Evergreen Magazine Fall edition

FALL 2018

BEST WARRIOR

Washington National Guard members vie for the top honors.

Guardsmen from the Special Operations Detachment – Pacific descend onto a drop zone during a parachute jump certification at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. on Sept. 7, 2018. (photo by Joseph Siemandel)

CONTENT

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10TH CST HEADS TO SAIPAN

The Washington National Guard’s 10th Civil Support Team participated in an exercise that included an active shooter, biological weapons manufacturing and hostages on the island of Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands.

MATES TURNS 50

For the past 50 years, MATES has provided exceptional maintenance support to the Washington Army National Guard so the units, and the members can accomplish their mission.

BEST WARRIOR COMPETITION

Soldiers love competition: the struggle against the obstacles, competing against each other to see the best of the best.

combat medics at wsu in partnership

A new partnership between the Washington Army National Guard 161st Infantry unit and the Washington State University College of Nursing brought 30 combat medics to the college for two days of training over the weekend.

WHEN THE EARTHQUAKE STRIKES

Are you two weeks ready? Here are some tips to prepare your home.

STATE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM

Leadership from the Royal Thai Air Force, Royal Thai Armed Forces HQ, and the Ministry of Defense traveled to Washington state to visit Washington National Guard operations

AIR GUARD ASSISTS WITH HURRICANE MICHAEL

Airmen from the Washington Air National Guard’s 194th Intelligence Squadron are growing their skillset and learning new ways of operating as they support Georgia in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael.

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Tara Broad, survey member in the 10th Civil Support Team, Washington National Guard, takes pictures of raw materials that could be used to create nefarious chemicals, explosives or drugs during exercise Konfitma Aug. 17, 2018 on the island of Saipan.

Konfitma is an all-hazards CBRNE environment threat-based training exercise designed to test an agency’s capabilities, policies and procedures and to identify capability and interoperability gaps. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Jason Kriess)

Story and Photos by Jason Kriess

10TH CST BUILDS PARTNERS DURING KONFITMA 18

The Washington National Guard’s 10th Civil Support Team participated in an exercise that included an active shooter, biological weapons manufacturing and hostages on the island of Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands. Approximately 100 personnel from various government agencies of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) responded to the scenarios during the period of Aug. 14-17.

The exercise, called Konfitma, a Chamorran term meaning “confirming with the plans,” was designed to test an agency’s capabilities, policies and procedures and identify interoperability gaps in its response. The Chamorro people are the original inhabitants of Saipan.

The commercial economy of the Northern Mariana Islands heavily depends on the imported goods that make their way onto the islands by way of commercial ship transport. Even if there were a small-scale attack on one of their ports, there could theoretically be a surge in security requirements at all of their ports, as well as a crippling area-wide disruption of maritime operations.

Washington, along with other CSTs from Guam, Hawaii, Utah and Tennessee, provided chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives (CBRNE) support to local first-responders who were the first on the scene. If there was a need for detection for any kind of hazardous chemicals or materials, the CSTs were on site within 30 minutes.

More than merely participating in the exercise itself, Lt. Col. Ricky Thomas, the commander of the 10th CST, said that building and maintaining relationships with the other CSTs is crucial for when real-world events happen.

Thomas said that if there was an actual event that occurred in Saipan or other island in the CNMI, Guam would be the first to respond. If the event proved too much for them to handle, they would reach out to Hawaii first because they’re the closest CST. From there they will call the next closest team – Washington.

“If the incident is large enough, they will be reaching out to us,” Thomas said. “But the fact that we’ve worked with them, they know what we bring to the fight and they know our capabilities, makes the response that much more seamless.”

Participating in exercises like these in the U.S. Army Pacific’s area of responsibility allows us to demonstrate our abilities to our counterparts, said Maj. Jonatthan Uran, deputy commander of the 10th CST. “Our involvement in this region, just builds those relationships so that when we do get the call to come out here, we know who these teams are, we know their personalities. We can rely upon them and they can rely upon us,” Uran added.

In the waning hours of the 72-hour exercise, the 10th CST was called into action at an abandoned shopping mall where notional perpetrators led SWAT teams to a makeshift laboratory where they were manufacturing a nerve agent intended to be used as a weapon of mass destruction. Two

members of the team donned their fully-encapsulated Level A chemical protection suit, complete with self-contained breathing apparatuses, and made their way down range to inspect the contaminated area.

Their mission was to take pictures of any precursors in the area, said Tech. Sgt. Tara Broad, a survey team member.

Precursors are any raw materials that can be used to create nefarious chemicals, explosives or drugs.

The photos, along with any other data the team collected, would then be brought back to the incident commander in order to help them make more informed decisions during the incident.

Resources were wearing thin at another location 10 miles away. Other CSTs had responded to multiple laboratories at a juvenile detention center earlier that morning. As the day wore on, they were running out of survey members to don the hazmat suit and make entry into the crime scene.

The 10th CST was called upon to send two survey members to the detention center to augment the other teams already on site. The two were able to successfully integrate into the incident and provide the support they needed.

All the CSTs combined were able to look at nine makeshift labs during the exercise and all of them were accurately assessed.

The first Konfitma exercise was held in 2010.

Guardsmen from the State Maintenance Management office pose by a Stryker Fighting Vehicle at the Washington Army National Guard’s Maneuver Area Training Equipment Site in the Yakima Training Center, Yakima, Wash. on Sept. 27, 2018. (U.S. National Guard photo by Joseph Siemandel)

Washington National Guard’s MATES supports units for 50 years

Photos and Story by: Joseph Siemandel

En route to the Yakima Training Center, National Guard units are bound to break down, even with the newest equipment.

That’s where the professionals that work at the Maneuver Area Training Equipment Site come in.

“For the past 50 years, MATES has provided exceptional maintenance support to the Washington Army National Guard so the units, and the members can accomplish their mission,” said Chief Warrant Officer Five Michael Davisson, state maintenance manager.

Originally called the Field Area Training and Equipment Site, the MATES opened its doors at the Yakima Firing Center in Sept. 1968 with just eight employees. As the need for fulltime maintenance professionals grew, so did the demand for a new building.

upgraded our technology systems as needed, now we are equipped to maintain the Strykers for the 81st Brigade.”

On April 9, 1976, Maj. Gen. Howard McGee, the adjutant general and state senator Sid Morrison cut the ribbon on the new Mobilization and Training Equipment Site. Now known as For all the accomplishments in maintenance, the relationship “A” wing, the 35,000-square-foot building cost $900,000. with the community is even more important. In 2013, MATES employees, working with the neighboring facilities adopted “The building has grown and changed but the mission and a family for the holiday season, providing food and gifts to the professionalism hasn’t,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Bruce those in need. In 2017, employees decided to help out a whole Ecclestone.

Ecclestone was hired as a mechanic in 1992 and worked at the facility until moving to his current position as the state sergeant major in 2017.

“You see, in the way the building is maintained, the cleanliness, there is a lot of pride here,” said Ecclestone.

The building has undergone many additions and updates since 1976, including a major addition that was completed in 2002.

“We had to change with the Guard; we upgraded the facility when we got the M1 Abrams,” Davisson said. “Then, we

lot more, filling 100 boxes with food for holiday meals, each box weighing between 35 and 40 lbs.

“MATES cares, we care about each other, we care about the soldiers, we care about the community, we care about the Washington National Guard and we care about the mission of our organization,” said Ecclestone. “When you care, it shows.”

WASHINGTON ARMY NATIONAL GUARD SOLDIERS TAKE PART IN THE 2018 BEST WARRIOR COMPETITION

Soldiers love competition: the struggle against the obstacles, competing against each other to see the best of the best. That’s when you see them push to the end of their physical abilities and do things that they never thought they could.

That is what the Fiscal Year 2019 Best Warrior Competition was all about.

Guardsmen from across the state pushed themselves to their physical and mental breaking points during the four-day competition.

“We created this year’s competition to get everything we could out of the competitors,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Bruce Ecclestone, state command sergeant major, Washington Army National Guard. “We had a close finish, separated by only six points.”

Competitors, chosen by their units during a board review process, came to Camp Murray on Thursday, Sept. 6, to start the multi-day competition, starting with an Army Physical Fitness Test and mystery events, which included pull-ups, a shuttle run and goblet squats.

“If you are somebody that wants to test yourself against the best in the state, this is a great lane to do it in,” said Private 1st Class Nicholas Pannoni, infantryman with Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment and Longview Police Officer. “This was a good opportunity to compete, understand where your weaknesses are and see what you are all about.”

The second day started with a 12-mile ruck march. Each competitor carried a 40-pound ruck sack, and weapon in full battle rattle. As competitors finished, they received medical attention as needed and prepared for their next event which was a test on familiarization on the MK-19 and .50 Caliber Machine Gun. The Guardsmen then moved on to Tactical Combat Casualty Care lanes before conducting land navigation.

“So far, it’s been killing me, but it’s been good,” said Spc. Arbogaste Twizere, combat engineer, Headquarters Company, 898th Brigade Engineer Battalion and a Central Washington University student. “I want to be the best; I don’t want to be a regular person. I want to be special.”

Above: Spc. Alex Hartley and Staff Sgt. Arben Ferolino, Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment talk about their strategy during the 12 mile ruck march during the 2018 Best Warrior Competition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. on Sept. 7, 2018. Staff Sgt, Ferolino was Spc. Hartley’s coach for the competition.

Above Right: Spc. Arbogaste Twizere, combat engineer, Headquarters Company, 898th Brigade Engineer Battalion prepares to conduct the MK-19 / .50 Cal familiarization event during the 2018 Best Warrior Competition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. on Sept. 7, 2018.

Spc. Robert Levy, automated logistical specialist, Alpha Company, 181st Brigade Support Battalion stays focused during the 12 mile ruck march during the 2018 Best Warrior Competition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. on Sept. 7, 2018. (U.S. National Guard photo by Joseph Siemandel) Sgt. Kevin Chambers, a plumber, 176th Engineer Company gives a thumbs up after passing mile post 10 during the 12 mile ruck march during the 2018 Best Warrior Competition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord on Sept. 7, 2018. (U.S. National Guard photo by Joseph Siemandel)

Twizere and Pannoni, along with the other competitors, finished day two with a trip to the gas chamber before heading to the woods for night land navigation.

Sgt. Kevin Chambers, a plumber with 176th Engineer Company and Bellingham resident, recently returned from working on the wildfires in eastern Washington in August. He took the challenge head on knowing he couldn’t give up.

“I was recently on the Sheep Creek Fire; it was fun, hard work. You feel accomplished at the end of the day knowing you are helping others,” Chambers said. “As the only NCO in the competition, it’s my responsibility to set the standard for the younger soldiers.”

On the third day, the competitors completed rifle and pistol ranges, threw grenades and completed Day Stakes lanes.

“I am taking one event at a time,” said Spc. Kevin Gross, a horizontal construction engineer, 176th Engineer Company. “You get one done and move on to the next. You can’t think ahead.”

Gross, a general contractor in Tacoma, said he wanted to take part in the Best Warrior competition since finding out about it.

“I want to be the best in my unit, state, region, country,” he said. “This is why we do this, right? To be the best.”

The competitors started the fourth and final day with an obstacle course and drill and ceremony event before wrapping up.

“Challenges are nothing new to me, I went to basic training at 31,” said Spc. Robert Levy, automated logistical specialist with Alpha Company, 181st Brigade Support Battalion and an employee at Wells Fargo in Vancouver. “I’ll never be one to blame my age on being beat by soldiers much younger.”

“You all showed mental and physical toughness, and really showed the warrior ethos out there,” Ecclestone told the soldiers during Sunday’s award ceremony.

This year, Spc. Alex Hartley, infantryman, Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment and a student and model from Seattle was named the Best Warrior, and Chambers was named best non-commissioned officer.

“I am so happy to be the best warrior,” Hartley said. “Many of the events pushed me to my brink but was fun. My leadership believes in me and knew I could win.”

Chambers and Hartley will move on from state to the regional competition in North Dakota next spring to compete against the winners from Alaska, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oregon and Wyoming.

Photos and Story by Jospeh Siemandel

Private 1st Class Nicholas Pannoni, infantryman, Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment conducts an Army Physical Fitness Test during the 2018 Best Warrior Competition at Camp Murray, Wash. on Sept. 6, 2018. (U.S. National Guard photo by Joseph Siemandel)

“We created this year’s competition to get everything we could out of the competitors,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Bruce Ecclestone, state command sergeant major, Washington Army National Guard. “We had a close finish, separated by only six points.”

Spc. Kevin Gross, a horizontal construction engineer, 176th Engineer Company conducts an Army Physical Fitness Test during the Best Warrior Competition at Camp Murray, Wash. on Sept. 6, 2018. (U.S. National Guard photo by Joseph Siemandel)

SWORDS OF FORMER TAG RECOVERED THROUGH THE INTERNET How do four swords belonging to a former Washington National Guard Adjutant General end up on eBay? How do they make their way from Hawaii back to the artifacts room of a museum in Washington?

Peter Grilley, a volunteer with the Washington National Guard Museum at Camp Murray, has been working toward recovering historical artifacts with significance to the Washington National Guard for several years.

“It all started six or seven years ago, I was searching for Washington National Guard artifacts, which led to a tunic the seller claimed was Maurice Thompson’s,” Grilley said, explaining that Thompson was a former adjutant general. “The tunic sat in my collection for a long time because I had nothing else to go with it. Then, last year I was doing my searches again and came across something that was attributed to Maurice Thompson, and it was four swords.”

Thompson was the longest serving adjutant general in Washington National Guard history, although his terms were interrupted by the World Wars. Thompson’s combined 29 years of service as the adjutant general makes him the fifth longest serving adjutant general in United States history.

During his time in the Washington National Guard, Thompson was commander of Company B, 2nd Battalion, 1st Regiment and later the battalion itself. In 1914, during his time as the 2nd Battalion Commander, he was selected as a major to be the adjutant general of the Washington National Guard. Sometime after he was selected, his former soldiers gifted him an intricately decorated sword with the inscription, “Brig. Gen. Maurice Thompson, from members of his old command, Co. B. 2d INF N.G.W.” The sword and three others were found during an internet search

by Grilley, looking for historical artifacts on the off chance some would be listed. When first seeing the listing, he was hesitant, but the inscription left no doubt and he contacted the seller.

The swords will be on display in the Washington National Guard Museum on Camp Murray for visitors. The museum is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., but a docent tour is available on Wednesdays. If you would like more information, the museum can be contacted at (253) 512-7834.

Photos and Story by Sara Morris

Army National Guard trains combat medics at WSU in new partnership

Story by Addy Hatch, photos by Sarah Schaub and Addy Hatch

A new partnership between the Washington Army National Guard 161st Infantry unit and the Washington State University College of Nursing brought 30 combat medics to the college for two days of training.

Working in the College of Nursing’s simulation lab, groups of medics rotated between practicing skills like starting IVs, giving injections, and inserting intraosseous catheters. Then they participated in a hands-on patient care scenario in a Battalion Aid Station setting, treating a wounded soldier who was in an IED blast and fire fight, treating gunshot wounds and shock brought about by severe blood or fluid loss.

“The realism here is invaluable,” said Capt. Matt Yamamoto, of the 1st Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment.

Training in combat emergency medicine is typically done at Joint Base Lewis McChord’s Medical Simulation Training Center, near Tacoma. The Army National Guard was looking for equally high-quality training in Eastern Washington to make it more convenient for the 1st Battalion, 161st infantry unit, which is headquartered in Spokane.

The Army National Guard contacted the WSU College of Nursing based on the college’s longstanding, successful partnership with the Washington Air National Guard, said Kevin Stevens, director of the Center for Clinical Performance & Simulation. Air National Guard medics have trained at the college’s simulation lab for a decade.

The training scenarios used the College of Nursing’s hightech Human Patient simulation, Sim Man 3g, which can breath, has pulses, bleeds, and can have a seizure. Groups of three medics worked on the patient, with a debrief at the end of the session.

The next day, the group returned for training on treating injured military working dogs. An Army veterinarian and technician from Fairchild Air Force Base came to the college with a working dog manikin to train the medics on how to take care of a sick or wounded working dog, which they may see in a deployed setting.

Stevens said she hopes to continue building on the College of Nursing’s new partnership with the Army National Guard.

“We want them to be able to stay on this side of the state and receive the same kind of training they’d get at Madigan Army Medical Center on the west side,” she said.

Yamamoto said he was pleased with the first training weekend, and with the College of Nursing’s sim lab.

“We’re just trying to leverage what we have here in Spokane,” he said.

Airman with Puerto Rico ties helped after hurricane Photo and Story by: Capt. Hans Zeiger

When Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico in 2017, Master Sgt. Eric Sanchez of the Washington Air National Guard’s 194th Logistics Readiness Squadron immediately thought of his family back in Puerto Rico. For three weeks, Sanchez didn’t know anything about his family’s well-being. He worried about his brother, his aunts and uncles.

Born in Ceiba, Puerto Rico, Sanchez moved around the United States as a child. His father was in the Army. Eventually, the family returned to U.S. Army Garrison Fort Buchanan in Puerto Rico. After high school, Sanchez joined the Puerto Rico Air National Guard’s 156th Airlift Wing.

After he moved to Washington State to work for the Army’s Joint Personal Property Shipping Office at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Sanchez joined the Oregon Air National Guard’s 142nd Fighter Wing in their vehicle operations unit. He worked his way up from staff sergeant to technical sergeant at the 142nd, and he became the non-commissioned officer in charge for his unit. Twice he deployed to Kuwait.

In 2016, Sanchez transferred to the Washington Air National Guard’s 194th Wing to take a full-time job in the Wing’s traffic management office at Camp Murray, managing shipping and receiving.

So when the hurricane hit Puerto Rico, Sanchez was in a good position as a Guard member to offer his help.

“I started pinging leadership,” he said. He told Lt. Col. Chris Panush, then his squadron commander, “If there’s anything I can do to help, send me.”

A call went out for a transportation non-commissioned officer in charge for the 165th Airlift Wing at Savannah, Georgia, the central hub for military transport to and from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. He worked the night shift, helping to transport supplies for delivery and welcoming hurricane refugees upon their arrival to Savannah. As he worked, he saw a way that he could help his family while serving his country. “I saw that there were people taking extra supplies,” he said. “I wanted to send supplies and a generator to my brother.”

Two weeks into his time in Savannah, Sanchez shared his story with 165th Airlift leaders. No less than an hour and a half later, he was on a flight manifest. “I ran out to Home Depot and bought a generator,” he said, “Enough to power my brother’s whole home.” He arranged to bring the generator with him, and the crew gladly strapped it in. “Off I went,” said Sanchez.

In Puerto Rico, Sanchez was assigned to help unload supplies at the airport in San Juan. During the four-day mission, Sanchez had a brief time to go to his brother’s home. “I had my brother swing by and pick

me up. I went back to my brother’s house. It was tough to see. I took off my uniform and helped to hook up the generator,” he said. “There were essential items they still needed, but [the generator] powered things like the fridge that were needed to get by.”

a key logistics and transportation role for a joint service humanitarian training mission called Tropic Care Maui County 2018, supporting no-cost medical, dental, and vision services for the public at the University of Hawaii Maui College.

Sanchez’s brother was in the process of adopting a child at the time the hurricane struck. “When the hurricane hit, the government had a huge necessity to get kids to homes,” he said. “They accepted two kids in the midst of the hurricane, with no running water, no electricity.”

Sanchez’s commitment to service and his character are attractive to others, said Chief Master Sgt. Mark Soulier, superintendent of the 194th Logistics Readiness Squadron. Soulier commended Sanchez’s “personality-driven leadership.”

Later, Sanchez had an opportunity to go back a second time to Puerto Rico, this time for five days. On that trip he was not only able to visit his brother’s family but also to bring supplies to his wife’s family and to a girl with disabilities who was related to friends from his church.

Outside of his job in the Air National Guard, Sanchez is involved in his church, leading worship and taking part in a small group program. He and his wife have a 13-year old son and an eight-year old daughter.

“It was humbling to be able to go back home,” Sanchez said of his two trips into Puerto Rico in the aftermath of the hurricane.

As a Guard member, Sanchez appreciates “the opportunities you get, the people you get to meet,” he said. “It is a privilege to be able to serve the community, to serve the state.” In August 2018, Sanchez took

10th CST provides valuable support to the Issaquah community during Salmon Days Photos and Story by: Sara Morris

While there was no credible threat at this year’s Salmon Days, celebrated in Issaquah, Washington, every year, the local first responder community wants to be prepared for any emergency. With so many people in such a small area, the 10th Civil Support Team (CST) is relied upon to fill gaps.

“I think the most important piece, and at least the value that I see in it, is the support of being able to be proactively looking for unknown threats and new threats in the world, that could come to our event as well,” said Cpl. Ryan Smith, Issaquah community resource officer and Salmon Days commander. “So they’re a huge piece to support that since we don’t have that same capability.”

Salmon Days is the largest community festival in the state, and regularly draws more than 150,000 visitors each year. The goal of the festival is to provide a community celebration focused on honoring the miraculous return of the salmon, almost two tons of salmon return each year. Initiated by a parade, welcoming the salmon to their birth-waters, you can even watch them jumping up river at the hatchery.

The Washington National Guard 10th CST supported the Issaquah police and fire departments during the Salmon Days festival. The 10th CST has supported this event for the last three years as members of the joint hazard assessment team. The team is typically comprised of bomb technicians, fire fighters, hazmat professionals and law enforcement.

“The reason we’re out here is to fill a gap that the local first responder community identified. And that gap is the radiological gear. They don’t have that detection capability and they want it out here today so they asked for us,” said Warrant Officer Daniel Jones.

The guardsmen arrived to the festival before opening to the public and conducted the initial radiation sweeps and meet with the local law enforcement and fire department to conduct roving patrols. The 10th CST also used this event to train new equipment.

“We’re exercising two of our MPDS, Man Portable Detection System, backpacks,” said Jones. “They are highly sensitive gamma radiation detection backpacks, that can also detect neutrons, and why that’s significant is because traditionally only the Department of Homeland Security resources have been able to consistently provide that to the first responder community and the CSTs just recently acquired them.”

The 10th CST supports civil authorities and through the partnership developed at events like Salmon Days they build a trust with the local first responders. This way, Jones said, “every single firefighter, every single law enforcement agent knows that if they have that significant CBRNE that they need the next level for, that we’re the first call.”

The 10th CST routinely supports community events across the country. The unit has members at Snow Flake Lane in Bellevue and all Seattle Seahawks games, as well as support at the Super Bowl and Presidential Inauguration and have been requested for this year’s upcoming Indianapolis 500.

Survey team members with the 10th Civil Support Team (CST), conduct radiological survey at Salmon Days in Issaquah, Washington. As a part of their joint assesment team, working with Issaquah Police and hazmat professionals, in a proactive approach to ensure there were no threats to the community during the event.

Around the Department 133rd Army National Guard Band entertains the members of the 96th Troop Command at their inaugural Gala.

Sgt. Maj. Michael Spaulding, United States Army Training and Doctrine Command address the audience at the Pierce Country Readiness Center, Camp Murray, Wash. on Sept.

22, 2018. Sgt. Maj. Spaulding discussed multiple topics with the group of young NCOs about the future standards of the Army. (photo by Joseph Siemandel)

The Washington National Guard celebrated Diversity Days at the Pierce County Readiness Center, to recognize the different cultures represented throughout the organization. Members set up their own booths which provided information on their heritage and traditional food from their culture.

From left to right: Christine Nahn, South Sound Director for U.S. Senator Patty Murray, State Representative Beth Doglio, 22nd District, State Representative Laurie Dolan, 22nd District, State Senator Sam Hunt, 22nd District, Roel Van Der Lugt, Director of Military Affairs & Senior Policy Advisor for Congressman Denny Heck, Loren Pease, President, Pease Construction, Mayor Peter Kmet, Tumwater, Maj. Gen. Bret Daugherty, the Adjutant General, Washington National Guard, Command Sgt. Maj. Tim Durr, Sgt. Maj. 2nd Battalion, 146th Field Artillery and Adam Iwaszuk, Director, Construction and Facilities Management Office, Washington National Guard shovel dirt during the Thurston County Readiness Center groundbreaking ceremony on Oct. 25, 2018 in Tumwater, Wash. (photo by Joseph Siemandel)

Bruce Robie, left, and 1st Lt. Krosby Keller, proudly hold the Western Air Defense Sector colors after completing 174 miles between them during the Joint Base Lewis-McChord 24-Hour POW/MIA Remembrance Run Sept. 19, 2018. Keller placed first in individual standings with 100 miles and Robie finished second with 74 miles. (Courtesy photo)

The Washington National Guard Joint Services Support team provided back to school supplies and resources free of charge to get military families ready for the new school year.

Around the Department

The 111 ASOS and U.K. ASOC performed deployed simulation operations in addition to field skills. In the end, over the course of 7 days, the 111 ASOS successfully deployed and re-deployed 35 personnel, 6 vehicles and trailers (courtesy photo)

Group Photo of Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 19th Special Forces group after their change of command ceremony on Oct. 1, 2018 at Daegu Air Base, South Korea. Maj. Jeff McDonald (outgoing) handed the company to Maj. Dan Barrow (incoming). Courtesy photo

WADS members at POW/MIA Remembrance Run who contributed miles: 1st Lt. Krosby Keller, 225th Air Defense Squadron, 100 miles (Ret) Senior Master Sgt. Bruce Robie, 225th Support Squadron, 74 miles Maj. Kip Trausch, 225th Air Defense Squadron, 21.25 miles Lt. Col. Matthew Venable, 225th Support Squadron, 20.5 miles Tech. Sgt. Kourtney Williams, 225Th Air Defense Squadron, 15.5 miles Staff Sgt. Rachel Blevins, 225th Air Defense Squadron, 12 miles Staff Sgt. Keith McDowell, 225th Support Squadron, 10.5 miles Tech. Sgt. Kristen Tolbert, 225th Support Squadron, 10 miles

Members of the Washington National Guard carry a large American flag onto the field during the Seahawks vs Dallas National Football League game, September 23rd. (Tim Tweet)

Col. Deborah Cricklin, chief, Joint Reserve Intelligence Program, Reserve Integration Office presents Maj. Gen. Bret Daugherty, the adjutant general, Washington National Guard with the 2018 Small Joint Reserve Intelligence Center Award on Nov. 1, 2018 at the Information Operations Readiness Center, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. The Washington National Guard received the award for the Camp Murray Joint Reserve Intelligence Center. (photo

by Joseph Siemandel)

Col. Anthony Lieggi relinquishes command of the 96th Troop Command during a change of command ceremony in November. Lieggi celebrated his retirement from the National Guard after 34 years of service. (photo by 122nd PAOC)

Master Sgt. Donald Twilley, right, receives the Louis H. Fisher Award during his graduation ceremony from the U.S. Air Force Security Forces Academy Apprentice Course Aug. 7, 2018, at Joint Base San Antonio-Lakeland, Texas.

(Courtesy photo)

Around the Department

Retired Guardsmen from across the state came to Camp Murray, sharing stories and memories of years past during the first Washington National Guard Alumni Day in more than two decades.(photo by Joseph Siemandel)

Members of the Washington Youth Academy provide colorguard to the Seattle Seahawks, October 7th (Photo by Military Sea Hawkers)

Senior Airman Zachary Nelson, left, Tech.

Sgt. Nick Soriano, middle, and Staff Sgt. Christopher LaCour, right, pose for a photo during the Northwest Regional USA Powerlifting Competition July 29, 2018.

Nelson placed second in the 74 kg weight class and LaCour place second in the 93 kg weight class which qualified them for Nationals in Spokane, Washington (courtesy photo)

Lt. Col Aaron Andrews, Washington Air National Guard headquarters throws out the ceremonial first pitch at a Seattle Mariners game on Sept. 25, 2018 at Safeco Field in Seattle. (Courtesy Photo) Lou Ortega, Government and Military Sales, Brief Relief, discusses field sanitation systems with CW2 David Marty and WOC Kent Matsuzawa at the National Guard Association of Washington Industry Day at the Pierce County Readiness Center, Camp Murray, Wash. on Oct. 18, 2018. (photo by Joseph Siemandel)

MSG Christopher Martin, SSG Caleb Gutting, Maj. Eric Manewal, MSG Michael Chapman, and SSG. Hope Funderburk, pose for team picture during the 47th Annual Winston P. Wilson Championship, May 2, 2018. The annual events, hosted by the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center tests a guardsman’s marksmanship skills in a battlefocused environment.

The 133rd Army National Guard Band provides more than just music “Where words fail, music speaks,” Hans Christian Andersen.

Story by Sara Morris

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Scott Pierson, commander of the 133rd Army National Guard Band, knows this quote to be true. For the past 11 years, he has seen his group of Guard musicians wow crowds in communities throughout the state.

Pierson, not only the commander but the 133rd Band leader has emphasized to his members to be aware that they are a public face to the Washington National Guard in communities that might not get exposed to service members too often.

“It’s a pretty amazing job and we get to go out and interact with the public on a regular basis and interact with all of the different units within the state itself. Then with our educational mission we get into High Schools, Middle Schools and elementary schools and carry the message of the Washington National Guard to everyone,” Pierson said. “In some of these communities we are the only uniformed members they have ever interacted with.”

The 133rd Army Band is a diverse group of musicians, ranging from teenagers to mid-fifties. Like most Guardsmen they come from every background across the state, including many that are educators and professional musicians. Although his time in uniform predates the 133d Band, famous musician and producer The 133rd Army National Guard Band pictured at their holiday concert in 2017.

Quincy Jones traces his roots to the Washington National (Courtesy Photo) Guard’s 41st Division Band. Jones joined the group as a 14-year old and credited his time learning the small ensemble with honing his craft.

“The band is an exceptional unit in the Washington National Guard. Our job is to support the troops in ceremonies and different types of events,” said Pierson. “Also for community outreach and community relations, as well as educational outreach missions, so our purpose is three fold.”

The 133d is also unique due to its structure. The members are broken into three ensembles, or music performance teams; a rock band named Full Metal Racket, the traditional brass band, Patriot Brass and swinging Dixieland band, the General’s 7 Dixie Band. These different ensembles fit into every type of request, serving the community and represent the Washington National Guard.

During the holiday season, all three of the 133rd Band’s groups will come together for their annual Red, White and Blue Holiday concert.

“Our major holiday performance is at the Auburn Performing Arts Center at Auburn High School,” said Pierson. “It’s free, but it is encouraged to get a ticket because the seating is limited.

They only have about 1,100 seats and it gets packed every year,” This year’s show will take place on December 2, at 2 p.m.

Auburn, Wash.

Two WADS ultra-runners complete 174 miles during POW/MIA Remembrance Run

By Maj. Kimberly Burke, Western Air Defense Sector Public Affairs

Running one marathon in a day isn’t enough for two Western Air Defense Sector members. 1st Lt. Krosby Keller and Bruce Robie challenged their athletic limits by jointly running the equivalent of more than six marathons during the Joint Base Lewis-McChord 24-Hour POW/MIA Remembrance Run Sept. 18-19, 2018.

Keller, who is an air battle manager assigned to the 225th Air Defense Squadron, ran 100 miles in the 24-hour period. He is considered an ultra-marathon runner. Prior to this event, Keller participated in two 100-mile ultra-marathons, the High Lonesome 100 in Colorado and the San Diego 100 in California.

The High Lonesome 100 is a high altitude race with an average elevation of 11,000 feet and over 52,000 feet of vertical climb and descent through the Sawatch Mountain Range. “It is a brutal course through a gorgeous part of the country were 35% of the field did not finish, some even dropped out after just six miles,” explained Keller. “I did this as my first 100-miler to challenge myself with the thinking that if I am going to try one, I need to make it as tough as possible and see what I am made of.”

During this run, he had to break it up into 10 and five mile increments.

“Sometimes I would go one extra mile so that when I hit 81 miles I could say I had less than 20 to go,” said Keller. For him the mental game was harder than the physical after a certain point during the POW/MIA Remembrance Run. The constant running in circles took its toll on Keller during the night when his left hip and knee got tight and the cold night temperatures made it tough to get moving. During those periods, Keller would just walk through two to four laps of pain and then slowly run some until he could hit five miles where he would rest his body to ensure he didn’t cause any damage.

“Once the day broke around mile 87, it warmed up and it was mental win to make it that long, it was smoother sailing,” Keller said. “I was back to running seven minute miles again instead of needing to walk.”

Not following too far behind Keller was retired Senior Master Sgt. Bruce Robie, the National Airspace System Defense program manager for the 225th Support Squadron. Robie is an avid long distance runner and completed 41 miles in the 2016 POW/MIA Remembrance Run but due to an injury was only able to run 5 miles last year.

Keller said that the High Lonesome 100 was one of the hardest tests of will power he has gone through due to the fact that high altitude inflicted nausea and even hallucinations at some points during his run. “Quitting was very much at the forefront of my mind but I pushed through it and it was definitely one of my most memorable finishes,” said Keller.

“This was a year of sweet redemption for me,” explained Robie. “Towards the end of 2017, I made some significant lifestyle and diet changes and achieved new levels of fitness. I set my sights high this year and focused on breaking my personal best ultra-marathon distance of 52 miles which I ran in 2011. I had a great summer of running that included other ultra-run relay races and mountain trail runs.”

The San Diego 100 is a mountain race that takes place east of San Diego in June every year that runs through the Mount Laguna Recreations Area, Pacific Coast Trail, Noble Canyon and Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. According to Keller, the challenge of this course is the open exposure of the course and the heat that has to be managed.

This year Robie decided to try and keep up with Keller. “I made a personal goal of wanting to stay within a marathon distance [26.2 miles] away from Keller’s total,” explained Robie. “That motivated me to keep pushing through exhaustion in that final hour. It was also inspiring to have a strong showing of WADS folks out there supporting us.”

Even though Keller has tackled very challenging runs prior to the POW/MIA Remembrance Run, this run did put him to the test.

“Running on a quarter-mile track in one direction is very difficult,” explained Keller.

“Completing 400 laps in the same direction was a struggle mentally as well as physically at one point,” explained Keller. “Mentally you hit dark places where continuing is hard even during trail runs with a view, let alone in one spot in a circle. The night time was the hardest where you are tired from doing it and there really isn’t a lot of people out there talk to and to feed off their energy. Plus knowing at any point I could stop by the warm fire, sleep or go home didn’t help.”

Keller explained that in the other two races he could break up the runs in segments according to whether it was uphill, downhill or just to the next aid station as his goal.

“To put it in perspective, my goal for the entire year is to attain 1000 miles running and I am currently at 950,” commented Robie. “Keller did 10% of that goal in just 24 hours. I am honored to support his goal of attaining 100 miles and I am also proud of myself for achieving my goal of running 74 miles.”

Even though the WADS team placed third in the overall standings behind the 62nd Logistics Readiness Squadron and 5th Air Support Operations Squadron with 389 miles, it was Keller and Robie who took first and second place for individual running distance. The third place individual runner logged in 25.5 miles.

As a whole, 24 teams representing 20 units assigned to McChord Field ran 3,707 miles to raise awareness and honor prisoners of war and those still missing in action. The $3,000 raised during the event will be donated to the McChord Field Air Force Sergeants Association Chapter 1461 (a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization).

MATES employee shows off bladesmithing skills on TV show Story by Jospeh Siemandel

A thousand-degree flame burns from the kiln, the glowing tip of the metal blade is ready to be shaped. A bladesmith removes the metal, and begins to forge the blade with an anvil and a hammer. This is Washington National Guard civilian Tim Louk’s passion and when he isn’t at the Maneuver Area Training Equipment Site, he can be found in his Selah, Wash. shop, forging blades that are truly pieces of art.

“When I was in high school, we had a medieval class, a group came in to do a demonstration of a medieval fight and read literature,” said Louk, an employee at the Washington Army National Guard’s MATES. “I immediately fell in love with it.”

Louk served as a mechanic in the 181st Brigade Support Battalion and 792nd Chemical Company for nine years before being medically separated, all the while honing his skills in bladesmithing.

“I have been doing this for 15 years,” Louk said. “I have made so many products; it is tough for me to keep a count.”

When you see the finished products, Louk’s skills and craftsmanship are undeniable. His friends and family all agreed he needed to apply for the reality competition series “Forged in Fire.” In each episode, four of the nation’s finest bladesmiths come together to put their skill and reputations on the line, trying to avoid elimination and win a cash prize.

“I was told by many to apply for the History Channel show ‘Forged in Fire,’ so I went to their site, submitted my application and waited,” Louk said. “I waited so long, I almost forgot that I had submitted an application for the show.”

Louk was finally contacted by the Forged in Fire producers, and after a short Skype interview, he submitted a three-minute video with examples of his work. He was selected to participate in the show and was flown to New York for filming of episode 15, season five, “The Kelewang.” The episode aired in June, but can be found in repeats and online.

“Meeting the other guys was fun; we all got together in the van and within five minutes are talking shop,” he said.

The show is an elimination style competition, competitors have three hours to forge the shape of their blade before the judges compare each and decide who will move on to the next round. After narrowing the field to three competitors, they get another three hours to complete their first knife. The two top finishers will move on to the final round.

“I had a lot of doubts in my ability, but my wife was more the one that thought I would win.”

In the final round, the competitors are shown a historically significant (and technically difficult) weapon and are given five days to create a version of it. They return to their home forges to do the work. For his final blade Louk had to create a Kelantanese kelewang , a style of kelewang originating from Kelantan, Malaysia in the 18th century.

“There were so many little things that you could tweak,” Louk said. “Up ‘til the final decision, you are sitting there on pins and needles hoping you got it perfect.”

During the final round, Louk’s kelewang blade survived the stress tests and was named winner of that episode, earning him $10,000 and the title of “Forged in Fire Champion.”

“It helped erase a lot of the doubts I had in my own abilities,” he said.

It’s not just a hobby, as Louk has created his own business and continues to make custom blades for his clients. He credited bladesmithing with helping him post deployment as well.

“I love it; it’s a great way to pass time, I call it my medicine,” said Louk.

“For anyone that is interested in this, I say just do it, don’t stop, just try it out and never be afraid to ask questions. There is a lot of us.”

When an Earthquake Strikes: Where Will You Be? What Will You Do?

INDOORS

IN A CLASSROOM

Drop onto your hands and knees, Cover your head and neck, and Hold on under something sturdy until shaking stops. If no shelter is nearby, crawl next to an interior wall (away from windows). Do not go outside during shaking! One of the most dangerous places to be is near an exterior wall of a building.

Drop, Cover, and Hold on. Keep in mind that laboratories and other settings may require special safety considerations.

IN A WHEELCHAIR/ WITH A WALKER Lock your wheels, Cover your head and neck, and Hold on until the shaking stops.

Drop, Cover, and Hold on. Washington is question of “if” but “when” an earthquak practice your earthquake skills on the th during the Great Washington ShakeOut. shakeout.org/Washington.

IN A HIGH-RISE

Drop, Cover, and Hold on. Once the shaking st evacuate the building, use stairs instead of el

SCHOOL IN A STORE Drop away from shelves, Cover next to a shopping cart or beneath clothing racks if possible, and Hold on.

IN BED Lie face down, Cover your head and neck with a pillow, and Hold on with both hands.

SALE!

OUTDOORS

DRIVING

NEAR A SHORELINE

Move to a clear area if you can safely do so (away from buildings, power lines, trees, signs, vehicles, and other hazards), then Drop, Cover, and Hold on.

Pull over, stop, and set the parking brake — avoid overpasses, bridges, power lines, and other hazards.

Stay inside the vehicle until shaking stops.

As soon as shaking reduces such that you are to stand, walk quickly to high ground or inland

s earthquake country. It’s not a ke will strike us. Be sure to hird Thursday of each October . More information at

tops, if you levators.

e able nd.

The Great Washington

TM

u o Y e r A O TW s k e e W ? y d a e R

Backpack and School Supplies Resource Events get youth ready for school

By Brendan Baptiste

Come September, families prepare for the upcoming school year like clockwork. That means backpacks, school supplies, clothes and haircuts -- everything needed for children to start the school year off right.

Kent Armory, Yakima Readiness Center, and Bremerton, with Operation Homefront and Camp Murray. Free supplies and services were provided to all personnel in military branches, whether they’re active, retired, reserve, guard or veteran.

Earlier this month, the Washington National Guard Joint Service Support team provided back to school supplies and resources, free of charge to get military families ready for the new school year.

The focus was on giving away school supplies.

But at Camp Murray, the event was a one-stop shop. After families checked in, they received a backpack for each child. They moved through each station filling the backpacks with supplies of their choosing. Free clothing, haircuts and resource providers had booths available to provide various services. There was even a

Events were conducted at the Vancouver Armed Forces Center, Marysville Readiness Center,

table for rock painting to entertain the kids in attendance.

During the school supply events, more than 1,500 families received school supplies and 700 children received backpacks. 65 haircuts were provided for free. New clothing and shoes were made available for free, including 25 formal dresses and 5 suits. And over 150 families requested additional services provided by the Family Assistance Specialists (FAS). None of this could be done without the love and support provided by local business, volunteers and benefit societies.

Washington Youth Academy Celebrates 10 years Photos and Story by Timothy Chacon

The WYA provides a learning environment for at-risk youth to improve their education levels and become productive citizens of the State of Washington. The program includes a 22-week residential phase and a 52-week post residential phase where they receive mentoring and placement follow-up.

The process of going through the academy can be an abrupt change for the youth who go through it.

Although the change can be difficult for some, it is certainly a growing experience for all.

“Each cycle I see the difference in their eyes from the first day when they are like a bunch of scared rabbits, to when they finish their accumulation phase you can see that they are starting to get it,” said Horn. “You start seeing the confidence and a couple months down the road when they do their team building exercise. They are owning it and embracing the fact that they are a lot more then what they came in as. By graduation they are ready to go and tackle life and now they have the skills, confidence and the support to go on and do that. For me each class is just a revalidation of the incredible work the youth academy is doing.”

Daugherty closed up his remarks by commending the cadets for what they have accomplished so far and reminding them that what lies ahead of them will require the same hard work and grit they have shown during their time at the academy.

“We have accomplished a lot, but that doesn’t mean that life is going to be smooth sailing from here on out. Life is tough. You’ll have curveballs thrown your way, you’ll have valleys to cross and mountains to climb, and trust me, you will face adversity again. It’s just the way life is. Continue to use what you have learned at the academy to carry you through when life gets a little though.

Because it gets a little tough for all of us.”

The Washington Youth Academy celebrated its 10 year anniversary Nov., 18, 2018 with a ceremony in Bremerton, Washington. Former and current academy cadets came together to reflect on the successes of the academy and look forward to the ones that lie ahead.

The ceremony officiated by Maj. Gen. Bret Daugherty, the Adjutant General, Washington National Guard, had more than 300 attendees that included Brig. Gen. Jeremy Horn, assistant Adjutant General, the current class of cadets, alumni from all the previous classes, academy facility, as well as many family members, and friends, “I am so proud of every person sitting up there in those stands. You have overcome some of life’s greatest challenges, challenges that many of us can’t even imagine. Yet, you persevered and faced adversity head on and did things people told you were impossible, fought hard and came out ahead,” said Daugherty. “And now you are contributing to your community. You have found your own success and to me that is true inspiration. You are the living proof that this program works.”

The ceremony, not only marked the 10 year anniversary, but also recognized some other significant statistical accomplishments of the program.

“This was such a good milestone this year. 10 years, 20 classes and this current graduating class will break the 2,500 graduating cadet mark,” said Horn. “We really wanted to celebrate that and bring all these kids together so they know that we are still here to support them and for the current class to see what they can do with what they have learned here.”

A recent visit and inspection from the National Guard Bureau rated the academy as one of the best Youth Challenge Program in the nation.

“Over the past few years the academy has achieved one of the highest graduation and retention rates across the country. The academy has developed a committed staff, some of who have been here since the very beginning of the program,” said Daugherty. “I know it took a lot to get the youth academy off the ground. The return has literally been immeasurable.”

Larry Pierce, WYA Director, has been with the academy since its opening and reminded all in attendance that the academy’s help doesn’t end just because their time in the program does.

“The academy team is always here to help and support you, regardless of when you graduated. We are here for you because you are always going to be part of our family.”

For more information on the Washington Youth Academy visit www.mil.wa.gov/youth-academy.

Royal Thai Armed Forces leaders visit Washington to

o learn about Washington Air National Guard Leadership from the Royal Thai Air Force, Royal Thai Armed Forces HQ, and the Ministry of Defense traveled to Washington state to visit Washington National Guard operations like the Western Air Defense Sector and the Pierce County Readiness Center, learned from Microsoft’s Cybercrime Center and took a trip in a KC-135R “Stratotanker” to watch jets refuel in mid-air.

The experiences were part of Thailand’s relationship with the Guard through the National Guard State Partnership Program and comes from the hard work, continued support and personal respect the Thai and Guard have for each other. For more than 200 years, the Kingdom of Thailand and the United States have had a formal partnership agreement.

Through hard work and dedication, the two countries have long been close allies in times of war and peace while remaining diplomatic partners.

Through the National Guard State Partnership Program the Washington National Guard has been formally partnered with the Kingdom of Thailand since 2002. SPP is designed to establish long term relationships in which U.S. states and their partnered nations share best practices and expert knowledge in a range of areas.

“One of the most unique things about the state partnership program is you will see the same people every time you visit,” said Col. Gent Welsh, commander, 194th Wing, Washington Air National Guard. “You may see someone at an exercise once and someone else the next time. But with the SPP, you build relationships and you keep seeing us and working with us.”

Air Vice Marshal Tanasak Metananta, Deputy Director, Directorate of Operations, Royal Thai Air Force along with Maj. Gen. Chartchai Chaigasam, Director General, Office of Chief of Defense Forces, Royal Thai Armed Forces and Maj. Gen. Seri Sukontamalai, Director, Defense Information and Space Technology Department, Thai Ministry of Defense along with others traveled to the Pacific Northwest for the Command and Control Interoperability Board, a week of reviewing the current level of exchanges between the two countries.

The week proved to be more exciting than sitting in a classroom and talking.

On Sept. 11, Welsh and his Thai counterparts traveled to Redmond, Wash. to learn from professionals at Microsoft’s Cybercrime Center.

“The Microsoft Cybercrime Center is where our experts come together with customers and partners to focus on one thing: keeping people safe online,” David Finn, associate general counsel of the Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit, said in a 2013 release. “By combining sophisticated tools and technology with the right skills and new perspectives, we can make the Internet safer for everyone.”

Following their visit to the Microsoft campus, the Thai military visitors were taken on a tour of the Western Air Defense Sector to learn about the mission and observe the operations floor.

“It was a great opportunity to continue to foster the Royal Thai Armed Forces partnership and help guide them in integrating datalinks into their homeland air defense,” said Lt. Col. Michael Bartoldo, 225th Air Defense Squadron joint interface

Photos and Story by Joseph Siemandel

control officer. Bartoldo has been building his relationship with the Royal Thai Air Force since 2016 when he traveled to Thailand as part of the Command and Control Interoperability Board.

After learning about the unique mission at WADS, the group toured the 262nd Cyberspace Operations Squadron to talk about how the Washington National Guard is supporting the state’s election security.

“Every chance we can get to build and strengthen our relationship with our Thai partners in emerging missions such as cyberspace is a win for us,” said Lt. Col. Thomas Pries, commander, 262nd Cyberspace Operations Squadron. “We’re very much looking forward to future opportunities to deepen this relationship and collectively learn from each other in this new battlespace.”

After lunch, they learned about the training and equipment of the Joint Terminal Attack Controller with the 111th Air Support Operations Squadron, including spending time in their simulator dome.

“This falls right into the lines of effort for the Washington National Guard strategic efforts with our partners in the Kingdom of Thailand,” Welsh said. “We are putting our like units together, and building stronger relationships.”

To finish the visiting officers traveled to Fairchild Air Force Base and took a trip in a KC135R “Stratotanker” above central and eastern Washington as Guardsmen from the 141st Air Refueling Wing conducted a refueling flight for Oregon Air National Guard jets.

“This was a very exciting visit, we saw many different things,” said Air Vice Marshal Metananta. “We appreciate the hospitality.”

“We would love to get to a day where we can take our KC-135s across the pacific to Thailand, bringing more Guardsmen there to do exchanges,” said Maj. Gen. Bret Daugherty, the adjutant general, Washington National Guard. “This would allow for us to do so much more with our Thai partners.”

Washington Air Guard analyzes imagery after Hurricane Michael

Photos and Story by: Airman 1st Class Mckenzie Airhart

Airmen from the Washington Air National Guard’s 194th Intelligence Squadron are growing their skillset and learning new ways of operating as they support Georgia in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael. The squadron recently took on a new capability: Unclassified Processing Assessment and Dissemination (UPAD) for domestic operations (DOMOPS), said Tech. Sgt. Michael Greenlaw, the U-PAD team lead, assigned to the 194th IS. The intelligence squadron’s new DOMOPS assignment differs from its usual geospatial targeting mission. The UPAD team is capable of providing analysis, geospatial information, and situational awareness to collaborating organizations after incidents and disasters. The IS’s UPAD mission allows them to hone necessary skills for domestic operations with the goal of providing information that may help domestic authorities in saving lives, mitigating distress, and reducing property damage.

Greenlaw said the UPAD is currently receiving imagery collection decks from the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) and other sources to support the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) distribution points in Georgia as they provide supplies and support to those affected by Hurricane Michael.

The analysts view before and after imagery of an effected area and determine the level of damage, said Greenlaw. After they evaluate the imagery, analysts leave detailed notes about the damage and problems they identify.

Some things analysts locate and assess are downed power lines, areas of flooding, structural damage of important buildings like hospitals, and if roads that route to resources and safety are accessible, said Senior Airman Jeffrey Andrews, a geospatial targeting analyst for the 194th IS. The UPAD Airmen use a coordination tool called DOMOPS Awareness and Assessment Response Tool (DAART), said Greenlaw. DAART allows multiple agencies to share information for analysis to plan and accomplish the mission.

Greenlaw said after the projects are complete they are uploaded to DAART so the tasking agencies can determine emergency management measures based on the information gathered by the analysts.

The UPAD room was put together in just two days, said Master Sgt. Daniel Evans, flight chief for the 194th IS Information Systems Flight. On short notice the information systems team was able to navigate building infrastructure and commercial internet connectivity hurdles to support the new operation with the help of the 194th Communications Flight.

“We turned to our systems guys and they worked like busy beavers,” said Senior Master Sgt. Tammi Stretch, the mission support superintendent for the 194th IS. The information systems Airmen got everything connected, they made all the phone calls and they made all the arrangements to make sure that the right people were in the right place at the right time, said Stretch.

The IS started UPAD training on Oct. 12 just a day before the unit’s weekend drill, said Greenlaw.

Their training included help from the Indiana Air National Guard’s 181st Intelligence Wing, said Greenlaw. There wing’s UPAD Airmen have experience in providing support to DOMOPS. “They’re some of the experts out there,” said Greenlaw. “They do it a lot more than us, so we were talking to them before they left for the weekend.”

On the drill morning of Oct. 13 the UPAD team was posturing for their first assignment, said Greenlaw. This included getting members activated and prepared for the hours and potential weeks ahead.

“We’ll be working through the weekends and providing as much support as we can for the states down there,” said Greenlaw.

“To us UPAD represents an enduring DOMOPS response capability,” said Maj. Nathan Masunaga, interim commander for the 194th IS. “It’s a fantastic new asset for the Washington National Guard, one that we’re really excited to be a part of and I know that we’ll continue to support whenever we are called upon in this capacity.”

SHELTER NEEDS AT HEART OF NEW FULL SCALE EXERCISE are our actors and some who, legitimately, are here to get experience and practice,” Rose noted.

Rose mentioned that Kristin Hofmann, the city of Puyallup’s Emergency Manager, and Serina McWha, Pierce County Emergency Management Access and Functional Needs Coordinator, have been working in partnership with EMD to design this full-scale exercise since May. Hofmann notes this is the first time in recent memory that a full-scale shelter exercise had been done in Puyallup.

“Exercises are crucial to test our plans, policies and procedures,” Hofmann said. “We have to be prepared in the event of an emergency, and by training and exercising we can see where we are ready to respond and discover areas where we need to improve. Ultimately, our goal is to increase our ability to provide the necessary services to Puyallup residents during emergencies or disasters.”

A woman, who only speaks Korean, walks into a shelter crafted out of the gymnasium at the Puyallup Nazarene Church. Her home has been flooded and she needs some place to go – but no one speaks her language and it’ll be at least an hour before an interpreter can arrive.

The shelter registration team communicates with her using hand gestures and a chart with symbols and pictures. In a few minutes, she’s able to let them know she has family in her car outside and they need food.

This didn’t really happen, but it could have. She was one of many “actors;” however, the shelter registration team was real.

The Washington Emergency Management Division (EMD) teamed up with the city of Puyallup and Pierce County to conduct a full-scale exercise on Nov. 7. The exercise tested what it would take to host a shelter following a major disaster. The exercise’s major emphasis was how to help people who speak different languages or have access/functional needs – such as using a wheelchair or needing a sign language interpreter.

The city of Puyallup had the responsibility of setting up the shelter and registering shelter guests. Pierce County activated its Functional Assessment Service Team (FAST), which assists shelter guests with their unmet needs.

Courtney Rose, the exercise program manager for EMD, says this exercise focused on flooding because this is a realistic scenario for this time of the year, but the event could easily be a substitute for the aftermath of an earthquake or other major event.

“This exercise had an immense amount of support from multiple agencies to the tune of 110 participants – some who

Peggy LovellFord works for Pierce County, but was an actor portraying a woman with a dog. She had a stuffed animal and said she wasn’t going anywhere unless her dog was coming with her.

“The dog stays with me,” she said to a front desk helper, who tried to figure her out while a team assembled a kennel nearby.

Many actors came through the registration with animals; both pets and service animals. “That’s a real scenario,” Rose said. “When shelters stand up, they’ll need to figure out where to locate pets, so they are near their owners.

Otherwise, people who need our help aren’t going to come to us.”

By Steven Friederich

Rose applauds the efforts being made in Pierce County and hopes other counties will consider this kind of training in the future.

Pierce County, the city of Puyallup and EMD relied on partners with expertise in mass care, such as the American Red Cross and local human service agencies that work with access and functional needs populations daily.

“It was important to include these experts to ensure that exercise objectives were met, or to identify gaps in the processes,” McWha said.

“We developed full profiles for our actors to provide context as they each went the registration process. This allows the sheltering team the ability to work through real-world possibilities in an exercise environment.” Rose added. “Our actors, many of them county employees, did an outstanding job of respectfully acting-out their roles.”

Rose applauds the efforts and coordination being made in the city of Puyallup and Pierce County and hopes other counties will consider this kind of training in the future. This is just one of the many efforts that our partners are working on as the state will lead the efforts for the next Cascadia Rising Exercise in 2022. The exercise will have a focus on recovery in the wake of a big 9.0 Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake and tsunami along the coast of Washington. A similar exercise was done in the summer of 2016, which emphasized the response.

“Recovery, including how shelters operate, will be a big aspect of our next Cascadia Rising Exercise,” Rose said.

Washington Air Guard offers retreat for unmarried couples Photo and Story By: Senior Airman Tim Tweet

More than a dozen Airmen assigned to the Washington Air National Guard’s 194th Wing and Western Air Defense Sector, along with their significant others, met at a conference center along the Columbia River in September for a unique workshop designed to provide support for unmarried couples.

Squadron. “This event…tells us that we matter too and our relationships matter too.”

Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Michael Philips, Weaver’s significant other, expressed his appreciation for the seminar’s focus on interpersonal communication. “Communication skills are something you aren’t born with, but they have “We have a member and a non-member together, such a huge impact, such an impact on daily and traditionally we have no way to refer to them life,” said Philips. “I wish every high schooler and other than as ‘single,’ but we have a lot of ‘single’ college student got to take classes like this retreat service members who aren’t single,” said Chaplain to learn interpersonal skills. I think it is something Capt. Philip Lindholm, a chaplain assigned to the we lack across the board as a society.”

194th Wing and the workshop organizer. “This segment of service members are in relationships “We’ve seen the programs for singles and for and often long term committed relationships, but those who are married already, but we don’t receiving no relationship support. Let’s address have a program for those who are contemplating that need.” getting married,” said Tech. Sgt. Harold Smith, assigned to the 194th Communications Flight, “I As the workshop began, unmarried couples from saw a lot of value in this, giving people tools of across the wing gathered writing materials and cups of coffee for a discussion led by Lindholm.

The day began with participants conversing and asking questions about each other’s relationships.

Each participant shared candid answers to questions like, “How did you two meet?” or “How long have you been a couple?” Answers varied from meeting on dating websites or apps to relationships that have lasted one or two to five years or more.

The course was pieced together by Lindholm with books and materials he has found useful in conversations he has had in his office as the full-time chaplain in the 194th Wing. “This event is doing something that the Air National Guard has never done before….This weekend could be a proof of concept,” said Lindholm.

“We could possibly find a way to better connect with a large portion of our Wing that we don’t have very much information about. The chaplains in the 194th Wing are investing in the relationships of our service members, married or otherwise, with no official statistics on single service members in relationships. It is hard to tell how vast the need is for unmarried relationship support. There is currently no DoD approved curriculum or materials to provide unmarried couples with support,” said Lindholm.

“There are a lot of long term couples out there who aren’t single,” said Lt. Col. Lisa Weaver, commander of the 194th Force Support

communication to make sure they are building their relationships the right way from the start.”

The seminar was made possible through a Wing Innovation Fund that supported unconventional new programs. The relationships workshop was funded through a competitive selection process.

“The innovation funds were vital. There was no other way forward for me to develop this program,” said Lindholm.

“The big impact is going to happen the way all big impacts happen, in small ways,” said Lindholm. “If we can make our Airmen stronger in their relationships, we can impact the Airmen experience of the 194th Wing, the reason people go to war and the reason they come home is their relationships. Relationships get people through hard times.”

$725k tsunami grant will lead to more sirens, better

By Steven Friederich signs and animations A new $725,822 federal grant will bolster tsunami preparedness along the Washington coast with two new tsunami sirens, evacuation route signs, and improved modeling and animations to give the public a better idea of where a tsunami could hit in their communities.

The funding comes from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/ National Weather Service (NOAA/NWS) Tsunami Activities Grant and funds multiple tsunami preparedness projects for the Washington Emergency Management Division and the state Department of Natural Resources aimed at increasing the resilience of coastal communities.

“This funding will increase the number of sirens between the outer coast and the northern Puget Sound up to 74,” said Maximilian Dixon, the earthquake program manager for Washington Emergency Management Division. “We’re grateful for the federal funding and the partnerships with counties and tribes that continue to help support our tsunami alerting capabilities.”

The latest siren – number 72 – was installed at Birch Bay in Whatcom County last week.

The locations for the additional two sirens are still being determined.

The funding will also provide modeling to create pedestrian evacuation maps in the northern Puget Sound region incorporating geological data such as liquefaction and landslides and evaluating the ability of at-risk populations to evacuate on foot based on wave arrival time to the impacted community.

“We’re also using the funds to develop comprehensive and engaging tsunami animations so that the public has a clear understanding of the impacts a series of tsunami waves will have on their communities,” said Keily Yemm, the tsunami program coordinator for the Washington Emergency Management Division. “We’re working with our partners to help ensure the animations will be effective and accessible.”

Providing consistent and easy-to-access animations allows emergency managers and public officials to visualize hazard information and helps them better simulate and train for tsunami response. The Washington DNR will use the updated tsunami models to develop the new animations.

Other projects being funded include: •Social scientists will work with emergency managers to compare and improve tsunami; evacuation outreach materials across Hawaii, Alaska, California, Oregon and Washington; •New modeling will be done on the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the outer coast with the exact areas still to be determined; •New tsunami evacuation signs in both English and Spanish will be added to communities that request them; and •A third “Tsunami Road Show” outreach event will occur in communities to be determined on the outer coast in the spring of 2019.

On Oct. 18, at 10:18 a.m., all tsunami sirens will go off with a wailing sound, as part of the Great Washington ShakeOut. This is just a test, but typically, the sirens are tested using the Westminster Chime on the first Monday of every month. This event is a great opportunity to learn and practice the tsunami evacuation drills in your community.

You can be part of ShakeOut, too. Practice earthquake and tsunami safety with the rest of the state and world.

156TH INFORMATION OPERATIONS TEAM PREPARES FOR DEPLOYMENT TO MIDDLE EAST

As an Information Operations Officer, Washington National Guard Maj. Reena Emme is used to processing a variety of data and material. That skill will come in handy as she prepares to lead “Team Emme,” a six-person team deploying overseas.

“We have a diverse background,” Emme, a Site Operations Specialist for Washington Employment Security Department said. “An engineer from Boeing. A teacher. A tanker who is a book worm. A chemical specialist and an IT professional. Every day I feel like I have an encyclopedia on every subject with me.”

The team from the 156th Information Operations Battalion will deploy to the Middle East for nine-months to support Operation Inherent Resolve after conducting a ceremony at the Information Operation Readiness Center on Sept. 6, 2018.

“This is the same mission my team conducted and Team Armstrong is currently conducting,” said LT Col. Nicholas Parker, Commander, 156th Information Operations Battalion. “It’s fast paced, a bit of a grind. But Reena Emme is probably is one of the most qualified and most experienced information operations practitioners we have in the state.”

The information operations functional area focuses on information-related capabilities and coordinates them to best complement the war-fight efforts on the ground. Day to day operations for the team will consist of providing information operations guidance and strategies to assist the combatant commanders.

After highlighting the diversity of her team, Emme acknowledged that it takes a more than the citizen-soldier.

“I appreciate the talent and expertise they all bring to the team, but that talent wouldn’t have the desired outcome without the support of friends and family,” said Emme.

The team is scheduled for pre-deployment training before linking up with their fellow Washington National Guardsmen that are currently performing the mission they will take on.

Photos and Story by Joseph Siemandel

LTC Josh Barrow, PhD Josh Barrow has always been up for any challenge that was put in front of him. A native of Toledo, Ohio, he began his military career in 1994 when he was a West Point prep school football recruit. Eventually the future Engineer officer would transfer to the University of Toledo and complete officer training through ROTC and head to the active Army til 2004 when he transferred to the Florida National Guard while pursuing his Master’s in Business Administration. It was family that brought Josh to the Seattle area, where he lives and works today as a business consultant and serves in the Washington National Guard where he commands the Special Operations Detachment - Pacific.

Hobbies when not in uniform: Having played three NCAA sports, I still have a passion to compete today as well as coach my children. Although the sports I coach today are different than the ones I played, coaching creates a special bond with our children and it’s amazing to see them progress each season. In addition, I enjoy participating in national guard athletics offered such as biathlon, marathon, and military pentathlon .

How the guard has impacted your life: Having had success in both small business tech consulting and corporate enterprise executive, the medical insurance offered by serving in the guard has always been reliable regardless of job with excellent care offered. We took advantage of the Tricare insurance for three births and a few trips to the emergency room.

Best experience in the guard: There are so many positive experiences we encounter in the Guard from jumping into a drop zone on a drill weekend to training para commandos in Bangladesh to supporting statewide emergencies. I must say, however, as an Engineer Company commander, our unit accomplished some amazing feats for the state of Washington on specialized projects with the U.S. Forest Service. Those projects were some of my best experiences in the guard working with some amazing talented soldiers.

“The Guard has always been a special outlet from my civilian job and I always strive to involve my wife and children in any event we can, whether it be on the drop-zone or at a holiday party.”

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Command Sgt. Major Abby West retires from the Washington National Guard after more than 30 years of exemplary service.

Photo by Jason Kriess