2021 RNG MARCH-APRIL

ARMY GUARD USES GAMING FOR CAMARADERIE UNDERSTANDING PAY & BENEFITS

One hundred years ago

Americans could buy a gallon of gas for 33 cents, a stamp cost 2 cents, and the average rent was $15 a month. That same year, in 1921, the first Air Guard unit in the country was also created in Minnesota.

The 109th Airlift Squadron, formerly known as the 109th Observation Squadron, is part of the 133rd Airlift Wing. The squadron marked a century of flight this year and its current commander is making history of her own. Lt. Col. Dana Novinskie is the first female flying squadron commander in the wing’s history.

To mark these milestones, retired Brig. Gen. Greg Haase walked us through the squadron’s history. As the chair of the centennial committee for the Minnesota Air National Guard Historical Foundation, nobody can tell its background quite like him. And, he is

CONTRIBUTORS

very much part of that story. Haase was selected in 1985 for undergraduate pilot training with the 133rd Airlift Wing. In 1998, he was the 109th Airlift Squadron commander, his first of three command assignments. It is fitting that we capture the squadron’s history by talking to its past, Haase, and its future, Novinskie.

Read more about this historic celebration on page 10.

Crystal Kupper

Jessica Manfre

Heather Hawley

Stephen Ruiz

Dave Paone

Tiffany Eve Lawrence

Lizann Lightfoot

Ryan Guina

Army Capt. Raymond S. Miller, left, Lt. Col. W.C. Garis, center, and Gen. Walter Rhinow pose for a photograph in Falcon Heights, Minnesota. Miller, Garis, and Walter flew to Washington D.C. to lobby for aviation units. Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Air National Guard Historical Foundation.

Lt. Col. Dana Novinskie, commander of the Minnesota National Guard’s 109 Airlift Squadron of the 133rd Airlift Wing, on the flightline. U.S. Air National Guard photo by Amy M. Lovgren

by Crystal Kupper

by Bianca Strzalkowski

by Stephen Ruiz

by Lizann Lightfoot

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by Dave Paone

ArmyIgnitED

replaces

GoArmyEd

By Dave Paone

For the past 10 years, GoArmyEd.com was the go-to website for any soldier looking to apply for tuition assistance. This included soldiers on active duty, in the Army National Guard or Army Reserve, as well as Army veterans and even cadets.

The website boasted 2,396 participating schools, 136,925 active students on tuition assistance, and 10,067 distance-learning programs.

However, as of March 1, GoArmyEd.com has been replaced with ArmyIgnitED. com. As was its predecessor, the new website is an online platform that provides soldiers with an opportunity to apply for their education benefits.

“It [GoArmyEd.com] was cutting edge at the time,” said Ken Hardy, chief of education services for the Army National Guard.

The biggest change between the two platforms is the new technology offers a more user-friendly and intuitive experience. Soldiers can also use their phones to apply. The goal of ArmyIgnitED.com is to get soldiers through the process “with as few clicks as possible,” Hardy added.

It’s not just for tuition assistance for college. ArmyIgnitEd.com connects soldiers with more than 1,600 available credentials ranging from private pilot licenses to IT certifications.

Each applicant can receive up to $4,000, which he or she can use for either college tuition or credentialing programs. Applicants work with guidance counselors from the site who will help them decide on a course of action.

Once a soldier is signed up for classes, the school invoices ArmyIngitED.com so the student doesn’t have to deal with money at all.

“The only thing the soldier has to do is pass,” said Hardy, himself a veteran. “A [grade of] C or better for undergraduate and a B or better for graduate.”

Hardy is very excited about how easy the new site will be for applicants to use.

“If mobility is what our soldiers have been asking for, mobility is what we’re giving them.”

Go to www.armyignited.com/app to access ArmyIgnitED.

CURRENT SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR MILITARY SPOUSES

By Bianca Strzalkowski

National Military Family Association

The basics:  Awards available for career funding, degrees, clinical supervision towards licensure in the mental health profession, and business expenses.

Deadline:  Rolling basis.

Army Emergency Relief

The basics:  The Mrs. Patty Shinseki Spouse Scholarship Program is a needbased scholarship program established to assist Army spouses in obtaining an undergraduate degree or similar professional certification.

Deadline:  None. Spouses can apply year-round and must re-apply each year.

Air Force Aid Society

Who’s eligible:  Spouses of active duty and Title 10 reservists, and widows.

The basics:  Needs-based grant ranging from $500 – $4000.

Deadline:  April 30.

Modern Military Association of America

The basics:  10 military spouses will be awarded a scholarship ranging from $1,000 – $2,500.

Details:  Applications are scheduled to open in May 2021. Winners are announced in July.

Deadline:  June.

ThanksUSA

The basics:  Scholarships awarded to spouses and military kids may be used for a first-time undergraduate study at an accredited 2- or 4-year college, university, or accredited vocational, technical, or trade school program.

Details:  Scholarships are $3,000.

Deadline:  April 15.

Visit https://reservenationalguard.com/ reserve-guard-education/12-scholarships-formembers-of-national-guard-reserves/ for a complete listing.

Completing an education is hard enough without having to stress about how to pay for it. If you have a military affiliation and are thinking about college (or are already working on a degree), you’re in luck. Organizations have stepped up to offer education assistance to offset the cost of tuition and fees.

Rainbow baby born out of couple’s infertility struggles

By Crystal Kupper

When the Fourth of July rolls around this summer, Army Reserve Maj. Andrew Eshelman and his wife, Julie, will be celebrating a unique freedom for the first time: that of new parents rising above the hardships of infertility.

“We were on Zoom when the doctor laughed and said, ‘This is perfect for you guys! Your baby is due on July 4 th!’” Julie, a Pennsylvania native, said. “Each new milestone we hit as we get closer is really exciting.”

Given the time, money, energy, and heartbreak it took to get to this point, the couple’s excitement is understandable.

“Infertility was something we had to deal with, figuring out the steps to overcome it,” says Andrew, an operations officer with the 416th Theater Engine Command out of Darien, Illinois. “It’s been quite a journey.”

An estimated 15% of couples will have trouble conceiving, according to UCLA

Health. It’s a journey the Eshelmans never saw coming when they married in 2015. The newlyweds began trying for a baby six months after their wedding. Months, then a year, passed with no double lines to rejoice over.

Julie, 34, ticks off the small ways her life began changing.

“I wasn’t drinking, I was taking prenatal vitamins, I was buying ovulation kits and pregnancy tests. I even gave up coffee. I did everything under the moon to try to get pregnant.”

With some help from infertility clinics, it worked. After several rounds of fertility medication and intrauterine insemination (IUI) treatments, Julie made it as far as eight weeks gestation before separately miscarrying two children in 2019. The first came in the middle of a PCS from Arizona to Illinois, an experience Julie calls “a whole nightmare situation.”

“We had to start all over once we got to Illinois — establishing primary care, getting referrals and all that,” she said. And when she miscarried another baby, she had to have a dilation and curettage (D&C) procedure to remove his or her body from Julie’s own.

Photos by RACSO

She described it as “brutal,” but it was also a turning point for the family. Instead of staying quiet, they started sharing their infertility journey with family and friends.

“It’s interesting once you put it out there, how many couples will share their experience [with infertility],” Andrew, 32, said. “In some cases, people are ashamed, but others will come forward to say that if we need someone to talk to, they’re there.”

The more they talked about it, the more they learned about other military couples experiencing similar situations.

In 2019, in the midst of miscarriages, Julie was named the Armed Force Insurance Unattached – Army Spouse of the Year. And since January 2020, she has been the Development Director at Military Spouse Advocacy Network (MSAN). Both positions, alongside her personal experience, have allowed a close-up look at military infertility.

Julie also expressed frustration that TRICARE does not cover infertility treatments, leading to couples spending thousands out of pocket. The Eshelmans, as an example, estimate they have spent $20,00 to $30,000.

The realities of the journey turned Julie into an advocate who has since recorded videos for RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, became a mentor, wrote articles about Infertility Awareness Week, and helped plan Federal Advocacy Day — all with the goal of getting fertility treatments covered by TRICARE.

“It’s given me a chance to help educate those who don’t know anything about this topic,” she said.

After three rounds of IUI, Julie and Andrew tried in vitro fertilization. Coronavirus lockdowns paused that plan temporarily. But after egg retrieval last July and a one-egg transfer in October, things finally went their way, with Julie’s doctor happily announcing an Independence Day finish line.

The reserve family, Andrew says, has been hugely helpful. When Julie had a miscarriage, for example, his unit sent him home to help, even though it was drill weekend. Another time, his co-workers provided meals so they wouldn’t have to cook.

“Usually these jobs are very high-stress, but the unit as a community has been very supportive so we can focus on the important things, like family-building,” he said.

Most importantly, the Eshelmans want their son or daughter to know that their story involves not only the three of them, but an entire military community.

“We didn’t give up; we used our struggles to help others,” Julie said. “This baby is just so loved that we worked this hard to meet them.”

A Century of Flight

By Bianca Strzalkowski

The first federallyrecognized Air National Guard unit is marking 100 years since it took to the skies.

Lt. Col. Dana Novinskie is the current commander of the 109 Airlift Squadron. Air National Guard photo by Amy M. Lovgren.

Retired Brig. Gen. Greg Haase, who served as commander of the 109th Airlift Squadron in 1998, is a living history book of the formative years of the unit’s century of service. The squadron, which is part of the 133rd Airlift Wing in Minnesota, was previously known as the 109th Observation Squadron. It was formed as the inaugural air unit of the National Guard on Jan. 17, 1921.

Haase said it took the imagination and grit of three military leaders to convert Minneapolis speedway into an airfield and loosely organize a military-like unit. Brig. Gen. Walter Rhinow, Lt. Col. William Garis, and Capt. Ray Miller are credited with this achievement after they took off from Curtiss Field in Minnesota, flying hundreds of miles in a rented Oriole biplane to Washington, D.C., with little to no air support. The trip was to lobby for the formation of a flying squadron — and it was successful.

Throughout its history, the 133rd Airlift Wing has served in every major conflict from World War II to current-day missions, including domestic support after the attacks of Sept. 11.

Haase added that when the trio returned from their trip in 1921, Garis remarked at the end of a seven-page letter that “this aviation thing is going to be the wave of the future.” He was right. The Air National Guard now stretches across all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Guam, Virgin Islands, and Washington, D.C., with more than 107,700 personnel and 1,800 units, according to the Air National Guard website.

The Minnesota Air National Guard Historical Foundation, which Haase serves with, continues its work of piecing together the rich 100-year history. He says he started digging into its background when he was the wing commander.

“We were trying to pull off the 90th and were looking for original documentation. When we started digging through this history and

piecing it together, it was very compelling. It was letters from Miller to his wife from World War II … he detailed his trips to Berchtesgaden and Eagle’s Nest [in Germany] — reading through the letters you captured this intense emotion that must have existed in every aviator in World War II. It just struck you and you wanted to know more about this unit, about this guy — these pioneers that had so much imagination and grit,” he said.

Today, he continues to comb through letters, after action reports from deployments, and speeches to catalog the unit’s story. Simultaneously, the op tempo for current airmen has not slowed down, especially in the wake of unforeseen circumstances that emerged in 2020.

Lt. Col. Dana Novinskie, commander of the 109 Airlift Squadron, explained that her unit had just returned from a deployment in March 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic was spreading in the U.S. and internationally. She says it forced leaders to be adaptable and learn how to streamline processes like training.

1931: Capt. Miller (known as the godfather of the Minnesota Air Guard) led the largest aerial event at Wright Field in Dayton, Ohio with 19 other states

1941: World War II

1951: Korean conflict

1961: Became operational in the C-97 and were activated for the Berlin crisis

1971: Transitioned to the C-130 A model

1981: Transitioned to the C-130 B model

1991: Desert Storm

2001: Provided domestic support in the wake of the attacks of Sept. 11

Army Capt. Raymond S. Miller, left, Lt. Col. W.C. Garis, center, and Gen. Walter Rhinow pose for a photograph in Falcon Heights, Minnesota. Miller, Garis, and Walter flew to Washington D.C. to lobby for aviation units. Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Air National Guard Historical Foundation.

“We came back and the pandemic started and we were all called to state activation duty by our governor — the entire Minnesota National Guard. … It’s been nonstop for us, and throughout that time we’ve had the pilots flying

and it’s been incumbent on us to still accomplish the mission, still accomplish training. We’ve had to innovate and find new ways of doing things.”

Novinskie made history herself when

she became the first female flying squadron commander in the wing’s history. Her 16 years of time in service has been split evenly between active duty and the Minnesota National Guard.

“I wasn’t necessarily always pining for this career field, but it’s worked out and I love it. I was always interested in aviation, and in college I was an aerospace engineer major,” she said. “It was more on the space side initially that I thought I was going to go into and then I started down the path of ROTC and I had to work really hard to get a height waiver — which the Air Force is starting to do away with now because so many female pilots are on waivers.”

She also flies on the civilian side of her career with Delta Airlines.

Reflecting on the 100-year celebration for her squadron, Novinskie said in order to know where you’re going it’s important to know where you’ve been — even more so for members of the National Guard who have less-transient careers than their active-duty counterparts, she said.

“Knowing that we are the first federallyrecognized Air Guard unit and then now Air National Guard units span coast to coast across our country, that’s huge. To think it started with just one person and a vision — that pre-dates the Air Force really. And then we have a really high op tempo and a robust unit here. We’re very active whether we’re deployed or it’s a non-deployment year — we’re very busy, so to see how far we’ve come and different things historically that we’ve been a part of, conflicts, wars, 9/11, domestic operations, and I think that knowing the history and building upon that is important in our unit.”

She added that briefing that heritage is even a key part of what recruiters do so that prospects understand the “legacy they have to live up to.” Novinskie said that proud history is chief among the reasons that generation after generation of citizens choose to serve in the Guard.

Retired Brig. Gen. Greg Haase. Air National Guard photo by Amy M. Lovgren.

Earlier this year, the squadron marked its anniversary by transporting military members to Washington D.C. for inauguration support — a fitting gesture given that it is a path similar to the one taken in 1921 by the founders. It is one of several missions on the unit’s calendar this year, which also includes a NORAD exercise with international

partners, participation in Swift Response in Estonia, and what Novinskie described as bigger ticket exercises that will be balanced with unexpected domestic operations that may arise.

Visit www.mnangmuseum.org to learn more about the history of the Minnesota Air National Guard.

Novinskie on the flightline in Minnesota. Air National Guard

photo by Amy M. Lovgren.

Documenting SecDef

By Jessica Manfre

Despite having an impressive career as a writer at Voice of America, Lisa Ferdinando wanted more. So, she joined the Coast Guard Reserve and didn’t stop there.

“It’s an incredible opportunity to serve, and I am so blessed and happy,” Ferdinando said.

She completed an undergraduate degree in journalism from Rutgers University and a master’s in liberal studies, with a concentration on international affairs, from Georgetown University. The New Jersey native says she was drawn to photojournalism because of a fascination with travel and cultures.

“Of course, I was always the person with a camera – and the one arranging the group photos at family events! I loved being able to capture special moments and share them with loved ones,” she said in an email interview. “My background is in journalism and news writing, and I loved how photography is such an incredible and powerful way to capture history, tell a story and share an experience.”

Now a public affairs specialist first class, she works directly with the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Reserve. Not long after enlisting in the Coast Guard, she applied for another job at the Department of Defense. In that role, Ferdinando is the section chief and photojournalist for the Secretary of Defense and has been documenting Secretary Lloyd Austin since day one of his appointment. She said it would be hard to choose a favorite photo

shoot, but she did describe a recent opportunity that stands out.

“I had the privilege of being an official photographer when President Biden and Vice President Harris visited Secretary Austin at the Pentagon. It was an incredible experience to document this historic visit, and also share those moments with service members and civilians, and the public,” Ferdinando explained.

Ferdinando enlisted later in life, after participating in several humanitarian missions including one during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. It was then that she was inspired to explore a career in the Coast Guard.

“I wanted to serve and I wanted to make the commitment,” she explained. “I was really inspired by their response after 9/11 … When you see the news and how they [Coast Guard] just go into communities and help citizens, they are just so laser focused. I was so impressed and moved by their humanitarian mission.”

Ferdinando said what stuck out to her about the Coast Guard is that it shifts missions depending on the need. She described the impressive feat of managing counter drug operations in small communities while also taking part

in security and Department of Defense missions across the globe.

“They are so incredible and really unique out of all the services,” she said. “Another reason I wanted to be a part of the Coast Guard was because of its reputation.”

As a reservist, Ferdinando recognizes the challenges of balancing work and life with responsibilities to a service. But she also highlights the flexibility, explaining how those in the reserves can volunteer or offer themselves up for certain assignments.

“I got to do two weeks on a cutter in the western Pacific — how incredible is that, to see the operational side of the Coast Guard,” she shared.

Ferdinando said both jobs complement each other. She will often be working her DOD job and come across a great opportunity for the Coast Guard that she shares with her teammates. Looking ahead, one goal she has set for 2021 is to push beyond her comfort level.

“I will be continuing to look for new assignments in both my civilian and Coast Guard careers, and find new and creative ways to tell stories and capture those special moments. That is what I love about photojournalism and public affairs and working for the Coast Guard and the Department of Defense – the opportunities are seemingly endless,” she said.

NAVIGATING TRICARE ON THE RESERVE SIDE

By Heather Small Hawley

Raleigh Duttweiler learned the hard way that navigating TRICARE with a special needs child isn’t easy. Then, she was introduced to the National Military Family Association.

Duttweiler, a Marine Reserve spouse, is the deputy director of public media for NMFA. She said the association helped her family to understand the TRICARE system when their daughter needed it the most.

When Duttweiler gave birth to her daughter Sibby, she quickly learned that something was wrong. Sibby had failed her hearing test and was suffering from severe food allergies that led the family’s pediatrician to determine that she would need to be put on a hypoallergenic, amino acid-based prescription formula. The problem was getting TRICARE to agree.

After Duttweiler tried the other TRICARE-approved formulas without success, she requested the specialty formula.

“At this point, we knew she (was deaf) and we just really needed the formula so she could eat,” she said. “She was not gaining weight, and she was miserable.”

TRICARE denied the request.

Sibby-Annie Duttweiler, 5, shares a smile while playing.

“We were buying the formula out of pocket and we were draining our bank account to do it,” she said. “I called a good friend of mine and told her that we were doing everything by the book and TRICARE still wasn’t covering it. I didn’t know how I was going to feed my child the next week.”

Her friend’s answer? Contact the National Military Family Association.

Two days later Duttweiler opened her door to a package from NMFA with a two-week supply of the specialty formula.

The Duttweilers’ journey has slowly gotten easier thanks to the help and support they found through the organization.

“When I go back to that time, the thing that I learned in our hardest days was twofold. One is that you absolutely can’t do it alone, you have to call a friend. The second is to call NMFA. That is something that in our darkest, hardest time was what put food on the table for my baby. It was the thing that let us make things work.”

Duttweiler says she now feels

more confident about being able to navigate the TRICARE system.

“Thanks to Joyce (Raezer, former director of NMFA), Sibby got the food that she needed, but also, thanks to NMFA, I gained the courage to be the person who called and annoyed TRICARE,” she said. “I thought that if there was a lady in Washington with the NMFA who can call TRICARE and do whatever it is that she did to not only get my child’s food but get it fully covered, I could do that, too.”

That courage led to her family being assigned a TRICARE special case manager for Sibby, and Duttweiler recommends other families do the same because “they can make all the difference when you are a reserve family and navigating complex medical issues.”

She says she continues to use the lessons learned from NMFA and offered a few tips to help others.

“Number one, you should start learning the right words to use. I know that if I am going to fill something that TRICARE doesn’t have several generic versions of or there

is not a specific process to go through, I start asking about letters of medical necessity,” she said. “I start with my doctor and then ask about specific information TRICARE may need to make this process easier.”

Duttweiler adds one of the things that makes things easier when dealing with TRICARE is to ask if they can anticipate any stumbling blocks.

“That way, I can proactively get any information that

might be needed. When you start learning their various levels of approval, you are better able to get the outcome you want.”

However, if issues arise, her top recommendation is to call NMFA, specifically Eileen Huck, government relations deputy director.

“If you are not able to successfully advocate for yourself, turn to a professional advocate; that is what NMFA does,” Duttweiler said.

NMFA supports military families through advocacy, camps and retreats for military families, and scholarships for military spouses. For more information about these programs, go to www.militaryfamily.org .

Sibby-Annie Duttweiler, rests in her crib at 3 months old.

From left to right, Sibby-Annie Duttweiler, 4, Woods Duttweiler, 2, and Hunter

RESERVIST

AWARDED RECRUITING

FOR PROFICIENCY IN

By Stephen Ruiz

Paul Rydberg’s oldest son is 9 years old but not too young to plan for the future.

Zayne told his father recently that he planned to join the Navy. That day is a while off, but for Rydberg — the 2020 Enlisted (Active Component) Recruiter of the Year for Navy Recruiting Command — the sense of pride was immediate.

“The only thing that I can attribute that to is the fact that Dad is [in the] Navy, and he’s seen me put on the uniform every day,’’ Rydberg said. “It would be amazing if one of my kids kept that legacy when they get old enough to serve.’’

Just don’t expect Rydberg, 36, to recruit Zayne. Rydberg, a Navy counselor 1st class assigned to Navy Talent Acquisition Group (NTAG) Houston, plans to be an officer by then.

For now, Rydberg is in a good place.

He earned the Centurion Award last fall for signing at least 100 recruits in one tour of recruiting. Kevin King, Rydberg’s leading petty officer when he began recruiting for the Navy, said

most recruiters don’t average two contracts a month.

“Because he’s working to be his best, he’s going to be picking your brain for knowledge and he’s going to be constantly asking you questions,’’ King said. “You have to be on top of your game. This guy is hungry for knowledge, so you have to be ready to give it to him, give him the tools he needs to be successful.’’

Rydberg, a father of four with his wife, Christine, described

being chosen as Recruiter of the Year as “an exciting moment.’’

The role is all-encompassing, especially during COVID-19 restrictions. Rydberg leaves no tool unused when trying to build a relationship with an applicant: Phone calls. Text messages. School lists. Social media. Email.

“I tell every recruiter this: You have to hit multiple pillars of recruiting every day,’’ Rydberg said. “The biggest pillar during COVID for me was referrals from my future sailors.’’

Rydberg stayed late on Friday nights and worked on Saturdays. He adjusted to accommodate parents’ work schedules. He drove applicants to and from appointments and hotels.

“You have to be willing to do what the other recruiters are not,’’ Rydberg said.

Originally from Katy, Texas, a half-hour west of Houston, Rydberg works in the office where his career in the Navy began in 2006.

Rydberg said applicants could be seeking a way to pay for college or already hold a degree. They might

be the first family member to enlist or continuing a tradition of military service.

“They all have different reasons and different backgrounds,’’ Rydberg said. “It’s great to work with these people and to help put them in the Navy. That’s the sauce. I don’t work for the Navy. I work for these applicants.’’

Before Rydberg joined the military, he worked two jobs by day and attended community college at night. Student debt piled up. Seeking a better way, he was inspired by an uncle who retired from the Navy.

“I saw what it did for him and his career,’’ Rydberg said. “That was really the spark for me.’’

Rydberg was a hospital corpsman in the reserves, performing humanitarian work. He traveled to Africa and did a tour at Guantanamo Bay. After a trip to Cuba in 2017, Rydberg went on active duty.

“It just wasn’t the same coming back to the reserves after being on a

mobilization,’’ Rydberg said. “I heard through an officer friend of mine that Houston needed recruiters. I picked his brain. … I was recruiting [in human resources] in the civilian world. I thought the transition would be smooth.’’

Fifteen years ago, Rydberg stepped into a recruiting office, seeking a better life. He found one but never forgot his journey.

“I put myself back in those shoes several times when I’m sitting here, talking to applicants,’’ Rydberg said. “I just remember what it’s like, and I come to work every day and try to help these applicants.’’

EDUCATION BENEFITS put graduate on right career path

By Dave Paone

When Sgt. 1st Class Brittany Conley was 18 years old, she had a two-step plan:

1. Join the Oregon National Guard.

2. Get her college tuition paid for.

The plan worked. In reality, it had a lot more steps, but all-in-all that’s pretty much how it happened.

Conley’s story begins in Naples, Italy, where she was born to a teenage mother and a father who was serving in the Navy. Her family returned to the U.S. when she was a toddler, landing in Oregon. By age 16, she was legally emancipated from her parents.

“I couch surfed a lot and I barely graduated high school,” said Conley. With a 2.1 GPA at the time, she isn’t kidding.

“I didn’t have any way to go to college. I couldn’t support myself to go to college. I made just enough money to be able to pay for my rent and food.”

She knew education was important, but financial aid was not an option.

With no money, the next option she explored was the military. A friend from high school brought her to meet with a recruiter from the Oregon National Guard who explained state and federal tuition assistance to Conley. Her reply was, ‘Where do I sign?’

Conley had an interest in the medical field, so she enlisted as a medic and reached the rank of healthcare specialist.

However, she discovered her medical training in the military wasn’t going to transfer to the private sector in the way

South Carolina National Guard recruiter Brittany Conley, with her diploma after her virtual graduation. Photo by Sgt. Sean Delaney-Gesing.

she had hoped so she transitioned to journalism, reclassifying as a public affairs broadcast specialist.

She attended the Defense Information School in Fort Meade, Maryland, where journalists from all branches of service are trained. While it’s not a college, Conley received college credit for the classes she took.

After reenlisting, she deployed to Afghanistan, where she was on active duty in a combat zone as a journalist (working off-base missions every three days) while taking 15 credits each semester for two semesters in her barracks through online classes from a community college in Oregon.

The classes were paid for through GoArmyEd, and this time around she earned a GPA of 4.0 while often navigating tough situations.

It was also overseas that she met her now husband, Dustin. He was injured during that deployment and was unable to continue working when they returned to the states.

That meant it was up to Conley to get a job. The only thing available was recruiting for the Washington National Guard. After a phone interview, she was hired and received an interstate transfer.

As a recruiter, Conley uses communication skills daily. When she discovered Washington State University offered a degree in strategic communications, she decided to major in that.

WSU, being a four-year college, is more expensive than the community colleges Conley had been attending. Federal tuition assistance wouldn’t cover the difference.

As a soldier in the Washington National Guard, Conley qualified for a 50% tuition reduction, as well as the federal tuition assistance. She combined those

factors with some of her own money and was able to cover the costs.

Today, Conley is attached to the Recruiting and Retention Battalion of the South Carolina Army National Guard. She completed a bachelor’s degree, taking one online class at a time — in addition to a 40-60 hours per week schedule as a recruiter.

And she isn’t through with school yet.

She’s currently working on a master’s and is considering a doctorate so she can teach on the college level.

For now, she loves being a recruiter.

“The Guard changed my life and kind of the trajectory that it was going, and I’m so happy as a recruiter that I get to do that for other people,” she said, but added, “I’m definitely ready for that next step whenever it comes my way.”

looks to inspire others after shedding

By Tiffany Eve Lawrence

After struggling with his health as a teen, a soldier is sharing lifestyle changes that led him to shed 80 pounds.

Virginia Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Roger Jackson is assigned to the 183rd Regional Regiment, Training Institute. He said he was surprised when friends started spontaneously congratulating him. Fellow soldiers sent him screenshots of people saying how they’re inspired by his weight loss story that was posted on the Instagram account for the National Guard.

Jackson does not maintain a social media presence, so he had no idea that his story was making such an impact on others. The shy staff sergeant even gets a little choked up from the attention because, for him, this was a solo journey of self-motivation that meant not being limited by anyone else’s expectations.

He remembers being a happy kid. At 17, he weighed around 250 pounds. Specialists recommended dieting, but he didn’t worry about what the scale said. But after being bullied and told what he couldn’t do, he says his mindset changed.

“There was one point where my dad tried to set me up with a little league team, but because I was not the size of the other kids, I was not able to actually take that opportunity,” he said.

Jackson didn’t want his weight to keep him from sports so he joined the track team as a thrower, where the focus wasn’t on his weight. It was on not allowing a number to hold him back from engaging in what he wanted. And when Jackson set his sights on making the team, the work he put in caused the weight to shed and slowly become less of a roadblock for him.

“Once you make that decision internally, you just kind of go for it,” he says, and he gave all he had to it.

Later on, Jackson decided to join the cross-country team, where he pushed himself even further and started, “seeing the weight falling off.” He cut soda from his diet, started making healthier food choices, and lost a total of 80 pounds.

By the time he enlisted in the Army National Guard he had an avid workout routine that he still maintains.

A recent report showed 19% of U.S. adults ages 18-24 would not meet standards for accession to the U.S. military due to obesity, according to the Congressional Research Service. Findings go on to reveal that those with high weight and body fat in military occupation specialties cost the DOD “$1.2 billion annually in higher healthcare spending and lower productivity.”

Jackson’s journey has been a source of hope and encouragement for people who want to join the military and are working to get their weight down. The Instagram post that shared his story garnered comments of admiration and similar stories.

“Inspiration for those of us battling a fitness challenge.”

“I have lost 60 pounds but I’m still working on more to join.”

“Very inspirational. 100 more lbs to go for me. Halfway there.”

While he had no idea how his story would affect others, Jackson says he is honored to hold the place of being a motivator to many. Up next on his goal list is to attend the U.S. Army Master Fitness Course because he says, “My overall purpose is really just to help people.”

His workout of choice is cardio. His love for running and hiking gives him a chance to feel challenged and finishing is only the beginning because he’s always looking to push himself further.

“Start your journey for yourself. And once you reach your goal, don’t settle there. Never give up on your goal or yourself,” he added.

“Start your journey for yourself. And once you reach your goal, don’t settle there. Never give up on your goal or yourself,”

‘AMERICAN

SOLDIER CREDITS NINJA WARRIOR’

WITH HIS EVOLUTION

By Stephen Ruiz

Looking to train for a physical fitness test, Bougher — a soldier in the Indiana Army National Guard — originally considered parkour, based on a military exercise in which participants propel themselves over and around obstacles. He found a gym that offered parkour classes, only to discover the instructor had been fired.

As an alternative, the facility offered a 14-foot warped wall, which is common in ninja warrior workouts. Bougher (pronounced Bowyer) never had attempted such a thing.

Why not now?

“I actually made it up the warped wall on my first try, and ever since then, I just fell in love with it,’’ Bougher said.

Bougher, 25, qualified for “American Ninja Warrior’’ in 2017, 2018, and 2020. (He missed 2019 because of ranger school.) He advanced to the city finals in Kansas City, Missouri, four years ago, reached the national finals in Las Vegas the next year and was knocked out in a city qualifier last year.

“There’s a lot of people who are just absurdly strong,’’ Bougher said. “It really comes down to who can keep their mental mindset ahead of the game.

That’s one of the biggest things that will take people out. They can be extremely confident on the course, but as soon as they get to the show, it is a whole new ball game because of just how mentally unprepared you can be for something like that.’’

Bougher has always been athletic.

The 6-foot, 165-pound Bougher never was the biggest child, but that didn’t matter. He enjoyed wrestling, golf and playing soccer and football. Bougher now plays wing and fullback for the Fort Wayne Rugby Club.

“He wasn’t a superstar on any team, but he was a team player, which was a good aspect,’’ said Bougher’s father, Bill. “He

Sgt. Michael Bougher can thank his dislike of running for becoming a three-time “American Ninja Warrior.’’

carried them in spurts, but he wasn’t that standout kid that everybody admired.

“It all started with him going into the Army National Guard. It’s just like everything came together, and it sprouted a different adult there. That key component of ‘American Ninja Warrior’ fit in there at absolutely the right time.’’

Jordan Marigny credits Bougher, his training partner, with pushing him in the gym.

“He makes me try and do literally everything,’’ Marigny said. “At first, I don’t get it, and toward the end of me keeping on trying it, I’ll get it at some point.’’

Said Bougher, who has been in the Army National Guard for eight years: “It’s multifaceted, the sport of ninja, and if you’re lacking in one department, you’re going to figure it out pretty quick that, ‘Hey, this is one thing that you need to work on.’’’

Bougher evolved through competing on “American Ninja Warrior.’’

“Looking back, it almost feels like I was unprepared, but in the moment, that was where I was supposed to be,’’ he said of his first year as a competitor. “This was what I should be doing. I felt good. It was never until I got to Vegas in Season 10 that I was like, ‘OK, this is a lot.’’’

Bougher said reaching the national finals was the only time he felt nervous on “American Ninja Warrior.’’ Normally, standing on that stage, a jolt of confidence surges through his body.

“Anything this course can throw at me, I’m ready for it,’’ Bougher said.

Bougher is waiting to hear whether he has qualified for “American Ninja Warrior’’ in 2021. He plans to apply every year after this one, too, until they tell him “to stop wasting my time.’’

That’s not likely.

In the beginning, all Bougher wanted was to pass his PT test. What he got was a workout, plus a new way of confronting adversity.

“It helps you understand and look at challenges in a different light so you can bring a different mindset to tackle every challenge differently,’’ Bougher said. “There’s not one way to do a certain obstacle, and there’s not one way to handle a situation or a problem.’’

YRRP IN A TIME OF COVID-19

By Lizann Lightfoot

Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program (YRRP) events are a major source of information for military families before, during, and at the end of deployments. The program was established by the National Defense Authorization Act of 2008 to assist National Guard and reserve members as they transition between their military and civilian role, according to its website. Since COVID-19 restrictions have prevented in-person events, units are getting creative about YRRP activities. Like many programs in 2020, a virtual offering has allowed military families to receive ongoing deployment support.

Peter Toelle, executive director of the YRRP , says the DOD released safety directives focused on wearing masks, limiting travel, and maintaining social distancing. It is up to the individual services to develop its own programs that comply with those directives. Therefore, families of reservists and National Guard members will have different experiences with their unit’s YRRP events.

The biggest change is the virtual platform — called EventPLUS — that supports live and recorded sessions with instructors. According to Toelle, this

technology was originally developed in 2014 to host virtual events for units who were deploying quickly. He says he is proud of the collaboration that makes virtual events possible.

As the coronavirus pandemic forced cancellation of most things, the military mission continued and so has support for each stage of the deployment cycle.

The services have done an amazing job of providing virtual resources to the families.

Toelle explained what that new support has looked like. “We took our face-toface curriculum and adapted it to the virtual platform while incorporating tools like Microsoft Teams and various platforms approved by each branch. Everything the instructors did in person has now been adapted to use on teleconference or online. It is interactive, so we can either broadcast an instructor live in a virtual event or do a self-paced program.”

One benefit of the virtual events is that service members and their families can participate from home. The drawback is that a virtual event cannot offer the same interaction and benefits as an in-person gathering.

“The Yellow Ribbon weekends are always a great event where people learn a lot. You don’t get that same experience through a virtual platform. Usually, they would gather the families and do interactive activities, with the kids at youth programs. It’s hard to get the family together for four hours when life is going on behind them at home. We see lower participation for the families,” Toelle said.

YRRP events typically include various community partners who support the military, like United Through Reading who has continued to participate virtually. Previously, its team hosted a booth and table where family members could ask questions and service members could record themselves reading a book. Tonya Wood, the UTR Program Manager for National

Guard and Reserves, explains how her organization supports families.

“We provide a ten-minute presentation about our program, how it works, where/ how to make recordings, and answer questions. For online classes, we provide digital flyers to the YRSS’s and have them sent out to attendees via email or as part of a resource guide. For events taking place in person, UTR postcards are added to the registration packet each attendee receives,” she said.

Toelle confirms that the DOD plans to return to in-person events once they are deemed safe.

“We anticipate the services returning to an in-person platform, based on responses from service members and families. They all feel it is important to participate face-to-face. I think the virtual platform will continue to be there as a backup, but there will always be a greater emphasis on the in person.”

Sgt. Undrell Golden, 859th Engineer Company, asks a question while attending a Yellow Ribbon Program in Biloxi, Mississippi, in 2020.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Veronica McNabb.

Master Sgt. Jessica Rayl, 926th Wing Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program representative.

Photo by Natalie Stanley.

Soldiers use Twitch to build camaraderie

When Ryan York, a captain in the Washington Army National Guard, was approached about starting a Twitch gaming channel, he was skeptical.

“Initially I thought this was going to be more work on my desk, more stuff to coordinate,’’ he said.

Consider York a convert, thanks largely to the relentless enthusiasm for video-game streaming shown by Sgt. Peter Chang and Sgt. Brett Seifried.

York, 40, is now the gaming program director for the Washington Guard. Chang, 39, is the gaming marketing director, while Seifried, 34, is a triple threat: a gaming liaison, a gamer and a

“When I was on active duty in the 82nd, I played almost every day,’’ Seifried said. “It was just a way for us to decompress, relax, take the load off. You’re not just

people I work with. You’re people I live with. You’re people I work with, game with, eat with, all of that.’’

Since the Washington Army National Guard’s Twitch channel debuted in early November, its number of followers is increasing. Soldiers comprise four competitive teams that play Call of Duty, Rocket League, Overwatch and Rainbow Six.

While gaming provides a competitive outlet and is good for relieving stress, it also boosts morale, Chang said.

The Washington Guard wanted to devise a way to get “people excited about another aspect of the Guard, not just training, training, training,’’ Chang said. “At the same time, there’s these other extracurricular events

that the Guard does on its off time to create [a community] with other soldiers.’’

At least in the beginning, an unintended byproduct of the Washington Guard’s channels on Twitch and Discord, another digital platform, was recruiting new members. Soldiers compete in a high school esports league, creating ties to a potential pipeline for new applicants. While York said his office has not been inundated with young gamers through streaming, one recently inquired about joining the Guard.

“Everything we’re doing on those platforms is providing the entertainment value, the interactive value of friends making friends and things like that,’’ York said. “But he decided, ‘This was cool stuff. I might want to see what it’s about.’ I’m no recruiter, but that sounds like an awesome recipe to me, right?’’’

The Washington Army National Guard is far from

but no record is kept of how many. It’s a popular pastime, particularly among the younger demographic. The Army National Guard launched a Twitch channel in January 2020, spokeswoman Cheryle Rivas said. Fourteen soldiers from across the nation stream, usually on Monday through Thursday nights.

“The Army National Guard esports program emphasizes our soldiers’ passion for gaming while showing the rest of the gaming world how they can find ways to serve their country and community,’’ Rivas said in an email.

“The stream squad entertains, interacts and helps others see Guard soldiers in a different light and as people who share their interests.’’

Just like Seifried.

Before he had a family, Seifried used to play a lot

more. Now the priorities have shifted for the father of two young children, but once a gamer, always a gamer.

Once they are asleep (soundly, hopefully) for the night, Seifried tries to sneak in an hour of gaming or so most nights.

“You hear people talk about games and, ‘What did you play this weekend?’ or, ‘Did you see this game?’’’ Seifried said. “Instead of that being only on drill weekends, now we can do it three times a week on Twitch. I was excited to see it.’’

So was Chang.

While the Washington Army National Guard’s Twitch channel is not quite as

popular as achieving a good score, it’s developing a loyal following.

“It’s a little internal thing we say: ‘Train hard. Game hard,’’’ Chang said. “When you have those positive programs within your state, that’s one thing that Guard members fall back on after a hard day of training or a hard day at work.’’

Budget for the unexpected

Take some time to work

By Ryan Guina

As a uniformed member of the reserve component, you are aware that you could be activated for a deployment at any time. Because of this, it’s essential to understand your benefits while activated. Here is a brief overview so you can prepare.

Financial benefits while deployed

Communicate with your civilian employer

Healthcare benefits

Members of the reserve component and their family members are eligible for TRICARE Prime when activated for 30 days or longer. Eligibility usually begins on the first day of your orders. However, in some cases, those activated for contingency operations may become eligible for TRICARE Prime in advance of a deployment.

After your activation, you may transition back to TRICARE Reserve Select if you are eligible. If your activation lasted more than 180 days, you might look into other TRICARE options such as the Transitional Assistance Management Program or the Continued Health Care Benefit Program.

While activated, you will earn the same base pay as your active-duty counterparts. You should also qualify for BAH at your home of record. Finally, you may also be eligible for other pay and benefits, such as hazardous duty pay, tax-free combat zone pay, family separation pay, and possibly other benefits depending on your duty location and your specific job requirements. For example, some service members may find themselves eligible for flight pay, sea pay, or similar benefits.

Most traditional members of the National Guard or reserves also have civilian employment. Communication with your employer is essential before your activation. In most cases, your civilian job is protected by the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), a federal law that protects military members’ and veterans’ civilian employment rights. In short, employers over a specific size are required to give the service member back his or her job (or a similar role) after military service. It also protects against discrimination and retaliation based on military service.

Many companies also provide additional benefits to military members who are activated, including continued accrual of seniority and leave benefits. Some companies even offer a wage differential or give a certain number of military leave days in which employees continue receiving their full pay.

Visit your company’s human resources office for more information about company policies regarding military activation.

through your budget before being activated. Run the numbers with your current income and what you could reasonably expect your income to be if you are activated. This will give you a good idea of whether you can sustain your current lifestyle if you are activated or if you will need to make changes.

Be sure to include potential changes to your expenses that might arise if you are activated. This could consist of additional child care or pet care expenses, hiring out yard work or handyman services, car repairs, and similar costs that may arise if you are not home to take care of them.

benefits.

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