|
 |
The Mobile Barista visited the Lawrenceville Campus on January 11th for an Employee Appreciation Event. |
|
|
|
Happy New Year
| Welcome to 2023! It is my sincere hope that you all had a happy and safe holiday season and that you had an opportunity to rest and recharge for all that will come in this new year.
I had the privilege to attend Governor Murphy’s annual State of the State address on January 10th. He announced several new programs and initiatives that will positively impact the citizens of the great state of New Jersey.
Currently members of the DMAVA staff are working on budget initiatives that will further benefit employees of the Department, Soldiers, Airmen, their families and equally important our Veterans who call our facilities home. I am encouraged and excited about the year ahead.
I am continuing my work with our State Partnership Program Team to engage with our longstanding Albanian Partners as well as develop the way forward with our new Cypriot partners. Later this month I will be engaged in talks and meetings to further define goals and objectives for both of our partner countries.
There are some changes in our front office staff at DMAVA as Col(Ret) Walter Nall retires from the State as Deputy Commissioner of Veterans Affairs and MAJ Vincent Solomeno steps in as his successor. Plans to celebrate Colonel (Ret) Nall’s service to the Department are underway…more information to follow. |
|
|
Thank you for what you do every day in service to our Veterans, military personnel and their families.
We encourage you to share ideas, events and feedback. Please email our team at outreach@dmava.nj.gov.
Brigadier General Lisa J. Hou, D.O. The Adjutant General & Commissioner |
|
|
|
 |
January 19, 2023 9:00am – 2:00pm
BLOOD DRIVE
Joint Military & Family Assistance Center
1048 US Rt 206 South Bordentown, NJ 08505
POC: LTC Amy B. Glatz
State Equal Employment Manager
609-562-0856 or amy.b.glatz.mil@army.mil
|
|
|
 |
January 19, 2023 10:00am - 3:00pm
DMAVA VETERANS OUTREACH CAMPAIGN & MEDAL CEREMONY
Quaker Bridge Mall
Center Court
3320 US Highway 1
Lawrence Township, NJ 08648
Medal ceremony at 11:00 am.
DMAVA will have a Veterans Service Officer present to help and assist any Veteran or family member.
For more information contact the Veterans Benefits Bureau at vbb@dmava.nj.gov.
|
|
|
 |
DMAVA will have a Veterans Service Officer present |
|
|
 |
DMAVA will have a Veterans Service Officer present |
|
|
 |
DMAVA will have a Veterans Service Officer present |
|
|
 |
January 26, 2023 11:00am - 3:00pm
DMAVA VETERANS OUTREACH CAMPAIGN
Paramus Park Mall
Center Court
700 Paramus Park
Paramus, NJ 07652
DMAVA will have a Veterans Service Officer present to help and assist any Veteran or family member.
For more information contact the Veterans Benefits Bureau at vbb@dmava.nj.gov. |
|
|
 |
DMAVA will have a Veterans Service Officer present |
|
|
|
 |
February 6, 20235:30pm - 7:30pm
QUARTERLY WOMEN'S OPEN FORUM
Westfield Armory
500 Rahway Ave Westfield, NJ 07090
All New Jersey National Guard (Army & Air) Personnel & DMAVA Employees
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DMAVA & Community Calendar |
|
|
We add new events to our calendar on a daily basis so please bookmark and check back often.
|
| View Full Calendar |
|
| |
 |
VSO Jason Newman
Jason Newman recently joined the NJ Department of Military and Veterans Affairs as a Veterans Service Officer (VSO), working in Camden, Gloucester, and Burlington Counties.
Prior to his tenure with DMAVA, Jason was employed by the NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOL). He started his career with DOL as a Disabled Veterans Outreach Program Specialist, assisting Veterans with significant barriers to employment in all phases of the job search process. He also worked as a Veterans Business Representative, assisting companies to find qualified Veterans through the DOL pipeline for them to offer employment opportunities.
Jason had assisted Veterans even prior to his time with DOL. He was a Wounded Warrior Fellow in the Congressional office of Rob Andrews of the 1st District of NJ for 2 years, assisting Veterans with the claims process, burial benefits, and myriad other Veteran issues.
Jason is a 2015 graduate of Rutgers Camden, graduating with a B.A. in Political Science. He served in the U.S. Army from 2003-2006 as a combat infantryman, including one combat tour with the 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry, serving in Mosul, Iraq from 2004-2005. He is the recipient of the Combat Infantryman Badge, an Army Commendation Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. He is very happily married and the proud father of one and is a resident of Gloucester County.
Through his work, he strives to assist our Veterans in any way, shape or form, and looks forward to helping any Veteran that reaches out to him! |
| Veterans Service Offices |
|
|  |
Happy 100th Birthday, George!
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Edward J. Chrystal Jr., Officer in Charge, Task Force-23, U.S. Vietnam Veteran Commemoration, Office of the Secretary of the Defense, presented U.S. Navy World War II Veteran Chief Petty Officer 1st Class George Pukenas the New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal at a ceremony at his home on Jan. 7, 2023.
Family, friends, legislators, and DMAVA honored George for his honorable service in the Pacific in five major campaigns during World War II on the occasion of his 100th birthday. |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
New Jersey Cavalry defeats al-Shabaab attack
Mark Olsen | Public Affairs Office | December 27, 2022
The attack had failed before it even began.
It was Sept. 30, 2019, at Baledogle Military Airfield in the Federal Republic of Somalia. Prior to the explosion, New Jersey Army National Guard Soldiers with Charlie Troop, 1st Squadron, 102nd Cavalry Regiment, had been preparing a convoy to meet the Somali police chief and other leaders in a town 25 miles from the base. The 102nd was part of the New Jersey Army National Guard’s Task Force Warrior deployment in support of Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa.
“We hadn’t even got into our vehicles when the VBIED (vehicle-borne improvised explosive device) went off,” said Lt. Col. Richard Karcher, commander, Task Force Warrior, New Jersey Army National Guard.
Read Full Story |
|
|
 |
U.S. Air Force Maj. Nicholas A. Loglisci graduates Weapons Instructor School | A1C Darion Boyd | 177th Fighter Wing | December 29, 2022
ATLANTIC CITY AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, New Jersey – Maj. Nicholas A. Loglisci, assigned to the 119th Fighter Squadron, 177th Fighter Wing of the New Jersey Air National Guard, graduated from the Weapons Instructor Course (WIC) June 9, 2022 at the U.S. Air Force Weapons School (USAFWS), Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.
The goal of the WIC is to train students in air, space, and cyber weapons superiority, as well as tactical combat in support of the joint force. Loglisci’s training consisted of more than 400 hours of graduate level academics and more than 60 training events, both live-fly and in the simulators, and is considered be one of the most challenging courses an operator can experience in their career.
Read Full Story |
|
|
 |
CW5 Angle becomes NJ Army National Guard’s 9th Command Chief Warrant Officer |
SSG Bruce Daddis | 444th MPAD | January 7, 2023
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, New Jersey - Service members with the New Jersey National Guard, along with Veterans, family members, and friends, gathered to bid farewell to Chief Warrant Officer 5, Frank R. Albanese, Jr., and welcome Chief Warrant Officer 5, Jeffrey T. Angle as the New Jersey Army National Guard’s 9th State Command Chief Warrant Officer during a change of responsibility ceremony at the Army Aviation Support Facility, Jan. 7th, 2023.
The Command Chief Warrant Officer is the senior warrant officer in the state of New Jersey and serves as the personal advisor to the Adjutant General, Brig. Gen. Lisa J. Hou and her primary staff on all issues pertaining to policies, programs, and actions impacting the warrant officer cohort.
Read Full Story |
|
|
 |
 | Machine Gun Training |
Top Photo: Soldiers with the New Jersey Army National Guard's B Troop, 102nd Cavalry Regiment, fire the M2 machine gun on the zero range at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst on Jan. 6, 2023.
Bottom Photo: New Jersey National Guard at Fort Dix in 1940.
|
|
|
Join Our Team |
100% Free College Tuition
Bonuses up to $20,000
Student Loan Repayment |
|
|
| |
 |
Youth ChalleNGe Graduation
New Jersey Youth ChalleNGe Academy (NJYCA) graduation ceremony for Class 54 was held at the Trenton War Memorial in Trenton, New Jersey on Dec. 22, 2022. The guest speakers were U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Lisa J. Hou, D.O., The Adjutant General of New Jersey and State Command Sgt. Maj. (Ret.) Earnest Williams, Director, New Jersey Youth ChalleNGe Academy.
The NJYCA is an alternative education program designed to reclaim the lives of at-risk 16 to 18 year old youths and produce graduates with the values, skills, education, and self-discipline necessary to succeed as adults. The National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program was established by Congress in 1993. New Jersey’s first ChalleNGe class began in September 1994.
View Images |
|
|
| |
 |
Burlington County Gold Star IDs
The Burlington County Clerk’s Office is now issuing Gold Star Family identification cards to the spouses, domestic partners, civil union partners and children of military members who died while serving on active duty with the U.S. Armed Forces.
Learn More |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) Proposed Open Season
Congress provided for a Survivor Benefit Plan Open Season in the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The SBP Open Season began on December 23, 2022 and ends on January 1, 2024.
The SBP Open Season allows for retirees receiving retired pay, eligible members, or former members awaiting retired pay who are currently NOT enrolled in SBP or RCSBP (Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan) to enroll.
The SBP Open Season also allows eligible members and former members who are currently enrolled in either SBP or RCSBP to permanently discontinue their SBP coverage.
Learn More |
|
|
|
Schedule Your PACT Act Event
If your Veterans Service Office, university/college or community organization would like to host the VA New Jersey Health Care System (VANJHCS), they will bring the information, screeners and staff to you and your Veterans. Contact them at VANJHCSCommsTeam@va.gov to schedule your PACT Act event. |
|
|
|
1-800-MyVA411
The VA merged the White House Hotline with the department’s toll-free information line, 1-800-MyVA411 (1-800-698-2411), on November 3, 2022, providing Veterans with a single access point for VA health care, benefits, and services, and for resolving their concerns.
The White House Hotline launched in 2017 to give Veterans and their families a direct line to report VA complaints. In 2020, the VA announced plans to establish 1-800-MyVA411 as the lone access point to all VA contact centers. MyVA411 launched later that year and has remained VA’s main call center for incoming calls, significantly outpacing hotline calls since its launch.
The White House hotline was staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, by live agents. Callers to 1-800-MyVA411 also can connect with a live agent at any time, any day, by pressing “9.” |
|
|
 | eBenefits Shortcut & MyHealtheVet
In this episode of theSITREP, the hosts discuss a new option for Veterans with regard to eBenefits and MyHealtheVet. Please refer to https://news.va.gov/.../va-mobile-app-six-essential-facts/ for additional information, or search "VA: Health and Benefits" in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
To watch the short video please go to #theSITREP.
|
|  |
New National Parks PassA new lifetime pass for National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands, called America the Beautiful.
This new lifetime pass for Gold Star Families & Veterans is being offered to demonstrate the country's immense gratitude and respect for those who have served and defended our country.
The Interagency Military Pass has been part of the America the Beautiful – The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass Series since 2012. On December 27, 2021, President Biden signed into law S. 1605 “The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022” (NDAA). Section 641 of the NDAA makes Gold Star families and Veterans eligible for lifetime passes to federal recreational lands.
Learn More at VA News |
|
 |
Veterans Affairs Life Insurance (VALife) provides guaranteed acceptance whole life coverage of up to $40,000 to Veterans with service-connected disabilities. Lesser amounts are available in increments of $10,000. Under this plan, the elected coverage takes effect two years after enrollment as long as premiums are paid during the two-year period.
All Veterans age 80 or under with a VA disability rating of 0 to 100% are eligible for the VALife program and have no time limit to apply.
Learn More |
|
|
|
|
|
#VetResources
| Subscribe to #VetResources to receive a weekly newsletter from the VA for Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors. |
| Subscribe |
|
| |
 |
Woods-N-Water
The patriotic folks at Woods-N-Water hosted an outing for the residents at the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home at Vineland. Together with Texas Roadhouse in Millville, they held a luncheon for 12 residents from the Memorial Home, as well as three invited Veterans. Texas Roadhouse marketer, Monica Headley, was an outstanding host and went out of her way to accommodate everyone. View Facebook Post.
Thank you from all of us at DMAVA! |
|
|
|
 |
VFW PACT Act WebsiteThe VFW has launched its new PACT Act website! Check out pactactinfo.org to quickly determine whether you may be eligible for PACT Act benefits and compensation. |
|
|
|
| |
 |
Families open hearts and homes to Coast Guard recruits on ChristmasChristopher Doyle | Press of Atlantic City | December 25, 2022
The Red Cross held its 41st annual Operation Fireside on Sunday.
The event has families from the Cape May area open their homes to recruits from the Coast Guard Training Center in Cape May so that they would have a warm, comfortable place to celebrate Christmas.
Coast Guard Capt. Warren Judge said the event was meant to help recruits who are missing their families during Christmastime while helping instill important values and a connection with the community.
“It brings the significance of family and community values all together,” Judge said. “Being away from their families, I know it’s tough for (the recruits), however having the family from the Cape May County communities come in and want to participate in Operation Fireside, it gives them a sense of home values throughout this holiday season.”
Read Full Story |
|
|
|
 |
In Honor of all those from New Jersey who gave their lives in the fight against terrorism during Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. In humble gratitude, we remember their sacrifice. |
|
|
January 11, 2008
Operation Iraqi Freedom
LCpl Curtis A. Christensen Jr.U.S. Marine Corps Collingswood, New Jersey |
January 12, 2011
Operation Enduring Freedom SPC Benjamin MooreU.S. Army
Robbinsville, New Jersey | January 14, 2010
Operation Enduring Freedom SGT Christopher R. Hrbek
U.S. Marine Corps Westwood, New Jersey |
|
January 16, 2005
Operation Iraqi Freedom
SPC Alain L. KamolvathinU.S. Army Blairstown, New Jersey |
January 19, 2012
Operation Enduring Freedom Cpl Kevin J. ReinhardU.S. Marine Corps
Colonia, New Jersey | January 23, 2010
Operation Enduring Freedom LCpl Jeremy M. Kane
U.S. Marine Corps Cherry Hill, New Jersey |
|
|
"But on the battlefield their feet stood fast, and in an instant at the height of their fortune, they passed away from the scene, not of their fear, but of their glory."
~ Pericles |
| NJ Fallen Heroes Memorial |
|
|
|
 |
Mark OttoPanama / Desert Storm |
|
 |
John ChlapowskiVietnam / Desert Storm |
|
|
| |
 |
The Essex Troop at Governor Moore's Inauguration |
|
|
January 14, 1836
| Hugh Judson Kilpatrick, Civil War cavalry commander and postwar politician, was born near Deckertown in Sussex County. Kilpatrick, a West Point graduate who gained the nickname “Kill Cavalry” due to his recklessness during the Civil War, was involved in a number of controversial incidents as a soldier and postwar politician. He died of chronic nephritis on December 2, 1881 while serving as Minister to Chile.
|
January 15, 1961 |
Twenty-eight men, US Air Force and civilian personnel, were killed after the collapse of Texas Tower #4, a massive radar installation in the Atlantic Ocean seventy-five miles off the New Jersey coast, in a winter storm. The tower, one of three similar structures named for their resemblance to Gulf of Mexico oil rigs, was designed to provide early warning of a Soviet air attack so that Nike Hercules antiaircraft missiles could respond. Dubbed “Old Shaky” by the men who worked aboard it because of its tendency to shift in the ever-moving ocean, the structure was built on three pilings in 185 feet of water. Following the disaster the remaining towers were decommissioned.
|
|
January 15, 1865 |
At the Second Battle of Fort Fisher, North Carolina, nineteen- year-old US Marine Corps Corporal Andrew J. Tomlin of the Goshen section of Middle Township, Cape May County, inspired his men to hold the line against a Confederate attack and rescued a fellow Marine who was wounded and under heavy fire. He was awarded the Model of Honor for his heroic conduct.
|
January 15, 1942 |
The British oil tanker Coimbra was sunk by a German submarine 100 miles east of Sandy Hook and twenty-eight miles south of Long Island, signaling the arrival of World War II to New Jersey waters. The tanker was sailing unescorted, with its lights on, and was hit at 1:40 AM. Of the forty-six man crew, ten survived.
|
January 19, 1932 | When A. Harry Moore was inaugurated for his second term as governor of New Jersey before a crowd of thousands in Trenton. His honor guard escort was Newark’s Essex Troop, the founding unit of the 102nd Cavalry. |
|
|
 |
RevolutionNJ's New Website
The RevolutionNJ website is now active! It launched on November 30th and will continue to add information and photos over time. The website will be the location for all things related to RevolutionNJ around the state. Check out the new website! |
|
|
|
 |
New Jersey Studies: An Interdisciplinary Journal is a project of the New Jersey Historical Commission, Rutgers University Libraries, and Monmouth University.
The Journal publishes original scholarship on all aspects of NJ studies, including military history.
|
| View Archives |
|
| |
 |
NJ Service Medals
Since 2005, more than 59,260 state awards, to include 37,564 New Jersey Distinguished Service Medals, 4,815 New Jersey Meritorious Service Medals, 965 New Jersey Korean Service Medals, 12,421 New Jersey Vietnam Service Medals and 90 New Jersey POW-MIA Service Medals, 355 New Jersey Global War on Terrorism Medals, 22 New Jersey Desert Storm Medals and 14 New Jersey Commendation Medals have been awarded. The awards have been presented at more than 658 ceremonies statewide. (Data current as of 28 February 2022).
The New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal – New Jersey’s highest service award – was originally issued in 1858 for those who had distinguished themselves in the New Jersey Militia, but was used infrequently until it was re-authorized in 1988. |
| NJ Service Medals |
|
| |
 |
SSG Christopher Petrizzo
Staff Sergeant Christopher Petrizzo, of 2nd Battalion, 113th Infantry Regiment, New Jersey Army National Guard, receives a challenge coin from Brig. Gen. Tim Coakley, Director of the Joint Staff, New Jersey National Guard, in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, Jan. 3, 2023. The coin was awarded in recognition of SSG Petrizzo’s work conducted throughout Monmouth and Ocean Counties while serving on the Counter-Drug Task Force (CDTF).
SSG Petrizzo has served as a Civil Operator with the CDTF since 2017. In this role, he assists community-based organizations with drug prevention and education as a part of the Drug Demand Reduction Outreach section.
Throughout 2022, SSG Petrizzo assisted in organizing and developing a new strategic plan for the Prevention Coalition of Monmouth County. Meanwhile, in support of DART Coalition of Ocean County, he created a map of faith based locations which was used in their grant packet that helped the coalition receive funding for their prevention efforts.
The mission continues for SSG Petrizzo, as he assists the Monmouth and Ocean County coalitions in mapping, facilitation, resource identification, and data analysis in drug prevention efforts within their communities and throughout the state. |
|
|
|
 |
Kathy McGuinn
Kathy McGuinn celebrated her retirement with her colleague, Jill Priar, and the rest of the Construction & Facilities Management Office (CFMO) on December 21, 2022.
Kathy started working for DMAVA as a clerk typist in 1994. She began working for the Fiscal Division in 1995 then later that year moved to Installations which ultimately became CFMO.
Her list of achievements and contributions to the department is too lengthy to enumerate.
Congratulations and Thank You, Kathy! We trust that you will spend your retirement with your beloved family, furry friends, and cheering for your Midshipmen, Eagles and Phillies. |
|
|
 |
Joseph Bucco
Joe Bucco is retiring from the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs after 21 years of dedicated service.
Joe started as a Provisional Veterans Service Officer (VSO) 3 on November 27th, 2001, working to the position of VSO 2 in 2004, and ultimately to a VSO 1 in 2014. Joe worked tirelessly throughout his career as the ultimate professional, thus ensuring that our Veterans received the benefits to which they were entitled.
Joe, you have had a remarkable career, truly exemplifying what a Veterans Service Officer is and does. You have impacted countless lives, never ceasing to help Veterans.
You will be missed, not only by your DMAVA family, but also by the countless number of Veterans and their families to whom you have provided guidance and assistance.
May happiness, contentment, and good health be yours always. Congratulations on your well-earned and well-deserved retirement! |
|
|
|
 |
Veterans Service Offices |
|
|
 |
Request Military Records |
|
 |
Family Programs Office |
|
|
 |
Veterans Memorial Homes |
|
 |
NJ State Medals |
|
|
 |
Military Funeral Honors |
|
 |
Doyle Veterans Cemetery |
|
|
| |
|
| |
 |
We Are Hiring!
At the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs we take our work in support of Veterans, Servicemembers and their families very seriously. Whether supporting our Veterans with nursing care, transitional housing, or assisting them in navigating access to their Veteran benefits, the Department provides valuable services and can offer rewarding career opportunities to members of the public.
We also have opportunities in facilities management and program management. In addition, we have job openings for members of our military to serve in AGR and Federal Technician roles.
Stay updated on job openings by subscribing to our Jobs Bulletin.
|
| Vacancies |
|
| |
|
We hope you enjoy receiving our newsletter and find it both educational and engaging. If you have questions about our department, our programs or your benefits, please visit our website at nj.gov/military to get contact information.
|
| Contact DMAVA |
|
We welcome feedback and comments from the public regarding the newsletter. If you would like to contribute with an item of interest to our subscribers, please email us your proposal. Contact the newsletter team at outreach@dmava.nj.gov.
To view previous editions of our newsletter, please visit the DMAVA archives.
|
| |
|
 |
nj.gov/military NJ Department of Military & Veterans Affairs
101 Eggert Crossing Road Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
Privacy Notice |
Disclaimer: The appearance of any non-DMAVA information or hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement of the products or services on the part of the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. |
|
|
|
|
