Ocean State Guardian - Online Issue #11

ISSUE #11

FORMER ACTIVE DUTY SOLDIER FEELS AT HOME IN RHODE ISLAND

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Featured

Governor of Rhode Island and Captain General of the Rhode Island National Guard: Gina M. Raimondo Adjutant General and Commanding General of the Rhode Island National Guard: Brig. Gen. Christopher P. Callahan

58th Presidental Inauguration

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Managing Editor: Col. Peter Parente, State Public Affairs Officer Contributing Editor: Capt. Mark Incze Layout & Design: Staff Sgt. Peter Ramaglia, Public Affairs Specialist

At Home in RI

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Triple Bottom Line of Readiness

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Also in this issue: Wake up to the Value of your Service RIARNG’S New Chaplain Colonel Dorego Retires after 34 Years Ready to Go, 1/126th Aviation Military Honored by PC Men’s Basketball Open House and Air Show coming soon...

West Warwick Police Recognized with ESGR Award Cyber Patriot A Link in the Chain, 861st Engineer Company RI National Guard Increasing Cyber Footprint Aircrew Combat Survival Training

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COLUMN

WAKE UP TO THE VALUE OF YOUR SERVICE A message from Colonel Michael A. Comstock, Vice Commander, 143d Airlift Wing

Hello Rhody Leaders and Supervisors!

When was the last time you took a few moments to discuss with your young troops what it means to serve? More specifically, what value do they place as military members on their service to our state and nation?

Hey leader, what value do you place on your service?

It’s something I don’t think we discuss enough in the military… particularly with our young troops. From a recruiting standpoint, it’s not uncommon to bring in new recruits with guarantees of benefits, bonuses and college assistance.

However, we lose some of those “best and brightest” after only a few years, because they find a better deal in the civilian sector.

When I see a young person leave the military so soon, I have to wonder if we did our best as leaders and supervisors to teach them the intrinsic value of their service…the value beyond the dollars and cents, beyond the discomforts and inconveniences of military service… the value measured in pushing our personal limits to succeed as a team…the value measured in camaraderie. I’ll use a story from my own life to illustrate this concept of waking up to the true value of our service.

When I was a kid watching the 4th of July parade in my hometown of Westport, Massachusetts, I once asked my Dad why there were some old men in the parade wearing funny hats with no brims.

He explained they were old Soldiers from the World Wars and Korea. I didn’t really understand what being in a war had to do with wearing

“When I see a young person leave the military so soon, I have to wonder if we did our best as leaders...”

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those hats, but I acted like I understood.

When I got older and joined the service, I learned about organizations like the VFW and the American Legion. I began to understand that the old men I saw in those parades all those years ago were Veterans who were proud of their service. But, it wasn’t until I talked to some Vets, that I got a real sense of just how proud they were. Most of them would talk at length about where they had been, what they had done, and who they had served with.

When I would ask them how long they had stayed in the military, I expected to hear 20 or more years. Many times the surprising answer was, “Four years.”

For these old Veterans, looking over the span of a long life, it was often their service from a time when they were essentially kids that gave them one of their greatest sources of pride and a sense of accomplishment.

More than pride, I think they also felt gratitude that they were part of something that made a difference and was worth the hardships they faced. I wonder how many of them might have stayed in longer, if they knew how precious their service

would become to them over the course of time.

Last October, I travelled to Colorado to attend my 30th Reunion at the Air Force Academy.

Thirty years!! In military time, that means I’m getting pretty old. I’m not wearing a funny hat yet, but I certainly feel a sense of gratitude for the experiences I’ve had because of my military service…particularly my service in the 143d Airlift Wing.

I suspect and hope, it’ll be the same for many of you.

For most of us, our service now…what we do in the Rhode Island National Guard for state and country today will likely be what we someday count amongst our most worthwhile contributions in life. So, I urge you to value your service now.

Value it, because it’s essential to our freedom. America has no shortage of enemies in the world and even within our homeland…something hardly imaginable when I entered the

service in the 1980’s. America’s all-volunteer military is our primary offense and defense against those who seek to alter our way of life.

Value your service, because it’s rare. Less than one percent of the US population serves in the armed forces today. During World War II it was more than 12 percent.

Value your service, because it’s a noble calling.

The nobility of taking an oath to defend our nation and constitution even at the cost of your own life needs no further explanation.

Value your service…and don’t wait till you’re old to start. Think about what you’re doing now and what it means to you and those around you.

Honoring our flag is a simple, yet a profound example of how our service can become mundane if we let it. Do we honor the flag because the music is playing and someone said we have to? Or do we honor it

“America has no shortage of enemies in the world and even within our homeland”

as the symbol of the greatest free country in the world and in honor of those who shed their blood to preserve our freedoms? If you ever had the honor of standing on the tarmac at a place like Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, to salute the flagdraped casket of a fallen hero as it passes by on the back of a Humvee, your perception of what it means to honor our flag would be forever changed.

We can also value our service daily when we resolve to act, decide, and lead in the best interests of our organizations.

Allowing the best interests of the organization to be our professional compass will help us avoid the kind of moral and ethical failure that would tarnish our service, negatively impact those around us and, ultimately, impede mission accomplishment.

Please know, your service is absolutely valuable. Whether you choose to value it, is up to you. Leaders and Supervisors, I implore you to challenge your troops to wake up to the intrinsic value of their own service.

Consider it an essential part of their professional development.

That’s exactly what it should be!

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RIARNG’S NEW CHAPLAIN

by Maj. Timothy Bourquin, Chaplain

Lt. Col. Eliseo Nogueras, Sr., presents a clerical stole to Capt.

Eliseo Nogueras, Jr., at a chaplaincy assesment ceremony at the Army Aviation Support Facility located on the Quonset Air National Guard Base on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. Timothy Bourquin)

The Rhode Island Army National Guard welcomed it’s newest chaplain to it’s ranks on January 7, 2017 in the Army Aviation Support Facility on the Quonset Air National Guard Base in North Kingstown, RI. Chaplain Eliseo Nogueras, Jr was promoted to Captain and assessed to the chaplaincy during a ceremony in which his father, the State Chaplain, Lt. Col. Eliseo Nogueras, Sr, presented a clerical stole. Nogueras, Jr is assigned to the 1-126th General Support Aviation Battalion and will deploy with the unit in 2017. Also present at the ceremony was his wife, Jessica, and children, Melody and Eliseo.

Capt. Eliseo Nogueras, Jr. (center left), stands with his son Eliseo (left), wife Jessica (center right), and daughter Melody (right) at a chaplaincy assesment ceremony at the Army Aviation Support Facility located on the Quonset Air National Guard Base on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. Timothy Bourquin)

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COLONEL DOREGO RETIRES AFTER 34 YEARS

by Col. Peter Parente, Public Affairs Officer

Col. Darlene Dorego retires after 34 years of service at a retirement ceremony held in her honor at the Schofield Armory in Cranston, R.I., on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017.

Col. Dorego enlisted in 1983 and rose to the rank of Staff Sgt. before attending Officer Candidate School at the Rhode Island Military Academy.

Rising through the officer ranks in various capacities, Dorego was assigned to the 43rd Military Police Brigade and deployed to Southwest Asia in 2005. Following the deployment, Dorego was assigned to positions of increasing responsibility, culminating as the Command Human Resources Officer.

During the ceremony, Dorego was presented with the Legion of Merit medal for her exceptionally meritorious career.

Col. Darlene Dorego is presented with the Legion of Merit medal

by Brig. Gen. Arthur Floru for her 34 years of service at a retirement ceremony at the Schofield Armory in Cranston, R.I., on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017.

(U.S. Army National Guard photo by Col. Peter Parente)

Col. Darlene Dorego stands with members of the RI National Guard command staff, Brig. Gen. Arthur Floru (left), Col. Robert Hayden (middle left) and RI Command Chief Warrant Officer Daniel Curran, at a retirement ceremony at the Schofield Armory in Cranston, R.I., on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Col. Peter Parente)

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READY TO GO

by Staff Sgt. Timothy Cordiero, 110th Public Affairs Detachment

The 1/126th Aviation participated in their Aviation Resource Management Survey (ARMS), Mar. 2-5, 2017, to evaluate their capabilities as an organization in a number of functional areas.

Every 24-36 months Aviation units Army-wide are subject to an ARMS inspection by the FORSCOM ARMS team, out of Fort Bragg, N.C. The inspection is designed to discover deficiencies in general aviation management, as well as uncover areas where units are thriving, and advise on how to fix those deficiencies and continue to improve the well maintained areas of aviation operations.

Sections and areas within the aviation units are graded separately. One specific area of success for 1/126th Aviation was Ground Support Equipment Maintenance, managed

by Spec. Mitchell Bournier. A UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter and aircraft hydraulics repairer, Bournier also serves as the Master Driver for the unit. He oversees the training, licensing and overall maintenance of the unit’s assigned vehicles.

Bournier’s section scored very well in a driver training presentation he gave to other Soldiers.

His ground support equipment maintenance section also did well on the survey, proving his dedication to his craft.

“I’m in charge of over 100 pieces of equipment, so it’s a lot of work”, said Bournier, “you just have to put in that extra effort and get the job done.”

U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Matthew Ryan, also from the 1/126th Aviation, had his own role in the inspection.

Ryan, a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter pilot, was also in charge of maintaining some of the aviation flight gear assigned to the unit. Ryan’s section also scored well during the survey and he knows success was a team effort.

“A lot of Soldiers put a lot of effort into making sure we are in good shape for inspections like this,” says Ryan. “Lots of players put in extra hours behind the scenes to put us in the best position when a survey like this one comes around.”

A full unit running large-scale operations is a team effort with

lots of moving parts. These large operations can bring to the forefront how units can run like a well-oiled machine. The daily behind the scenes effort of both the command staff and their team working in a collaborative effort is what shows up most in an inspection like this.

“It’s good to see where we stand as a unit,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Ryan. “What we need to improve on, what we are doing well... it’s important to know where we need to focus more effort.”

Aviation Resource Management Surveys were designed to assess an aviation program’s safety, operations, training, maintenance, and facilities.

U.S. Army Master Sgt. Jeffrey Borchert, from the FORSCOM ARMS team, said he knows it’s not easy to score highly on the survey.

“We are able to test a unit’s capabilities and efficiency in general maintenance”, explains Borchert, “and we are able to look into areas in depth and help clarify on what should be worked on and what is in good standing order.”

The 1/126th Aviation passed the ARMS inspection with high marks, indicating a high level of readiness approaching their deployment later this year.

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MILITARY HONORED BY PROVIDENCE COLLEGE MEN’S BASKETBALL Armed Forces Appreciation Night “Standing Together”

Staff Sgt. Kristen Marcotte, 88th Army Band, sings the National Anthem prior to the start of the Providence College Military Appreciation Night basketball game against DePaul University, on Feb. 28, 2017, at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, R.I. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Terry Rajsombath)

Brig. Gen. Christopher P. Callahan, Adjutant General of Rhode Island and Commanding General of the Rhode Island National Guard, enlists recruits into the Rhode Island National Guard during the halftime ceremony of the Providence College Military Appreciation Night basketball game, Feb 28, at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, R.I. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Terry Rajsombath)

Cameron Fleury, who raised money for the Military Family Relief Fund by selling poppies honoring America’s veterans, was honored during the first half of the Providence College Military Appreciation Night basketball game, Feb. 28, 2017, at the Dunkin Donuts Center, Providence in R.I. The Fleury family positions for a photo with Rhode Island Adjutant General Brig. Gen. Christopher P. Callahan. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Terry Rajsombath)

(left to right) Michelle Lemieux, Amy Boulay and Kamron Ibarra were honored as military spouses during the first half of the Providence College Military Appreciation Night basketball game, Feb 28, 2017, at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, R.I. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Terry Rajsombath)

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FEATURE ARTICLE

RHODE WARRIORS SUPPORT 58TH PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION

by Staff Sgt. Deirdre Salvas, 143d Airlift Wing Public Affairs Airmen from the 282d Combat Communications Squadron prepare an antenna to be used in support of the 58th Presidential Inauguration. (Photo provided by Chief Master Sgt James Tatro)

On January 20, 2017 the Rhode Island Air National Guard stepped into action to support the 58th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, D.C. The combined efforts of the 143d Force Support Squadron (FSS) and 282d Combat Communications Squadron (CBCS) provided essential food services support, transportation, logistics and communications capabilities.

Over the course of two days, a 13 member team of the 143d FSS served approximately 1200 hot meals, 200 gallons of coffee, snacks and soup to military personnel who were also working the inauguration. The team utilized the Disaster Relief Mobile Kitchen Trailer, a mobile kitchen designed to support meals in the field.

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This year marks the third time the 143d FSS has supported the presidential inauguration and the first time for the 282 CBCS. “The importance for FSS being part of the inauguration is to really hone the skills that the Airmen train for by coming to the Regularly Scheduled Drills (RSD) and annual training. Being able to be at the inauguration allows us to do real world mission essential duties,” said Master Sgt. Brian Mello, 143 FSS Team NCOIC. The 282d Combat Communication Squadron supplied a team of seven Airmen which was led

by Superintendent, Chief Master Sgt. James Tatro and NCOIC, Master Sgt. John Dumas. The team’s mission was delivery of command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaisOcean State Guardian |12

sance communications and information operations. The Airmen operated the Joint Incident Site Communications Capability (JISCC), which extended communications services to a select cadre of military police. This rapid response communications package had the ability to provide up to 99 laptops with access to non-classified military and commercial internet service, 26 telephones and VHF/UHF radios.

Airmen from the Radio Frequency (RF) Transmission Systems shop worked to establish the JISCC’s satellite communications link which allowed users to make phone calls and use the internet. They also established the JISCC’s radio over IP network enhancing radio communication capabilities and worked with the Federal Communications Commission to monitor the area for unaffiliated transmissions that could impact communications.

Airmen from client systems and network infrastructure, teamed up to connect user devices, such as IP Phones, printers and other related devices to the JISCC network. They delivered customer support and troubleshooting as required by the Army-managed tactical operations center.

“What we really focused on was helping ensure people had their end services like some people wanted access to the printer, make sure people had their telephone, so then we had to run wire all through-out the school”, said Senior Airman Peloquin, a client systems technician with the 282 CBCS. The 143 FSS and the 282 CBCS demonstrated their tenacity by getting the mission done while collaborating with a number of government agencies to deliver invaluable expertise and support to the 58th Presidential inauguration.

Airmen of the 143d Force Support Squadron stand in front of the Disaster Relief Mobile Kitchen Trailer (DRMKT) in preparation to support the 58th Presidential Inauguration. (Photo provided by Staff Sergeant Meghan Vittorioso)

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FEATURE ARTICLE

FORMER ACTIVE DUTY SOLDIER FEELS AT HOME IN RI

by Staff Sgt. Kristine Rodrigues, 110th Public Affairs Detachment

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(Left) Sgt. Rebeca Tarango of the 861st Engineer Company, operates a table saw on March 4, 2017 at Camp Fogarty in East Greenwich, R.I. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Terry Rajsombath) (Below) Sgt. Rebeca Tarango marks a piece of wood with a measurement on March 4, 2017 at Camp Fogarty in East Greenwich, R.I. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Terry Rajsombath)

Sgt. Rebeca Tarango enjoys a challenge, and following a five-year break in military service, the former active-duty soldier has found that and more in the Rhode Island Army National Guard.

Hailing from the state of Wyoming, Tarango served eight years in the U.S. Army before trading in her combat boots to give birth to her daughter, Jazmyn, and take on a new role as a stay-at-home mom for three years.

While serving on active-duty in the 44th Engineer Battalion, Tarango was part of 2nd Infantry Division’s historic 2004 deployment to Iraq. It was the Army’s first operational deployment from South Korea. Over 4,000 Soldiers were deployed from Korea to Iraq in just three months.

Tarango was a cook when the unit was activated, but because the Army used contracted food service workers in Iraq she was assigned as a gunner on the M-249 Squad Automatic Weapon.

The 44th performed traditional infantry operations such as raids, cordon and search, and route security operations throughout their 2004 deployment. Tarango and unit members came under direct fire and assisted with local national casualties, for which she was awarded the Combat Action Badge.

“It’s pretty crazy, it’s exactly like you see in the movies—a beautifully organized chaos,” said Tarango. “And you get in sync with the guys.”

Tarango served on Team Lioness, one of the forerunners to the military’s now official Female Engagement Teams. To avoid breaking cultural gender taboos, these teams are assigned to in-

fantry units and tasked with collecting information from families, communicating with women, and conducting body searches on females.

“You make yourself like one of the guys, there’s a lot of stereotypes of females being weaker,” said Tarango, who served two tours in Iraq with the active Army. “When you go out with a line unit you become almost like a chameleon and blend in with them so they don’t see you as that female.”

Three years after leaving the Army, Tarango took an 18-month position as a civilian contractor in Afghanistan, where she was first in charge of an entry control point for all military convoys and later an armory and worked directly under the project manager.

Then in 2014, on the recommendation of a friend, she relocated to Rhode Island and joined the 861st Engineer Company, where she now serves as a carpentry mason.

“I had that itch to get back in the military. I missed that structure,” Tarango said.

She originally considered joining the Michigan National Guard, but after checking out Rhode Island decided that the Ocean State was best suited to become her new home.

“I loved it,” said Tarango. “The small yet big-city feel, and the fact that I could walk to the beach whenever I wanted.”

She now resides in Warwick and holds a civilian occupation as a patient medical representative at a dermatology clinic.

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COMING MAY 20-21

by Master Sgt. Janeen Miller, 143d Airlift Wing Public Affairs

The Rhode Island National Guard will once again be hosting the award winning Rhode Island National Guard Open House Air Show, May 2021 at Quonset Air National Guard Base.

This year’s show will include many exciting acts, including the Canadian Forces Snowbirds Jet Demonstration Team, the Special Operations Command Jump Team, Sean D. Tucker, Rob Holland Ultimate Air Shows, Michael Goulian, Jacklink’s Screamin’ Sasquatch, the Shockwave Jet Truck, and the Geico Skytypers. The show will welcome Randy Ball, flying the MiG-17 for his first performance in Rhode Island. It will also feature demonstrations from the United States Air Force F-16 Viper and P-51D Mustang, United States Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier and the United States Navy F-18 Super Hornet.

The show will also host static military displays from the Rhode Island National Guard including training flights by our own C-130J Super Hercules and UH-60 Blackhawks.

Following the tremendous success of the addition of train service to the show the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) again will be offering a free train service to the Air Show both Saturday and Sunday. In its inaugural run last year, nearly 3,800 people took advantage of the service and avoided the traffic congestion that is common with this event. The International Council of Air Shows (ICAS) presented the RING

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Open House and Air Show and RIDOT with the ICAS Platinum Pinnacle Award in 2016 for innovation due to the introduction of train service.

On a frigid day this February, the Canadian Forces Snowbirds advanced team flew into Quonset for a preshow visit. The two members, Captains Blake McNaughton and Paul Faulkner, numbers 10 and 11, greeted media and members of the Rhode Island National Guard. While most shivered on the flight line, Captains McNaughton and Faulkner remarked about the nice weather we were having.

“The entire Rhode Island National Guard team is excited once again to open our doors and to participate in this dynamic event,” said Brig. Gen. Christopher Callahan, the Adjutant General. “It’s special for all our men and women in uniform each time we have an opportunity to thank the community that supports our organization. Our team is extremely proud of this annual event and the positive impact it has had our entire state for many years.”

The RING Open House and Air Show would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of all of our Soldiers and Airmen, our sponsors, our state leadership and our dedicated performers.

For more information about the show visit www. rhodeislandairshow.com

The U.S. Uniformed Services

management system: Joint Knowledge Online found at

Leaders Leader Training to Introduce System for the Uniformed Services Course June 2016 Provides leaders a working knowledge of the BRS and the DoD plan to educate the force prior to the date of implementation on January 1, 2018. This course is also available to family members on Military One Source at www.militaryonesource.mil/.

Personal Financial Managers Financial Counselor/Educator Course September 2016 Offers training and resources to equip financial and retirement advisors with the training and resources they need to support commanders, Service members, and families.

Additional information will be available to prepare these experts to counsel Service members regarding their options.

.

New Accession

Components

New Accession Course January 2018

Opt-In Course January 2017

All members who enter the Uniformed Services after January 1, 2018 will be educated on the options available under BRS. These members will receive this training during their first year.

Fully educate BRS Opt-In eligible members on the benefits of both the current military retirement system and the BRS. This course allows members to make informed decisions on which retirement plan best suits their financial needs. It will include financial calculators to aid in evaluating financial options.

December 31, 2017: All members of the uniformed services on or before this date will

2016: Leader and Professional Financial Services Training

At a Glance

December 31, 2018: Opt-In enrollment window closes.

Opt-In Window

*All training and education initiates with the release of training resources and will continue on an ongoing basis.

January 2017: Opt-In training for all eligible service members begins.

January 1, 2018: System.

JKO is the DoD online training management system. BRS courses can be found on JKO at www.militaryonesource.mil.

.

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(Left to Right) Retired First Lieutenant Phil Albert, ESGR Volunteer, Senior Master Sgt. Steven Fratus, Colonel Thomas Hannon, 143d Mission Support Group Commander, Captain Peter Appollonio, Major Mark Knott, Captain Donald Archibald, Captain Ernest Lavigne, and West Warwick Chief of Police John Magiera stand together after after the four WWPD officers were awarded with the ESGR Patriot Award on February 28, 2017 in West Warwick, R.I. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Janeen Miller)

WEST WARWICK POLICE RECOGNIZED WITH ESGR’S PATRIOT AWARD

by Senior Master Sgt. Janeen Miller, 143d Airlift Wing Public Affairs

At a ceremony held at the West Warwick Police Department Youth Center on February 28, 2017, four members of the West Warwick Police Department were recognized with Patriot Awards from the RI Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.

Senior Master Sgt. Steven Fratus of the 143d Airlift Wing nominated all of the members presented with awards, including Major Mark Knott, Captain Peter Appollonio, Captain Donald Archibald, and Captain Ernest Lavigne.

The Patriot Award reflects the efforts made to support citizen warriors through a wide-range of measures which can include flexible schedules, time off prior to and after deployment, caring for families, and granting leaves of absence if needed.

Fratus explained to those in attendance how the West Warwick Police Department, specifically these four members, have been especially un18| Rhode Island National Guard

derstanding of his military service. Whether it was time off for Regularly Scheduled Drill (RSD), time for helping fellow Airmen, training or deployment, the department has been fully supportive.

During Fratus’ recent deployment, these officers stepped up to help with chores around the house and even went as far as stepping in to watch his children during an emergency.

Fratus mentioned that technology today allows service members to be in constant contact with their families which is a blessing, but can also create a level of stress by receiving challenging news from the homefront in real time. Knowing that his fellow guardsmen and fellow policemen were ready to lend a helping hand allowed him to focus on his mission.

This presentation marked the first time that RI ESGR has presented four Patriot Awards to the same organization during a single event.

by Senior Master Sgt. Janeen Miller, 143d Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Members of the 143d Communications Flight and the 102d Network Warfare Squadron teamed up with students from John V. Doyle School in Coventry and Woonsocket Middle and High School in Woonsocket to compete in this year’s National Youth Cyber Defense Competition. The Airmen acted as mentors for the students as they prepared for the competition.

The National Youth Cyber Defense Competition is one of three main components within the CyberPatriot program sponsored by the Air Force Association. CyberPatriot is a National Youth Cyber Education Program and was conceived by the Air Force Association (AFA) to inspire students toward careers in

cybersecurity or other science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines critical to our nation’s future, according to the AFA’s CyberPatriot website.

The National Youth Cyber Defense Competition puts teams of high school and middle school students in a simulated job position as a newly hired IT professional. The job’s tasks include managing the network of a small company. During the competition the teams are given a set of virtual images that represent operating systems and then they are tasked with finding cybersecurity vulnerabilities and hardening the system while maintaining critical services.

The Airmen from the 143d Com-

munications Flight and the 102d Network Warfare Squadron used their cybersecurity expertise to assist the teams from these schools and give them a better understanding of the importance of these skillsets.

“It is an excellent opportunity to expose students to the fundamentals of cybersecurity while learning about general network security practices, online safety, and how to secure their personal devices,” said Major Charlene Marshall, Commander of the 143d Communications Flight, and one of the Airmen involved in CyberPatriot. She added, “It gives [the students] an opportunity to realize that this is a degree or a career that they can pursue in the future.”

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FEATURE ARTICLE

THE TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE OF READINESS

by Capt. Mark Incze, Commander, 110th Public Affairs Detachment

As both the security and fiscal needs of the United States continue to evolve in an increasingly complex world of intrigue and instability, the Department of Defense continues to evolve to face the challenges that lay ahead.

The National Guard in particular has adopted a triple bottom line of focus in order to maintain the current level of combat readiness, earned over 15 long years of sustained operations in the Middle East, and to prepare for the needs of the United States in the future.

“The reserve components are a cost-effective force that allows the parent service to surge personnel, capability, and capacity when the Nation needs without paying for a large standing force. The National Guard, specifically, should be viewed not just as a combat reserve component to the parent services, 20| Rhode Island National Guard

but also as the military first-responder in the homeland,” said Gen. Joseph Lengyel, 28th Chief of the National Guard Bureau, in a testimony before Congress.

The triple bottom line of readiness refers to the three principle missions of the National Guard: to deploy overseas in security operations, to respond to emergencies in the homeland, and to sustain partnerships with other nations and agencies to improve their readiness as well.

The first leg of the triple bottom line is self-evident; the warfighter mission. After 15 years of sustained security operations in the Middle East and around the world, the National Guard has thrived as a fully functional, combat ready force.

“As an operational reserve, the National Guard has never been stronger. Our retention rates remain strong, and Sol-

diers and Airmen across the force tell me that they want to remain [as] the operational force we are today,” said Lengyel, “the key to successfully leveraging the operational use of 447,500 Airmen and Soldiers is sufficient funding to maintain readiness and predictability in the deployment cycles.”

The second piece of the triple bottom line is the National Guard’s ability to respond to emergencies in the homeland.

From forest fires to blizzards, from hurricanes to floods, the National Guard provides their home state with a large force of ready, mobile Soldiers and Airmen capable of responding to these disasters.

“With respect to humanitarian operations, the National Guard forces provide a uniquely qualified force of Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen capable of bringing our vast experience to humani-

tarian and disaster relief operations. Combined with our many partnerships around the globe, the National Guard should be a force of first-choice to provide humanitarian and disaster relief,” said Lengyel.

The final part of the triple bottom line is the partnerships the National Guard has built, both with militaries overseas and with agencies at home.

At home, the National Guard builds professional relationships with emergency management, law enforcement, government, and private organizations to better respond to future disasters. Specialized National Guard programs, such as the Civil Support Teams (CST) and Counter-Drug (CD) were created to better serve these kinds of

domestic partnerships.

Overseas, the State Partnership Program continues to grow, and features state National Guards partnering with foreign militaries to share U.S. doctrine and increase joint operability between the partner nation and the United States military.

“The State Partnership Program is an invaluable, cost-effective tool to build enduring relationships with other countries, which has transformed security-consumers into security-providers, and is directly responsible for generating partner participation in coalition operations,” said Lengyel, “for 23 years, the National Guard has cultivated relationships with 76 partner countries in every geographic Combatant Command.

In addition to military-to-military engagements, the State Partnership Program leverages whole-of-society relationships and capabilities which facilitate broader interagency and whole-of-government activities.”

In an era of fiscal restraints, and faced with a traditional training cycle of only one weekend a month, two weeks in the summer, leaders in the National Guard face an increasing challeng preparing their Soldiers and Airmen for the complexities they could face in the future.

The triple bottom line serves as a useful tool to understand what the end-state of readiness is, but navigating there is up to the creativity and dedication of the officers and NCO’s of the National Guard.

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Private First Class Chad LaForge, a heavy equipment operator with the 861st Engineer Company, maintains a chainsaw on March 4, 2017, at Camp Fogarty, East Greenwich, R.I. During storms, the chainsaw is a vital tool used by members of the 861st to remove fallen trees and other roadblocks.

A LINK IN THE CHAIN Story and photos by Sgt. Terry Rajsombath, 110th Public Affairs Detachment

Members of the Rhode Island Army National Guard, 861st Engineer Company conducted chainsaw training on Saturday, March 4; just one of the many skills and tools in their toolbox.

“Today, we’ll be conducting a hip-pocket training on how to maintain a chainsaw that we would use during a summer storm or anything that we would do in the armory,” said Spc. Michael Fabrizio, a heavy equipment operator with the 861st.

Chainsaws are just one of the many vital tools that the members of the 861st must learn to safely use and maintain, in order to accomplish a number of 22| Rhode Island National Guard

possible missions they regularly encounter in the real world.

“I’ve been around for a few different hurricanes,” said Fabrizio. “In the past, we’ve been tasked to help out Middletown, to work with their Public Works department; removing downed tree limbs in the middle of the road in order to open and maintain roads during a state of emergency.”

Fabrizio said that many members of the 861st are familiar with state and federal workers, a familiarity built during state emergencies and state activations. Each town within Rhode Island has its own Public Works

department and members of the 861st have worked with members from nearly all the different departments during the snowstorms and hurricanes that affect Rhode Island.

“We work very well with local municipalities, whether it be the fire department, police department, Public Works, all the way up to National Grid, or other military units in the state,” said Fabrizio.

While becoming a member of the Army National Guard, regardless of one’s military occupational specialty (MOS), soldiers learn the value of teamwork. It’s a skill that mem-

Specialist Pierry Vargas, a horizontal construction engineer with the 861st Engineer Company, watches as Spc. Michael Fabrizio as he mechanically adjusts a chainsaw.

bers of the 861st must utilize consistently in order to complete a project and accomplish the mission.

“You have to know how to work as a team,” said Spc. Matthew Salvas, a heavy equipment operator with the 861st.

“When cutting down a tree, you guys have to try to figure out how the tree will fall, and once it’s down it needs to be to cut up. It’s not just dropping a tree and leaving it there.”

Salvas said that during off duty hours, he had recruited the help from members of his unit to work on a personal landscape project because he knew he could trust his teammates both personally and professionally.

“I like how we all work as a team,” said Salvas. “We’re able to accomplish the mission- accomplish it right.”

While a lot of work can be

done with a chainsaw, sometimes you need a different tool for a different job. Members of the 861st continually train with various types of equipment in order to increase their readiness and technical proficiency.

“Say we get deployed to a bombing where there’s rubble,” said Salvas. “We’ve been taught how to move massive amounts of weight without hydraulic tools. We can move it with a bar- cribbing which is like 4x4 blocks- and we can use leverage to move this safely and effectively to get the job done.”

For more critical and complicated situations, members of the 861st are given the opportunity to attend the National Guard Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and High Yield Explosive (CBRNE) Enhanced Response Force Package (CERFP) training.

“CERFP has a mission of search and extraction,” said Dennis Parent, the readiness noncommissioned officer (NCO) for the 861st. “So anytime there are fallen trees or anything more critical, they have been trained and are ready at any time. That’s just a part of what the engineers do.”

Currently within R.I., membership in the CERFP Search and Extraction is only offered to members of the 861st. The added mission and training requirements of CERFP give the members of the 861st a new set of

literal and figurative tools for approaching and solving problems.

“Being an engineer requires problem solving and critical thinking” said Salvas.

“There’s so many different aspects in this field that you have to know and so many different aspects that you need to be proficient in,” said Salvas. “It’s just awesome to be apart of it.”

Specialist Pierry Vargas, is a horizontal construction engineer with the 861st, and is level one CERFP certified.

“I never thought I’d be a part of a search and extraction team,” said Vargas. “I think it’s pretty awesome that if something happens, even if we’re not in the unit or together, we’ve all learned different skills that can help the community.”

Vargas said that prior to enlisting into the Rhode Island Army National Guard (RING), he wanted to join the Marines; but a cousin who was a member of the 861st who had convinced him to enlist into the RING. Specialist Matthew Salvas, Spc. Pierry Vargas, Pvt. Ronald Hieap, and Spc. Glenn Lawrence, members of the 861st Engineer Company work together to clean and maintain a chainsaw on March 4, 2017, at Camp Fogarty, East Greenwich, R.I.

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RI NATIONAL GUARD INCREASING CYBER FOOTPRINT

by Capt. Mark Incze, Commander, 110th Public Affairs Detachment

Lt. Col. Alan White, author of “Blue Team Field Manual,” an industry defining book on organized response to cyber-attacks, became Rhode Island’s first Army Cyber Branch qualified officer when he was awarded the cyber branch military occupational specialty in November, 2016.

White led the RI National Guard Cyber Operations Element from 2003 to 2014, and was awarded the Cyber Branch qualification by the Cyber Branch Transfer Panel after the panel ruled that he met all requirements for branch selection based on training and experience, with no additional training and certification necessary.

The Army National Guard has within each state a National Guard Defense Cyber Operations Element (DCO-E) that provides cyber capabilities and expertise supporting government objectives and missions.

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These teams defend, secure, and enable Department of Defense information networks in the information environment and ensure that each state and territory have access to cyber capabilities.

“The cyber domain as a whole is just a new way to think about how forces interact with each other. It’s just another way of accomplishing end goals; denying services, disrupting service, deceiving, whatever the case may be. Cyber is just another tool in that arsenal,” said Lt. Col. Alan White.

The U.S. Cyber Command is the sixth branch of the military and is subordinate to the U.S. Strategic Command. The command centralizes command of cyberspace operations, organizes existing cyber resources and synchronizes defense of U.S. military networks. The U.S. Cyber Command was created in 2009. The U.S. Army Cyber

Command (ARCYBER) is the Army Service Component Command supporting U.S. Cyber Command, and was established on Oct. 1, 2010.

“If you add the element of weather to it, floods, fire, snow, a lot of those [traditional cyber agencies] will not be able to respond in a timely manner, but the National Guard, with less restrictions, would be able to come to the aid of those agencies,” said White.

The Army National Guard has worked closely with Army Cyber Command on growing its cyber force.

“Citizen Soldiers are already an essential part of the total Army, so these cyber professionals, many of whom bring private sector experience, will enhance the Army’s cyberspace capabilities and capacities,” said Lt. Gen. Edward Cardon, commanding general of Army Cyber Command.

The RI National Guard Defense Cyber Operations Element (DCO-E) has participated in several cyber readiness exercises with key state and federal partner organizations, such as the RI State Police and Emergency Management Agency. Prior joint training exercises include Cyber Shield, Cyber Guard, Cyber Yankee, Quantum Breach, and Bulwark Defender.

White continues to act in an advisory role with the RI DCO-E.

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AIRCREW COMBAT

SURVIVAL TRAINING

by Senior Master Sgt. Janeen Miller, 143d Airlift Wing Public Affairs

During the February drill members of the 143d Aircrew Flight Equipment (AFE) section conducted an Aircrew Combat Survival Training course for members of the 143d Airlift Squadron. This training is conducted every three years as a refresher for aircrews of their Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) training.

The members of the aircrews started the day off with classroom learning. Following the classroom portion of the training the Airmen were taken via UH-60 Blackhawk to the Big River Management Area for a hands on exercise. The hands on exercise included scenarios simulating the situation an aircrew would find themselves in should they experience an aircraft crash or problem in a hostile environment.

The crews used land navigation skills to evade the simulated enemy and navigate to a safe location for extraction from the hostile environment.

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Technical Sgt Robert Lewis (right) from Aircrew Flight Equipment (AFE) directs a crew through the Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) refresher training February 5, 2017. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Jason Long)

Crews navigate through the woods during Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) refresher training February 5, 2017. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Jason Long)

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