SPRING 2019
You Down with SPP? The Washington National Guard is partnered with two Pacific nations.
Members of the Seattle Fire Department participated in a training exercise with the Washington Army National Guard aviators doing personnel movement on UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters.
The Washington Military Department participated in a humanitarian assistance and disaster response course in Mayalsia.
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WASHINGTON MIL DEPT GOES TO MALAYSIA
WA AVIATORS TRAIN WITH DNR AND USFS
In preparation of wildfire season, the aviatiors of the Washington National Guard did a water bucket evaluation with The Department of Natural Resources and US Forest Service.
WA NATIONAL GUARD STRENGTHENS SPP
The Washington National Guard strengthens their state partnership with Malaysia during Bersama Warrior and Keris Strike exercises.
3-161 Infantry Regt prepare for bayonet focus 3-161 Infantry Regiment took their strykers through ranges and did weapons familiarization in order to prepare for the 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Teams annual training event, Bayonet Focus.
HOMELAND RESPONSE FORCE GOES TO IDAHO
The 10th Homeland Response Force participated in a training exercise with the Idaho National Guard to simulate a disaster response.
133RD ARMY BAND HAS THREE NEW PHDS!
The 133rd Army Band has three new PhDs in its unit with members earning their Doctor in Music degrees over this year.
EMD PARTNERS WITH PUYALLUP SCHOOLS
Washington Emergency Management Division has partnered with Puyallup schools to perform Lahar drills as a part of volcano preparedness.
176th Engineers build school, teach kids during Cobra Gold 2019 Story by Joe Siemandel
What had been in the pipeline for more than a decade took just days for the Washington National Guard to build. “Not only did the soldiers build a school, they also got to teach English to the Thai children who went to the school where the new building was being constructed,” said Capt. Christia Draggie, commander, 176th Engineer Company. “I believe this school has been on the waiting list for more than 10 years.” Draggie led the soldiers from the 176th on a recent 11-day mission to Thailand to take part in Exercise Cobra Gold, an annual joint and multinational exercise. The exercise brings the U.S. and several other countries to Thailand to conduct joint training and complete Engineer Civic Assistance Projects in a province that needs it most. “We sent 39 soldiers to the Koa Aye Duan School in the Tak Province to build a school,” said Draggie. “We worked alongside the Royal Thai Army and Singapore Army to construct a three-room school building.” The 25 x 65-foot structure, built from concrete, provides a clean, safe and powered building for students in the province to learn. Soldiers who completed the project constructed a needed facility, as well as new relationships. “Not only did I get to work with my battle buddies from my unit, but also the Thai and Singapore soldiers,” Spc. Russ Subiel, a carpentry and masonry specialist with the 176th Engineer Company said. “We helped in building and strengthening the bonds between the USA, Thailand and Singapore.” Subiel, an electrician’s apprentice for Meridian Center Electric, said he enjoyed the experience in Thailand. “I have served on state active duty during two wildfire seasons, but this was my first time in Thailand and I would gladly do it again,” Subiel said. Subiel and his unit have been so busy with other missions this is their first time back to Thailand in a few years. After providing critical support to the search and recover efforts following the devastating State Route 530 Landslide in Oso, Wash. in March 2014, more than 150 members from the company deployed to Kuwait in support of on-going missions in the Middle East. These same Guardsmen returned home in 2017, to immediately begin training for potential call-ups to support the state’s wildfire efforts. Those same Guardsmen deployed to the Sheep Creek fire in August 2018, fighting the large wildfire in the north east corner of the state for more than two weeks. “This is the unit’s first mission back in Thailand since their return from deployment in 2017, our last trip here was 2015,” Draggie said.
WASHINGTON MILITARY DEPARTMENT PARTICIPATES IN MALAYSIAN HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE AND DISASTER RESPONSE COURSE Story by Steven Friederich
With a focus on building relationships among emergency management professionals, the Washington Emergency Management Division and Washington National Guard participated in the first Malaysian Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) Civil-Military Course at the Malaysian Armed Forces Officer Mess, Wisma Perwira, April 17-19, 2019.
Chris Utzinger, the response section manager for the Washington Emergency Management Division, traveled to Malaysia, as part of the State Partnership Program, to help teach lessons learned from the Oso landslide that happened back in March 2014. “I had a chance to meet a group from Malaysia when they visited Camp Murray last year,” Utzinger said. “We had a great conversation about preparedness and best practices and I’m so happy they invited me to visit their country and help them more. It was an amazing opportunity.” The trip was made possible due to a formal agreement signed in August 2017 by Malaysia and Washington as part of the National Guard State Partnership Program.
Utzinger and LTC Jonathan Steinbach, Chief of Staff for the Washington National Guard Homeland Response Force, both talked about the Oso landslide, which shut down State Route 530 and tragically took the lives of 43 people in what was then the largest landslide in U.S. history.
“Our presentation focused on the civilian-military collaboration in a federally supported, state managed, and locally executed response effort as well as on the use of the incident management system,” Utzinger said. Utzinger and Steinbach came up with a bunch of questions for the participants to think about if there was a landslide in their communities, including how to handle spontaneous volunteers, when the decision is made to stop searching and who would be in charge. “These questions led to very engaged discussions among the course participants and follow-on questions,” Utzinger said. “On the Incident Command System, there were extended discussions around the concepts of unified command and delegations of
authority. This came as no surprise as these topics require thorough explanation in state-side ICS courses as well.”
During a planning conference in August 2018, a group of delegates from Malaysia, led by Maj. Gen. Dato’ Hj Roshaimi bin Zakaria, Assistant Chief of Staff Defense Planning Division, Malaysia Armed Forces, focused on emergency management and resiliency. Leaders agreed that establishing relationships between the Washington Emergency Management Division and the National Disaster Management Agency – Malaysia (NADMA) would benefit both partners and allow for further exchanges in the future. “We want to not only build stronger partnerships, military to military, but expand civilian partnerships as well,” said Maj. Gen. Bret Daugherty, the adjutant general during the conference. “Part of the long-term success will include emergency management.”
Aviators receive training and evaluation in preparation for fire season Story and Photos by Sara Morris Story by: Joseph Siemandel
With wildfires becoming a more common summer occurrence, aviators with the Washington National Guard are already starting their annual water bucket and wildland fire training Washington Guard Aviators receive training and evaluation from the state Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Forest Service. The ability to assist DNR and USFS during fire season is crucial. David Ritchie, helicopter program manager with DNR, said they are limited in their resources, with nine small helicopters and about six planes. “So when the fires grow large and the governor declares an emergency we get to have the Guard respond and they bring large helicopters with some more capabilities than ours,” said Ritchie. This coordinated training has been an annual requirement since the Guard was activated to assist with fires in 2012. The program has grown over the years and now includes interagency exercises in late winter and spring to get prepared for fire season. These cooperative exercises make the pilots more comfortable before going to an active fire. “We get our first chance to work with other helicopters in a daisy chain dropping water, and the more important skill of talking to the people on the ground that are guiding us in,” said Chief Warrant Officer 5 Noel Larson, the state standardization officer for pilots. “That’s an eye opener for these guys, dealing with civilian helicopters while also talking to the trainees on ground.” Having previously been on three combat tours as an aviator, Larson says that wildland fire response is the most difficult flying he has done. There are a million things going on and you can’t see anything. Larson went on to say that the difference between the contracted pilots and the Guard pilots is the coordination required to drop the water. Generally, a civilian helicopter will have a single pilot that also controls the pendent release. Guard helicopters have at least three personnel working to achieve the same thing. “It’s a huge coordination between the two pilots in the front and the crew chiefs in the back. In order to get it right everyone is talking back and forth, and then also talking to the guy on the ground,” said Larson. “Usually the pilots up front are the first ones to see the target, but the crew chiefs can see the water bucket and have the release switch, so practicing that coordination beforehand is crucial.” This training also ensures that when the pilots and crews arrive at an active fire they are prepared to work with the multiple agencies on the ground and understand their role. “It’s important for the overall safety and security of the state and its residents that we are able to safely inergrate between the DNR, federal partners and the National Guard for aviation operations,” said Ritchie. The National Guard provides both Blackhawk and Chinook helicopters for fire response, which are the largest aircraft that carry water. Larson said, “I’ve received nothing but positive feedback from the different agencies that we work with. We’ve been very successful.”
THE WASHINGTON NATIONAL GUARD STRENGTHENS BOND WITH MALAYSIA IN BERSAMA WARRIOR AND KERIS STRIKE Members of the Washington National Guard recently traveled to Malaysia to participate in two major U.S. Indo-Pacom exercises with their Malaysian counterparts. Exercise Bersama Warrior is a joint bilateral command post exercise and Exercise Keris Strike is a series of subject matter expert exchanges (SMEE) in a variety of crisis-related topics such as military police operations, civil affairs training and chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) operations. These exercises are designed to build and strengthen our relationship while also supporting security interests of allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region.
“At the end of the day, we all have a common goal – a peaceful and stable Pacific region,” said Brig. Gen. Jeremy Horn, commander of the Washington Air National Guard. “Our cooperation here and our efforts here and our lessons here, have been a small but significant contribution to that peaceful Pacific.” This year the Washington National Guard played a significant role in the two exercises because of its newly minted partnership with Malaysia in 2017 under the National Guard Bureau administered State Partnership Program. Under the program, a state’s National Guard is linked to the armed forces of its partner nation in a mutually beneficial relationship with the goal of enhancing capabilities
Photos and Story by Jason Kriess
and security cooperation. Because of this enduring relationship with Malaysia, the Washington National Guard was selected to be heavily involved in the exercise. This is Washington’s second partner nation since 2002, when it began a partnership with Malaysia’s neighbor, Thailand. Thanh Wallace, exercise planner with U.S. Army Pacific Command said that Washington was selected to play a significant role with the two exercises for a couple reasons. One – Washington is state partners under SPP, and two – the National Guard brings many skilled people to the exercises due to its dual status as citizens as well as service members. They bring their skills and knowledge from their regular full-time jobs to topic-heavy exercises like Keris Strike. For example, at the Special Operations Forces (SOF) SMEE, the U.S. SOF representative was also a police officer in his civilian career, which brought a whole other skill set to the exchange. “Which benefits us because they are two separate things,” Thanh said. “Because as a Washington resident, he wears both hats.” The Keris Strike SMEEs are specifically designed to develop the capacity of both countries to quickly respond to a crisis with a greater collective knowledge and understanding of each other’s tactics, techniques and procedures so that when an incident happens, we can respond with an increased unity of effort. “You build that relationship – that bond, and it just builds,” Thanh said. “God forbid if something should ever break out – a crisis – it won’t be the first time we ever worked together. We’ve done it before and we understand each other’s ways.” A few miles away, at the Malaysian Ministry of Defence in Kuala Lumpur, the command post exercise Bersama Warrior was unfolding in a computer simulation program. Bersama means “together” in Malay. Command post exercises like Bersama Warrior are designed to strengthen the relationship between the host nation’s armed forces and the U.S. by combining them into a single staff and forcing them to work through a complex problem collectively, thus increasing interoperability and their ability to plan and conduct joint and coalition operations. James Reilly from US Indo-Pacific Command said that the Washington National Guard was the primary recipient of training at Exercise Cobra Gold in Thailand last year and “as the state of Washington expands and enhances its relationship with both Malaysia and Thailand, these exercises do two things – they facilitate that relationship and enhance and strengthen the State Partnership Program that you have, while also fulfilling US Indo-Pacom’s theater security cooperation engagement plan.” In the fictitious Bersama Warrior scenario, the United Nations Security Council resolution authorized peace enforcement operations on the fictional Seal Island. The task force in charge of the response had two missions – restoring the border between two conflicting nations and dealing with the separation of people because
a minority population was being persecuted. The Washington National Guard, U.S. Navy and U.S. Marines along with members of the Malaysian Armed Forces provided the manpower to work through the problem together. But throwing two countries together with such a complex scenario, they are bound to run into difficulties right from the start. For most it was communication. “As usual in the initial stages, we had a little bit of a problem of how to synchronize,” said Lt. Col. Mohd Faizor, the exercise Deputy Chief of Staff. Outside of the exercise he is assigned as a staff officer for Headquarters, 4th Malaysian Infantry Division. “We had to work out our dialect of speaking,
especially in the English language. So initially we had a problem of how to communicate. But after day two we had no more problems.” Bersama Warrior gave the exercise participants many opportunities to grow together, said Royal Malaysian Navy First Admiral Chan Peng Cheong. “Bersama Warrior has enriched all of us both professionally as well as socially. The opportunities we had throughout the exercise were tremendous. The opportunity to practice cooperation, calibration. The opportunity to practice dialogue, to agree to disagree – we argue, we debate. The opportunity to gain extra knowledge and to achieve a unity of effort despite our cultural differences and various backgrounds. These are enormous.”
Guardsmen honored for support to first responders during snow storm Photo by Jason Kriess and Story by Steven Friederich
Burke and Captain Steven Johnson, also with Eastside Fire & Rescue, said there were many areas of their communities that firefighters were simply unable to reach because of so much snow. He described the scene when Guard soldiers responded to a call of a 70-year-old woman, who had been trapped in her house since the snow started. “The way she heats her house is through firewood and she couldn’t get to her wood because there was so much snow,” Burke said.
The Guard showed up, made sure she was OK and reached out to her to make sure she had everything she needed, he said. “She was so overwhelmed she was in tears,” he said. “It made her feel good. It made her feel safe.”
Burke described another incident where three soldiers helped save the life of a woman who had gone into cardiac arrest. Soldiers had responded to a welfare check, found her and got her the help she needed. “She walked out of the hospital the day before yesterday,” he said. “They changed a life. Somewhere down the road, she will hopefully remember there was a whole team that responded to her call. We couldn’t have sent anyone else. We didn’t have anyone else.”
Burke and Johnson presented soldiers with a challenge coin and their heartfelt Members of the Washington National Guard were honored by leadership at Eastside gratitude for coming to the aid when called upon. Fire & Rescue for their work during the massive snow storm that buried East King County and many other areas of the state in February. “You made a huge impact,” he said. “We couldn’t have done this without you. My hats off to each of you.” The observance was part of the annual National Guard Day at the state Legislature on March 27, which included visits with legislators and Gov. Jay Inslee, as well as Inslee told Guard members that whether it’s a snow storm, a wildfire, a hijacked plane resolutions honoring the Guard passed by both chambers of the Legislature. or a major disaster like the Oso landslide, “You and yours are always there. And it’s just amazing to me. Every single problem we’ve had, you’re there for us in about 12 With four feet of snow on the ground, Eastside Fire Deputy Chief Rich Burke said minute’s notice. I hope you’ll extend our thanks to your families because they’re with that the situation was growing grim for many of their residents. The decision was us, too.” made to request help from the Washington National Guard through a resource request in the state Emergency Operations Center. Inslee said he’ll be pushing legislators to approve bills this year to ensure Guard members qualify for scholarship dollars to pay for college tuition and are paid better Guardsmen from 3rd Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment brought heavy equipment on the fire lines. and supplies to fire stations in Carnation, Maple Valley and the North Bend area. Airmen from the 194th Wing also supported local crews. “Seems to me everyone holding a Pulaski ought to get the same pay,” Inslee said, referring to a tool firefighters use. “We were blessed to receive the men and women of the National Guard,” Burke said, flanked by more than a dozen of the soldiers and airmen in the Columbia Room at Sen. Steve Hobbs, who is also a major in the Washington National Guard, echoed the the Capitol Dome. “They arrived with high quality vehicles but what it really meant sentiments brought by the Eastside Fire and Rescue. to our community was that the Guard had arrived, and things were going to be OK. There was a little bit of panic in our community that people were running out of “When the Guard arrives, everyone knows things are going to be better,” Hobbs said. food. We were running out of fuel in our stations. We were running out of medicines for people and we couldn’t get to people. It was really scary times.”
WASHINGTON NATIONAL GUARD PHOTOGRAPHER HONES SKILLS AT EXERCISE COBRA GOLD Story by Joeseph Siemandal
For two weeks in February, more than 4,500 soldiers, airmen, sailors and Marines gather together with their counterparts from 29 countries in the Kingdom of Thailand for Exercise Cobra Gold. It is the largest multi-national exercise in the Indo-Pacific region. If it weren’t for the photos, videos and stories coming out of the exercise on social media and other means, you’d probably never know it happened. We rely on the photographic skills of public affairs specialists to capture compelling moments to aid in telling the story of the U.S. military and its allies. Those images, each capturing a unique moment in time, can produce a vivid impression on the viewer, giving them a sense of what it’s like to be at the scene.
For Spc. Mary Calkin, a photojournalist in the 122nd Public Affairs Operations Center, Washington National Guard, this was her first overseas training mission since reclassifying as a public affairs specialist in October 2018. She was part of an extensive public affairs team that worked directly for U.S. Army Pacific with only one mission – to tell the story of the exercise. “The days were long and jam-packed with work,” Calkin said about the operational tempo of the exercise. “We started at 7 a.m. and worked well into the night – often till 10 or later.” Calkin, along with two other members of the 122nd, spent her days racing around the Thai countryside from training event to training event, photographing things like jungle survival, amphibious beach landings and the military’s interactions with foreign counterparts and the Thai people. Taking photos, however, is only part of what they do. After they got back from a training day, they would shift their focus to writing captions, editing photos and video and crafting what they saw into a clear and coherent narrative. Calkin recognized the many years of photography experience in the journalists she was working with that she seized her opportunity to gain some knowledge. “I was watching one of the other photographers and I tried to mimic what he was doing,” Calkin said. “I watched where he positioned himself to get his photographs.” One of her biggest pieces of advice from her colleagues – always shoot in manual mode. As any photographer can attest, the camera is complicated. “Once I switched to manual, I really started to understand shutter speed and aperture and how they work together,” Calkin said. “Learning the camera for me was the most fun. I feel so comfortable with my camera right now.” Exercises like Cobra Gold offer a fast-paced chance for public affairs professionals to study and practice their craft. “If it weren’t for my experiences at Cobra Gold, I don’t think I’d be comfortable going on a deployment,” Calkin added. The 122nd is scheduled for deployment later this year. “I couldn’t believe how much my photographs improved from the first day,” she said. At one point, the official Department of Defense Instagram account even featured one of her photos.
3-161st Infantry conducts unique airlift prior to training for Bayonet Focus
Photos and Story by Joseph Siemandel and Sara Morris
the Strykers on the aircraft,” said Catob. Catob says even though it was a lot of work he believes the experience was well worth the process. “We were learning every step along the way — through personnel requirements to producing actual products to move equipment this way,” said Catob. “I listened to my woldiers tell me their stories with excitement, which tells me that it wasn’t a waste of their time and added to the week of training.” Once on the ground and unloaded, Attack Company joined the rest of the battalion for a weeklong training exercise, leading up to the 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team’s Exportable Combat Training Capability (xCTC) rotation in June at the training center. Third battalion was able to qualify Stryker crews firing from the vehicle and squads on a dismounted infantry live fire exercise. This familiarization will be put to the test during the xCTC, Bayonet Focus.
Standing behind the massive tail wing of the Boeing C-17 Globemaster, Command Sgt Maj. Alfonso Cadena can only say one thing.
coming up with the idea, but both give a lot of credit to their battalion commander, Lt. Col. Matt James for getting the idea off the ground.
“If I had to do it all over again, I would think about the Air Force, this is really impressive,” said Cadena, a 37 year Army veteran and Command Sgt. Maj. of the 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team. “Flying places seems much easier.”
“Lt. Col. James is the type of leader that challenges us to not accept ‘no’ for an answer and never allow frustration to reach apathy,” said Catob. “I left that conversation and started leveraging contacts, existing relationships, making calls and sending emails.”
Cadena and leadership from 3rd Battalion, 161st Infantry took time on April 4, 2019 to observe as Stryker Fighting Vehicles from Attack Company loaded into the massive plane on Joint Base Lewis-McChord before departing for the Moses Lake Airport en route to the battalion’s weeklong training exercise at the Yakima Training Center. “We are constantly challenging the status quo and looking for new and exciting opportunities that exist within our own state,” said Capt. Jeremy Catob, commander for Attack Company. “Driving Strykers or pre-positioning them and using buses for transit is what everyone else does. The Dark Rifles and Attack Company are constantly striving to separate ourselves and demonstrate our capability for greatness.” Catob and his company First Sgt. Tim Englund began
During Bayonet Focus, the platoons will conduct a live fire exercise that integrates the infantry squads with the Stryker vehicles, mortars, snipers and medics where together they assault an enemy objective, both day and night, firing live rounds from all weapons systems.
“In order to conduct the platoon live fire exercise at bayonet focus, squads and Stryker crews had to certify or qualify at their level,” said Maj. Nick Stuart, 3rd Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment’s operations officer. “We build live fire proficiency starting with the smaller pieces (teams or squads) and once they demonstrate proficiency, integrate them into larger formations Once they found the right contacts they began putting the plan together. However, the soldiers of the company (platoons, companies and so on) to build into larger scale collective live fire.” didn’t buy in right away to the command teams plan. “There were mixed reactions when we first pitched this mission to the company,” said Catob. “Once our soldiers drove their Strykers to Gray Army Airfield though, they showed their excitement.” Loading the nearly 19 ton, 22 foot-long Strykers though was just the start, getting two in the aircraft, strapped down safely for takeoff and landing took work and a lot of expertise. Crew members from the 62nd Airlift Wing from McChord Field provided expertise as they showed the infantrymen the right way to secure the load. “The Air Force crew was exceptional in this process and allowed our soldiers hands on training to chain down
All rifle squads and 95 percent of the Stryker crews were able to qualify on their platform. The Stryker crews had to deal with high winds and bad weather, and they will get the chance to qualify in June before the start of bayonet focus. Stuart observed tremendous growth in the capabilities and confidence of the soldiers over the week. “The biggest challenge is often just building the cohesion one weekend a month. Conducting a sixday ‘drill’ allowed for our soldiers to not only train but develop that cohesion at all echelons. We are postured well to attack the platoon and company operations at bayonet focus.”
Around the Department The National Guard Army Music Leaders Training invited band leaders from all 51 Guard bands to participate in a weekend long event to build relationships and improve the state bands. This years training was hosted at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and the Washington National Guard.
LTC Kristin Derda, commander of the Washington Army National Guard Recruiting & Retention Battalion, represented the organization at the 2019 Seattle Mariners Salute to Armed Forces Game at T-Mobile Park.
A team from the Washington Emergency Management Division spent a month in Nebraska helping residents there recover from their worst flood event in years. Employees helped implement the state’s Individual Assistance strategy, including helping to establish mobile multi-agency resource centers, scheduling preliminary damage assessments for Individual Assistance and working on emergency declarations. Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts also invited the team into his governor’s mansion for dinner and to meet with them to thank them for their efforts.
Our newest Warrant Officers! WO1 Alexander Branan - Aviation Maintenance Technician, WO1 Jared Dutcher - Automotive Maintenance Warrant Officer, WO1 Garison Lang - Human Intelligence Collection Technician, WO1 Brandi Ockenfels - Electronic Systems Maintenance Warrant Officer, WO1 Michael White - Human Intelligence Collection Technician and WO1 Branan was recognized for his hard work, earning a spot on the Commandant’s List.
Our team with the Washington Air National Guard Recruiting office in Spokane has been busy doing the #Trashtag Challenge and cleaning up their community.
Col. Johan Deutscher, commander of the 141st Air Refueling Wing, located at Fairchild Air Force Base, took his final flight with the wing. Deutscher will be moving to Joint Force Headquarters. .As part of the final flight, Deutscher got sprayed with water, a tradition that dates back to World War II, celebrating an aviator’s final flight with a unit.
Around the Department
Members of the Washington National Guard, Washington Emergency Management Division, Washington Youth Academy - NGYCP and Washington State Guard joined members of the Washington state Legislature for the annual day at the Capitol. Rep John Lovick interacted with members of the WA Air Guard.
Members of the Washington Army and Air National Guard Youth Programs got the chance to join Gov. Jay Inslee as he signed a proclamation to make April “Month of the Military Child” in Washington state. Thanks to Joint Services Support- Washington for all you do with our family and youth programs!
Col. Paul Sellars and Sgt. 1st Class Aaron Smith presented the ESGR Patriot Award to Smith’s workplace, the Space Needle. Space Needle CEO Ron Sevart, and Smith’s supervisor Roy Short accepted the award. The Patriot Award reflects the efforts made to support citizen warriors through a wide-range of measures including flexible schedules, time off prior to and after deployment, caring for families and granting leaves of absence if needed.
Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group took to the sky, jumping out of a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter above Joint Base Lewis-McChord. SPC Erin Jacobson and CPT Brendan Thompson represented the Washington National Guard at the National Guard Marathon in Lincoln, Nebraska on May 5, 2019. CitizenSoldiers from the 50 states and territories receive training in recruiting and retention before competing in the 26.2 mile race to qualify for the National All-Guard Marathon Team. Both Washington runners qualified for the team. CPT Thompson placed 5th among National Guard males and SPC Jacobson placed 16th among National Guard females.
The National Guard Association of Washington held its bi-annual Industry Day at the Pierce County Readiness Center on Camp Murray. The event connects Washington National Guard members with defense industry manufacturers as they show off new technologies and products.
Members of the Washington Air National Guard joined volunteers from the American Red Cross Northwest Region to install smoke detectors in homes throughout the Tillicum community.
Around the Department Lieutenant General Bruce T. Crawford, Army Chief Information Officer (CIO)/G-6 and Lieutenant General Stephen G. Fogarty, Commanding General U.S. Army Cyber Command visited Washington Army National Guard, Camp Murray. They were briefed by CPT Sameer Puri, CIO/G6 Washington Army National Guard about unique challenges of providing reliable, secure and cost effective Information Technology (IT) services to members of Washington Army National Guard.
Washington Air National Guardsmen from the 194th Security Forces Flight, 194th Wing conduct All Hazard Response Team training May 1, 2019 on Camp Murray, Washington. These teams can be used to help secure areas that have been destabilized from either natural disasters or man-made disturbances.
The Washington National Guard’s 10th Civil Support Team conducted hazardous material training with the Tacoma Fire Department at the Port of Tacoma.
Washington Air National Guard Lt. Col. Erik Eliel, 194th Air Support Operations Group director of operations, has his vision tested during a 194th Medical Group periodic health assessment rodeo, Camp Murray, WA, May 4, 2019. The PHA rodeo is an annual event used to accomplish Airman medical readiness requirements. Members from the 96th Aviation Troop Command supported our local community and landed a Chinook helicopter in DuPont for the annual Memorial Day wear blue: run to remember run. Thanks to Steele Clayton for coordinating this experience to transport the Gold Star Youth mentorship flags to the event.
CSM Eric Clarkson, Special Operations Detachment-Pacific, presented awards to Guardsmen and their families during a deployment ceremony at Rogers DZ on May 15.
Welcome to the team 2LT Johnathan Booker, who received his commission as an Infantry officer at the University of Portland. His commission was special for SGM Stephanie Kettlewell, who had the chance to give her nephew his first salute. 2Lt Booker will join the 1st Squadron, 303rd Cavalry Regiment.
Air Guard security forces train cadets in small unit tactics Members of the Washington Air National Guard’s 194th Security Force’s Flight joined about 90 Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets from the University of Washington’s Detachment 910 on a paintball course at Joint Base Lewis-McChord during the Guard unit’s May drill. Cadets learned about small unit tactics, which included shooting and movement techniques. They were also evaluated on performance during the scenarios, said Staff Sgt. Evan Lajoie, the non-commissioned officer in charge of training with the 194th SFF. “The security forces Airmen from the 194th were able to teach us a lot of tactical movements and safety procedures out in a field setting, which we haven’t received [previously], and gave us the opportunity to practice small group tactics as well as experience in small group leadership,” said Cadet Robert H. Bennett, UW’s Det 910 Lima Flight commander. Lajoie said he appreciates the fresh minds the cadets bring to the training environment because security forces is able to expose them to new tactics and training they may not be used to. The working partnership has cadets gaining valuable insight from security forces guardsmen through different training events every few months, said Lajoie. “It’s always fun working with these guys,” said Lajoie. “They’re the future leaders of the Air Force. I would love to see at least a couple of them become cops, and hopefully I’ve given them a new understanding of what it is SF does.”
Story and Photos by Airmen 1st Class McKenzie Airhart
Washington’s Homeland Response Force participates in joint exercise in Idaho Story and Photos by Sara Morris “These elements have been a challenge,” said Lt. Col. Daniel Bugbee, commenting on wind gusts up to 45 mph and freezing temperatures. “It’s actually good training though, because the weather will almost certainly not be ideal if we were called to a real world disaster.” The Washington National Guard’s 10th Homeland Response Force travelled to Boise, Idaho to participate in Idaho Response 2019. The exercise simulated a response to an earthquake with a potential toxic chemical release in order to evaluate the different elements. A Homeland Response Force (HRF) is a regionally aligned Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, high-yield Explosive (CBRNE) asset established to support and enhance local, state and federal emergency managers.
The HRF provided command and control of the CBRNE Enhanced Response Force Package, which was composed of members of the 420th Chemical Battalion, commanded by Bugbee. The elements at the training site were then broken down to CBRNE Assistance Support Element (CASE), search and extraction, decontamination and medical personnel.
“I haven’t done this in 5 years so I am relearning skills I haven’t used, and some processes have changed a little,” said Staff Sgt. Angela Lord, a team lead in the decontamination element. “I appreciate that we can train like this. We can go a little bit slower and really refine our process to make sure we aren’t missing anything.” In an emergency that would require a HRF response, guardsmen from the different disciplines would most likely augment with their local first responders. The CASE would provide security and assist with moving wounded personnel to medical providers. The search and extraction team would assist with removing remains.
“Search and extraction personnel are trained through a course on how to enter into a collapsed or at risk buildings, subterranean evacuations, and they were bracing a wall,” said Bugbee. “So if a building needs to be entered that is not secure they are going to brace it first, and they can build the bracing on scene before entering to extract the casualties.” The decontamination element is comprised of two lanes that process those who may have been exposed to a toxin. The lanes are broken down into persons that can walk and those that cannot. The decontamination process is simple, undress to walk through the washing station, go into monitoring to be evaluated and either go to redress or repeat the washing station until the substance has been removed. The CERFP included both Army and Air Guard members. Bugbee said that he has worked with Air Guard in the past, but mostly with air controllers or medical elements. “So it is unique to have such a robust air guard element under my command. They bring different assets to the fight and it’s good to know what those assets are,” said Bugbee. “Because in today’s environment it’s very much a joint one.” Training on all of these skills is crucial in order to be prepared for a catastrophic event. Using the time to go through the processes will save lives in effected communities.
Washington Military Department honored with DOD Environmental Award Story by Steven Frederich, Photo by Joseph Siemandel
The Washington Military Department was honored with a 2019 Secretary of Defense Environmental Award on Earth Day.
develop innovative solutions to existing and emerging human health and environmental challenges.
The Construction and Facility Management Office, run by both state and federal employees, was honored with a cultural resources management award for how the office takes care of its historic structures on Camp Murray as well as several Washington National Guard armories across its network.
“Over the past two years, the Cultural Resources Management program for the installation has focused on enhancing management of eight historic armories and training site areas statewide, two historic districts, and six historic buildings on Camp Murray,” a fact sheet accompanying the award states. “With a holistic approach to managing these structures and historic districts, the Washington Army National Guard installation cultural resources are now safeguarded by new maintenance and treatment plans, while the Washington Army National Guard’s readiness operations have been improved by modernizations to those structures that help the organization meet its mission.”
The agency was one of nine winners across 32 nominees. Since 1962, the Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards have honored the outstanding efforts of service members and civilians across the Department of Defense to conserve the nation’s natural and cultural resources, protect human health, prevent or eliminate pollution at the source, clean up contaminated DOD sites, and incorporate environmental requirements into weapon system acquisition, according to a news release. The DOD components leverage technology to
The award noted that the plan guided a “muchneeded roof remodel replicating original tiles at the Camp Murray Headquarters Building One in 2017, the cleaning and preservation of a historic horse trough, and walls and windows replacement for Camp Murray Building 26.”
Maintenance and treatment plans were also done for the Longview Armory, a post-World War IIera building, as well as the Centralia Armory, an Art Moderne-style armory characterized as “a site where local history and military presence have collided.” While creating a new parking lot in Centralia, the remains of a Baptist seminary that was one of the first schools built in the area was found. Agency officials worked with local leaders and the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture to help preserve hundreds of artifacts that were discovered, many of which are now on a longterm loan for to the local Lewis County Historical Museum. A soldier with the Washington National Guard is credited with discovering the artifacts. After the inadvertent discovery of the artifacts, the fact sheet accompanying the award notes that Cultural Resources Management staff also helped achieve a continuing resolution with the state Legislature to fund a statue honoring the founder of Centralia.
WA ANG marksmanship team competes at Winston P. Wilson Championship
Story and Photo by Sara Morris
The Washington Air National Guard sent eight marksmen from the Western Air Defense Sector, 194th Wing and 141st Air Refueling Wing to the Winston P. Wilson Championship in Little Rock, Ark., April 7-10, 2019.
current level, every participant learns valuable Members of the 2019 Team are: skills to enhance their shooting proficiency. Strangers work together as a team. A community Team ALPHA: is formed, and those more experienced provide Lt. Col. Richard Gockley, 141st Air Refueling good mentoring. Wing Plans and Programs Office The Winston P. Wilson (WPW) Championship “The one thing I really appreciated was receiving Master Sgt. James Achen, 141st Logistics is an annual marksmanship competition held advice from someone on another team. We were Readiness Squadron by the National Guard Marksmanship Training Master Sgt. Ryan Rathbun, 194th Medical Group there to compete against each other, but there Center. Teams from every state, as well as a hand was a sense of camaraderie and the willingness Senior Airman Richard Delinsky, 194th full of international teams, gather at Robinson Comptroller Flight to help each other out,” said Mast Sgt. Ryan Maneuver Training Center to compete for Rathbun, 194th Medical Group. honors. For five days, teams were mentally and Team BRAVO: physically challenged on three ranges with over a As the Washington National Guard continues Master Sgt. Shay Brockman, 225th Air Defense dozen courses of fire. Squadron to build the foundation for the state’s Master Sgt. Eric Poe, 225th Support Squadron Marksmanship Training Program more WPW is not only about competition. The focus opportunities like this will be announced by Joint Tech. Sgt. Cameron Riedl, 225th ADS is really on training. You will find some of the Staff Sgt. Shane Key, 225th SS Tasking Orders. The selection process for next best marksman in the world mixed in with those years’ WPW teams should start before the end of who are brand new to the game. No matter their the year. Story and Photos by Kim Burke
Trio of Guardsmen earn doctorate degrees Story and Photo by Joseph Siemandel
A trio of bandmates in the Washington Army National Guard’s 133rd Army Band can add “doctor” to their repertoire.
“The band has historically been one of the most educated career fields in the military behind the medical and (Judge Advocate General), and recently myself and two other members of the band recently completed a PhD and doctorate in musical studies,” said Chief Warrant Officer Three Scott Pierson, the band master. Pierson recently defended his dissertation, earning his doctorate of musical arts in wind studies from the University of WisconsinMadison. Sgt. 1st Class Steve Friel, an instructor of music at Eastern Washington University recently completed his doctorate of musical arts in saxophone performance from the University of North Texas. Staff Sgt. Joey Castilleja, the superintendent of the Mabton School District, finished his PhD in philosophy in education, specializing in training and performance improvement.
“This is such a great accomplishment, and I was so happy to have two of my battle buddies complete it at the same time,” said Pierson. “For me it was the culmination of a lifetime’s worth of work.” The average doctorate degree takes anywhere from seven to nine years, depending on the degree field. Many universities won’t accept students unless they believe they have a master’s degree or have mastered a certain field. Each member took completely different paths to achieve their educational goals today.
Friel, who has performed professionally with Natalie Cole and Tony Bennett, believes that his more than 30 years in the military has given him every opportunity to be successful.
“I would say 100 percent of my success is credit to the National Guard,” Friel said. “Whether it just be the regular salary, the supplies they have given me or the educational benefits, I wouldn’t have been able to achieve anything, nothing, without the support of the National Guard.” Castilleja was also a former member of the Air National Guard, and transferred over to the Army National Guard to continue playing music.
“I was talking to some college friends the other day, and they were talking about the odd jobs they had and I never did because I always had the Guard,” Castilleja said. “And what it gave me was steady work and the chance to play music professionally while going to Eastern. It kept me really focused, it kept me going.” Pierson, Friel and Castilleja all agree that if not for the professional development and number of musical professionals around them it would be much harder. “When I come to drill, I am excited, we have so many musical educators in the room and when we get together it is just a great professional development opportunity,” said Pierson.
Each also pushes their soldiers to use the education benefits provided to them through the National Guard.
For Pierson, he believes that his more than 25 years in the military and 13 years commanding the 133rd “The days of the enlisted soldier who have just a was critical to him mastering his craft. high school diploma are long gone,” says Castilleja. “I tell my soldiers that even if you just do the initial “In the Air National Guard I got called all the time enlistment and get out, if you aren’t leaving with at to play clarinet with the active duty band, and they least an associates’ degree you are wrong.” paid for my professional lessons and ultimately they paid for my professional education,” said For the full audio story, please check out the entire Pierson. “So when I switched to the Army National interview on the Raven Conversations podcast. Guard they put me in a position to earn this amazing honor.”
Washington Army National Guard Education Programs For more information on the Education Services offered by the Washington Army National Guard please contact them: To apply for federal tuition assistance and state tuition reimbursement programs, visit https://www.goarmyed. com/ State Education Services Officer (253) 512-1324 State Incentives Manager (253) 5128984 State GI Bill Manager (253) 512-8435 State Education Services Specialist (253) 512-8931 Washington Army National Guard Education and Incentives Office 41st Division Dr. Bldg. 15 Camp Murray, WA 98430 Ng.wa.waarng.list.per-education@ mail.mil https://www.facebook.com/ WAARNGEducationIncentives/
Military Intelligence units recognized for Language program Story by Joseph Siemandel
As many Military Intelligence professionals will tell you, learning a new language isn’t easy. Even more difficult is staying proficient to maintain your military occupation specialty.
The 341st Military Intelligence Battalion has taken steps to address that challenge and was recently awarded the best Command Language Program (CLP) among the five battalions in the 300th Military Intelligence Brigade. “Throughout the past few years, 341st and the state command language program manager have invested many hours in developing a robust and relevant language Program, so this award is a reflection of the state CLPM and 341st dedication and efforts,” said LTC Teresa Wenner, commander of the 341st Military Intelligence Battalion, Linguist. The 341st MI BN command language program, managed at the Information Operations Readiness Center, is designed to develop and execute unit language training plans, help support the operational and contingency objectives for linguists and build proficiency among Guardsmen in the counter intelligence, human intelligence and signal intelligence fields.
“During this past year the state CLPM has been further developed, adding two on-site computer labs at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and in Spokane at Fairchild Air Force Base,” said Wenner. “We also created an on-site library that has over 400 books, movies, interactive software and magazines in multiple languages. The material is being continuously ordered through suggestions from cohort leads and updated monthly.”
A shining gem of the program is ensuring linguists have access to materials and resources for self-study, as well as reliable mentorship from a higher-level linguist. “The higher-level linguist holds their cohort accountable, as well as provides a network of linguists to share information and upcoming language-related opportunities,” said Wenner.
On top of being selected as the best program out of five National Guard battalions, Staff Sgt. Sergei Corduneanu, a crypto-linguist with Delta Company, was selected as the language professional of the year by the brigade. Proficient in three languages, Corduneanu was selected out of 1,050 linguists. “Staff Sergeant Corduneanu regularly works with other soldiers in his unit as part of our battalion’s cohort program to improve the language, culture and regional expertise of his fellow linguists,” said Wenner. “He also seeks out opportunities to improve his language skills, including taking part in training
events at home and overseas. Most recently he served as an interpreter while mobilized, supporting Special Operations Command-Forward Eastern Europe during Operation Atlantic Resolve.”
As part of his recognition for the achievement, the brigade language program is providing Corduneanu with a six-week opportunity to attend foreign immersion training for his many languages to enhance his language proficiency later this year. This will include trips to Eastern Europe to immerse in the language, culture and lifestyle. “The great soldier he is, Staff Sergeant Corduneanu has turned down the immersion trip because he wants to do airborne school,” said Maj. Laura Dutton, executive officer for the 341st Military Intelligence Battalion. “He has always wanted to go to airborne school, and is showing his soldiers that you can do anything you put your mind too.”
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May was volcano preparedness month. I hope you took an opportunity to learn more about our volcanoes and how eruptions might impact you. I want to highlight a couple of the efforts that occurred during May and provide more details about what they mean for Washington’s preparedness if one of our five active volcanoes erupts. I may sound like a broken record, but I can’t say that enough! A couple of the communities in the shadow of Mt. Rainier went above and beyond to enhance volcano preparedness. On May 10, the city of Orting conducted its annual lahar evacuation drill (which it has been running for many years now), successfully getting 3,000 students, staff and volunteers to high ground. One week later, the city of Puyallup held a similar evacuation drill with more than 8,000 students from 20 different schools walking a majority of their lahar evacuation routes. This was the largest volcano evacuation drill ever in the United States.It’s important to acknowledge the huge amounts of planning by emergency managers, school districts, police and fire officials, and other community members to successfully pull off these events. Incredible work by all of these partners! More importantly, these events were critical steps toward increased safety. Orting and Puyallup recognized its’ lahar hazard and took steps to mitigate the risks by making sure a large portion of its’ population understands lahar evacuation routes. Research on disasters around the world shows that familiarity with evacuation routes is critical to getting populations to safety in time. Simply building awareness in the community is a huge help toward volcano preparedness. Any location where an entire school’s worth of students had to cross a street as part of their route might be an annoyance to drivers, but it’s an opportunity for those drivers to stop to think about the “why,” and the importance of knowing how to reach higher ground as soon as possible in a lahar situation. Washington is a beautiful place – partially because it’s such a geologically-active area – it’s critical for people to take responsibility for the hazards in their area. Our thanks to Orting, Puyallup and others who decided to get out and learn more about the volcano hazards in their community -- since we have five active volcanoes in Washington. More opportunities to enhance your own personal preparedness are planned for next year. May 18, 2020 will be the 40th anniversary of the 1980 Mount St. Helens Eruption, which will be highlighted with plenty of activities to commemorate this historic event. This summer is also an excellent time to visit the mountains. Visitor Centers at the national parks and national forests are full of exhibits where you can learn more about the volcanic history of these peaks. Understanding the hazards in your area and taking some responsibility to prepare for them is an important step, wherever you live. In Washington, we focus on volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis, but every place has its own hazards.
Air National Guard leads first-ever cyberspace exercise during Cobra Gold Story by Joseph Siemandel
Washington National Guard working with Marines from the 7th Communications Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force and soldiers, sailors and airmen from the Royal Thai Armed Forces.
and control of cyber operators. We have seen the progress in our partners leading up to the exercise and even during the exercise our partners were incorporating lessons learned and improving their TTPs.”
“Our airmen were at the heart of making the exercise a success,” said Silves. “Col. Ken Borchers co-chaired the exercise sponsorship, Capt. Matt Bearup built the ‘adversary’ events introduced into the range to test cyberspace operators, Tech. Sgt. Brandon Whitley and Airmen 1st Class Matt Laroche built the training range and managed the daily training events.”
Silves also acknowledges that this exercise wouldn’t have happened if not for the support from their Thai partners and the Marine Corps. The cyber exercise is critical to the evolution of the Cobra Gold exercise. The ultimate goal is to integrate the cyber exercise into the command post exercise providing a realistic training environment for participants. “We were very successful. As a direct result of the exercise, five additional nations have pledged to send cyberspace operators to Cobra Gold 20,” said Silves. “This would be the largest multi-national exercise of its kind in the Asia-Pacific region.”
In today’s battlefield, the fight in the digital and cyberspace domain is just as crucial as that on the front lines. That is why the Washington National Guard’s 252nd Cyberspace Operations Group was selected to lead the first-ever cyberspace field training exercise as a part of Cobra Gold.
Maj. Gen. Chartchai Chaigasam address the audience during the first-ever cyberspace field training exercise as part of Exercise Cobra Gold in Bangkok, Kingdom of Thailand, Feb. 12, 2019. (Courtesy Photo)
Since 2014, the Washington National Guard has been considered a national leader in the cyber operations and security field. After working to build up the program in the state, the unit’s leadership felt it was time to begin sharing their knowledge with the Royal Thai Army, Washington’s long-time National Guard State Partnership Program partner. “The exercise serves a key role in Washington Air National Guard’s partnership with the Royal Thai Air Force and Royal Thai Armed Forces under the State Partnership Program,” said Maj. Jason Silves, plans officer with the 262nd Cyberspace Operations Squadron and exercise director. “This groundbreaking exercise establishes the foundation for cyberspace operations integration into Exercise Cobra Gold.” The joint exercise featured Airmen from the
Tech. Sgt. Brandon Whitley and Airmen 1st Class Matt Laroche pose for a photo with their Royal Thai Air Force counterpart during the first-ever cyberspace field training exercise as part of Exercise Cobra Gold in Bangkok, Kingdom of Thailand, Feb. 12, 2019. (Courtesy Photo) Maj. Jason Silves is presented a certification of participation during the first-ever cyberspace field training exercise as part of Exercise Cobra Gold in Bangkok, Kingdom of Thailand, Feb. 21, 2019. (Courtesy Photo)
For many, it felt like this was the culmination of many hours of traveling, meeting with and working side by side with the Royal Thai Armed Forces. “The cyber partnership between the Royal Thai Armed Forces and Royal Thai Air Force has been in the works for more than four years,” said Silves. “This cyberspace FTX was designed to give teams the ability to practice defensive tactics, techniques and procedures and exercise command
New Cyber team stands up to protect DoD infrastructure Story by Joseph Siemandel
As the use of technology increases, so does the threat of a dangerous cyber attack that can shut down our utilities, cripple our transportation system and threaten our democracy. For several years, the Washington National Guard has been at the forefront of working with both public and private organizations to help harden information technology networks, and identify, advise and respond to digital vulnerabilities. A team of Washington National Guard soldiers and airmen will continue that unique work for a new customer. Recently the Washington National Guard was selected to participate in the new Cyber Mission Assurance Teams pilot program designed to protect critical infrastructure that services military installations. “The Cyber Mission Assurance Team we’re piloting was designed to fill a gap in mission assurance for Department of Defense critical infrastructure outside the gate,” said Col. George R. Haynes, Chief of Cyberspace Operations, National Guard Bureau. “Inside the post, we’re able to do a pretty good job. But once we get outside the post, we don’t really have a person that’s focused on the area of responsibility outside the post with our mission partners.” Protecting critical infrastructure is nothing new for the Washington National Guard. In
2014, it conducted a utility grid assessment with the Snohomish County Public Utilities District, identifying some vulnerabilities and strategies to ensure a more secure network. Just this last fall, Washington National Guardsmen provided additional cyber security to ensure secure elections at the request of the Washington Secretary of State, Kim Wyman. The focus of the CMAT, however, will be those companies that provide vital infrastructure to military installations like electricity, telecommunications and water. It is these aging industrial control systems that are vulnerable to cyber-attacks. “Washington has a large military presence and to address vulnerabilities in our nation’s critical infrastructure. “These systems are not DoD systems. They are owned and run by non-military entities, but the military has a vested interest in ensuring they are not vulnerable to cyberattack and that they are resilient,” said Capt. Sameer Puri, Washington National Guard CMAT Deputy Commander and the Director of Information Management for the Washington Army National Guard. “These are the utilities and companies that provide vital services to military installations, both active and National Guard. If we find a problem, we partner with that company to reduce or eliminate that risk.” The National Guard has the unique opportunity to partner with some of the more vulnerable infrastructure partners in the nation. With the suppliers and mission partners that are armories across smaller city and rural providing services to these Department of Defense communities, National Guard installations have facilities use industrial control systems,” said many infrastructure support mission partners. Army National Guard Lt. Col. Adam DiPetrillo, the commander of the Washington National The Washington National Guard CMAT team, Guard CMAT. “Industrial control systems include comprised of full-time and part-time citizen electricity and water distribution systems. soldiers and airmen, will combine a rich mix These are controlled by computer networks and of technology skills, including those working therefore could be vulnerable to cyberattack. for some of the most prominent technology We assess those vulnerabilities and can make companies in the state of Washington. recommendations to remediate those issues.” “The National Guard is uniquely suited for this The team reflects recent initiatives by the mission because we do have that combination of Department of Defense to develop partnerships civilian and military-acquired skills and we do with industry and local and state government have those existing relationships with industry,” DiPetrillo said.
Capt. Hans Zeiger honored as Howard O. Scott Citizen-Service member awardee Washington National Guardsmen have now been honored two years in a row by the tacoma - pierce county chamber for their outstanding work in and out of uniform
Public service runs through Capt. Hans Zeiger’s blood. He is a member of the state Senate and a scoutmaster, and at the same time, helps many non-profit veterans’ organizations in the Puyallup area. His service to community earned him the 2019 Howard O. Scott Award from the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber.
“Capt. Zeiger has some remarkable accomplishments already, and this is another one,” said Mark Minickiello, vice president, Harborstone Credit Union.
For 38 years the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce has presented a deserving citizen-soldier or airman from Pierce County the award, named after a man who served the nation when called upon during World War II as part of “America’s Greatest Generation.” Scott returned to succeed as a banker, giving his time to community service organizations, trusting and enjoying in his belief that doing so is one’s responsibility.
During his acceptance speech, Zeiger talked in depth about both his grandfathers, whom he credits drove him to be the man he is today, serving both in the military and in the community. He comes from four generations of teachers and says his grandfather Ed Zeiger taught him about civic engagement and community service.
“He always said more hands make for better work and the best leaders know how to get the most from their people.” He credits his maternal grandfather Mark with giving him the itch to serve in the military. “He was a pilot in the Air Force,” Zeiger said. “I never met him, but he was a hero and the more I learned about him the more I knew I wanted to serve.”
“Preparing for this I learned a bit about Howard O. Scott and it is a tremendous honor to be a recipient of this award,” said Zeiger.
Zeiger’s civic and volunteer activities also include membership on the boards of the One Another Foundation, the South Hill Historical Society, the William Ruckelshaus Center, Mainstream Republicans of Washington and the Pierce County Developmental Disabilities Advisory Board.
In 2011 Zeiger was elected to represent the citizens of the 25th District in the Washington state House of Representatives and served three terms there before being elected to the Washington State Senate in 2016.
This marks the second year in a row that a Washington National Guard member has received the honor. Last year Col. Mike Ake, an Army Guardsman and Tacoma Police Officer was honored.
A native of Puyallup, Zeiger graduated from Puyallup High School in 2003 where he was involved in student government, debate and athletics. He achieved the rank of Eagle Scout from Troop 174, which he is still affiliated with today as the assistant scoutmaster.
While serving in Olympia, he felt a sense of need to serve in a different capacity, so in 2013 he joined the Washington Air National Guard as a public affairs officer.
“My job is to give attention to other people so this is not normal to me,” said Zeiger. “I’m just doing my job.”
“I don’t think you could pick a more fitting recipient, he is highly successful in his civilian and military career while having a supportive family at home,” Brig. Gen. Jeremy Horn, commander of the Washington Air National Guard said during his keynote speech. “Hans and his wife Erin represent the best of us.”
Senior Enlisted Leader Bruce Ecclestone
CSM Ecclestone joined the Army in 1987 as an M1 Tank Turret Mechanic and attended Basic and Advanced Individual training at Fort Knox Kentucky. Ecclestone served on Active duty for four years and participated in Operation Desert Storm. Ecclestone left the Army to attend college in 1991. While attending college, Ecclestone realized he missed the camaraderie of Soldiers, the Army and working on tanks so he enlisted into the Washington Army National Guard in 1992. Ecclestone’s has been the WAARNG Land Component Command Sergeant Major, and State Command Sergeant Major.
Hobbies when not in uniform: My hobbies include golf, and building cars and, when I am home, I spend as much time as I can with my family. I have been blessed with a squad of energetic grandchildren that are amazing human beings and my wife, Janie, and I continue to be awed by them as they grow. It happens fast! How the guard has impacted your life:
I joined the National Guard at a time in my life when I really wanted to be back in uniform. I missed being around the kind of people that choose to put it on. I would say that I was coerced, but it really wasn’t that difficult because I missed doing what I was trained to do as an M1 tank mechanic in the Army, and the Washington Army National Guard was transitioning from M60 tanks to M1 tanks when I joined.
Best experience in the guard: I have had a lot of great experiences in the National Guard, all of them are products of the people I have worked with and the relationships that we have built while serving together. People truly are our greatest resource. Parting words:
I believe as leaders we have to learn how to bring the best out of people, how to train them, educate them, place the right amount of expectations on them and build them up while treating them right. In order to do that we have got to take some personal risk and get to know them with a level of detail and understanding about them to facilitate that. There is no greater feeling as a leader than to watch someone that you have worked with and mentored reach a level that they did not see in themselves. We have a responsibility to the organization to prepare our replacements, protect the reputation of our organization with how we conduct ourselves, and to figure out how we can assist with the advancement of the organization and our people.
“There is no greater feeling as a leader than to watch someone that you have worked with and mentored reach a level that they did not see in themselves.”
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Photo by Jseph Siemandel