An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | Nov. 23, 2018

Lengyel shares Thanksgiving breakfast with deployed troops

By Sgt. Emily Finn 35th Combat Aviation Brigade

CAMP BUERHING, Kuwait – Air Force Gen. Joseph Lengyel, the chief of the National Guard Bureau, and Army National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Kepner, the senior enlisted advisor to Lengyel, shared a Thanksgiving breakfast with Army National Guard and Reserve Soldiers assigned to the 35th Combat Aviation Brigade, headquartered in Sedalia, Missouri, who are deployed to the Middle East in support of Operations Inherent Resolve and Spartan Shield.

Breakfast was Nov. 22 at the 35th CAB's Administrative and Logistical Operations Center at Camp Buehring, Kuwait.

U.S. Soldiers of many ranks attended the breakfast. Throughout the meal, Lengyel and Kepner talked with the service members asking questions about jobs, career goals and deployment life. They also discussed retention rates and Soldier readiness, which affects the National Guard Bureau's strength.

Army National Guard Spc. Tia Brown, a human resources specialist assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 35th CAB, was in attendance.

Brown said she was nervous to meet Lengyel, as she has never met a four-star general before. She enjoyed talking with him and learning more about what the National Guard had to offer. She liked how open Lengyel and Kepner were to discussing Soldier issues and their sincerity in effecting what changes they can do to combat such issues.

Following breakfast, Lengyel presented his coin to seven U.S. Soldiers for their exceptional service during this mobilization. U.S. Army National Guard Sgt. Nicholas Arrigoni, a flight medic assigned to C. Company, 2-211th General Support Aviation Battalion, returned the favor by sharing his unit's morale sticker with Lengyel. U.S. Army National Guard Col. Charles Hausman, commander of the 35th CAB, also shared the brigade's morale patches with Lengyel and Kepner.

"Visits such as these are important to maintain morale during the holiday season," said U.S. Army National Guard Lt. Col. Derrick Jennings, executive officer of the 35th CAB."Being away from family and friends is taxing on our service members. We are thankful for the opportunity to share this with Gen. Lengyel and our military family."

 

 

Related Articles
Soldiers stand in formation during a mobilization ceremony for the 634th Brigade Support Battalion Forward Logistics Element Jan. 20, 2025, at the Illinois Army National Guard's Readiness Center in Sullivan. The unit, with just over a dozen Soldiers, will support logistics for U.S. Army Europe and Africa.
Illinois Guard Unit to Support U.S. Army Europe and Africa
By Lt. Col. Bradford Leighton, | Jan. 21, 2025
SULLIVAN, Ill. - The Illinois Army National Guard’s 634th Brigade Support Battalion Forward Logistics Element was activated Jan. 20 for deployment to Africa and Europe.A forward logistics element is a diverse team comprising...

U.S. Army Sgt. Bryce Carter, an infantryman with C Company, 1st Battalion, 160th Infantry Regiment, California Army National Guard, sharpens the blade of a hoe to clear brush and other debris as part of remediation efforts along the Mulholland Trail near Tarzana, California, in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire, Jan. 18, 2025. Carter and other members of his unit were assisting CALFIRE in mop-up efforts, which included clearing brush and backfilling firebreaks and other areas to prevent mudslides and reduce the impact of firefighting efforts.
National Guard Members Continue LA Wildfire Response
By Sgt. 1st Class Jon Soucy, | Jan. 21, 2025
LOS ANGELES – U.S. Army Sgt. Ricardo Hernandez watched from a cross street as sporadic traffic passed on the Pacific Coast Highway near Pacific Palisades. The late afternoon sun glinted off his sunglasses as a man on a...

Air Force Gen. Steve Nordhaus, chief, National Guard Bureau, Army Senior Enlisted Advisor John Raines, SEA to the CNGB, and Army Lt. Gen. Jonathan Stubbs, director, Army National Guard, visit National Guardsmen on duty to support the 60th Presidential Inauguration as part of Joint Task Force – District of Columbia (JTF-DC), Washington, D.C., Jan. 19, 2025. JTF-DC is a scalable and tailorable entity that supports presidential inaugurations every four years and is led by the commanding general of the District of Columbia National Guard. JTF-DC supports civilian authorities, such as the U.S. Capitol Police, U.S. Secret Service and D.C. Metropolitan Police by providing support like crowd management, traffic control points, CBRN response, civil disturbance response and sustainment operations.
National Guard Bureau Leaders Meet With Guardsmen Supporting 60th Presidential Inauguration
By Master Sgt. Zach Sheely, | Jan. 20, 2025
WASHINGTON – About 7,800 National Guard troops are on duty here as part of a large interagency presence to ensure the peaceful transition of power during the 60th Presidential Inauguration Monday, continuing a legacy that...