D THE
ISPATCH AUGUST 2015
The Magazine of the Texas Military Forces
Operation
LONE STAR Texas Airmen helping communities
Houston Astros
give Soldiers huge send-off
Contents
D Contents
6
A Champion for the Guard - Congresswoman Kay Granger
10
Operation Lone Star
12 Signal unit gets a big send-off 16
TXSG at AT
18 CERFP returns to basics 20 TXSG trains for shelter operations 22
Purple Hearts reunited
26 TXANG Engineers head north to help community projects 30
REAL Guidance Moral Injury
27 Key Leadership Announcements
The Cover
D THE
ISPATCH AUGUST 2015
The Magazine of the Texas Military Forces
Operation
LONE STAR Texas Airmen
building dreams
Houston Astros
give Soldiers huge sendoff
A dentist with the Texas Medical Command, Texas Army National Guard, examines a patient for cavities during Operation Lone Star in San Juan, Texas, July 29, 2015. (Texas Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Praxedis Piñeda)
2 TheDISPATCH August 2015
Contents
Governor Greg Abbott
The Adjutant General Maj. Gen. John F. Nichols
Public Affairs Officer Lt. Col. Travis Walters Deputy Public Affairs Officer Maj. Joshua Amstutz Public Affairs Staff Capt. Martha Nigrelle 1st Lt. Alicia Lacy Staff Sgt. John Gately Laura Lopez John Thibodeau Michelle McBride Managing Editor Graphic Layout and Design Sgt. 1st Class. Malcolm M. McClendon Contributing Writers and Photographers The Texas Military Forces Public Affairs Office would like to thank all the contributing writers and photographers who generously share their work with us. Without the hard work and dedication of Soldiers, Airmen, and civilians, we would not be able to tell YOUR Texas Military Forces story.
Members of the Texas Army National Guard’s 136th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, hosted by the Houston Astros, conduct a deployment ceremony at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas, July 18, 2015. (Texas Army National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Daniel Griego) read more on pg. 12
* The Dispatch is an authorized publication for members of the Texas Military Forces and the Department of Defense. Contents of The Dispatch are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the National Guard Bureau, or the State of Texas. * The editorial content of this publication is the responsibility of the Texas Military Forces Public Affairs Office. * The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement of the products or services advertised by the U.S. Army or the Texas Military Forces. * Everything advertised in this publication will be made available for purchase, use, or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation, or any other factor of the purchaser, user, or patron. If a violation or rejection of this equal opportunity policy by an advertiser is confirmed, the publisher will refuse to print advertising from that source until the violation is corrected. * Content is edited, prepared and provided by the Texas Joint Military Forces Public Affairs Office, Bldg. 10, 2200 W. 35th Street, Camp Mabry, Austin, Texas. 78703.*
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4 TheDISPATCH August 2015
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From the Top
Trust Commentary by Col. Scott MacLeod Texas Joint Domestic Operations Commander
“A
nonprofessional gives their customers what they want, a professional tells their clients what they need.” Author unknown.
In last month’s “From the Top,” Command Sgt. Maj. Hoxie argued that commanders must empower junior leaders to create the conditions necessary for units to achieve expertise in basic warfighting tasks. Hoxie’s charge aligns with the new Army Leader Development manual, which emphasizes leader development as a way to build trust in units. The manual states that, “all the competencies and attributes together lead to trust between the leader and the led, trust that lays the foundation for mission command and effective teamwork.” This trust is crucial, especially when one recognizes the role fear can play between leaders and subordinates. Fear undermines trust. It is an obstacle to frank and honest dialogue. Fear causes people to embellish, avoid and compromise the truth. Common examples of fear can include the fear of failure, the fear of upsetting the status
quo, the fear of being disliked and the fear of losing employment or promotion opportunities. In 1938, Brig. Gen. George C. Marshall was faced with such a challenge while serving as the deputy chief of staff of the Army. Watching a room full of advisors bend to President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s will, Marshall realized his would be the lone voice of dissent. Even though he knew it might damage his career, he displayed moral courage by publicly disagreeing with Roosevelt’s plan to secretly build 10,000 warplanes for the British. When asked about this, Marshall responded, “I am sorry, Mr. President, but I don’t agree with you at all.” Marshall understood that disagreement wasn’t disloyalty. “As custodians and stewards of the profession, leaders must be willing to put the interests of the nation and service ahead of their own. To do otherwise would be a disservice to the profession and the individual being advised.” - FROM THE TOP
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Texas Military Forces
A Champion for the Guard Congresswoman Kay Granger continues to fight for the Guard
Story by Laura Lopez Texas Military Forces Public Affairs Office
A
USTIN, TEXAS (Aug. 4, 2015)In 2012, when discussions surrounding the aviation restructuring of Air Force aircraft threatened the removal of Texas’ C-130 Hercules aircraft to Montana, one friend of the force delivered a powerful message and a vow to fight an unnecessary move that would jeopardize the lives of millions of Americans. The charge led by U.S. Congresswoman Kay Granger (R-TX 12th District) and supported by the entire Texas delegation successfully kept the C-130s in Fort Worth with the 136th Airlift Wing. Now, years later, a similar discussion involving the Army Aviation Restructuring Initiative and the removal of all attack aviation from the Army National Guard for transfer to the active Army is a battle Granger isn’t afraid of taking on.
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“The National Guard is battle-tested and combat proven an indispensable, operational force throughout 13 years of constant conflict,” said Granger. “They are interchangeable with the active Army and stand strong as our nation’s strategic hedge against unforeseen world events.” Despite measures in the FY16 National Defense Authorization and Appropriations bills, transfer of the AH-64 Apache helicopters from the Army National Guard to the active Army continue and risk acceleration. As she was with the NDAA, Granger continues to remain a vocal advocate about the role of the Guard and the outcome of the National Commission on the Future of the Army. In July, Granger co-sponsored, along with Representatives Steve Womack (R-AR 3rd District), Michael Capuano (D-MA 7th District) and Keith Rothfus (R-PA 12th District), a letter sent to both the House and Senate Armed Services Committees that garnered the support of 214 House members, nearly half of the entire body. The legwork of
both Granger and her deputy chief of staff, Johnnie Kaberle, rallied these members behind a message highlighting the need to “protect the capabilities of the National Guard, vitally important to security” and to allow “Congress sufficient time to review all recommendations and to thoughtfully deliberate the issues.” “Our National Guardsmen and women play a vital role in both our national defense and domestic disaster response,” said Granger. “Therefore, it is critical we stand up and fight for them.” Members of the commission visited with Governor Abbott and representatives from the Texas National Guard in Austin and Houston last month, as part of its research to determine the best combination of active duty and reserve forces. The commission’s report is due to Congress February 2016. From providing mass emergency evacuation assistance with the C-130 Hercules during the aftermath
Texas Military Forces
Congresswoman Kay Granger visiting with Texas National Guardsmen about the importance of keeping the C-130’s in Texas. (Courtesy photo).
of Hurricane Katrina in 2005; to dropping more than two million gallons of water over land with Bambi buckets and UH-60 Blackhawk and CH-47 Chinook helicopters during the summer wildfire season in 2011; to numerous overseas deployments of more than 29,000 men and women, the Texas National Guard continues to remain a ready and relevant force in support of the state and nation. Since September 2003, the Texas
National Guard has served more than 370,000 man-days for missions directly related to the Defense Support to Civilian Authorities. A number requiring more than 23,000 citizen-soldiers and airmen, approximately 150 operations have been to support local, state, and federal agencies with weather and flood response, ground and aviation wildfire response, as well as other missions related to civil support.
“
Our National Guardsmen and women play a vital role in both our national defense and domestic disaster response.
”
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Texas Military Forces
Texas National Guard leadership presented Congresswoman Kay Granger with a signed photo of the C-130, the very aircraft the National Guard, Governor Perry and the Congresswoman fought to keep in Texas. (Courtesy photo).
“
The TXMF and the National Guard as a whole remains the most cost-effective model within the total force.
”
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“Our citizen-soldiers and airmen continually volunteer their time, at a moment’s notice, to serve Texans during a time of need and are the epitome of what the Texas Military Forces stands for,” said Texas Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. John F. Nichols. “As fellow educators, healthcare providers, business leaders, or emergency and first responders, etc. we are vested in those communities in which we serve in.”
A force of more than 24,000 soldiers and airmen, the Texas National Guard has transitioned from a strategic reserve to an operational force, since September 11, 2001, more rapidly deployable than ever before. In fact, the deployment of the 36th Infantry Division Headquarters, to Basrah, Iraq, in 2010, where the unit provided command and control of U.S. active Army, Reserve, and National Guard units further
Texas Military Forces demonstrate the guard’s ability to serve as a vital component to the overall defense strategy. “The TXMF and the National Guard as a whole remains the most costeffective model within the total force, and the tried-and-true American tradition of citizen- soldiers allows the DOD to do more with less,” said Nichols. “By maintaining a larger portion of the force in the National Guard, the Department of Defense gains a larger, less expensive force that provides the best value for our nation.” With research indicating the cost of a National Guardsmen is about onethird less than that of its active-duty counterparts, those like Granger feel the battle for an independent and unbiased commission was and is one that will yield results and align with fiscal uncertainty and constraints. “This reduced cost results in a winwin situation,” said Granger. “A properly sized reserve force allows the nation to pay for what is needed, when it is needed. We must ensure the National Guard retains the assets necessary to remain an operational force.” - DISPATCH
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Texas Military Forces
Texas State Guard Cpl. Wes Willoughby prepares a blood glucose meter during Operation Lone Star in San Juan, Texas, July 29, 2015.
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Texas Military Forces
OPERATION LONE STAR shines again in
South Texas
Texas Guardsmen team up with civil partners for the disaster response exercise and help out the local community Story and photo by Sgt. Praxedis Piñeda 100th Mobile Public Affairs
S
OUTH TEXAS - Members of the Texas Military Forces gathered for a five-day emergency preparedness training exercise in South Texas, July 27-31, 2015. Operation Lone Star allows guardsmen, local and state health agencies, and the Department of State Health Services to train together and prepare for a mass casualty disaster. “We get the opportunity to practice what we do in case of a deployment for a disaster situation,” said Texas State Guard 1st Lt. Daniel Steinberg, a personnel officer with 3rd Battalion, Texas Medical Brigade. “At the same time we get to provide medical care for a lot of individuals that don’t have the access to that care” Community members of all ages give the multi-agency healthcare providers the chance to treat civilian patients as they would during a real-world catastrophe. “It’s invaluable for everyone participating, because it’s difficult to gain real world experience during training,” said Spc. Danielle Schrag, a health care specialist with the Texas Medical Command, Texas Army
National Guard. “You immediately see the impact you have on the community.” While conducting vision, physical, dental and other medical exams, healthcare personnel also benefited from the inter-agency environment. “It’s my third time doing OLS and every year it’s a little bit different and every year we learn how to effectively manage and communicate amongst other people from different agencies,” said Capt. Ryan Sharp, a dentist with the Texas Medical Command. Together, the supporting agencies provided medical services to more than 9,000 South Texans in Laredo, Palmview, Rio Grande City, San Juan, and Brownsville. The operation has served more than 100,000 people in the last 16 years. “This is an excellent service that we’re providing for the people of Texas, and it also gives us, as a resource, an excellent opportunity to practice what we may be called upon to do,” said Steinberg. - 100th MPAD
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Texas Military Forces
Members of the Texas Army National Guard’s 136th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, hosted by the Houston Astros, conduct a deployment ceremony at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas, July 18, 2015. (Texas Army National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Daniel Griego).
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Texas Military Forces
Home Run Send off
Houston Astros hosts Signal Battalion ‘s deployment ceremony Story by Sgt. Elizabeth Peña, 136th MEB Public Affairs
H
OUSTON - Friends and family of the Texas National Guard’s 136th Expeditionary Signal Battalion gathered at Minute Maid Park in Houston, July 18, 2015, to give their final blessings as the unit prepares to depart for Kuwait and surrounding areas for a nine-month deployment. The farewell ceremony, hosted by the Houston Astros, took place just before game two of their Lone Star Series against the Texas Rangers.
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Texas Military Forces
“This is the first time the Texas National Guard has been sponsored by a Major League association,” said Lt. Col. Tanya Trout, commander of the 136th ESB. “We have over a third of our Soldiers that have never been deployed before, so to be able to send them off like this is tremendous.” The 136th ESB is a Houston-based signal battalion that belongs to Joint Task Force 136 (Maneuver Enhancement Brigade), headquartered in Round Rock. During their deployment, the unit will be responsible for providing voice and network capabilities to other military assets across seven countries, including Kuwait, Jordan, The United Arab Eremites and Egypt. The battalion is made up of approximately 300 Soldiers from the Texas and Alabama National Guards and will fall under the regular Army’s 160th Strategic Signal Brigade while overseas.
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The ceremony featured the casing of the battalion colors, an Army tradition that is used to demonstrate an organization moving to a new theater of operations. The colors, which represent the 136th ESB’s mission and lineage, are carried wherever the unit goes and are kept safe by the senior enlisted member. In this case, that responsibility falls to the battalion command sergeant major, Command Sgt. Maj. Jeffrey Collins. Although this is the first deployment for the 136th ESB, many of the Soldiers are experienced combat veterans. “My biggest challenge is being back and forth from my son,” said Sgt. Darin Goodwin of C Company, 136th ESB. “He’s about a year old so he is kind of understanding but kind of upset that daddy keeps leaving and coming back. My wife is military so we have a good understanding of everything. This is what I love. It’s what we do.”
Texas Military Forces
A Texas Army National Guardsman sings the National Anthem to commence the event during a deployment ceremony held at the Minute Maid Park in Houston, July 18, 2015.
The unit recently completed training at Camp Swift, near Bastrop, Texas, where they refreshed their basic soldier fundamentals including land navigation, combat drills and convoy operations. “Over the last few weeks when we did the pre-mobilization training, we really got to bond on a more day to day, 24/7 basis, and I’m inspired by all of them,” said Trout. “Each and every individual sacrifice they make, how quick to learn and how motivated as you can see today.” Next is the last stage of their training at Fort Hood, which focuses on their signal mission and ensures they have the latest equipment and skills for the modern battlefield. “We are always ready to be on the move, it’s a part of our training,” said Spc. Raven Lewis, a logistics coordinator for the 136th ESB. “We make sure that we remain proac-
tive in case we have to go support someone else.” This ceremony gives Soldiers one last opportunity to give their give their loved ones final hugs and kisses before stepping on the plane for the middle east. “It’s pretty cool to have the support from back home,” said Lewis. “Not only do you have your family with you but you have your support from people that live in the general area that want to see you return safely with the troops.” - 136th MEB PAO
“
We have over a third of our Soldiers that have never been deployed before, so to be able to send them off like this is tremendous.
”
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Texas Military Forces
Disaster Preparedness TXSG Trains Story
and
Photos
by
for
Disaster Relief
T
EXAS STATE GUARDSMEN with the 19th Civil Affairs Regiment commenced annual training by deploying to various locations in Van Zandt and Upshur counties and conducted training exercises that tested and strengthened their emergency response capabilities, June 4-7, 2015. One of the training scenarios at the exercise included a Category 4 hurricane making landfall along the Texas Gulf Coast, which tested the regiment’s leadership and staff at every level and strengthened their communications, mass care, shelter management, evacuee tracking, and search and rescue capabilities.
“I am impressed by the professionalism and high operating tempo of the 19th Regiment,” said Brig. Gen. Howard N. Palmer, Army component commander, “I am grateful by the level of community response and participation. This cooperative training benefits everyone.” Local churches and high schools all across Van Zandt
Texas State Guardsmen conduct a confidence course during annual training.
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in
East Texas
Capt. Esperanza Meza, 19th Regiment Public Affairs County were transformed into mass care shelters with emergency tracking network stations and medical treatment stations for special needs patients. “We were very happy to be here with the Texas State Guard and being part of the community that helps our residents,” said Rev. Wade Harman of The United Methodist Church in Canton. “It is important to see them at work.” A separate exercise included a ground search and recovery event in the Ben Wheeler community, which tested the troops’ land navigation, communication, first-aid and search skills. There, the scenario involved six Boy Scouts from the Texas Skies District in Van Zandt County, role playing as lost campers in the path of a tornado. Six-man search teams from each battalion were tasked to search the area, locate victims, apply first aid as required and evacuate them. Champion EMS supported the event with paramedics and an ambulance and Flight for Life, based in Palestine, simulated patient recovery with an emergen-
Texas Military Forces
Texas State Guardsmen conduct land navigation during annual training.
Texas State Guardsmen practice recovery training with local Boy Scouts during annual training.
cy medical helicopter. “This is an outstanding training opportunity to work with local authorities,” stated Maj. Gen. Jake Betty, TXSG commanding general, “As normal, our soldiers are doing an outstanding job. I am honored and humbled to visit with these dedicated soldiers.” To close out annual training, the State Guardsmen conducted a confidence exercise at Alert Academy in Big Sandy. The course included land navigation with dismounted cross-country movement followed by advanced GSAR training. The troops also navigated a confidence course
consisting of a rappelling tower, rock climbing wall and a one-rope river crossing exercise. “I thoroughly enjoyed the experiences with the rappelling tower and the water crossing activity. Both exercises allowed me to push myself, build my confidence, instill a sense of trust and foster camaraderie with my teammates, who also provided plenty of encouragement along the way,” said Pvt. Brooke Jones, a recent TXSG enlistee. “I am confident that my experiences with both exercises will make me a more effective solider so that I may be able to better serve my fellow Texans.” - 19th REGIMENT PAO
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Texas Military Forces
Texas Army National Guardsmen with the 836th Engineer Company conduct their annual training at Camp Swift in Bastrop, Texas, July 14, 2015.
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Texas Military Forces
CERFP
back to
BASICS
6th CERFP soldiers take off their chemical suits, train on basic combat skills Story and photo by Master Sgt. Daniel Griego, 136th MEB Public Affairs
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ASTROP, TEXAS - Like many other National Guard units, the 6th CBRNE Enhanced Response Force Package specializes in stateside response and disaster recovery. This Defense Support to Civil Authorities mission, is in addition to its designated wartime mission as an Army asset. For their annual training in July, the Guardsmen of the 6th CERFP returned to their roots and engaged their wartime mission at Camp Swift near Bastrop. Two of the battalion’s units, the 436th Chemical Company and the 836th Engineer Company, traveled from their homestations in Laredo and Kingsville, respectively, for a week of combat-related drills and exercises July 13-19, 2015. “The chemical company does a little bit more than just decon,” said Staff Sgt. Robert Mackey, a platoon sergeant with the 436th Chemical Company. “We also do what’s called a recon mission. We actually go out, we do a route recon so we’re actually checking roads, checking different areas.” The battalion’s stateside mission focuses on decontamination efforts in environments compromised by chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or high-yield explosive contaminants. Overseas, however, they could be called on to provide security, identify hazards, or support convoy operations. “We’re getting back to the basics of what the Sapper and the engineer mission is doctrinally,” said 1st Lt. William Thompson, a platoon leader
with the 836th Engineer Company. “It’s a great experience for these guys. The route clearance mission is just one piece of the security and the mobility that we would provide, given the larger battalion operation that’s going on in the notional area of operations.” As a National Guard element, the 6th CERFP must split its time between its domestic white mission and its traditional Army green mission. Most recently, they completed a major milestone in April with a special focus exercise that tested their capabilities as a major component of the FEMA Region VI Homeland Response Force mission. This month, they tested their wartime skills. “This is an actual heavy equipment chemical unit,” said 1st Sgt. Dianne Overshown, first sergeant for the 436th Chemical Company, which dedicated training time to weapons familiarization on crew-served weapons like the M249 light machine gun, the .50-caliber Browning machine gun and the M240 machine gun. “These weapons systems are appropriate for our mission, especially our recon platoon. The soldiers are really excited about what’s going on here.” While the chemical soldiers familiarized themselves with their heavy weapons, the engineers trained on their combat skills as Sappers, a term derived from the French word “saper,” to trench or to dig. “It takes a lot of work because there’s a wide skillset you have to be up to speed on,” said Sgt. Myles Merriweather, a team leader with the
836th Engineer Company. “You have to be able to go from one mission, say you’re clearing a minefield, to now your assaulting objective like breaching a wall. It’s a lot of different aspects of the Army that you have to incorporate into one.” The week’s training placed the Guardsmen in a real-world scenario simulating an overseas deployment, complete with opposition forces, local civilians and specified mission objectives. The exercise also serves as a validating measure to demonstrate to senior leaders that the two companies are trained to standard. “The end state is that we pass the assessment and get the good word to return to the deployment pool,” said Thompson, “and we should have that by September. It is a validation of the requirements of what would be expected of us as a deployed unit. We have First Army here embedded with us today to actually go out on the missions, make sure we’re following the troop-leading procedures, and basically running to standard a mission that you would expect to see overseas.” The battalion has a long history of service to the state and nation, fulfilling the requirements of its Homeland Response Force mission since 2011 and maintaining combat readiness with field exercises like this. “They’re getting a lot out of it,” said Mackey. “They’re really enjoying this.” - 136th MEB PAO
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Texas Military Forces
PROVIDING
SHELTER
Story and photo by Chief Warrant Officer 2 Janet Schmelzer 19th Regiment, Texas State Guard Public Affairs Office
O
LNEY, TEXAS - When deployed for an emergency, the Texas State Guard is under the control of the local emergency management operations. To ensure soldiers are ready to respond and are trained on how to support local authorities in joint operations, the TXSG’s 4th Regiment joined with the city of Olney to conduct joint exercises, June 12-14, 2015, for its annual training. Planning for this exercise began months in advance of its execution. The 4th Regiment training and operations staff Chief Warrant Officer 2 Ray Spoth, Master Sgt. Richard Schilling and Regiment Commander Lt. Col. Lloyd Lietz met with local officials several times to work out the details. By the time the final decisions had been made, the 4th Regiment would be training with the Olney’s Emergency Management Operations, fire department, police department, Olney Hamilton Hospital, emergency management services, Olney Independent School District, the Olney Enterprise, chamber of commerce volunteers, local city and county officials, Graham Emergency Control Mobile Command Center, Wichita Falls Red Cross and the Military Auxiliary Radio System. The multi-day exercise consisted of several moving parts. The exercise began with the 4th Regiment in Guthrie for wildfires and then the soldiers traveled to Olney to prepare
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Texas State Guardsmen train with civil authorities to prepare for emergency response
who were then transported to the hospital. The training also included 4th Regiment chaplains Capt. David Fish and 1st Lt. Todd Virnoche, who were called in to comfort a grieving parent of one of the mock crash victims. At both scenes, the Texas State Guard set up a perimeter to keep onlookers at a safe distance from the disaster area.
shelters for evacuees from Guthrie, with the regiment tactical operations center located at the Olney Fire Department. The Olney Emergency Management and the Red Cross had designated two locations for shelters at Olney High School gym and the Southside Baptist Church. With the assistance from the Wichita Falls Red Cross, shelters received cots and blankets and the regiment set up sleeping, eating, medical, children play, reception and an intake area. The Red Cross and the baptist men’s organization provided meals to the soldiers. “I have a better idea of what I am supposed to do in a shelter and am learning more about the importance of the Texas State Guard in a disaster,” said Pfc. Kendra Neuendorff, 3rd Battalion, 4th Regiment, who worked at the church shelter. Shelter operations continued as the Olney emergency management initiated its disaster training events that would involve the training of multiple agencies. The first emergency was a search and rescue of a hotel hit by a tornado where actors played roles of victims. The fire department conducted the search and EMS transported the victims to the local hospital that conducted training on how to handle mass casualties. The second emergency was a mock threecar crash that required the fire and police departments to extract victims
“
I am learning more about the importance of the Texas State Guard in a disaster.
”
Texas Military Forces On the final day the 4th Regiment was invited to attend church services in Olney. Following the service, the regiment participated in a parade down the city’s main street. At the final formation of the regiment, the Olney emergency management officials shook hands with each soldier. “I am very grateful to have this opportunity to work with the Texas State Guard and we are very happy that you came to Olney for
your annual training,” said Olney Emergency Manager Ronny Cowart, expressing his appreciation for the capabilities of the TXSG. Lietz, commander, 4th Regiment, said he was “impressed with the level of coordination and cooperation of the Olney emergency services and local officials during our annual training here in Olney.”
ability to provide the support necessary to assist local authorities and the TXSG mission. And everyone learned more about how to work together in joint operation emergencies, demonstrating the meaning of the TXSG motto “Texans Serving Texans.” - 19th REGIMENT PAO
The 4th Regiment sharpened its
Spc. Rachel Carmickle and Staff Sgt. Eddie Thomas with 2nd Battalion, 4th Regiment, Texas State Guard, set up cots and placed blankets as part of their annual training exercise.
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Texas Military Forces
PURPLE HEARTS REUNITED
World War II Purple Heart Medals return home Story and photos by Maj. Randall Stillinger 36th Infantry Division Public Affairs
Maj. Gen. Lester Simpson, commanding general of the 36th Infantry Division, receives the Purple Heart Medal of Pfc. James T. Hull from retired Command Sgt. Maj. Cecil Hull.
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Texas Military Forces
Retired U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Mitch Bell officially returns the Purple Heart Medal of Pfc. James T. Hull to retired Command Sgt. Maj. Cecil Hull.
AN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The Purple Hearts of two fallen World War II soldiers were returned during a patriotic ceremony on July 24, 2015 at a local health care and rehabilitation center.
S
The lost medals, which were recovered by the non-profit organization Purple Hearts Reunited, were presented to the family of one of the fallen, and then turned over to the 36th Infantry Division’s commanding general. The first medal, which was posthumously awarded to Pfc. James Thomas Hull, was presented to retired Army Command Sgt. Maj. Cecil Hull, his last surviving brother and a recipient of the Purple Heart himself. Hull was born Jan. 24, 1919 to Rufus and Pocahontas “Honto” Johnson Hull in Moulton, Texas. He enlisted Nov. 25, 1940, and served with Company L, 1st Battalion, 141st Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division. After months of final preparation in North Africa, the 36th conducted the first amphibious assault by an American division in the European theater near Salerno, Italy on Sept. 9, 1943. The 1-141st sustained heavy casualties during the beach assault and landing. Among those killed in action that day was a young Hull.
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Texas Military Forces Reuniting the Purple Heart Several years ago, a Highland, Calif. resident discovered the medal while cleaning out a home and contacted retired Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Paul C. Pfeifer, a member of the local American Legion post. In June, the post reached out to PHR and within a few hours they had located the Hull family in San Antonio. Retired U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Mitchell Bell and retired Air Force Lt. Col. Dennis Hensley, members of the PHR Valor Guard, traveled to San Antonio to present the medal during the emotional ceremony. Hull’s wife of 69 years, Sophie, spoke on behalf of her ailing husband. “I can’t express my feelings for all that you’ve done,” she said. “This means so much to us and I know what it means to him. Thank you for all of this.” To preserve the medal, the family donated it to the 36th Infantry Division of the Texas Army National Guard. Division commander, Maj. Gen. Lester Simpson, received the medal from Hull and will display it at the division headquarters in Austin, where it will be honored and protected by current and future soldiers.
The Purple Heart Medal of Pfc. James T. Hull is embraced by his brother, retired Command Sgt. Maj. Cecil Hull.
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“I’m happy to be here to accept the medal that represents your brother’s service and sacrifice, and appreciate the work that Purple Hearts Reunited does to get these back to the families,” Simpson said. “We’re certainly happy to have these medals back home.” A Second Medal Comes Home Bell also presented a second Purple Heart to Simpson during the ceremony at the Pecan Valley Rehabilitation and Health Care Center. The medal belonged to Pvt. Joseph Eugene “Gene” Bone, who was born Aug. 19, 1920 in Taylor County, Georgia, to Joseph Jackson and Eva Fannie Mott Bone. Bone enlisted April 28, 1943, and served with the 143rd Infantry Regiment, another unit within the 36th Infantry Division. He had survived the amphibious landing at Salerno and fought to capture the village of San Pietro, despite strong enemy resistance and severe winter weather. He sacrificed his life Feb. 7, 1944, as the division attempted to secure a bridgehead across the Rapido River and is buried at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery in Nettuno, Italy. Veteran Gariel Burchett contacted the Military Order of
Texas Military Forces the Purple Heart Jan. 2014, after finding the medal while cleaning out his mother-in-law’s home. Since Bone’s family is no longer living, the Burchett family requested that the medal be delivered to an appropriate place where it can be viewed by many others. The medal will be placed on the wall in the division headquarters next to the one belonging to Hull along with stories that tell of their service and sacrifice.
non-profit organization, which relies on grants and donations to continue the mission, has returned over 150 lost or stolen medals and artifacts to family members or museums. The return of these two medals was sponsored by a grant from the Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation. Framing of the medals was generously donated by Village Frame Shoppe & Gallery in St. Albans, Vermont.
“We’re working very hard to get our young soldiers interested in the history and legacy of the division,” Simpson said. “Our headquarters is a great place for these Purple Hearts so they can see and read about those who have sacrificed and died in defense of our country.”
The return of these medals actually makes a total of three 36th Infantry Division Purple Hearts that have been delivered within a week. The medal belonging to Pvt. Berlin E. Small was also returned to his family in Brainbridge Island, Wash.
“These men joined the same unit and fought in the battle of Salerno,” Bell said. “Hull gave his life on that beach while attacking the Germans. Pvt. Bone survived another four months and died while fighting to cross a river. They sacrificed in the final act of their military career. They died in service to their country.”
“The return of three medals to the same division within a week is definitely historic from a PHR perspective,” Fike said. “I would like to think that these guys have been orchestrating these efforts together from up above. I truly appreciate everyone’s effort on this project.” - 36TH ID PAO
Purple Hearts Reunited PHR was created in 2012 by Army Capt. Zachariah Fike, who was wounded during combat in Afghanistan. The
The Purple Heart Medal of Pvt. Joseph E. Bone was returned to the 36th Infantry Division.
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Texas Military Forces
Texas Air National Guardsmen with the 136th Civil Engineer Squadron sharpen their skills at Camp Hinds.
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Texas Military Forces
HELPING ACROSS THE COMMUNITIES COUNTRY R
Texas airmen travel to Maine to help community projects Story and photos by Senior Master Sgt. Elizabeth Gilbert 136th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
AYMOND, MAINE - A team from the 136th Civil Engineer Squadron, Texas Air National Guard, continue renovations at Camp William Hinds for their annual training, July 5-19, 2015.
The squadron deployed for training to Camp Hinds to participate in the Innovative Readiness Training, or IRT. Through this program, military units refine their engineering skills by performing services and developing projects for communities that otherwise would not have the resources to conduct them on their own. “It’s a fantastic program set up by the Department of Defense,” said Tech. Sgt. Nate Norton, structure superintendent. “It is a partnership with the different reserve units, Air National Guard units and different nonprofit organizations, Boy Scouts of America being one. It’s beneficial for the non-profits because they provide all of the material for projects and the Reserve and Guard units provide the labor, which we use as training.” During their time here, the airmen are focusing on two projects: constructing a new dining facility for the Boys Scouts of America at Camp Hinds and erecting a communications tower for the local community. Norton explained that the goals for their work on the new dining facility included pouring the slabs for the basement, installing both the interior plumbing and exterior French drains, and putting the wall forms up. Just down the road from the new
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Texas Military Forces dining facility is another construction site where a communication tower is being installed for the city. Tech. Sgt. Mark Gorton, project lead for the communication tower, said that the 100-foot tower will provide radio frequency for the fire department. This DFT is a unique way for service members to get hands-on training to prepare for their wartime mission, while giving back to local communities.
Sailors with the U.S. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 27 sharpen their skills at Camp Hinds, Maine.
“A lot of times on drill weekends, or at school or computer based trainings, they just don’t give you that hands on experience that you really need to fulfill your missions sometimes,” said Norton. “So this gives us the chance to get out and have the airmen get hands-on experience with some of the equipment, some of the procedures, and put their hands to what their minds are already familiar with.” Additionally, this IRT is a joint-force program, so the Airmen worked side-by-side on these projects with U.S. Naval Seabees, Naval Construction Battalion, Detachment 27. “Some of the leadership for the Seabees have been able to instruct and train a lot of the Air National Guard troops and vice-versa,” said Norton. “We’ve learned a lot from them and hopefully they’ve learned something from us, too.” Gorton echoed these sentiments, “It’s just a phenomenal thing for everybody to work together. You get more done as a team than you do as an individual.” This collaborative environment has proven effective. Both of the projects are on schedule to be completed on time. - 136TH AW PAO
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Texas Military Forces
Texas Air National Guardsmen with the 136th Civil Engineer Squadron sharpen their skills at Camp Hinds, Maine.
Sailors with the U.S. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 27 sharpen their skills at Camp Hinds, Maine..
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REAL Guidance
REAL Guidance Courtney J. Lynch, PhD, LCSW and Tracy K. Ward, M.Ed, LPC
MORAL Injury a commentary by Maj. Jeremy Stirm, Chaplain
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REAL Guidance Tracy Ward and Courtney Lynch are pleased and grateful to share this issue’s Real Guidance space with Maj. Jeremy Stirm, Operations Chaplain, TXARNG INTRODUCTION We have been a nation at war for nearly a decade and a half. The toll in dollars is astonishing. The toll in lives, both lost on the battlefield and at home due to suicide, is disheartening and continues to rise. There are expenditures to war that are more difficult to measure, but are nevertheless real costs to reckon with. While we have gotten better at taking stock of and providing care for the “hidden” wounds of war there is still much to be learned and much healing to be done. The purpose of this article is primarily informational. In it I want to call attention to an age-old issue, but what has just recently come to be termed “moral injury.” It has only recently begun to gain traction from a variety of research fields. While much has been done to increase our awareness of and treatment for psychological injuries like PTSD, the spiritual dimension of combat trauma is only just now coming to light in the wider public and health care arenas. I seek clarity of this “new” concept by providing definitions and examples, and by offering some possible initial steps for engaging with moral injury. AT WAR’S END Not so long ago, in a speech given at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, ceremonially marking an end to the nine-year Iraq War, President Barack Obama remarked, “It’s harder to end a war than begin one.” While one may wish to argue concerning the validity of this statement, there are, nonetheless, certain challenges faced in ending wars. While there are the obvious logistical, economic, and political concerns about ending wars, there are also important matters to address concerning those who have borne the burden of fighting its nation’s wars. Part of ending wars (or even deployments) well is the reintegration of those who have served. For many the transition from war zone to peaceful social setting can be traversed in a nearly seamless fashion. Yet for others, difficulties and injuries persist. Readjusting to civilian life after combat deployments and dealing with combat trauma can be difficult. THE INJURIES OF WAR Combat trauma and war injuries come in various forms.
Since war was first conceived, the physical impact and wounds of war have been recognized and service members have been encouraged to get treatment. If one has a gunshot wound, for example, it seems rather unlikely that anyone would discourage the wounded service member from seeking treatment, much less be unaware of the need for such treatment. The physical signs of a gunshot wound are too obvious to ignore or miss. Not all combat trauma involves external injury though. These “hidden” injuries include psychological trauma and injury. Our proficiency in recognizing the psychological impact of war has developed over the years, from shell shock in WW II to combat fatigue in Vietnam, reaching perhaps the apex with PTSD in the post-Vietnam era. The construct of PTSD as a psychiatric diagnosis was not introduced until the 1980s. This fact does not indicate that PTSD came into existence in the 1980s. Rather it simply indicates that, while the condition was there all along, we simply had not named it or identified it as such. Even as the ability to discern and properly identify combat trauma has grown, still many have been less inclined to discern the moral or spiritual impact of war upon those who have served. This fact is beginning to change. As opportunities to work with veterans dealing with “hidden” injuries continues, so too, it is hoped, will our effectiveness in properly identifying and treating the injury. In recent years, a growing number of researchers and clinicians have become increasingly dissatisfied with the PTSD diagnosis in some cases. Additionally, they have noted the ineffectiveness of the subsequent treatment prescribed under such a diagnosis. Noting the “catchall” characteristic of PTSD, some began to sense that PTSD was not sufficient to account for other instances of combat trauma. These researchers did not and are not discounting PTSD as such. Though in their experiences working with veterans, they began to discern the presence of injuries not sufficiently accounted for under the PTSD paradigm. These injuries, it is coming to be discerned are of a moral and ethical nature. Warren Kinghorn, MD, ThD, assistant professor of psychiatry and pastoral and moral theology at Duke Divinity School in Durham, North Carolina, writes, “After the introduction of PTSD in 1980, with a few notable but sporadic exceptions, the traumatic implications of morally ambiguous actions in war were largely neglected in
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REAL Guidance the empirical literature.” Shira Maguen, PhD, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, and Brett Litz, PhD, Boston University School of Medicine, further attest, the “empirical research about moral injury is in its infancy.” However, as was the case with PTSD, moral injury is not new. The notion of moral injury has been with us for some time. As Rita Brock, research professor and co-director of the Soul Repair Center at Brite Divinity School in Forth Worth, Texas notes, “Moral injury names a deep and old dilemma of war. The moral anguish of warriors defines much literature about war from ancient times to the present, such as the Greek Iliad and the Indian Bhagavad-Gita, both war epics; [and] the Hebrew Psalms.” MORAL INJURY What is moral injury? There are currently several operative definitions. Moral injury may be understood as: • Perpetrating, failing to prevent, bearing witness to, or learning about acts that transgress deeply held moral beliefs and expectations. • An act of serious transgression that leads to serious inner conflict because the experience is at odds with core ethical and moral beliefs. • The violation of core moral beliefs. • Moral injury is the result of reflection on memories of war or other extreme traumatic conditions. It comes from having transgressed one’s basic moral identity and violated core moral beliefs. A poignant and tragic scene from the recent movie American Sniper may offer a quintessential example of some of the incredible moral situations faced by service members in combat. Navy Seal Chris Kyle, brilliantly portrayed in the film by Bradley Cooper, has a small Iraqi boy and a woman, presumably the boy’s mother, in the crosshairs of his riflescope. Kyle holds their lives in his hand. The woman, dressed in her hijab, gives the young boy a grenade. The boy then proceeds to advance towards an approaching patrol of American troops. In that moment, Kyle is hoping against hope that the boy will drop the grenade or turn and run. The boy does not, and Kyle is faced with a choice. Shoot a small child or presumably witness American soldiers die as the boy unleashes the explosive power of the grenade at close range. Kyle shoots the boy. The woman then rushes forward, retrieves the grenade and continues towards the American patrol. Kyle shoots her as well. With each kill the anguish seems to build within Kyle himself. Perhaps Kyle was able to come to terms to a certain degree with the killing of enemy soldiers. But his humanity and moral upbringing in the Christian tradi-
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tion seem to be squarely at odds with the taking of the life of a child and woman. In subsequent scenes in the movie one sees Kyle apprehensive to receive praise and accolades for his accomplishments. His sense of guilt and shame are manifested in various ways in his difficulties reintegrating to civilian life after the war. One may argue that he did the right thing in that he protected American lives. However, at the end of the day, he still felt the sting and unease of killing, especially a child. Thomas Gibbons-Neff recounts a similar experience of a Marine named Jeff. In a battle around Marjah, Afghanistan in early 2010, a 15-year-old kid picks up a Kalashnikovs rifle off the ground. Jeff shot him, reasoning, “the kid had a rifle, and even kids with rifles can kill Marines.” Those memories stayed with Jeff and five years later he found himself sitting on his bed “staring at a part of his life he could no longer understand.” He was poised to take his own life. While Chris Kyle and Jeff’s experiences are certainly not the only narratives concerning the Iraq or Afghan wars, their experiences do highlight in a bold way some of the moral challenges faced in war and the specter of shame and guilt that can follow one home from the battlefield. While it is argued that moral injury and PTSD are distinct there is some overlap. Researchers assert, PTSD is often associated with the emotion of fear, while moral injury is associated with guilt and shame over something one has done or failed to do. As Kinghorn explains, “In current nomenclature, persons with PTSD must have been ‘exposed to a traumatic event’ in which (for adults) ‘the person experienced, witnessed, or was confronted with an event or events that involved actual or threatened death or serious injury, or a threat to the physical integrity of self or others [and] the person’s response involved intense fear, helplessness, or horror.’ In light of this, PTSD is often presumed to be driven primarily by the emotion of fear.” He goes on to write, “Clinicians who work with soldiers and combat veterans, however, are increasingly dissatisfied with a fear-based conceptualization of all forms of PTSD.” What is more, Kent D. Drescher and others, write, “current evidenced-based PTSD treatments are chiefly based on fear conditioning and extinction models, they may be less suited to help warriors for whom moral conflict, rather than fear, is the most salient source of post-deployment difficulties.” One may have PTSD and moral injury, or only one of the two, or none. It is, however, important to realize that while related, they are distinct. For some, the experience of moral injury is like “realizing that what you choose to do or not do in combat
REAL Guidance
•
•
• •
Moral injury may be understood as:
Perpetrating, failing to prevent, bearing witness to, or learning about acts that transgress deeply held moral beliefs and expectations. An act of serious transgression that leads to serious inner conflict because the experience is at odds with core ethical and moral beliefs. The violation of core moral beliefs. Moral injury is the result of reflection on memories of war or other extreme traumatic conditions. It comes from having transgressed one’s basic moral identity and violated core moral beliefs.
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REAL Guidance
“
MORAL Injury As military leaders
reading this magazine, where do we go from
here? First, get educated about moral injury.
”
Reading this article is a good first step.
34 TheDISPATCH August 2015
REAL Guidance doesn’t align with the person your parents raised.” This is not a fear associated dilemma, it is one involving feelings of guilt and shame. What one has done does not measure up to the person he or she was raised to be. One’s moral code has been violated. Lauded as heroes when they return home, some veterans are uneasy about receiving such accolades. Dealing with moral injury after war may result in a state of inner turmoil, as one struggles with the conflict between who they believe themselves to be and what they have done. Feelings of guilt, shame, and anxiety are not uncommon. Some may think, “I am an evil terrible person; I am unforgivable.” Persons suffering from moral injury may withdraw from others, self-medicate with drugs and alcohol, or even contemplate or attempt suicide. ENGAGING WITH MORAL INJURY: INITIAL STEPS Faced with the Scylla of killing a child and the Charybdis of watching your buddies get blown up can tax the moral sensibilities of the best among us. Though moral injury does not always involve killing. Other violations of conscience and breaking core moral beliefs can have injurious effects as well. As I mentioned in the beginning, moral injury is a concept that continues to be researched among academics and clinical practitioners. But moral injury is showing signs of leaving the ivory tower and is gaining traction among government organizations, religious communities, and local churches. While veterans may not be checking the moral injury box on the VA application for disability compensation any time soon, however, for its part the VA does seem to be taking moral injury seriously. The VA has dedicated a portion of their website dealing with PTSD to the issue of moral injury. What is more, in places like the James J. Peters VA Medical Center in Bronx, New York, the VA has sought to hire a “Moral Injury Specialty Chaplain.” Places like the Soul Repair Center at Brite Divinity School (http://www.brite.edu/academics/programs/ soul-repair/) and the Center for Spirituality, Theology, and Health at Duke University (http://www.spiritualityandhealth.duke.edu) continue to attempt to get the word out and equip others to deal with moral injury. There will be a moral injury conference here in Austin in a few months, details may be found at the end of this article. Churches and religious communities are also seeking to provide much needed care for those suffering from moral injury.
CONCLUSION As military leaders reading this magazine, where do we go from here? First, get educated about moral injury. Reading this article is a good first step. Explore the websites and literature provided at the end and throughout this article as well. If you suspect someone may be suffering from moral injury, listen to him or her. Connect them with a chaplain or service member ready and willing to help. As well, with the close association between PTSD and moral injury, continued and close coordination between mental health workers and chaplains is important. As one of my colleagues who works in the mental health profession, Tracy Ward, reminded me recently, there is a silver lining of sorts with moral injury. The fact that moral injury exists is evidence that those suffering from moral injury are not morally numb, but rather hold to a strong moral standard. I mentioned earlier that we have long focused on the obvious physical injuries of war. Over time we have gained better proficiency in understanding the psychological impact of combat trauma. Now the spiritual impact of such events is coming to light. As we educate ourselves, and through our collaborative efforts, we can continue to offer better healing practices to those suffering from moral injury, to move the whole person – body, mind, and spirit – towards human flourishing. - REAL Guidance
MAJ. Jeremy Stirm Operations Chaplain, TXARNG
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Texas Military Forces
1LT DANIEL STEINBERG PERSONNEL OFFICER TEXAS MEDICAL BRIGADE TEXAS STATE GUARD
Texas State Guard 1st Lt. Daniel Steinberg, a personnel officer with A Company, 3rd Battalion, Texas Medical Brigade, at Operation Lone Star in Rio Grande City, Texas, July 28, 2015.
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“We get an opportunity to practice what we would do in case of a deployment for a disaster situation and at the same time we get to provide medical care for a lot individuals in the Rio Grande Valley that don’t have access to that care.” Steinberg is from McKinney, Texas and working on his Ph.D. at the University of North Texas.
Texas Military Forces
New Key Leadership Positions
Col. Darrell Wayne Dement
Lt. Col. Travis D. Walters
• Role: Chief of Staff, TXARNG
• Role: State Public Affairs Officer
• Experience: Served in the TXARNG as a Tanker while in college, commissioned a 2nd Lt. from ROTC in 1988, Active Duty at Ft. Bragg and in the Middle East during both Desert Shield and Storm, Basic Training Company Commander at Ft. Sill, Assistant Professor of Military Science at the University of Texas, 36th ID Deputy Personnel Dir., Secretary of the General Staff and then Ops Chief for the TXARNG Recruiting Battalion, Deployed to Kosovo as the Multi-national Task Force Dir. of Personnel, OIC of 71st Troop Command, TXARNG Dir. of Personnel and Commander 149th Personnel Services Battalion, deployed to Iraq for OIF and New Dawn as the Dir. of Plans, then back home as DOMOPs Dir. of Plans and TXARNG Dir. of Personnel before taking this current position.
• Experience: Lt. Col. Walters was commissioned in 1999. After completing Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, he remained at Sheppard Air Force Base as a T-37 Instructor Pilot, then transferred to Dyess Air Force Base as a C-130 Aircraft Commander. Next, he served in a variety of staff positions at 18th Air Force, Air Mobility Command and the Headquarters Air Force’s National Guard Bureau. Lt. Col. Walters subsequently returned to Fort Worth, Texas in 2013 serving as the 136th Airlift Wing executive officer before assuming command of the 136th Maintenance Squadron in January 2015. During this time, he concurrently served at state headquarters as the Deputy Public Affairs Officer.
• Education: Bachelor of Applied Arts in Criminal Justice, Masters of Business Administration and a Masters of Strategic Studies. • Did you know: Col. Dement is a Austin native. • In his words: “I consider this position to be the highest professional privilege of my career to date and will ever strive to serve my colleagues, all the great men and women of our organization and the State of Texas to the utmost of my abilities. It is my aim to carry-forward the swagger Texas military leaders have boldly demonstrated since 1836.”
• Education: Bachelor of Science in Military History, United States Air Force Academy and Master of Arts in Air Warfare, American Military University. • Did you know: Lt. Col. Walters and his wife, Dorothy, have three daughters. • In his words: “I’m extremely grateful to have the privilege of telling the Texas National Guard story to the citizens we protect and defend.”
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A Texas Army National Guardsman with the 836th Engineer Company conducts annual training at Camp Swift in Bastrop, Texas, July 14, 2015. (Texas Army National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Daniel Griego).