27 June 2003

                                                                                     Volume 2, Number 11

NJ Dept of Military and Veterans Affairs

BG Glenn K. Rieth

The Adjutant General

COL Maria F. Morgan

Deputy Adjutant General

COL 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

To all of  DMVA's Award Winners.

Congratulations on a job well done!

"Hard work spotlights the character of people:  some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all."

.Sam Ewing, author

108^th ARW Congratulates its

Community College of the Air Force Graduates.

"Don't knock the weather:  nine-tenths of the people couldn't start a conversation if it didn't change once in a while."

.Kin Hubbard, American Journalist

Good Luck to all of the DMVA employees who are retiring at the end of this month.  We wish you and your families the best of luck in the future.  You'll be missed!

The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs will honor its 2002 Employees of the 3^rd and 4^th Quarter, the 2002 Employees of the Year, and the 2003 1^st Quarter Employee Award winners at a ceremony on Friday, 27 June 2003, at the Headquarters New Jersey National Guard, Fort Dix.  Listed below are the Award winners.  The Employee Awards Program was placed on hold last year due to the move of the Human Resources Division and the increased workload processing state active duty payroll during Operation Enduring Freedom.

CPT Michael Ciarrocca, Commander of the 253^rd Transportation Company, NJARNG, and his soldiers, activated for the war against terrorism, recently sent a brief e-mail message from the Iraqi desert (exact location undisclosed).  CPT Ciarrocca thanked everyone concerned for the cards and packages of personal use items sent to his soldiers.  He stated that his unit has reinitiated convoy missions after a brief rest, and that New Jersey's Citizen Soldiers continue to serve their country and state in a proud and professional manner.  We continue to wish him and all of his soldiers victory in their mission and a safe and speedy return home.

College graduates across the nation, diploma in hand, are departing the world of academia, and joining the ranks of America's workforce.  It can be a exciting, and sometimes anxious, experience.  Five non-commissioned officers of the 108^th Air Refueling Wing joined the ranks of college graduates on June 22^nd during the Wing's awards ceremony.  They are the Wing's newest proud graduates of the Community College of the Air Force.  The following individuals received the Associates Degree in the following disciplines:  MSgt Dilcia English, Aviation Maintenance Technology; MSgt Robert Tibbetts, Information Management and Human Resource Management; TSgt Christopher Birardi, Criminal Justice; TSgt Sharon Roth, Logistics; and TSgt Mike Yung, Information Management and Electronic Systems Technology.  "Caps off" to our newest graduates on a job well done!

The DMVA's Information Technology Bureau and the Homeland Security Office has established a partnership with the Picatinny Arsenal Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) "Homeland Security Center of Excellence" to provide the test bed for a newly developed Homeland Security Information Technology System known as SERIS.  The system will provide live "on-line" intrusion detection and emergency response information using GPS and Wireless technology.  A full-scale initial BETA test was conducted at the Picatinny Arsenal, Lawrenceville Homeland Security Center of Excellence, and the Training and Training Technology Battle Lab (T3BL) located at Fort Dix.  Observers and participants used a real-time web based video, on-line GPS/GIS mapping, and Video Conferencing Technology to communicate throughout the demonstration.

IM is a real-time communications service that may include capabilities such as sending text notes to others online; custom chat rooms; shared web links; the ability to look at images on someone else's computer; the ability to hear sounds someone else is playing or play sounds for others to hear; sharing files through direct send; audio conversations; and streaming content such as real- time or near-real time news or stock quotes.  Many commercial entities, e.g., AOL, Microsoft, Yahoo, offer instant messaging as an unregulated Internet service.  Individual Army end user subscription to any non-DoD IM service such as AOL or Microsoft from a computer connected to the RCAS or other DoD network is prohibited.  The AKO portal is the Army instant message server and is the only IM currently authorized for use and installation in Army organizations. 

The 108^th Air Refueling Wing sponsored its Second Annual "Bring a Buddy Day" on Saturday, 21 June 2003.  Sixty-four visitors arrived at 9 a.m., sampled an assortment of warm pastries and fresh fruit, and were welcomed by the new Wing Commander, Colonel Larry Thomas.  In a dynamic Power Point presentation loaded with photos of the "Guardians of Freedom" of the 108^th ARW doing what they do best, the Commander focused on the various career fields and benefits available in the Air National Guard.  Despite the periodic downpours, visitors braved the weather and boarded 108^th buses for the grand tour.  First stop - a tour of a KC-135E Stratotanker, then off to the Operations Group and Logistics Squadron to try on aircrew survival and chemical warfare gear.  Next, our guests visited the various

Today is the last day to update your personal emergency information located on NJ Direct.  As part of the state's workplace security measures, this updated personal information will provide the state with the ability to identify and contact employees associated with a specific facility in the event of an emergency.  This information should be updated using NJ Direct http://njdirect.state.nj.us from your state office PC.  Your password is set as the last four digits of your Social Security Number.  You should make these changes from your desk.  Do not send your information to the Human Resources Division.  The deadline for making these updates is June 27, 2003.

 A large group of friends and family gathered on June 14^th for a "Hoe Down Picnic" on the back lawn at DMVA in honor of COL William Bertsch's retirement.  He officially retires this Monday after having served the Department for over 30 years (four years as a federal employee and 26 years of State service).  COL Bertsch has been the Director of Installations for the past four years, and prior to that served as the Director of Fiscal Division for 11 years.  It was a sunny and hot Saturday afternoon; however, at the end of the picnic it began to rain "buckets."  Rumor has it that COL Bertsch prays for rain every weekend, as he will start a new career as a Disaster Specialist with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.  The Department thanks COL Bertsch for all of his contributions to making DMVA a better place, and wish him and his family the best of luck in the future.

Family, friends and colleagues gathered on June 21st for a "Dinner & Dance" at the Lawrenceville Armory's Garden Room in honor of Mr. Brey's retirement.  He officially retires this Monday after having served the State of New Jersey for over 25 years.  Mr. Brey has been the Director of Fiscal for the past four years and a total of 11 years with the Department of Military & Veterans Affairs.  It was a fun and enjoyable evening for all.  The Department wishes to express its gratitude to Mr. Brey for his service to the military and veterans' community, and would like to extend its sincere best wishes for continued success in all future endeavors.

DMVA celebrated its 5^th Annual Unity Day on 13 June 2003 with the theme, "New Jersey, Together We Can Make a Difference."  Unity Day is held annually to enhance cross-cultural awareness, promote harmony among all members of the New Jersey National Guard, and recognize the contributions of minorities and women.  The combined efforts of Army and Air National Guard, State and Federal employees, the 305^th Air Mobility Wing and community members resulted in 20 different ethnic and special emphasis groups being represented at this year's event.  The day began with a 5K Fun Walk/Run in which an estimated 50 individuals participated and received Unity Day t-shirts.  The NJ National Guard's ChalleNGe Youth Program's Drill Team led the Opening Ceremonies in which 25 individuals and groups were recognized for their contributions to our Special Emphasis Programs.  Special recognition went to two members of the Youth Challenge Program for designing the t-shirts and two local restaurants for community support (a first time for Unity Day).  The highlight of the day was the judging of the "Chili Cookoff" by BG Sullivan, BG Chojnacki, and COL Carlini.  After tasting 15 entries, LTC Pete D'Elia and SFC Harvey Smith were awarded 1^st Place Ribbons. 

Sunday, 22 June 2003, marked the beginning of Lightning Safety Week.  In the past 30 years more people have died from lightning in the US than from tornadoes or hurricanes.  Most fatalities occur during the summer in the late afternoon when temperatures are warmer.   The following are precautions to take during a thunderstorm or lightning conditions:

Ø       Take cover whenever you hear thunder.

Ø       Follow the 30-30 Rule - if the time between lightning and thunder is 30 seconds or less, take cover.  Once the thunder ends, wait 30 minutes before going outside.

Ø       The safest place during a thunderstorm is a house or building.

Ø       The second safest place is a car.

Ø       In the event there is no immediate shelter, make yourself the lowest object around.

Ø       If you are in a group of people, split-up and stay away from trees or isolated objects.

Ø       Suspend outdoor sports when a storm is approaching.

Ø       Have a lightning safety plan prepared.

Ø       Learn lightning first aid and follow these safety procedures.

           Call 911

           Perform CPR or mouth-to-mouth resuscitation if possible.

           Touch the lightning victim for vital signs.  (It's safe to do.)

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

J            The smallest county in America is New York County, better known as Manhattan.

J            The life span of a taste bud is 10 days.

J            The oldest known animal was a tortoise, which lived to be 152 years old.

J            At birth, a Dalmatian is always pure white.

J            The first bike was called a hobbyhorse.