New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs

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FOUR CHIEFS: TAG DEFINES THE ROLE OF HOMELAND SECURITY CHIEF. BG Glenn K. Rieth directed that MG (Ret) G. Thomas Garrett is to assume the title of Chief of Homeland Security in the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. This change accurately reflects the status and importance of the Homeland Security in DMVA's ongoing service to New Jersey and the Nation. The Chief of Homeland Security joins the Army National Guard's Chief of Staff, the Air National Guard's Air Executive Officer, and DMVA's Joint Chief of Staff in their responsibility for policy, management, and task execution.
177^TH CIVIL ENGINEERS DEPLOY FOR COMBAT READINESS EXERCISE. More than 60 members of the 177^th Fighter Wing's Civil Engineering Squadron and Services Flight departed for an intensive, one-week combat readiness exercise known as Silver Flag at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. The course is designed to prepare them for worldwide deployment into hostile areas lacking the necessary facilities or infrastructure to support Air Force operations. The first part of the training consists of classroom exercises broken down by skill sets. Civil Engineering and Services members include carpenters, plumbers, electricians, heating and cooling specialists, heavy equipment operators, power generation specialists, cooks, mortuary affairs specialists, and others. This is followed by a hands-on exercise that involves simulated attacks, a forced relocation to a remote area, and airfield recovery operations.
THE VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL FOUNDATION WILL AWARD TWO $2,500 DOLLAR SCHOLARSHIPS. The scholarships can be used for post high school education (college, community college, trade schools, etc.). If you are interested, please contact Diane Donahue at 609 530-7049 for additional eligibility criteria and an application.
NEW JERSEY ARMY NATIONAL GUARD REPORTED A 0.78% NO VALIDATION OF PAY PERCENTAGE FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER 2002. This is the second consecutive month we reported a NoVal Pay rate of below 0.8%. This statistic shows that 99.2 of our assigned soldiers are reporting for drill.
COATS DONATED DURING THIS YEAR'S COAT DRIVE WILL BE GIVEN TO VETERANS HAVEN AND THE VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA. Residents at Veterans Haven and local charities selected by the Veterans Memorial Homes will receive all of the coats we select.
1-254^TH REGIMENT (ARMOR BATTALION) RECEIVED AN ACCREDITATION VISIT FROM THE FORT KNOX QUALITY ASSURANCE OFFICE (QAO) on 1-3 November 2002. This visit was the first of six for Region A and the 154^th Regiment. The Accreditation Team was here to ensure that the Armor Battalion was conducting courses in accordance with the United States Army's Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) standards. The Armor Battalion did very well during this visit, gained an accreditation rating, and was one mark away from being considered a "School of Excellence." The Region will be given a final accreditation rating after all visits have been accomplished.
THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS PASSED A MULTI-YEAR FUNDING BILL FOR STATE APPROVING AGENCIES (SAA). On Wednesday, 19 November, the Senate passed a five-year funding bill that was identical to the bill passed by the House of Representatives the week before. The bill calls for a $14 Million dollar budget in Fiscal Year 2003, an $18 Million dollar budget in Fiscal Years 2004 and 2005, and a $19 Million dollar budget in Fiscal Years 2006 and 2007. The SAA certifies all schools and training to enable veterans to utilize their GI Bill benefits.
NOVEMBER IS AMERICAN INDIAN/ALASKA NATIVE HERITAGE MONTH. This year's theme is "Honoring Life, Honoring Elders, Honoring Heritage." A display has been set up at the 108^th HQs building at Fort Dix.
NEW JERSEY ARMY NATIONAL GUARD TEAM COMPETES IN NATIONAL GUARD SHOOTING CHAMPIONSHIPS. The best combat shooters in the Army and Air National Guard from 40 states and territories competed for championship honors at the 32^nd Annual Winston P. Wilson Rifle, Pistol, Sniper, and Light Machine Gun Championship Matches held at Camp Joseph T. Robinson, North Little Rock, Arkansas, October 5-11, 2002. This year, over 700 competitors vied for the distinction of "Best of the Best" in the four different shooting disciplines. The matches are designed to promote battle-focused marksmanship by providing high levels of training to participating soldiers and airmen with particular emphasis devoted to development of "move and shoot" combat marksmanship skills. Congratulations to the members of the New Jersey marksmanship team who proudly represented the NJ Army National Guard.

Combat Rifle Team

PFC Michael J. Snyder

SPC John E. Bertino

SPC William T. Eckstein, Jr.

SFC Michael J. Vey

SPC Kelly Wilson

SGT Marc Stevens

Combat Pistol Team

SGT Timothy J. Rawcliffe

SGT David A. Dickinson, Jr.

SGT Eric R. Schumann

SGT Victor Garcia

SSGT Charles J. Gillette

MSG Robert W. Bork

Light Machine Gun Team

SSG Jose E. Couselo

SPC Patrick E. Hegarty

MILITARY APPRECIATION NIGHT, THURSDAY, 30 JANUARY 2003 - NJ DEVILS VS. PHILADELPHIA FLYERS. Tickets are $30 - you save over 40% per ticket. Game time is 7:35 p.m. at the Continental Airlines Arena. If you are interested in attending the game, contact SMSgt Dave Whalen, 108^th Air Refueling Wing, at (609) 754-3616. He will provide you with an order form, which must be completed by January 20^th. Tickets are filled on a first-come, first served basis, based on availability and will be mailed to you.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW. YOUTH CAMP 2003 IS COMING! 6-12 JULY 2003. Sponsored by the New Jersey National Guard Family Foundation and organized by volunteers, Youth Camp is a one-week resident camp held at the National Guard Training Center in Sea Girt, New Jersey. It is a place where children will meet new people and make new friendships, while participating in arts and crafts, swimming, archery, camping, drug & alcohol awareness, health and fitness. Youth Camp is open to the children, grandchildren, and legal dependents of active, former, or retired National Guard members from 9-12 years of age. The cost is $100 per child. Applications for campers and volunteers will be available in the December-January timeframe at all units, and are available now at the Department's website: www.state.nj.us/military/familysupport/youth_camp.html
EACH MONTH NEW JERSEY'S VIETNAM SERVICE AND DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDALS ARE PRESENTED THROUGHOUT THE STATE. The NJ Vietnam Service Medal (VSM), approved by the New Jersey Legislature on November 13, 2000, commemorates the 25^th anniversary of the ending of the Vietnam Conflict in January 1973. It is New Jersey's way of thanking its residents for their military service in South East Asia Theatre of Operations from 1960 to 1975. The New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) honors veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States who served in time of war or national emergency. It acknowledges the debt the state owed returning veterans for their service. It is New Jersey's highest military award. The criteria for applying for these awards can be found on the Department's website, www.state.nj.us/military/veterans/. Listed below is the schedule for upcoming award ceremonies. If a ceremony is being held in your neighborhood, stop in and join the State of New Jersey and the Department of Military & Veterans Affairs as we honor our veterans.

03 Dec 02	11:00 a.m.	Vietnam Service Medal	Cape May Court House Armory
05 Dec 02	11:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m.	Vietnam Service Medal	Hall of Heroes-Law & Public Safety Institute, Mahwah, NJ
18 Dec 02	11:00 a.m.	Distinguished Service Medal	Westfield Armory

"We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give." - Winston Churchill

"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there." - Will Rogers

"If you wish your merit to be known, acknowledge that of other people." - Oriental Proverb