The Hornet - October 2017

Saber Guardian Learn about the NCNG’s training in Romania with NATO Forces

See where the NCNG has been lately!

From missions in Botswana, Africa and Romania, to D.C. and all across N.C.

North Carolina National Guard Quarterly Issue

October 2017 www.nc.ng.mil

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Director of Public Affairs Lt. Col. Matthew DeVivo matthew.r.devivo.mil@mail.mil

Inside this Issue:

Media Relations Capt. Matthew Boyle matthew.i.boyle.mil@mail.mil

Community Relations Maj. Michael Wilber michael.j.wilber2.mil@mail.mil

Visual Information Staff Sgt. Brendan Stephens brendan.p.stephens.mil@mail.mil

145th Airlift Wing Public Affairs Tech. Sgt. Nathan Clark nathan.t.clark.mil@mail.mil

Writers/Photographers Sgt. 1st Class Robert Jordan robert.b.jordan2.mil@mail.mil Staff Sgt. Mary Junell mary.e.junell.mil@mail.mil Sgt. Jamar Pugh Jamar.m.Pugh.mil@mail.mil

Graphic Illustrator Sgt. Lisa Vines lisa.w.vines.mil@mail.mil

Social Media Sgt. Odaliska Almonte ncngpao@gmail.com The Hornet magazine is an authorized publication for members of the North Carolina National Guard. Contents of this publication are not necessarily the official views of or endorsed by the NCNG, United States Government or the Department of Defense. The editorial content of this publication is the responsibility of the Public Affairs Office of the NCNG. General comments and suggestions should be addressed to Mary.E.Junell.mil@mail.mil or call 984-664-6590.

Layout and design 1 by Staff Sgt. Mary Junell

On The Cover:

A medic with 5th Battalion, 113th Field Artillery Regiment holds a bag of intravenous fluids above a patient during a training exercise in Cincu, Romania on July 5, 2017. The 5-113 was in Romania to train with South Dakota Guardsmen and Romanian Soldiers as part of Saber Guardian, a U.S. European Command exercise that took place in Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Brendan Stephens)

Saber Guardian, Pg. 13

Soldiers from the NC National Guard’s 5th Battalion, 113th Field Artillery Regiment, traveled to Romania to train with South Dakota Guardsmen and Romanian Soldiers.

Shadow UAS Training, Pg. 21

Detachment 1, D Co. 236th Brigade Engineer Battalion, recently completed six weeks of New Equipment Training near Fort Bragg, July 17 - Aug. 25,

Following in his Father’s Footsteps, Pg. 25

Son of a NC Guardsman keeps the promise he made in 4th grade to join the National Guard, just like is Dad.

42nd CST trains at PNC Arena, Pg. 31

Soldiers with the 42nd Civil Support Team conduct training at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina on Sept. 26, 2017.

Also in This Issue: News From The Nest, Pg. 3 Old Hickory Run, Pg. 5 Air Guard Max Flight, Pg. 7 SAPR in Botswana, Africa, Pg. 9 Operation Potomac, Pg. 11 Flight Facility of the Year, Pg. 23 Operation Patriot Bandolier, Pg. 29 449th Deployment Ceremony, Pg. 30

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News From Around the Nest North Carolina National Guard, (NCNG) and the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources dedicated a historical marker in Morehead City honoring the transformation of the state militia to the modern National Guard in 1903 and in observance of the 100th anniversary of the NCNG’s deployment for World War 1.

N.C. Guard welcomes its Commander in Chief, Governor Roy Cooper, for a ceremony signing into law three General Assembly bills expanding rights and protections of Guardsmen at NCNG Headquarters in Raleigh, July 21, 2017.

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Col. Randy Powell was promoted to Brigadier General during a ceremony held at the North Carolina National Guard’s Joint Forc Headquarters in Raleigh, No Carolina on July 7, 2

Airmen, Soldiers and Civilian Employees celebrated the Air Force’s 70th Birthday on Sept.

18, 2017 during a ceremony at Joint Force Headquarters in Raleigh, N.C. cutting.

The North Carolina National Guard welcomed 23 new second lieutenants into its ranks during a commissioning ceremony for the Officer Candidate School Class 59 held at the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School on 19 August 2017.

Family, Friends and members of the military community attend the renaming of NC National Guard’s Goldsboro Readiness Center to honor Spc. Jocelyn (Joce) Carrasquillo on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017.

Members of the 30th Infantry Division Association gathered at the North Carolina National Guard’s Joint Force Headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina as part of their 71st Reunion, August 5, 2017.

a ce orth 2017.

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Raleigh, N.C. North Carolina National Guard Soldiers and Airmen celebrated the one-hundredth Birthday of Old Hickory during a three-mile run on July 18, 2017.

Approximately 60 Guardsmen laced up their sneakers in support of Old Hickory, which was established during World War I as the 30th Infantry Division. During the century the unit has been reorganized, currently it is the 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team (Photo by Staff Sgt. Mary Junell)

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New London, N.C. U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft from the 156th Airlift Squadron fly in formation before doing a heavy equipment drop over the Palestine drop zone, Stanley County Airport, New London, N.C., Aug. 5, 2017.

The mission is part of a MAX flight, a mission where the entire operational fleet of C-130 Hercules aircraft and pallets assigned to the 145th Airlift Wing (AW) are utilized in a single event. This MAX flight is special in that it culminates the C-130 Hercules aircraft over 30 year assignment to North Carolina Air National Guard Base as the 145th AW transitions to the C-17 Globemaster II. (Photo by Tech. Sgt. Julianne Showalter) 8

Botswana, Africa N.C. National Guard senior leaders and representatives from the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPR) recently visited delegates from Botswana, part of our State Partnership Program, the first week of September 2017.

The SARP provided a training/ seminar where Botswana military members participated in a number of exercises and briefings that discuss equal opportunity sexual harassment, sexual assault and sexual violence prevention.

Part of the cross cultural training N.C. Guardsmen interacted with the Botswana service members, toured Botswana Defense Force military facilities and the local wildlife refuge facility, further strengthening the bond with our state partners.

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Operation Potomac

 North Carolina National Guard Soldiers and Airmen participating in Operation Potomac stand in front of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. on July 12, 2017. Operation Potomac provides an opportunity for mid-career officers and warrant officers to gain insight into the strategic level budgeting and policy implementation by traveling to Washington and meeting with members of congress and National Guard Bureau leadership.

Story by Staff Sgt. Mary Junell

The Military, including the North Carolina National Guard (NCNG), is one of many smaller pieces that make up the government of the United States of America.

Recently, a group of 17 NCNG Soldiers and Airmen had the chance to see just how their piece fits into the puzzle thanks to a professional development program called Operation Potomac.

The program allows young leaders to travel to D.C. and see how the Guard integrates national policy and strategy into the organization, and how the NCNG partners with the Army and Air National Guard, the National Guard Bureau and NC Congressional Delegation.

“The program started to provide an opportunity for mid-career officers and warrant officers to gain insight into the strategic level budget and policy implementation,” said Army Maj. Bob May, a Government Affairs Officer for the NCNG and one of the program’s organizers. “Our federal government operates in a complex environment that is difficult for many leaders to understand and navigate. The best way to understand the situation is the experience these complexities in person.”

Often, Soldiers and Airmen follow orders never understanding the reasoning behind those orders. This program not only helps leaders understand the ‘why,’ it also helps the NCNG as a whole grow when those leaders go on to share the knowledge they gained on the trip.

“One criteria for the program is for the individuals selected to have some longevity in the organization so the impacts can be multiplied and replicated,” said May. “These are future senior leaders of the organization and the true benefit of the program may not be fully realized until knowledge meets an opportunity.”

Adjutant General for North Carolina, Maj. Gen. Greg Lusk, gives participants

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North Carolina National Guard Soldiers and Airmen participating in Operation Potomac stand in front of a minuteman statue at the Army National Guard Readiness Center in Washington, D.C. on July 11, 2017.

that opportunity to share their knowledge by periodically accesses participants as a sounding board for organizational issues.

This year’s trip was the first to include non-commissioned officers (NCO).

"I am truly honored to be the first NCO to attend Operation Potomac and hope that my attendance paves the way for future NCOs,” said Sgt. Major Harold Watts, operations sergeant major with the 1st-252nd Armor Regiment. “I feel that this year’s program is a great example of how senior NCOs can provide value and perspective during officer professional development training programs."

Air Force 2nd Lt. Kelnisha Murphy, one of the Operation Potomac participants is looking forward to using what she learned in the future.

“The program helped me recognize who to contact or collaborate with to ensure the right decisions are made to support our mission and our people,” said Murphy, the force support officer for the 145th Air Wing. “Hands down the best grass-roots training held for mid-level career officers.”

Soldiers and Airmen interested in participating in future events should contact their unit leadership.

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At the beginning of July, Soldiers from the North Carolina National Guard’s 5th Battalion, 113th Field Artillery Regiment, traveled to Cincu, Romania to train with South Dakota Guardsmen and Romanian Soldiers as part of Saber Guardian, a U.S. European Command exercise that took place in Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria involving more than 25,000 service members from over 20 allied and partner nations.

Romania is situated in the southeastern part of Central

Europe and shares borders with Hungary to the northwest, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, the Black Sea to the southeast, Ukraine to the east and to the north and the Republic of Moldova to the east. Roughly the size of Oregon, Romania is the second largest country in the area, after Poland.

The stories and photos on the following pages give a glimpse into the lives of these Soldiers during training and their accomplishments in the field.

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NCNG Field Artillery Soldiers travel to Romania for Saber Guardian Photo and Story by Sgt. Odaliska Almonte

Soldiers assigned to the 5th Battalion, 113th Field Artillery Regiment (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System), take firing positions during a live fire exercise at a training area near Cincu, Romania, during Exercise Guardian Saber, July 9 - 11, 2017.

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NATO Allies and partners raised their Nation’s flags during the official opening ceremony for the multinational training exercise Saber Guardian at the Joint National Training Center, in Cincu, Romania, July 7, 2107.

The North Carolina National Guard’s 5th Battalion, 113th Field Artillery Regiment was one of the units rendering their salute to Romanian Army Brig.

Gen. Gheorghe Visan, 2nd Infantry Division Commander, marking the official start of Saber Guardian.

With a few days already in country the 5-113th settled into a rhythm, but it was not without its challenges.

Upon arrival to Romania the Soldiers were greeted with lots of rain, making it difficult to get their trucks up muddy hills.

However, they pushed through, set up their camp and were soon ready to begin the exercise.

Saber Guardian 17 is a U.S.

European Command exercise that took place in Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria involving more than 25,000 service members from over 20 allied and partner nations.

The N.C. National Guard’s 5-113th was one of the subordinate artillery elements working with the Romanian 8 LAROM and the South Dakota Field Artillery to improve their interoperability under a unified command.

“I can definitely attest to the value that this training brings to Romanian military because we have the chance to practice our procedures and adjust to have common procedures,” said Col. Cipriano Marin, Commander of the Romanian’s 8 LAROM Artillery Brigade. “We also learned a lot since arriving here.”

All three artillery companies developed their communication through the training and learned how to support each other in the

battlefield.

“Our interactions with the 1-147th Field Artillery [South Dakota National Guard] have been stupendous,” said Staff Sgt. Nathan Clark, who was working in the 5-113’s Battalion Fire Direction Center during the exercise. “Those guys are really good at what they do. They’re anxious to get in the field and work with us, not against us, it is very refreshing. Everybody seems to be on the same page and really wants to make this happen and do a great job.”

Being able to conduct this scale of exercise is a unique experience that cannot be easily duplicated in the United States.

“This is the kind of training that you can’t get and replicate at home stations,” said Army Col. Kelly Webster, Commander of the 1st Calvary Division Artillery. The ability to work with our allies in close proximity to meet our mission requirements

and improve our collective readiness is just something that is invaluable to the training.”

The 5-113th FA’s opportunity to train in a new environment and new terrain offered a much wider range of training opportunities, from the logistics of travel and setting up, to the actual launching of rockets.

“The satisfaction Soldiers get from doing their job, from the launcher crews to our directions centers, on new terrain and really enjoy getting ready to live fire and certify, it’s just really satisfying as a commander to see them respond to challenges and step up and really perform.”

Said Lt. Col. Paul Hollenack, Commander of the 5th Battalion, 113tth Field Artillery Regiment.

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Living the ‘American Dream’ in Romania Story by Drew Brooks Courtesy of the Fayetteville Observer

Spc. Gizela Lupescu has found something that countless others have sought before her: the American dream.

A native of Romania, Lupescu found the dream in North Carolina after a 16-year wait to become a U.S. citizen.

Now, she serves as a soldier in the North Carolina National Guard and an independent contractor on Fort Bragg training special operations forces.

In recent weeks, her worlds collided when she deployed to her native land as part of a group of North Carolina National Guard troops serving in support of a training exercise there.

Speaking from Romania,

Lupescu said her story is a happy one.

“I am on the cusp, if not already found it,” she said of her American dream. “My story is a successful story.”

Lupescu, who lives in Raeford, is a combat medic with the 230th Brigade Support Battalion, part of the 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team.

In Romania, she’s assigned to the 5th Battalion, 113th Field Artillery Regiment – one of 200 local soldiers who deployed to Europe to participate in a 22-nation training exercise called Saber Guardian 17.

The soldiers — who operate the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System,

or HiMARS – are working with international allies while building readiness for a potential defense of Europe from Russian aggression.

They are expected to return to North Carolina later this month.

Saber Guardian 17 is led

by U.S. Army Europe and is taking place in Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria, officials said. It will involve more than 25,000 service members from various allies, including the United States, and is the largest Black Sea Region military exercise planned this year.

In Romania, Lupescu is a liaison and part-time translator between Romanian and American troops. While Spc. Gizela Lupescu, right, uses her native language, Romanian, to help U.S. Soldiers communicate with the Romanian Soldiers they are working with during exercise Getica Saber.

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most Romanians speak some English, she said, she’s there to make sure nothing is lost in translation.

It’s a role that has taken some Romanian troops by surprise, especially when she talks in her native tongue.

“They pause and look me up and down,” Lupescu said.

Ultimately, the soldiers are proud to see one of their own in an American uniform, she said. They ask about life in America and her service in the Army. Lupescu tells them the truth.

“I’ve had nothing but good experiences,” she said.

But that doesn’t mean life in America has always been easy.

Lupescu came to America in 2000 at age 21. It wasn’t

Spc. Gizela Lupescu of the North Carolina National Guard served in her native country of Romania during exercise Getica Saber at the Joint National Training Center in Cincu, Romania, July 9, 2017.

her original plan to become an American, but she fell in love with the country, she said.

It took her a dozen years to become a permanent resident.

And several more years to earn her citizenship.

Lupescu said she knew it was a long process, but didn’t expect it to take so long.

“It can take four years,” she said. “It can take eight years.”

For Lupescu, it took 16.

She doesn’t know why it took so long, and she said she had her doubts along the way. But she never considered giving up, even when she felt she had no control of her life.

Born in Bucharest and the daughter of two teachers, Lupescu said she grew up with a love of America fueled largely by Hollywood.

“I was always fascinated with the American culture,” she said. “Everything American.”

When the opportunity came to travel to the United States, Lupescu jumped at the chance.

In June 2000, she arrived in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to serve as a counselor for a Girl Scout camp. There, Lupescu said, she fell in love with the country and applied for naturalization.

In Romania, Lupescu was trained on the violin and piano. She had gone to college for dentistry and could speak French, English and Spanish.

But in America, as she waited for her citizenship, she had to settle for whatever jobs she could find.

“No job would be beneath me,” she said. “One does what one has to.”

Lupescu worked in construction, as a waitress and as a secretary. She cleaned houses, washed dishes and, for a time, even drove a delivery truck.

“I’ve even been one of those annoying telemarketers,” she said.

At the same time, Lupescu traveled the country. She lived in Michigan, Illinois and California.

In Arizona, she met the man who would become her husband, Jeremy. His ties to North Carolina would bring her to this state.

“I became a North Carolinian by marriage,” she said. “I found my place in

North Carolina.”

Lupescu said she’s proud of every job she had. For each, she tried her best.

And since 2010, she has worked as a role player for special operations soldiers training at Camp Mackall.

A dozen years after Lupescu arrived in the United States, she became a permanent resident of the country. That opened the door to another dream of hers – to serve her adopted country.

In 2013, at age 35, she joined the North Carolina National Guard.

While her language skills would seemingly make her a natural candidate to be a linguist, Lupescu said that as a non Wcitizen she lacked the security clearance needed for

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Specialist Gizela Lupescu, points at locations on a sand table map, while speaking in her native language of Romanian, during live fire exercise planning with Romanian army officers at a training area near Cincu, Romania, during Exercise Guardian Saber, July 9 - 11, 2017.

the job.

Instead, she became a combat medic – driven by an underlying need to take care of others.

“I believe in taking on what you already have,” Lupescu said. “And I find happiness in taking care of others.”

As part of the North Carolina National Guard, she quickly found herself being asked to perform additional tasks outside of her chosen job.

The North Carolina National Guard has a state partnership program with Moldovan armed forces.

Moldova is a neighbor to Romania, was formerly part of the county and its official language is Romanian.

“I told them I could be a possible asset,” Lupescu said.

She began traveling with troops to Moldova for regular visits. And when Moldovan leaders visit North Carolina, she is often there.

“It’s an immense opportunity,” she said. “I’m loving it.”

On April 1, 2016, Lupescu officially became a United States citizen.

“After so many years, I had a moment where I thought it could be a joke. A very bad joke,” she said. “It was emotional.”

Since then, Lupescu said, it has felt like a weight was lifted.

When she deployed to

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Romania earlier this month, it was the first time Lupescu has returned to her country in her American military uniform.

She said she embraces both sides of her life.

“Being Romanian is a genetic thing,” Lupescu said.

“There is a certain pride as a Romanian.”

“And I’m very fortunate as

an American,” she said.

Being back in the country with her National Guard colleagues is a unique opportunity, Lupescu said.

“I’m proud to show them what Romania is about,” she said. “They are a very warm people. Their energy – if you allow it – it will take you over.”

Lupescu said she was late in starting her Army career, joining at the “last possible second” before she would have been too old.

“I see this as an experience – a life experience,” she said.

“I’ll do this as long as I’m having a positive experience and I can do something that matters.”

The Language of Romania

Romanian is a Romance Language spoken mainly in Romania and Moldova, as well as in some parts of Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria and Ukraine. The following are some common greetings in Romania.

English Good Morning Hello How are you?

Thank you

Romanian Bună dimineața Bună ziua Ce mai faci?

Mulțumesc

Sounds Like BOO-nuh dee-mee-NYAH-tzuh boona-zee-wah chey my FAHTCH mool-tzoo-MESK 20

NC Guardsmen train on newest version of the Shadow Unmanned Aerial System Story and Photos by Staff Sgt. Mary Junell

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he North Carolina National Guard’s Detachment 1, D Co. 236th Brigade Engineer Battalion, recently completed six weeks of New Equipment Training (NET) near Fort Bragg, North Carolina, July 17 - Aug. 25, 2017 after receiving the latest model of the RQ-7BV2 Shadow.

This newest version of Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) is visually similar to the previous model, but with several upgrades including longer flight durations.

“The Shadow as a platform brings reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition, which gives us capabilities for our military intelligence company in support of the 30th Brigade,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Stephen Isaacs, the Det. 1 commander. “The V2 gives us a much larger range.

It gives us a longer flight time, which also gives us more time to be on target.”

In addition to the increased range, the new version of the Shadow also meets the requirements of a new NATO regulation that requires all

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unmanned aircraft to have a certain level of interoperability and communications security.

Sgt. Joseph Patton, a unit trainer and operator with Det. 1 is happy about the improvements to the aircraft.

“It’s absolutely better,” said Patton. “From flying unmanned aircraft down-range and in combat, there have been instances of other people being able to see our feed and our video and this is going to completely mitigate that. This will keep our capabilities to us.”

Although Det. 1 only has the Shadow, is part of a new universal system that gives operators the ability to control more than one type of UAS. “It’s a part of NATO’s system to have that universality so we will be able to help our fellow NATO forces in the future,” Isaacs said.

The NET gave the Soldiers a chance to learn about the new aircraft without the limitation of time they face on most drill weekends, where it takes threequarters of a day to set up the airfield.

“There are guys who have gotten more training during this NET than they’ve had all year,” said Patton.

The additional training was not easy. The Soldiers had to battle a hot North Carolina summer with afternoon thunderstorms that kept them from flying, and they had to relearn the new system.

“The hardest part was definitely changing they way we’ve been doing something for eight, sometimes 12 years for some of the operators,” Patton said. “When you do this for so long you have a flow and you do the same flow every time and you get the aircraft in the air, and

now it’s changed.”

Patton said all the troubles were worth the effort.

“There’s been growth not just in our flying capabilities abut also in our operations,” he said.

“It’s always exciting to get that first bird up, every time. Whether it’s a drill weekend or annual training. There’s a lot of work getting it set up, but every time that bird leaves the rails for the first time, that means everything you just did was validated.”

Det. 1 is now qualified to operate the RQ-7BV2 Shadow and are prepared to answer the call should their nation need them.

ď‚ An RQ-7BV2 Shadow Unmanned Aerial System belonging the Detachment 1, D Co., 236 Brigade Engineer Battalion propels off its launcher at about 80 mph at an air field near Fort Bragg, Aug. 18, 2017. ď‚„Spc. Jared Kenigge, an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) operator with Detachment 1, D Co., 236 Brigade Engineer Battalion controls the payload, in this case a video camera, of a RQ-7BV2 Shadow during its flight near Fort Bragg, Aug. 18, 2017.

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235th ATCS named Facility of the Year

Story by Tech. Sgt. Nathan Clark

The Airmen of the 235th Air Traffic Control Squadron visit the USS Arizona while on their Annual Tour at the USS Arizona Memorial, Honolulu Hawaii, June 11th, 2017. Just prior to the trip the 235th ATC Squadron learned it was picked as the 2016 D. Ray Hardin Air Traffic Control Facility of the Year.

(Photo by Tech.

Sgt. Jacqueline Plumley)

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he 235th Air Traffic Control Squadron of the North Carolina Air National Guard has been announced as the 2016 D. Ray Hardin Air Traffic Control Facility of the Year. The award is given for dedicated professionalism and exceeding superior standards and expectations; for the Airmen of the unit it is the culmination of years of hard work.

The 235th Air Traffic Control Squadron is one of three radar units in the Air National Guard whose mission is supporting C-130 Hercules operations while training air traffic controllers to deploy anywhere around the globe.

It’s the opposing competition that makes winning so gratifying, According to Tech. Sgt. Jacqueline Plumley, 235th Air Traffic Control Watch Supervisor.

“Knowing how exceptional the

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other air traffic control squadrons in the Air National Guard are, is what makes receiving this honor so special,” said Tech. Sgt. Jacqueline Plumley, 235th Air Traffic Control Watch Supervisor.

“The teamwork of our unit and the many long hours our members put in daily attributed entirely to this award being bestowed upon us.”

In past years, Airmen of the 235th Air Traffic Control Squadron needed to rely on other airports to know when aircraft were inbound-a handicap that made them ineligible for award nomination.

“Previously we didn’t have a radar, now we can have a visual of the aircraft before they even talk to the tower. We can see the targets out there. It’s much safer now, and we can fill the gap between Charlotte and Greensboro because our airspace fits right in between those

airports,” said Plumley.

With the activation of the radar in 2016, the 235th Air Traffic Control Squadron acquired 800 square miles of airspace from three Federal Aviation approach controls, constructed five airspace maps, provided air traffic control services to four county airports, directed movement of aircraft along seven civil airways and five tactical military routes, and even won the Earl F. Ward award, an international accolade for enhancing quality, safety, and efficiency of air traffic control.

The visual range of a normal human is usually about three to four miles. The radar works by allowing technicians to see beyond.

“It allows us to see out about 60 miles, and we’ve been allocated one thousand feet of airspace,” said Master Sgt. Jade Barnett, 235th Air Traffic Control, dual

rated radar and tower controller.

For two years the radar and tower technicians working together, restored functionality to the radar which had been inoperable for over four decades.

“It was difficult to get online, and for about twelve years, you had subject matter experts saying it would never run and be online.

Then, with the right team, they were able to do it,” said Barnett.

Moving forward the 235th Air Traffic Control Squadron intends to continue improving by bringing in more personnel with new perspectives and knowledge.

As for next year, Tech Sgt. Plumley is optimistic the unit will find success again.

“All of our members are excited to be recipients of this honor and to have the privilege of saying we are second to none,” said Plumley.

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Following in His Father’s Footsteps: One Soldier’s Mission to Join the NCNG Photos and Story by Staff Sgt. Mary Junell

Nathan Jones, son of Chief Warrant Officer 3 Bruce Jones, the Force Integration Readiness Officer with the North Carolina National Guard (NCNG), sits in a waiting area with his family at the Military Entrance Processing Station in Raleigh, August 11, 2017.

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When Nathan Jones was in the 4th grade he had an opportunity to meet with the North Carolina Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. William E. Ingram Jr. Jones’ father, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Bruce Jones helped set up the meeting as part of a school project his son was completing.

During the meeting, nine-year-old Jones presented Ingram with a coin by passing it to him through a hand shake, which is a military tradition used to show appreciation for going above and beyond.

Ingram presented the young boy with his own coin and asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up.

With his head cocked slightly and a roll of his eyes, Jones said, “I’m going to be in the National Guard like my daddy.”

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ears later, Jones has now kept his promise and raised his right hand, reciting his oath of enlistment, given by his father, officially making him a Soldier in the North Carolina Army National Guard during a ceremony at the Military Entrance Processing Center in Raleigh, N.C. on August 11, 2017.

Jones credits his father’s service as the inspiration behind him becoming a Guardsman.

“I joined because I wanted to be like my dad and I saw that he was a hero,” Jones said. “He inspired me to be that hero that I’ve always wanted to be and to serve others.”

Although his father never doubted he would join, he is still impressed by his son’s commitment.

“I’m amazed and proud all at the same time,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Bruce Jones, the Force Integration Readiness Officer with the North Carolina

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National Guard (NCNG). “The fact that a nine-year-old boy had already determined that he was going to serve his country, his state and others just amaze me.

The fact that he followed through on his statement to the highest ranking North Carolina National Guardsmen that he knew at the time makes me proud to call him my son.”

Jones said that meeting the NC Adjutant General also helped lead him on his journey to become a Guardsman.

“I remember looking up at him and thinking he’s a big dude at first,” Jones said. “He was really cool and I’m glad that I met him. He inspired me, even more, to be in the military and go down this path.”

Jones already understand the sacrifice it takes to be in the military from watching his father, who deployed to Iraq in 2003 when Jones was almost four years old.

“I told him at that young age

that he was the default man of the house and he took that to heart so many years ago,” Jones’ father. “He has always stepped up to take on tasks while I’m away from home with Guard duty. I think somewhere in his mind he equates committing to the service as part of his crossing over into manhood.”

Every child deals with their parents leaving differently, but for Jones, it was the source of his desire to lead of life committed to the military.

“He inspired me from the start,” Jones said. “I grew up with him talking about military lingo that I'd never understand, but why he was talking about it I started to get little bits and pieces of it. Then he went off a couple of times and when he did it kind of inspired me to go off and fight for our freedom and fight for our country and be able to die for our country. He inspired me in that way too and as a dad, he encouraged me to follow my

dream.”

Jones’ dream came true when he signed his enlistment contract shortly before he recited his oath.

“I was happy when I signed, it felt right,” he said. “It felt like I was home.”

A few days later, Jones had the opportunity to meet the current North Carolina Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Greg Lusk, who encouraged Jones to continue in his father’s footsteps and stay in the Guard longer than his initial contract.

“You are on the first few rungs of the ladder that will take you throughout the rest of your career,” Lusk said.

Lusk presented Jones with his coin for keeping his promise when he was a little boy to one day join the service. Nathan Jones, right, son of Chief Warrant Officer 3 Bruce Jones, left, the Force Integration Readiness Officer with the North Carolina National Guard (NCNG), repeats back the oath of enlistment to his father while his right hand is raised, officially joining the NCNG August 11, 2017.

Nathan Jones looks up at Maj. Gen. William E. Ingram Jr., the North Carolina Adjutant General at the time, at the North Carolina National Guard’s Joint Force Headquarters in Raleigh, N.C. during a visit as part of a school project when he was in the 4th grade.

Nathan Jones, works with Sgt. 1st Class Carlos Rojas, a guidance counselor for the NCNG’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion, to sign and complete his enlistment contract at the Military Entrance Processing Station in Raleigh, August 11, 2017.

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NC Guard Transportation Company Deploys for Operation Patriot Bandolier Photo and Story by Sgt. 1st Class Robert Jordan

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ozens of 18-wheeled M915 tractor-trailers rolled into Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point (MOTSU), near Southport, North Carolina, after a nearly 300-mile convoy from the North Carolina National Guard’s 1450th Transportation Company headquarters in Lenoir beginning their annual training deployment for Operation Patriot Bandoleer, August 17, 2017.

The 78 Soldiers of the 1450th joined fellow South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky and Ohio National Guard troops for month-long multi-state exercise transporting critical

supplies to distribution points across the nation.

"We (1450th) have a lot of new Soldiers and they use what they learned," said the 1450th Commanding Officer, Army Capt. Brandon Liberator.

The convoy pulled up to the huge MOTSU rail-yard at the center of the base. Leaders lined up the vehicles in tight formation for the next day’s operations.

Soldiers swarmed around the trucks checking the 400 horsepower engines, lights, tires and other systems. Afterwards, Soldiers gathered for a brief on tomorrow’s mission, loading 20-foot ammunition shipping

Staff Sgt. Brandon Hawks, left, instructs Pvt. Shaun Wilkins on engine maintenance.

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containers onto the truck trailers.

Early the next morning, teams drove to ammunition loading points. They meet with MOTSU crews and plan how to best safely load the containers. Drivers eased the trucks into position following the crews hand signals.

The MOTSU personnel operated container loaders, a large heavyduty forklift, lowering the containers carrying thousands of pounds of ammunition onto the trailers.

Soldiers slid metal pins into groves along the containers securing the loads to the trailers and completed safety checks before moving out. Soldiers walked in front of the trucks guiding them to back to the road for a quick trip back to the rail yard.

Over the next two weeks, the unit will convoy more than 3,000 miles delivering the critical supplies to locations in Oklahoma and Pennsylvania.

The convoys provided a unique training opportunity as well as a real world mission.

“Soldier would rather be on the road than just driving around Fort Bragg during annual training,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jennifer Maloy, a mobility officer with the North Carolina National Guard.

Army National Guard Soldiers during the exercise will transport more than 500 containers over many thousands of miles to distribution points across the country supporting Army Materiel Command operations.

1450th Trans. Co. Soldiers travel to Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point.

Pvt. Shaun Wilkins conducts diesel engine maintenance during convoy operations.

overwhelming,” said NC National Guard Holds Deployment itMaj.wasEricveryJuarez, the intelligence officer with the 449th TAB. “It Ceremony for Aviators was great interacting with them Story and Photos by Sgt. Marcelle Pugh

Soldiers of the North Carolina Army National Guard’s 449th Theater Aviation Brigade (449th TAB) and the 2-130th Airfield Operations Battalion (AOB) were honored during a deployment ceremony at the Hope Community Church, here, Thursday, September 28.

More than180 Soldiers and aviators from the 449th and 2-130th will deploy in support of Operation Spartan Shield and Operation Inherent Resolve in Kuwait and Iraq. The Soldiers are trained to conduct and oversee aviation operations, reconnaissance and security, air

assault and air movement, attack and combat service support missions.

"I'm proud of our North Carolina Soldiers,” said Lt. Col. Joseph Bishop, commander of the 449th, which is headquartered in Morrisville, N.C. “They represent what's great about our community. They are citizens that stand up to the call without hesitation. This is why I know we can be successful, the genuine love of country and support to our community."

The unit’s last deployed in April 2009, to Iraq for the MultiNational Corps-Iraq Combat

Aviation Brigade mission, with responsibility for all fixed- and rotary-wing aviation support of senior leadership, medical evacuation, and air movement supporting the staff and Soldiers from several commands.

Although every mission is different, the unit has been training for whatever challenges they may face.

"We're going to have a tough mission but one we're prepared for.” Bishop said. “It will take everyone's effort to support our U.S. and coalition partners effectively. It's going to be a hard job, but we're up to the task.”

Prior to the start of the ceremony, crowds of students from Grace Christian school lined the street leading up to the church. They waved flags, held patriotic signs and cheered the soldiers outside as they arrived to the ceremony.

“I thought it was amazing,

Soldiers of the 449th Theater Brigade and the 2-130th Airfield Operations Battalion (AOB) file into the Hope Community Church in Raleigh, N.C. on Sept. 28, 2017 for their deployment ceremony.

and I think it’s good for them to attend things like this so they can kind of see what it’s all about.

It gives them a good baseline of where to start for future patriotism because nowadays it can be hard to do that with, you know, things that you see on the news.”

Like many Soldiers in the NCNG, Juarez looks at the Guardsmen he is deploying with like family.

“The troops that I’m deploying with, a lot of them are my best friends.” Juarez said.

“We hangout on the weekends, our kids play with each other and we’re already a family. It’s tough to leave your family here but you have another family that you’re going with and we all take care of each other.”

Juarez’s mother and father who drove from Charlotte for the ceremony were both proud of their son and fellow soldiers.

“On behalf of the entire family I just want Maj. Juarez to know he is loved beyond measure,” said Rosanna Tsavdar, Juarez’s mother. “We are praying for him, we are praying for his speedy return and we are praying for everyone to come home safely, in the mean time we are going to stand proud of everything that their doing out there. We stand behind you and support you.”

The units will soon fly to Ft. Hood, Texas for more training before continuing on to their final destinations in support of Operation Spartan Shield and Operation Inherent Resolve in Kuwait and Iraq.

Army 1st Lt. Dan Ya, a Soldier with the 449th Theater Aviation Brigade, laughs with children from the Grace Christian School who lined the street leading up to entrance of the Hope Community Church in Raleigh, N.C. on Sept. 28, 2017 prior to his unit’s deployment ceremony

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42nd CST trains at

Story and Photos by Staff Sgt. Mary Junell

Sgt. Betuel Monje, a Soldier with 42nd Civil Support Team tests a sample he took of a suspicious substance found outside the PNC Arena during a training scenario in Raleigh, North Carolina, Sept. 26, 2017.

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Soldiers with the North Carolina National Guard’s 42nd Civil Support Team walk down an interior hallway at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina on Sept. 26, 2017 during a training exercise meant to keep the team proficient in their skills.

oldiers with the 42nd Civil Support Team sprang into action the morning of September 26, 2017 in response to a call from Wake County Emergency Management that there were suspicious packages and a man caught with two bags of powder near the ventilation system at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Luckily, the call was part of a training scenario meant to keep the team proficient in their skills and gave Wake County Emergency Management an opportunity to understand the capabilities of the 42nd CST. “Each of us on the team will take turns setting up a one or two day scenario for the rest of the team as a proficiency test for everything that we do,” said Staff Sgt. Jason, Warrick, a healthcare noncommissioned officer with the 42nd CST. The team has a federal evaluation once about every 18 months. Between those events, they create their own test scenarios, not only to prepare for the evaluation, but to ensure they are ready for a real world event.

“Because we have the possibility of being

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called out on little or no notice, we have to make sure that we are constantly ready to perform at our highest level,” Warrick said.

“The more you train and the more realistic you train, the better you’re going to perform.

We see ourselves getting better over time.”

The endless training helps not only the team build their confidence, but also gives the agencies they work with confidence in the 42nd CST’s abilities.

“It’s very important for us,” said Darshan Patel, an emergency management specialist with Wake County Emergency Management.

“It helps us understand what capabilities are there outside of our local area and it helps us to make sure we can work together, communicate together, and complete missions together before we actually have an event that happens in our area.”

Larry Perkins, the Vice President and Assistant General Manager of PNC Arena hopes that by having the 42nd CST train at the large venue, both the Soldiers and Arena staff will be better prepared should a real incident occur.

“The thing about having them out is that the more familiar you are with a facility, the better for us and for them,” Perkins said.

“They don’t have to come out and worry about where things are, they are familiar with it and we are familiar with them. We know where to go and they know where to go and we know how to make decisions if something real happens. Our approach is to be proactive so the patrons don’t have to worry.”

The Soldiers of the CST plan most of their scenarios to involve other security, law enforcement and emergency services so they can get the most realistic training possible.

“Our job is to help and augment civil authorities for domestic purposes,” Warrick said. “We will almost never be the only ones there. We do a lot of inter-agency partnering with other law enforcement, EMS, fire and hazmat teams.”

All parties involved said the training helps build confidence in each other and their abilities, should the 42nd CST’s services be called upon.

PNC Arena

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100 Year Muster of the 113th Field Artillery Regiment On June 24, 2017 the 113th Field Artillery Regimental Association hosted the 100 Year Muster of the 113th Field Aritllery Regiment to commemorate the regiment’s formation in the North Carolina National Guard as part of the state’s response to the United States’ entry into World War I. The locations of the original units were Raleigh, New Bern, Washington, Durham, Monroe, Lenoir, Mooresville, and Wilmington.

Since its participation in WWI, the Regiment served in WWII, and more recently Iraq and two other mobilizations to the Middle East. Currently, regimental units consisting of 1st Battalion and 5th Battalion have units in Louisburg, Charlotte, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point, Reidsville, Monroe, Lincolnton, and Belmont. These units consist of over 1000 citizen Soldiers across the state.

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