BAYONET
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AUG2014
Dear Kids,
BAYONET the
The Bayonet is produced for personnel of the Maine Army National Guard, and is an authorized publication for members of the Department of Defense. Contents of the publication are not necessarily the official views of the U.S. government, the Department of the Army, or the Maine Army National Guard.
Adjutant General of Maine Brig. Gen. James D. Campbell Command Sergeant Major Command Sgt. Maj. Richard Hannibal Public Affairs Officer Capt. Norman Stickney 121st Public Affairs Detachment Sgt. 1st Class Pete Morrison, NCOIC Managing Editor Sgt. Angela Parady, Photojournalist Layout & Design Spc. Adam Simmler, Photojournalist Contributing Journalist
AUG2014 What’s Inside:
Back to School Season Chaplain’s Corner 1035th Welcomed Home Maine Colonel Made her Success in Maine Guard Welcome Home 133rd MP’s Train Local to Stay Local Small Guard Unit Provides Big Time Training Maine’s Military History Local Agencies Work Together to Support Remote Island 1136th Makes Training Fun and Beneficial Leaders Eat Last Recruiting and Retention Heat Illness Can Be Fatal USPFO Your Money Matters 7 Common Traits That Aren’t So Common
Parents
of
Military
Your child’s school was instructed by the Maine Department of Education to include your child’s status as a military child as part of their yearly registration package. We know that many of our schools are burdened with many requirements, and often this question might be missed, so the Maine Department of Education is asking for your help. Below, you will see the question that is supposed to be asked of every parent of every child in every Maine public school: The schools were instructed in the following way: The military identifier is critical to helping the Department identify who our military children are in a state that has had a long and proud tradition of military service. With this identifier, supports can be instituted for our military children in a proactive manner. Particularly in cases of Maine’s Guard and Reserve members, deployments may go unrecognized because of the primarily civilian roles of the service members and because members of Maine’s Guard and Reserve units often reside in communities
that are distant from where they drill. All of our military families deserve access to supports, and the military identifier will be helpful in allowing Maine DOE to recognize all service connected families. Please include the following military identifier question in your Pre-K-12 students’ “Welcome back /Emergency Contact/Nutrition Program/ Media Permission,/Etc.” package, typically given to students on the first day of school. The question presented to parents is specific and should not be reworded: Are one or both of this student’s parents on fulltime duty status in the active uniformed service of the United States (including members of the National Guard and Reserve on active duty orders), or within one year of medical discharge or retirement for those uniformed services? Parent is not required to provide this information. For more information or technical assistance, contact Maine DOE’s Military Family Education Liaison, Randy Kassa at randy.kassa@ maine. vogv or 207 624 6776.
Back to School Season! Resources for School Expenses
Military Education Financial Resources If you have questions about the GI Bill, Federal Tuition Assistance or Post 911 benefits contact the Education Office in Augusta, 207 430-5918. They provide information for all branches of the military. Military One Source also provides grant information and other programs that may support your educational goals, www.militaryonesource. mil Federal Student Loans Repayment When getting assistance with student loan repayment, most programs require on-time payments for 6 months. For student loan debt these resources can be helpful: •If you work for civil service, public service or military full time you may be eligible for Student Loan Forgiveness program: h t t p s : / / s t u d e n t a i d . e d . g o v / r e p a y- l o a n s / forgiveness-cancellation/charts/public-service •If you can’t pay your debt due to financial hardship: h t t p s : / / s t u d e n t a i d . e d . g o v / r e p a y- l o a n s / deferment-forbearance •To consolidate your federal loans with direct lending: http://www.loanconsolidation.ed.gov/ Private Student Loan Debt Repayment Some Credit Unions and Banks are offering programs to consolidate private student loans. If you need more help you can get personal assistance in setting up a repayment plan with Money Market International (MMI) 866- 531376. MMI is a national and reputable Consumer Credit Counseling service. They charge no fee or sliding fee for their services. They will make calls on your behalf and set up a debt repayment plan with you that you can afford. If your private student loan servicer or lender is not working with you or responding to your questions keep track of your efforts and then contact Maine Attorney General’s office consumer protection, 207-626-8800. If you have further questions about your student loan debt or student loans please contact Gayle Rose Martinez, Joint Family Support Assistance Program Personal Financial Counselor 207-274-3987, or gmartinez@mflc.zieders.com
Chaplain’s Corner to self-pity and through faith struggles to center in the present, resisting the urge to dwell on the past or to build anxiety about the future. While Job ultimately encamps on the porch of his own righteousness, virtually daring God to find anything wrong with him, he manages to cling to faith in the vortex of his circumstances.
What? Shall we accept only blessings from God’s hand and not adversity as well? –Job 2:10 So faithful Job chastises his wife, who upon seeing his deep misery, has prodded at him to let go of his integrity and “...curse God and die.” The keenness of Job’s answer, made the sharper by the intensity of his suffering, drills down into the bedrock of resiliency. He chooses not to blame God for all that he’s going through and opts instead to recognize God’s sole right to be in charge of the universe. Furthermore, at least for awhile, Job manages to ward off the profound temptation
In spite of all his losses, disorientation and suffering, Job survives and even comes out the stronger for his challenges; demonstrating “post-traumatic growth,” to put it in current parlance. Laurence Gonzales writes a fascinating book called Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why (2003, W.W. Norton & Company). In this magnificent collection of survival stories that runs the gamut from lost-at-sea to mountaineering mishaps to warfighting, Gonzales distills the essence (with a little help from his daughter) of what each survivor engages in order to prevail. The common message? Be Here Now! Without exception, each survivor
resists the impulse to despair, to feel sorry for himself, or as Job did, to “curse God and die.” Instead of allowing panic, despair, or self-pity to overtake him or her, each survivor manages to tap into a strength; a calm; a foundation beyond the self, and remains objective and clearheaded, focusing on the here and now in order to overcome. Some of these were hardened Warriors while others had little training per-se. Regardless of their backgrounds, each demonstrates the principled resilience outlined in Rudyard Kipling’s poem If... and then some! Wherever you may be in your life, especially if you’re barely surviving, or maybe feeling overwhelmed, take stock and see whether you’re giving in to panic, despair, or self pity. See about drilling down into faith in God as Job did, resisting the same temptations he was faced with and acknowledge the blessings at work in your life, in the Here and Now. And prevail! For God and Country, Chaplain Weigelt
Maine Veteran’s Resources if you need someone to talk to: Counseling Services • Military OneSource Hotline: 1 800-342-9647 • Army OneSource Hotline: 1 800-464-8107 • Community Couseling Center Hotline: 207-874- 1030 • NAMI Maine Hotline: 1 800-464-5767 • DHHS Office of Substance Abuse: Bill Lowenstein: 207-287-6484 ________________________________________ Help for Families • Center for Grieving Children: 207-775-5216 • Harland Turner Family Counseling/Maine
Children’s Home for Little Wanderers: 207- 873- 4253 • Maine Army National Guard Family Program: 1 888 365-9287 • Family Assistance Centers: 1 888-365-9287 • DHHS: 207- 287-8769 ____________________________________ • Togus Mental Health Clinic: 1 877 421-8263
1035th Welcomed Home!
The 1035th Survey and Design Team Battalion returned home after a year- long deployment to Afghanistan, Friday, June 27. During the deployment the 1035th Survey and Design Team provided engineer surveys of jobsites and detailed drawings for both vertical, horizontal, and geospatial engineer missions to every company in the 133rd Engineer Battalion. They ensured that all engineer projects were designed and constructed to standard, providing quality control for engineer projects. This unit provided survey support to the largest Air Force construction project ever undertaken on Bagram Airfield.
Maine Colonel Made her Success in Maine Guard Story by Sgt. Angela Parady, Photos by Sgt. 1st Class Pete Morrison
"Don't follow your dreams- lead them," was the advice written on a card she passed her youngest son at his graduation this June. It's how Diane Dunn has lived her life. Conquering challenges and taking every opportunity afforded her to travel, to learn and to study. 26 years after signing up for a ROTC course in college, Dunn, was promoted to the rank of colonel and is the first woman in the Maine Army National Guard to be a brigade commander, when she takes command of the 120th Regional Support Group later this summer. The self proclaimed tomboy and mother of three fell in love with the physical challenges and leadership training of the military when she took a leadership course through the ROTC program at Houghton College. When she returned to Maine after being commissioned to lieutenant, she called Camp Keyes to find out how she could start the transition to the Maine Army National Guard. Moving through the ranks, Dunn learned a lot about who she was, and what battles she had to fight to get where she wanted to be. “As a young lieutenant I had to learn the basics and recognize the difference between the role of a senior noncommissioned officer and a junior officer. Then I had to learn how to supervise, lead and manage. ROTC focuses on the tactical level tasks, none of which you are able to do as a new lieutenant, especially in the adjutant general branch.” She said she spent those younger years learning the ropes, preparing for her next roles, and being mentored by her superiors. Along the way, she realized that she had become the mentor. “My years as a captain were focused
has held,” he said. “She has served outstandingly in all of her required key development assignments from company to Brigade level. Through her initiative and drive, she has captured the critical skills needed to exceed and progress at each level. Col. Dunn has grown from a tactical/operational leader into a transformational leader for the Maine Army National Guard.” on digging into the regulations, learning to prepare for inspections and understanding more training management. As a young field grade officer, I spent time discovering the period of being a junior officer and being mentored, to becoming the mentor. There was never a well defined line in the sand.” Regardless of defining moments, Dunn’s story has been one of many successes. She credits the many leaders she has had throughout her career as the key to those moves. She said that she has tried to watch and listen to those she respects and learn from how they handle themselves in different situations. Lt. Col. Blair Tinkham has worked with Dunn since 1998 as their career paths mirrored each other for a ten year period. He served as her training officer in the 286th Combat Sustainment Brigade, and then replaced her as the administrative officer, and then replaced her as the Assistant Professor of Military Science at the University of Maine at Orono. During the 286th’s deployment to Afghanistan in 2009, he served as her executive officer. He calls their relationship open honest, and rewarding, one where they can capitalize on each other’s strengths and compensate for each other’s weaknesses. “I have seen her develop and evolve as a leader in every position she
Now serving as the commander of 52nd Troop Command, Tinkham refers to Dunn as a solution oriented leader. “She focuses on solving problems versus just talking about the problem,” he said. “She also has the humility and self awareness to recognize when a problem is beyond her solve and will actively search out the experts to remedy the situation.” He said he saw this many times during their deployment, and she did it effectively. Dunn, who has often had to struggle to balance her family needs and her work requirements throughout the decades said that she has worked
hard to learn from those around her. “Some of the greatest advice I received was to ‘let go of the rope,” she said. “If you are in a tug of war or a conflict with someone, it is helpful to let go, stand back and assess. In my experience, this has helped me use my energy more productively rather than just pulling back and forth.” Dunn considers herself to be a strong type- A personality. The competitive, goal orientated, work driven woman has strived to create balance throughout the years, relying heavily on the support of her family and friends. “I would not be able to do what I do without huge support from my husband and our extended family,” she said. “Challenges are recognizing the importance of finding balance. I can be a workaholic, but I know my family is just as important, so I do everything I can to attend their events and make it a priority as a leader to ensure soldiers understand this priority too. Giving soldiers permission to not miss, or attend key family events is very important to me.” She said that the support of her family has enabled her to be able to follow her dreams, and has provided her with support during her journey. She fought hard to understand the roles and responsibilities of training and
operations officers so that she could avoid being fenced into the traditional female roles in medical or administrative positions. But she never faced any barriers as she advanced. She knew she had to stand on her own two feet, regardless of her sex in order to get anywhere. “Just like my male counterparts, I had to demonstrate mental competence and be able to tough it out physically in order to be respected as an officer, regardless of my gender,” said Dunn.
brigade commander, she says she is staying focused on the present, and not letting her mind get too far ahead of her. Her focus is on how she wants to shape her command, and develop that plan.
Tinkham agrees. He said that no matter what the circumstances, Dunn has always shown heart and grit when it came time to get down to work.
“I believe that when we look too far forward, we miss opportunities in the present,” she said. So she is buckling down and focusing on her next big target, and where she wants to see her team go professionally.
“I’ve seen her come to work with three hours of sleep, because she is dealing with a sick kid, or had to study all night for her master’s program,” he said. “She would come to work with a smile and work all day seamlessly leading and mentoring subordinates to success. Her work ethic, intellect, interpersonal skills, perseverance and competitive drive to be among the best have minimized any significant obstacles she has faced.” As Dunn prepares to face her next challenges as Maine’s first female
Dunn has tried to live her life similarly to the quote on her son’s graduation card. Lead your dreams. “Take charge of the path you are on, and it can go wherever you want. Military service is an amazing opportunity, there are many life lessons you learn as you go through what they have to offer. It is, one of our country’s greatest organizations.”
Dunn’s Assignments in the Maine Army National Guard 12/13- pres 10/12- 12/13 4/11- 9/12 1/10- 4/11 5/07-3/10 1/06- 5/07 10/05-1/06 5/05-10/05 6/02- 5/05 6/01- 6/02 5/99 – 6/01 11/97 - 5/99 9/96 - 11/97 9/95 - 9/96 4/94 - 9/95 8/92 - 4/94 6/91 - 6/92 10/89 - 6/91 11/88 - 10/89
Deputy Commander, 120th Regional Support Group Region 1 VG Exercise Planner JFHQ Command Group and DCSOPS Vigilant Guard Branch Chief NC J716 Commander, 286th CSSB Commander, 240th Regiment RTI Commander, 521st Troop Command Branch Chief, JFHQ Assistant Professor of Military Science, University of Maine Executive Officer, 286th Petroleum Supply S2/3, 286th Petroleum Supply Training Officer, 286th Petroleum Supply S1, 52nd Troop Command Assistant S1,52nd Troop Command HHD Commander, 286th S1, 286th Petroleum Supply Broadcast Officer, 121st Public Affairs Det. Community Relations Officer , 121st Public Affairs Det. Assistant S1, 52nd Troop Command
WELCOME HOME 133rd! Soldiers of 133rd Engineer Battalion were welcomed by family and friends at the Augusta Armory July 1 after a year- long deployment to Afghanistan. On August 10th, 2013 the 133rd was mobilized in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, acting as the primary Materiel Recovery Element Engineer Force, completing over 241 troop missions. In this time, the 133rd closed three bases, transitioned two bases to assistance platforms, and completed the retrograde of one additional base. The Soldiers of the battalion conducted missions on nine different bases throughout Afghanistan. The Soldiers of the 133rd have demilitarized or deconstructed over 1,650 structures, disposed of 5,900 truckloads of debris, hauled 364,000 cubic yards of gravel, destroyed two miles of military barriers, constructed three miles of safety barriers, recycled 38 miles of electrical wire, and developed acres of usable space on enduring bases to support the responsible retrograde of U.S. Forces from Afghanistan.
Small Guard Unit Provides Big Time Training
MP’s Train Local to Stay Local Story and Photos by Sgt. Angela Parady
The Maine State Police were called in to assist during an exercise as part of the Maine Army National Guard’s 488th Military Police Company’s annual training.
What took place here today would require half our department to respond to, which just isn’t feasible for normal situations. Without the National Guard, we would not have been able to do half of what we did.”
The event was based on the idea of a botched terrorist plan to bring chaos to the city of Portland. National Guard troops were called in to secure important sites, such as the power plant on Cousin’s Island, and the Portland Water District. The exercise helped the members of the 488th who returned from Afghanistan last year find their role in assisting state level emergencies again. As the military focuses less on overseas conflict engagement, and National Guard units are redirected to their primary missions, it will be important for these men and women to understand where they fit in, said Spc. Cory Charpentier, a military policeman in the 488th Military Police Company. On Cousin’s Island, the military police were tasked with maintaining a secure site, and performing vehicle checks on cars entering and departing. The National Guard was already in place and assisting the Yarmouth Police when the reports came in saying that explosives may have been placed by a fictional terrorist group. As they began their search of the area, they called the state police. Charpentier, who lives in Monmouth,
Story by Sgt. Angela Parady
He continued, “A lot of times we wouldn’t be able to accomplish a mission because we physically do not have enough people.“
said that training like this is important to build camaraderie between agencies in the event of a future incident. It also reminds the soldiers of their role supporting law enforcement in times of serious incident here in the states.
Northrup said that the exercise helped get everyone to understand one another. He said seeing familiar faces at the different training events help develop working relationships.
Shane Northrup, a trooper in the Maine State Police, said that he and his canine, Preston, responded to the call of an explosives threat at the power facility. There, the team searched the entire outer perimeter and key strategic locations within the facility. “Working with the Guard guys, it’s fun,” he said. “You get to meet people from all over the state. Its also a necessity. Working together is a huge asset for us.
them when we aren’t able.” The Sidney native said he thought it was a benficial program, and that the soldiers they have trained so far have caught on quickly, and that the commanders have shown an interest in continuing this for the future.
Soldiers in Maine have access to well maintained ranges and indoor simulators year-round because of a small unit of soldiers who provide facility maintenance and support to each of Maine’s eight training sites. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Chief Warrant Officer 4 Mark Houdlette)
“I have always enjoyed training soldiers,” he said. “When I was in line units, I always thought there has got to be ways to enhance this training, to make it more realistic, to make it better. I realized, this was the unit that can do that, and this is what I have really always wanted to do.”
“I think that the more we do this, working with local law enforcement, the easier I think it will be to separate our combat mission from our civilian law enforcement mission,” he said. “If something really serious happens, we all jump together,” he said. “I am very confident that we can be successful working with local enforcement in the future, and to help back up local law enforcement to assist when they have expended all of their resources.”
Four Maine National Guard soldiers maintain, update, and manage over 2,500 acres of training grounds, as well as additional simulator equipment for the entire Maine Army National Guard. Training Sites maintain the eight training locations spread throughout the state. Their mission is to first manage the different training areas, including live fire ranges; second is to support the units in the field with either personnel or Training Aids Devises Simulators and Simulations, according to Sgt. 1st Class Todd Kiilsgaard, noncommissioned officer in charge for Training Sites.
“Just being here today, just understanding a lot of the lingo, the jargon that the military uses, versus what we use in law enforcement, was helpful,” he said. “By the end of the exercise I had picked up enough so that I understood everything being said.” Charpentier followed up, saying that during the exercise the different agencies all worked very well together. “We showed them how military police work; they showed us how they work. It was good to bounce ideas off each other, come up with plan, so if something does happen, we have an idea of what we want to do. “
Not only do Kiilsgaard and his crew maintain all of the sites, they also attend different workshops and schools that specialize in the latest and current wartime tactics so they can incorporate those into their training aids and simulations. “We try to train as we fight, and by adding our different training aids and devices, we can help get the soldiers a more realistic training experience before they are in a wartime mission,” said Kiilsgaard, who lives in Limington.
to do the cool exercises as much. Not as much fuel to go out and travel around or use the equipment. Simulators and devises are right up their alley. Soldiers will be able to use us to help replicate the training they can’t get to the field to do, and we can do it here at Camp Keyes, or we can bring it their armory, which saves them even more time.” Kiilsgaard said that one of the main challenges his unit faces is a lack of personnel. To combat this, last October they put together a pilot program idea. They asked the major commands to attach one of their soldiers to training sites. Training Sites would own that soldier for the year, taking care of them administratively, annual training and drills. Staff Sgt. Chad Haskell, TADSS operator with the unit, thinks this program is excellent as they often find themselves spread awfully thin throughout the year.
As deployments start winding down, the money available to prepare soldiers for conflict engagement becomes significantly less. That’s where the TADSS equipment stays effective.
“We train them to counter improvised explosive devices. We train them on all of the simulator equipment we have, from TADSS, convoy operations, the humvee rollover, fire arms, engagement skills,
“The fact that deployments are winding down, correlates directly to a lack of training dollars,” said Kiilsgaard. “Units aren’t going out
shoot house. When they go back to their unit, and they want to use this stuff, they have someone who is already trained on it, and can take
“During this year long period, we can teach them as much as we possibly can about how to operate the different TADSS we have,” said Haskell.
“This is our pilot year, we have four soldiers, all specialists, and they have been great. From the start we incorporate them into our unit. We do all their administrative work, and start training them as well. Once they start getting comfortable with the equipment we have them training actual soldiers in the different units. As they get better, we can have them train on their own, bring them in on orders and run training scenarios. While they are learning, they are also getting hands on experience.” These soldiers can go back to their units and not only assist with training, but they can also help their units learn about some of the training possibilities that Maine is capable of. Kiilsgaard said that one of the most underutilized training simulators that Maine has, Virtual Battle Space 3 is currently the most widely used in the regular army. He points to a lack of understanding of its capabilities in the guard, and hopes these younger soldiers can help them spread the word. “We are working on improving the way we train, one soldier at a time,” he said. “We may not have results immediately, but in the next few years hopefully this can help make their training more beneficial and more realistic.”
Maine’s Military History
By sunrise the majority of the troops had been checked aboard ship. At 4 pm the vessels moved out of the harbor and soon passed under the Golden Gate Bridge to start the long voyage. Landed at Auckland
Here is the 3rd installament of our special from May 1957 about the history of the 103rd Infantry Division, Maine Army National Guard.
constant maneuvering (involving cold, sleepless nights and long marches) the 103rd wended its way back to Camp Blanding. And on December 7 word came of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor!
Yet Another--- World War II In 1941 came World War II. This time it was not a case of hastening to form new companies. The 103rd Infantry, Maine National Guard, was already a going organization, regularly drilled, annually trained in field maneuvers, uniformed and equipped and with a basic quota of 83 officers and 1533 enlisted men. It was a semi-professional military organization, ready for enlargement and intensive training and on February 24, 1941 it was inducted into the Federal Service for that purpose. Commander Colonel Spaulding Bisbee of Cape Elizabeth was then the Regimental Commander. Following induction and upon completion of the great mass of administrative detail, the Regiment moved to Camp Blanding, Florida. The movement was mad entirely by train with the expection of a detachment which travelled 1,491 miles by motor in order to move the vehicles to the training camp. The moving of the main body of the Regiment was completed upon the arrival of the last train at Camp Blanding on March 31, 1941, and, after getting settled in its new home
the men of the 103rd went through a period of 13 weeks intensive training. By Now Part of the 43rd Upon completion of that training period the men were allowed furloughs to visit their homes but no sooner were the back than the 103rd, as a part of the 43rd Division, found itself involved in a succession of war maneuvers. First they trucked overland to Louisiana for a great “Army against Army” combat exercise. This alone lasted from July 27 to October 7 and the 103rd had hardly settled down again at Blanding than it was on its way to more large scale maneuvers in South Carolina. During these maneuvers the men found the weather very biting, the ground frequently covered with heavy frost. And Then- Pearl Harbor! On December 5, after five weeks of
On January 13, 1942 the 103rd was once more on the way to a new base camp at Camp Shelby, Mississippi and here, the following months, the 43rd Division was triangularized. The new organization eliminated the brigades in an infantry division and placed the regiments under direct control of the division. The Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 86th Brigade were disbanded and many of the personnel were assigned to the 103rd Infantry. During the ensuing months following the reorganization strenuous training was conducted in the form of small and large unit problems. September 1 found the Regiment once more packing and crating. The news was out. The 103rd was going overseas! On September 5, the Regiment, loaded in Pullman cars, left Camp Shelby, Miss., on a move that terminated four days later at Ford Ord, California. Then followed a period devoted almost entirely to the task of filling equipment shortages of the Regiment, but early on the morning of October 1, 1942 it was loaded on trains and moved to San Francisco.
After 21 days at sea the vessels carrying the Regiment docked at Auckland, New Zealand. Troops were disembarked and immediately taken by narrow gauge railroad to their bivouacs area at Mangere Crossing. The new home was found to be a delightful country and the three weeks spent there was all too short. Starting on November 1 the Regiment moved to the island of New Caledonia and moved to a bivouac area 60 miles north of Noumea. Here training was taken up over rugged terrain for conditioning the men and improving their combat efficiency. On February 1, 1943 the Regiment started a period of amphibious training, one battalion after another, and on February 9 it was learned they were going to move up to the Soloman Islands and might see combat soon. February 12 it moved out of Noumea harbor, bound for Guadacanal and landed three days later at Koli Point. On February 20, the 103rd troops again board the destroyers and a new type of craft called LCT and sailed under darkness to Russell Islands. Now--- to Meet the Enemy There were no enemy troops on these islands at the time but stress was placed on problems to accustom the men to jungle noises and terrain. And then, in the latter part of June, after nearly two and a half years of training, instructions were received which indicated that at last the regiment was to meet the enemy. D Day was revealed to be June 30, 1943. The mission of the 43rd Division was to move generally northwest by water, seize several strategic points
surrounding the Munda Airfield on New Georgia and ultimately to attack Japanese forces holding the airfield and seize the field itself. The Plan The 103rd Maine Infantry was to have a major part in this undertaking. The detailed missions of the regiment were given as follows: (1) The 2nd Battalion Combat Team with Companies “N” and “Q” and a detachment Battalion Headquarters, 4th Marine Raider Battalion to land at Oliana Bay at 3 a.m. on D-Day, secure Wickham Anchorage, destroy enemy forces at Vuru Harbor and organize the defense of that area. (2) The 3rd Battalion was in Division Reserve, and was to land at Kenlo Plantation or Rendova Island at 6:45 on D plus one day and secure the left flank of the Division on that island. (3) Company “B” reinforced, to l and at Viru Harbor at 7 a.m. on D-Day, and assisted by Company “P”, 4th Marine Raider Battalion, to secure the Harbor. (4) the Regiment, less 2nd and 3rd Battalions and less Company “B”, to land at Segi Point, New Georgia island and secure it. Took Munda Air Field Except that an advance detachment went to Segi nine days ahead of schedule because of a report that the enemy might secure that area first, the elements of the 103rd Infantry made their D-Day landings as directed. They also, in the course of time, carried out their mission completely but the Munda campaign
that started on June 30, 1943 was not done in a month’s time. The Second Battalion force that landed at Oliana Bay was in a fire fight with the enemy within seven hours after landing, and that fire fight lasted for five days. The main body of the Regiment found Segi Point free of the enemy and moved closer to the Munda area, arriving at Barabuni Island on July 14. The Third Battalion, in Division reserve, landed on Rendova Island on July 1 and was dive-bombed by Jap planes. By July 22 all battalions of the 103rd were in the line at Laiana Beach for the close-in on the Munda Airfield. All through the rest of July and into August it was a case of routing out well0-entrenched and heavily0armed enemy positions and heavily-armed enemy positions in the dense jungle country. The battle was gained yards at a time and on August 5, the occupation of Munda Airfield was complete. There was some mopping up left on auxiliary islands but the main job was done. During the combat which the 103rd had experienced since June 30, 105 of its personnel had been killed and 308 wounded in action. By reason of this, transfers and other changes the Regiment that started with 129 officers, 6 warrant officers and 3,018 enlisted men was now reduced to 94 officers, 6 warrant officers and 2,241 enlisted men.
Local Agencies Work Together to Support Remote Island
agencies the opportunities to work together to meet challenges of response to a remote location,” he said.
Story by Sgt. Angela Parady Photos by Chief Warrant Officer 4 Jon Campbell, Sgt 1st Class Pete Morrison and Sgt. Angela Parady
“All exercise objectives were met and we had no major surprises which could not be adequately addressed. This will be a great asset to the people of Criehaven.”
On Tuesday, July 8 lobstermen near Criehaven Island called 911 to report a fire in one of the many wooded areas of the island. The 300-acre island has one fresh-water well, located on the opposite side of the island. The 911 dispatcher notified the Maine Forest Service and Knox County Emergency Management Agency. Following a request for air support, the Maine Army National Guard arrives on scene to transport both the Forest Service personnel and a 400 gallon mobile water trailer to the island to assist in the fire suppression. Luckily, the fire on Tuesday was not real. The training scenario was set up by the Maine Emergency Management Agency and the Knox County EMA, the intent was to rehearse moving people to the island in the event of an emergency on the sparsely populated island. The water trailer was carried to the remote island using sling-load equipment provided by the Maine Army National Guard, which is the only resource in the state with those capabilities. It will remain on the island for the residents to use for future fire suppression needs. Island residents had requested firefighting equipment for Criehaven. Technically an unorganized township of Maine, it falls under Knox County for certain services. There are 45 seasonal residents, and a few who tough it out year-round, according to Ray Sisk, Director for Knox County EMA.
Jones agreed. Most of the island’s population came out to see the Blackhawks that flew in the crews and the water tank. “You can’t move to an island to be alone,” he said. “Regardless of what you think, everyone on an island is dependent on everyone else. We work as a team, just like all the agencies that came together to provide this support to us.”
Jeff Jones, a lobsterman who has lived on the island most of his life, said that the island, which has no actual roads, just paths for fourwheelers and utility vehicles, has no police presence or firefighting capabilities.
“The last two fires we had, we put out with bucket brigades,” he said. “That’s guys running up with buckets of water trying to put out the fire. The second time, we were having a meeting at a building next door in the harbor, and it was one of the luckiest things I have ever seen. One of us was sitting on the porch and saw the flames. All of us fisherman were at the meeting so we all grabbed buckets and started putting it out. I
had forgotten about my requests to the state for firefighting equipment, but that fire started the talks again.” Jones said that the EMA and Forest service had previously brought over a pump and some water hose. “With this tank, we will have a water source that anyone on the island can come up, turn a valve, and we will be in business,” he said. “It will be good for this side of the island, we don’t even have a well here, we had nothing to fight a fire with, nothing.” Sisk said that the exercise, which included participants from the Maine Forest Service, Knox County EMA, Knox County Sheriff’s Dept, Waldo County EMA, Hancock County EMA, MEMA, Knox Regional Communications Center, and the Maine Army National Guard, went very well. “Exercises
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The nine National Guard soldiers that served as the crew for the two Blackhawks also benefitted from additional training in carrying heavy equipment with the helicopter, preparation for overwater operations, and interaction with state and local agencies, according to Maj. Nathan Arnold, commander of Charlie Company, 1/126th Aviation Regiment.
Criehaven is an alternative name for Ragged Island, an unorganized territory in Knox County, Maine, United States. Criehaven was formerly a plantation including Ragged Island just south of Matinicus Isle in outer Penobscot Bay, plus Matinicus Rock to its southeast, and Seal Island, the location of Seal Island National Wildlife Refuge, to its northeast.
“You can’t move to an island to be alone. Regardless of what you think, everyone on an island is dependent on everyone else. We work as a team, just like all the agencies that came together to provide this support to us.” -Jeff Jones, Criehaven Island Resident
1136th Makes Training Fun and Beneficial
Story by Sgt. 1st Class Pete Morrison, Photos courtesy of 1136th Transportation Company during both missions the unit put Maine tax dollars directly to work to benefit Maine people, and that all missions were conducted safely. “For the Forestry Division, we hauled culverts, bridge timbers, lumber, steel beam and other various goods to a wide array of locations across the state of Maine. At Cobscook State Park, soldiers helped paint, clean brush, and transport equipment around the park grounds to beautify the area,” said Pelletier.
Maine Army National Guard Soldiers from the Transportation Company conducted annual training June 15 - 29 with competitions and community outreach.
Spc. Andria Hawkins, a truck driver with the 1136th said she thought “the training is great because it boosts confidence and skills in our young truck drivers. It’s also good for us to work with other departments and realize that we are not just working for the Army but we can make a difference in the community as well. “
The 1136th Transportation Company provided support to the Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Forestry Division as well as to Cobscook State Park.
The units also participated in community events, working with the Khatadin Area Council Boy Scouts with site modifications and aiding in the preparation of opening Camp Roosevelt , Eddington.
Capt. Jacob Pelletier the commander of the 1136th said that
Along with their mission to support the state, the unit conducted a
truck rodeo to test the soldiers’ driving skills within the company. The tasks included alley docking, straight line backing, coupling and uncoupling and off-set driving. The overall winner this year was 2nd Platoon based out of Calais. During the two week training soldiers trained on their basic warrior skills such as individual movement and convoy methods, as well as reacting to emergency situations. “Overall the intent was to create a realistic training environment for soldiers to utilize skills acquired throughout the year in a scenario to simulate the operational tempo of deployment,” said Pelletier. Pelletier also remarked that he was proud of his soldiers for their work and traveling over 60,000 accident free miles. The 1136th Transportation Company is headquartered in Bangor and has two detachments located in Sanford and Calais. The unit consists of over 160 soldiers with tractors and 40 foot flat bed trailers for logistic and haul support.
1136th Transportation Company
Article Courtesy of Military1Magazine
Leaders Eat Last and other Lessons Learned in the Military
If two privates are walking side-byside, one takes the lead. Military leadership starts the day you take your oath. Below are ten habits developed within months, or even days, of putting on a uniform. These qualities are constantly refined through stress, responsibility, and austere environments; extreme experiences that test and develop military leaders, making these powerful, long-lasting habits. 1. (Sometimes false) Motivation - Funny place to start, but it's amazing what your excitement can do for a team. Make enthusiasm a habit and you'll be easier to follow - if you come up short on the real thing, sometimes you just gotta fake it 'til ya make it. 2. Bias for Action - Stress and time constraints force decisions, and action with an 80 percent solution is almost always better than doing nothing. 3. Command Presence - You can't
lead from behind or lead a team that can't hear you, so get in front, know your stuff, and be heard. 4. Esprit de Corps - Loyalty and pride in your mission makes the difference between punching out after a half-done job and a job welldone no matter how long it takes. If you don't have any pride, your team won't either.
5. Fair Discipline - Today you're a teammate, tomorrow you're the boss. It only takes once to learn fair discipline garners respect from subordinates, peers, and superiors alike. Unfair discipline will cut your days as a leader short. 6. Second and Third Order Effects - Bias for action needs to be tempered by understanding the global impact of local decisions. This helps you avoid spending all your time undoing what you just did. 7. Credit When it's Right, Responsibility When it's Not -
If it's a grand slam, all credit goes to the team. If it's wrong, brace yourself and take the beating, then work with the team to fix it. 8. Team First - A leader that stands alone already failed. Always put your team first, and you'll be happy where you finish. 9. Accountability - How many do you have, where are they, what condition are they in? Whether you're accountable for a simple task list, a department, a customer base, a fleet of equipment, or 1,000 employees, knowing the answer to these three questions at all times will help keep you in the lead. 10. Leaders Eat Last - Don't eat until everyone else on your team does. You sacrifice personal interests and self-serving actions to support your team. This is symbolic of what should drive many of your decisions, and who knows, maybe you'll shed a couple extra pounds you’ve been lugging around, too.
Recruiting & Retention
Heat Illness Can Be Fatal Working in an excessively hot environment can be difficult – and even fatal. Heat can create a number of safety problems and illnesses, including heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke, which can be fatal. These illnesses caused by too much heat are called hyperthermia.
of these symptoms: A feeling of exhaustion, nausea, dizziness, pale and clammy skin, quick pulse, and low blood pressure. Heat exhaustion is also a warning that the mechanism which controls heat for the body has become seriously overtaxed. Heat stroke may follow if heat exhaustion is not treated.
Heat can also cause you to become inattentive, short-tempered, dizzy, and slow. All of these conditions can cause you to work in an unsafe manner.
•Heat Stroke. Heat stroke is a serious matter and it can be fatal. It occurs when the body’s heat control mechanism simply shuts down. Perspiration stops and the body temperature rises. The heart pounds and the skin becomes flushed and hot. This condition is a medical emergency and must be treated immediately.
Hot conditions can be caused by the weather or by the work situation itself, such as a laundry-room or a foundry. When the atmosphere is humid, the effects of the heat are compounded. Here are the warning signals of heat illness: •Heat Cramps. Heat cramps affects muscles such as those in the arms, legs and abdomen – the muscles which have been used while working. These cramps may occur after work, when the person is resting. Heat cramps are a signal that the body has lost too much salt through sweating. •Heat Exhaustion. Heat exhaustion is a serious condition that needs immediate attention. It may have any or all
Here are some tips for preventing heat illness: •Get used to working in the heat gradually. For example, if the weather suddenly turns hot or you are transferred to a hot environment, take it easy until you are accustomed to the temperature.
On June 13, 2014 Maj. Jon Cookson, Commander of the Recruiting and Retention Battalion, was
promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. The promotion was held in front of a UH-60 Blackhawk at the Army Aviation Support Facility in Bangor. A large gathering of family, friends and members of the Maine Army National Guard were on hand to be part of this great accomplishment in Cookson’s career. Please join us in congratulating Cookson in his well deserved promotion! Congratulations Sir!!
DTS: Beginning 19 June 2014, all DTS authorizations for TDY travel will use the “Other Auths.” screen to include the following statement on the Authorization:
Government Travel Charge Card Account Holders, The DoD Financial Management Regulation now requires a
•Get a physician’s advice before replacing salt, particularly if your salt intake is restricted for medical reasons such as circulatory problems. The use of salt tablets is not recommended. Eating lightly salted food – before entering the work environment – may be a better idea. Also available are special drinks which are intended to replace the body’s fluid and mineral levels. •Dress lightly, in layers so that you can subtract or add clothing as the temperature changes. Be sure to shade the skin against the sun. It is important that you remain alert to the signs of heat illness in yourself and in your co-workers. If signs of heat illness develop, move the victim to a cool place and cool him off as quickly as possible.
•Drink water often to avoid dehydration. The body loses water through perspiration, so you need to replenish it frequently. Do not drink alcoholic beverages or caffeinated beverages because they will cause you to lose even more water and salt.
statement be annotated on all travel orders regarding GTCC ATM cash advances. This statement sets forth the maximum amount of ATM cash advance that may be withdrawn using the GTCC for the specified travel period.
Lt. Col. Jon Cookson has his epaulats replaced by his mother and father as he is promoted from Major to Lieutenant Colonel. His wife Christine, and oldest son Cade replace his shoulder boards to reflect the new rank on his dress uniform at the ceremony as well. (Photos courtesy of Recruiting and Retention.)
•Take frequent rest breaks when working in hot conditions. These breaks can consist of moving to a cooler area or switching to lighter work for awhile.
“Government Travel Charge Card ATM withdrawals while on official government travel orders are limited to $100 in a seven (7) day
USPFO period to a maximum of $250 in a 30 day period unless Commander requests variance through the Agency Program Coordinator.” DTS APPROVING OFFICIALS should return any Authorizations that do not include the above statement. Questions should be directed to Mike Kutz at 207-430-5297 or michael.d.kutz.mil@mail.mil *************** Michael D. Kutz Comptroller Division, USPFO-ME
Your Money Matters How can I get more money? Can you tell me how to have more money? The most common exchange I have with people when I tell them I am a financial counselor is “Can you tell me how to have more money?” Military OneSource Consultants provide information and make referrals on a wide range of issues, including personal financial management. Free face-to-face counseling sessions (and their equivalent by phone or online) are also available. Call 1-800-342-9647 or go to www.militaryonesource.mil to learn more.
VeteransPlus provides free, confidential financial education counseling to service members and veterans. Their resources can help you better manage your finances, get control of any debt that you may have and learn how to save and invest for your future. For more information: www. veteransplus.org or call 888-488-8767.
Although this is said with some humor, as a financial counselor I maybe I can help you have more money. The most effective way to increase your available cash is to track your spending. You can focus on one area of spending if that is more realistic. When you track your spending you automatically increase awareness of your spending. This can motivate you to rethink expenditures. Common expenses that eat away at available cash are coffee drinks, shopping on line, and eating out. If you find an area of spending is frequently more than you intended, set a specific amount to spend ahead of time. Then put those dollars aside in an envelope so you can see what you have to spend and make your spending decisions. I notice with some of the people I work with that they have expensive phone
plans and cable/satellite or internet plans. There are ways to do this differently and spend less. Discuss with your providers if they have alternative plans that could save you money, and check with other providers to compare prices. Paying your bills on time puts more money into your pocket in a number of ways. Most importantly you do not pay late fees. Paying your bills on time will increase your credit score which allows you to access better interest rates if you need to borrow money. One late payment could cost you 30 points on your credit score. Savings is another way to have more money. If you have savings you will not incur debt. Debt is expensive. Some strategies people have focuses only on decreasing debt - increasing debt repayment and putting off savings. The problem with this strategy is if you incur an unexpected expense and have no savings you will incur more debt. So to win the race of debt repayment, you need to save money while you are doing a debt repayment strategy. Gayle Rose Martinez JFSAP MFLC PFC grmartinez@mflc. zeiders.com 207-274-3987
4 Debt Repayment Strategies Personal Debt Repayment Plan The best way to pay off your debt is to devise a debt repayment strategy that includes not incurring more debt and building savings. University of Utah Extension created a great program called PowerPay, located at www.powerpay.org. PowerPay will give you the tools to develop a personalized, selfdirected debt elimination plan. This is based on the same concepts as the “snowball” strategy, where once a debt is repaid you transfer that previous monthly payment to another debt. A personal debt repayment plan should pay off your debt in 3-5 years. As you pay off your debt your credit score will
increase. Consumer Credit Counseling Services If you are unable to create your own debt repayment strategy, then a Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) could be helpful. Beware as there are many scams in this area. The New England CCCS is called Money Management International http://creditcounseling.org. Using these services could hurt your credit score. These services can be limited by income. Identify you are a Service member in-case there is a special program for the military. Debt Consolidation
Debt Consolidation loans are only helpful if you have already changed your spending habits. You will need a good credit score or collateral to obtain this type of loan. Beware of Scams. Use your personal financial institutions (banks/credit unions) to avoid a scam. Be aware of any fees attached to the loan. Debt Settlement When you pay off a debt for less than you owe this is called a Debt Settlement. This can hurt your credit score. Beware as there are many scams in this area. Make sure all agreements are documented before you send money.
7 Common Traits of Military Personnel That Are Not So Common Military members are conditioned to operate differently than civilians, and these traits can give us a competitive advantage in the job search if we are aware of them. We need to highlight these traits in our interviews, showing the competitive edge we bring and how we can make significant contributions to the company we’re applying to. Here are 7 top traits to make sure you mention: 1. Dependability Dependability is a key characteristic of veterans and is drilled into us at our entry source. When we say we are going to do something, we’re expected to follow through all the way to the end, whether the task is simple or complex. We are trained to figure it out, or use others to gain necessary input, and only seek guidance from the senior person once we have exhausted all other resources and need their expertise to complete the task. “Simple” to military can be “complex” to others. If an appointment is made two weeks from now, a phone call is not necessary to remind us or re-confirm whether or not the appointment is still valid. We will show up on time at the specified location. If something changes, we will call to let the person know. We won’t just flake and not show without proper notification. 2. Integrity It’s a big deal to lie in the military. We are taught to take full responsibility for our actions, and if wrong, we would rather suffer the consequences of being wrong than
lie and be caught. People outside of the military don’t have as many severe consequences for being untruthful, so a “little white lie” that may seem harmless to others is not so little to us. 3. Decision-Making Military personnel are conditioned to make decisions quickly. When decision-making in a two-minute time frame determines whether or not someone lives or dies, we are taught to use experience, gut and intuition. There is rarely a time that 100% of the information will be available to make a decision, so we’re taught to use what we have, make the decision and then “make it right.” We aren’t afraid to make decisions and then make corrections along the way if we encounter unforeseen challenges. 4. Looking Out for Others Camaraderie is huge. We uplift the weakest point in the chain because we can’t afford for the chain to be broken. We are all about accomplishing the mission at hand and know that it can’t be done alone — it’s all for one and one for all. Without request, we will step up to help others because we are for the mission and not personal gain. If our colleague looks bad, it’s a negative reflection on the team; and we’re more willing to go the extra mile to help fill in the gap because we feel the weak team member is a direct reflection of our performance.
For more good information, find Maine Veteran’s Community Service Projects on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maineveteransCSP/info MISSION: (1) To recognize veterans who make a difference in Maine. (2) To inspire veterans to engage in community service, education and advocacy. (3) To build a community that honors the sacrifice & service of the American military. GOALS: (1) Act as a support network. (2) To serve as a living memorial. (3) Bridge the gap between military
5. Initiative We are conditioned to seek additional tasking, go above and beyond, and complete tasks with haste and minimal guidance or direction from our seniors. If we are clear on the task, we will drive it all the way home and surpass expectations. 6. Tenacity We can be counted on to complete complex tasks. Military members love a good challenge; the more challenging, the better. But “challenging” is relative, as most of our missions require a different mindset and skill set than that of our civilian counterparts. What may take a civilian four months to do can be done in four days by a military member. (Seriously!) Because of this, some veterans have challenges finding mentally stimulating work in the civilian sector, so please choose a job that will challenge you. 7. Professional Presence Grooming standards are very important to military members. Clean-cut, neat hair, shaven, clothes ironed, shoes polished. We give eye contact when we talk to people, walk with great posture, remain aware of our surroundings and greet others in passing. When we separate, we carry most of these traits with us into our civilian career (with the small exception of the beard, as some men love the idea of growing beards). These are all elements that contribute to a professional appearance and presence.
and civilian communities. (4) To inspire others to continue serving. COMMUNITY: MVCSP is a powerful network of American active duty military, reserve military, their families, veterans, wounded warriors, Gold Star families, friends and supportive community members. We welcome you to post pictures and activities of the projects you are working on & impact stories. Email: maineveteransCSP@gmail.com
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