark Piterski, HQ 42d ID DISCOM (1:07:18), and SSG Donald Brandinelli, RTSM (1:11:30).  Other team members competing that day were SPC Anthony Christy, HHD 2-102^nd (1:14:10), MSG Yvonne McGuire, JFHQ-TAG-IG (1:32:50) (female), and the "Anchor Man" MAJ Jemal J. Beale, JFHQ-TAG-IG (1:38:24).  In addition to the Jersey Guard team, the following NJARNG personnel participated in the race:  MSG David Stillwagon, JFHQ-RRM (1:22:30), SFC Matthew Krug, JFHQ-RRM (1:27:48), CW4 (Ret) Christopher Perron (2:21:33), and CPT Robert Martinez, 50^th MSB (1:39:42). 

The New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs is offering the citizens of New Jersey a Flag Retirement Service for their American flags that are no longer serviceable to be displayed.  The Flag Retirement Ceremony is scheduled for 11 November 2003, 10:30 a.m., at the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery.  Any resident who wishes to have a flag retired, can drop off the flag at the Chapel/Administration Building at the cemetery (located at 350 Provinceline Road, Wrightstown, NJ 08562) between the hours of 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.  Flags can also be dropped off at the office of COL (Ret) Stephen Abel, Director, Division of Veterans Services, at 101 Eggert Crossing Road, Lawrenceville, NJ.  All flags must be received by 1 November 2003.

For more information about any of these events, please call the NJ Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation office at (732) 335-0033.

Girls from Troop #3327 recently participated in a community service project at the 108^th Refueling Wing, McGuire Air Force Base.  The girls showed their support for our troops by helping pack chemical warfare kits, which the troops need when they are deployed.  After packing kits, the girls were allowed to try on some of the gear, were given a tour of the warehouse, and learned how planes are refueled in the air.  The girls had a great time and, at the same time, were able to contribute to their community.

On October 7, 2003, the U.S. 10^th Circuit Court of Appeals granted the FTC's request to stay the order of the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado that halted enforcement of the National Do Not Call Registry.  Accordingly, the FTC will move forward with implementing and enforcing the registry.  Consumers who have not already registered their phone numbers may do so beginning Thursday, October 9 at 8:00 a.m. EDT at www.donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222 (TTY 1-866-290-4236).  Consumers can file do not call complaints beginning Saturday, October 11 at 6 p.m. at www.donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222 (TTY 1-866-290-4236).

Today is Friday, October 17th, the 290^th day of 2003. There are 75 days left in the year.

Ø       In 1977, American troops defeated British forces in Saratoga, NY.  It was the turning point in the American Revolutionary War.

Ø       In 1888, the first issue of "National Geographic Magazine" was released at newsstands.

Ø       In 1933, Dr. Albert Einstein moved to Princeton, NJ, after leaving Germany.

Ø       In 1978, U.S. President Carter signed a bill that restored U.S. citizenship to Confederate President Jefferson Davis.

Ø       In 1989, an earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter Scale hit the San Francisco Bay area in California.  The quake caused about 67 deaths, 3,000 injuries, and damages up to $7 billion.

Ø       In 2001, the U.S. Capitol building was closed because of an outside threat.  The Capitol building and all House office buildings were closed for inspection following the discovery of anthrax in a Senate office building.

As the days grow shorter and the nights colder, we marvel at the wonder of nature's continuing cycle of change.  It's a cycle with everything in balance.  Weather is the atmosphere seeking to find a balance.  The earth is heated unequally as the different seasons occur throughout the year and even different times of daylight at a specific location at any given time.

In early January, it will be completely dark at the North Pole most of the day.  Daylight will last a little over nine hours here in New Jersey; at the equator, around 12 hours, about 14-15 in Australia, and at the South Pole, the sun will be out most of the day.  These same locations (except for the equator) will have different amounts of daytime heating and nighttime cooling in another six, even three months. 

This differential heating results in widespread general circulation patterns.  Warm air at the equator streams northward, while cold air at the poles flows southward.  Hence the search for balance, which seldom occurs without what we call weather.  Other processes, such as the earth's rotation, produce areas of prevailing semi-permanent patterns.

One such pattern that influences our area the most is the prevailing westerlies, which steer surface systems from west to east.  This is where the jet stream is located.  The jet stream separates cold air from warm air in the upper atmosphere.  Unequal heating, or the search for balance, produces slowly moving long waves.  Smaller temperature differences within the long waves are short waves, which are reflected on the surface as familiar highs, lows, and fronts.

So, the next time we get socked with nine inches of snow or we must face another drought, remember this is the result of a balance in temperatures being sought.  Also, that a stretch of genuinely lousy weather will usually be followed by a stretch of genuinely good weather for that same reason.

Ø       Tennessee banned the use of a lasso to catch fish.

Ø       The game of basketball was first played with a soccer ball and two peach    baskets.

Ø       Blackboard chalk contains no chalk.

Ø       Jackrabbits can travel more than 12 feet in one leap.