Guardlife - The Magazine of the New Jersey National Guard

Michelle Taylor Buster (in white dress) and Minister John Howard, Jr. leads the End Time Levites in the singing of the "Star Spangled Banner" on March 19 during a special Sunday Gospel Brunch held at The House of Blues located in Atlantic City. The brunch was for the families of deployed Airmen from the 177th Fighter Wing in addition to recently returned members of the New Jersey Army National Guard. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Mark Olsen, 177FW/PA.

Signal Gets New Commander

Incoming commander Maj. Todd D. Smith (left) receives the 250th Signal Battalion's colors from Col. William Rochelle (right) during the Battalion's Change of Command ceremony at the National Guard Armory in Westfield on April 2. The 250th just recently returned from a year-long deployment to Iraq. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Robert Stephenson, NJDMAVA/PA.

177th MPF Receives NGB Award

The 177th Fighter Wing Military Personnel Flight (MPF) was recently recognized by the National Guard Bureau as one of nine Air National Guard Outstanding Military Personnel Flights of the Year. The MPF is headed by Capt. Diana Brown who was named as the Air National Guard Base Level Junior Personnel Manager of the Year for 2005. Their accomplishments include the mobilization of more than 600 unit members in support of ongoing contingencies and exercises as well as personnel support provided for Air Sovereignty Alert and Hurricane Katrina relief operations. In addition they serviced 913 retirees and more than 100 Coast Guard members for identification cards and various updates and 700 plus ID cards for unit and family members.

Soldiers Serenaded

Spc. Kelly Crager (far left) and Sgt. Rechell Lewellen (second from left), both with the 119th Corps Support Battalion, listen as Mrs. Joan Kelly's first grade class sings "America To Me" during a school visit on March 17. The Soldiers visited Mullica Elementary School to thank the students for their support while the unit was in Iraq. The class adopted the 119th and supported them with letters and packages. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Mark Olsen, NJDMAVA/PA.

DAG Leads Albanian Visit

Brig. Gen. Maria Falca-Dodson (left) shakes hands with Albanian firefighters during a ceremony at which the New Jersey- Albania State Partnership Program donated a fire truck to the Albanian Fire Rescue Services Department. The fire truck will be used to support a weapons elimination project as well as supporting routine firefighting capabilities of the Fire Rescue Services Department. The DAG led a contingent of NJNG Soldiers and Airmen on a visit to the Republic of Albania Feb. 18 -25. Photo by Maj. Judie Marranco, JFHQ-NJ.

New Chiefs Recognized

Left to right, John Sullivan and Michael Francis of the 177th Fighter Wing, and Tom Dickson of the 108th Air Refueling Wing pose after the Annual Chief's Recognition Ceremony on March 11 at the McGuire Enlisted Club. More than 250 individuals attended the event hosted by the Air Force Reserve and New Jersey Air National Guard Chiefs Groups. Absent is Chief Master Sgt. Don Martenz who was deployed to Iraq. Photo by Chief Master Sgt. James Leopardi, 177FW/LRS.

St. Patricks Day Observed

Members of the Operation Support Aviation Command celebrate St. Patrick's Day in Afghanistan. Pictured (l-r) Chief Warrant Officer 3 Kevin Devery, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Nick Brady, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Jim Tobin, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Glenn Malin and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Brett Beringer. Photo courtesy of OSACOM.

White Chosen Airman of the Month

Senior Airman Wayne White (center), a firefighter with the 177th Fighter Wing, poses for a photo with Col. Kevin Kilb, Commander, 407th Air Expeditionary Group, and the command chief master sergeant after being chosen Airman of the Month at Talill Air Base, Iraq on Feb. 28. White, who is currently assigned to the 407th Air Expeditionary Group, will now compete at the wing level at Balad Air Base in Iraq. Photo courtesy 407th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs.

Building A New Army

Maj. William Heineman (center) poses with members of the Afghan National Army (ANA). The Major is part of Task Force Phoenix whose mission is to provide trainers and mentors to help the government of Afghanistan build a professional army. Sixteen members of the New Jersey Army National Guard are serving in Afghanistan. Photo by Chief Warrant Officer 2 Dario Marchena.

RSTA Prepares To Deploy

Col. Frank Caruso (right), commander of the 50th Brigade, spent time visiting with members of the 5th Battalion, 117th Reconnaissance, Surveillance, Target Acquisition (RSTA) and the 250th Brigade Support Battalion at Camp Shelby, Miss., on March 15. The Soldiers comprised part of the 1st Battalion, 34th Brigade Combat Team, which was training at Camp Shelby prior to deployment to Iraq later that month in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Robert Stephenson, NJDMAVA/PA.

General Meets Soldiers Of The Year

Maj. Gen. Glenn K. Rieth, The Adjutant General of New Jersey, left, recently congratulated the Non-Commissioned Officers and Soldiers of the Year honorees from 2005 and 2006. The winners are, left to right, 2005 NCO of the Year, Staff Sgt. Harold Prickett, 253rd Transportation; 2006 NCO of the Year, Staff Sgt. Robert Freeman, Recruiting and Retention Command; 2006 Soldier of the Year, Spec. Hector Rivera, Recruiting and Retention Command and 2005 Soldier of the Year, Spec. Eric Symonds, Recruiting and Retention Command. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Robert Stephenson, NJDMAVA/PA.