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Archive: December, 2015

Louisiana National Guard enlists first female field artillery Soldier
December 11, 2015
Pvt. Journae Q. King takes the Oath of Enlistment as the first female automated tactical data systems specialist in the Louisiana National Guard at the Military Entrance Processing Station in Belle Chasse, Louisiana, Nov. 30, 2015.
Meals, ready-to-savor: Student chefs show cooking chops with Army chow
December 10, 2015
Student chefs wait in anticipation as New York Army National Guard culinary specialists Sgt. Duwann Gordon, middle, and Pvt. Yorby Fernandez (right) judge a meal the students prepared using MRE food components at a Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) vocational education facility in Goshen, New York, Dec. 4, 2015. The students prepared meals with MREs as part of a New York Army National Guard educational challenge designed to test their skills and familiarize them with Army careers. The students chefs are, from left: Tyra Chase, a Middletown High School junior; Tushana Clarke and Nina Lucas, both juniors at Port Jervis High School.
Retired Air Force colonel and former POW speaks on the power of a positive attitude
December 10, 2015
Retired U. S. Air Force Col. Ed Hubbard presents a limited edition lithograph that he painted in the early 1980s to 153rd Airlift Wing Commander Col. Bradley Swanson. Hubbard detailed his experiences as a POW and provided insight on keeping a positive attitude during captivity.
Guard set to activate additional cyber units
December 9, 2015
Members of a cyber protection unit with the Hawaii Air National Guard conduct cyber defense operations during a training exercise in June. As cyber warfare takes on an ever increasing role, the Guard announced plans to activate additional cyber protection units spread throughout 23 states by the end of fiscal year 2019. Those units are part of service-specific cyber requirements and provide additional capabilities to deter cyber threats across a wide array of platforms.
GuardNet celebrates 15 years of providing Soldiers with networking, Internet access
December 9, 2015
Cake-cutting celebrates GuardNet's 15-year hstory. Doing the honors are contractor Mary Proffitt, longest-tenured employee with more 15 years, and Maj. Shannon Huntley, tactical communications branch, Tactical Branch.
Bolstered Air Guard team to continue momentum of enlisted force development
December 9, 2015
Chief Master Sgt. William Horay, Senior Enlisted Leadership Management Office manager, Nov. 30, 2015, Air National Guard Readiness Center, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Horay is the first active duty chief master sergeant assigned to the ANG command chief’s office.
Jersey Airman sleuths out WWII Belgian crash site of great-uncle
December 8, 2015
From left, Gaston Mean, an Awyaille, Belgium, resident for more than 70 years, sits with U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. James McCloskey, and Mean's wife, in the living room of the Belgian home of the Mean family, Aug. 12, 2015.
New York National Guard honors President Martin Van Buren, who gave the world 'OK'
December 8, 2015
A wreath from President Barack Obama takes pride of place among a number of wreaths placed at the gravesite of President Martin Van Buren at the Dutch Reformed Cemetery in Kinderhook, New York, during a ceremony honoring the eighth president on Dec. 5, 2015, the 233rd anniversary of his birth.
National Guard leaders announce Health of the Force campaign; call-to-action
December 8, 2015
The National Guard's top officer has called upon Guard leadership to check in with their Soldiers and Airmen during the Health of the Force campaign. This campaign comes after a devastating month of suicides, accidents and illnesses among Guard members in October.
Niagara Airman meets man he saved with CPR; receives medals
December 7, 2015
After receiving the Air Force Commendation Medal and the New York State Medal for Meritorious Service Dec. 6, 2015, Col. Robert Kilgore, commander, 107th Airlift Wing, poses with Tech. Sgt. Jason Oehlbeck who saved the life of Jack Ewald.
Tennessean appointed first White House social aide from the Air National Guard
December 7, 2015
Air Force Capt. John D. Fesler waits for guests in front of a portrait of President George Washington in the East Room of the White House. Fesler is the first Airman from the Air National Guard to serve as a White House social aide.
South Carolina National Guard engineer unit dedicates memorial to fallen comrades
December 7, 2015
Members of the South Carolina National Guard along with family and friends join Soldiers from the 1221st Route Clearance Company, South Carolina Army National Guard, at a dedication ceremony for the 1221st Fallen Soldier Memorial at the Graniteville Armory in Graniteville on Dec. 5, 2015. The memorial is dedicated to three fallen comrades from the 1221st Engineers who were killed in combat, U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Willie Harley, U.S. Army Sgt. Luther “Will” Rabon Jr., and U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Matthew Dillon, who served in the unit in 2004.
Researchers: Reserve component Soldiers in theater should fill in-theater vacancies
December 4, 2015
Capt. Steven Coon, an Army National Guard human resources officer for U.S. Army Central’s National Guard Affairs directorate, leads a presentation at a Town Hall in July for Army National Guard Soldiers stationed in Kuwait. Coon was among several officers from USARCENT and 1st Sustainment Command (Theater) along with a college professor, who presented their research findings at the 2015 U.S. Army Operations Research Symposium held at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. in October. He said there was no process to capture the names of Soldiers willing to extend in theater so NGA began collecting them and placing them into a database.
As of January, all military occupations and specialties opened to women
December 4, 2015
Defense Secretary Ash Carter has opened up all military occupations to women, but in 2012, Capt. Tara Robertson recently took command of the Minnesota National Guard's 849th Mobility Augmentation Company. She was the first woman to command the previously all-male unit. She was awarded a Bronze Star Medal for her service in Afghanistan.
South Dakota National Guard reinforces partnership at National Day in Suriname
December 3, 2015
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Tim Reisch, adjutant general for the South Dakota National Guard and State Command Chief Master Sgt. James Welch, SDNG senior enlisted leader, meet with Suriname’s Minister of Defense Ronni Benschop, during a distinguished leaders visit to Paramaribo, Suriname, Nov. 25, 2015.
New York National Guard troops lend a hand in loading Trees for Troops
December 3, 2015
New York Air National Guard Master Sgt. Kara Tatlock passes a Christmas tree to Army Natiomal Guard Sgt. Maj. David Smiiith to help load Christmas trees bound for military forces at Ellms Tree Farm Nov. 30 as part of the shipment of holiday trees for troops. Twenty members of the New York Army and Air National Guard volunteered their time to help load about 125 donated Christmas Trees at Ellms Tree Farm in Charlton, N.Y.The donated trees will be delivered to Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Soldiers can mix camo patterns for cold-weather gear
December 1, 2015
Intelligence and Sustainment Company’s team races through the snow transporting a casualty to a landing zone March 5 during the Gauntlet Challenge at Fort Drum.
Colombian Army Engineers view South Carolina flood response
December 1, 2015
U.S. Army 1st Lt. Omar Benjamin (left), with the South Carolina Army National Guard’s Combined Support Maintenance Shop, answers questions from Colombian Army Lt. Col. Hernando Rodriguez through Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Alexander Lombana, Nov. 19, 2015. The South Carolina National Guard held a Subject Matter Expert Exchange with its Partner Nation Nov. 15-21, 2015. While in South Carolina, the five Colombian officers toured various sites and met with their National Guard counterparts seeing firsthand the areas affected by the floods, and how the Guard responded working alongside civilian first responders and state and local emergency management. Since its launch in 2012, when the South Carolina National Guard introduced its State Partnership Program (SPP) with the Republic of Colombia, S.C., has focused on establishing long-term relationships where Colombia and South Carolina can promote mutual interests and build lasting capabilities. In the past year the South Carolina National Guard has held 26 engagements with its partner nation. (U.S. Air Force photo by 1st Lt. Stephen D. Hudson)
Active duty, National Guard units foster partnership, prep for future
December 1, 2015
Col. Matthew Van Wagenen (right), commander of the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division talks with Col. Jeffrey Van, commander of the 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team, Mississippi National Guard, as they visit the Horse Cav. Det. for a trail ride Nov. 24 at Fort Hood, Texas. The leaders used the opportunity to immerse themselves in some of the cavalry’s history and traditions.