Tarheel Guardsman
August/September 2015
Leader’s Corner
The US Air Force has as one of its core values “Service Before Self.” No better examples of this exist in modern times than those who continue to don our nation’s uniform and answer the call to duty. Since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, our military members have seen constant conflict. The pullout from Iraq and Afghanistan lessened the operational tempo, but the tempo never dwindled to zero. Indeed, in the past year, we have seen our worldwide missions ramp up as groups like ISIS sweep across large swaths of the Middle East and Russian-backed separatists continue to do battle for contested portions of Eastern Ukraine. In many ways, the world is a much more uncertain place as conflicts rage in the desert and Cold War-like shadows descend across Eastern Europe. As you read this, hundreds of North Carolina National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are deployed or preparing to deploy to hot spots of national interest. Though we do not yet see deployments in the numbers of the early years of our recent conflicts, that in no way lessens the importance of the missions we are being called to perform or the danger of the places in which we are called to perform them. The North Carolina Air National Guard’s accomplishments over the past year are significant. Deployment numbers remain high. From across the force, our Airmen and aircraft remain engaged in Europe, Afghanistan and many other locations. That trend promises to continue. Forces deployed include our airlift squadron C-130s and aircrews, maintenance squadron maintainers and medical pros from our Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron who are working in Qatar, Afghanistan, Germany and at bases here at home. Our civil engineers are in many of the same places. Logistics, force support and communications Airmen are also deployed or readying for deployment around the world as you read this. For the past two years, North Carolina has led the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting mission across the country. Our 118th Air Support Operations Squadron based at New London has won honors even as their training and deployment schedules continue at a dizzying pace. Tech. Sgt. David Maddeford, a 118th Joint Terminal Air Controller, made history in June as one of five enlisted graduates of the US Air Force Weapons School at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., to earn the coveted graduate patch and enter the elite group of “patch wearers”. No enlisted member has previously earned the patch in the school’s 66-year history. Brig. Gen. Roger E. Williams, Jr. According to Lt. Col. Thomas Simpson, the 118th’s commander, “We’re moving targets most of the Assistant Adjutant General for Air time.” The unit recently trained both National Guard and active-duty Special Forces operators as well as supported State Partnership Program missions to both Moldova and Botswana. The addition of a $2 million, state-of-the-art simulator at New London now also allows virtual Terminal Air Control Party NC National Guard training in nearly any simulated environment. In March, Sr. Airman Nathan Connolly, with the 118th, placed first in the enlisted category at the North Carolina National Guard’s Best Warrior Competition. Contact Information Last August, Airmen of the 145th Civil Engineer Squadron supported US European Command and Email: the State Department by completing two humanitarian missions in Latvia. Over a two-week period, the ng.nc.ncarng.mbx.pao@mail.mil deployed team installed fencing and made critical renovations at two schools near the capital Riga. In the arena of defense cooperation, Airlift Wing loadmasters made the trek to Southern Africa to NC Adjutant General – provide a refresher course to their counterparts in the Botswana Defense Force. They were on familiar MG Greg Lusk Maj. Gen. Greg Lusk: territory aircraft-wise, because Botswana’s aircraft compliment includes C-130s formerly assigned to http://www.facebook.com/ Charlotte. NCAdjutantGeneral Our recruiters have put up some impressive numbers as they continue to bring motivated people into http://twitter.com/NCTAG the force. Staff Sgt. Frankie Strother broke unit records for 2014 and garnered National Guard Bureau’s award for most critical accessions. The award recognizes him for being tops in all 54 states, territories and NC Assistant Adjutant General Air – the District of Columbia in bringing in recruits to fill high-demand Air Force Specialty Code jobs. The Brig. Gen. Roger E. Williams: entire recruiting team won the Regional Gold Eagle Award for 2014 by leading 13 states in officer and http://facebook.com/NCAirAAG enlisted accessions, community involvement, school outreach and retention. http://twitter.com/NCAirAAG The North Carolina Air National Guard continues to position itself well for new missions. New construction on our base in Charlotte is all but officially approved, and that will add to our NC Command Chief Warrant Officer competitiveness going forward. Our cyber warriors continue to display their abilities on the national Rick Comer: stage, and this makes us look good for missions in that arena. Last year, they helped thwart a hacker http://www.facebook.com/pages/ operating from the Middle East who had tampered with North Carolina’s electronic highway signs. They have also scored at or near the top in national cyber exercises, which demonstrates not only their military NC-Command-Chief-Warranttraining but the civilian-acquired cyber knowledge they bring to the table. Officer/261726843901458 One of our highly-visible missions has our Airmen supporting the comings and goings of our http://www.twitter.com/NCCWO President and Vice President when they come to the Charlotte area. We also hosted a two-week Suspended Victim Rescue Training course at our Regional Training Site in New London for participants Command Senior Enlisted Leader from four states, supported ESGR events, welcomed the director of the Air National Guard, Lt. Gen. CSM John Swart: Stanley Clark, and the commander of Air Mobility Command, Gen. Darren McDew, organized the 2015 http://www.facebook.com/NCCSM military ball and even put on a couple of golf tournaments. http://twitter.com/NCSCSM Today, we train and we fight not knowing exactly what the future holds. Kinetic challenges continue to face us as do fiscal ones. We only know that someone must stand in the gap and be there when our NC Command Chief Master Sergeant nation needs us during times of national emergency and when our state needs us in times of natural Chief Master Sgt. Michael Stanley disaster. Ultimately, the benefits of service remain as high as ever, both the intangible and the tangible. Though the tangible benefits are certainly attractive, I have never doubted that people stick with the military because of the intangible benefits that selfless service provides. Thank you for your service, and have a safe and happy summer!
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TARHEEL GUARDSMAN
Official publication of the North Carolina National Guard Association AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015 Volume 49 Number 4
Contents: NCNGA:
Educational Foundation Scholarship Recipients 12,13 In Memorium Back Cover
NC National Guard:
1450th TOA Ceremony NCNG Apache Battalion Conducts Second Live-Fire 118th JTAC first to receive patch What it takes to earn a Golden Eagle
6 7 8 11
Officers
Executive Council
President Bobby Lumsden
30th HBCT Shane Evans Scott Schnack
Vice President Brent Orr Past President Ronnie Honeycutt Secretary-Treasurer Craig Lloyd Judge Advocate Rick Fay Chaplain
130th MEB Mark McMahan Robert Holland 60th Troop Command Linda Horton Bryan Finch 449th TAB Patrick Szvetitz Thomas Underwood 113 Sustainment BDE Randy Ly Bernie Williford th
STAFF Executive Director Craig Lloyd Associate Director Cindy Basler Associate Insurance Administrator Rhonda Mooring Associate Financial/ Membership Administrator Katie Westbrooks NCNGA Educational Foundation Administrator Ken Tyndall
Katie Westbrooks, Editor
JFHQ-NC Jack Midyette Larry Wiedel 139th Regiment (CA) Rebecca Lynn Godwin Joseph Hough Air Guard Tamvaria Walker Allan Cecil Junior Council Brian Cannon Timothy Stanhope Associate Class Danielle Hodges John Eudy
To be announced in the Oct/Nov issue of the Tarheel Guardsman: Date and Location of the next Convention!!
Deadline for submitting articles for the OCT/NOV issue of the Tarheel Guardsman: 1 SEPT 2015 Address changes or questions? Contact us at 919-851-3390 info@ncnga.org or www.ncnga.org The Tarheel Guardsman, (ISSN 10618392) is published bi-monthly for the Army and Air National Guard of North Carolina, by the North Carolina National Guard Association, 7410 Chapel Hill Road, Raleigh, NC 27607-5047. Periodicals postage paid at Raleigh, NC 27676-9651. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Tarheel Guardsman, 7410 Chapel Hill Road, Raleigh, NC 27607-5047. The Tarheel Guardsman is the official publication of the North Carolina National Guard Association, a non-profit organization. The publication’s mission is to promote the general welfare of the NCNGA, assist in increasing the readiness of the NC Army and Air National Guard of North Carolina and serve as a vehicle of expression for members of the National Guard. Members receive the publication free with their membership. The annual subscription rate for non-members of the Association is $15.00. Please include your old address when requesting change of address. Deadline for submitted material to the Tarheel Guardsman is the 5th of the month, two months preceding the calendar date of issue. Manuscripts and photographs on subjects of general interest are invited. Unless otherwise indicated, material may be reprinted provided credit is given to the Tarheel Guardsman and the author where listed. Articles and photos will not be returned, unless requested. (USPS 533-640) Advertising is accepted. For details contact the Association headquarters. Advertising, including political ads, published in this publication does not represent the endorsement or approval of the North Carolina National Guard Association.
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A Message from the President: What is He Doing with MY ASSOCIATION?
I have heard it and you may have said it. Following this past convention with the changes to the way our Association will do business, the number of Council Members, and the number of Committees; Many of you were left with that very same question – What is that guy doing with my Association!? Rest assure that each and every item the Executive Council and I brought forth, and the promise of more changes to come, have been met with huge amounts of research and debate over the proper course for the future. None of the decisions are being taken lightly. When I took the helm as President over two years ago, I did so with the promise that the North Carolina National Guard Association was going to be the most effective state National Guard Association. I also asked two simple questions, “If not you, then who? If not now, then when?” One issue that needed to be addressed almost immediately was how to we get our financial house in order. We have spent a lot of time and considered much debate over the best way to achieve this task, and we boiled in down to three fundamental objectives: Diversify our Revenue (or Income) Streams, Plan for future, and Stop dependence on uncertainty. I will talk more about the latter two in future articles, but I wish to emphasis the importance of the first today. If nothing else was more apparent, the realization that 98% (and sometimes greater) of our income was and still is dependent on our insurance commissions, we had to take steps to reduce the dependence on this. Some often say if you want to see what an organization is about, follow NCNGA President the money and you will see. It is easy to understand why many of our members and younger Bobby Lumsden service members believe we are an insurance organization. We have focused on promoting and building this one aspect of our association for so long that we often lost sight of the myriad of other reasons we exist. By looking at new ways to diversify our income, we can start to shift our focus more broadly and back to our reason for existence in the first place - Promoting the North Carolina National Guard’s role in the Defense of our Nation and State and to improve the quality of life for our members. Another key objective I have had as President is to establish our Association as the most influential of all the state associations. In order to achieve this we have several goals, the first starts with an effective organization that can rapidly make decisions and mobilize it members to action. This is a key reason the Executive Council and I recommended changes to the size of the Executive Council and the number of Committees. Too often, decisions took weeks or months to make and it took even longer to mobilize you, our members to action. Secondly, we must fix the way in which we communicate and move our members. We did not have an effective communications plan, and we fell flat on most measures. While we certainly have a long ways to go to achieve this goal, we have taken huge leaps in the way we communicate and organize. Finally, we have to get you, our members involved. We achieve nothing without your involvement. Whether it is something as simple as writing a letter or email to a Legislator, encouraging a fellow Soldier or Airmen to join, or taking on a larger role like serving on a Committee; WE NEED YOUR HELP! Other state associations, as well as State and Federal Legislators are starting to take notice of the great things our Association is starting to achieve. You have seen some of the smaller efforts come into fruition, such as the increase to the pension plan and providing the NCNG with a voting member on the North Carolina Military Affairs Commission. Many other achievements are forthcoming. All of these efforts are focus on two things: first, providing you, our members, with a greater voice at both the State and Federal level; and second, provide better or increased benefits to improve you and your family’s quality of life.
A Word from our Executive Director...
‘Operation Support NC Guard Partners with NC Our Own’ NC Guard Forest Service at DuPont State Soldiers Volunteer for Recreational Forest Recovering Chaplain Story by: Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Rey and Sgt. 1st Story and Photos by: Sgt. 1st Class Robert Jordan, NCNG
YOUNGSVILLE, NC -- “Leave it cleaner than you found it,” is one of the oldest sayings in the military. For 11 North Carolina National Guard Soldiers in Youngsville, it was more than an order, it was a privilege as they put years of military muscle, training and discipline into ‘Operation Support Our Own’. The excavator rumbled, mowers kept a steady roar, axes slashed, dirt flew by the shovel full and many, many, sweetgum ball filled rakes were cursed as the members of the NCNG Ordnance Association, Austin – Bouton-Cardwell Chapter, took as their first mission as an association volunteering for Maj. Melissa Culbreth, a NCNG chaplain who is recovering from treatment for cancer. “The association called me the day after I found out I would have to have five weeks of radiation treatment and concurrent chemo and said they wanted to help,” said Culbreth. About two hours of labor combined with chainsaws, axes, shovels, drills and more than a little sweat made quick work of rocks, weeds, long grass, clogged gutters, a several hundred-pound tree stump and a more than 40-foot tall tree threatening gutters and power lines. An easy task for experienced ordnance Soldiers with multiple combat and state active duty deployments. “Part of ordnance is maintenance,” said Master Sgt. Jeffrey Parker, a NCNG maintenance technician and president of the chapter. This project transforms Culbreth’s yard from spring growth into a manicured lawn, stacked firewood, a weeded back porch, repaired fences and pruned trees. “I am on disability so without them it could not have been done,” said Culbreth. It changed more than just property. Smiles, hugs, handshakes, old war stories and other tales turned work into a celebration for a friend, battle buddy, mentor, advisor and leader. “My Guard family stepped up and it is amazing to have this kind of support,” said Culbreth.
Your North Carolina National Guard Association continues to grow and evolve day by day. Our goal is to become an even stronger advocate for State and National issues involving the National Guard and for you as a Soldier or Airman as an individual. Your support and involvement is vital to this goal and many of you have come to this call. One example is our participation in the recent EANGUS National Convention hosted in Indianapolis, Indiana. This year, we almost tripled the number of participants and hope to do the same for our upcoming NGAUS convention next door in Nashville, Tennessee. We hope to help to grow our memberships in these organizations and also secure some key committee appointments to make sure North Carolina’s voice is heard on the National level. Our next goal is to continue to grow our membership benefits as was referenced at the Convention. We have already done an enormous amount of research into the benefits of what other Guard Associations and dozens of other membership organizations offer as benefits across the Country. Using the information from our recent benefits survey, we will evaluate these and potentially add new benefits to our portfolio. If you have additional ideas of potential benefits you may receive from other organizations pop us a note so we can check into it. If you haven’t signed up yet please sign-up for our email alerts and new online newsletter on our homepage at www.ncnga.org. Also remember to help us grow our social media pages (Linkedin, Twitter, Facebook and our new Instagram sites) by finding and liking our pages. Thank you, Craig Lloyd
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The members of the NCNG Ordnance Association, Austin – Bouton-Cardwell Chapter, took as their first mission as an association volunteering for Maj. Melissa Culbreth, (US Army National Guard Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Robert Jordan / Released)
Class Robert Jordan, NCNG Photos by: Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Rey and 875th Engineer Company Staff, NCNG
CEDAR MOUNTAIN, NC -- In a forest so beautiful the movies ‘Last of the Mohicans’ and ‘The Hunger Games’ filmed there how do you build a road with professional expertise and minimal ecological impact? Why, you call out the Guard. “We are very happy to have the Guard,” said Jason Guidry, DuPont State Recreational Forest supervisor. North Carolina National Guard North Carolina National Guard Soldiers Soldiers with North Carolina Forest with North Carolina Forest Service Service partners transformed a tangle partners transform a tangle of roots and mud into a service road at DuPont State of roots and mud into a soon to be Recreational Forest, (US Army National finished service road at DuPont State Guard Photo, North Carolina National Recreational Forest, located in Cedar Guard Public Affairs/Released) Mountain, North Carolina. “The capabilities of the North Carolina National Guard sets the standard as an agency partner,” said Guidry. The 875th Engineer Company, headquartered in North Wilkesboro, with a detachment in Lexington, brought bulldozers, backhoes and other heavy equipment and years of experience the mission this April. Leaders carefully supervised the construction. They planned the movement of some of the largest vehicles in the Guard while maintaining the smallest possible footprint in one of the most beautiful areas of North Carolina visited by more than 300,000 people per year. “We wanted to stay inconspicuous and out of the public’s way,” said Army 1st Sgt. Timothy Ashley, a senior leader with the unit. The 1,000-foot road snakes uphill through the thick forest. Soldiers carefully leveled and graded the ground preparing it for the hundreds of tons of gravel needed. Large drainage pipes were hauled into place and buried beneath the road to control erosion and prevent damaging runoff. Young Soldiers drove eight-wheel drive diesel-powered Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Trucks carrying everything needed at a modern construction site along a dirt road just inches wider than the truck. “The Soldiers got a lot of hands on training and showed the public how we give back to the community,” said Army Sgt. Michael Roach, a horizontal construction sergeant with the unit. When finished, the gravel road will improve parking for nearly 80,000 visitors per year, traffic flow and public safety providing a safer route for large vehicles away from the many visitors to the park for years to come. “The improvements mean more and better parking, ease of movement and better safety so the public can enjoy these natural wonders,” said Ashley.
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1450TH TC TOA CEREMONY
BY: ISIDRO, YVONNE C 1LT USARMY NG NCANG (US) The day started off just like another day at Camp Buehring, the sun was out and you could see the heat swimming off of the earth creating a heat wave against the sand. But there was a new day on the horizon as the sun was setting for the Road Warriors (the 396th TC) and the dawn would begin a new adventure for the Moonshiners (the 1450th TC). The TOA ceremony was a marker. The 396th knew that this meant that they were all one step closer to leaving and they knew that they did a great service to their country, their people and to the PACEsetter community. The 1450th TC knew that this ceremony meant that the time for training was over, all the work and all the planning were to come into full effect. A little shy of two weeks is what the two companies had to work with together to ensure that there was a smooth transition for the 1450th TC. The TOA ceremony was held in the Warrior
tent, chatter filled the air, blue chairs line the inside of the tent and everyone was waiting in anticipation for the ceremony to begin. The room fell quiet and listened to the marching of the guidon’s as they marked the beginning of the ceremony. The casing and uncasing of the company guidon’s symbolizes the completion of one company’s mission and the other company to initiation theirs. The words on inspiration trickled from the lips of our leaders. LTC Anderson gleamed saying that “PACEsetters lead the way” and CPT Gerrity was overwhelmed with a gladness to know that the 396th had done a fantastic job in their mission and in preparing their counterparts to be ready to complete their mission. Then CPT Blair went up to speak, he had few words to say but they stay remnant within the minds of the 1450th. The 1450th had gone through a rough patch trying to get everyone off the ground at Fort Hood, but the unit stood strong and ready to complete their mission. The 1450th is a unit that can band together even in times of difficulty, and they know that regardless of what lies ahead of them they will prevail. The 1450th is a force to be reckoned with and will be known as the company that others can rely on the get the mission done. After the mission the main focus is get everyone back home safe to their lives and families. Moonshiners all the way.
New milestone for the ever changing 145th MXS By: Master Sgt. Patricia F. Moran, 145th Public Affairs CHARLOTTE, NC – The 145th Maintenance Squadron recently received their long awaited C-130 Isochronal Inspection (ISO) Aircraft Maintenance Platforms at the North Carolina Air National Guard Base, Charlotte Douglas International Airport. The stands started arriving May 23rd and were completed June 3rd, 2015. These stands are part of an Air Force-wide mission to replace aircraft maintenance stands for all C-130 aircraft. Engineered and built by Flexible Lifeline Systems of Houston, TX, at a cost of 1.2 million dollars, these stands will improve overall safety for maintenance personnel and provide better access to all parts of the C-130 aircraft for the maintainers. “These new stands will increase maintainer’s efforts to provide high quality dependable aircraft in support of the Wings dynamic mission requirements,” said Senior Master Sgt. Chris Mueller, 145th MXS Inspection Dock Supervisor. Built of high strength aluminum and ruggedly constructed using anti-slip and anti-bounce safety tread, aircraft maintainers will have a larger work platform under and around the aircraft for heavy maintenance jobs and ensured firm footing during complex maintenance task. All stands are built to rigorous OSHA Standards and help provide additional fall protection when working at or above aircraft wing heights.
“Our new maintenance stands will help us do our job in a safer manner.” said Lt. Col. Cecil 145th Maintenance Group Deputy Commander, “These stands provide much better lighting for under the wing and wheel well areas. They are big and hard to move but in the end they will make it safer for our Airman to complete the mission!” Previously when an aircraft went in for heavy maintenance, stands were brought around the aircraft once it’s was parked. With these new platforms being larger and more ridged, the aircraft will now be pulled into the fixed stands like a boat pulls into a dock. The new stands are designed with safety being the primary driver of the design. “With the old stands we had to provide additional fall protection for our maintainers,” said Cecil, “With these new stands, there is a much greater surface area for the maintainers to move around on and the entire area is surrounded by safety railings. It enhances our fall protection and allows us to do quicker more efficient maintenance actions on the aircraft.” In fact, the new stands have more than 4,000 square feet of surface area compared with the 1,885 of the old stands. They also incorporate built in electrical, lighting and pneumatic systems that were not present on the previous version. They fit together around the aircraft in segments that are mounted on wheels for easy positioning. The sections are attached to each other with turnbuckles and sliding panels come together to form a continuous platform around the aircraft. The huge surface area provides many options for maintainers to move and position themselves where they need to be. The last set of 145th MXS stands date back to the 1980’s. These stands will now be turned back into the Air Force Supply System to be utilized elsewhere out in the C-130 fleet. The 145th MXS is excited about the improvement to the work area and look forward to working on the stands for many years to come.
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NCNG Apache Battalion Conducts Second Live-Fire Gunnery of the Year Further along the flight line, a platoon of armament Story by: Lt. Col. Matt DeVivo, NCNG
FORT AP HILL, Va. – Rotor blades quicken their rotation as an AH-64 Longbow Apache Helicopter’s engines come to life during the North Carolina Army National Guard’s, 1-130th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion’s first day of annual training. This is the unit’s second gunnery of the year with a third planned in August. A tremendous team effort is required to enable the most lethal helicopter in our nation’s inventory to fly. Nearly the entire battalion deployed for Apache live-fire gunnery; over 300 personnel, 13 Apaches and tons of resources and equipment to sustain the unit for 11 days in the field.“I love this job to death,” said Sgt. Brent Snow, an Apache crew chief. “My dad was an Army Aviator. I always wanted to be around them.” A 150-foot range tower overlooks the entire range and the unit’s forward base of operations. From the tower, veteran aviators, brand new ones, and instructor pilots choreograph the flight of each Apache. Each Apache team will fly six or seven gunnery tables. Each table or “training lane” requires Apache pilots to execute specific aerial maneuvers while firing at targets. The tables become more challenging as the gunnery exercise progresses. “Nothing is rushed during live-fire,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Rex Swetnam, a combat veteran aviator who deployed with the 1-130th to Afghanistan in 2002, and is the unit’s safety officer. “We train to the standard here, not to time and I’m confident we’ll accomplish our goals in a safe manner.” Training scenarios from the tower are radioed to a hovering Apache: The enemy has been spotted in a building two kilometers from the Apache’s location and they are cleared to engage with rockets and their 30mm gun. The Apache climbs and rolls left, speeding towards its target. With a roar, rockets launch. The Apache follows up with four bursts (approx. 100 rounds) from its 30mm gun. The target is destroyed and the Apache returns to base. “Simulations are great, but nothing beats real world livefire,” said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Kurt Cunningham, a 1-130th combat veteran and instructor pilot. It takes more than Apache pilots though to make live-fire gunnery a reality and successful training event. A collection of tents, vehicles, and storage containers lined the woods near the Apaches forward operations base. The unit will run 24-hour operations for two weeks. Every company has their job to do. At the forward area refueling point, next to the flight line, fuel handlers of Echo Company ensure every helicopter, vehicle, and generator is ready. “Our team must accurately determine fuel requirements for the battalion,” said Echo Company 1st Sgt. Stephen Caldwell. “If we screw up, the battalion doesn’t move and the Apaches don’t fly.”
specialist, also from Echo Company, move from aircraft to aircraft like bees in a rose garden safely loading each Apache with live rockets and 30mm rounds. Before this training is through, they will load over 20,400 30mm rounds and over 900 rockets. Before and after each flight, aviation mechanics take data from the Apaches and record and analyze it for any errors requiring maintenance. Aviation mechanics are not the only “wrench-turners” working hard at the forward base. A team of ground mechanics are just as busy fixing anything that has a diesel motor and four wheels. Between the range tower and the flight line, the battalion’s 677th Firefighting Team stands ready with its state of the art fire truck and team of certified firefighters, emergency medical technicians and specialized equipment to extract aviators from a crashed helicopter. Located next to the firefighters is the unit’s medical station prepared to respond. At the base of the range tower, the 1-130th‘s flight operations center was busy providing aviators arriving at the range all the information they needed to prepare for their flight tables. There is even an around the clock weather station on site manned by North Carolina Air National Guard’s 156th Weather Flight Team. “Everyone works together as an always ready and responsive team during annual training and live-fire gunnery,” said Lt. Col. Joe Bishop, commander of the 1-130th. “It’s a big operation and we train just like our active duty counterparts. In fact, with three live-fire gunnery exercises planned for this year and having decades of experienced combat aviators and ground crews in this battalion, I can confidently state that the 1-130th is ready for any real-world mission it gets ordered to do.” In 1986, the 1-130th was the first reserve unit to receive the Apache Helicopter for service. The unit has mobilized for multiple real-world deployments prior to Sept. 11th, 2001, and was the first reserve Apache battalion to deploy to Afghanistan in 2003 and to Iraq in 2009.
NC Guard 1,000th Hire for Education and Employment Center
Story and Photos by: Sgt. 1st Class Robert Jordan, NCNG RALEIGH, NC -- The North Carolina National Guard will provide everything a Soldier or Airman needs in war, weapon, check, training, check, leadership, check but what about a job and a different kind of check when they get back. The NCNG Education and Employment Center took that mission to help any Service member find a job and celebrated their 999th and 1,000th hire at a ceremony held at NCNG Headquarters. “They (the center) always looked out for me,” said Spc. Franklin Jones, a NCNG Soldier with E Company, 230th Brigade Support Battalion and a very recent hire for Kelly Services. Jones with his boss Koren Losack of Kelly Services joined retired Active Duty Air Force Master Sgt. Jody Miller and his new boss Lauren Mauldin, a manager with Nationwide Insurance at the ceremony. Miller and Jones share the claim as hire 1,000 since their job offers came into the center at the same time. Guard leaders thanked the employers for helping the center achieve 1,000 hires since opening in July 2013. “It is the employers who are willing to hire North Carolina National Guard members and veterans that make this work,” said Army Chief Warrant Officer Five Richard D. Comer, the state command chief warrant officer. Jones and Miller are the newest success for the center that provides career opportunities NCNG members by building relationships with North Carolina employers. They help Soldiers and Airmen translate their hard earned Guard training, experience and education into opportunities with
employers needing dependable, enthusiastic and dedicated employees. The mission also helps readiness. With more than 21,000 wartime deployments since 9-11 with numerous state activations, support from the business community makes the service of the nearly 11,500 NCNG Citizen Soldiers and Airmen possible. “It is a team effort, service members have the skills we need and when employers hire them they stay in the Guard,” said Army Command Sgt. Maj. John Swart, North Carolina National Guard senior enlisted leader. The center also provides services to NCNG members including translating military jargon into a polished professional resume, Career Assessment and Employment Plans, employment workshops, job fairs, information on Guard education benefits and job interview preparation.
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NCARNG is awarded “Most Improved”
118th JTAC first to receive hallowed graduate patch from USAF Weapons School
By: Dale Janice Cowan, Major, NCANG
By: Master Sgt. Patricia F. Moran,145th Public Affairs NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. – Tech. Sgt. David Maddeford, Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) with the 118th Air Support Operations Squadron (ASOS), New London, NC, made history as one of five graduates of the US Air Force Weapons School to be awarded the coveted graduate patch and enter into an elite group of “patch wearer” brethren during the school’s class 15-A graduation US Air Force Tech. Sgt. David Maddeford receives his ceremony held in Las Vegas, Weapons School diploma from Col. Michael Drowley, Nev. Commandant, for USAF Weapons School (US Air Force As the first and only photo by Senior Airman Joshua Kleinholz/Released) enlisted patch wearers in the school’s 66-year history, Maddeford will join 24 JTAC Weapons Instructor Course past graduates, who will now also be awarded patches. The value of the patch to the warfighter cannot be overstated. “People don’t understand the gravity of this night.” said Senior Master Sgt. Jeremy Mullins, 118th ASOS Chief JTAC-I, Operations Superintendent. “Having an enlisted guy get a weapons school patch is a huge shift in where our career field is going. There hasn’t been anything significant like this to happen in our career field for over three decades.” Gen. Herbert J. “Hawk” Carlisle, commander of Air Combat Command, stated, “These warriors are asked to perform amazing feats in the midst of chaos, and their importance to the theater air-ground fight cannot be overstated. They are trained and skilled. They are the instructors of instructors for our entire JTAC force and consistently provide critical combat leadership. They have saved lives because they are very good at what they do. It is time we recognize them as such. Wearing the Weapons Instructor Course (WIC) patch gives them instant noticeable credibility as experts in air-to-ground tactics, techniques, procedures, and in the integration of all aspects of theater air, space, and cyber power.” JTACs have a broad range of skills that are applied in domestic response or in combat. The combat airmen are usually on the ground, tasked to advise Army ground commanders on the best use of air power to put bombs on target, in addition to air space de-confliction, establishing drop and landing zones and setting up and maintaining radio communications. However, in domestic response, they use those skills to save lives and provide support to those on the ground by establishing landing zones and pinpointing locations for aircraft to find victims or emergency responders needing assistance, resupply or evacuation. The Weapons School provides the world’s most advanced training in weapons and tactics employment, and every six months, produces a new class of graduates who are expert instructors on weapons, weapons systems and air and space integration. Each graduate from the JTAC, five-and-a-half month curriculum course, has completed 23 full-mission profiles and devoted 752 total hours in the classroom and on the range. “The missions that we ran, the planning, executing and debriefing, were more difficult than the academics.” said Maddeford, “Weapons School builds instructors of instructors. It is very apparent that they (the instructors) take this task seriously.” Upon completing the course, graduates return to their home stations, taking the latest tactics, techniques and procedures for air-to-air and air-to-ground combat to their respective units. “I am extremely proud of TSgt Maddeford’s accomplishments,” Mullins stated proudly, “I am excited to have him as the first guard JTAC to bring his skills back to an operational unit. His expertise will continue to make the 118th ASOS the best in the Combat Air Force.”
Page 8 – Tarheel Guardsman — August/September 2015
137 TH NGAUS C ONFERENCE N ASHVILLE , TN 10-13 SEPTEMBER 2015
Marriott Gaylord Opryland Resort pictured
A NGAUS tradition, the annual conference allows members to gather and vote on the top legislative priorities for NGAUS, share information and celebrate the camaraderie of being National Guard and NGAUS members. Join us in Nashville and network with more than 4,000 fellow National Guard men and women from all 50 States, Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia.
NCNG will co-host a hospitality suite
with WANG and OKNG in the Marriott Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center for daily meetings and Hospitality Night
We have rooms blocked in the Cascades
section of the Marriott Gaylord Resort for $176.02 Opryland (including taxes/fees) per night with a $100 non-refundable deposit due upon upon registration
Registration, open through 24 July, is
$200 and includes tickets to the Governor’s Reception, All States Dinner, Convention Center exhibits and events, and daily access to refreshments at the North Carolina National Guard’s hospitality suite.
Send inquiries to: nc.ngaus@gmail.com Registration forms available upon request or on ncnga.org
On 23 June 2015, HQ DA awarded the North Carolina Army National Guard (NCARNG) the National Guard’s “Most Improved” state for its Army Communities of Excellence (ACOE) submission during a ceremony in the Pentagon Auditorium. The NCARNG participates annually in the ACOE Program and achieved 3rd Place, Silver Division, for its submission (7th out of 54 states and territories). This recognition is a direct result of the extraordinary efforts put forth by our Category Champions and Writing Team Members. Category Champions are current leaders in the organization who carefully selected Writing Team Members to mentor and educate as future leaders in the NCARNG.
145th Operations Group observes promotion and change of command
By: Master Sgt. Patricia F. Moran 145th Public Affairs
• Profile: COL Jeffrey Copeland Team Members: LTC Tim Aiken and Maj Dale Cowan • Cat 1 - Leadership: COL Cliff Wilkins Team Members: MAJ Jonathan Hearn, MAJ Bobby Lumsden, and Capt Russell Niemyer • Cat 2 - Strategic Plans: LTC Cristina Moore Team Members: LTC John Ebbighausen • Cat 3 - Customer Focus: LTC Maury Williams Team Members: CPT Mark Boyle, Ms. Odaliska Almonte, and CSM Michael Pisano • Cat 4 - Measurement, Analysis and Knowledge Management: LTC Michael Marciniak Team Members: MAJ Brian McIlvaine, Mr. Tony Middleton, and 1LT Brandon Green • Cat 5 - Workforce Focus: LTC David Raynor Team Members: CW3 Richard Shipp and CW2 Linda Horton • Cat 6 - Operations Focus: LTC Brent Orr Team Members: MAJ Jeremy Shellhammer and MAJ David Walliser • Cat 7 - Results: Maj Dale Cowan
CHARLOTTE, NC – Saturday morning, June 6, 2015, US Air Force officer Joseph H. Stepp IV was a lieutenant colonel and the commander of the 156th Airlift Squadron. By the afternoon, he would be a colonel and the commander of the 145th Operations Group. Stepp relinquished his leadership of the 156th Airlift Squadron over to new commander, Lt. Col. Miles Kevin Harkey during a morning change of command ceremony held at the North Carolina Air National Guard base, Charlotte Douglas International Airport. After the reading of the promotion proclamation and his taking of the new oath, Stepp assumed command of the 145th Operations Group The NCARNG implemented, for the first time, an examiner review of by accepting the 145th OG guidon from Col. Marshall C. Collins, its ACOE packet. Trained, voluntary ACOE examiners, LTC Matt Chytka, commander 145th Airlift Wing. Stepp now leads more than 270 airmen that are trained to execute LTC Miriam Gray, CW3 Jeffrey Ragone, LTC Cristina Moore, MAJ Brian a broad range of peacetime and combat missions throughout the state, McIlvaine and Mr. Tony Middleton provided a thorough review of the nation and world, including C-130 airlift and airdrop operations, packet along with feedback to make improvements. This review provided aeromedical evacuation and aerial firefighting (MAFFS) missions. corrections and recommended changes to the submission in order to put Col. Stepp entered the Air Force in 1993 earning his commission the best and most accurate product forward to represent the NCARNG at through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at the National Guard Bureau level. The results speak for themselves! The NCNARNG improved its ACOE process to earn recognition by HQ DA as North Carolina State University. He served for two years as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M. prior to joining the “Most Improved” National Guard State! the North Carolina Air National Guard in 1996. After completion of The ACOE Program is a part of a much larger Integrated pilot training, Stepp served as C-130H3 Instructor and Evaluator Pilot, Management System that includes four management functions: Strategic Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) Instructor Pilot, Chief Planning, Process Improvement, Performance Management and of Weapons and Tactics and Chief of Wing Plans. Organizational Assessments. The NCARNG commitment to the ACOE A combat-tested veteran, Col. Stepp has flown more than 5,600 Program allows it to show various cycles of improvement with each flying hours to include combat operations while serving on overseas submission and how those cycles are linked within the overall Integrated deployments supporting Operations Joint Forge (Enterprise), Coronet Management System. The ACOE program enables the NCARNG to Oak, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. become a stronger and more effective organization, one that is better able “I’ve wanted to fly since I was five years old.” said Stepp. “I thank to meet the demands of today, while preparing for the challenges of the my family for all their support throughout the years with my desire to future. serve as an officer in the Air Force and fly airplanes. This truly is all that I ever wanted to do. With that being said, today is just as much because of you as it is anyone else.” “To those that have flown with me, either here or around the world, and to those that I have worked with in a staff capacity, today is a culmination of your support, your excellence and your professionalism. Today is our success, it’s our celebration. Over the years, we have all experienced both successes and failures and I assure you that we will experience many more but we will experience them together.” As commander of the 145th Operations Group, Col. Stepp concluded by stating, “We are going to focus on empowering one another, encouraging one another and supporting one another. We are going to set high expectations for one another, hold one another accountable and (US Army photo by Mr. Leroy Council, AMVID/Released) (Left to mentor one another. Taking care of and focusing on our, ensures the right: LTC Brent Orr, former Deputy J5; LTC Halverson; COL Jeffrey success of the 145th Airlift Wing’s mission.” Copeland, J5; Maj Dale Cowan, J5 ACOE Program Manager; CW5 Ronald Williams, 449 TAB Safety Officer)
Page 9 – Tarheel Guardsman — August/September 2015
New Scholarship Partner for the NCNGA Educational Foundation The NCNGA Educational Foundation is proud to announce a new partnership in our efforts to provide educational assistance to high school and college students. It is with The Soldiers and Airmen Assistance Fund ( SAAF). The SAAF provides emergency financial help to North Carolina National Guardsmen and their families that experience financial hardships due to a variety of circumstances, including natural disaster, fire, death in the family, and forclosure. An individual can file a request for support through his or her chain of command to this organization, and upon approval, receive a financial grant to help them through a short term problem. Recently the SAAF Board of Directors approved to utilize some of their funds to support a Scholarship Fund with the NCNGA Educational Foundation. Due to their support, the Foundation has been able to award 10 additional scholarships this year to deserving students in need of financial assistance. The recipients are identified through the same application process as all other applicants for scholarships from the Educational Foundation. We are extremely grateful for this support!
Raffle Tickets! The Wakefield Senior Men’s We Care golf tournament raised over $40,000.00 for our Guard families and programs in 2014. Join us again this year in supporting this great fund raising event and our families. You Could Win This Fabulous Vacation Package! Two Southwest Airline tickets, 7 days at a 5 Star Resort Condo (continental US), plus $1,500 spending cash. Proceeds from the sale of the raffle tickets will benefit the USO-NC and the NCNG Soldiers and Airmen Fund. Each ticket cost $20.00. You do not have to be present to win and the drawing will be held October 6th. Send your check payable to the SAAF and please include your phone number. Our address is SAAF-NC, 7410 Chapel Hill Road, Raleigh, NC 27607. We will mail your tickets back to you the same day.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT NCNGA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION 2015 RAFFLE Income ticket sales $ Expenses:cost of tickets, postage & prize Prize Donated Back J. Swart Net Income $ TOOL BOX RAFFLE We were not given a Tool Box this year Expenses (Cost of tickets)
-
GOLF TOURNAMENT (3/12/15) Income: Expenses: Net Income SILENT AUCTION
-
$ -
$ $ $
-
$
5,322 2,469 2,000 4,853
ENDOWMENT FUND CONTRIBUTIONS 2014 Foundation BOD $ 2015 Foundation BOD 505th EN BN In honor of retiring Total $
OTHER NCNGA Annual Contritution to Gen.Fund Matching funds/Duke Energy Foundation Monthly $25 Donation Ronald J. Bower Donations memory of friends - Virgil Gough
$ $
10,200 796 5,280 6,006 10,155 6,612 3,543
526
SCHOLARSHIP FUND CONTRIBUTIONS Len Adams Memorial Scholarship Fund (505th BN EN) $ Air National Guard Chapter Scholarship Fund Donation R. Stonestreet CMSg. George R. Auten Memorial Scholarship Fund Capt. Chris Cash Memorial Scholarship Fund CMSgt. David A. Earnhardt Memorial Scholarship Fund Walter Freeze Memorial Scholarship Fund General Officers Scholarship Fund Elmer Hardison Memorial Scholarship Fund/wagon BG William D. Lackey Memorial Scholarship Fund Dorothy Ledbetter Fund –Marvin & Thomas Ledbetter NCNG SAAF Scholarship Fund Mike Sherrill Memorial Scholarship Fund Lucille Webster Stalls Memorial Teachers Scholarship Fund Earl & Elois Willis Scholarship Fund (In honor of their daughters) Total $
Minute Man Muster 2015 3rd Annual – we received check 6/12/15 2014 Expenses Total
51
3,292
FOUNDATION’S HEROES TRAVELING TROPHY 505th EN BN $
Page 10 – Tarheel Guardsman — August/September 2015
By: Staff Sgt. Julianne M. Showalter, 145th Public Affairs
$
REVERSE DRAWING (3/12/15) Income ticket sales Income side bars/misc auction Expenses (cost of tickets, meals & prizes) Net Income
TOTAL NET INCOME
What it takes to earn a Golden Eagle
1,000 25 1,500 1,000 1,300 5,154 200 1,400 175 500 10,000 1,970 1,000 1,360 26, 584 273 136 214 623
-
5,186 320 4,866
$
2,500 2,150 150 300
$
55,342
CHARLOTTE, NC - Recruiters from the 145th Force Support Squadron received The Regional Golden Eagle Award for top-performance in 2014, as well as seven individual awards during a ceremony held June 7, 2015 at the North Carolina Air National Guard base, Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Brig. Gen. Roger E. Williams, Jr., Assistant Adjutant General for Air, North Carolina Air National Guard, had the honor of presenting the awards. Thirteen states competed for the awards after being evaluated on the most accessions, which includes enlistments and commissions, community involvement, school outreach and retention rates. The 145th FSS recruiters had a total of 222 accessions, plus between just two recruiters, 149 people were enlisted or commissioned. Leading the stats was Tech. Sgt. Francis Strother who accessioned 78 members, breaking the existing NC recruiting record. “We did astounding things that fiscal year. We haven’t received this award before; it was the first time ever. The whole team was in smiles,” said Tech. Sgt. Lonnie Brooks. Brooks has been a production recruiter for six years, and he, along with the other recruiters, volunteered for the position as a way to give back to the Air Force. The work put in during business hours is seen by other members of the 145th Airlift Wing but what isn’t seen is the extra mile the recruiting office goes. It doesn’t have to be associated with recruiting to get this team involved. For the fourth year in a row the team gave up a Saturday to support the 2nd Harvest Food Bank during their annual kick-off event by collecting, organizing and moving food donations. Their work ethic stems from passion and a caring attitude for each person. “We didn’t plan for it,” Brooks stated, “and it was a weekend we had off, but I came in to the office to knock out a few things and get some people scheduled for Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS). Low and behold, Sgt. Strother comes in 15 minutes later for the same thing. He just wanted to make sure his applicants were taken care of. We were here for the same reason and have the same work ethic.” “Last year was a phenomenal year. They take a lot of work home and take a lot of
responsibility onto themselves,” said Lt. Col. Lisa Kirk, 145th FSS commander. Unlike active duty recruiters, Air Nation Guard recruiters work with individuals from start to finish, preparing documents, conducting career counseling, setting up dates for enlistments, commissions, MEPS, basic training and technical school. It all takes time. On average, 40 to 50 hours are spent on just one person to complete the necessary steps to fill a slot within the NCANG. “For us it’s about taking care of people. The moment you cross the threshold of that door you’re special to us, not just a number. We’re here to make sure your transition is easy and smooth,” said Brooks. Staff Sgt. Jason Smigelski, now a member of the 145th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, worked with Brooks during his transition out of the US Navy and into the North Carolina Air National Guard. During this time, he experienced the dedication of the recruiting office. “The first time I walked in he had a big smile on his face and shook my hand. Coming here I felt like they wanted to help me. Sgt. Brooks kept in close contact and if a week went by without talking to him, he’d check in with me. It wasn’t all about getting me into the guard,” said Smigelski. The recruiting office keeps in touch with the members long after they’ve raised their right hand. “Those moments when someone completes their technical school, gets a full time position, or are put in for an award is what makes me do the job that I do. It gives me the feeling of joy, like they’re one of my kids and I’ve raised them right,” said Brooks. The Regional Golden Eagle Award is the capstone to the individual and collective effort put forth by the recruiting team. “I think this award is a visible demonstration of something we’re all aware of already; their level of dedication to the mission and their ability to go above and beyond the call of duty. They are the reason we’re consistently at 100% manning at the end of the year when many units are not. I’m very proud of the whole team,” said Kirk.
Page 11 – Tarheel Guardsman — August/September 2015
NCNGA Educational Foundation, Inc. 2015-2016 Scholarship Recipients
Memorial/Special Scholarships
Len Adams Memorial Scholarship - $1,000 Zachary A. Shields of Summerfield – Hampden-Sydney College Grandson of James J. Reilly - Associate Life Member Air National Guard Chapter Scholarship - $1,000
Wes and Betsy Ives Memorial Perpetual Scholarship $1,000 Matthew L. Medlin of Youngsville – Appalachian State University Son of Mr. and Mrs. Ray L. Medlin- Company A-1-130th ARB Ryan A. Lefler of Concord- NC State University Son of Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell E. Lefler- 145 AW
Sara L. Baker of Charlotte– UNC-Charlotte, 145th MDG CMSgt George R. Auten Memorial Perpetual Scholarship - $1,000 Franklin E. Scott of Lucama– NC State University Grandson of James J. Reilly - Associate Life Member Danny E. Bowers Memorial Scholarship - $400 Briana L. Calloway of Mount Pleasant – Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Daughter of Mr. Brian T. Calloway –Co. C 1/131 AVN Hannah M. Dull of Statesville – Mitchell Community College Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Reggie Hooker—JFHQ – HHD – G3T Noel H. Towe of Belmont – Gaston College Spouse of Mr. Jeremy Towe- 130th MEB Roy L. Brantley Memorial Perpetual Scholarship - $1,000 Morgan T. Fuquay of Summerfield – UNC-Greensboro Granddaughter of Mr. John W. Moore –Associate Life Member Gladys L. Santana of Hope Mills – Fayettevile State University, HHC 105th Engineers Captain Chris Cash Memorial Scholarship - $1,000 Meghan B. Pope of Greensboro – UNC-Greensboro Daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Chalmer D. Pope – JFHQ CMSgt David A. Earnhardt Memorial Scholarship - $1,000 Andrea N. Howell of Vilas – Gardner-Webb University Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Timothy S. Howell – 630th CSSB CMSgt David A. Earnhardt Memorial Scholarship - $400 Tana J. Tyndall of Pink Hill – Lenoir Community College Daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Jerry F. Tyndall – 882 Eng
Wesley Draughn Ives Memorial Perpetual Scholarship - $1,000 Miranda R. Chebahtah of Laurinburg – Campbell University Daughter of Mr. Joseph A. Chebahtah – 171st EN. CO. Dorothy Ledbetter Memorial Scholarship - $1,000 Brenna H. McQuay of Garner – NC State University Daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Rickey A. McQuay – B CO. 2/151 AVN NCNG SAAF Scholarship- $1,000 Jakayla T. Alston of Whitakers – East Carolina University Daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Melvin Tillery – Associate Life Member
Joshua T. Glover of High Point- UNC-Wilmington Grandson of Mr. Charlie A. Tanner- Associate Life Member Elmer C. Hardison Memorial Scholarship - $1,000 Isaac T. Potter of Dunn – Lees-McRae College Son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Potter – Associate Life Member Bruce G. Spigelmyer of Elizabethtown, Ky - University of Louisville Son of Mr. and Mrs. Scott P. Spigelmyer-HQ STARC Jennifer R. Starcher of Clover, SC- Clemson University Granddaughter of Mr. Thomas Pilon- Associate Life Member Weldon E. Holcomb Memorial Scholarship - $400 Carlee S. Millard of Pikeville – Wayne Community College Granddaughter of Mr. Dan R. Millard- Associate Life Member William E. Ingram Memorial Scholarship - $1,000 Blake M. Stoddard of Louisburg – NC State University Son of Mr. and Mrs. Seth O. Taylor- Echo Co. 130th AVN Ashley M. Wilson of Hope Mills- UNC-Asheville Granddaughter of Mr. Ronald J. Carnahan- Associate Life Member
Ed and Trudy Webber Memorial Perpetual Scholarship – $1,000 Caitlyn J. Perry of Clinton – NC State University Granddaughter of Mr. John E. R. Perry Jr. – Associate Life Member Mackenzie B. Smith of Blacksburg, SC – Clemson University Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Smith – JFHQ Earl & Elois Willis Scholarship in Honor of daughters, Sandy W. Doncaster and Andrea W. Kidd James W. Champion of Zebulon – East Carolina University Son of Mr. and Mrs. Ivan W. Champion – Camp Butner Training Center Other Scholarships Academic Excellence/Leadership Award - $1,000
Joshua A. Cook of Cary – UNC at Charlotte Son of Mrs. & Mrs. Kenneth K. Cook, Jr. – JFHQ – HHD
Abigail M. Mansfield of Gastonia – Shorter University Daugher of Mr. & Mrs. Walter J. Mansfield – HHC 130th MEB
Elizabeth A. McMurtray of Fayetteville – UNC at Pembroke Granddaughter of Mr. Ronald J. Bower – Associate Life Member William B. Neal of Raleigh – East Carolina University Grandson of Mr. Kenneth Stalls – Associate Life Member Marlee S. Reece of Raleigh – NC State University Daughter of Mr. Morris N. Reece – 145th Air Guard Wyatt A. Scott of Lucama – NC State University Grandson of Mr. James J. Reilly – Associate Life Member Tavoy W. Walls of Clarkton - NC State University Son of Mecca Watkins – F Company 230th BSB
Citizenship Award - $1,000 Marquaze D. Lee of Ahoskie – Winston Salem State University HHC 30th BSTB Andrew W. Lefler of Concord – UNC – Charlotte Son of Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell E. Lefler- 145th AW Lauryn A. Collier of Gastonia – Florida State University Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gregory Collier – 14th MXG Arthur T. Hohnsbehn of Garner – Campbell University Son of Mr. & Mrs. Arthur E. Hohnsbehn – Associate Life Member
Krissa G. Dover of Shelby – Gaston Community College Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kelly G. Dover – 145th AW
Sarah M. Zephier of Oak Island – UNC at Chapel Hill Daughter of Ms. Angela M. Zephier - 156th Weather Flight
John C. Petersen IV of Concord – NC State University Son of Mr. & Mrs. John C. Petersen Jr. –145th LRS AW Michael R. Sherrill Memorial Scholarship $1,000 Bethany E. Mansfield of Gastonia – Anderson University Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Walter J. Mansfield – HHC 130th MEB Lucille Webster Stalls Memorial Teachers Scholarship - $1,000 David N. Andrews of Salisbury – NC State University Son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold W. Andrews – Associate Member James B. “Sandy” Stokes, Jr. Memorial Scholarship - $400 Evie Locklear of Battleboro – Robeson Community College Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Locklear – Associate Life Member COL Lon W. & Emma R. Taylor Memorial Perpetual Scholarship - $1,000 Magnolia K. Hopkins of Morehead City – Appalachian State University Granddaughter of Mr. Jim Muse – Associate Life Member
Page 12 – Tarheel Guardsman — August/September 2015
(pictured left to right) Dan Milliard, grandfather of scholarship recipient, Carlee Millard. Carlee received the Weldon E Holcomb Memorial Scholarship and will be attending Wayne Community College.
Special Population Scholarship - $800
SECU Foundation/NCNGA Educational Foundation Scholarship - $10,000
Ethan S. Pestyk of Charlotte – Appalachian State University Son of Mr. Sean P. Barnett – 145th Comm. Flight
(pictured left to right) Richard Crump; scholarship recipient, Andrea Howell; Melody Howell; Timothy Howell. Andrea received the CMSgt David A Earnhardt Memorial Scholarship and will be attending Gardner-Webb University.
Post Grad Scholarship - $800
NCNG SAAF Scholarship - $400
LTC William C. Polk, Jr. Memorial Perpetual Scholarship $1,000
Gloria Fields, President of the NCNGA Educational Foundation presenting Joshua Glover with the Walter R. Freeze Memorial Scholarship. Joshua is a 2015 graduate of Ledford High School and will be attending UNC Wilmington majoring in Business/Accounting.
Dan R. Millard, III of Pikeville – UNC-Wilmington Grandson of Mr. Dan R. Millard – Associate Life Member
Dylan R. Blackburn of Clinton – Campbell University Grandson of Mr. Bobby R. Blackburn – Associate Life Member
Mark C. Heidenfeldt of Harrisburg – NC State University Son of Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Heidenfeldt - 145 AW
A Few of the Scholarship Presentations:
USAA Scholarship - $1,000
Thais M. Bonilla of Apex – Meredith College Daughter of Mr. Efrain Bonilla, Jr. – Associate Member
Walter R. Freeze Memorial Scholarship - $1,000 Sydney L. Gilliam of Hendersonville –University of Georgia Granddaughter of Mr. James H. Barnette – Associate Life Member
Scholarship Recipients continued...
SECU Foundation/NCNGA Educational Foundation Scholarship - $5,000 Sydney C. Fulmer of Sylva – Southwestern Community College Granddaughter of Mr. Max E. Cook – Associate Life Member Since 1968, we have awarded a total of $1,205,070 to 1,708 students The following Special/Memorial Scholarships were unable to be awarded due to there being no qualified candidates: Dare Reese “John” Beam Memorial Scholarship - $400 Ruth and Ellis Fulbright of Icard Memorial & National Merit Scholarship - $1,000
Ken Tyndall will be filling the office chair at NCNGA Educational Foundation office upon the retirement of Peggy Robinson; no one can really replace her!! Ken can be reached at the office at (919)-851-3390 ext. 5 or at edfoundation@NCNGA.org. He looks forward to meeting everyone and working with the Foundation.
(pictured left to right) Gina Dover; SMSgt Kelly Dover; scholarship recipient, Karissa Dover; Wendy Larsen. Karissa received the NCNG SAAF Scholarship and will be attending Gaston Community College.
Page 13 – Tarheel Guardsman — August/September 2015
Retiree Corner:
Requirement upon Receiving 20 Year Letter (NOE) SSG Travis J Reed – Retirement Services Officer Once a Soldier attains 20 years of service and receives their 20 Year Letter (Notice of Eligibility); they have 90 days from the date of the letter to make a Reserve Component Survivors Benefit Plan (RC-SBP) election. If an election is not made the Service Member will be given Immediate Coverage for Surviving Spouse and Children (Option C) automatically and will receive a debt at the time of drawing Retirement Pay until the coverage is paid for in full. Cost varies based on several criteria; you can do a cost estimate at https:// www.hrc.army.mil/calculators/detailscalcsbp.aspx . The RC-SBP election form is a DD 2656-5; the form can be attained and reviewed by your Unit Admin or Readiness NCO. Once the RC-SBP Form is complete insure a copy of it and the 20 Year Letter are scanned into IPERMS. It’s also a good practice to forward these documents to the Army Human Resources Command (AHRC) at Ft. Knox. The address is: US Army Human Resources Command/ ATTN: AHRC-PDPTR/ 1600 Spearhead Division Avenue (Dept 482)/ Ft Knox, KY 40122-5402. For more information on RC-SBP/SBP along with additional resources and services provided by AHRC check out the website at https://www.hrc.army.mil . AHRC can also be reached at (502) 613-8950.
Reserve Component Survivor Benefits Pay/Survivors Benefit Pay ELECTIONS Written By: SSG Travis J. Reed, NCNG Retirement Services Officer
Len Adams Memorial Scholarship Zachary Shields was awarded the Annual NCNGA Educational Foundation Len Adams Memorial Scholarship on 28May15. He is the Grandson of SFC (Ret) James Reilly, who from Detachment 1, Headquarters Support Company 505th Engineer Battalion, Mooresville, NC. That is the same unit that Len Adams was assigned to at the time and James was the Platoon Sergeant. Zachary was presented the Len Adams Memorial Scholarship at his Senior Awards Day at Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School in Kernersville. Zachary will be attending Hampden-Sydney College in the fall. Congratulations Zachary Shields! The 8th Annual Len Adams Memorial NCNGA Educational Foundation Scholarship Golf Tournament – In Honor of CSM Paul Terry’s Retirement will be held on 28Sep15 at River Oaks Golf Club in Statesville to support this annual scholarship.
It has recently come to our attention that information has been put out wrong for some time now throughout the state to the Retirement Community in reference to the RCSBP (Grey Area) and SBP (Age 60) elections. We are now working to get the correct information out to the masses and need your help to do so. Our State Retirement Counselor will be receiving additional in depth training and will be passing this knowledge forward in future train the trainer events. The common belief was that at the time a Soldier reached 20 years of service and received the 20 Year Letter (NOE); they would be given the opportunity to make an election of desired Reserve Component Survivors Benefit Plan (RCSBP) coverage based on several different criteria choices [i.e. None, Spouse only, Spouse and Child// A (Defer), B (Age 60), or C (Immediate)]. The belief was that this election, whichever it may be, would cover the Retiree up to age 60. In the event the Retiree passed away during that time frame; which ever election he/she made would take into effect. This is all true. The second portion of this is that at age 60, it was believed that a Retiree would have the We invite you to visit any of our 327 Posts, statewide, opportunity to make a new election (i.e. Continue visit our website www.nclegion.org, email us at current coverage, Change to Spouse only, Child Only, Spouse and Child, or Discontinue Coverage). nclegion@nc.rr.com, or call 919-832-7506. This is false. The truth is the coverage that “For God and Country - Still Serving Proudly.” was selected at the 20 year mark will continue passed age 60. The only time this can be changed is between the 25TH and 36TH month after retirement. The ONLY option to change to is discontinue coverage completely. If the election to discontinue coverage is not made in the allotted time the coverage will continue as previous until Retirees death.
The North Carolina Department of the American Legion Thanks You for Your Service to Our State and Nation!
Page 14 – Tarheel Guardsman — August/September 2015
Earl Scruggs Center Announces: Star Spangled Summer with FREE ADMISSION for Active Duty Military, Their Families and Veterans The Earl Scruggs Center, in partnership with the City of Shelby, is pleased to announce a “Star Spangled Summer” with free exhibit admission for all active duty military personnel and veterans between Memorial Day and Labor Day. This partnership, inspired by a group called The Hickabillies, a bluegrass band formed during Operation Iraqi Freedom, runs through Labor Day. As a Blue Star Museum, the Center joins more than 2,000 museums across America offering free admission to military personnel and their families this summer in collaboration with the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, and the Department of Defense. Blue Star Museums is an effort to improve the quality of life for active duty military families, especially focusing on the approximately 1 million children who have had at least one parent deployed. Blue Star Museums was created to show support for military families who have faced multiple deployments and the challenges of reintegration. This program offers these families a chance to visit museums this summer when many will have limited resources and limited time to be together. For more information about the Blue Star Museums program visit the link on the Earl Scruggs Center website. The site lists all participating museums as well as frequently asked questions. Haley Pillars, Earl Scruggs Center Programming Coordinator said “the Blue Star Museums program is a way to show our gratitude for the sacrifices that active duty men and women and their families make. It was important to us to also be able to recognize the service and sacrifices of our veterans so we were able to do both because of our partnership with the City of Shelby.” The Center enjoyed the June 27th program The Hickabillies: Music & Stories of Bluegrass in Iraq. The Hickabillies, “The Original Iraqi Garage Band”, formed during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Hickabillies are composed of members from Old Hickory, the 30th Heavy Separate Brigade. The 30th Brigade began active duty September 2003 and left for Iraq in February of 2004. Hickabillies at FOB Cobra Jalula IRAQ Hickabillies at Earl Scruggs Center Emory Altman, Hickabillies band member said “Our band is unique; we came together unlike any other garage band in the world…in a combat zone!!! We are truly a “band of brothers”. Through our experiences in Iraq, turning the lights out during a show in the middle of a mortar attack, to driving 8 hours to a base for a show pulling our own security along the way, the band is closer than most. Oh yeah, and what other band can say it was 140 degrees and a set was stopped in the middle of a rocket attack!” For more information, visit the Earl Scruggs Center website at www. EarlScruggsCenter.org or call 704-487-6233during regular operating hours. Wednesday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm Thursday -Saturday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Sunday 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm Regular Admission Standard $12 62+/College Student $8.00 Youth $5.00 Under 5 FREE
Earl and Elois Willis Scholarship Fund By: Elois Willis The NCNGA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION has always been a wonderful organization to our family and many of the National Guard families across our state. In March 2015, we established the Earl and Elois Willis Scholarship Fund in honor of our daughters, Andrea Willis Kidd and Sandy Willis Doncaster (deceased in August 2014). Andrea and Sandy, both graduates of NCSU, have always known how important education is to our young people. This scholarship will be supported and awarded yearly by the Willis family and donations from friends. To encourage the pursuit of education, this scholarship is to be awarded to a child, dependent, grandchild or spouse of an active, retired or deceased member of the NCNGA. The recipient will also need to satisfy all other general scholarship criteria established by the NCNGA Educational Foundation.
Announcing NCNGA Online Auction!
Starting on August 8th, 2015, our North Carolina National Guard Association will be kicking off our online auction to support our programs and services to our Soldiers and Airmen across the State. We will be auctioning off a number of fun and unique items from autographed memorabilia to vacation packages. Our organization supports our over 16,000 NC National Guard members. Show your support by sharing this page with your family and friends. www.ncnga-auction.com
Contact:Emily Epley, Executive Director Earl Scruggs Center: Music & Stories from the American South 704.477.6845-cell 704.487.6233-office emily@earlscruggscenter.org
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Periodicals U. S. Postage PAID Raleigh, NC
Tarheel Guardsman NC National Guard Assoc. 7410 Chapel Hill Road Raleigh, NC 27607-5047
How to reach us: 919-851-3390 info@ncnga.org - email www.ncnga.org - website
In Memoriam
Listed below are those members (and non-members), spouses and dependent children that have recently passed away. If we have missed someone, please contact the Editor, Katie Westbrooks at katie@ncnga.org or 919-851-3390 ext 2. Kathy M. Floyd Spouse of Mike Floyd Lexington, NC December 18, 2013 Linzy Rimmer Roxboro, NC November 9, 2014 David C Stewart, Sr. Rockingham, NC November 26, 2014 Phillip Funderburk Kannapolis, NC May 14, 2015 Megan E. Jones Charlotte, NC May 24, 2015
Durwood Askew Clinton, NC May 25, 2015
Dakota K. Morgan Garner, NC June 11, 2015
Billy W. Wilkerson Rockingham, NC May 30, 2015
Jimmy W. Ester Edenton, NC June 16, 2015
Bobbie Lewis Spouse of Jerry M. Lewis Whiteville, NC June 1, 2014
Charlotte Burnette Spouse of Richard Burnette Goldsboro, NC June 16, 2015
Alvin H. Joyner Wake Forest, NC June 2, 2015
William D. Perry Marietta, GA June 18, 2015
Do we have your email address? In order to contact our members when time is of the utmost importance (legislative issues, special benefit opportunities, etc.), the NCNGA is trying to build it’s email list for our members. Send your email address to info@ncnga.org and we will add your name to our alert roster. (Your email will only be used for NC National Guard Association legislative and benefit updates. We will not sell or give your information to anyone else.)
Furman P. Bodenheimer, Jr. Greensboro, NC June 19, 2015 Paul D. Watkins Reidsville, NC June 27, 2015 Jimmy B. Vaughan Bath, NC July 3, 2015 John J. Reeves Jacksonville, NC July 5, 2015 Richard E. Graham Charlotte, NC July, 8 2015