www.ri.ng.mil
Rhode Island National Guard
The Ocean State Guardian
Adjutant General of the State of Rhode Island . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Spring 2010
First Line Leadership “The Way Ahead” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Commander’s Column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Local Air Guardsmen receive national recognition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Two win at Best Ranger tryouts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Rhode Island Guardsman becomes postmaster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
The Governor of Rhode Island and the Captain General of the Rhode Island National Guard
Master Army Aviator takes final flight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 R.I. Army Guard Recruiting Command receives national awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
The Honorable Donald L. Carcieri
Combatives help in battle situations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
The Adjutant General of the State of Rhode Island and Commanding General of the Rhode Island National Guard
Combatives training gets overhaul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Maj. Gen. Robert T. Bray Assistant Adjutant General for Army and Deputy Commanding General of the Rhode Island National Guard
Brig. Gen. Brian W. Goodwin Commander, Joint Force Headquarters, Rhode Island National Guard
Pg. 6?
Pg.?? 8 Pg.
Pg. 10 ??
Pg. 16 ??
Brig. Gen. Matthew J. Dzialo
. . . with valor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Assistant Adjutant General for Air Rhode Island National Guard
Rhody Run for the Troops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Brig. Gen. Paul L. Ayers
Rhode Island Guardsman becomes a member of the FBI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Alcohol: Solution or problem? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Managing Editor State Public Affairs Officer
The Order of Saint Maurice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Lt. Col. Bruce Fletcher
Hard work pays off in more ways than one! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Public Affairs Specialists
R.I. National Guard Soldiers support military values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Sgt. Megan Burmeister Sgt. Peter Ramaglia
Getting tax help online . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
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Spring 2010 / Rhode Island National Guard
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Adjutant General of the State of Rhode Island
Diversity: I consider it an honor to be a member of the Rhode Island National Guard. And as a member and a leader, I feel it is imperative that we embrace the rapid demographic changes in our state in order to accomplish our mission. Recruitment, retention and realignment, focused on diversity, make up the foundation of our immediate and long-term success. I challenge each of you to incorporate the three following principles as you fulfill your mission. First, we must EMPOWER each member to utilize the diversity of who they are. When we empower those we lead, we tap into that which goes beyond the uniform. Empowered people perform at a higher level than those who are micromanaged to underachieve. Empowered Soldiers and Airmen will not hesitate to inform, enlighten and remove the barriers that have historically robbed us of our potential. When we empower our personnel, we empower those we are sworn to protect. Our second responsibility is to be ENGAGED. When we engage those we lead, we involve them in the decision-making process. Engaging
Maj. Gen. Robert T. Bray Adjutant General, Commanding General Rhode Island National Guard
others requires respect of the Soldier or Airman, regardless of rank. The protocol of rank should not overshadow the respect of each member of the team. The millennial generation, the new recruits of our military forces, will quickly leave any organization that does not engage them as valued members of the team. We must all, regardless of rank or position, be intolerant of injustice. Take action wherever injustice is seen. Doing so will ensure a culture and command climate of respect where all Soldiers and Airmen are valued for who they are. Our third step is to EVOLVE. The focus of evolution is change. That which does not evolve becomes extinct. Extinction is not an option for what we do. Extinction would allow our enemy to prevail, our mission to fail and our country to fall victim to terrorism. Rapidly changing demographics cannot exceed our need to evolve as a fighting force. We must recruit, retain, and reinforce within our changing demographics to maintain the valor, character and patriotism of our past. We are now aware of what is required in order to lay a strong foundation for the success of the Rhode
Island National Guard. Following these three steps will ensure a better, stronger and more efficient fighting force for our future. Recall your initial entry into the military: you may remember that you were an individual being trained to become a team member. As a new trainee, you were given policy, protocol and procedure that would govern your life in the armed forces. Policy and protocol will remain the foundation of our fighting force structure and should remain inflexible. The evolution of our military requires us to incorporate diversity in our policies to assist us in recruiting and retention. Transformation recognizes this. Procedure, the way things are accomplished, must keep pace with cultural shifts. Yesterday’s procedure and today’s culture may be in conflict. Diversity-focused mission objectives resolve these conflicts to maintain our strength. The differences among us are the source of our nation’s strength. “Diversity is the one true thing we all have in common. Celebrate it every day.” God bless you, God bless Rhode Island and God bless America.
THIS JUST IN: RI AIR GUARD HELPING OUT IN HAITI Maj. Gen. Robert T. Bray, Adjutant General of Rhode Island and Commanding General of the Rhode Island National Guard, announced that the 143d Airlift Wing, out of Quonset Point, deployed two C-130J aircraft Jan. 22, with a total of 10 personnel in support of the U.S. military’s Haitian relief effort, Operation Unified Response.
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Ocean State Guardian / Spring 2010
First Line Leadership “The Way Ahead” By Command Sgt. Maj. John J. McDonough IV, State Command Sergeant Major, RIARNG
I firmly believe that the First Line Leader has the most impact on his/ her unit than any other level NCO or officer. Whetherr in the Rhode Island Army or Air National Guard the charge is the same: “Take care of your Soldiers and Airmen. Therefore, it is important to know my expectations of our sergeants. Expectations of today’s leaders are much different from yesterday’s. Being technically and tactically proficient is no longer enough. Today, leader responsibility is far more encompassing. Leaders need to know their Soldiers, have situational awareness of their quality of life, provide the mentorship necessary for career progression and lead by setting the example. Sound leadership is rewarding excellence and disciplining sub-standard performance. It’s doing the “hard right thing.” Being a leader is a full-time responsibility and privilege. Here are my three key priorities.
KNOW YOUR SOLDIERS -
The most important of these expectations is for a sergeant to really know his Soldiers – to have a detailed knowledge of their talents, abilities, strengths and weaknesses. Each First Line Leader must maintain data of key information on his Soldiers. This information includes weapons qualification date and score, APFT, test date and score, type of military education, both required and completed, and the date and assessment of the soldier’s last counseling; and if an NCO, their performance counseling and their last NCO evaluation report. Additionally, but also important, is information on the Soldier’s family situation, dependent status if any, quality of life, their employment status, the basic needs that affect their ability to soldier and continue participation in the Rhode Island National Guard. Leaders will
know the systems that support healthy membership – programs within the Family Assistance Center such as the Yellow Ribbon Program, Survivor Outreach, Youth Challenge Programs, ESGR and Military OneSource.
MENTORSHIP -
Developing Soldiers is an essential part of leadership. Junior leaders are fully responsible for identifying Soldier needs, preparing them for advancement, and shaping their future. This is an awesome task; the perpetuation of the NCO Corps rests upon your shoulders. You know the process. You will be training your replacement. In short, you have “been there, done that.” Take the time to demonstrate “what right looks like.” Part of mentorship is sponsorship. First Line Leaders have new Soldiers showing up in their ranks every IDT period. It is your responsibility to ensure that they are inducted into your squad/section, platoon and unit properly. Ensure that your soldiers are introduced to unit members and that administration, clothing/equipment issue is completed in a timely manner and that they are thoroughly integrated into the unit activity. The reception and welcoming of new personnel is crucial to retention of first-term enlistments. Ensure that your sponsors are instructed in the proper techniques of making Soldiers feel they are wanted and needed as members of the team.
LEADERSHIP AND DISCIPLINE -
Bottom line up front, “Set the Example.” Your ability to influence your Soldiers depends on how you’re perceived. If your Soldiers see you as a professional, they will react to your direction. Supervise, motivate, and when required, discipline subordinates. First Line supervision is knowing where your Soldiers are at all times. Calling
them prior to drill, ensuring that they are prepared for upcoming training. Motivate your soldiers. Motivation is the greatest intangible during training and combat. During the past training year, I have noticed a great disparity in the results of motivated squads/teams versus non-motivated squads/teams. Hard chargers do extremely well; they tend to work less, because they get the job done right the first time. Positive, motivated leadership is infectious and obtains results. Discipline your Soldiers when necessary. You maintain discipline by conducting formal and informal NCOPD classes, inspecting personnel and unit areas, and making on-the-spot corrections. Inappropriate action left uncorrected will influence other unit members and challenge your authority and ability to maintain standards. Counsel Soldiers for positive performance as well as negative performance. Formal and informal counseling is an Army requirement and necessary to document so your soldiers know what’s required of them. The result is the foundation of NCOER evaluations. You, the First Line Leader, are the key to maintaining esprit de corps. First Line Leadership is focusing on the areas of wear of the military uniform, military bearing, and the conduct of the enlisted members under your charge. In future editions of the “Guardian,” I will again outline our NCO Corps “The Way Ahead.” I will be visiting your units, looking for you to discuss this article, your support of these priorities, and your role as a Noncommissioned Officer. HOOAH ! 2010 – YEAR OF THE NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER
Spring 2010 / Rhode Island National Guard
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Commander’s Column I would like to take this opportunity to express my take an active role to ensure that the sincere appreciation to you and your families for all that you Rhode Island Army National Guard have accomplished over the past year and especially since is at 100% assigned with the highest Sept. 11, 2001. quality Soldiers possible. You have chosen to serve this great nation at a time that George Washington wrote, “Every is unmatched in our nation’s history. You have vowed to post is honorable in which [you] can serve [your] country.” continue to live a life of duty and honor to country, loyalty to This was true then and is still true over 300 years later. the constitution, and to defend the American way of life. The liberties we enjoy are still predicated on the notion that Your dedication to a purpose above and beyond individsome from each generation will step forward to do dangerual aspirations is clear. A Soldier’s life is a tough and chalous work for a free society. lenging road, but there is a reason our line of profession For our Army and our nation to continue to be successis called service. We are at war, and it is not business as ful, our young people must be willing to carry on the tradiusual. You, as Soldiers in the Rhode Island National Guard, tion of service. We guard the nation and state. This nation are performing historic and heroic missions every day. You deserves and expects our best. have chosen, in the words of our president, to “define the In the words of Woodrow Wilson, “You are not here times, not be defined by them.” merely to make a living; you are here to enable the world to Your decision to continue to serve at this very critical live more amply, with greater vision, and with a finer spirit time demonstrates both your devotion to duty and your of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world; character as a Soldier. As you go forward in your career, you impoverish yourself if you forget this errand.” it is imperative for you to build upon your training and real So next time someone says to you, “Thank you for world combat experience to lead the way for our younger your service,” look them straight in the eye and say, Soldiers. They look to you for guidance, for leadership and “It is an honor to serve my country.” as a role model. It is certainly an honor for me to serve alongside of you. I ask for your help in telling others about the value of Thank you for your service and willingness to protect and service, especially the opportunities for personal growth defend Rhode Island and the United States of America. that come with serving the nation and state. We must ensure that we have a vibrant recruiting and retention program utilizing all the tools available to assist the recruiting Brig. Gen. Brian Goodwin force in maintaining the strength of our units. We all must Assistant Adjutant General for Army Rhode Island National Guard
Air Guard in the community
Sharing holiday spirit with the community. Members of the 143rd Airlift Wing, Maintenance Group, attended a holiday luncheon held by the Freetown, Mass., Council on Aging. This is the second time the maintenance group has been invited to participate in a council event.
Spring 2010 / Rhode Island National Guard
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Local Air Guardsmen receive national recognition By Capt. Christopher Allen
Four Air National Guard members of the 281st Combat Communications Group and 282nd Combat Communications Squadron in North Smithfield, R.I., recently received national awards ranking them among the best of their peers. At the National Guard Bureau Joint Information Technology Conference Dec. 9 in Orlando, Fla., Lt. Col. Kimberly Baumann, Senior Master Sgt. George Wilkins, Master Sgt. Mayda Jorge, all of the 281st CCG, and Tech. Sgt. John Dumas of the 282nd CBCS were recognized by the entire Combat Communications community for their 2009 Communications and Information Awards. Baumann was selected as the Field Grade Officer of the Year, Wilkins as the Base Systems Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, Jorge as the Support Noncommissioned Officer of the Year and Dumas as the Mission Systems Noncommissioned Officer of the Year. Wilkins also received a Minuteman Award from Brig. Gen.
Henry McCann on behalf of Gen. Craig R. McKinley, Chief, National Guard Bureau. Col. Mark McGrath said, “The 281st CCG and 282nd CBCS are the premier units in the communications arena in the U.S. Air Force and Air
Two win at Best Ranger tryouts Soldiers competed Jan. 13, 2010, in the 1st Annual Army National Guard tryouts for Best Ranger Competition. The top five Soldiers will continue on to represent the Army National Guard at that competition at Fort Benning, Ga., in May. Capt. Christopher Ahlemeyer and Staff Sgt. Robert Tobin from the 1/143rd Infantry (Airborne) placed 1st and 3rd respectively in the Army National Guard tryouts. They and three others will go on to represent the entire Army National Guard at the Best Ranger Competition in May. The Best Ranger Competition includes a fitness test, spot jump, stress shoot, foot march and a water confidence course. The goal of the competition is to salute the overall best two-man “buddy team” within the Army Ranger organization. 6
Ocean State Guardian / Spring 2010
National Guard. This is just one of the many examples of the outstanding dedicated talent in the R.I. Air National Guard. We continue to excel to the next level, and we are always looking for more talented people to join us on this journey.”
Rhode Island Guardsman becomes postmaster By Master Sgt. James Loffler, VI Manager, RIARNG
Donald Deslauriers has been installed as the new postmaster of Greenville, R.I. In a ceremony conducted at the Deerfield Park Veterans Memorial, Deslauriers took the oath of office administered by John W. Powers, SENE district manager. Deslauriers is also Sgt. First Class Donald Deslauriers, Food Service Operations sergeant, 1207th Forward Support Company. Deslauriers has been in the military more than 20 years, the last 12 as a member of the R.I. National Guard. Deslauriers was a long time member of the 1043rd Maintenance Company until its consolidation with the 1207th to form the current Forward Support Company. Deslauriers deployed with Battery B, 1/103rd FA from 2004-2005 and plans a leave of absence from the U.S. Post Office for an upcoming deployment with the 1207th FSC.
While his daughters Katerina and Katelyn hold the Bible, Donald Deslauriers (left) takes the oath of office from John Powers, SENE district manager.
Spring 2010 / Rhode Island National Guard
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Master Army aviator
takes final flight
By Col. Christopher Callahan
Chief Warrant Officer Frank A. experience in Vietnam Puleo, a full-time flight instructor with as a medic, becoming the Rhode Island Army National Guard, a warrant officer, and wrapped up more than 36 years of earning his Army aviamilitary service with his final flight in tor wings as three fond December. memories of his career. Puleo began his career as an But Puleo, a native of enlisted Soldier in the active Army, Italy, acknowledges serving in Vietnam as a combat medic his most memorable from 1967 to 1969. After his honormoment as being when able discharge from active duty, Puleo he pledged the oath of returned to Rhode Island and began U.S. citizenship in March training at Sturdy Memorial Hospital as 1969, prior to leaving for a respiratory therapist. He ultimately service in Vietnam. spent over 30 years as a respiratory Lt. Col. Gene Lambrecht, therapist, specializing in the critical Puleo’s battalion commander care of premature infants. and full-time supervisor, Puleo’s career in the Rhode Island summed up his view that “Chief Army National Guard began in 1980. Warrant Officer 4 Puleo is a He attended initial entry rotary wing tremendously reliable Soldier flight training at Fort Rucker, Ala., and who without question is one of received his Army aviator wings in the most patriotic professionals February 1988. I have ever had the honor of In 1997 he joined the staff as a serving with.” full-time instructor pilot and instrument flight examiner. In 2003 he was mobilized for 18 months and deployed throughout the United States as part of Operation Noble Eagle, during which he performed numerous helicopter medevac missions in support of the Department of Defense. Puleo is qualified as an instructor pilot in the AH-1 Cobra, UH-1 Huey and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. He possesses over 4,000 hours of tactical military flight time, including more than 300 under night vision goggle conditions. Puleo is a dual-rated aviator possessing his single- and multi-engine airplane flight instructor certificates. Puleo says he is amazed at how fast the time has passed over the last three-plus decades. He cites his enlisted Chief Warrant Officer Frank A. Puleo 8
Ocean State Guardian / Spring 2010
R.I. Army Guard Recruiting Command receives national awards For the second consecutive year, the Recruiting and Retention Command of the Rhode Island Army National Guard was recognized by the National Guard Bureau with awards for achievements in strength maintenance for fiscal year 2009. The awards were presented during the annual Director’s Strength Maintenance Awards Ceremony Dec. 13 in Washington, D.C. The command was recognized for excellence in achieving the established goals for accessions, enlisted strength and retention. The command also earned a separate award for having the highest “ship rate” among small states during the “summer surge” for the month of August. Last year, the command received awards for achieving established goals for accessions, attrition management and retention. That was the first time the R.I. Guard had received any strength maintenance awards, according to Sgt. Maj. Anthony Rebello, recruiting and retention operations sergeant major. “These awards are a testament to the hard work of the recruiters as well as the support staff,” said Lt. Col. James N. Williams, recruiting force commander. “To be recognized like this for two consecutive years is extremely gratifying. But I am especially pleased that our team accomplished these achievements
despite the constrained environment imposed on Army Guard recruiting in the second half of fiscal year 09.” He was referring to what amounted to a tactical pause in recruiting. For more than two years the National Guard enjoyed an extremely successful recruiting program nationwide. So much so, that in the spring of 2009, the Guard found itself in the possibly enviable position of being some 10,000 soldiers over strength. In order to come down to authorized levels by the end of the year, numerous restrictions were placed that effectively limited the available pool that recruiters had to work with. In essence, recruiting standards were increased, minimum test scores raised, and bonuses and incentives reduced or eliminated. “It definitely made our environment tougher to work in, but at the same time those who were eligible for enlistment were high quality recruits,” Williams said. He also said he expects that the recruiting environment will continue to be challenging for the foreseeable future. With retention bonuses also reduced or eliminated, the impact on re-enlistment remains to be seen. Asked if the state’s economic condition has been a factor in the command’s success, Williams said that although it seems logical that people unable to find employment might seek opportunities in the military, he
finds that the reverse may be true for the R.I. Army National Guard. “The traditional National Guard member is a Citizen Soldier, so we are basically a part-time employer. A drill check for one weekend a month would not be a solution for someone needing full-time employment. In fact, we have seen a number of Citizen Soldiers leave the state for jobs elsewhere.” He said he also has seen an increase in those seeking full-time opportunities in the active duty military.
Spring 2010 / Rhode Island National Guard
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Combatives help in battle situations TAJI, 20 miles north of Baghdad – As we were conducting a cordon-off-and-search of an area, we entered a house. I was number one man in the stack, and I came in the room and shined my light. There were about 15 females sleeping on the floor, all ages. I heard an AK-47 lock and load off to my left in a bedroom. I told them to drop their weapon, that we were American. A man came out of the bedroom, without his weapon. He started to panic, going into fight-or-flight mode. Because of the women on the floor and because he had no weapon in his hand, I couldn’t use my weapon. I handed it off because I didn’t want my weapon to get caught between him and me. He instinctively came at me. I head-butted him with my helmet,
but he kept coming at me. I got him in a guillotine choke, just to get him to calm down. He kept fighting. He pushed me from the living room to the kitchen area. He was starting to get tired, but he was still fighting, so I cinched down tighter to try and make him pass out. It’s hard to do with all the gear on. At that point my squad leader came into the room and helped me subdue him so we could continue our operation. “I got him in a If I had never taken any combatives guillotine choke, courses, I really wouldn’t have known just to get him how to stop that situation from escalatto calm down.” ing further.
By Sgt. Megan Burmeister
It is stories like the above Taji from Staff Sgt. Jason Roberts of Alpha Company, 1/182nd IN, and others returning from theater which have brought about a change in how the Army trains for hand-to-hand combat. Soldiers coming back from theater with stories of how combatives can be improved led to the upcoming changes that will be in place by March of this year. The combatives program overhaul is to get combatives training to every Soldier. Prior to the changes, Soldiers volunteered to receive combatives training. Now the goal is to make combatives accessible for all Soldiers and uncomplicated for commanders to work the training into a unit’s schedule. The courses will be adjusted so commanders can use the lesson plans as plug and play, allowing them to pick a part of the 10
Ocean State Guardian / Spring 2010
modular lesson plan to work on in the unit’s schedule without needing large blocks of time dedicated to combatives. The program is also shifting the lesson content around. Instead of having to complete the monthlong skill level 3 and 4 training, Soldiers can learn standing hand-to-hand techniques at skill level 1 and 2. This shift allows soldiers to learn fundamentals of hand-to-hand combat without neglecting the reality of hand-to-hand combat in the real world. In addition, new recruits will experience 22 hours of combatives training, including fighting with weapons with their gear on. This will combine the current curriculum of 10 hours of combatives training and 12 hours of rie and bayonet training that basic trainees received before. The lynchpin of the program is the push to develop more trainers who can take what they have learned back to their units. Soldiers who have already
completed skill levels 3 and 4 will not have to recertify. The combatives school will provide new guidance to be reviewed before instructors teach more classes.
The Rhode Island National Guard recently opened up a new indoor combatives facility at Camp Fogarty, East Greenwich.
Spring 2010 / Rhode Island National Guard
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…with valor
By Sgt. Megan Burmeister
In a military ceremony at the Middletown Armory Dec. 6, 2009, members of Company A, 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), received recognition for their actions while in Afghanistan from January - July 2009. Among the numerous medals presented were two Bronze Star Medals with Valor. The Bronze Star Medal with Valor is a prestigious award rarely given. The Bronze Star Medal is awarded to a person who distinguishes himself by heroic or meritorious achievement or services while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign
forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. The “V” device is worn to denote participation in acts of heroism involving conflict with an armed enemy. Due to the sensitive nature of Company A’s mission in Afghanistan, the exact details of their actions that resulted in the medals cannot be released. “The members of Company A continue to perform their often difficult missions without complaint,” said Maj. Gen. Robert T. Bray. “These awards reaffirm the dedication to professionalism that Company A can be counted on to exhibit at all times.”
Rhody Run for the Troops By Master Sgt. Janeen Miller
Members of the Rhode Island National Guard participated in the 5th Annual Rhody Run for the Troops Oct. 11, 2009, in Bonnet Shores, Narragansett, R.I. The run is put together by the organization Pack It Up as a fund raiser to support their mission. The mission of Pack it Up is to make sure our troops who are serving overseas know that those of us back home are thinking of them, hoping and praying for their safe return. They send over care packages to their contacts in deployed locations to distribute to the troops. During each month they raise as much money as they can and then ship whatever items the troops have requested. Pack It Up was formed in 2004.
For more information visit their website at www.packitup.org.
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Ocean State Guardian / Spring 2010
Rhode Island Guardsman becomes a
member of the FBI
By Ret. Sgt. John Cervone
On Jan. 8, 2010, Eric Cervone was sworn in as a special agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The ceremony took place at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Va. Cervone attended the academy for five months and was the leading physical fitness cadet from his class of 35. Cervone had most recently been a member of the 169th Military Police
Company and had been deployed to Iraq from June 2007 until June 2008. Prior to that deployment, he had been deployed from January 2002 until January 2003 at Camp Lejeune, N.C., where his unit was attached to the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
Cervone chose the FBI for his future because he feels that he will best serve his nation in law enforcement. He had been a member of the U.S. military for over six years. Now he will carry on that legacy as a member of the FBI.
Spring 2010 / Rhode Island National Guard
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Alcohol: Solution or Problem? By Christine Newell-Loyko, LICSW
The use of alcohol or other substances can often seem like a solution to a problem or a situation. Maybe a drink helps you feel a bit more relaxed, or it’s a social thing because everyone else is doing it, or maybe you need that pill because you are in pain. At what point does the solution become a problem? It is estimated that one person with a drug or alcohol problem significantly affects ten other people. In many cases, the family is the first to see the problem. The family may initially make attempts to express their concern and try to get help for the substance abuser. Eventually, the family may give up or feel the fight is not worth it. This leads to the development of unspoken rules such as don’t talk about problems, don’t feel, don’t talk to outsiders, and don’t rock the boat. The family may live in a state of tension that is obvious to everyone but the substance abuser.
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If there are children in the family, they may begin to have problems with friends or in school. Young children may regress – for instance, they may start wetting the bed. Some children may feel they need to be perfect and hold the responsibility of keeping the family together, while another child provides comic relief. A spouse may feel the burden of the family falls solely on them, and they in turn become angry and resentful. When the family starts to experience stress because someone is drinking or using drugs, then there IS a problem. The good news is that there is help. Groups like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous can help the substance abuser. There is Al-Anon, a support group open to family and friends of a substance abuser. In the Rhode Island National Guard, confidential counseling services can be obtained through the RING Director of Psychological Health, Chris Newell-
Ocean State Guardian / Spring 2010
Loyko. As a contractor, the DPH provides confidential services to all Guard members and their families.
Chris Newell-Loyko, LICSW 1051 North Main Street Providence, RI 02904 Office: (401) 275-4318 BB: (401) 256-3528 E-mail: christine.newell-loyko@ceridian.com Substance abuse services can also be obtained for service members through Staff Sgt. Stephanie Riotte, RING Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention, Treatment and Outreach coordinator.
Staff Sgt. Stephanie Riotte 570 Read School House Road, Coventry, RI 02816 Work: (401) 275-1122 Cell: (401) 275-3647 E-mail: stephanie.riotte@us.army.mil
The Order of Saint Maurice Story by Master Sgt. James Loffler and photos by Sgt. 1st Class James Duncanson, 243rd Regiment, RIARNG
The Order of Saint Maurice award.
Command Sgt. Maj. Dyer with his son Liam, and wife Lisa.
Following are excerpts from the award citation: “…, be it known that Command Sergeant Major Christopher L. Dyer was tested and found worthy of special recognition for outstanding contributions to the community of Army Infantry and is hereby inducted into the Honorable Order of Saint Maurice for Significant and Lasting Contributions to the Infantry. …, Command Sergeant Major Christopher L. Dyer embodies these qualities and represents excellence in the Infantry. Therefore, the Chief of Infantry and the President of the National Infantry Association acknowledge that this patriot is due special honor and respect for now and posterity.”
CAMP VARNUM (Narragansett), R.I. – The Order of Saint Maurice recognizes individuals who have contributed significantly to the U.S. Army Infantry in ways that stand out in the eyes of the recipient’s seniors, subordinates, and peers. These individuals must also demonstrate the highest standards of integrity and moral character; an outstanding degree of professional competence, and serve the U.S. Army Infantry or the infantry community with distinction. In front of his unit, the 243rd Regiment, with family and friends present, Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher L. Dyer was awarded the Order of Saint Maurice, in the degree of Primicerius, the highest degree of the award, by the National Infantry Association and presented to him by Maj. Gen. Robert T. Bray, the Adjutant General and Lt. Col. Ellis Hopkins, 243rd Regiment Commander, in October 2009. Dyer has been in the military more than 23 years, serving in a variety of infantry positions, and has served overseas in Afghanistan twice as an embedded trainer and mentor. The award certificate. Spring 2010 / Rhode Island National Guard
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2009 R.I. National Guard Open House & Air Show
Quonset Air Museum
Hard work pays off in more ways than one! By Master Sgt. Janeen Miller
Ronald McDonald House
RING Open House & Air Show 2009 Donations: Hasbro Children’s Hospital NGARI Special Olympics of RI Ronald McDonald House National Guard Memorial Quonset Air Museum URI Women’s Hockey Civil Air Patrol
$100,000.00 $20,000.00 $6,000.00 $5,000.00 $3,000.00 $3,000.00 $3,000.00 $2,000.00
Each year the men and women of the Rhode Island National Guard, Soldiers and Airmen alike, are asked to “give up” one of their UTS weekends in order to assist in the tremendous effort it takes to host the Rhode Island National Guard Open House and Air Show for our community. The RING Open House & Air Show is known around the country and within the air show community as one of the best shows out there. This distinction came because of the efforts made by you to make it the show that it is. Many of you probably cringe at the mere sight of the words “Air Show,” much as we all do when we hear the words “Chem Ex.” However, if you knew how your efforts affect the people in our community who receive the money collected during this outstanding event, you might feel a little differently about the Air Show and the hard work you put into it each year. We are proud to announce that in 2009 we have donated $100,000.00
to the Hasbro Children’s Hospital and $42,000.00 to other local charities. This brings our total donations over the past 19 years to $1.3 million to the Hasbro Children’s Hospital and $300,000 to the smaller local charities. It was my pleasure to be present for some of these check presentations, and I will tell you that no amount goes unappreciated. Each organization knows that if it weren’t for the hard work you put into the show every year, they wouldn’t receive these generous donations to help fund their efforts for the community. On behalf of all of the organizations that have received donations from the RING Open House & Air Show 2009 and all of the previous years, I would like to extend a giant THANK YOU! Keep up the good work! Air Show 2010 will mark our 20th Anniversary and will be headlined by the USAF Thunderbirds June 26-27, 2010. Let’s make it another great success!
Members of the 115th Police Co. on duty in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
Scrapbook
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Ocean State Guardian / Spring 2010
Hasbro Childran’e Hospital
Special Olympics of RI
Civil Air Patrol
Spring 2010 / Rhode Island National Guard
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R.I. National Guard Soldiers Support Military Values AIR VALUE:
Service before self
On Dec. 8, 2009, Tech. Sgt. Pete Rogers, a Traditional Guardsman Safety NCO of the 282nd Combat Communications Squadron, had just left his Providence apartment to get a meal at a local restaurant when over the sounds of the city, he heard a faint yell. As he ran toward the city’s Waterplace Park and River Walk, he heard more sounds, the slapping of hands against water. Wasting no time, Rogers immediately dialed 911 on his cell phone and stuck the phone in his pocket, opening a line with the emergency dispatcher as he ran to the source of the sounds. There he saw a young man flailing in icy cold river water which was clearly over his head. Rogers quickly surveyed the area, and seeing no ladders or other tools he could use to reach out to the man, he braced himself the best he could along the
ARMY VALUE:
Duty
Tech. Sgt. Pete Rogers
dockside and reached out to grab the struggling man’s hand. Once he had the man’s hand, Rogers reached into his pocket, grabbed his cell phone, and told the 911 dispatcher where they were and the situation. With the man rapidly losing his physical abilities in the water and his clothing completely saturated, Rogers yelled for help while struggling to keep the man’s head above water. A local businessman who had heard Rogers call for help came running up and grabbed the man’s other hand. Still, two were unable to pull the victim up and out of the Providence River. Then an Eagle Scout arrived, and the three of them were able to pull the now unconscious man from the water. Rogers sent people for towels from a local restaurant while he worked to warm the man and check his vital signs. As the man regained consciousness, the Providence Fire Department crew arrived and took over.
Maj. Ken Niles
The essence of duty is acting in the absence of orders or direction from others, based on an inner sense of what is morally and professionally right. Maj. Ken Niles continuously demonstrates this value through the various acts he commits, always mindful of the mission, the Soldiers entrusted to him, and lastly himself. Selflessly volunteering to deploy to Iraq in 2005, Maj. Niles quickly embraced the position of Battle Major, ensuring that all systems were in place to manage theatre detainee operations. Upon return from Iraq in 2006, Niles was assigned to the 56th Troop Command. While there he was tasked to support Leapfest as well as several other notable high-risk training events, an assignment he performed flawlessly, ensuring that all elements came together to provide a safe venue for all participants. Niles’ current assignment is at Providence College ROTC, where he serves as the Operations and Training Officer responsible for teaching future officers. Niles embodies what it is to be a professional soldier, from representing Rhode Island at the National Guard Marathon to tactical and technical proficiency learned from wanting to achieve the highest standard possible. He lives the Army Values and fulfills his obligations to accomplish the mission.
If you know someone who should be profiled as living the Army or Air Force Values please contact Sgt. Megan Burmeister at 401-275-4038 or megan.burmeister@us.army.mil Spring 2010 / Rhode Island National Guard
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Getting tax help online By Capt. Michael P. Jolin, Legal Assistance Attorney
In the words of Daniel Lawrence Whitney, aka Larry the Cable Guy, it’s time to “Git-R-Done”! Yes, it’s tax time again. But unlike the days of the M-14, filing your taxes has never been easier. Nowadays, there are numerous online tax preparation services that do everything but iron your uniform. The typical online tax program asks a series of questions, crunches the numbers based on your answers, fills out the federal and state tax returns, and transmits them directly to the IRS and your state’s department of revenue on your behalf. The cost is minimal and, for some, free. If you are entitled to a refund, you’ll see the cash directly deposited in your designated account within a couple of weeks. For service members and their families, Military OneSource – www.militaryonesource.com – has teamed up with H&R Block to provide online tax filing. For taxpayers who claim the standard deduction, there is a no-cost (i.e., free!) version called H&R Block At Home Basic Online. For an additional charge, those taxpayers who need to file a Schedule C to deduct home mortgage interest, rental property expenses, asset depreciation, or other business expenses, can access H&R Block At Home Premium Online. Through this same partnership, service members can also use the free Military OneSource Tax Hotline at 1-800730-3802. It’s available to all service members and their families, seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. EST to answer your tax questions. To get started, register for a free Military OneSource account at www. militaryonesource.com. Once you are logged in, find the link to H&R Block At Home. To get the free online service, you must access H&R Block At Home through Military OneSource. Then, using a simple interview process to quickly walk through the return process, you can complete and electronically file your federal tax plus up to three state tax filings. To sign your return electronically, note that you’ll have options. You can either enter 20
your 2008 Adjusted Gross Income found on Form 1040, Line 37; Form 1040A, Line 2; or Form 1040EZ, Line 04; or use your 2008 Personal Identification Number (PIN) that you created if you e-filed your 2008 return. If you need to pay taxes, you can do so by personal check, credit card, or electronic funds withdrawal. To check on a refund, see the “Where’s My Refund?” feature on www.irs.gov. While only mandatory in a few states (Hawaii, Okla., and Ark.), you should file your federal and state returns together. You can do this through H&R Block At Home Online and most other online tax services.
Ocean State Guardian / Spring 2010
After you file electronically, make sure you print a copy of your completed returns for your records. You may need them for student loan applications, mortgage applications, or other financial situations. In most circumstances, the statute of limitations for auditing your federal return is three years after it is filed, so it’s a good idea to hold on to a copy of it for at least that amount of time and probably for a few years after that before sending it through the shredder. For further assistance, feel free to contact the Rhode Island National Guard’s legal assistance office at (401) 275-4006.