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October 30, 2025 |  |
Ready To Serve ★ Proud To Have Served |
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Lapse in Federal Appropriations | |
Despite the federal shutdown, the mission of the New Jersey National Guard continues. Our Citizen Soldiers and Airmen remain ready to respond at home and abroad. During this time of uncertainty, I am reminded that their readiness, commitment, and professionalism represent the best of our Garden State family.
The shutdown has created financial uncertainty for many of our team members, particularly those federal technicians who are performing excepted duties without pay. I recognize the strain that this current moment places on those who continue to serve their communities and country under extraordinary circumstances.
My team and I are working closely with our partners at the state and federal levels to ensure that our force receives clear, timely information, and access to resources. Commanders have been directed to maintain open communication and our Family Programs and Chaplain Corps stand ready to provide support, counseling, and assistance to those affected.
Within Veterans Affairs, I am pleased to report minimal impact to state delivered veteran benefits, programs, and services. If the lapse persists, it is difficult to assess whether that will change. We continue to monitor reimbursements and funds of federally supported activities.
This moment underscores the importance of resilience - one of the hallmarks of the National Guard. Despite fiscal uncertainty, our Soldiers, Airmen, and Civilians continue to embody by their actions the service ethos that define this organization.
To our legislators and community partners, I thank you for your continued advocacy and support for those who serve. Your engagement helps ensure that we maintain critical resources for Garden State heroes and the people who love them.
To those negatively impacted, please know that your service and sacrifice are recognized. As the situation evolves, I am committed to transparency, communication, and compassion. We will navigate this together. The New Jersey National Guard remains always ready, always there for the people of New Jersey and the United States of America. |
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RESOURCES AND SUPPORT
NJ DMAVA Family Programs: 1-888-859-0352
Military OneSource: 1-800-342-9647 | militaryonesource.mil
Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Available to all Title 32, Title 5, and federal civilians
DMAVA Veterans Services: nj.gov/military/veterans
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As always, thank you for staying connected to DMAVA.
We invite you to share ideas, events and feedback. Please email our team at outreach@dmava.nj.gov.
Brigadier General Yvonne L. Mays
Adjutant General & Commissioner |
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Brigadier General Yvonne L. MaysThe Adjutant General of New Jersey and
The New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
cordially invite you to attend the
Annual State Veterans Day Observance
Tuesday, November 11, 2025, at 11:00 am
at the
New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial
1 Memorial Lane
Holmdel, New Jersey 07733
Military: Dress Uniform Civilian: Business Casual
RSVP: dmavaeventsrsvp@dmava.nj.gov |
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DMAVA Calendar | DMAVA is sponsoring or will participate in the events below. A DMAVA Veterans Service Officer will be present at many of these events. Please check details to confirm. |
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We add new events to our calendar on a daily basis so please bookmark and check back often. |
| View Full Calendar |
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In Memory Ceremony at the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans MemorialOn October 17, 2025, the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial inducted 20 new Veterans into the In Memory program, surrounded by families, friends, fellow Veterans, and supporters who came from across New Jersey and beyond - including Florida and Tennessee.
The In Memory program honors New Jersey men and women who served in Vietnam and later died as a result of their service, but whose names are not on the Memorial. Each name is engraved on a tile along the ramp inside the Memorial.
Vincent Solomeno III, Commissioner Designate of Veterans Affairs, was one of the guest speakers at the ceremony. View Images |
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 | American Legion Post 331 Donates $5,000 to Vineland Veterans Home
On Saturday, September 27, members of Stone Harbor’s American Legion Post 331 Family visited the Vineland Veterans Home to present a $5,000 donation in support of its programs and residents.
Post 331 Commander Heather Runyon, Vice Commander Frank LaBletta, Auxiliary President Kathy Rullo, and SAL Vice Commander Bill Spaeth met with Membership Life Coordinator R. J. Morrison and Veterans Association President Greg Miller during the visit.“
Post 331 of Stone Harbor is one of our most generous donors,” said R.J., noting that the home’s mission would not be possible without such continued support.
Following the presentation, RJ and Greg led Post 331 members on a tour of the facility.
“Our mission is to honor and serve veterans wherever they are,” said Commander Runyon. “
Supporting the Vineland Veterans Home is one way we can ensure that those who served our country continue to receive the care, respect, and appreciation they deserve. We look forward to working closely with the home in the future.”
Image and caption courtesy American Legion Post 331. |
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 | Twenty Veterans honored at ceremony
The Vietnam Veterans of America, New Jersey Shore Area Chapter 12, held a Veteran Interment Service for the cremains of 20 Veterans and two family members - some had gone unclaimed for as long as 55 years - at the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Wrightstown, NJ on October 16, 2025.
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 | Recruiting and Retention Battalion
Recruiters assigned to the Recruiting and Retention Battalion, New Jersey Army National Guard, participated in the 2025 Recruiting and Retention Luncheon at the Spring Lake Manor in Sea Girt, NJ on October 16, 2025.
This year's annual event is a time where the New Jersey Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion recognizes key awards for those who have achieved great things while operating in the Battalion. View Images |
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Join Our Team | 100% Free College Tuition
Bonuses | GI Bill
Student Loan Repayment |
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Annual "Night of Thanks" at Veteran's Haven North Donors, staff, and veteran residents mingled and dined together at the annual "Night of Thanks" held at Veteran's Haven North in Glen Gardner, NJ on October 15, 2025.
The banquet, which is mostly run by residents, is held to show appreciation to the people and organizations that support the residents of the facility.
Thank you to all of the donors and volunteers who help VHN to continue to provide stable housing and support programs for our Veterans year-round! View Images |
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Veteran Service Officer Training Session DMAVA convened county, state, and non-profit veteran service officers for an all day training session on October 23, 2025 at the National Guard Training Center in Sea Girt, NJ.
The twice annual event serves as an opportunity to share ideas and best practices on supporting Garden State veterans and their families. |
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 | Get Connected to Resources & Services |
The New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs has partnered with Unite Us to connect individuals and families to a wide variety of services and resources.
Unite Us is a coordinated care referral network of health and social service providers. Unite Us can connect our New Jersey military and veteran community to resources to obtain benefits, food assistance, housing, education, transportation, behavioral health services, peer support and more. |
| Learn More / Request Assistance |
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Veteran Homelessness | The mission of Bringing Veterans Home (BVH) is to effectively end veteran homelessness in New Jersey by enhancing existing systems, creating rapid access to housing, and ensuring homelessness becomes rare, brief and non-recurring.
BVH creates a clear path to stable housing for veterans experiencing homelessness through a coordinated network of services and support. |
| Learn More / Refer a Veteran |
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Norwegian Foot MarchChapter 19 of the Special Forces Association and the NJ Chapter of the 82nd Airborne Division Association successfully executed the 3rd Annual Norwegian Foot March at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst on October 18, 2025.
107 Active Duty, National Guard, Reserve and Veterans of the Army, Navy, Marine Corp, and Air Force marched, with 83 meeting the time standards for award of the Norwegian Foot March Badge. |
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 | Sergeant First Class Erica Cruz
The NJ Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion is proud to recognize SFC Erica Cruz for earning the Heavy Hitter Award for FY25. This distinction is reserved for recruiters who achieve the highest number of enlistments throughout the fiscal year.
This award represents not just hard work and sacrifice, but the ability to build, trust, maintain persistence and consistency to connect with the future of the New Jersey Army National Guard.
SFC Cruz did just that by distinguishing herself by exceeding 217% of her assigned mission, with 37 enlistments during FY25. Such an accomplishment is both rare and exceptional within the National Guard. We are proud of her success and look forward to seeing the incredible things she will accomplish in the next fiscal year. View Images
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 | Leon R. Struzinski
On October 4, 2025, Gloucester County Commissioner Tom Bianco and Mayor Greg Wolfe proudly presented a Proclamation of Honor and Recognition to Leon R. Struzinski in celebration of his 100th birthday.
A proud U.S. Navy World War II veteran, Leon’s century of life is a true testament to courage, commitment, and community service.
Thank you, Leon, for your remarkable contributions and for inspiring us all. Happy 100th Birthday!
Image and caption courtesy Gloucester County Weekly Newsletter. |
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New Jersey Fallen Heroes Memorial | In Honor of all those from New Jersey who gave their lives in the fight against terrorism during Operation Enduring Freedom & Iraqi Freedom.
In humble gratitude, we remember their sacrifice. | Memorial Inscription
"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 |
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Superstorm Sandy October 2012. |
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October 29, 2012 |
When Superstorm Sandy hit in 2012, 346,000 homes in New Jersey were damaged or destroyed. 2.7 million people were without power. New Jersey National Guard troops rescued more than 7,000 residents and their pets in the days following Sandy’s landfall, remaining on duty following the storm by assisting civil authorities with security, transportation, logistics, and reconstructing efforts. The troops also delivered more than 10,000 meals and hundreds of thousands of gallons of fuel. |
November 2, 1783 | General George Washington delivered his farewell address to the Continental Army from his headquarters at Rockingham, near Princeton. |
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November 3, 1791 |
General Arthur St. Clair’s army, including a battalion recruited in New Jersey, met disastrous defeat by Indians under the command of Chief Little Turtle near the Wabash River in Ohio. Over the course of its service, from May through November, 1791, 328 officers and men served in the New Jersey battalion. Of these, 34 deserted, 5 died of undisclosed causes, 51 were killed or went missing (presumed dead) on November 4, and 8 were wounded but escaped. |
November 11, 1918 | At 11:00 AM the World War I Armistice began, ending active combat for the National Guard soldiers of the New Jersey National Guard in the 29th Division and drafted Jerseymen in the 78th and other divisions and New Jerseyans in the USMC and Navy. |
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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.
Subscribe to DMAVA Jobs Bulletin to stay updated on job openings.
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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 |
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Please email us at outreach@dmava.nj.gov with feedback and comments regarding the newsletter. If you would like to contribute with an item of interest to our subscribers, please email us your proposal.
Visit the DMAVA archives to view previous editions of our newsletter. |
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nj.gov/military NJ Department of Military & Veterans Affairs 101 Eggerts 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 & Veterans Affairs. |
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