2021 RNG MAY-JUNE

USE MUSIC TO SHOW STRENGTH IN UNITY

We remember those who served as freedom’s light.

USERRA PROTECTIONS

PULLING DOUBLE DUTY

asks are coming off, restaurants are at full capacity, fans are in the stands of MLB games, and the U.S. is looking somewhat like her old self again — thanks in part to many of our readers. At the time of reporting, the CDC states nearly half of all Americans have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and National Guard vaccination teams are responsible for administering more than 10 million of those shots to people in their communities. That means guardsmen met 10% of President Biden’s goal for vaccinating the American population, according to the National Guard Bureau.

The COVID-19 mission has allowed local citizens to connect with guardsmen and reservists in new ways. From food distribution to testing to vaccinations, you have been at the front lines of this stage of history since the start. When I took my own kids (ages 15 and 12) to get their shots, it was a soldier from the Maryland National Guard who kept them company. He had served 24 years and took the time to answer their questions, and maybe throw in a few recruiting tactics. Their memory of taking a first step toward normalcy is a uniform like yours.

But other lessons have emerged, too. A common theme I hear from people we’ve

interviewed is the pandemic forced unit leadership to adopt new ways of doing business; often ways they would not have normally been open to. Like any military mission, an important next step has to take place: the after-action report.

What impact have restrictions had on your unit’s training requirements? What processes should become the norm? We want to hear from you. Submit your comments to managing.editor@ameriforcemedia.com

Christopher Adams

Kari Williams

Andrea Downing Peck

Crystal Kupper Jessica Manfre

Spc. Matthew Wilcox, 996 Area Support Medical Company, combat medic, administers the COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination site in Salome, Arizona.

PHOTO BY TECH. SGT. MICHAEL MATKIN

by Bianca Strzalkowski

Colors of Freedom uses music to create unity

by Andrea Downing Peck

by Jessica Manfre

by Christopher Adams

by Christopher Adams

Reserve & National Guard Magazine is published six times a year for reservists and members of the National Guard. Copies are available through participating Reserve and National Guard training centers at no cost. Unit distribution requests can be made online at: https://reservenationalguard.com/print-magazines/

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Editorial comments can be emailed to: managing.editor@ameriforcemedia.com

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returns in person, NGAUS heads to Las Vegas

BY CHRISTOPHER ADAMS

The 143rd edition of the National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) General Conference & Exhibition has changed its dates and location.

It will run from Aug. 27-30 in Las Vegas with most meetings and the industry exhibition held at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, said John Goheen, NGAUS communications director.

Originally scheduled for early September in Charlotte, North Carolina, significant gathering restrictions in the state prompted NGAUS to relocate its event. It has now pivoted to America’s entertainment capital.

Goheen only expects a slight change in the number of vendors this year.

“Most of our exhibitors are industry partners. Not only do they want to reach the Guard audience, they enjoy their interactions with National Guardsmen,” he said. “Anybody who’s been to our conference can expect a same conference experience they had two years ago in Denver, three years ago in New Orleans.”

Goheen doesn’t anticipate the changes adversely impacting attendance either, saying the numbers should be similar to previous years, partly because the association did not host an in-person event in 2020.

“What we’re seeing is after a year of COVID, people are kind of eager to get out and about, to travel,” he said. “Our conferences have grown from … an opportunity to reset the legislative agenda for the next year to something of a family reunion with a trade show, social events … it’s a great networking opportunity.”

Much is on tap for the conference, and there won’t be a shortage of topics to

discuss in the desert: The 20-year anniversary of 9/11, the expectation of flat defense budgets, the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan as well as the pandemic, western states wildfires, Gulf of Mexico storms and pervading civil disturbances.

“The Guard has had a historic year in terms of domestic missions,” he said. And, of course, it’s an opportunity to elect association officers and review and amend bylaws. But it isn’t all serious talk and business. A fun run, golf tournaments, and social activities will be part of the threeday conference.

The annual event — held every year since World War II — is more than sun, golf, frank discussion and bylaws. Four members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff spoke about the National Guard at last year’s virtual conference, Goheen said.

“You benefit from hearing what decision-makers have to say about the National Guard and where the Guard is going,” Goheen said. “This is a great chance to come to get some professional development, to listen to defense leaders and see really a truly great American city, a truly unique American city.”

LOUISIANA NATIONAL GUARD

RALLIES BEHIND SOLDIER IN CANCER FIGHT

BY KARI WILLIAMS

Lt. Col. Taysha Gibbs’ first routine mammogram saved her life.

She was diagnosed last December with Stage Four metastatic breast cancer and has had her Human Resources staff by her side every step of the way. Gibbs was holding a meeting on her porch when the call came in regarding what type of cancer she had. Though in shock, she was glad to know what she was facing.

“It was a little overwhelming,” said Gibbs, who joined the Louisiana National Guard in 1997. “It hit me for a minute, then I had to breathe and go on and know that whatever it is, God got me to and He’ll get me through it.”

God, her family, and her team at the National Guard.

1st Lt. James Wells, who has worked with Gibbs for the past year, said she is someone the team would “follow through fire.”

“She’s very charismatic and humble and makes you want to follow her wherever she goes,” Wells said.

As such, the team threw its support behind her immediately, sending gifts, letting her know they’re there for her, and wearing pink wristbands in her honor. Another team currently deployed to Iraq is flying a breast cancer awareness flag at its station.

“It just melts my heart because I wasn’t expecting all this,” Gibbs said. “I have so much gratitude and thankfulness for all this overall. It makes my heart smile.”

The HRO also started “Pink Fridays,” according to Maj. Chayana Walters.

“Whatever she needs, we’re there. But it was always like that,” Walters said. “We got that familyoriented work space. So we’re family, and if anything happens with family we really [work] together and ensure that that

person is mentally secure.”

Walters, who has known Gibbs since 2008, said when she learned of Gibbs’ diagnosis, her initial reaction was shock.

“She’s like my sister from another mother almost,” Walters said, “and it was awful, but I told her she was better than me because she took it very well.”

Gibbs is an inspiration to anyone who has received a cancer diagnosis – especially because of her mental attitude, according to Walters.

“Just in her reaction and how she goes through her day, it’s a

the diagnosis, she said she made a point to tell them she was still capable of working.

Seeing Gibbs’ approach to the diagnosis has made everyone work harder, according to Wells.

“It makes us go the extra mile,” he said. “For her going through that, she has a family, has two kids and her husband. Just being able to persevere through these hard times.”

Brig. Gen. Keith Waddell, Louisiana National Guard Adjutant General, said Gibbs had done a “tremendous job” serving the country and the state of Louisiana.

beautiful sight to see,” Walters said, “and I’m glad to be here for her. I love her.”

Gibbs chose to share her journey on social media in hopes of helping someone else, whether soldiers, airmen, guardsmen and women, or civilians.

“I don’t need self-affirmation or attention,” Gibbs said. “It’s for awareness.”

Roughly 700 female veterans –or one in eight – who are part of the VA health care system receive breast cancer diagnoses, according to the VA.

When Gibbs informed her fellow National Guard members about

“I feel confident that she will overcome this challenge just as she has done throughout her life,” Waddell said via email. “Geaux Team Taysha.”

Everyone faces challenges in life, according to Gibbs, and it’s OK to lean on others for support. She also reminded women to schedule yearly checkups and mammograms. And to know their family history.

“If you didn’t think it could happen to you, I’m a prime example that it can,” she said. “You can be healthy on the outside and something can be hurting you on the inside.”

“It just melts my heart because I wasn’t expecting all this”

COLORS OF

FREEDOM USES MUSIC TO CREATE UNITY

BY ANDREA DOWNING PECK

While it may be true that talent can only take you so far, newly-formed military vocal group Colors of Freedom appears to be setting the stage for a post-pandemic climb up the ladder of success. The sextet of National Guardsmen, Army, Navy, and military veteran vocalists are counting on lifting spirits with their music while also showcasing the talent and diversity found within their ranks.

Colors of Freedom is the brainchild of Army veteran Victor Hurtado and Maryland Army National Guard 1st Lt. Quentin Dorn, who in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic decided they had a unique opportunity to form a musical group that could shine a light on the power of the members’ cultural, ethnic, and service-branch diversity.

“We wanted to show diversity in a time when being different, it is so easy to stay in your differences,” said Dorn, who currently serves as program manager for the Army National Guard Military Funeral Honors Program, based at the National Guard Bureau in Arlington, Virginia. “It was important to us to have a diverse group that could speak from

so many different perspectives to the American public and communicate that we’re more alike, there’s more that brings us together than separates us.”

Colors of Freedom formed this winter to film an audition for the 2021 season of “America’s Got Talent,” which will air on NBC in June. Their audition song is R&B group En Vogue’s “Free Your Mind,” using lyrics written for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics that push back on prejudice and racism. While there are no guarantees the group will make it through to the live show, Hurtado’s track record is strong. In 2013, he guided the Military Spouses Choir to an appearance in the semifinals of the reality show.

Hurtado, 57, stresses Colors of Freedom’s message is not political but it does reflect the times in which members are living. Hurtado initially came up with the idea of forming a new singing group to perform his original song titled “More than a Witness,” which he co-wrote with Pamela Sheyne, a British songwriter who co-authored Christina Aguilera’s debut single “Genie in the Bottle.” “More than a Witness” is not an anthem to activism but is a call to not passively standby as history occurs.

“This is really more of a human rights kind of thing. It speaks to that. We’re an example of so many walks of life. All six of us. Not just our ethnic backgrounds, but how we were raised, our cultural diversity. It’s a group that wants to not just be inspiring but really wants to make a difference by what we do,” said Hurtado, a producer for the Army Multimedia and Visual Information Directorate in Washington, D.C.

Hurtado reached out to Dorn, who quickly locked down some of military music’s top performers, many of whom developed their harmony on and off the stage as performers in the U.S. Army Soldier Show, which until 2016 toured installations across the globe with a cast of singers and dancers pulled from the ranks of active duty and the reserve component. Four of Colors of Freedom’s featured vocalists – Hurtado, who served as the Soldier Show artistic director for 13 years, Dorn, Staff Sgt. Kyra Dorn of the U.S. Army Field Band, and Staff Sgt. Erik Tue of the Army Band “Pershing’s Own” – are alumni of the Soldier Show, while District of Columbia Army National Guard Sgt. Vicki Golding won the 2006 Military Idol competition and Navy Musician First Class Danlie Cuenca was featured on the Netflix series “Voices of Fire.”

Tue, who started his military career as a supply specialist

with the Utah National Guard, auditioned for the Soldier Show while in basic training. As a guardsman, he toured with the group from 2011 to 2016 and then transitioned to active duty as a member of “Pershing’s Own” Army band.

“The diversity of Colors of Freedom is such a beautiful thing,” Tue said. “We’re so diverse in every shape, color and background. The diversity is a message of hope. It doesn’t matter where you’re from, what ethnicity you are, what culture. Wherever you are from in the world, we can live as one.”

Within their ranks are three men and three women of different ages, ethnicities, backgrounds and nationalities. Tue is from American Samoa, Golding served in the Australian Army before immigrating to the U.S., Cuenca was born in the Philippines and came to America as a child while Hurtado’s family’s roots are in Mexico.

“We hope that when you see us on stage you see a little bit of you, because we’re representing you,” said Kyra Dorn, 26, who met and later married 34-year-old Quentin Dorn while serving in the Soldier Show. “On television, for a long time I couldn’t see

anybody that represented me on the stage. There wasn’t a clear representation of me.”

Cuenca, 26, is grateful for the friendships that already have formed among group members, and she is looking forward to whatever the future holds for Colors of Freedom.

“It’s going to go as far as it’s going to go, and I’m grateful for the experience,” said Cuenca, lead vocalist for the U.S. Navy Band Cruisers. “The hope is to inspire someone to be themselves. To not be apologetic for who they are and what they believe in. And,

hopefully, inspire some goodness in what they do. Inspire love.”

Golding, 50, the group’s vocal arranger, believes the pandemic has made all six “amazingly talented musicians” appreciate the unique opportunity before them.

“I’m looking forward to doing more with all of these people because we just slotted together like we’ve been together for years and years and years,” said Golding, a vocalist with the 257th Army Band. “It’s been an amazing experience so far and it has hardly even started.”

Colors of Freedom will release their cover of “Free Your Mind” later this fall. Follow the group on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ColorsOfFreedomMusic.

COASTAL UNITS

PREPARE FOR 2021 HURRICANE SEASON

BY CHRISTOPHER ADAMS

As the country heads into storm season, states along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts are preparing for the June to November hurricane threats.

Updated averages for the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season have increased with a projected 14 named storms plus seven hurricanes, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). So, to plan accordingly seems like a given.

North Carolina, hardly a stranger to adverse weather events, has already begun its preparedness.

PHOTO BY MASTER SGT. TOBY VALADIE

“We, in North Carolina, are a little better off because one of our major force providers, was deployed last year, and this year they’re here,” Maj. Aaron Youngblood said. “So, we have more military capabilities to provide, but it doesn’t necessarily change ‘the how’ we’re doing it.”

Youngblood is the chief of domestic operations for the North Carolina National Guard.

The Guard’s relationship with North Carolina Emergency Management, or NC Emergency Management, is strong. But in the past, the Guard’s role was more reactive than proactive. NC Emergency Management called the Guard when needed, Youngblood said. Now they’re fully integrated into the platoon process throughout the year.

“The biggest thing is really kind of on two fronts,” Youngblood said. “For us, in the Guard, our experience of hurricanes in North Carolina just continues to grow … they’re getting bigger and were becoming more of a force

provider than we ever have, and I think what we’ve learned is that when we’re integrated early, we’re better.”

In Florida — arguably the state with the most hurricane activity — each year’s preparedness game plan is influenced by the year prior.

“Unfortunately, we get plenty of real-world training here in the state of Florida when it comes to the storm response,” said Capt. Justin Phillips, the operations branch chief for the Florida National Guard’s Director of Military Support. “And with each response, we do extensive afteraction reviews to ensure that we capitalize on lessons learned in order to continuously improve our response efforts.”

Phillips said search and rescue requests are generally the first mission sets the Guard receives.

The Florida National Guard will be conducting internal hurricane exercises this month.

A little to the west along the Gulf Coast, the Louisiana National Guard recently engaged in an annual Disaster Response Exercise (DRX) with other agencies. The exercise was structured to test and strengthen the capacity and joint action between various state government entities. It allows agencies to seek ways of improving from past errors.

“We are constantly improving, and constantly trying to learn from our mistakes,” said Cpl. Brandon Fontenot of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries in an April of 2021 press release issued by the Louisiana National Guard. “Every search and rescue mission is going to be different.”

“During this simulation, guardsmen are tested on their ability to respond to a category four hurricane,” commented Louisiana National Guard 1st Sgt. April Davis, the J2 Intelligence Office senior enlisted advisor, in the same press release.

And if a hurricane isn’t enough, just layer it with a pervasive virus.

The North Carolina Guard has now had a year of dealing with COVID-19. It significantly impacts how the Guard operates and approaches situations, Youngblood said.

“Obviously, we understand it a little better. So, we’re better prepared,” he said. “We have the adequate equipment, and we’re ready to go out there and support and mitigate that threat while still doing our hurricane stuff.”

The Florida National Guard has initiated two hurricane event missions during the pandemic, after receiving requests from the Florida Department of Emergency Management.

“We definitely studied how we responded last year … the safety of our soldiers and airmen is paramount as we respond to the citizens of Florida,” Phillips said. “So, we just took all precautions needed.”

PHOTO BY MASTER SGT. TOBY VALADIE

Louisiana National Guard partnered with local and state agencies during the annual Disaster Response Exercise designed to test and reinforce the capabilities and cohesive action between various government agencies at the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Response in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, April 8, 2021. Phowto by Master Sgt. Toby Valadie.

Chiropractic student pulls double duty with Arkansas Army National Guard

BY BIANCA STRZALKOWSKI

1st Lt. Howard Bobo serves with the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. He commissioned into the Army National Guard in 2016 after a college roommate convinced him to meet with a ROTC recruiter during freshman year. A scholarship through that program helped him complete a bachelor’s degree in radiologic science. Bobo said he thought that would be the end of his educational pursuits.

After getting married, the Arkansas native worked as an x-ray technician for his father-inlaw, a chiropractor who had been in private practice for 23 years. Bobo says even though he had “no plans to return to college,” seeing how patients’ lives were being transformed changed his mind.

“After working in his office for about four years, just watching people come in and see their lives change after they found chiropractic, and watching the life shift from, they didn’t have a whole lot of drive or they were at the end of their rope, to watching them have this new life,” he said.

Bobo decided he would follow in his father-in-law’s footsteps.

Chiropractors are required to earn a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) degree and get a state license, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Bobo enrolled in 2020 as one of 800 students in Logan University’s flagship program. Its DC students have the opportunity to provide conservative, chiropractic care at numerous VA sites, and in 2014, Logan was selected to begin a selective residency program with the VA.

Bobo said the school has been supportive of his military commitments, which is why he urges other military students to be upfront about existing obligations.

“When I started looking at schools, the first thing I told Logan is that I’m part of the National Guard and I have a commitment there. They [the National Guard], for lack of better terms, own me and I love what I do there so it’s important when they ask me to do something that you help me to accomplish that mission — from day one Logan set up a way to make everything fall in line,” he said. “When other reservists look at schools or look at their career as a reservist, if the Guard or the reserves are something that is

important to you, you’ve got to make sure you’re upfront and that you let your employer or school know your priorities.”

He learned early on from a senior NCO to focus on the positives when managing multiple roles, a concept the Army teaches in resiliency training.

“She [the senior NCO] instilled in us to hunt the good stuff, and that’s kind of been how I get through every day. My wife helps remind me of that. It’s always remembering that when the plate gets heavy and stuff starts to fall off, look at the plate and figure out what’s good on it and focus on that,” Bobo said.

A first lieutenant with the Arkansas Army National Guard said soldiers should “hunt the good stuff” when the “plate starts to feel heavy” from competing commitments.

NEW LAW EXPANDS VA HOME LOAN ELIGIBILITY

BY CRYSTAL KUPPER

Spurred by the pandemic, the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act and the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvements Act of 2020 combine to expand access to a wide variety of financial and family-related benefits.

“We rely on guard and reserve sailors and soldiers now more than ever, because it’s not just a weekend a month anymore,” said Navy Reserve Lt. Cmdr. Bryan Bergjans. “Folks are supporting missions across the globe, supplementing the active-duty components, and these new law changes recognize this hard work and now provide the appropriate benefits.”

Some of the changes revolve around home loans, Bergjans’ specialty as the National Director of Military & Veteran Lending at Caliber Home Loans. The Isakson Act states National Guard service under Title 32 (federally funded, but under state control, as is often the case for guard missions) now counts toward Department of Veterans Affairs home loans. The official threshold for the program is 90 collective days of Title 32 service, with at least one consecutive 30day period. This is a definite change from before, where guardsmen qualified for nomoney-down, VA-guaranteed mortgages only if they had served under Title 10 for 90 consecutive days or had six total years of service.

Bergjans, whose employer works with the VA to help clients leverage their benefits, explains that these changes will result in more guardsmen becoming eligible for help.

“It’s a massive win for guard members,” he said. For questions about VA home loans and how the new law works, Bergjans added, he can be contacted him at military@ caliberhomeloans.com

A VA spokesperson reiterated Bergjans’ celebratory sentiment.

“The passage of this law has afforded those servicing in support of certain operations, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, accelerated access to VA home loan benefits,” a VA spokesperson said.

“This has enhanced access and expanded eligibility for additional service members and veterans.”

The Isakson Act also expands access to VA-provided trauma care made necessary from military sexual assault or harassment during state duty.

“As in the past, former National Guard and reserve members must have served on federal active duty and been discharged under honorable conditions or with an other-than-honorable discharge or must be service connected by VA to be eligible for [military sexual trauma]-related care,” said the VA spokesperson. “The serviceconnected disability does not need to be related to the experiences of [military sexual assault.]”

Encouraged by military advocacy groups like TAPS, the Isakson Act also enlarges eligibility for the Fry Scholarship for children and spouses of service members

who died on or after Sept. 11, 2001, as a result of military service. The “COVID portion” of this part of the law presumes a service connection for those who caught the virus within two weeks of completing their corona-related duties.

Further wins, courtesy of the NDAA:

1. Paid maternity leave for drill-status women in either the National Guard or reserves. This portion of the act brings members of the reserve component in line with their active-duty counterparts, providing up to three months of excused absences with pay and retirement points.

2. Six months of transitional medical coverage for guardsmen, as well as their families, after Title 32 COVID-19 response missions. Traditionally, guard members have been recipients of transitional coverage after overseas assignments — but 2021 marks the first time they can now get care after stateside missions.

For more information on the Isakson Act, visit https://benefits.va.gov/gibill/isaksonroe.asp.

National Guard members are receiving expanded eligibility for military benefits in the wake of the ongoing COVID-19 mission.

UNITS PRESS ON WITH REQUIREMENTS ANNUAL TRAINING

BY MELISSA STEWART

While this summer’s National Guard Annual Training will still focus on preparing soldiers and airmen to be “Always Ready, Always There” — both near and afar — AT plans for many of the 54 units across the country look a little different in these unprecedented times.

A Stryker from HHC, 3rd Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment, makes its way to the range during a platoon live fire exercise at Yakima Training Center. The 3-161 Infantry are participating in Bayonet Focus as a lead up to an NTC rotation next year. Photo by Sara Morris.

The Guard has been busy recently, to say the least, with more guardsmen mobilized in 2020 than at any time since World War II. Troops have been called on, in particular, to meet the demands of COVID-19.

Washington National Guard State Public Affairs Officer Joseph F. Siemandel said the strain of the pandemic has affected his unit’s readiness, training, and “everything else,” and 2021 has not seen a slowdown.

“A lot of people will probably not be doing the AT training this year because they have been on full-time COVID orders of some kind, they have done civil unrest missions, they have done a thick of things at this point. It’s been a fascinatingly busy year already and we are only two and a half months in.”

He noted that there will be more individualized training among all of the different units, and credentialing, courses, and professional development will all be priorities in Washington State.

The Aviation Unit will use AT time to focus on state missions and will do training with the Washington Department of Natural Resources’ helicopter crews that do bucket drops during wildfires. Siemandel said many guardsmen will aim to get the Incident Qualifications Card (Red Card) so they are certified

to support wildfires since “In the last eight years we have had three of the worst fire seasons we have ever had in the state.”

Joint Force Headquarters will take part in Cascadia Rising 2022, a national exercise focused on massive earthquake response.

“When we are planning things, we want to make sure our guardsmen know that our state missions are just as important as our federal missions,” said Siemandel. “We need to make sure we have a force that is ready to deploy overseas but also ready to deploy here in the state.”

Specifically, they will be participating in the exercise Immediate Response, focused on reception, staging, onward movement, and integration along with integrated air and missile defense. The IBCT and all of its assigned battalions will deploy into the Western Balkan Region and Greece to conduct platoonlevel live fires, company-level Situational Training Exercises, and

public affairs officer for the Maine National Guard, pointed out that his unit also understands the importance of continuing to train for federal missions.

This AT season will include groups heading to Vermont to take advantage of the ranges at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site and doing some road improvements and campsite preparation at a new training site that is beginning construction near Woodville, Maine.

Cross-training opportunities

Despite COVID-19 precautions, Camp Ripley Training Center in Minnesota has been busier than ever, including a full schedule of bookings this summer. Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kristin Tritz, a special projects officer for Camp Ripley, attributes this to 53,000 available acres of space for units to spread out and maintain distance.

Meeting needs overseas

Col. Felix Rodriguez, director of operations for the Florida National Guard, said several ATs for the state’s units have been changed to COVID-19 support — including testing and vaccinations — based on citizens’ needs, but there is an emphasis on mobilization for others.

The 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team will get to experience working with host nations as a part of Defender Europe, including “practicing everything they need to do to get a unit overseas, like getting all of the equipment on a boat and then completing the mission with the host nation.”

other training and sustainment exercises alongside the partners and allies in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, and North Macedonia.

A federal focus

In Maine, soldiers and airmen have been active in their support of COVID operations, assisting in Washington D.C., and deploying at home and globally. Many guardsmen have been supporting both testing and vaccination, as well as conducting voluntary case mapping for the Maine CDC, ongoing warehouse operations, and PPE distribution.

This community support has been crucial, but Maj. Carl Lamb,

Soldiers will also be adding details to a past Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) project in Kittery at Wood Island, including ADA requirements such as ramps, pier decking, and handrails.

“IRTs, whether based in engineering, medical, or transportation fields, are a tremendous benefit to both the military and our communities,” said Lamb. “They provide opportunities to train to our federal mission and combine them with community needs. In the past, we’ve done several community ballfields and a school playground, as well as some work for approved non-profits. It’s a tremendous two-for-one benefit, and we hope to do more varied projects for other community requestors in the coming years.”

Another benefit, she said, is the ability for diversity and cross training. This summer aviation unit 3-126th Aviation Battalion from Massachusetts will work with the 147th Field Artillery Regiment (MLRS) out of South Dakota on sling load operations.

North Dakota 164 RTI, the engineer subject matter expert for the Guard, will come to do engineer tasks, working across the units on post to allow them to exercise their bridges and meet their commander’s intent.

“As an organization, you can always train for your tasks, but to have the opportunity to actually exercise them with another unit is a great advantage,” said Tritz.

Tritz added that it’s all about creating customized plans, which seems to be the consensus for how AT is being handled in this uncertain season.

Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Angella Beckom, the wing command chief for the 125th Fighter Wing, and Chief Master Sgt. Tracey Canady, the state command chief for the Florida Air National Guard, visit airmen assigned to the 125th Security Forces Squadron who train at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center, Florida, in 2020. Photo by Airman 1st Class Jacob Hancock.

Airmen from the 148th Security Forces Squadron participate in a field training exercise at Camp Ripley Training Center, Minnesota in 2020. The FTX is the culmination of 10-days of training which allows airmen to practice techniques and tactics. Photo by Audra Flanagan.

“As

an organization, you can always train for your tasks, but to have the opportunity to actually exercise them with another unit is a great advantage”

USERRA OFFERS PROTECTIONS

FOR CIVILIAN EMPLOYMENT

BY AMERIFORCE STAFF

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) fielded thousands of inquiries in 2020 for conflict resolution stemming from an employee’s military commitment.

The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) is a federal law that establishes rights and responsibilities for uniformed service members and their civilian employers. Through a network of 400 volunteer ombudsmen spread across 54 state committees, ESGR handled 14,627 USERRA-related inquiries from service members and employers, assigned 1,306 cases for informal mediation, and resolved 1,021 of those cases. The most frequent requests focus on reinstatement after military leave, along with general questions about time off in advance of service, documentation, service verification, and types of protected service, according to an ESGR spokesperson.

Lt. Col. Colette Ching, Chief of USERRA Plans and Policy, has worked with ESGR for the last five years. She says a large part of her role has been leading the USERRA working group.

“We brought together representatives from the military departments, the reserve components, ESGR, and the Department of Labor to really take a look at USERRA — and DOD policy that’s related to USERRA — to see if there were

PHOTO BY MAJ. JASON SWEENEY

improvements to policy that can be made,” Ching, who served 10 years with Hawaii Air National Guard and 10 years with Air Force Reserve, said.

ESGR’s Customer Service Center is staffed by full-time government employees who, in addition to supporting and conducting extensive training for volunteer ombudsmen, respond to USERRA queries, monitor trends, and engage with the reserve components and federal agencies to improve compliance with USERRA. Ombudsmen also receive training in ethics, mediation, and case management.

In FY20, ombudsmen were able to resolve nearly 80% of the cases assigned, according to an ESGR spokesperson. They accomplish this through conflict resolution at the lowest level between a service member and his or her employer by conducting informal, neutral mediation and offering advice on how to strengthen the service member/employer relationship. Through this direct engagement, ESGR helps prevent cases from escalating to the Department of Labor or beyond.

Ching adds that outreach is another large component of building awareness of employment rights.

“ESGR’s role in the DOD is primarily one of education, and so that is both service members and employers, about their rights and responsibilities under the law. We have a pretty robust outreach program in all of the states and territories where we have personnel that go out and give unit briefs, we participate in mobilization and de-mobilization events, and Yellow Ribbon Program events on a state level,” she said.

At the core of ESGR’s mission is relationship building, so that members of the reserve component are able to fulfill their military commitments while maintaining gainful employment in the civilian sector. Ching says communication is an integral part of making that happen.

“Communication is key and obviously we find that a majority of employment-related conflicts are simply because someone may not understand their rights and responsibilities under USERRA, so definitely communicating can head off a lot of those conflicts. We recommend communicating your obligations as early as you can in advance,” she said. “And then if there are further questions, that’s where ESGR can come in — either with the Customer Service Center or your state level committee.”

Questions about USERRA? Contact the Customer Service Center at 800-336-4590, Option 1; or complete the USERRA Support request form on https://esgr.mil/ USERRA/USERRA-Contact.

What happens after ESGR receives a request for support:

1. A member of the HQ ESGR Ombudsman Services Team assigns it to an ombudsman, preferably in the state where the service member is based.

2. Upon being assigned a case, the ESGR ombudsman contacts the service member to obtain additional information about the issue, and contacts the employer to discuss.

Visit www.esgr.mil/USERRA/What-is-USERRA

Former adjutant general helps veterans design the life they want

BY BIANCA STRZALKOWSKI

A retired major general penned a new book that showcases how attitude is everything when it comes to accomplishing goals and overcoming obstacles.

Dr. Linda Singh, former head of Maryland National Guard, had no intention of “doing nothing” after her transition from the military. Instead, she knew she could now pick and choose what she says yes to, which has included supporting retired Lt. Gen. Russel Honore in his leadership of the security task force following the Jan. 6

attack at the Capitol. Singh’s other projects include authoring a personal development guide to help readers take stock of the things that are holding them back.

“What’s In Your Box? Designing the Life You Want” explains how boxes are used to store and organize things with meaning and purpose. Singh then highlights how goals and accomplishments should be stored similarly for easy access when opportunities arise. By defining what is important to “box up” and what can be left behind, readers have the

opportunity to purge what may be worsening their attitude and contributing to unproductive behavior and push themselves closer to realizing their potential.

Singh is no stranger to sharing her story and insight. She previously published “Moments of Choice: My Path to Leadership” in 2016, but she said the books serve different purposes.

“When I think about the difference, the first book was more about my leadership journey and story. The second

one is more about lessons learned and helping others see, what’s the work that you need to put in in order to get what you want out of life,” she said. “I decided to do that for a number of reasons … but it really was out of all the questions that I would get in interviews, the majority were asking, ‘what made you successful?’”

Singh made history in Maryland by leading the first all-female command staff for the National Guard. And the Maryland-native is a success story all on her own. She dropped out of high school

and once lived homeless on the very streets she came to serve. Looking back, she credits her recruiter with providing the step up she needed at that moment in her life.

“People often only see the end result, and they don’t really know all of the different twists and turns and ‘noes’ that you get going down a path that isn’t successful. There are many dead ends that you may have to retrack and do something else. I really wanted to put something out that would allow me to not just give people something to focus in on about my story but to help them to re-look at their own lives in very simple steps. I didn’t want it to be complicated; I wanted it to be short, bite-sized pieces,” Singh said.

The inspiration for the book came while she was deployed to Bosnia as part of the State Partnership Program. Local engagements with the country’s young people allowed her to talk about key issues and the response to those talks made a lightbulb go off that such a self-help type book would be a good fit for ages 19-32, she added.

While the guide describes how to organize achievements and dreams, it is also a useful tool for women to promote their accomplishments and achieve their goals, especially in male-dominated fields, and learn how to lean into their accomplishments when fending for themselves in competitive environments.

“You need to examine your beliefs and values, your action and behaviors, and your intentions to determine if they are in alignment with one another. If they are not then they may not be serving you well in your journey towards success,” Singh said.

In a year that put many people off track, “What’s In Your Box? Designing the Life You Want”

can be seen as a tool to figure out realistic next steps for determining what comes next.

“One of the concepts I talk about in the book is how people tend to set hairy, bodacious goals, and when it takes so long to get to them, you get discouraged. So, I ask people to break them down into smaller, micro-goals so that you can accomplish things and see forward movement. … it’s about not getting stuck, even though we’re in the middle of a pandemic, it’s a time for growth — a time to really reassess your goals and determine what your breakout moment is going to be? What do you want to be different?” Singh said.

is available for purchase at the Archway Publishing Online Bookstore, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.

“What’s In Your Box? Designing the Life You Want”

SEEKS MATCH FOR BABY AIR GUARD FAMILY WITH RARE IMMUNE DEFICIENCY

By Jessica Manfre

Air National Guard 2nd Lt. Amin Ansari and his wife, Jessica, are asking the military community for support to find a match for their infant son, Noah.

Noah was born with WiskottAldrich Syndrome, a disease that only affects approximately 1 in a million. It also prevents his blood from clotting properly, leading to risk for severe bleeding and bruising. An injury or fall can be life-threatening for him.

The diagnosis came just weeks after birth when Noah kept getting infections and large cysts or abscesses that doctors had to drain at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

“He had an infection when he was 5 weeks old and had to have surgery,” Jessica said.

When the lab took his blood and reviewed the results, the doctors discovered the small platelets and quickly diagnosed Noah with Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome.

The weeks leading up to the diagnosis were extremely challenging for both parents.

“He was a very unhappy baby. We couldn’t figure out what was wrong; we thought he was colicky because he cried constantly,” Amin said. “We had no clue what was wrong with him but now looking back at pictures of him, he just looked miserable.”

Part of the disorder also includes allergies. After his initial surgery, doctors realized that Noah was allergic to the protein in milk which is found in most formulas.

“We got him on the right formula and he turned a corner. He became a very happy baby,” Amin said.

Amin, who previously served in the Navy, has spent the majority of his military career in the medical field and had never heard of the disorder before Noah’s diagnosis. He’s currently a Medical Plans Officer for a Homeland Response team.

“We go wherever we are needed and provide medical care,” he shared.

Amin’s career has spanned two decades.

“I enlisted in the Navy in August of 2001. I was in boot camp when 9/11 happened and I thought it was a training drill,” Amin said.

“Originally I was a cop in the Navy and did my four years and got out. I did some soul searching and it drove me to learn more about the healthcare field. I did what I knew best thinking the military would teach me everything I needed to know.”

That led to joining the Air National Guard as an Aerospace Medical Technician. After deploying to Iraq and his subsequent return home, he wanted to go fulltime. Amin took all the assignments he could, eventually becoming a medic and respiratory therapist. Right before discovering Noah’s diagnosis, he commissioned as a medical officer. He said he is thankful for his medical background as the family navigates advocating for Noah.

Doctors initially pushed to do a bone marrow transplant when Noah was 6 months old. But as he continued to thrive and do better, they decided to wait.

“We already feel so grateful that we’ve been given the gift of time when we originally didn’t think that was going to be the case for him,” Jessica said.

Due to the severity of his condition, doctors want to move forward with a bone marrow transplant no later than the spring of 2022. To ensure success of the transplant, Noah’s family is seeking a perfect match in order to avoid possible rejection. This is where the family is hoping to rally the military community for support.

Noah is facing unique challenges to finding a perfect match due to his

ethnicity.

“Given that Noah is biracial, his chances of finding a perfect match drop significantly,” Jessica said. “Our hope is that we can bring some diversity to the registry.”

Amin echoed that sentiment and highlighted the vital need for awareness.

“To show how crazy this is, he has some potential matches. But they are in Germany and Poland. It’s mind blowing considering everyone we have here in this country but no one knows about it,” he said. “This is something I am hoping we can change. If there is an emergency situation with my son and the nearest match is that far away, how many

things can go wrong in that time? It’s scary to think about.”

Those who are able to give bone marrow may experience back pain, headaches, or bruising. The bone marrow donation process is much more difficult on the recipient than the donor because of the need to essentially remove the immune system. The chance of rejection is also a risk. But doing nothing isn’t an option for Noah or other children waiting for a match.

“We as parents just want to give Noah the chance to be a thriving toddler, where we don’t have to worry if he scrapes his knee,” Jessica said. Amin agreed, saying “He has a great chance of just getting to be a little boy.”

Registering with Be The Match is simple and it’s free if you are between the ages of 18-44 years old. Individuals can simply text SAVENOAH to 61474 or visit https://join.bethematch.org/savenoah to register online. Be The Match will mail a cheek swab kit to your home, with no cost to you.

NAVY RESERVIST

THROUGH USO WEST

BY KARI WILLIAMS

Bob Kurkjian’s Navy career ended before it started – twice. But his need to serve propelled him to nearly two decades of service and a career with the USO.

Kurkjian, who joined the Navy in 2002, initially was kicked out of the NROTC due to a low GPA, and, six years later, his direct commission officer application was rejected. It wasn’t until he earned his first master’s degree that his Navy career began.

Since then, he has been deployed four times – once at sea (2009 to early 2010) and thrice overseas (2007-08 in Iraq; 2009 in Bahrain; 2019 in Afghanistan). Now, he serves other service members, as well as his country, as a Navy reservist and president of USO West

Kurkjian joined the USO in 2012 due to what he called a “series of coincidences and serendipity.”

“The amalgam, the meeting point of the fact that, ‘Hey, I come from the nonprofit management world, and I’m a Navy reservist,’ – what better intersection of my skill set and talent than working for the USO?” said Kurkjian, who oversees fund development, operations and program delivery for nine western states.

And one of the biggest military-related challenges in the United States, according to Kurkjian, is the civilian-military divide.

“In an environment where fewer and fewer Americans actually know someone in the military, my one foot in the military world, and the other in the USO and civilian world hopefully helps bridge that gap just a little,” he said.

Having been deployed while working for the USO, Kurkjian said he gained “immense appreciation” for being on the receiving end of USO programs.

“Everyone knew the USO was there for them. And that was key,” Kurkjian said.

On his own path to Afghanistan, Kurkjian said, the USO had a presence every step of the way, from leaving LAX to arriving at Bagram Air Field.

“There was this amazing continuity of service – every step along that path that covered three continents,” he said.

And once stationed overseas, the USO’s presence was still felt. The group organized a Fourth of July celebration at Bagram Airfield that featured carnival games, “goofy prizes,” and a fried Oreo machine.

“When you walked into that event, you weren’t at Bagram Air Force Base anymore,” he said. “You were back home at the state fair.”

Active in both the military and civilian world, Kurkjian said the biggest lesson from the reserves that applies to his USO work is simply how to deal with people.

“In the military, you’re around people who come from an enormous variety of backgrounds and walks of life and religious beliefs and political beliefs and life experiences that had I not been in the military, had I only worked in the LA area or the D.C. area, I likely would have never encountered,” he said. “It’s given me a very important appreciation for different opinions and different life experiences and really helped me understand the larger national dialogue that ebbs and flows.”

As his dual careers continue, Kurkjian is working to ensure there is a USO presence in every area of his region where troops are present and to close out his Navy career as the commanding officer of his logistics unit.

RAPID

FIRE

Q&A WITH AD2 MELINDA KALOCSAY, AVIATION MACHINIST MATE AT HSC-85 FIREHAWKS

What is your advice to other young sailors about how to stand out to their leaders?

Strive for excellence. I have always held the opinion that sailors should always be working towards the next highest rank. With this comes the requirement to consistently be willing to learn more and step outside their comfort zone. Knowledge is POWER!

What led you to join the Navy Reserve?

Your squadron recently trained in Yuma, Arizona. How did that prepare you for your current deployment?

The training allowed me to gain valuable insight into managing a shift as the sole QAR and hone my skills as a 110/120 CDQAR. Additionally, it assisted in my development as a leader by overseeing the maintenance performance of six sailors.

I joined active duty in 2012 and was stationed at HSC-85 until 2016 at which point there were no CWAY quotas for Aviation Machinist Mate and was forced off active duty. Fortunately, the reserves had an available AD quota. I have been in the reserves since 2016 with a combined nine years of active/reserve service.

What is one thing you hope to accomplish in your career?

I want to promote to first class petty officer, and when the opportunity arises, re-enlist back on active duty to finish out my career.

What about your work performance led you to be named Junior Sailor of the Quarter?

I try to do the best I can with whatever task is handed to me. I look beyond the immediate area to ensure everything around the job I am working on looks good. I know how important my job is regarding the safety and lives of the pilots and aircrew and I stress this fact with my junior sailors when conducting training.

How can senior leaders best support junior sailors in their careers?

Take a people first approach towards leading sailors. Sailors are our number one asset; without them the mission of each command and the Navy cannot be accomplished. Get to know sailors on a more personable level to better assist in their growth. Give good training and try to have a positive influence on others.