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DMA Military Newsletter | June 4, 2026 |
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| Ready to serve ★ military.nj.gov |
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New Jersey Lt. Gov. Dr. Dale G. Caldwell, Retired Brig. Gen. Frank R. Carlini and Brig. Gen. Yvonne L. Mays honored New Jersey's fallen during the Memorial Day ceremony at the Global War on Terrorism Memorial on the NJ Department of Military Affairs campus on May 21, 2026. |
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Remembering Our Fallen |
In late May, our department gathered at the Global War on Terrorism Memorial on the Lawrenceville campus to honor the New Jersey service members who gave their lives in defense of our nation.
The ceremony brought together Lieutenant Governor Dr. Dale G. Caldwell, Lawrence Township Mayor Christopher Bobbitt, leaders from across the New Jersey National Guard, and members of our community who came to pay their respects. It was a solemn reminder of the courage and commitment of those who gave the last full measure of devotion. Their sacrifices continue to shape our state and our nation, and their legacy remains alive in the service of those who wear the uniform today.
This year’s ceremony reminded us that the story of service in New Jersey spans every era and every generation. We honored those who gave their lives in the Global War on Terrorism and reflected on the long line of New Jersey service members who have answered the call in conflicts throughout our history. Though separated by time and circumstance, their experiences are bound together by devotion to duty and a willingness to stand for others.
From the battlefields of the last century to the missions of our modern force, the sacrifices of New Jersey’s fallen reflect a shared commitment that continues to guide us today. Their service forms a continuum that remains at the heart of our mission and inspires the work we do for our service members and their families.
As we move forward from Memorial Day, I hope we continue to carry the example set by our fallen heroes. Let us honor them through our daily commitment to supporting the men and women who serve and strengthening the communities they protected. Their stories remind us that the responsibility of service is carried not only by those in uniform, but by all of us who support them. When we care for our service members and work together to build resilient communities, we advance the mission of DMA and help ensure that the legacy of our fallen continues to inspire everything we do. |
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As always, thank you for staying connected to DMA.
We invite you to share ideas, events and feedback. Please email our team at outreach@dma.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
Commissioner, New Jersey Department of Military Affairs
cordially invites you to attend the
25th Anniversary Ceremony of the State Partnership
between
the State of New Jersey and the Republic of Albania
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
1100-1145 Ceremony
at the
New Jersey National Guard Armory
Building 151
151 Eggerts Crossing Road
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
Uniform/Attire: Class B's
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Community Calendar | New events are added to the calendar on a daily basis so please bookmark and check back often. |
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Honor New Jersey's FallenThe NJ Department of Military Affairs honored New Jersey's fallen service members during the Memorial Day ceremony at the Global War on Terrorism Memorial on the NJ Department of Military Affairs campus in Lawrenceville, NJ on May 21, 2026.
View Images | Watch Video |
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 | Operation Eagle Strike 2026
New Jersey and New York Officer Candidates and Cadets from the Albanian Armed Forces Military Academy received an operations order during Operation Eagle Strike at Rreth-Greth, Albania on May 14, 2026.
During Operation Eagle Strike, Officer Candidates trained alongside Cadets from the Albanian Armed Forces Military Academy in movement to contact, squad attack, squad ambush, destroying a bunker, reacting to ambush, and squad reconnaissance.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the State Partnership Program between the New Jersey National Guard and the Republic of Albania as they continue to strengthen NATO interoperability through joint-training efforts. View Images |
|  | 177th Fighter Wing
A massive thank you from all of us at the 177th Fighter Wing to everyone who packed the beach and followed the action online for this year's Soar & Shore Airshow on May 29-31, 2026.
We were thrilled to share the skies with incredible performers like the Warbird Thunder Airshows, U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II Demonstration Team, and the U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor Demo Team.
Our Jersey Devils had an incredible time helping to bring the ultimate display of air power right to the Atlantic City coastline. |
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Join Our Team | Service to Community & Country
100% Free College Tuition
Bonuses | GI Bill
Student Loan Repayment |
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 | SSG Jazmin Segarra & SSG Brian Kerr
The New Jersey Army National Guard is proud to congratulate Staff Sergeant Jazmin Segarra and Staff Sergeant Brian Kerr on the completion of their master’s degree programs.
The New Jersey Army National Guard offers numerous benefits to its service members designed not just to support education, but to sharpen professional skills, build leadership, and promote personal growth. Investing in Soldiers both on and off duty is something the Guard takes pride in, strengthening the force as a whole.
SSG Kerr utilized the state tuition waiver program to complete his degree at William Paterson University while SSG Segarra leveraged Federal Tuition Assistance to pursue her education at Liberty University showcasing the flexibility of Guard benefits to meet individual goals. |
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 | Retirement / Transition Seminars
These seminars are held quarterly at the Bordentown Armory. They benefit service members who are near retirement or transitioning to the “Gray Area” waiting to apply for their pension. Seminars start at 0900 hours and end at approximately 1230 hours. Several vendors are in attendance. Tricare and US Family Health Plan also brief.
Please use the Registration Form to learn more and register for these seminars. - 24 June 2026
- 19 September 2026
- 9 December 2026
Retirees can stay informed by subscribing to The Next Checkpoint newsletter. |
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NJ Youth ChalleNGe Academy Testimonial |
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 | Jessica Nielsen
HR ManagerJessica Nielsen has served our department since 2016. She brings nearly a decade of Human Resources experience and a strong commitment to supporting employees across the organization.
A native of Levittown, Pennsylvania, Nielsen graduated from Conwell‑Egan High School and began her studies at Bucks County Community College before earning an associate degree and later a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resources from Temple University. Growing up in a Navy family has helped her build a natural rapport with service members and their families.
Nielsen began her career in state government as a temporary employee in the Department of Community Affairs before joining the former DMAVA as a Personnel Trainee on July 25, 2016. Her early administrative work provided a solid foundation in office operations, and she has since developed into a reliable HR professional known for her adaptability and practical problem‑solving.
Her notable achievements include helping resolve a long‑standing classification and retirement‑system issue affecting the 177th Fire Department, ensuring firefighters received appropriate benefits after decades of effort.
Nielsen approaches Human Resources with professionalism, accessibility, and a sincere focus on helping others. She encourages a workplace grounded in respect and support and strives to guide employees to the resources they need to succeed. |
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 | State Medals Ceremony
The NJ Department of Veterans Affairs held a State Medals Ceremony at the New Jersey Forensic Science & Technology Center in Hamilton, NJ on May 20, 2026.
The Adjutant General of New Jersey is the approving authority for the award of New Jersey State Service Medals. View Images |
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 | New Jersey Mission of Honor
Soldiers with the NJ Army National Guard's Funeral Honors Team participated in the 40th New Jersey Mission of Honor ceremony held at the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Wrightstown, NJ on May 27, 2026.
The cremains of ten World War II Army and Navy Veterans were honored during the ceremony.
The mission of the New Jersey Mission of Honor is to identify, retrieve, and inter the Veterans’ cremains. Since 2007, 730 Veterans have been located and 378 cremains have been reunited with their families. View Images |
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Lenape High School JROTCCW3 Timothy Jardinico was invited to Lenape High School to present the prestigious US Army Warrant Officers Association JROTC Award to outstanding cadets in recognition of exceptional leadership, academic achievement, military excellence, and dedication to service.
A special thank you to CW3 Ricky Kovats for the invitation and for his continued dedication to developing future leaders through the JROTC program at Lenape High School.
Congratulations to all the cadets recognized for their hard work and accomplishments. |
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Kearny hero killed in Korean War receives long-overdue silver star recognitionJennifer Portorreal | News 12 | May 24, 2026
A Kearny soldier killed in action during the Korean War is finally being recognized for his heroism more than 70 years after his death.
Private First Class James G. Davidson was honored this Memorial Day weekend with the installation of a new Silver Star grave marker at Arlington Cemetery in Kearny.
The ceremony was led by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1302 and local community leaders, who say the recognition corrects a decades-long omission in Davidson’s military record in his hometown.
Davidson was killed in action in 1952 after reportedly manning a machine gun and defending his platoon during combat. Read and Watch Full Story |
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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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Princeton Battle Monument Dedication in 1922. |
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June 6, 1780 |
Hessian General Wilhelm Von Knyphausen crossed from Staten Island to Elizabethtown with 6,000 British and Hessian troops at midnight, intending to push through Hobart’s gap to Morristown the following day. | June 6, 1862 |
The First New Jersey Cavalry was ambushed in the Shenandoah Valley and suffered forty casualties, including Colonel Percy Wyndham, who was captured, and Captain Thomas Ryerson Haines, son of former New Jersey governor Daniel Haines, who was killed in action. | June 6, 1878 |
John P. Holland of Paterson tested his first submarine design in the Passaic River. Although he claimed it seaworthy, the U.S. Navy rejected his plans. | June 8, 1944 |
The men of the New Jersey National Guard’s 102nd Cavalry, who had floated offshore for two days, landed at Omaha Beach on D-Day plus two, as the beachhead had been expanded enough to accommodate the unit’s vehicles. In the ensuing months, the 102nd fought its way across Europe, on the way gaining the honor of being the first United States unit to enter Paris in August 1944. |
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June 9, 1922 |
The Princeton Battle Monument, created by sculptor Frederick MacMonnies and architect Thomas Hastings to commemorate General George Washington’s January 3, 1777 victory over the British, was dedicated by President Warren Harding. The sculpture depicts Washington leading his troops to victory and the mortal wounding of General Hugh Mercer, for whom Mercer County was later named. |
June 14, 1917 | Two months after the United States entry into World War I, the first troop transports headed for Europe left Hoboken, which became the leading port of embarkation for American soldiers for the duration of the war. Of the approximately 2,000,000 American troops who sailed to Europe, 1,600,000 left from the Hudson County port city. |
June 15, 1864 |
The Twenty-second United States Colored Infantry, a regiment composed mostly of New Jersey African-American soldiers, was part of a force that broke through the Confederate defenses of Petersburg. The Twenty-second captured an enemy fort and artillery pieces, but their army corps commander, Major General William F. “Baldy” Smith, halted the victorious advance. When Confederate reinforcements arrived, Petersburg was saved and a ten month siege of the critical rail junction began. |
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 | Blue Star Museums
Blue Star Museums is a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families, in collaboration with the Department of Defense and museums across America, offering free admission to the nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve. The 2026 program runs from Armed Forces Day on May 16, 2026 through Labor Day on September 7, 2026.
Learn More |
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 | We Are Hiring!
At the New Jersey Department of Military Affairs we take our work in support of Servicemembers and their families very seriously. The Department provides valuable services and can offer rewarding career opportunities to members of the public.
In addition, we have job openings for members of our military to serve in AGR and Federal Technician roles.
Subscribe to the MilVets Jobs Bulletin to stay updated on job openings.
| | Vacancies |
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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, please visit our website at military.nj.gov to get contact information. |
| Contact DMA |
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Please email us at outreach@dma.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. |
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military.nj.gov NJ Department of Military Affairs 101 Eggerts Crossing Road
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
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Disclaimer: The appearance of any non-DMA information or hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement of the products or services on the part of the NJ Department of Military Affairs. |
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