Are your reAdy to ShAkeout? | 141S t Vice commAnder mAking wing hiS tory | upcoming JSS eVent S for the holidAyS one wAShington Army nAtion Al guArd flight crew found themSelVeS in A life or deAth SituAtion A thouSAnd feet AboVe the ground SUMMER / FALL 2022
Commander in Chief Washington State Governor The Honorable Jay Inslee The Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Bret D. Daugherty State Public Affairs Officer Joseph Siemandel Sgt. Ty Higgins, Staff Sgt. Ben Kamalii, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Ryan Schwend, Sgt. Andrew Don ley-Russell and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Eugene Park, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 168th General Support Aviation stand in front of the broken wing on their CH-47, Chinook in southern desert of Afghanistan on November 21, 2020. (courtesy photo) Communications Director Karina Shagren One Washington Army National Guard flight crew found themselves in a life or death situation a thousand feet above the ground FeOnturesTheCover: 2 | Washington Military Department | Summer | Fall 2022 6 Find us on Social Media and listen to our podcast Washington Military Department Camp Murray, WA 98430 253-512-8989 - mil.wa.gov Evergreen Magazine Summer / Fall 2022 Vol. 7, Issue 4 Broken Wing over Afghanistan Coastal Washington tribe creates higher ground by building first of its kind tsunami tower 8Seeking Higher Ground Three Washington National Guard women make history this summer. 12Making History Charlie Company 181st Brigade Support Battalion trains on real-world scenarios during Annual Training 18Critical moments A group of Washington Air National Guard members summit Mt. Rainier 22Reaching the Top Washington Military Department Evergreen Magazine is published quarterly by the Washington National Guard Public Affairs Office, Building 1, Camp Murray, 98430. Telephone 253-512-8989. Members can receive additional copies of the Washington Military Department Magazine by contacting the Public Affairs Office. To submit stories / photos / letter please email to Joseph Siemandel, State Public Affairs Officer at joseph.f.siemandel.mil@mail.mil or call 253-512-8989. Contributors ChasePeterCampbellChang Whitney Dick Steven Friederich Jason Kriess Jordan Pollock Rose Lust Michael Stewart 27JSS Calendar Download Our App today! On Apple or Google Play Find out about the future events coming up courtesy of the Joint Service Support team
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On August 5, 2022, Maj. Gen. Bret Daugherty, the adjutant general visited the first free-standing tsunami vertical evacuation tower near Tokeland, built by the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe. The tower is the first of its kind in the United States with a platform can hold more than 400 people. It has pilings that drive 50 feet into the ground and the tower stretches another 50 feet into the air. If a big earthquake were to occur, the community would be able to walk to the tower in 15-20 minutes. Tsunami inundation maps show the first waves may arrive in 35 minutes, making the tower a true tsunami refuge. (Photo by Steven Friederich)
This past week the Washington National Guard hosted the first of its kind Cybersecurity Capacity Building Program conference between INDOPACOM, cyber experts from the Washington Air National Guard, Royal Thai Armed Forces, Indonesian National Armed Forces and the cyberspace operations professional from the Vietnamese military. Nearly 40 representatives from the four nations met at the Pierce County Readiness Center on Camp Murray from July 11-15, 2022, to discuss how developing cyber capability and relationships are key to winning the wars of tomorrow. “Recognizing our advanced cyber relationship with Thailand, INDOPACOM asked us to host the conference,” said Lt. Col. Keith Kosik, director of the State Partnership Program. “They also want our cyber teamwork with Thailand to serve as a model for other states and their partner nations.”
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Just like in conventional warfare, strong alliances are necessary to put up a strong fight against cyber criminals. “To get just one county here, putting together a cyber-plan with our folks is an accomplishment, but getting three together is incredible,” said Col. William Connor, J6/5 for Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM). “It is very significant to do these kinds of events. It gets us together focusing on a common threat, that is usually from a common enemy, both state and non-state actors.”
AIR NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS TAKE PART IN MULTI-NATIONAL CYBERSECURITY SYMPOSIUM
The Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (Section 1256) establishes this pilot program to improve cyber cooperation with Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam. The program seeks to enhance cyber security, resilience,
The Cybersecurity Capacity Building Program is a continuation of what the Washington National Guard and Thailand have been doing already. The Washington National Guard and Kingdom of Thailand have been conducting subject matter expert exchanges to strengthen their cybersecurity programs and develop capabilities for many years. Lt. Col. Jason Silves has been part of the group that has traveled to Thailand multiple times to help with strengthening those capabilities. “As the world digitizes more and more, there is an acute realization the next conflict will involve cyberspace operations. Programs like the Cybersecurity Capacity Building Program are designed to enable our partners to build cadres of defensive operators and learn best practices before such a conflict takes place,” said Silves.
WITH CYBER PARTNERS FROM KINGDOM OF THAILAND, VIETNAM AND INDONESIA
During the week-long engagement, the attendees focused on cyber capabilities, learning about the protection of critical infrastructure, MITRE adversarial tactics, techniques, and common knowledge, Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies and how the pilot program will help benefit the whole group. The group also visited the Microsoft campus in Redmond, Wash. to learn how the organization is working to strengthen cybersecurity.
Summer | Fall 2022 | Washington Military Department | 5 and readiness, as well as increase regional cooperation between the United States and Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia on cyber issues, among other goals.
- Story and Photo by Joseph Siemandel
“The unique opportunity to host this conference further provided the Washington National Guard the opportunity to meet with longtime friends in the Royal Thai Armed Forces Cybersecurity Center.”
Schwend and Park were able to maintain control as they approached the perime ter of CL Dwyer. Schwend took the flight controls and radioed to the lead Chinook to get out of their way as they needed as much space as possible to troubleshoot the Parkproblem.radioed to the tower to declare an emergency and asked that a ground response team immediately dispatch to help with their situation.
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On the night of November 20, 2020, high above the southern desert of Afghanistan, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Ryan Schwend and his CH-47 Chinook helicopter crew members found them selves in a situation that no aviator ever expects to be in. Schwend along with Chief Warrant Officer 2 Eugene Park, Staff Sgt. Ben Kamalii, Sgt. Andrew Donley-Russell and Sgt. Ty Higgins, all members of Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 168th Gener al Support Aviation, were on a routine mission that they’ve done many times Withbefore.the draw down in Afghanistan in motion, bases were being consolidated and living spaces needed to be moved to accommodate the increase in troop movements. Their mission was to sling load relocatable buildings (RLB) beneath the aircraft from Kandahar to contingen cy location Dwyer – the site of the con solidated base in southern Afghanistan. It was a dark nighttime flight with night vision goggles and low illumination. The flight of two CH-47s had already deliv ered two RLBs to CL Dwyer and were on their second turn to deliver the second pair of housing units. They had been flying almost seven hours that night. “We had just started our approach – we were flying over the Helmand Valley at about a thousand feet,” recalled Schwend. “When a loud thunderous bang was heard in the aircraft – louder than anything I have ever heard in a
TheChinook.”aircraft immediately jolted into a right bank. “It felt and sounded like I got hit in the head with a hammer,” crew chief Don ley-Russell said. Higgins screamed into the internal com munications system, “Jettison, jettison, jettison!” as he released the load. Co-pilot CW2 Park promptly stabilized the aircraft by taking control after the violent impact they felt. A quick glance at the instruments told him the aircraft was now under immense strain. The controls were soft and mushy – much like driving an old car without power steering.
The crew in the back immediately began to run through the cargo hook release emergency checklist as they tried to find out what happened. They saw that the load did not completely jettison and was pinned to the bottom of the aircraft in a mangled mess. It was determined that they could not fully land the aircraft over fears that it could rollover causing further damage or possible fatalities. According to the final report of the incident, the side wall of the RLB on the sling load collapsed which “allowed air to enter into and push the load hori zontally to the left and upward making impact with the aircraft.” What the crew didn’t know at the time was that as the load made impact with the aircraft, it also made contact with the rear rotor system causing unseen damage to the blades. However, they were still able to keep the aircraft flying. As Schwend struggled to maintain a steady hover, the response team was beneath the aircraft trying to dislodge the mangled wreckage. After several attempts they successfully cut the load from beneath the fuselage and the crew moved to land and shut down their Duringhelicopter.the shut down procedure and as the rotors were slowing down, Higgins noticed that the blades were beginning to sag. Earlier, during the impact from the load swinging upward, the blades sustained severe catastrophic damage. They were being held straight out by the centrifugal force. As the blades slowed down after shutdown they began to sag before finally impacting the air frame
For their actions in the air leading to a safe landing and minimizing dam age to the aircraft and saving each other’s lives, all five crew mem bers awardedwere Armythe
causing further damage and finally com ing to an abrupt halt. For their calm and collective actions, the entire crew were awarded the U.S. Army Aviation Broken Wing Award in a cere mony held at the Army Aviation Support Facility #1 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, June 18, 2022. This is an especially rare honor as historically the award is usually given just to the pilots. The Broken Wing Award was estab lished in 1968 and is rarely bestowed. According to the U.S. Army’s criteria for the award “an aircrew member must, through outstanding airmanship, minimize or prevent aircraft damage or injury to personnel during an emergency situation.”
“Thisprecisely.particular aircrew, including CW3 Schwend, is to be commended for their actions,” Meyers said. “Which had they not completed deliberately and calmly, could have led to a greater loss of equipment and quite possibly loss of life.” Story by Jason Kriess
Commendation Medal. And for their heroic and selfless actions actions on the ground below the damaged Chinook helping to dislodge the mangled load, four members from the Washington, Ore gon and Utah Army National Guard were awarded the Army Achievement Medal.
Col. Scott Meyers was the commander of Task Force Ivy Eagles and was the senior aviator in Afghanistan at the time. His comments summed up their actions
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Creates higher
Coastal Washington tribe ground by building first of its kind tsunami toWer seeking higher ground
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If a big earthquake were to occur, the community would be able to walk to the tower in 15 to 20 minutes. Tsunami inundation maps show the first waves from a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake may arrive in 35 minutes, making the tower a true tsunami refuge.
The tower stands 50 feet tall, 40 feet wide, with support piers anchoring it 55 feet below grade. There are two decks, one at 40 feet and the other at 50 feet in height, each deck being 2,000 square feet in size. Structurally, the tower engineering can hold people shoulder to shoulder without compromising its structural integrity, said current Shoalwater Emergency Manager Ken Ufkin.
“There are 100 or less Tribal people who need this tower, right?” noted Maximilian Dixon, the hazards and outreach program supervisor for the Washington Emergency Management Division. “And you are looking at a 400-plus capacity.
“Lee did the work,” said Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribal Chairwoman Charlene Nelson. “She kept us on track and it worked and it could work in any community. Working together with the tribe and people outside of the tribe, it makes such a big “Wedifference.”helped to change the atmosphere from being helpless victims into one of knowing we can and will survive if we all work together,” Shipman said. Officials say they hope this vertical evacuation tower is the first of many. A second tsunami refuge exists above a school gymnasium in Ocosta, about 13 miles away from Tokeland. And two more towers are in the planning stages in Ocean Shores and Westport. According to expert modeling, more than 50 tsunami refuges are needed along the Washington coast in the event of an earthquake and tsunami along the Cascadia Subduction Zone fault. The platform in Tokeland can hold more than 400 people — enough for the entire local population.
The tower was built on the southern edge of the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe Reservation. The tribe decided on this area as it is approximately in the middle of Tokeland. Thus, it can serve as a place of refuge for not only tribal members, but the residents of Tokeland as well, Ufkin said. Ufkin said the tribe contributed about $1.2 million for the tower and a FEMA grant covered more than $3 million.
Corina Allen, the chief hazards geologist for the Washington Geological Survey, presented the tribe with a revised tsunami walking evacuation map showing the new tower in use – and all of the lives that could be saved.
- Photo and Story Steven Friederich
not going to rest with just this,” Ezelle said. “We’re going to press forward and partner with our tribal nations, with our local jurisdictions and build others up and down the tsunami hazard zones. And as we work, rest assured, all of the tribes and communities will be looking to you and your inspirations and the lessons learned.”
Robert Ezelle, the director of the Washington Emergency Management Division, noted he would be looking to the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe for advice as more tsunami towers are built along the coast. Ezelle and Maj. Gen. Bret D. Daugherty of the Washington Military Department said during a trip to Washington, D.C., they helped encourage FEMA to change grant designations so they could start funding these towers. The tribe was the first to successfully get the “We’refunds.
State, local and federal partners joined with the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe on Aug. 5 to celebrate and dedicate the tower to Lee Shipman, the former emergency manager for the tribe. The tower is named “Auntie Lee” in her honor as she was the driving force to get the funding for the vertical evacuation tower. The tower, located on the coast of Washington near Tokeland, was built by the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe using their funds and a FEMA grant.
A new tsunami vertical evacuation tower in Tokeland is the first of its kind in the United States, built by the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe not just for the few dozen tribal members living near it, but the entire nearby community.
“What you’ve done will serve generations to come, not just us,” Daugherty said at the dedication. “We’re in the window for this to hit us now. We all know that the day is going to come. It’s not a matter of if, it’s when. The earth is going to shake violently, much more violently than any of us can even imagine, and the beautiful sea is going to pull back so we can hardly even see it. And that is going to be the time when the people who live here are going to rush to this tower, get up those stairs and they are going to be safe. And from the safety of that tower, people are going to watch as the ocean returns in its fury. And they will be alive and they will be in awe because they will be survivors of our nation’s worst natural disaster. That’s what we’re up against here.”
“The level of cooperation between academia and the local, state and federal emergency management community is truly commendable,” Ufkin said. “It took considerable dedication from the Washington State Emergency Management Hazard Mitigation team, advisors from the University of Washington, FEMA and many others to bring this project to fruition. For that, the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe and citizens of Tokeland are deeply grateful.”
Putting all of your money and time and passion to save not only your own community, but the community next to you. That’s powerful.”
“This tower will save our lives someday,” added Lynn Clark, secretary of the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe.
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Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety Register Today!
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It’s not if, but when. In what has become an annual tradition, International ShakeOut Day helps prepare millions for the potential of a large earthquake by participating in the Great Washington ShakeOut. This year’s annual event returns on Oct. 20, 2022 at 10:20 a.m. Residents are encouraged to register their participation at shakeout.org/Washington.
Then, during the drill, practice Drop, Cover and Hold On. The drill only takes about five minutes, but you and your family are encouraged to take additional steps like crafting a communications plan, making an out-of-state contact or storing jugs of water – prepare at least one gallon of water per person per day. In addition, coastal communities will test their tsunami alert sirens at the same date and time using the real sound of the siren, not the Westminster Chimes that typically sound during the monthly tests. NOAA weather radios set to receive tsunami alerts will also activate during this test.
ANOTHER EARTHQUAKE WILL HIT WASHINGTON STATE
The Pacific Coast of Washington is at risk from tsunamis. Often generated by large, rapid movements in the sea floor that displace the water column above, Tsunamis can be truly devastating to coastal ShakeOutcommunities.becomes a “teachable moment” on par with having an actual earthquake - it’s a reminder that we do live in earthquake country and we need to be prepared. The actual behavior of dropping to the ground hopefully under something sturdy, protecting your head and holding on to something becomes part of your muscle memory and you’re more likely to repeat the actions when an earthquake actually Whilehappens.the earthquake threat in Washington is not new, the threat of large scale quakes could cause massive damage to our region. The Pacific Northwest sits in the Cascadia subduction convergent zone which is the collision area between the North America and the Juan de Fuca tectonic plates. The two plates are converging at a rate of about 2 inches per year. In addition, the northward-moving Pacific plate pushes the Juan de Fuca plate north, causing complex seismic strain to accumulate. The abrupt release of this slowly accumulated strain causes earthquakes, which can be felt frequently throughout the year.
12 | Washington Military Department | Summer | Fall 2022 141ST AIR REFUELING WING’S NEW VICE COMMANDER MAKES HISTORY
At what felt like too soon, O’Connell was unexpectedly faced with a retrain into Public Affairs in 1999.
While O’Connell continued to climb rank and excel in each task presented, she received an unexpected curveball with the potential to derail her completely. Her diagnosis was confirmed with stage three-c breast cancer in 2016.
“First and foremost, O’Connell is a gifted leader with an incredibly diverse military career and background,” 141st ARW CC Ret. Col Larry Gardner said. “She is tenacious and won’t stop at an answer that doesn’t seem correct, complete, or isn’t supporting her/our Airmen to the maximum extent possible.”
the Civil Air Patrol in sixth grade seamlessly led O’Connell to enter the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps at “The” Ohio State University, where she became a maintenance officer to begin her Air Force career. This was the Air Force specialty she had dreamt of. “My dad was a maintainer; I loved being on the line where the aircraft were,” O’Connell said.
“Following treatment, I checked all of the boxes and passed my PT test,” O’Connell said. “This was a personal goal and Withoutvictory.” pause, O’Connell blazed forward to make history.
A small seven-year-old American girl raced from the school yard in Zaragoza, Spain, took her treasured seat on the picnic table near the end of the flight line. As she worked on her homework, a fighter jet taxied down the runway for a final maintenance check. Once approved, the jet howled as it quickly climbed into the sky. The maintainers worked around her from her dad’s squadron and offered a sense of normalcy; this is what she’d always known. These early years built the framework for Lt. Col. Angela O’Connell, 141st Air Refueling Wing, first female Vice Commander, to make history.
“Without a history of breast cancer and a cleared mammogram the year prior, this diagnosis was shocking to me,” O’Connell said. “It was a hard year. We quickly began treatment, undergoing 32 rounds of chemotherapy, three surgeries, and 30 rounds of radiation.”
The benefit of being able to continue to serve with her guard family while fighting cancer and undergoing treatment propelled her forward. She was fighting to live.
“I lived a good chunk of my early life overseas around air force bases while my dad served as a crew chief,” explained O’Connell. “With the gratitude and familiarity from my childhood, I always had plans to serve in some way, shape or Joiningform.”
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“The wing vice commander hiring board was blessed with an extremely competitive and talented group of applicants all of which, had they been selected, would have served the wing and Airmen well,” Gardner said. “Lt Col O’Connell, as she does with each endeavor, truly shined in the interview process as she outlined her goals, visions and direction she wanted to help take the wing as our next vice. Without a doubt, O’Connell was the right person, in the right place, at the right Astime.”awife
These orders drastically changed O’Connell’s career trajectory from her original plans, but still she persevered. Now, looking back, she sees it being one of the best things that happened to her, said O’Connell. From active duty, to Air Force Reserve, to Air National Guard, O’Connell has served over 26 years of service in various capacities outside of her immediate AFSC. They included key positions with Protocol, the Airman and Family Readiness center and the Inspector General. These diverse assignments offered opportunities and challenges to aid in developing the integral leadership qualities she holds today.
the successes of her predecessors by helping move the ball a few yards further down the field, through caring for Airmen and their families and increasing community partnerships, explained O’Connell.
“Each member of our 141st team is an investment and is invaluable to our mission,” O’Connell said. “I would not be here without the investment that others put into me and I would like to carry that mentorship forward.” Story and Photo by SRA Whitney Dick
of a pilot, mother of three children, wingman, and cancer survivor, O’Connell took the prominent role of wing vice commander with humility and a passion for people.
“The value of a $50 bill does not change, no matter the appearance or condition it is found in,” O’Connell said. “Our Airmen are the same. A lot of us may be marred, dirty, and a little wrinkled, but we are still worth picking up and Shechampioning.”hopestocontinue
“When my career field manager confirmed the Public Affairs Officer position I had been placed in meant a permanent change of AFSC, I was devastated,” O’Connell explained. “I pleaded with my commander, but the only resolve he was able to offer was there being no other option.”
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“That is what I hope my [Sapper] tab will do,” she said. “That it will help to change perspectives and that females will be taken a bit more seriously in combat arms.”
Clarke has her eyes set on Ranger School next. She plans to attend the two-month course next year. -StorybyJasonKriess
Washington Guard member makes history at Sapper Leader Course Spc. Lillyanne Clarke didn’t let second-guessing stop her from making history. As a 19-year-old female combat engineer with the 898th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Clark has heard side comments about her ability to be a hardened combat engineer in the Army. “Nothing offensive,” she said. “Just little comments here and there whenever I participated in combatives and ruck marches – stuff like that.”
Although the course is designed to be brutal and demanding, Clarke looks back on her experience with a bit of fondness. Sleep deprivation and operating off of very little food are part of the experience, she said. At one point during the training, in the middle of the night, she started to see and hear things that weren’t there.
On July 1, 2022, Clarke became the youngest female graduate of the Sappers Leader Course. She’s also the first enlisted female and overall second female in the Washington Army National Guard and just the eighth enlisted female over all to ever complete the grueling course. Known as one of most challenging and difficult schools the Army offers, the 28-day course at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri is designed specifically for combat engineers and trains leadership skills in a wide range of subjects such as mountaineering, rappelling, demolitions and obstacle breaching among many others. It’s so tough, the course has a high drop-out rate.
Clarke’s Army career is just getting started. Having just graduated high school in 2020, the Olympia native already has a year-long deployment to Poland under her belt. That deployment was part of the NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence mission – a multi-nation forward-deployed presence with the purpose of deterring aggression in the region. She was attached to an infantry platoon in 3rd Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment. “On the deployment is where I really learned how to be a more competent combat engineer,” Clarke said. “We were in the field training so much and I really dove into the engineer manual to learn as much as I can.”
“I remember seeing cartoons,” she recalled. “And I thought the trees were cadre and they were telling me to move out. You learn so much about yourself. I didn’t know I could run off of zero sleep and very little food.”
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All the knowledge she absorbed in Poland helped her greatly as she navigated the sapper course. Her training on infantry tactics, field expedient demolitions and patrolling made her stand out from all the officers in her class.
“But I struggled with operation orders and mission planning,” she said. “All the officers knew how to do that – I had to learn a lot in that area. Now I can write one on my own.”
When she returns to her unit for drill she hopes that she can motivate her fellow Soldiers to attend the course if they can. Her and her fellow Sapper Leader Course graduate, 1st Lt. JP Sumayang, are making plans to collaborate on a pre-sapper course that they can implement at their unit to help prepare other Soldiers who will attend the class.
She also struggled with preconceived ideas about her abilities. During one particular training event, she was paired up with two male counterparts. She began to overhear comments about how she would likely slow them down. “I felt like I had to prove myself,” she recalled. “It turned out that one of the guys was the one slowing us down and I had to help carry his ruck.”
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“[Ranger School] taught me how to be resilient and that failure is okay as long as you continue,” Domingue said. “That was the biggest teaching point for me.” Along side her at graduation was Maj. Thomas Haydock, who is assigned to 3rd Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment. This is significant in that a vast majority of students who attend Ranger School are lower enlisted, junior non-commissioned officers and company grade “It’sofficers.never too late to go to Ranger School,” she said. She said that wearing the tab doesn’t change anything about her but that she hopes the tab helps her be a better mentor for company grade officers and junior soldiers.
Ranger School is located at Fort Benning, Georgia and is one of the hardest schools that military service members can attend. The 61-day course is designed to train soldiers, as well as members of all the other branches of the military, in small unit tactics and to engage in close combat with our nation’s enemies. Graduates of the course have earned the right to wear the Ranger tab on their uniform. However, being in the National Guard, Domingue had to attend a pre-Ranger course called RTAC (Ranger Training Assessment Course). The two-week course is designed to prepare soldiers to succeed at Ranger School by making sure they can pass the Ranger Physical Assessment as well as other soldier skills such as patrols, land navigation and troop leading Domingue’sprocedures.
“I told people before I left that I’m staying until I’m done,” Domingue said. “Either I’m sent home or I’m medically hurt – but I’m staying until I get that tab however long it takes.”
Maj. Samantha Domingue, 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, recently became the first female in the Washington Army National Guard to graduate the U.S. Army’s premier leadership training course – Ranger School, after experiencing multiple setbacks. The 32-year-old cavalry officer has always been a determined soldier and has committed to seeing things through that she sets out to accomplish.
first bout with failure happened right away at RTAC. It’s well known that at Ranger School push-ups are graded to a very strict and rigid standard. Domingue had, up until this point, never failed the push-up event in her Army career. That all changed at “IRTAC.failed the push-ups and they drop you automatically from the course,” she said. “But after talking with my leadership back home and the leaders at the school, I was allowed to be recycled to the next class.” She passed the second time. After passing RTAC she moved on to Ranger School itself. The first week of Ranger School is the Ranger assessment phase week, also known as “RAP week.” This is the week where students are physically put to the test. Students endure 20-hour days with very little time for sleep and recovery. Historically, one third of the class will fail RAP week. Domingue was one of Onthem.thefourth day of Ranger School she failed the 12-mile forced ruck march. “I missed the six-mile turn around mark by 30 seconds and I got pulled,” she said. “That was soul Andcrushing.”because she is a member of the Guard, she had to go back to RTAC. Though the fact that she already passed RTAC was helpful for her. All she had to do was pass the RAPweek-type events and she was cleared to return to Ranger School. However, she had to wait a month for the next cycle to start because of the Best Ranger Competition – an annual competition held at Fort Benning She did not want to leave Georgia to head all the way back home because if she did, she knew she wouldn’t come back because she would get dragged back into work and home life. She called back to her unit in Washington and pleaded her case for staying. “They were totally 100 percent behind me and I’m very grateful for that,” Domingue said. By now this is her second time starting Ranger School. She passes RAP week and then moves on to the next phase – platoon combat operations at Camp Darby at Fort Benning. During this phase students are instructed on squad and platoon patrolling, tactics, troop leading procedures and other basic battle drills. Everything started out fine for her during this phase. She said it had been a while since she had operated at the platoon and squad level and that it reinvigorated her to conduct small unit tactics and training. “But at Darby, low and behold, they told me I was a no-go on patrols and that I was going to be recycled,” she said. “At this point I’m already in Ranger School and I’m just going to stay here until they kick me out.” She accepted the recycle and then, on her third attempt at Ranger School, completed the course and graduated in July.
NATIONAL GUARD BILATERAL AFFAIRS OFFICER HELPS STRENGTH PARTNERSHIP WITH KINGDOM OF THAILAND BIL ATE RAL REL ATI ONS
Johnson’s position, he strengthens the bond between the U.S. and Thailand by coordinating bilateral military exchanges, including the exercises Cobra Gold and Hanuman Guardian, and through many other activities such as humanitarian assistance/disaster relief exercises and cultural exchanges, among many others. He coordinates all engagements through his U.S. Joint Services counterparts across the Joint US Military Advisory Group-Thailand (JUSMAGTHAI), where he works inside the Joint Operations Division, as well as the US Embassy Bangkok.
“I remember bringing a group of Royal Thai Armed Forces officers to the Cascadia Rising exercise in Washington State in 2016. It was so rewarding to see both U.S. and Thai officers together, talking about topics that affect both our partner nations,” said Johnson. “The threat of large tsunamis and earthquakes, for example, are a real possibility with both our partner nations, so the more resources we can share to save lives is important.”
After leaving active duty in 2015, Johnson had been living in the Kingdom of Thailand working in the private sector. But before he left his military career behind, he met with then-MAJ Bill Cooper, who was the State Partnership Program director at the time. Cooper helped Johnson find his next military career move within the Washington National Guard, essentially serving as the Washington National Guard’s own FAO in AfterThailand.five
Similarly, Johnson has helped to link the 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team with the Royal Thai Army’s 112th Stryker Regimental Combat Team to conduct bilateral Stryker training engagements, both in the U.S. and Thailand. One of Johnson’s long-term goals is to leverage the longevity of 81st SBCT’s soldiers to form lasting relationships with the 112th SRCT that will enable Thailand, which is the first country outside of the U.S. to buy Strykers, to integrate the armored vehicles. These and other efforts are to achieve US Army Pacific and US Indo Pacific Command goals to build Thailand’s capabilities and to work together with U.S. Stryker units. “Relationships are key” to success for each of these goals, in Johnson’s view.
drives me every day is to make the relationship with the Kingdom of Thailand, Royal Thai Military and the United States stronger,” said Johnson. “I will tell you, one of the things that keeps that relationship strong is the enduring, military-to-military relationship.”
years in that position, Johnson was asked to serve as a Bilateral Affairs Officer (BAO) - essentially an Army or Air National Guard officer who acts as a conduit between the state and the ‘partner country.’
Johnson’s duties as the Thailand BAO are varied, and he is often asked to support JUSMAGTHAI and US Embassy Bangkok Defense Attache’ Office (DAO) missions. He had the opportunity to support the DAO in December 2021 by escorting GEN Chalermphorn Srisawasdi, commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, and his delegation to meet with GEN Mark Milley at the Pentagon and GEN Daniel Hokanson for a dinner hosted at his home. He coordinated with LTC Keith Kosik, Washington SPP director, to coordinate the Adju tant General, MG Bret Daugherty’s attendance at the dinner alongside his Thai counterpart.
Johnson believes the relationships developed through the State Partnership Program are critical to its “Isuccess.amlooking forward to seeing our Washington National Guard soldiers and airmen here more and more. I want to see our members and their Thai counterparts here training together, learning and growing together and building relationships,” said Johnson. “When I bring a delegation to the states, I like to rope my local family and friends into the mix – we host dinners and spend time together, and that makes great opportunities to share stories and life experiences. This means a lot because both sides are going to look to those relationships in the future.”
HELPS THAILAND
Johnson’s experience and knowledge of Thailand made him a perfect choice for the unique job. In 2011 Johnson learned Thai at the Defense Language Institute, earned a master’s degree in international relations from Yale University in 2014, and learned Bahasa Indonesia and Vietnamese as he prepared himself to serve as an Active Duty, Southeast Asia FAO. As such, he has been living in Thailand since 2014, and worked as a management consultant at private-sector company, as well as general manager of a small business in the five years between leaving active duty and coming back full-time as Washington’s BAO. “I had spent a lot of time in southeast Asia, and also had done a lot of studying and traveling around the region. So it was a no-brainer for me to apply to be a FAO in southeast Asia after I finished command,” said ThroughJohnson.
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A Washington National Guard soldier responsible for building international partnerships credits a chance meeting for his current role. “It was fantastic to have had those introductions,” said MAJ Joel Johnson, who supports the State Partnership Program. “As an active soldier I knew virtually nothing of the State Partnership Program – my previous FAO (Foreign Area Officer) duties never really had any touchpoints with the National Guard. I certainly had not known that we had such a robust program here. When I learned about it I got excited and knew I wanted to help make it better.”
The position is considered a diplomatic assignment and functions as a security co-operation action officer and forward National Guard Liaison Officer, representing the interests of their respective National Guard “Whatstate.
The most senior member of the team is Lt. Col Chad Ul rich, who in his civilian capacity is an emergency medicine physician at UW Medicine-Valley Medical Center in Rent on. His role this annual training is to help train up the younger medical professionals, providing them the real world stresses he faces on a daily basis but in a place to learn their craft. “I was giving the vital signs and the injuries,” Ulrich said. “In the real world I would be supervising both the bed and
“This is a fantastic team. They really just want to train on this and it is fantastic to have the senior members leading in the exercise and the junior members taking initiative to complete the tasks,” said Kovell.
CRITICAL MOMENTS: “CHARLIE MED” TRAINING ON REAL WORLD SCENARIOS
“Part of this annual training we wanted to train on taking injured soldiers from their defensive positions to a casualty collection point,” said Maj. Jim Kovell, an Army Med ical Officer and commander of Charlie Company, 181st Brigade Support Battalion. In the scenario-based training, soldiers in the defensive position were attacked, defended off the threat and were pulled to a casualty collection point for tactical combat casualty care. “Charlie Med” then deployed their medical evacuation platoon to load the injured soldiers into a Stryker ambulance and taken to a field hospital. Once at the field hospital the medical professionals on the ground would triage the members, identify their needs, and prepare them for movement to a large medical facility.
To be ready if they receive that call, Guard members of Charlie Company, 181st Brigade Support Battalion are spending part of their annual training conducting medical evacuations and field hospital operations exercises at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
providing overview and stepping in to do a procedure if one of my other providers couldn’t. One of the chal lenges that Army medicine faces is getting real world reps, so having that knowledge and experience from the civilian sector really prepares us for these critical Ulrichmissions.”credits the young medical professionals in the unit with continuing to jump at the chance to learn the medical craft and being a part of the “IGuard.amcontinually amazed at these young 20 year olds that are going to college and then come out here hungry to learn,” said OneUlrich.of those young soldiers is Private 1st Class Maher Modak, a 20-year-old combat medic from Seattle. His role in the exercise was recording the medics’ comments about the injured patients and what treatments had been given. The job seems easy but making sure to listen and hear everything being said over the noise and chaos of the operating floor is difficult. “The team lead made sure that we were all at a good level, that we could all understand and speak clearly with one another,” said Mo dak. “It was so cool to be a part of Modakthat.” joined the Guard to start on the path to being a doctor. He applied for West Point in hopes of becoming an Army Medical officer and then attending medical school and bringing that experience back home to the Northwest.
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A group of soldiers lay on the ground, wounded and in pain. Their defensive position was attacked, leaving them in need of medical assistance and fast. It’s a position that no medical professional wants to find themself in, rac ing the clock to save their fellow service members lives, knowing that each minute is precious.
VIDEO: See how real life emergency scenarios are challenging the sol diers of the Charlie Med to become better Army Medical Professionals. Photo by Joseph Siemandel
Summer | Fall 2022 | Washington Military Department | 19 LOOKING FOR MORE 181ST BSB? After two years of supporting the state’s COVID-19 response, the 181st Brigade Support Battalion is getting back to basics this annual training. Scan the QR code for more.
- Story and
VIDEO: 181st Brigade Support Battalion soldiers trained on the M249 Squad Automoatic Weapon during their Annual Training at JBLM.
The 141st ARW showcased a 20-ton wrecker tow truck, a dump truck, and a light medium tactical vehicle. The event also included local police and fire vehicles, specialty machin ery equipment, and public utility and maintenance rigs. “I love this job and it gives me the chance to show off what the Washington Air National Guard does,” Jacobus said. “The community gets to be involved in what we’re doing and seeing the excitement, especially with kids, is so much fun.”
- Story by Rose Lust, Photos by Michael Stewart
PARTICIPATES IN FIRST EVER COMMUNITY
Evan Jacobus, noncommissioned officer-in-charge of ground transportation with the 141st LRS, spearheaded the wing’s effort to participate in the event and coordinated with the various units on base. “These are always great, fun events for families to come out and check out the different vehicles we have,” Jacobus said. “It’s so important that we get out to the local community so they can see what we do and what we’re all about.”
TOUCH-A-TRUCK UNIT EVENT
Guardsmen from the 141st Air Refueling Wing joined the City of Liberty Lake and the Liberty Lake Municipal Library for their fourth annual Touch a Truck event July 15 at Orchard Park in Liberty Lake. Cars lined the streets throughout the neighborhood as far as the eye could see just to attend this free event. More than two dozen static display vehicles were on hand for event-goers with many getting the chance to sit behind the wheel, honk horns and just play around with the numerous levers and gadgets around the vehicles. New to the event this year was the 141st Air Refueling Wing. The Logistics Readiness Squadron, along with the 141st Civil Engineer Squadron and the 242nd Combat Communications Squadron manned various heavy-duty machinery used in the general maintenance of Fairchild Air Force Base allowing children and adults a chance to explore and “play” with military Masterequipment.Sgt.
141ST GROUND TRANSPORTATION
“I wish you all the best as you head into retirement. You’ve spent your entire career serving others, and now it’s time to focus on yourself,” said Maj. Gen. Bret Daugherty, the adjutant general in a letter given to Johnson during his retirement ceremony. “I’m especially grateful for your time with the Washington National Guard and at our Washington Youth Challenge Academy. Your work played a direct role in our ability to develop safer, more secure communities. And your leadership style has left a legacy that will forever impact both Johnsonorganizations.”joined the Air Force in January 1987 serving on active duty for 10 years. In 2004, he joined the Washington Youth Academy as a cadre member, working with at risk youth, helping them become the best version of themselves. It was there that his love of service led him to join the Washington National Guard. In October of 2014, at age 45, Johnson re-enlisted with the intention of finishing his military career. Starting as a drill status Guard member, Johnson continued his work at the Washington Youth Challenge Academy. Opportunity quickly knocked, and he took a position as a federal technician within the Washington National Guard. He became a National Guard recruiter, a position that would allow him to thrive using his unique leadership style. Shortly after taking on this position, Johnson suffered a massive stroke, forcing him to medically retire from the military in March 2022. “Dwayne is known for his dedication, his commitment, his determination and loyalty no matter what, he has made an impact on the lives of many,” said Amy Steinhilber, director at the Washington Youth Challenge Academy. Daugherty echoed Steinhilber’s sentiment. “Along with coaching your colleagues, you provided tremendous mentorship to hundreds of young adults who desperately needed someone to look up to. Your passion, energy and commitment inspired so many at-risk youths to turn their lives around and make decisions that better themselves and others,” said Daugherty. “On behalf of all Washingtonians, thank you for your service to both your state and nation. Enjoy this next phase of your life, knowing you made a lasting difference that will extend for years to come.”
Dwayne Johnson has spent his entire career in public service. Coaching, mentoring and leading others to be better every day is his life’s work. This month, after 35 years of service to the state and nation, Johnson retired from two careers he loved—serving in the military and as a cadre member at the Washington Youth Challenge Academy.
Happy Retirement to Dwayne Johnson
Washington Youth Academy and National Guard
- it was an unguided climb by a fully ANG team that took a few years to pull off,” said Kramer, 194th Comptroller Flight. In 2021 Witts and Kramer received a “Partner in Adventure Grant” from the American Alpine Club to help pay for a 3-day basic glacier travel training course on Mt. Baker with the American Alpine Institute. The basic glacier travel training course is the glacier component of the Basic Alpine Climbing Course. Participants learn to travel safely on glaciers while roped up, and learn the technical skills such as crevasse rescue and rappelling. “Lt Col Lance Orr of the 116th Air Support Operations Squadron also attended the course,” said Kramer. “He and I had also previously received training from the JBLM Alpine Club, run by MWR. SMSgt Scherer received a great deal of training and experience with the Portland-based Mazamas Inclub.”accordance with the grant they received the group needed to submit a capstone goal.
22 | Washington Military Department | Summer | Fall 2022 Reaching The Top
“Mt. Rainier was our capstone goal. We were motivated by other Air National Guard members who had climbed Mt. Rainier successfully earlier in 2021 including Capt. Steve Jones and Lt. Col. Pat Lamie,” said Kramer. “Along with the climb, we had intended to do a brief retirement ceremony for Chief Witts at the top of the mountain.” Unfortunately, with COVID, scheduling and weather conditions, the group’s climb was delayed until August. “By then the conditions were not safe due to temperature and snow melt creating rock fall hazards,” said Kramer. “While we were able to accomplish glacier travel, there
In the Pacific Northwest, no object natural or man-made tops Mt. Rainier. The majestic centerpiece of the Cascade Mountain range can be seen across the state of Washington and has become a favorite among visitors to our region. It’s also a mountain hikers dream of climbing. The most heavily glaciated peak in the contiguous United States, Mt. Rainier offers an exciting challenge to mountaineers, both expert and novice. Each year thousands of people accomplish the feat of making the 14,410-foot climb from base to summit. On July 21, 2022, Lt. Col. Jason Kramer, Chief Master Sgt. (Retired) Jason Witt and Senior Master Sgt. Justin Scherer, 194th Wing, cemented their legacy as they reached the summit of Mr. Rainier, the culmination of a multi-year “Inprocess.anutshell
From far away, many see Mt. Rainer’s summit and believe it to be unattainable, a dream for those who are the most skilled climbers. Kramer’s take is different for those considering the climb. “It’s fun to share in people’s excitement for our local mountain, there is something special about it for climbers and non-climbers alike,” said Kramer. “Far from being K2, I think a Mt. Rainier summit is very doable for most people with the right combination of coaching and disciplined execution assuming conditions are good and appropriate safety training and precautions are implemented for glacier travel or guide services are utilized.”
Unfortunately, Orr was unable to make it due to scheduling conflicts, bringing the four-man team down to three Air National Guard members.
was no summit as we turned around prior to the Disappointment Cleaver.”
- Story by Joseph Siemandel Summer | Fall 2022 | Washington Military Department | 23
Just as planned, the trio of Air National Guard members summited the Mountain on Thursday, carrying with them a 194th Mission Support Group guidon to celebrate Chief Witts’ service. “It was fulfilling in that it was an unguided attempt. SMSgt Scherer is very experienced and served as the team mentor and I got to lead a rope team on a summit push for the first time, while Chief Witts reached his first glaciated summit,” said Kramer. “The climb offered us the opportunity to practice teamwork, leadership, and risk management. We were in a wild and challenging environment, but the trail was well traveled and we had lots of mutual support from National Park Service Rangers, guide services, and many independent climbers. SMSgt Scherer’s mentorship and discipline kept us in prime condition for that final push.”
To prepare for this season, the group held a one-day self-led refresher training event in May, refreshing their skills on crevasse rescue and team rope travel. The group looked at the calendar and forecast, and selected late July for their summer attempt.
“We utilized the most-popular and easiest route – the Disappointment Cleaver, due to our collective experience levels,” said DisappointmentKramer.Cleaver, often called the “DC Route,” is the most popular route to the summit. Climbers will scale 9,000 feet on snowfields and glaciers, traveling a short distance on rock on the cleaver and possibly cross ladders. This route often takes 6-8 hours from trailhead to Camp Muir, and 5-8 from camp to the summit. “We left after work Tuesday, started climbing to Camp Muir at 7 PM, and arrived about 2 am,” said Kramer. “Wednesday was largely resting, then Thursday was the summit attempt and return.”
24 | Washington Military Department | Summer | Fall 2022 Need Something New to Listen To? Do You Like Podcasts? Check out our Washington Military Department Raven Conversations! Search for “Raven Conversations” where you listen to your podcasts The Washington Military Department seeks exceptional men and women to join our team and help the department meet our important mission of protecting lives, property and the economy of Washington state. We offer full-time state and federal employment opportunities in a variety of job classifications. Additionally, we hire project, non-permanent and disaster reservists to support disaster recovery efforts and workload peaks. Join Dr. Jim Perrin, Command Historian for a Lunch Time Conversation: the Gatling Gun and weaponary of the Philippine-American War October 19, 2022 @ 11:30, Camp Murray Museum Can’t make it to Camp Murray? Scan the QR code to watch on Youtube Live
“Previously, after deployment, you had a five-year window to sign up for VA healthcare. For those who demobilized after October 1, 2013, you now have a 10-year window to apply,” said DeAndrea. “For those who were discharged prior to 2013 and have never signed up for VA healthcare after your deployment, you will have a one-year window to sign up now. From October 1, 2022, through October 1, 2023, you can sign up for healthcare if you have mobilized in support of a contingency operation like OIF, OEF to name a few.”
Air National Guard: waanghq.ang.retirees@us.af.mil
Naval Station Everett - Monday-Friday, 0730-1600, Phone - (425) 304-4256
Honor Guard: When a member of our military family passes away, the Washington National Guard Honor Guard is available to assist with honoring their service. Please call 253-512-8786 for more information. Have a question, need assistance, send us a message: Army National Guard: joseph.f.siemandel.mil@army.mil
Fairchild Air Force Base - Building #2040, Monday-Friday, 0800-1500, Phone - (509) 247-9200
On August 10, 2022, President Joseph Biden signed into law the much anticipated and most supportive veterans initiative since World War II. The Sergeant First Class (SFC) Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACTt) Act, expands and extends eligibility for Veterans Affairs health care for veterans with toxic exposures and veterans of the Vietnam, Gulf War, and post-9/11 eras.
“Before talking about particulars, since this law was just enacted, the VA (Veterans Affairs) has not had a chance to implement their plan on how they will implement these regulations,” said Annie DeAndrea, the transition assistance specialist for the Washington National Guard. “It is not a matter of ‘if’ they will make changes but what these changes will look like once everything is in place. Claims can be submitted now based on this law but decisions on the claims will not be decided until January 2023, when funding is in Priorplace.”to the law, veterans exposed by toxicants had to prove their presumptive condition manifested to at least a zero-10 percent rating level prior to discharge or within a few months after discharge. Under the new regulation, the wording has changes to “became manifest to any degree at any time.’’ This allows for a wider approval for those exposed. Claimants must still prove a full diagnosis and prove they were exposed to the burn pits while overseas. There are also 24 conditions on the list of presumptive conditions. Twelve are cancer based and 12 are respiratory. For a full listing of these, visit https://www.va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits/.
If servicemembers were exposed to burn pits and other toxins while serving overseas, they have a chance now to get compensation and VA healthcare for the rest of their life without any medical expenses.
Museum: The Washington National Guard Museum on Camp Murray is open on Wednesdays, but you can schedule a visit by calling Dr. Stephanie Carter at 253-512-7834. She can also assist with any donations that could be significant to Washington National Guard History.
ID Card Services: Do you need a new ID Card? Camp Murray - Building 15, Office hours are Tuesday-Friday, 0730-1530, Phone - 253-512-8080
“It is so important, now more than ever, that you do not try to do a claim without the proper help. If you are a member of the Guard or Reserve, you need to contact a Veteran Service Officer who specializes in Guard/Reserve claims,” said DeAndrea. “The support at the JSS is a good resource on preparing all the correct documents for the claim. It is important to have the right medical documentation before starting the claims processing.”
Yakima Training Center - OPENED BY APPOINTMENT ONLY, Phone - (509) 577-3207
Summer | Fall 2022 | Washington Military Department | 25 Our Washington National Guard’s strength has always been in the people that put on the uniform and serve the people of our state and nation. We recognize your service and appreciate everything you have done to keep our residents safe and secure. For some, leaving our ranks can be scary. There are many unknowns, and as many questions for former members and their families. To better serve our retired citizen-soldiers and airmen of the Washington National Guard, we want to provide information about retiree services, frequently asked questions and help re-connect you with the formation.
DD214: Retired in the last three years and need a DD214? Please call 253-512-8436. Have you been out longer - call the Washington State Archives at 360-586-1492.
The PACT Act is an improvement in accessing VA programs. As information becomes available, make sure to follow up with JSS for more details. “PACT” Act promises easier access to VA’s service connection processing
On August 10, 2022, Col. Jim Perrin, commander of the 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team was presented with the broad est and most inclusive award given by ESGR. The Seven Seals Award is presented in recognition of significant individual or organizational achievement, initiative, or support that promotes and supports the ESGR mission.
26 | Washington Military Department | Summer | Fall 2022
“Colonel Perrin has always been a tremendous support to our program and that is why we are presenting him with the ESGR Seven Seals award,” said Phil Sanders, state chair for ESGR in Washington.
“I believe that ESGR is another important piece to the Guard experience,” said Perrin. “Taking care of our soldiers and their families as well as their employers is critical to the success of the organization.”
When members of the National Guard and Reserve prepare to mobilize for missions, the volunteers at the Employee Sup port of the Guard and Reserve, or ESGR, stand ready to ensure members and their employers understand their rights and responsibilities. However, ESGR can’t do it alone.
“We couldn’t do this without the help of the dedicated volunteers at the ESGR having our backs too,” said Perrin. “Anything we can do to help facilitate those meetings and conversations is very helpful.”
-StoryandPhotobyJosephSiemandel Commander Receives ESGR Seven Seals Award
81st SBCT
In 2021, Perrin had more than 1,100 members of the 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team deploy to Poland and Ukraine as part of multiple training missions within the European Command. Prior to deployment Perrin ensured that soldiers knew their employment rights, working with ESGR to educate both employers and employees.
Want to honor your employeer for their support? learn hoW by visiting esgr.mil
Join Child & Youth Services as we venture down the rabbit hole with Alice through Wonderland. We are seeking trunks to set up, join the venture, decorate their vehicle, & distribute candy or prizes to youth. We invite National Guard families to join us for this venture. If you have ideas or want to help plan let us know. Oct. 29, 2022, 3 – 5:00 PM , Camp Murray
This event is open to National Guard and Reserves ONLY this year who are in need of a Holiday Meal this year. This event will be a drive-thru style, where volunteers and JSS staff will be placing a meal in the trunk or backseat of your vehicle. Further directions will be emailed with your confirmation to attend the event. Pick-up Location will be emailed with your confirmation. Nov. 16, 2022, 12 – 2:00 PM & 19, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM , Camp Murray
Joint Service Support - Upcoming Events Calendar Holiday Magic is an event to provide a holiday meal and gifts to families in need. No children will be allowed at the event. The event is a drive-thru style again, where you remain in your vehicle and volunteers will assist! The event is open for kids 0-18 years old (NO EXCEPTIONS), and must be registered in DEERS at the time of the event. Each child must be listed on the ticket in order to recieve a gift. Dec. 14-15, 2022, 12 – 6:00 PM, Camp Murray
FOLLOW JSS ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE EVENTS
Joint Service Support - Washington was able to hand out more than 800 back packs and school supplies to Guard families during the annual Back to School Backpack Giveaway in July and August! Scan code on right to learn more.
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Bldg 1 Camp Muarry, WA 98433 Phone: (253) mil.wa.gov512-8989 YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE IN THE MILITARY TO FIND AN AWARDING CAREER WITH THE WASHINGTON MILITARY DEPARTMENT! LOOKING FOR A NEW OPPORTUNITY? NEED A CAREER CHANGE?
