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| DMAVA Highlights Archives |
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28
January 2005
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Volume
4, Number 4
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. NJ
Dept of Military and Maj Gen
Glenn K. Rieth Brig Gen
Maria Falca-Dodson Col
(Ret) Stephen G. Abel . Contacting us is easy! Office of the Assistant Commisioner COL (Ret) Michael B. Smith Mrs. Laura A. Branham Phone: (609) 530-6987 Fax: (609) 530-7109 Email: We're
on the Web! . Veterans’ Organizations
State Veterans Service Council
NJ Advisory Committee for Women
Veterans BG Willam C. Doyle Cemetery Advisory
Council
- New Jersey Freedom Loans
What is a Freedom Loan? * Up to $10,000 Who is eligible to apply? NJ residents who are: * Members of the National
Guard or Reserve Or * Served 90 or more consecutive days in the GWOT on federal or state active duty (excluding routing training) and have received orders extending cumulative active duty a year or longer.
How do I apply? * Contact participating banks.
Call or visit your local branch office
to obtain an application. Current participants: Commerce Bank Credit
Union of NJ First
Morris Bank & Trust Fleet Manasquan
Savings Bank North
Jersey Federal Peapack-Gladstone
Bank Pennsville
National Bank PNC Sovereign
Bank Sun
National Bank
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Welcome Home! HQ, 50th Finance Battalion returns from Iraq. MG Glenn K. Rieth, family, friends and the local community came out on Thursday, 27 January, to welcome members of Headquarters, 50th Finance Battalion, as they returned to the Flemington National Guard Armory after completing their year-long deployment in Iraq. Local veterans and service organizations joined fire and police units to greet our returning soldiers and honor the outstanding achievements of the unit. The Battalion was instrumental in creating and maintaining the first Central Funding Facility in Iraq. The facility, which held more than $400 million in U.S. currency at any one time, was responsible for distributing both military and civilian pay to other finance battalions throughout Iraq. The NJ National Guard is extremely proud of the 30 soldiers from the 50th Finance Battalion; their dedication to duty is in keeping with the highest traditions of military service. Welcome Home!
DMVA’s Veterans Service Officers make December a record-setting month. DMVA’s Veterans Service Officers were hard at work during the month of December as they assisted 3,876 veterans and filed 465 new claims for veterans’ benefits. During this period, 414 letters were received awarding a total of $6,774,000 to veterans and/or their dependents. This is the highest monthly total ever retrieved. Outstanding work – thank you VSOs and staff!
177th Fighter Wing’s Second Lieutenant Toni Santoro is honored. Second Lieutenant Toni Santoro, assigned to the 177th Fighter Wing as an Intelligence Officer, was recently selected as the 2004 1st Air Force Air Reserve Component Intelligence Company Grade Officer of the Year. Among her many outstanding contributions to the Wing, the State, and the Air Force is her voluntary deployment to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Her performance and contributions to the mission at home and abroad were key factors in her being selected for this prestigious award over all other Intelligence professionals in the Air National Guard and the Air Reserve component. Congratulations for a job well done!
State Senator Shirley Turner (D-15th Legislative District) kicks off Family Support event at Lawrenceville Armory. On Tuesday, 25 January 2005, State Senator Shirley Turner attended the kick-off campaign to promote support for a Pasta Dinner fundraiser for the benefit of deployed National Guard troops and their families. The dinner will take place on Sunday, February 20, 2005 from 12:00 noon to 7:00 p.m. and is supported by a coalition of organizations and individuals from throughout the Lawrenceville area. Senator Turner leads a small army of local businesses, service organizations, and willing volunteers who have come together to demonstrate their support for local citizen-soldiers deploying in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and their families. The event will be co-sponsored by the Lawrence Lions and American Legion Post #414. More than 4,000 citizen-soldiers from the Garden State currently are mobilized and deployed throughout the world in support of the ongoing global war against terrorism and various Homeland Security operations. The mobilization experience for citizen-soldiers and their families is somewhat different than that of active-duty military and their families. Guard members & reservists must put their civilian careers “on hold” while their families must adjust their life style to live on military pay that is usually much lower than their civilian income. The cost of the Pasta Dinner is $8 per person. Tickets are available through the Lawrence Lions, American Legion Post #414, and the Family Assistance Center at the National Guard Armory in Lawrenceville, NJ. For information on the dinner, please contact Lou Peoples at 609-882-2675.
Keeping up with the 50th Main Support Battalion in Iraq. Bookmark this website – http://www.nj.com/war/ to read the articles written by Wayne Woolley and see Joe Naso’s photos. These reporters are embedded with the 50th Main Support Battalion in Iraq and are reporting for the Star Ledger. The website also has many other interesting articles on supporting our soldiers and airmen and the war in Iraq.
Semi-Annual Training Seminar held for Veteran Service Officers. On Wednesday, 26 January, the semi-annual training seminar was held at DMVA HQs Lawrenceville for approximately 50 Veterans Service Officers, County Service Officers, Social Service personnel, and invited guests. This all-day training event was conducted by Chris Kuklosky, Training Coordinator, Division of Veterans Programs, and included topics such as Claims, Appeals, and DEMOB of NJ National Guard personnel. Mr. John McCort, Director, Newark Regional Office, was guest speaker at the event.
NJ Advisory Committee for Women Veterans schedules meeting. The NJ Advisory Committee for Women Veterans will hold their monthly meeting on February 4, 2005 at 10:00 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial Home at Menlo Park. Mr. Daryl Johnson from the Trenton Vet Center and Mr. William Devereaux, Director of the Division of Veterans Programs, will be guest speakers at the meeting and will provide the Committee with information on the services they provide for our state’s veterans. This is an open meeting and women interested in joining the committee are welcome to attend. Any questions regarding women veterans’ issues or the benefits they are entitled to should be directed to Ms. Anna Hoffman, 908-534-4617, or Ms. Karen Wallace at the NJ Department of Military & Veterans Affairs, 609-530-6766.
2005 TROUPERS Conference Report - The 2005 Training, Readiness, Operations, Unit Planning, Execution and Resourcing System (TROUPERS) Conference was held in New Orleans, Louisiana the week of January 17th. Three members of the Army Guard Training Directorate attended. The conference is a forum for the 54 States and Territories to discuss ideas on the utilization of TROUPERS to educate the training communities on the increasing capabilities, versatility, and implementation strategies. The conference was broken into a general session and breakout sessions, each with a presentation and open forum to address issues. The conference was well organized and the opportunity to meet colleagues and brainstorm better ways to conduct business is always beneficial.
Veterans to be honored at upcoming Medal Ceremonies. The following ceremonies have been scheduled to honor our State’s veterans.
Army adopts NASCAR technology for helicopters. NASCAR windshield tear-offs will soon provide Army helicopters an extra layer of protection from sand, rocks, and debris thanks to two National Guard soldiers. SFC Paul Kagi and SGT Michael Mullen, Virginia Army Guard helicopter mechanics, submitted the idea to use windshield tear-offs to the Army Suggestion Program after discussing the idea at a Christmas party five years ago. Their unit had gone to the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California, with brand new helicopters. However, when they returned, they had to replace 80% of the windshields due to sand damage. The soldiers said that NASCAR puts tear-offs on cars at Daytona and Texas to protect them from sand and debris. The two soldiers did their homework and began to conduct research on tangible cost savings for the tear-offs. The aviation team at the Aviation and Missile Research Development & Engineering Center, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, together with the Defense Logistics Agency, picked up the idea and funded all of the testing. The tear-offs were put through a series of environmental and visibility testing, with the naked eye and with night vision goggles. The material has met or exceeded all expectations on all the tests and has received an airworthiness release. The team has received approval for a single layer tear-off sheet for the Black Hawk only, but is working on getting approval for the Kiowa, Apache, and Chinook, as well. Current predictions estimate the life of one tear-off to be six months. As long as a fresh tear-off is in place, the windshield should last forever.
NJ National Guard Summer Youth Camp Information. This year’s New Jersey National
Guard Youth Camp will be held 17-23 July 2005 at the NJ
National Guard Training
Center, Sea Girt, New Jersey. Applications are available
on the Family Program website: Both the camper and volunteer applications are on the net in a downloadable format. Applications will also be available at all Family Assistance Centers or can be obtained by calling the Family Program Director’s office at 609-562-0668. Boys and girls, ages 9-12 are invited to apply. All campers must be the child/grandchild/legal dependent of an active or retired member of the NJ National Guard. Volunteer positions are available for senior counselor, junior counselors, safety and security, arts & crafts, sports, beach, administrative, public affairs, cooks, transportation, and logistics. For additional information, call your Family Assistance Center at 1-88-859-0352 or the Family Programs Office at 609-562-0668
CSM Vincent Baldassari Memorial and USAA Scholarship Awards Program. The Enlisted Association of the National Guard of New Jersey will sponsor five scholarships of $1000 ach for children of members of the Association and drilling members of the NJ National Guard (Army or Air) who are also members of the Association. Additionally, USAA will sponsor one $1000 scholarship for a drilling member. Applicants must complete the appropriate application in its entirety with all required and prescribed documents. The deadline for application submission is 15 April 2005. Additional details and application can be found on the Department’s website by clicking here.
National Guard Association of NJ –Scholarship Announcement. The National Guard Association of NJ is pleased to announce the continuation of the Scholarship Program for 2005. Completed applications will be accepted, beginning February 1, 2005 and must be postmarked, not later than, March 15, 2005. Applications and additional information are available online at: www.nganj.org and at your armory. Send completed applications to: National Guard Association of New Jersey, Scholarship Committee—COL Edward Slavin, 101 Eggert Crossing Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648.
Teaneck Family Assistance Center schedules Pancake Breakfast. A Pancake Breakfast will be held on Sunday, February 6th, from 9 a.m. through 1 p.m. to benefit the Teaneck Family Assistance Center. VFW Post 1492, American Legion Post 129, and the Teaneck Public Schools are sponsoring the breakfast, which will be held at Thomas Jefferson Middle School, 655 Teaneck Road, Teaneck, NJ 07666 (Opposite Holy Name Hospital). For tickets and information, please call SFC Hiller, SGT Loureiro, or SPC Durango at 201-833-8356.
New Jersey Nets sponsor New Jersey Army & Air National Guard Day. The NBA’s New Jersey Nets will sponsor a NJ Army & Air National Guard Day on Saturday, 5 February 2005, when they host the Detroit Pistons at the Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ. Reduced ticket prices are available for members of the National Guard and their families. For more information or to order tickets, contact SMSgt Dave Whalen, 108th Air Refueling Wing at 609-754-3616 or david.whalen@njmcgu.ang.af.mil, not later than 28 January 2005.
Free American Hero wristbands are available now. The American Hero Band is a free wristband worn by Americans to demonstrate their support of the “Defenders of Freedom” who are Army National Guard Soldiers deployed across the globe. Engraved on the metallic wristband are the words IN HONOR OF AN AMERICAN HERO SERVING IN THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD. These words are flanked left by the Army National Guard logo and right by the American Flag. There is also an inscription of the National Guard website, http://www.virtualarmory.com and a unique serial number engraved inside this commemorative wristband. If you are interested in getting The American Hero Band, go to http://www.virtualarmory.com and click on the American Hero Band banner.
DMVA’s Fitness Corner – by Ernie Razzano, Certified Fitness Trainer Girls Need a Big Breakfast This information might help your children, especially during exam time. Health experts at the University of Ulster said memory and attention tests found that boys did better when they were a little hungry while girls were best after a satisfying morning meal. “The link between having breakfast and performance at school or work is well established,” said Dr. Barbara Stewart from the Northern Ireland Center for Diet and Health at the university. “But this research suggests girls need a more satisfying breakfast than boys to perform at their best.” During the project, pupils were fed a breakfast of toast, or beans on toast, and then tested on cognitive ability. As tests became more difficult, those who had eaten beans outperformed students who had been given just toast. The researchers suggested girls benefited most because a breakfast high in carbohydrate and protein helped counteract the effect of a negative mood on their academic performance. “Due to the interaction between cognition and mood, a satisfying, high carbohydrate/protein breakfast, such as beans on toast, helps the girls perform at their best,” said Stewart. “While boys perform better when their breakfast leaves them feeling a little hungry.” The findings were presented this week at the ninth European Nutrition Conference in Rome.
NJ Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial and Vietnam Era Education Center’s upcoming event schedule. On Saturday, 22 January, at 1 p.m., the NJ Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Foundation will host a slide show and book discussion by Vietnam Veteran Thomas F. Morrissey, author and photographic illustrator of Between the Lines: Photographs from the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial. This book is a collection of photographs designed to not only capture the faces of those who visit “The Wall,” but the emotion, solitude, and ultimate spirit of healing that take place there. Throughout the book, Morrissey incorporates excerpts of messages that have been left at the Wall. Lecture attendees are asked to RSVP to 732-335-0033. A donation of $5 per person is suggested.
For more information about any of these events, please call the NJ Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation office at (732) 335-0033. The Vietnam Era Educational Center is located adjacent to the NJ Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial off the Garden State Parkway at Exit 116.
Today in History… Today is Friday, 28 January 2005. It is the 28th day of the year with 337 days remaining. 1613 – Galileo may have unknowingly viewed undiscovered planet Neptune. 1807 – London’s Pall Mall became the first street lit by gaslight. 1878 – The first telephone switchboard was installed in New Haven, Connecticut. 1909 – The United States ended direct control over Cuba. 1915 – The first U.S. ship lost in World War I, William P. Frye (carrying wheat to the United Kingdom). 1935 – Iceland became the first country to introduce legalized abortion. 1938 – The first ski tow started operation in Vermont. 1960 – The first photograph bounced off of the moon. 1986 – The U.S. space shuttle Challenger exploded just after takeoff. All seven of its crewmembers were killed.
Part-time opportunities in Military Funeral Honors Program. The New Jersey Army National Guard Military Funeral Honors Program has several part-time employment opportunities immediately available across the state for TDGs and Technicians. Earn one day’s base pay and one retirement point for a few hours work providing Military Funeral Honors for our Veterans. If you are interested, please contact SFC Raymond Denson, Military Funeral Honors Coordinator, at 609-530-7090 or by e-mail at Raymond.Denson@nj.ngb.army.mil.
Armory Happenings – Listed below are events taking place at your local armory.
Snow is on the way! Here are a few Snow Shoveling tips. - Dress warmly, but don’t bundle. You want to move naturally and not make movements difficult or awkward. - Warm up and stretch before you start shoveling. Walk around with large arm movements to get the blood flowing and your body temperature up before you start. - Use a lightweight push shovel if possible. Also, spray your shovel with Teflon so the snow does not cling. - Always keep one hand close to the base of the shovel to balance weight of the lift and lessen the lower back strain. - Try to push the snow when possible. Avoid lifting and throwing snow any distance. Push or walk the snow to a pile. - Avoid sudden twits with your body. Try to move the entire body together as a unit.. - Use your legs and bend your knees to help with leverage. - Work slowly, pace yourself. Shovel for five to seven minutes then rest for two or three minutes. Don’t wait until you’re tired or short of breath. If you start to fatigue, stop! - If you experience pain, stop immediately. Rest yourself for five to ten minutes. For any new injury, use ice and not heat. Apply ice packs 10 minutes on, 10 minutes off, and 10 minutes on again to help start reducing inflammation. - If you have a health problem or are not in good shape, do not even consider snow shoveling. Find someone ahead of time to help. Don’t wait until there is a lot of snow on the ground before you figure out how to remove it.
To reach any NJ National Guard Family Assistance Center - Call toll free 888-859-0352.
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Department: Home | Army | Air | Veterans | Administration | Leadership | Youth Challenge | Sitemap | Links Statewide: NJ Home | Services A to Z | Departments/Agencies | FAQs Copyright © State of New Jersey, 2018 Department of Military & Veterans Affairs P.O. Box 340 Trenton, NJ 08625-0340 Phone: 609-530-4600 Updated: June 13, 2018 8:59 |
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