Evergreen Fall 2019

FALL 2019

2020 Census : What You Need To Know

Commander in Chief Washington State Governor The Honorable Jay Inslee The Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Bret D. Daugherty Communications Director Karina Shagren State Public Affairs Officer Joseph Siemandel Chief Editor Sara Morris

Contributors

McKenzie Airhart Matt Baldwin Michael Brown Kim Burke Tim Chacon Steven Friederich Neal Mitchell Sara Morris Tim Tweet Hans Zeiger

ON THE COVER

A Stryker from 3rd Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment drives through the Yakima Trianing Center on June 12, 2019 as part of the eXportable Combat Training Capability (XCTC) rotation. (U.S. National Guard photo by Sara Morris)

2 | Washington Military Department | Fall 2019

T BLE of CONTENTS

6 Preparing the Coast 14 Making History 16 2020 Census 24 Swift Response 32 Loading Up 34 Bayonet Focus ‘19

81st SBCT wraps up xCTC rotation, planning for National Training Center.

Military Department partners with coastal communities for tsunami preparedness workshop.

Military Intelligence professionals gather for first enterprise summit.

What you need to know about the 2020 Census.

141st Fatality Search and Recovery Team conducts swift water rescue and survival training.

Equipment for 1-303rd Cavalry begins mobilization process.

A group of cadets from the Washington Youth Academy stand in formation during the Acclimation Ceremony on August 2, 2019 at the Youth Academy campus in Bremerton, Wash.

(Photo by Steven Friederich)

Fall 2019 | Washington Military Department | 3

Washington Military Department History: The Evergreen Magazine

In the 1920s and 30s, the Washington National Guard in coordination with the National Guard Association released “The Washington Guardsman”, a monthly publication distributed until World War II. In 1971, a small staff of part-time public affairs professionals released the first “O.D.” magazine, a quarterly publication that highlighted the fantastic work of the Washington National Guard citizen-soldiers and airmen.

In the summer of 1979, the O.D. title was joined by “The Evergreen”, which was shorted to just “Evergreen” in 1980 after the eruption of Mount St. Helens. Through the 1980s and 90s, the Evergreen was a source of news and information for all Washington National Guard members. In the early 2000’s the Evergreen was still vibrant, being mailed to every Guardsman’s house, but as technology advanced and the cost of postage went up, the benefits to print and mail became less and the Evergreen started to fade away.

The publication that once was used frequently as a source of information all but disappeared for nearly 10 years, until the State Public Affairs office in the summer of 2013 built a draft issue, mixing the National Guard, Emergency Management, Youth Academy and State Guard into the issue. After some tweaks and changes, the first issue of the new Evergreen magazine was released on Oct. 1, 2014.

During the last five years, the Evergreen has changed and morphed, but continues to do what it set out to do nearly 100 years ago with the Washington Guardsman and 50 years ago with the O.D., bring the news and information of the Washington National Guard to the reader.

Here is to another 50 years!

4 | Washington Military Department | Fall 2019

From left, Brig. Gen. Wallace Turner with the Washington National Guard, WA EMD Director Robert Ezelle, FEMA Integration Team Justin Fordice, FEMA Regional Administrator Mike O’Hare and FEMA planners Joshua Carey and Lloyd Kimball. (Photo by Steven Friederich)

Building a Stronger Team

A Team from FEMA will now call the State Emergency Operations Center home

A team with the Federal Emergency Management Agency is now permanently housed at the headquarters of

the Washington Emergency Management Division to provide technical and training assistance on FEMA’s programs and continuous on-site support to the state.

While FEMA works closely with EMD through its regional office in Bothell, Wash., co-locating staff is a new initiative for the agency. The FEMA Integration Team consists of one lead and three planners, who will help with catastrophic planning, work on the upcoming Cascadia Rising 2022 exercise, communications and other duties.

“These will be our boots on the ground, subject matter experts,” said Regional Administrator Mike O’Hare at a meeting Aug. 27 with general staff of EMD. “I applaud what’s happening,” said EMD Director Robert Ezelle. “I truly appreciate FEMA’s initiative to do something like this. It’s so important that we be able to work together.”

“Providing this support will also enhance our ability to support effective response and recovery from major disasters,” O’Hare added later.

Ezelle said the FEMA staff will not replace existing state resources or take over any state duties.

FEMA Integration Teams have been rolling out across the country in the wake of the devastating hurricane season in 2017 as a means of increasing the partnership between FEMA and states, tribes and territories. FEMA Integration Teams already exist in Oregon and Idaho.

Story and Photos By Steven Friederich

Fall 2019 | Washington Military Department |5

Cover Story

Bayonet Focus ‘19 81st SBCT wraps up xCTC rotation, planning for National Training Center

Story by Joseph Siemandel, State Public Affairs Officer Photos by Sara Morris and Joseph Siemandel

For three weeks, more than 2,600 members of the 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team pushed themselves through long days, hot temperatures, high winds and one of the fastest paced training exercises in the Army National Guard.

By many accounts, Bayonet Focus, the 81st SBCT’s eXportable Combat Training Capability (XCTC) rotation, was a success, preparing Washington’s largest brigade for next year’s National Training Center rotation.

“It takes a village to raise a Brigade Combat Team,” said Col. Shaughnessy Hodge, commander of the 81st SBCT. “We are very appreciative of your families, employers, friends, loved ones, co-workers and all they sacrifice. We also are appreciative of your sacrifice and know you have put a lot into the Guard and we can’t say thank you enough.”

6 | Washington Military Department | Fall 2019

A Stryker from 3rd Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment drives through the Yakima Trianing Center on June 12, 2019 as part of the eXportable Combat Training Capability (XCTC) rotation. (U.S. National Guard photo by Sara Morris)

Since transformation of the 81st Brigade from a heavy armor to light wheeled Stryker brigade in 2016, the unit has conducted some of the most in-depth and comprehensive training the Army has to offer, all with the goal of being ready to send the unit overseas.

The XCTC was one step closer to that goal. The Army National Guard’s XCTC program is an instrumented brigade field training exercise designed to certify Platoon proficiency in coordination with First Army by providing an experience similar to a Combat Training Center.

“This was our first time in a long time we had the entire brigade together, training together, working together; 2,600 soldiers, 22 platoons, 43 live fire exercises, countless hours of training events,” said Hodge.

The next step for the 81st Brigade is a combat training center rotation at the National Training Center at Fall 2019 | Washington Military Department | 7

Col. Shaughnessy Hodge, commander of the 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team addresses the audience during the final after action review of the brigade’s XCTC rotation at the Yakima Training Center on June 27, 2019. The 81st SBCT recently completed three weeks of annual training preparing for the National Training Center.

(U.S. National Guard photo by Joseph Siemandel)

Fort Irwin, California. These rotations incorporate a complex scenario design incorporating social, ethical and moral dilemmas; the goal of which is to develop leaders while exposing them to multifaceted problems they could face while deployed.

“We have 19 training days till we go to NTC,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Alfonso Cadena, Command Sgt. Maj. for the 81st SBCT. “We need to communicate, rehearse, train and prepare. This needs to be muscle memory when we get there.”

The 81st SBCT is scheduled to attend NTC in the spring of 2020, with the potential of a mobilization to Poland after completion.

Hodge and brigade leaders know it is a team effort to get there and be successful.

“We set out to reach a certain training objective; I think we reached that through this very valuable training,” Hodge said.

“We attacked every mission essential task, trained on them and are right where we want to be.”

8 | Washington Military Department | Fall 2019

Units of the 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team

* *** *

*

The 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team is made up of more than 3,000 citizen-soldiers from the Washington, Oregon and California National Guards. The Brigade is headquartered in Seattle, Wash. and has seven battalions spread across the west coast.

Washington 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team HQ 1st Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment 2nd Battalion, 146th Field Artillery Regiment 3rd Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment 181st Brigade Support Battalion 898th Brigade Engineer Battalion

Oregon

1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment

*

California

1st Battalion, 185th Infantry Regiment

2nd Battalion, 146 Field Artillery Regiment, 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, conducted an artillery raid. The towed M-777 Howitzers were sling loaded to the site by CH-47 Chinook helicopters from 1-168 General Support Aviation Battalion, dropped and then fired before being sling loaded back to the battalion headquarters.

(U.S. National Guard Photo by Sara Morris)

Fall 2019 | Washington Military Department | 9

Getting ready for fire season Washington Air and Army National Guard members train with Department of Natural Resources at state fire camps this summer For the first time ever the Washington Air National Guard was invited to attend the Eastern Washington Interagency Fire Training Academy in Deer Park, Washington this Spring.

EWIFTA is an interagency operation of local, state and federal agencies, working together to bring quality wildland fire training to Eastern Washington.

This is the second year the Air National Guard has provided Wildland Firefighters to assist the Department of Natural Resources in their firefighting efforts, but the first year attending the academy.

Approximately 30 Air Guardsmen from the 141st participated in the academy, graduating from classes ranging from basic wildland firefighting to crew boss. The 14-day course included being completely submersed in the fire camp life. The personnel lived and worked at the academy which was

hosted at Riverside Elementary school in Deer Park.

The guardsmen learned the basics of wildland firefighting which includes fire behavior, how weather effects fire, how fire creates its own weather system, tactics and procedures for dealing with fire, and of course a big emphasis on safety. Fire is very dangerous and presents a number of challenges, so it’s important for fire fighter trainees to pay attention during the lessons.

“It’s real, so we’ve got to take this seriously,” said Alex Reimer, 141st Force Support Squadron. “That way when we respond, we can learn from mistakes that have happened, or learn from history so that we can respond effectively.”

During the training each person has to demonstrate the ability to deploy a fire shelter, one of the

10 | Washington Military Department| Fall 2019

Story and Photos by Tech Sgt. Michael Brown

most important pieces of the firefighter’s equipment bag. The fire shelter is a last resort covering that could mean the difference between life and death on the fire line. If caught in a bad situation, firefighters deploy the fire shelter, trapping a pocket of breathable air and giving them shielding against the extreme heat and flames.

The culmination of the training consisted of a mock day spent fighting a fire. While no actual fire was burning, the trainee’s dug out fire line, ran hose lines, practiced all of the class room instruction in a wooded, unstable area giving them a small taste of what life will be like out on an actual fire line.

After the completion of the field day, the fire fighters graduated as fully qualified wildland fire fighters ready to support any wild fires across Washington state.

Guardsmen with the 141st Air Refueling Wing receive training at the eastern Washington Fire Training Academy with the Washington Department of Natural Resources in June 2019. (U.S. National Guard photo by TSgt Michael Brown)

State Representative Mari Leavitt visits Guardsmen during training On June 25, 2019, State Representative Mari Leavitt - D, 28th District, joined Col. Kevin McMahan, Director of Operations, Joint Force Headquarters and Col. Raed Gyekis, Commander, 194th Mission Support Group as they visited with Guardsmen conducting training with Washington State Department of Natural Resources in Rainier, Wash.

Leavitt was the prime sponsor on the House Bill 1137 that increases pay for Guardsmen that are called to fight wildfires.

Previously when called to fight fires, many lower ranking Guardsmen were earning less than state minimum wage based on a 30-year-old formula.

Fall 2019 | Washington Military Department | 11

Mandatory Earthquake, Lahar, Tsunami Drills are now Law It’s now mandatory for all schools in Washington state to drop, cover and hold on for earthquake safety. It’s a measure that’s been pushed for several years, but finally became law when school safety legislation House Bill 1216 passed.

That same law also now requires schools located near mapped volcanic lahar hazard zones to practice evacuation drills, as well. A previous law, first passed in 2017, still requires schools within mapped tsunami inundation zones to also practice at least one evacuation drill per year.

Washington Emergency Management Division officials have spent the summer working with local emergency management officials and the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction to make them aware of the changes in state law.

Washington Emergency Management Division spearheads the efforts for the Great Washington ShakeOut, hosted this year at 10:17 a.m., Oct. 17, and many schools already participate. ShakeOut is a worldwide annual earthquake drill that happens at the same time around the country.

“Why not practice this drill on the same day as everyone else in the U.S.?” said Brian Terbush, the earthquake and volcano program coordinator with Washington Emergency Management Division. “Drop, cover, and hold on, on the third Thursday of October each year as part of the Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill. Washington is Earthquake Country. It is critical that people know how to protect themselves best the second the ground begins shaking.”

Lahars, or volcanic mudflows, are hazards present at all five of Washington’s active volcanoes. Even a small eruption can cause ice and snow to melt, resulting in extra water, ash, mud and other debris cascading down 12 | Washington Military Department| Fall 2019

the slopes, and putting communities miles downstream in danger. There are a number of communities in Washington in areas where there will be little warning time before a lahar arrives, Terbush said.

Several schools in Washington already perform lahar evacuation drills, including those in the Orting and Puyallup school districts. In May, Puyallup hosted the largest volcano evacuation drill in U.S. history.

Students and staff at schools in tsunami inundation zones also practice drills, where they drop, cover and hold on, then move quickly to high ground. Many schools do their tsunami evacuation drills following ShakeOut, as well.

Evacuation drills have been shown to be critical in evacuations around the world. Familiarity with routes is essential during the chaos of emergencies, whether it’s knowing how to leave in a fire, or knowing the quickest, and alternate ways to get to high ground in a lahar or a tsunami or a flood. Students and faculty already practice fire drills regularly.

“Everyone should practice their drop, cover and hold on skills to build muscle memory. It’s also important to know if you’re in a lahar or tsunami inundation zone. It’s even more important to know how to receive warnings about an incoming hazard, and how to get to safety,” said Washington Emergency Management Division Director Robert Ezelle. “Knowing that the students can get to safety in time can inspire the whole community that they can survive these events. Practice makes perfect.”

Learn more about earthquakes, including a youth video contest for ShakeOut, where a sponsor is giving cash prizes: https://mil.wa.gov/shakeout Learn more about how to get prepared at mil.wa.gov/preparedness

Story by Steven Friederich

Preparing the Coast

Military Department Partners with coastal communities for tsunami preparedness workshop

Story By Joseph Siemandel and Steven Friederich, Photos By Joseph Siemandel and Col. Kevin McMahan

In the moments following a massive Cascadia Subduction Zone Earthquake, many Washingtonians could find themselves isolated, trapped or closed off from the rest of the state due to congested roadways, down trees or broken bridges. Coastal cities and towns could be the most at risk with a potential of a tsunami following a major earthquake.

That is why soldiers and airmen from the Washington National Guard Joint Enterprise Staff and Washington Emergency Management Division professionals traveled to Seabrook for a two-day coast staff ride and tsunami workshop. Guardsmen and state emergency management professionals met with local first responders, county and local emergency managers, Washington State Parks, Washington State Patrol and tsunami experts from the University of Washington to discuss the critical issues specific

to the coast.

“We started at Cape Disappointment, then traveled up the coast line to see what these towns and cities are up against,” said Col. Kevin McMahan, director of operations for Joint Force Headquarters. “At each stop Maximilian Dixon would give us a breakdown of the damage that could occur during a tsunami.”

Guardsmen and first responders discussed potential evacuation time, assessing the population to include tourists and homeless populations, traffic management, mass care and public messaging.

The Washington coast is an extremely popular getaway for many in the Pacific Northwest, with towns like Seabrook, Ocean Shores, Long Beach, Westport and Ocean Park drawing close to three million tourists Top: Maj. Marco Brettman and Col. Kevin McMahan, Joint Forces Headquarters discuss the Tsunami evacuation and preparedness with local county emergency management professionals at the Seabrook Town Hall, Pacific Beaches, Wash. on June 20, 2019. (U.S. National Guard Photo by Joseph Siemandel) Left: Maximilian Dixon, Washington Emergency Management Division briefs Guardsmen from the Joint Force Headquarters about the potential dangers a large tsunami could have on the coast line of Washington state at Cape Disappointment, June 19, 2019. (Photo

by Col. Kevin McMahan)

14 | Washington Military Department| Fall 2019

Right: Maximilian Dixon, Washington Emergency Management Division discusses the tsunami evacuation and preparedness with local county emergency management professionals at the Seabrook Town Hall, Pacific Beaches, Wash. on June 20, 2019. (U.S. National Guard Photo by Joseph Siemandel)

each year. Visitors to the area do not travel with more supplies than needed for their trip, but also are not counted into census numbers when considering first responders needs.

“At any given time the Washington coast can have 10,000 tourists that are not accounted for in the current population assessments, those individuals will need help too,” said McMahan. “We have to plan for every scenario during any time of the year.”

The Washington Military Department has been particularly focused on the potential of a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake since 2013. In June 2016, more than 20,000 participants took part in the Cascadia Rising exercise that tested the Guard and Emergency Management’s response plan. In the aftermath of Cascadia Rising, the Military Department identified that people needed to prepare for more than three days on their own. In 2017 Washington and Oregon agreed that all citizens should be 2-Weeks Ready in the event of a major event.

“We identified gaps in our initial response plan, so we tested it, refined it, and are consistently testing it,” said McMahan. “We know it’s not perfect, but the joint staff is meeting with local emergency managers to always make it better.”

In 2018, Dixon and other members of the Washington Emergency Management Division traveled to the coastal cities to discuss many topics, including the alert system and potential evacuation routes in the area.

“Events like this are great, the more information and better coordination we develop with one another is important,” said Dixon. “What we have learned from disasters and over time is that people are going to need help from one another.”

Find out more about tsunami preparedness https://mil.wa.gov/tsunami

Fall 2019 | Washington Military Department | 15

MAKING

HISTORY

Military Intelligence professionals gather for first enterprise summit Story and Photos by Joseph Siemandel

Traditionally, military intelligence professionals work alone or on small teams and rarely know what is happening in other units. This is no longer the case for the Washington Army National Guard’s Intelligence Enterprise.

During August drill weekend nearly 200 military intelligence professionals representing multiple brigade level commands attended the first Intelligence Enterprise summit at the McChord Club, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

“We have more than 400 military intelligence professionals in the formation, we need to know how to leverage them better,” said Col. Gerald Dezsöfi, commander of the 56th Theater Information Operations Group and senior intelligence officer for the state. “This is such a 16 | Washington Military Department| Fall 2019

unique experience that was years in the making.”

The summit concept started as a joint venture between previous military intelligence officers and non-commissioned officers more than 10 years ago. The goal was to educate each other and state leaders on the state’ military intelligence footprint.

Briefings and interactions included in-depth conversations about both state and federal missions, the federated intelligence program, language immersion opportunities, career advancement opportunities and mentorship.

Story countinues on page 18.

341st Military Intelligence soldiers train at Panther Strike ‘19

For eight years, Panther Strike has set the standard for military intelligence training for the U.S. Army. The multi-national, multi-echelon military intelligence training exercise challenges soldiers on the skills associated with counterintelligence, human intelligence, geospatial, all-source and signal intelligence.

That is why leaders from the 341st Military Intelligence Battalion traveled to Camp Williams, Utah to learn about the success of the 2019 event.

“We will be hosting Panther Strike 2021 at Camp Williams,” said Lt. Col. Teresa Wenner, commander of the 341st Military Intelligence Battalion. “We have two years to plan the event, coordinate any support needed and prepare the best exercise scenario for more than 1,000 intelligence professionals.”

Even though it’s a training event, hosting Panther Strike is no small task.

What started as a company level exercise in 2003 with the Florida National Guard’s 260th Military Intelligence Battalion has grown to include Counter Intelligence and SIGINT operations and is now a brigade-level exercise hosted by the battalions of the 300th Military Intelligence Brigade. Since 2012, Panther Strike has been conducted at Camp Williams, Utah, where the terrain, topography and temperatures closely resemble those found in Afghanistan.

“This year, more than 800 participants were involved in Panther Strike, to include another 110 five eye partners,” said Col. Joseph Green, commander of the 300th Military Intelligence Brigade. “We want to start including more open source and cyber into future Panther Strikes, so it will just keep growing.”

Next year the 341st Military Intelligence Battalion will conduct Panther Strike “Lite,” a smaller version of the exercise to test the battalion’s capabilities.

“We will be incorporating the Panther Strike model, but for the 341st only. This will allow us to identify any gaps before we host the large exercise in 2021,” said Wenner. “We are looking at all sorts of training avenues to prepare.”

During Panther Strike, Counter Intelligence professionals from Bravo Company, 341st Military Intelligence Battalion worked with soldiers from the 6th Military Intelligence Battalion, United Kingdom.

Col. Gerald Dezsofi, commander, 56th Theater Information Operations Group and senior intelligence officer for the state addresses the crowd during the first Intelligence Enterprise summit at the McChord Club, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. (U.S. National Guard photo by Joseph Siemandel)

“We shared a lot of lessons learned and really worked well off one another,” said Sgt. Jeremy Gamelli, a counter intelligence soldier with Bravo Company. “This exercise was great for practicing the skills needed to be successful at counter intelligence.”

Fall 2019 | Washington Military Department | 17

“Those under five years of service should know who their mentors with more than 15 years are and start building career plans,” said Dezsöfi. “These are the folks that are staged to inherit some great opportunities, thanks to the hard work of so many.”

Washington Army National Guard Chief of Staff Col. Dan Dent spoke at the event, giving his thought on the current intelligence environment.

“I ask, is the procedure of collecting information and analyzing it still relevant. I think it is now more than ever,” said Dent. “Old problems are new again and this is the community that can get ahead of it and make a difference.”

One topic that was also addressed during the summit was the use of military intelligence professionals during state missions. Traditionally intelligence units haven’t been asked to support state emergencies, but with the continued deployment cycle, they have been asked to perform that role more often.

“One of the best memories I have in the National Guard was as a captain in the 341st when I got called to support flooding in Chehalis,” said LTC Angela Gentry, Intelligence Officer, Joint Forces Headquarters.

Previously Alpha Company, 341st Military Intelligence Battalion soldiers were activated to support relief efforts following snow storms in Eastern Washington in January 2009. In the

Col. Dan Dent, Washington Army National Guard Chief of Staff addresses the crowd during the first Intelligence Enterprise summit at the McChord Club, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. (U.S. National Guard photo by Joseph Siemandel)

18 | Washington Military Department| Fall 2019

summer of 2015, Delta Company, 898th Brigade Engineer Battalion Intelligence professionals supported wildfire fighting efforts.

More recently more than 30 intelligence soldiers have completed their wild land firefighting red card certification with the Washington Department of Natural Resources and are ready to support future activations. Linguists have also taken on the unique mission of assisting with translating emergency messages for the Washington Emergency Management Division.

“We have so many great state level missions we can support,” said Gentry. “We have smart, motivated people.”

One of the major take always for attendees was learning about the career opportunities across the military intelligence community. This was the first time every intelligence unit and section got to talk about their unique missions.

“A lot of folks are interchangeable due to their skill set,” said Capt. Dave Grun, Intelligence Officer, 1st Squadron, 303rd Cavalry Regiment. “We are deploying soon and I know the analysts and linguists going with us will be gaining a lot of experience.”

Download our App Today Loaded with News, Information and Events!

Just search for Washington Military Department in your app store

From The Soldier

Messages from downrange 122nd in Afghanistan is there to tell the Guard’s story

Story by Master Sgt. Neal Mitchell, Photos by Staff Sgt. Michael Tietjen

Messaging is a key component in winning the hearts and minds of those in the Middle East, as well as ensuring people back home stay informed about what’s happening overseas. On May 30, the 122nd Public Affairs Operations Center of the Washington Army National Guard mobilized for active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Like the rest of the Guard, the 122nd is made up of soldiers who have civilian day jobs and then work in public affairs for the Guard during training and on orders. These 22 soldiers left their jobs, family and friends for 10 months to help tell the multinational and joint military stories in the Middle East.

The Army’s deployment plan split the 122nd in two segments – 16 soldiers to work with Special Operations Forces in Iraq and the other six to assist with the Resolute Support, NATO mission in Afghanistan.

Col. Stanley Seo of Kenmore is a captain in the King County Sherriff’s Office and commands the 122nd.

“Remember,” Seo would say with a grin, “work hard, have fun, stay safe and take care of each other!”

Following mobilization training in Texas, the unit headed to their assigned locations in Kuwait and Iraq.

For the six traveling to Afghanistan, they endured an uncomfortable five-hour flight from Kuwait, avoiding Iranian airspace. The crowded C-130 transport plane landed at Bagram Airport and once there, the jet-lagged group shifted their duffle bags across the hot tarmac and boarded helicopters headed for Kabul.

Flying over the countryside, the group caught glimpses of an ancient pastoral landscape with alternating patches of green plants and trees within mudbrick enclosures. As the aircraft climbed higher up and into a valley, acres of primitive brick factories each with a smoking chimney and neatly stacked bricks left drying in the sun came into view. Closer to the city, flat-roofed rural homes and farms gave way to more modern concrete buildings intersected by urban roads and infrastructure.

At an elevation of approximately 6,000 feet, Kabul is Afghanistan’s largest city with five million people.

Through a smoky haze, the poorer neighborhoods of blue, green and grey dwellings climbed high into the craggy mountains surrounding the city, each of their 20 | Washington Military Department| Fall 2019

precarious foundations carved into and taking dvantage of any weakness in the rocky terrain.

After landing in Kabul at the Resolute Support Headquarters’ helipad nicknamed the “Soccer Field,” the soldiers moved their numerous bags out of the rotor dust into temporary housing co-located in between densely packed NATO enclaves. Much like a small international village, oddly shaped streets meandered around two- to three-storied prefabricated buildings, which were surrounded by fortress-like concrete blast walls. The concrete walls protect offices, meeting rooms, shops, restaurants and dormitories for more than 40 NATO nations, including the United States. The narrow streets at Resolute Support Headquarters (RSHQ) were alive with diverse groups of service members. As the combat clothing varied, so did their languages.

Leadership assigned Capt. Benjamin Burbank and Capt.

James Deakins of Spokane and Yelm, respectively, the task of manning the day and night positions in the media situational awareness room at RSHQ. Burbank, a technical writer by trade, blended in seamlessly with the multi-media, high-energy environment in the situational awareness room during the day. Deakins, former commander of the 2nd Battalion, 146th Field Artillery Regiment, also found himself comfortable processing and verifying media input from all over the U.S. and Afghanistan at night.

In the situational awareness room, Burbank and Deakins act mostly as information filters. They take in a large amount of information and break it down into clear and concise statements to make the facts more easily digestible for decision makers. Afghan advisors who work there are also an important part of the process because they ensure that incoming or outgoing cultural nuances are not lost in translation.

“Working at NATO and USFOR-A headquarters is a great opportunity to interact with military and civilian advisors from all over the world,” Burbank said.

Both captains, in their alternating shifts, work together as an efficient team to identify and craft important public affairs messaging for RSHQ and NATO commands.

Staff Sgt. Michael Tietjen of Stanwood, a Seattle police officer and Army photojournalist, received orders to

assist the NATO/Italian Command and the 207th Corps of the Afghanistan Special Forces to develop public messaging.

“Essentially, I am a conduit and facilitator,” Tietjen said.

“I work with and advise all of the organizations in the western part of Afghanistan to get information to the people and the government in a factual and timely manner.”

social media team. The task force is a respected and long-standing NATO organization, which utilizes television, radio and social media to broadcast news, information and messages across Afghanistan.

At CJPOTF, Romanian, Italian and Czech Republic soldiers, as well as highly specialized civilians who are experts in media operations, have for years run and managed the infrastructure.

Maj. Eric Trovillo of Yelm is tasked to assist the NATO/ German Command and the Afghan Special Forces 209th Corps with their public messaging.

“The beating heart of the institution is that here at CJPOTF; Afghans speak authentically to Afghans,” said Mitchell.

“There are many different dynamics here, working with other nations’ soldiers,” Trovillo said. “I like working with the local Afghans who wish to make their country a better place.”

Day and night, local broadcasters transmit the day’s important events. Afghan related topics such as human trafficking, police, army and government efforts to defeat ISIS-K as well as the most recent peace talks with the Taliban are all discussed and debated.

Trovillo, a state technician who works at the Construction and Facilities Management Office on Camp Murray, now works in concert with the Germans and Afghans not only getting the local event information back to RSHQ but also crafting outgoing messages as accurately as possible.

Seo and Master Sgt. Neal Mitchell, a Veterans Affairs contractor from Oak Harbor, received an assignment at the Combined Joint Psychological Operations Task Force (CJPOTF). Seo assumed command of CJPOTF and Mitchell took up his job as the manager of the Afghan

As the team settled into a work routine, the initial confusion evaporated and the soldiers with the 122nd began to better understand the bigger picture.

“With time, uncertainty transitions into clarity and that is what has happened for us in Afghanistan,” Seo said.

“We now understand the need for the international commitment as well as for the necessary achievement of a political settlement which will not only ensure the safety of this nation but for the rest of the world.”

Members of the 122D Public Affairs Operations Center pose in front of a disabled tank named “Cerbrus” at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. Arifjan is known as “The Gateway” because soldiers heading into theater must first check in through Kuwait. From left to right: Master Sgt. Neal Mitchell, Capt. James Deakins, Col. Stanley Seo, Capt. Benjamin Burbank and Maj. Eric Trovillo.

(U.S. National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Michael Tietjen)

Fall 2019 | Washington Military Department | 21

2020 CENSUS

What You Need To Know Once every 10 years, the Constitution requires that there be a full count of the population residing in the country. Called the 2020 Census, the exercise will begin in mid-March 2020 – and the time to prepare for it is NOW! An accurate census will bring important economic and political benefits to your community so be sure to respond to the invitation you receive in the mail in mid-March 2020. It is quick, easy, and safe!

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? Put simply – it drives decisions that will affect economic investments in your community and the weight of your political influence until 2031! You and your family can’t afford NOT be counted!

The Census determines how we share political power in our democracy. The outcome of the count in 2020 will decide the number of representatives that each state gets in the US House of Representatives and the Electoral College. It will also be used to draw political boundaries for state and local districts. In the last census, Washington gained a seat – and now has 10 representatives defending our interests in the nation’s capital!

The Federal Government also uses numbers from the Census to distribute more than $800 billion dollars in health, education, and infrastructure funds to states, counties, and cities. Locally, private and public agencies, organizations, businesses, and institutions use Census data to help determine where to build schools, roads, healthcare facilities, child care and senior centers, grocery stores, and new factories.

In 2016, Washington received $16.7 billion of these funds – or $2,319 per person! The funds included: - Almost $1 billion in transportation planning and construction - $8.5 billion for health programs - $2.4 billion for education (K-12 and higher ed) - $1.2 billion for housing - $555 million in rural assistance programs Based on these numbers, the state would lose up to $5.8 million for each 100 households missed in the census, which would affect our ability to support children, veterans, senior citizens, and middle- and low-income families adequately.

An accurate count of your community will ensure that you and your family get your fair share of state and federal resources and that your voice matters.

HOW DOES IT WORK? 10 questions in 10 minutes!

Beginning in mid-March 2020, the US Census Bureau will send each household a letter, inviting the household to go online (or call) and provide information about the number of people residing at that address. The questionnaire will also ask for the names, sex, age (including date of birth), and race/ethnicity of each person living at the residence. Finally, the form will ask if residents own or rent and will ask for a phone number in case there is a need to follow up for any reason.

22 | Washington Military Department| Fall 2019

If you have questions about why the government wants this information, click here. If you or your community need language assistance, learn about assistance provided in languages other than English and the answers to other frequently asked questions here.

WHAT IS THE TIMELINE? The process begins in mid-March 2020 and will last until the end of July.

The first mailing from the US Census Bureau will arrive at residences between March 12 and 20, and a second letter will arrive four days later. If you don’t respond to the first two mailings, you will receive another three reminders in the mail. The fourth mailing will include a printed copy of the questionnaire, but you will continue to be able to respond online or by phone, as well.

If you still haven’t responded by the beginning of May, a Census Bureau employee will visit your home repeatedly to attempt to collect the information needed.

IS IT SAFE? The Census Bureau takes every effort to protect the confidentiality of your responses!

The Bureau recognizes how important accurate information is to community decision-making and planning so it doesn’t want to do anything to discourage you from responding. It uses the highest levels of data security to safeguard the privacy of the information it receives. Also, there is a law that makes it illegal for anyone in the Census Bureau to use responses provided against an individual or to share the information with other agencies. In fact, the information on census forms can ONLY be used to produce statistical information about the population. The penalties for violations are severe. For more information, refer to the Factsheet on Census and Confidentiality.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP? • Inform yourself – www.ofm.wa.gov/2020census • Do a scan of your community

o Who might have difficulty or be afraid to respond to the census?

o What solutions can you devise to help overcome these difficulties for those in your community?

o What answers can you provide to allay the concerns of your community?

• Create an inventory of all mailing lists, newsletters, recurrent communications (bills, invoices, etc.) that could be used to spread the word about the Census • Make a list of community leaders who could develop an understanding of the importance of the census and enjoy the public trust – and educate them about the upcoming census • Begin to develop a contact list of people who understand the importance of the census and are willing to Commit to the Census – when the time comes, contact them with reminders • Identify places with internet access and computers/tablets to host Census Assistance Centers for those who need help completing the form online • Recruit and educate volunteers ready to go door-to-door and staff assistance centers

For more information, contact Lisa McLean, Complete Count Committee Coordinator, lisa.mclean@ofm.wa.gov.

Fall 2019 | Washington Military Department | 23

n 1st Cl

Story

24 | Washington Military Department| Fall 2019

rma os by Ai t o h p d an

enzie ass Mck

Airhart

Staff Sgt. Anthony Evelyn-Watts and Tech. Sgt. Kasey Crumbliss both Tactical Air Control Party specialists with the 116th Air Support Operations Squadron assigned to the Washington Air National Guard move a training dummy during a field expedient medical evacuation simulation as a part of an event for the Lightning Challenge July 30, 2019 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman 1st Class Mckenzie Airhart)

Tactical Air Control Party operators from the Washington Air National Guard took home a top award in a recent competition of TACP Airmen from throughout the Air Force.

The team from the Washington Air National Guard’s 111th Air Support Operations Squadron won its award in the 2019 Lightning Challenge, a four day competition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord that brought together TACP Airmen for events that tested the technical skills, physical ability and mental fortitude of the participants during the week of July 29.

This year’s competition was comprised of 20 two-person teams. Only two of the teams were Air National Guard units, both hailing from the Washington Air Guard’s 194th Air Support Operations Group. A team from the 116th ASOS participated, in addition to the team from the 111th ASOS. The 111th ASOS team, consisting of Master Sgt. Bridger Morris and Senior Airman Jonathan Alexander, both TACP specialists, won the 2019 Staff Sgt. Jacob Frazier Controller Award. The award is given to the best Joint Terminal Attack Controller team in the controller category. The events within this category included JTAC Simulator, medical evacuation scenario, utilizing portable radio and field expedient antenna, call for fire, joint fires, land navigation and enemy recognition (equipment, i.e. tanks, aircraft, etc.).

This is the first year the 111th ASOS has entered two contenders into the competition, said Lt. Col. David Stilli II, commander of the 111th ASOS. Stilli had also competed in the challenge in 1996 and 2000.

As a former competitor and now leader of Airmen competing in the competition, Stilli appreciates the relationships and memories that come from events like the challenge.

“It’s something that you never forget,” said Stilli. “You build relationships that last a lifetime.”

One of the hurdles of fielding a team is working with the lives and schedules of members who are drill status Guardsmen. The Airmen representing the 111th ASOS raised their hands when the opportunity came, said Stilli.

“It’s an honor to have these guys step up and volunteer to compete with the best of the best in the TACP world,” said Stilli.

When not in military uniform, Alexander works as a police officer in Issaquah, Washington and worked a late night shift the night before the competition, but he was ready to perform as a TACP at 7:00 a.m., said Chief Master Sgt. William Feger, the 111th ASOS Squadron Superintendent.

Continued on next page Fall 2019 | Washington Military Department | 25

“When we talk about a Guardsman being able to jump from civilian job over to this, it’s another challenge for those guys,” said Feger. “For them to step up and do that is pretty awesome.”

Alexander said his favorite thing about the event was working with operators from other units and the great attitudes they brought. Morale stayed high even when things got difficult, and nobody wanted to quit, said Alexander.

“It was awesome…to be a part of something in this community,” said Alexander.

“I’m really happy I got to compete in it.”

The challenge helped show TACPs where there is room for improvement and what work has to be done to stay competent while continuing work in their career field, said Alexander.

That sentiment was echoed by a member of the 116th team. “Overall the competition has been really good,” said Staff Sgt. Anthony Evelyn-Watts, a TACP with the 116th ASOS. “It’s shown me where I need to improve as a controller and then probably where to go and what to focus on in the coming years.”

Best Warrior Competition 2019: Spc. Andrew Donley-Russell and Sgt. Jordan Ralph win state competition, advance to regionals Across the entire Army, the Best Warrior Competition recognizes soldiers who demonstrate commitment to the Army values, embody the warrior ethos and represent the force of the future.

Warriors competing for the title, “Soldier of the Year,” include the ranks of private through specialist. Warriors competing for the title, “Non-commissioned Officer of the Year,” include ranks corporal through sergeant first class.

This year, two NCO competitors and three junior enlisted competitors showed what it really meant to be a warrior in the Washington National Guard.

“The Best Warrior Competition is not only a chance for the soldiers to show off their warrior tasks but to build an esprit de corps with their

fellow guardsmen,” said Command Sgt. Major Eric Honeycutt, the Washington Army National Guard state sergeant major.

The competition was held over a very physically demanding day. Soldiers tested their physical and mental agility as they tackled a wide range of events. Competitors raced against the clock and each other throughout the day’s mentally and physically demanding events.

Competition started early Saturday morning with the Army Combat Fitness Test, where the soldiers were challenged with performing all six events, some doing them for the first time. After which the competitors headed off to change and prepare for a board and essay portion.

“The board was a very humbling experience for me,” said Spc. Logan Owings, a combat medic with MEDCOM. “I really appreciated the members taking their time afterwards to explain how I could do better, what I need to work on.”

In the afternoon the competition moved to the more physical tasks. Soldiers completed a stress shoot, weapons assembly, six mile ruck march with approximately 50 pounds of gear and a land navigation course. These physical events were the favorites among the competitors.

“I liked the ruck, not because I enjoyed it, but because I rarely get to push myself as hard as I did with the ruck,” said Spc. Andrew DonleyRussell, a crew chief with 1st Battalion, 168 General Support Aviation. “It was difficult, but I don’t have a recent memory of when I was that taxed. Maybe I’ve never been that taxed before

26 | Washington Military Department | Fall 2019

but it was a great opportunity to learn my limits.”

Donley-Russell and Sgt. Jordan Ralph, a human intelligence collector with Delta Company, 898th Brigade Engineer Battalion, were the eventual winners of the Best Warrior Competition.

“I really wanted to compete to show that military intelligence soldiers are not just desk jockeys,” said Ralph. “I love to volunteer for challenges, especially physical ones, to show that the MI community does more than sit at a computer.”

Other competitors included Staff Sgt. Tobias Suhr, a dental hygienist from MEDCOM and Spc. Stephanie Menorca, a human resources specialist from the 420th Chemical Battalion. The five personnel were proud of themselves at the end of the competition.

“I think that everyone out here, we all volunteered to do this,” said Suhr. “It resonated with something that I was told on my first deployment, which was that we showed up when nobody else would. That motivates me.”

Menorca added, “I wanted to come out here and do something new and different, to challenge myself.

That’s what I did, and overall I had good time so that is a success.”

After all the events were over and the group received a hot meal, the scores were tallied and the winners announced. The overall takeaway from the weekend being that these five guardsmen showed up and took on the challenge.

“There have to be winners of this competition, but we are one team,” said Honeycutt.

10th CST visits Hanf rd Nuclear React r When your unit responds to anything, you have to prepare for anything. That is what the 10th Civil Support Team did as they recently finished up a twoweek annual training exercise at the HAMMER training site near Hanford, Washington.

“Over the past two weeks, we have completed emergency vehicle operation drivers training, weapons retention training, like learning how to handle being ambushed, and combat life support training,” said Maj. Wes Watson, commander of the 10th CST. The 10th CST completes a variety of training annually due to their unique mission, often responding to calls from local, state or federal partners as the only military agency on site. Being up-to-date on all of their requirements ensures the best possible outcome on those calls.

The vehicle training that the civil support team received was focused on large vehicles, LMTVs and 5-ton trucks, as they expect to receive a new laboratory later this year.

Members of the 10th Civil Support Team and the 94th Civil Support team, from Guam, visited the Hanford Nuclear Site B Reactor during their annual training exercise in Hanford, Wa. The reactor was the site where plutonium was produced as a part of the Manhattan Project’s nuclear weapon. (U.S. National Guard photo by Sara Morris)

“In order to have that, we’ve had to send a few members to get their commercial driver’s license and then make sure they have the proper training on the military side as well,” said Watson.

This year, the 94th CST from Guam joined the unit during the second week of the training and did a three-day course about response to fentanyl calls.

“We work with the 10th quite a bit, and they always reach out to us when they have opportunities for us to learn,” said Tech. Sgt. Christine Eclavea, an information systems operator with the 94th CST. “We are very grateful that they give us the opportunity to learn and to join them when they have this type of training.”

After a three-day course on response to fentanyl, the joint civil support teams headed to the Hanford Nuclear Site for a staff ride at the B Reactor. Built in 1944, the reactor produced plutonium for the Manhattan Project’s even-

tual nuclear weapons that would be dropped on the Japanese city of Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 1945.

“We conducted this staff ride to increase the level of awareness on what it took to get to our current nuclear era,” said Watson. “It adds more situational awareness of the environment that exists over here in the Tri-Cities region and helps us as we work with local agencies to develop a plan if anything were to happen with these old sites.”

“That’s an experience I never would have had on the island,” Eclavea added.

On the last day of their training, they conducted a joint civil support team operation, working with local law enforcement and fire departments, geared specifically toward radiological materials response training.

Watson said, “Our team simulated a full response, assessing the situation and the fallout projected from the release of radiological materials as it would happen in a real world event. All while working with our local, state and federal agencies to mitigate the situation and build partnership with them.”

Story and Photo by Sara Morris

Fall 2019 | Washington Military Department | 27

Explosive Training 741st Ordnance Battalion conducts Annual Training at the Satsop Business Park Story and Photo by Sara Morris

Using the devastating attacks at the Boston Marathon in 2013 as a scenario, the 741st Ordnance Battalion sought to improve not only its Explosive Ordnance Disposal team’s expertise, but also how the staff can incorporate into the simulation.

The EOD Team Lead Certification lanes brought a new problem set to the soldiers going through them, as the simulation used during the 741st Ordnance Battalion’s annual training event. Using a scenario that is based domestically, the restrictions on how the disposal teams conduct business is stricter.

Team Lead Certification for EOD teams is hard to come by, and that’s why the 787th Ordnance Company, 3rd Ordnance Battalion decided to attend the training as well.

“There’s a huge benefit of having these Team Leader Certification lanes, which helps soldiers from specialist to staff sergeant get their certification be able to promote in their expertise,” said Lt. Col. Ryan Pierce, commander 741st Ordnance Battalion. “We’ve conducted more than 40 lanes so far toward the certification, which is one reason that the active duty members wanted to come to the training.”

The battalion was able to secure a unique training site, using the Satsop Business Park, which boasts old nuclear reactors that have never been used. This site has the advantage of giving the EOD Teams a chance to use live demolition.

“Everyone asks to come out to Satsop; it’s one of the better training facilities that we have access too,” said Staff Sgt. Brian Salaver, readiness non-commissioned officer for the 319th Ordnance Company. “The best thing about it is that we can use the inside and the outside. Most training locations are limited to outside use with limited space for demolition.”

“My favorite part has been this venue because we can do live demolition out here and it gives us a lot of flexibility to train. There are so many different facets to this facility that make it ideal,” said Sgt. James Grant, 787th Ordnance Company, 3rd Ordnance Battalion. “To be able to do subterranean here is invaluable.”

The units were able to conduct live demolition during their simulated vehicle borne improvise explosive device training lane, while also using the facilities subterranean level to conduct training. Having diverse terrain for the training brings opportunities that many of the EOD teams have not been able to experience at traditional military installation sites.

“The training has been fantastic,” Grant added. “The Washington National Guard has put together most of the training. They have put on a great event while providing observer/controllers, securing the venue and devising most of the scenarios using a stateside scenario.”

After wrapping up, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team looks back on a successful annual training event.

They were able to engage not just the teams simulating the downrange response, but also its staff using it as the white cell and integrating a command post exercise within their annual training event.

28 | Washington Military Department | Fall 2019

An Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team conducts a vehicle borne improvise explosive device training lane during team lead certification at Satsop Business Park. Members of the 319th Ordnance Company, were given a domestic operations scenario and had to respond accordingly. This training is a part of the certification put on by the 741st Ordnance Battalion. (U.S. National Guard photo by Sara Morris)

Fall 2019 | Washington Military Department | 29

From The Airmen

e s n o sp

e r t f i w

S

Raging rapids Decent swimmer Powerful undercurrent Unknown underwater danger First time exposure to the wild river of the Glacier

What Could Go Wrong?

Members of the 141st Fatality Search and Rescue Team train in icey water in Montana in July. (Photo by Tech Sgt. Sheryl Lomonaco)

Photos and Story told by Tech Sgt. Sheryl Lomonaco, 141st Fatality Search and Recovery Team 30 | Washington Military Department | Fall 2019

That feeling of trepidation since the day I received notification that the 141st Fatality Search and Recovery Team (FSRT) was set to undergo swift water rescue and survival training in Glacier National Park, Montana has never left me. I am going to push myself way out of my comfort zone, but I’m not complaining.

The day started late for the team as we loaded our personal equipment into our FSRT trucks at 0630. I say late because we usually start our day at 0400 on training days, sometimes 0300 when going on a mission. The team’s consumables were already provided and the three Polaris ultra-light nontactical vehicles had already been loaded onto the trailers and hooked onto the trucks, freeing up some time for us.

It was a nice 43-feels-like-38-degree rainy day and the instructors started with equipment and safety briefings, emphasizing that “we will train as safely as we can, but it’s not safe.” We were introduced to different types of hazards in the water such as rocks, eddies, and fallen trees, called strainers. We were issued throw bags, a nylon bag attached to polypropylene rope that floats when thrown in the water, and were taught how to use them. After fully suiting up with a double wetsuit, water shoes, wool socks (oh yes!), floatation vest, splash jacket, and helmet, we practiced throwing bags to each other while running on land, mimicking a river rapid. Once we were warmed up, we all climbed onto the bus to head to the river.

The training location had a steady flow of 33 degree glacial water, decent eddies, but no strainers. We started with

on-shore rescue training by practicing tossing our throw bags at instructors being swept by the water. Easy peasy.

Before we knew it, it was our time to shine. We moved on to the off-shore training and divided into two groups; one would be the drifter and the other the rescuer. I grabbed my throw bag and fell in line. It didn’t take long for all of us to know what 33 degree water felt like. Despite the weather not cooperating and all the challenges we faced, the team’s first training experience on swift water rescue was exhilarating nonetheless.

and I realized it was because we hadn’t had any safety training regarding water operations,” said Frederick. “The last thing I wanted to do was put my team in a situation where they could potentially become a victim themselves.”

For the next two days we hiked, we swam, we fought against raging rapids, we got caught in the rocks, we did what we were supposed to do so many times that we became confident to know within ourselves, that should any unfortunate event arise, we were prepared, willing, and able to step up and rescue someone or provide assistance. The training also showed us how to accurately read water behavior and how to carefully tread around rapids in order to prevent putting ourselves in danger while conducting our mission.

“I feel it is my responsibility as a NCOIC to prepare my personnel with the necessary lifesaving skills long before they respond to any accident,” Frederick said. “After receiving swift water rescue training, I am confident that our team now possess the skills to work in and around water in a safe manner.”

This is the type of training that Master Sgt Ashley Frederick, senior noncommissioned officer in charge with the 141st Force Support Squadron, had in mind when she lobbied to get training approved for us.

In 2017, Frederick was preparing FSRT equipment following the initial notification of the landing of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, which became the deadliest Atlantic Hurricane since 2004.

Frederick admits that when rapidly responding to disasters, safety can sometimes be overlooked. FSRT’s mission is both physically and mentally exhausting and she believed that members should be well-trained and prepared to deal with all types of hazards, including water operations.

Being a member of the 141st FSRT for a while now and having responded to the SR 530 landslide in Oso, Wash. in 2014, it is not an understatement to say one of the basic tenets of search and recovery response is not to become victims ourselves. We must be familiar with our equipment and not overstep our skills and abilities.

We ended the training week in Glacier National Park exhausted and packing our dirty equipment with high spirits and smiles on our faces. We had added another skill to our armament and we are confident that when that call is made by the Evergreen state, the 141st FSRT will be ready.

“I was uneasy about sending the team

Fall 2019 | Washington Military Department | 31

Loading Up

Equipment for 1-303rd Cavalry begins mobilization process Story by Joseph Siemandel, Photos by Sara Morris Sgt. Shannon Pearson, 1st Squadron, 303rd Cavalry, guides a Medium Tactical Vehicle on to the scales at the Logistics Readiness Center at Joint Base Lewis-McChord on Aug. 7, 2019. The vehicle inspection lane was part of the pre-deployment process for the 1-303rd Squadron’s upcoming deployment. (U.S. National Guard photo by Joseph Siemandel)

Washington National Guard soldiers with the 1st Squadron, 303rd Cavalry Regiment are one step closer to deployment.

This week more than 150 vehicles belonging to the unit, which will deploy in support of Operation Spartan Shield later this year, completed the pre-deployment process.

“We have 150 vehicles and 20 containers for the 303rd going through the loading process,” said Capt. Carl Knoblich, logistics officer for the 96th Troop Command. “They will load up at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and then head to Beaumont, Texas.”

The nearly 2,400 mile journey from JBLM to Beaumont is just the beginning. The vehicles and equipment will eventually load onto a cargo ship to cross the Atlantic Ocean in route to the Middle East. Before leaving JBLM though, everything must be measured, weighed, inspected, checked for leaks, and tagged with freight information and location tracking devices.

“We started doing the planning meetings just for the vehicle movement back in October 2018 to start this process,” said Knoblich. “Moving this many vehicles takes a lot of work and man power.”

To assist with the process, 96th Troop Command brought in soldiers from every major subordinate command.

“This is truly a team effort, we couldn’t have done this by ourselves,” said Knoblich. “Eventually we will be repaying that favor to the 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team when they are preparing to deploy in the future.”

32 | Washington Military Department | Fall 2019

EDUCATORS TAKE FLIGHT TO LEARN ABOUT THE GUARD Story and Photos by Joseph Siemandel

Given the amount of time educators spend with young adults, they often serve as the best recruiters for the Washington National Guard. That’s why it’s critical they have a complete picture of what a career in the Guard looks like and the benefits that come along with it.

“We want to provide our education professionals with the best information possible about the National Guard,” said Maj. Dan Wessman, Executive Officer, Washington Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion. “They may not know all the opportunities or benefits of our organization.”

The Washington Army National Guard recently conducted an Educator Lift, providing high school teachers, principals and school staff the unique opportunity to fly in a Blackhawk or Chinook helicopter.

Prior to the flight, they’re armed with information to share with their students.

“When I thought about the National Guard, I thought about just deployments. I didn’t know anything about the state mission or everything that went into their jobs,” said Melissa Hayes, director of athletics at Stadium High School in Tacoma. “The Guard has so many more opportunities than I knew.”

So far this year, more than 300 educators have participated in the special event.

“Our goal is to reach every school in our state,” said Wessman. “If the educators don’t know the benefits, the students probably don’t either. This is the chance to build relationships across the state.”

Participants were provided an overview of educational benefits provided by the Guard and learned about National Guard career paths that are in the science, technology, engineering, arts and math fields. They also had the opportunity to speak with both fulltime and traditional soldiers who shared their first-hand experiences, including Sarah Schmidt, who is an education services specialist with the National Guard.

“I work with Guardsmen every day regarding their education benefits, I love this job,” Schmidt said.

Melissa Boudreau, Career and Technical Education director (Right) and Denise Prescott, Administrative Assistant (Left) from Kelso High School pose with a Blackhawk helicopter at Grays Army Airfield, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. on June 24, 2019. The ride was part of an educator lift conducted by the Washington Army National Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion. The purpose of the event is to educate attendees on the Washington National Guard’s benefits and programs. (U.S. National Guard photo by Joseph Siemandel)

Fall 2019 | Washington Military Department | 33

Around the Department

Above:The employees of the Washington Emergency Management Division get together on the State Emergency Operations Center Floor for a group photo in early August. The State’s Emergency Management Division is located in Building 20 on Camp Murray. (Courtesy Photo)

34 | Washington Military Department | Fall 2019

Below: Command Chief Master Sgt. Trish Almond called it a career after 30-years of service on August 4, 2019 during a ceremony at the Aviation Readiness Center, Joint Base Lewis-McChord. After relinquishing her responsibilities as Senior Enlisted Leader to Command Sgt. Maj. Bruce Ecclestone, she was officially retired by Brig. Gen. (Ret) Paul Gruver. (U.S. National Guard by Sara Morris)

Above: Group Photo of 898th Brigade Engineer Battalion Team 1 Ragnar Northwest Passage Relay Race runners at the finish line on July 13, 2019 at Langley, Wash. (Courtesy Photo)

Below: Guardsmen from the band “Faultline�, performed for an Air Force TACP memorial and reunion at Forward Operating Base Brewing Co. in Dupont, Wash. on Aug. 1, 2019. The band members are MAJ Adam Hanisch - rhythm / lead guitar, CW3 Stuart Welborn - lead / rhythm guitar, 1SG Laszlo Cosorus - bass guitar, SSG Christopher Coutsouridis - drums, SPC AJ Pickard - vocals. (U.S. National Guard photo by Sara Morris)

Fall 2019 | Washington Military Department | 35

Around the Department

From left to Right Chief Master Sgt. Brandon Ives, 141st Air Refueling Wing Command Chief, Col. Larry Gardner, 141st ARW Commander and Col. Kurt Tuininga, 141st ARW Vice Commander, pose for a photo in front a KC-135 Stratotanker bearing the 95th anniversary logo right after the unveiling at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., August 14, 2019. The 141st Air Refueling Wing celebrated it’s 95th anniversary on August 6, 2019 and the logo is a way of celebrating that heritage on its flagship aircraft. (U.S. National Guard photo by Michael Brown)

Gov. Jay Inslee honored Geologic Hazards Supervisor Maximilian Dixon and 19 other state agency managers who have demonstrated outstanding leadership. The 2019 Governor’s Award for Leadership in Management recipients were honored at an awards luncheon at the Executive Residence.

Dixon was honored for his work doing public outreach campaigns around earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanoes, including personally visiting coastal communities and kickstarting dormant plans around the state to do vertical evacuation structures. Other recipients were recognized for a wide range of accomplishments in 2018, including delivering successful major transportation projects in Seattle and Spokane and developing a long‐range plan for the state ferry system, providing crucial communication systems to first responders, supporting vulnerable adults, increasing apprenticeship opportunities to retrain for the high tech and medical fields and oversight of insurance companies to ensure promised service to the public.

“These managers have set priorities and achieved results, managed risk and modeled leadership competencies,” Inslee said. “They and their staff are responsible stewards of Washington residents’ resources as they serve capably and honorably every day.”

The Leadership in Management program was created in 1985 to recognize state government managers who demonstrate excellent performance. A selection committee composed of agency directors and executive staff chose the winners based on demonstrated performance.

Worlds collide on July 16, 2019 as Guardsmen of the 156th Information Operations Battalion, 56th theater Information Operations Group and 122nd Public Affairs Operations Center, 96th Troop Command, meet in Baghdad, Iraq during separate deployments in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. From top left to right: Maj. Johnny Walker, Capt. Kris Evinrude, CW2 Shawn Dempsey, Command Sgt. Major Troy Martin, Lt. Col. Reena Emme, Capt. Nathan Hamburg and Maj. Thomas Luizzi.

Since the start of federal deployments to the Middle East in 2001, the 56th Theater Information Operations Group has had at least one member deployed every day in support of on-going operations.

Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman addresses class 19-02 during the Washington Youth Academy acclimation ceremony on August 2, 2019 at the Washington Youth Academy Campus in Bremerton, Wash. The two-week acclimation phase, identifies those students that have the desire and discipline to complete the program. Students who successfully complete the acclimation phase enter the 20-week challenge phase.

Fall 2019 | Washington Military Department | 37

Meet Your Department Senior Airman Nelson Andersen

By Capt Hans Zeiger

Senior Airman Nelson Andersen is a member of the Washington Air National Guard’s 242nd Combat Communications Squadron, based at Fairchild Air Force Base outside of Spokane, Washington. The squadron provides a variety of communications connections in support of overseas or domestic operations. Andersen serves in the unit’s cyber transportation flight, handling routers, switches and firewalls, and working with phone, internet and non-classified internet protocol (NIPR) connections, “making sure traffic gets where it needs to,” he said.

Service runs in Andersen’s blood. His father, Neil, was a longtime member of the Washington ANG’s 141st Air Refueling Wing at Fairchild. Born and raised in Spokane, Andersen joined the Air Guard right out of high school in 2016. Following basic military training, Andersen completed technical school at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. He got his start as a temporary technician with the 141st Communications Flight before transferring into the 242nd CCS. On a recent drill weekend, Andersen performed work on a medium communications package, one capable of supporting communications for 100-150 people. As a member of a 7-8 person cyber transport team, Andersen said that the kind of work he does can vary depending on the complexity of the communications need. “Sometimes all we need to do is plug in the phones,” he said. “But a lot of time we’re working on troubleshooting or trying to match up return traffic.”

Outside of the Air National Guard, Andersen works as an IT service provider for a Post Falls, Idaho-based IT contractor that does work for school districts. Andersen’s hobbies include snowboarding, camping, fishing, yard work and time with friends.

38| Washington Military Department | Fall 2019

Darrell Stoops - Cadre Supervisor, Washington Youth Academy Q: How long have you worked here?

A: I have worked at the WYA since Jan 2009.

Q: What do you feel are the greatest benefits to working for the Washington Military Department? What about the Youth Academy specifically?

A: After 20 years of being in the Air Force I love the idea of still being associated with the military. Specifically about the Youth Academy I enjoy giving back to the community.

Q: Do you ever think about the impact you have on youth you serve? How does that make you feel?

A: Constantly, not a day goes by we don’t think about how we are going to impact the cadets. Almost every action we do, we have to ask ourselves, “Is this something that is going to help this cadet?” We also often think about our past Cadets and try and find out how they are doing. The success stories really drive us, let us know that we have made a difference. It’s pretty tough emotionally when we have to dismiss a cadet knowing that they need this place, but it always seems that afterward we will find out a former Cadet has earned their High School diploma, gone on to the military, working a good paying job, or have graduated from college. The growth you see in the Cadets during the residential phase can be pretty amazing as well. They come in scared and filled with self-doubt and they leave confident and ready to take on any challenge. Their success is the best pay you could ever receive.

Q: Do you have a favorite quote or mantra you live by?

A: Once again many: • “Early is on time, on time is late, and if you’re late you’re wrong.”

• “Leave it better then you found it.”

• “The day you stop learning is the day you start dying.”

Beyond the quotes, I’d say go to bed knowing you can look yourself in the mirror and know that you gave it the best that you had.

Meet Your Department Charma Anderson - Emergency Management Division Q: How long have you worked here?

A: Just over nine short years!

Q: What do you feel are the greatest benefits to working for the Washington Military Department?

A: Helping with emergency preparedness efforts across the state. I work with all county emergency managers!

Q: What’s the most interesting/significant project you’ve worked on while with WMD? A: I spearheaded the effort to revise the Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) funding methodology. The two-year effort resulted in a more equitable distribution of funding. The previous code had not been updated since 1983!

Q: In what ways have you had an opportunity to grow new skills?

A: I have had the opportunity to work closely with high-ranking officials in the Seattle Urban Area to collaboratively tackle tough project funding decisions. In particular, the skills I have further developed are strategic planning, communication and maintaining long-term collaborative relationships.

Q: How is working for WMD different from previous work you’ve done in your field?

A: Previously I served in the Army and assisted with national and international endeavors. Working with WMD affords me the opportunity to work more closely with my immediate community.

Q: Did you have any key mentors or people who deeply influenced who you are, what you believe in and what you’re committed to in your work and life? Tell me about them.

A: Much to my surprise and delight, my adult children have evolved into key mentors for me. They learned from me and now I learn from them. My two sons are not only attending college, they are both proud members of the Washington Army National Guard. One serves in field artillery, the other is a medic. My oldest daughter is in the Air Force ROTC program at the University of Washington. Their differing perspectives influence my approach in work and life.

Q: Do you have a favorite quote or mantra you live by?

A: “If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else.” Yogi Berra. I have adapted it a bit-“If you don’t know where you are going, how will you know when you get there?” I think a critical component of success and leadership is having clear vision and a well-planned pathway.

Q: How do you recharge from a busy or stressful day?

A: I run, okay…I jog. I also have a great network of amazing friends who provide a trampoline equipped with a huge safety net to manage success and failure.

40| Washington Military Department | Fall 2019

Sgt. Daisy Lopez Years in the Guard: 5 years Unit: 341st Military Intelligence Battalion Job: Human Resource Specialist What Led You To Joining The Guard?

I decided to join the military mostly because of the great education benefits the Army National Guard provides. But what really convinced me to further my military career, was the feeling of being part of a team with positive influence and determination. When I first joined, I never thought I would have re-enlisted to join the AGR community. I now serve full-time on active duty, and hope to complete 20 years active, while attending school to continue my civilian career.

What has been your favorite moment or part of serving?

My favorite moment/part of serving in the Washington Army National Guard was being part of 181st Brigade Support Battalion and completing the Cascadia Rising earthquake drill which was a four day earthquake exercise. We were able to successfully arrive via watercraft onto Vashon Island with our Humvees, and water buffalos.

It was such a great experience to live by, we practiced all possible scenarios such as, emergency responses to landslides, building collapses, and casualties. I will forever remember this mission.

Master Sgt. Quilan Framstad Hometown: Spokane, Washington High School: Walla Walla High School, Washington Unit: 141st Medical Group Job: Medical Logistics What Led You To Joining The Guard?

I was offered an awesome opportunity to travel and work with the Homeland Response Force (HRF) coming from the Air Force Reserve How Has The Guard Impacted Your Life / Family?

It’s given us an extended family Hobbies / Interests: Running and mountain biking Future Goals: I would like to get a permanent AGR position and strive to make Chief

Fall 2019 | Washington Military Department | 41

Health and Fitness

Air National Guard Master Sgt. Samantha Stewart, 194th Force Support Squadron force management NCO in charge, instructs a yoga class June 26, 2019 on Camp Murray, Wash.

Stewart instructs yoga every Wednesday at 11:15 a.m. in the auditorium of building 109. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman 1st Class Mckenzie Airhart)

Health and Fitness Spotlight Staff Sgt. Matthew Lagergren Staff Sgt. Matthew Lagergren, Supply sergeant for Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment, is helping other soldiers reach their fitness goals through his 1 Team 1 Fight program.

“After being promoted, I was asked to create a remedial PT program for Soldiers struggling with their APFT. It started as a simple, stay a little late after drill,” said Lagergren. “I slowly worked it into a small machine with the support of my incredible leadership to where we would set up nutritional classes, and visits to the gym on Joint Base Lewis-McChord.”

After moving to Bravo Company, Lagergren quickly noticed some of the issues that traditional Guardsmen face when it comes to physical fitness and healthy dieting.

“They struggle balancing PT and a healthy diet on their civilian sides and it dramatically effects their military career,” said Lagergren. “It’s not that they are not motivated or trying, they just don’t know where to start.”

Working with Sgt. 1st Class Dan Massey, previously master fitness program instructor, Lagergren created 1 Team 1Fight, a place for Guardsmen to get together on facebook to share workout stories, memes, different workouts and healthy eating tips.

“SFC Massey honestly planted the seed in my head by working out with me every day and helping me lose weight and get in shape,” said Lagergren.

Lagergren fully admits that he is not a physical fitness stud and isn’t a nutritionist or a master fitness trainer, but he is motivated by his family and the soldiers he gets to work with every day.

“Attempting to balance civilian life stresses and then balance it with military all while trying to remain in top shape is extremely tough,” said Lagergren. “I just asks participants to be responsible and honest about their physical fitness goals.”

A group of soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment pose next to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles van at the 2019 SummerCon at the Puyallup Fairgrounds on June 19, 2019. (U.S. National Guard photo by Joseph Siemandel)

Find us on Social Media

Do You Like Podcasts?

Find Raven Conversations on:

Fall 2019 | Washington Military Department | 43

An Explosive Ordinance Disposal Team conducts subterranean robot reconnaissance training lane during team lead certification at Satsop Business Park. Members of the 319th Ordnance Company, were given a domestic operations scenario and had to respond accordingly. This training is a part of the certification put on by the 741st Ordinance Battalion. (U.S. National Guard photo by Sara Morris)