Oregon Military Department

Oregon Army National Guard units complete battle simulations at U.S. Army National Training Center

noreply@blogger.com (Oregon Military Department) — Sat, 29 Aug 2015 05:27:00 +0000

An Oregon Army National Guard Soldier with 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Regiment, drives away from an enemy smoke screen at dawn during the first day of simulated combat operations at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, Calif., Aug. 22. (Photo by Spc. Michael Germundson, 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

More than 500 Soldiers of the Oregon Army National Guard’s 3rd Battalion, 116th Calvary Regiment (3-116th Combined Arms), and the 1186th Military Police Company (1186th MP), spent 12 days conducting live-fire exercises and large-scale simulated battle scenarios at the National Training Center (NTC), in the Mojave Desert at Fort Irwin, Calif., August 14-25, 2015.

The Oregon units augmented the Idaho Army National Guard’s 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team (CBCT) during the first Decisive Action operation, known as “force-on-force,” integrated combat and maneuver training cycle the Army National Guard has completed since the beginning of the Global War on Terror. More than 5,200 Service Members from 10 states’ National Guard units, as well as U.S. Army Reserve and active duty U.S. Army components, participated in the training.

Staff Sgt. Rodriguez, with 3rd Platoon, A Company, 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Regiment; 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team, receives a situation report prior to an enemy helicopter attack during a battle simulation exercise at the National Training Center (NTC), Fort Irwin, Calif., Aug. 22. (Photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

“The purpose of this NTC rotation is to allow the brigade to advance its collective training skillsets and our proficiencies as a brigade combat team,” said Idaho Army National Guard Col. Russell Johnson, commander of the 116th CBCT. “We rarely, if ever, get the opportunity to take all 4,000-plus Soldiers out and train together at one time. The National Training Center is one of those rare resources in today’s Army that allows us the opportunity to do that.”

The training was designed to simulate an expeditionary deployment experience and increase war-fighting capabilities. The 116th CBCT used Abrams tanks, Bradley Fighting Vehicles, and Apache helicopters provided by the Idaho Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 183rd Attack Reconnaissance (1-183rd ARB), to conduct simulated battles against the U.S. Army’s 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (ACR).

The Director of the Army National Guard, Lt. Gen. Timothy Kadavy, said that NTC training ensures combat units in the National Guard achieve the readiness levels required by the Army in order to meet the nation’s demands.

“The National Guard is part of the total Army force and we have combat formations within our team ... so it’s important that we give these organizations the opportunity to come out and go against world-class OPFOR [opposing forces] to grow and train,” said Kadavy.

An M1A2 Abrams tank crew from D Company, 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team (CBCT), Oregon Army National Guard, fires the 120mm main gun during a company live fire exercise, Aug. 16, at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, Calif. (Photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

Oregon’s 3-116th Battalion successfully conducted three running battles and retained the ability to continue projecting effective combat power during the training. The battalion defeated more than double its weight in opposing force combat troops, armor and equipment.

“It was an extremely challenging environment and a very difficult standard and the Soldiers did exceptionally well,” said Oregon Army National Guard Lt. Col. Brian Dean, commander of the 3-116th Battalion.

The 3-116th Battalion consists of Citizen-Soldiers from seven Eastern Oregon cities and was the first National Guard battalion in the nation certified on the new M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle (BFV) and the Abrams M1A2 SEPv2 main battle tank. The battalion spent four years training on the new equipment and preparing for NTC.

“This marks the end of a lot of sacrifice for Soldiers, families and employers,” said Dean. “I want to thank the families. I understand that it is sacrifice for them. And to the employers, without them being willing to give up their hard working Soldiers, we wouldn’t be able to do this.”

Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald Bloker participates in a safety brief with troops in 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team (CBCT), Oregon Army National Guard, prior relocating their tactical base of operations during combat training at the National Training Center (NTC), Fort Irwin, Calif., Aug. 17. (Photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

The 1186th MP Company is based in Salem, Oregon, with a detachment in Milton-Freewater. The military police Soldiers contributed to the training as a combat service and support unit.

“The troops have been great. It’s been absolutely fantastic. High morale under very austere conditions and they’ve risen to every challenge and I’m fantastically proud of each and every one of them,” said Oregon Army National Guard Master Sgt. James Webb, with the 1186 MP Company, 821st Troop Command Battalion.

Oregon Army National Guardsman Pfc.Treyse Reber, M240 gunner with the 1186th Military Police Company, provides security for his squad as they contemplate a route for their mission at the National Training Center (NTC), Fort Irwin, Calif., Aug. 23, during the second day of the force-on-force simulated battle between 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team (CBCT) and the Opposing Force (OPFOR), 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (ACR). (Photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

SFC (Ret.) Richard Floyd Moore Mar 10, 1966 – Aug 7, 2015

noreply@blogger.com (Oregon Military Department) — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 04:13:00 +0000

The Oregon Army National Guard is deeply saddened by the passing of Sergeant First Class (Ret.) Richard Floyd Moore.

He passed away August 7, 2015 in Salem, Oregon, at the age of 49. He was born March 10, 1966 in Salem, Oregon, to Sandra Cook and John Moore. He graduated from South Salem High School.

After Rick graduated from high school in 1984, he immediately joined the U.S. Marine Corps. It was here that Rick served on the U.S.S. Ranger as s security detail member, and was later stationed at Camp Pendleton, California in 1988. Rick was honorably discharged from the U.S. Marines.

During Rick’s enlistment, he met, fell in love with, and married Lori Slusser in 1987. Shortly after their marriage they started raising a family and had two children, Kylie and Dylan Moore. Though Rick was now a “civilian” and he had many opportunities for work, his heart called him back to serving his country through military service.

He joined the Oregon Army National Guard in 1992. It was there that Rick excelled and made many life-long friends. Rick served in the Infantry as a unit clerk, human resource specialist, and in the Recruiting and Retention Battalion. Rick was also a volunteer in the Oregon Army Funeral Honors Guard and enjoyed his military career until he retired in August of 2009.

Aside from being a husband, service man, and father, Rick enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing, and traveling. Rick also ensured he was at family functions and attended his children’s sporting events. You would also, almost always see Rick working the BBQ during summer or just about any time of the year making sure his family and friends were taken care of, having a good time, and enjoying some great food.

He leaves behind his wife Lori Slusser Moore, daughter Kylie Moore, son Dylan Moore, parents Sandra Cook and John Moore, sisters Terry Shipley, Kathy Kiselicka and Sean Doobian, and brothers Jim Moore, Michael Moore, and Steven Moore plus many nieces and nephews.

Burial Services will be held at Willamette National Cemetery, located at 11800 SE Mount Scott Blvd., Portland, OR 97086, on August 18, 2015, at 10:30 a.m.

noreply@blogger.com (Oregon Military Department) — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 00:54:00 +0000

Many Oregon National Guard members are now returning from deployments throughout the world, with several other units heading out the door, even this week! One concern many returning Soldiers and Airmen have is jobs.

Author and military fitness guru Pauline Nordin came up with several tips for entrepreneurs, which may be helpful to those who are contemplating starting a business. These are also helpful to those looking for employment, or a job upgrade, or simply for self improvement, and we thought we'd pass them along...

1. Have a personality. Don't find one, don't try to make up one, BE one from the bottom of your soul and just display it.

2. Offer something there's a need for, not something you wish there was a need for.

3. Avoid looking for stardom overnight. Do what you are passionate about, then have long patience and it will pay off.

4. Do NOT do what everyone else does. If you do your USP drops to anonymous and averagely interesting.

5. Be prepared to get 1,000 NO thanks and be prepared to DO it YOUR way without any help.

For more information on Pauline's career advice, visit her Facebook page at: www.Facebook.com/FDfighterdiet or follow her on Twitter at @fighter_diet

Speaking of career opportunities and jobs, Hero to Hired, ESGR, Worksource Oregon and the Oregon National Guard are putting on a Career and Education Fair, June 26, at Camp Withycombe. The address is: 5530 SE Minuteman Way Clackamas, OR 97015. You can find an event listing on our Facebook page, here.

Employment Workshop: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m

Career and Education fair: 1 – 4 p.m

For more information, contact Jason Phelan at 503)280-6041 or Pete Pringle at 503)669-7112 Ext 264

Pre-register for the event here.

Some of the highlights for employment and education available to service members include:

EMPLOYMENT

Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs Jobs Page: Includes military skills translator, resume assistance, job postings, etc.

WorkSource Oregon - Veteran Services Page: Local assistance in communities around utilizing Local Veteran Employment Representatives (LVERs) and Disabled Veterans Outreach Program Specialists (DVOPS). Can assist with resumes, job placement, interview skills, etc.

Oregon.Gov Employment Page: List of POCs across Oregon (both LVERs and DVOPs)

Military One Source: Resume assistance/job preparation for federal and civilian jobs

My Next Move: Assist Service Members in finding careers that correlate with their military skill set or totally unrelated career field they are interested in (has interest profiler for those who are undecided).

Veterans Administration: Assists Service members with career assessment based upon their previous education and future goals

Helmets to Hard Hats: Information specifically on building and construction careers for Service Members

Goodwill Industries: Goodwill Industries can assist with resumes, interviewing, job placement, application help

EDUCATION

Veterans Administration Education & GI Bill: Education information, GI Bill comparison tool, choosing schools, etc.

Veterans Administration Careerscope: Assists Service members with career assessment based upon their previous education and future goals

Military One Source K-12 scholarship & college info: Scholarship and financial assistance information for children/spouses of Service Member (includes FAFSA/Pell Grant info.

Posted by Nick Choy,
Oregon Military Department Social Media Manager

Oregon Army National Guard medevac unit trains with Canadian Armed Forces

noreply@blogger.com (Oregon Military Department) — Thu, 28 May 2015 17:33:00 +0000

The Aurora Borealis “Northern Lights” color the night sky, May 13, behind an Oregon Army National Guard HH-60M Blackhawk helicopter from Charlie Company, 7-158 Aviation, at Canadian Forces Base Wainright, in Denwood, Alberta, Canada. The Oregon Guard medevac unit is providing air support to the Canadian Armed Forces during Maple Resolve 2015. (Photo by Sgt. Arthur Maldonado, Charlie Company, 7-158 Aviation)

Story by Oregon Army National Guard Sgt. Erin J. Quirke, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs

CANADIAN FORCES BASE WAINWRIGHT, Alberta, Canada – The Oregon Army National Guard’s aeromedical evacuation unit, Charlie Company, 7-158th Aviation (C-7/158 AVN), traveled to Canada, April 29-May 20, to participate in the Maple Resolve 2015 training exercise at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Denwood, Alberta.

Maple Resolve is the Canadian Armed Forces’ annual, joint force training exercise and is the culminating collective training event to validate the Canadian Army’s High Readiness task forces. This year’s exercise was comprised of approximately 5,200 Canadian Army soldiers, 700 Royal Canadian Air Force members, 700 U.S. Army and Marine Corps troops, and 150 British Army soldiers.

The Canadian Maneuver Training Centre (CMTC) requested a Forward Support Medical Team (FSMT) to provide medical evacuation (medevac) operations in support of Maple Resolve this year. The Oregon Army National Guard provided three HH-60M Blackhawk helicopters and 26 personnel to support both medevac training, as well as real medical emergency evacuations during the exercise.

Oregon Army National Guard Sgt. Michael Buchan (right), a flight medic with Charlie Company, 7-158 Aviation, escorts members of the Canadian Armed Forces transporting a patient away from an HH-60M Blackhawk helicopter during Exercise Maple Resolve at Canadian Forces Base Wainright, May 7, in Denwood, Alberta. The Oregon Army National Guard medevac unit is providing support during the Canadian Armed Forces' largest annual exercise. (Photo by Sgt. Erin J. Quirke, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs)

The FSMT, also known as a “Dustoff” team, consisted of 12 flight crewmembers and 14 additional support personnel to include operations, maintenance crews, an additional flight crew, as well as two weather technicians from the Oregon Air National Guard.

“The team has worked tirelessly to establish a working rapport with the Canadian forces,” said Chief Warrant Officer-2 Jeremy Andrews, an aeromedical evacuation pilot with C-7/158 AVN. “We’re establishing the procedures for how both real world and exercise medevac assets would be used.”

The Oregon Army Guard aviators logged more than 120 flight hours during the exercise, conducting 17 medevac training missions and multiple training flights for the exercise. They provided air support for simulated mass casualty situations, which tested the Canadian Armed Forces’ response time to field injuries and medevac procedures. The FSMT also conducted nine real-world emergency medical evacuations for injured personnel during the training exercise.

A Canadian Army medic with 5 Field Ambulance Valcartier, Quebec, treats a simulated patient in a mass casualty training exercise during Exercise Maple Resolve 2015 at Canadian Forces Base Wainright, May 5, in Denwood, Alberta. The simulated mass casualty exercise tested the Canadian Armed Forces’ response time to field injuries and medevac procedures with aeromedical evacuation support from the Oregon Army National Guard’s Charlie Company, 7-158 Aviation. (Photo by Sgt. Erin J. Quirke, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs)

Upon arrival in Camp Wainwright, four Canadian flight medics were assigned to the FSMT. The Canadian medics integrated with the Oregon Guard team, participating in both real world and exercise medevac missions throughout the duration of the exercise.

“It was a great learning experience,” said Canadian Army Cpl. Sean Gauthier, a medical technician with 5 Field Ambulance, Valcartier, Quebec. “It was very beneficial to see the difference in the medical protocols, and answered a lot of my questions on how to process a medical evacuation.”

Oregon Army National Guard Maj. Sarah Wickenhagen (center), an aviation medicine Nurse Practitioner with Charlie Company, 7-158 Aviation, and Master Cpl. Stefan Morissette, a medic with 5 Field Ambulance Valcartier, Quebec, oversee an IV procedure given by Cpl. Sean Gauthier, a medic with 5 Field Ambulance, Valcartier, Quebec, during Exercise Maple Resolve at Canadian Forces Base Wainright, May 2, in Denwood, Alberta. Exercise Maple Resolve is the Canadian Armed Forces’ largest annual exercise and involves more than 6,500 military personnel from Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. (Photo by Sgt. Erin J. Quirke, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs)

In between medevac missions, the FSMT conducted aircraft inspections, maintenance and gave mission briefings to visiting dignitaries, including a visit from U.S. Ambassador to Canada Bruce Heyman. The team also taught Medevac 101 classes to members of the Canadian Armed Forces.

“Maple Resolve was an outstanding success for the medevac unit,” said Lt. Col. Mark Ulvin, State Army Aviation Officer for the Oregon Army National Guard. “The exercise allowed Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers to interact with our international partners by introducing the critical lifesaving mission of the medevac HH-60M helicopter capabilities and their vital importance to the battlefield.”

Oregon Army National Guard Sgt. Michael Buchan (center), a flight medic with Charlie Company, 7-158 Aviation, explains medevac procedures for the HH-60M Blackhawk helicopter to members of the Canadian Armed Forces during Exercise Maple Resolve 2015 at Canadian Forces Base Wainright, May 11, in Denwood, Alberta. The Oregon Army National Guard medevac unit is providing support during the Canadian Armed Forces' largest annual exercise. (Photo by Sgt. Erin J. Quirke, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs)

Oregon Army National Guard Maj. Nathan Edgecomb, commander of C-7/158 AVN, said the chance to work with allied partner forces in a combined exercise helped to develop a solid working relationship and delivered invaluable training to all personnel involved.

“It afforded us an opportunity to train for a real-world deployment in a way that cannot be duplicated during a home-station annual training,” said Edgecomb. “Working with the Canadian forces was an incredible opportunity to hone our skills in both relationship and coalition building, as well as in our technical ability to provide the best medevac coverage possible.”

Oregon Soldiers in the FSMT said Exercise Maple Resolve enabled them to train 24-hours a day on mastering their skills in battlefield medicine and medical evacuation; skills they must perform instinctively on a moment’s notice when lives are on the line.

“Being a medic is not for everyone, but these people see us on their worst days,” said Oregon Army National Guard Maj. Sarah Wickenhagen, an aviation medicine nurse practitioner with 2-641st Aviation who served as the flight surgeon for the FSMT during Maple Resolve. “I work with incredible people who would all give their lives in the service of another. There is nothing better than that.”

That’s impression she hopes the Oregon Guard’s medevac unit made on the Canadian Armed Forces during Exercise Maple Resolve 2015.

Wickenhagen said she is proud to be part of a team that embodies the “Dustoff” legacy and remains true to the C-7/158 AVN unit motto to selflessly do whatever it takes “so that others may live.”

Oregon Army National Guardsmen with Charlie Company, 7-158 Aviation practice dust landings with a HH-60M Blackhawk helicopter during Exercise Maple Resolve at Canadian Forces Base Wainright, May 3, in Denwood, Alberta. The Oregon Army National Guard medevac unit is providing support during the Canadian Armed Forces’ largest annual exercise, involving more than 6,500 military personnel. (Photo by Sgt. Erin J. Quirke, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs)

Memorial Day is not a time to thank Veterans

noreply@blogger.com (Oregon Military Department) — Fri, 22 May 2015 23:00:00 +0000

You see it all the time... well-meaning folks with outstretched hands thanking people in uniform for their service. It happens on Main Street USA, at the local grocery store, or in your hometown. At no time do you see more of this kind gesture of gratitude than on holidays which honor military service members such as Armed Forces Day, Veterans Day, and in this case, Memorial Day.

While most personnel in uniform appreciate the kindness and recognition, most of them are humble enough to prefer to simply go about their business. When queried, many will say "I'm just doing my job." Even those who have been involved in heroic acts tend to say the same thing. But if you watch them carefully, after the handshake, you'll see a little added 'pep' in their walk, and a smile on their face. This is especially true if the person thanking them is a retired veteran themselves.

This alone is worth all the effort. But it begs a deeper question; what exactly is Memorial Day all about?

A colleague who is in the military recently posted a Memorial Day photo to her Facebook page. Depicted is a number of uniformed U.S. Army Soldiers, kneeling down, with their helmets removed, obviously honoring one of their fallen comrades. In the background of the photo is a large American Flag, obviously "Photoshopped" into the image. But it's the words that adorn this photo which inspired me to write this post. They say:

"Memorial Day is for the Fallen. Please don't thank me this weekend."

Truly, Memorial Day is for those military members who have paid the ultimate sacrifice, and laid down their lives for their fellow Marine, Soldier, Sailor, Airman or Coast Guardsman. Framed in this light, the aforementioned Facebook post should take on a new significance. Yes, those service members and veterans still here with us deserve society's gratitude. Yes, their contributions do matter. Yes, it is because of their choice to give up birthdays and holidays in order to keep watch over our interests that most Americans can live a free, content existence.

But Memorial Day is really about the fallen, and we as a nation, cannot forget that fact. THAT is the point of my colleague's Facebook photo, and the inspiration behind this blog post.

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in service of the United States. Over two dozen towns and cities claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day, but Waterloo, New York was officially declared the birthplace of the holiday by President Lyndon Johnson in May, 1966.

Regardless of the exact date or location of its origins, one thing is clear--Memorial Day was borne out of the Civil War and a desire to honor the country's dead. It was originally proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by Gen. John Logan, a national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic in his General Order No. 11.

"The 30th of May, 1868 is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in the defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land," Logan proclaimed. The date of Decoration Day, as he referred to it, was chosen specifically because it wasn't the anniversary of any particular Civil War battle.

So on Monday, May 25, 2015, as we as a nation fire up our barbecue grills, or take the boat to the lake, or pack up the family for the long holiday weekend of fun, keep in mind not just the sacrifice of those you see out and about who wear our nation's uniform, but for those you don't see.

Yes, go ahead and thank them. By all means, shake their hand. But tell them that you appreciate not only their sacrifice, but that of those in uniform who no longer walk this Earth. Those comrades-in-arms are gone, but will never be forgotten. Those service members who volunteered their service to this great nation, and gave their lives so that we could all live in the land of the free.

To see a really good historical overview of Memorial Day by the History Channel, go here.

--Nick Choy, Oregon Military Department Social Media Manager

Romania: More than just Soviet-block neighborhoods and Dracula stories

noreply@blogger.com (Oregon Military Department) — Fri, 22 May 2015 15:01:00 +0000

Above: The view of the Black Sea from the newly-renovated Pavilion C of the Mangalia City Hospital, Romania, May 20, 2015. The project is a part of U.S. European Command’s (EUCOM) Humanitarian Civic Assistance Program (HCA), which is designed to improve the host nation's critical infrastructure and the underlying living conditions of the civilian populace. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Brandon Boyd 142nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs/Released)

Story by Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Brandon Boyd, Oregon Air National Guard Public Affairs

MANGALIA, Romania -The tires screeched, pushing me back firmly into my seat as we accelerated past an 80-year-old woman trying to inch her way across the road. After a dicey two centimeter miss of a VW hatchback bumper on the left, the steely-eyed driver barreled toward oblivion with a solitary objective on his mind: Get to Constanta. Fast.

And to think, the driver looked so official with his epauletted black sweater and crew cut. 'Should have taken the bus' was the refrain running through my head as we careened over the Romanian countryside, blindly trusting our driver to deposit us somewhere near our destination; a man on a mission to collect the next fare.

On a mission of a different, more deliberate kind, members of the 142nd Fighter Wing Civil Engineer Squadron just a few days prior, had flown around the globe from Portland, Oregon, to take part in a mission to rebuild a clinic in the thriving and historic country of Romania.

From the time they arrived, the Airmen, 33 civil engineers, were spun up with nervousness—the kind of energy people like our amped-up driver get after too much waiting around. After an unplanned layover at Fairchild Air Force Base near Spokane, Washington, and the mission waiting in the wings, the capable crew had just 11 working days to complete their objective with a full schedule of work on the horizon.

Arriving at the hotel, a rush of sensations flooded my western sensibility. A former Soviet-occupied country, Romania laid in stark contrast to stateside life. Cars are smaller, buildings are much older and the decor was something I’d never seen before. Alabaster-colored marble tile gleamed in the lobby of the 70's-era hotel, reflecting mauve curtains, maroon uniformed hoteliers with stiff collars and cabled, stainless steel handrails. Hall lights on motion sensors flicked on in an eco-conscious way as I dragged my overfilled bags across synthetic hardwood and collapsed into my twin-sized bed.

In the morning the Citizen-Airmen, much too close for comfort, sardined into six-person elevators, heading toward the job site. Balding men in striped robes and women in 90's fashion watched us walk past as they waited in the lobby for therapeutic spa treatments to commence; a descendant healing ritual of the Greeks and Romans who inhabited the ancient coastal city of Mangalia, Romania since antiquity.

It's important I establish why we're here, or try to anyway. Why Romania? A NATO partner, Romania was selected by the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. European Command to receive construction aid under the Humanitarian Civic Assistance Program (HCA). Civil engineers from the Oregon Air National Guard provide the manpower, expertise and receive valuable on-the-job training, while EUCOM provides funding and logistical support.

What's the bigger picture? It's hard to say. It's also hard to ignore the heightened tensions in the Black Sea region. As far as the members of the 142nd CES are concerned, at the end of the day, the mission objective is clear: to finish the renovation of a medical clinic in Mangalia, Romania suffering from extensive water damage and accessibility problems.

As the engineers arrived on scene, I was amazed how quickly they spread out to survey each working area at the clinic. They'd seen a few construction images sent over from a previous group, but the two-dimensional pictures weren't quite enough. Each Airmen wanted to inspect each facet, and they did, with a hands-on survey of each weld, each room and each tile.

"It's nice to finally get here. It doesn't look as intimidating as in the photos," said Staff Sgt. Samantha Orem, as she angled in to inspect the welds on a wheelchair ramp handrail with an analytical, focused gaze.

Meanwhile, as the Airmen inspected, a few feet away, fishermen visiting the beach community for a weekend getaway heaved six-meter fishing poles past the gentle, shallow surf of the Black Sea. No fish were caught by the relaxed gentlemen, but they didn't seem overly-disappointed by this fact.

The city of Mangalia is a tourist destination on the coast of the Black Sea. During the busy summer season, the population balloons in the coastal town. During the off-season, it drops down to a much more modest group of local residents manning local restaurants, hotels and convenience stores.

The architecture in the city is highlighted by post-World War II Soviet apartment block buildings, red clay roof tiled homes, carved wooden churches and stuccoed vacation villas for the well-heeled. Here, the ancient stands alongside the new in a graceful harmony. In fact, it's not uncommon to see a donkey and cart going down the road alongside newer Audis and BMWs. Such is Romania.

The scrape of metal trowels on hard tile reverberated through the ancient city as the sea birds patterned overhead, searching for the next meal washed up from the brackish water. As the afternoon pushed on, the Black Sea breeze edged in. Stark white swans paddled parallel to the shoreline. Their feathers ruffled in the wind like bleached toupees bobbing on the swells.

The Black Sea, (known as Marea Neagră in Romanian), is a gentle body of water in May, the color of dark turquoise, as it meets the shoreline with its rolling half-meter waves. The wind kicks up in the afternoon and cools the sun-reddened cheeks of the civil engineers sweating in the midday sun.

Left: Oregon Air National Guard members from the 142nd Fighter Wing Civil Engineer Squadron (CES) arrive at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania, May 7. As part of the 142nd Fighter Wing’s CES participation in U.S. European Command’s (EUCOM) Humanitarian Civic Assistance Program (HCA), the Oregon Citizen-Airmen assist in improvements to the host nation's critical infrastructure and the underlying living conditions of the civilian populace. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Brandon Boyd, 142nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs/Released)

Members of the 142nd Fighter Wing Civil Engineer Squadron come from different backgrounds. Some work as general contractors in their day jobs and some are new troops just starting their military careers. It was heartening to see the experienced non-commissioned officers lead by example; laying tile side-by-side with Airmen on their first deployment. Words of encouragement were handed out freely and gentle corrections kept the crews aligned and motivated.

"When you step on a tile and rear a hollow sound, the thinset doesn't have full contact and needs to be redone," explained Tech. Sgt. Glen Blackford to an eager apprentice.

Tech. Sgt. Ramon Lopez adapted to the scenario by pitching in on a little bit of everything.

"I'm an electrician but now I'm doing this," he said.

The "this" meant everything from priming, laying tile, spreading plaster, wiring new lights, painting; basically anything that needed to get done. The jack-of-all-trades Lopez and the rest of the crew were eager to get the job accomplished.

But first, lunch.

Above: A food service worker at the Mangalia City Hospital, Romania serves a bowl of homemade soup to members of the 142nd Fighter Wing Civil Engineer Squadron (CES), Oregon Air National Guard. May 19, 2015. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Brandon Boyd 142nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs/Released)

Eating in Romania is like eating nowhere else. There will be courses—many courses. And you will eat soup. Much soup. An Airman here accurately stated that Romanian meals are like having their grandparents cook for them; The food is hearty, the people are hospitable, and it's physically impossible to leave hungry.

Food service workers at the hospital nearby wore bright yellow uniforms and worked out of a red-and-white-tiled kitchen stirring large vats of soup and folding pastries into neat little triangles. The women wore tidy white hats like from a 1950s’ era diner.

Left: Katy Graur, a food service worker for the Mangalia City Hospital, Romania, poses for a portrait after cooking a traditional Romanian meal for members of the 142nd Fighter Wing Civil Engineer Squadron, Oregon Air National Guard in Mangalia, Romania May 8, 2015. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Brandon Boyd 142nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs/Released)

After a brief, pantomimed exchange of words, one of the cooks at the hospital gets the message through that she has a son living in Biloxi, Mississippi. After a few selfies and congratulatory nods, the service began.

Soup, soup, soup. Fish. Potatoes. Bread. Stuffed cabbage. And a stuffed belly for everyone. Filled croissants and crepes push things way past any reasonable point of fullness.

The culinary timid should heed this advice: emptying one's bowl in Romania is like a bat signal to the cook that more food is required.

Over a period of a few days, with food piled high, the service reached a cultural equilibrium. The cooks started to bring less food out and the Airmen learned to signal their fullness by patting bellies and uttering phrasebook Romanian.

Back to the worksite, the Airmen run into a few difficulties. Everything from materials to tools in Europe are measured using the metric system and not all of the group's calculations back home took this into account. Mixing concrete became a cultural and academic experience as three Airmen translated the instructions from the back of the locally-sourced bag of cement into terms they could understand.

In reality, the European approach to construction is much different than the United States; even more so with Eastern Europe. Energy efficiency is the rule, not the exception and unique tools and materials caused the engineers to approach common construction problems from new, more creative angles. Wall mesh used for stucco work doubled as screening material and exterior fencing was transformed into bathroom stall material.

After a few solid days of progress, the engineers had met major milestones on construction, finishing extensive tile work on the top floor of the clinic and completing plaster repairs to the walls of the examination rooms.

With checked boxes and steady progress, we were given liberty to leave our small outpost of Mangalia and were encouraged to get out and explore. One batch of Airmen headed to Brasov in Transylvania, a former medieval Saxon settlement silhouetted by the Carpathian Mountains. Yes, Transylvania is a real place, steeped in legends of Vlad the Impaler, Dracula and other spooky tales.

Another group in search of more sights, sounds, energy and action traveled to the Bucharest, Romania's largest city.

And our wayward driver, as impatient and reckless as he was, he delivered this and another correspondent, worse for wear, in the middle of the city of Constanta, a nearby port city of about 200,000 people.

Right: An Orthodox clergyman greets local residents near the entrance to the old cemetery in Constanta, Romania May 16, 2015. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Brandon Boyd 142nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs/Released)

Hopelessly lost, a highlight of this side trip was a chance pathway leading to the old cemetery in the middle of town. On a Sunday morning, hundreds of townspeople streamed into the cemetery, past dark-robed Orthodox clergymen, bright red and white carnations and incense in tow, ready to perform age-old ceremonies honoring their ancestors.

Near the back of the cemetery, plain gravestones with red stars marked the Russian servicemembers who perished in Romania during World War II. Visiting this revered plot of ground in the middle of the city was a vivid reminder of Romania's not-so-distant past.

Romanians are fiercely proud of their heritage, including their Latin-based language and a penchant for telling stories of their captivating, complicated history; a riveting tale too extensive to cover in these paragraphs.

Energized after the weekend, the crew headed back to work early Monday morning. They greeted citizens on the street with newly-learned Romanian phrases and received smiles reserved for special occasions. They approached each task feverishly with an orderly momentum to knock out all of the punch list items left on the project list.

As the civil engineers neared completion on a new wheelchair ramp at the front of the clinic, before the materials had even dried, a woman pushed a stroller up the new ramp; a small act in one person's day made a little easier by the toil and sweat of the Oregon Citizen-Airmen. The group cleaned up the construction site and packed tools away as officials gathered to celebrate and cut the ribbon on the project, now deemed a complete success by all those involved.

U.S. Charge d’Affairs a.i., Dean Thompson, along with Mayor of Mangalia, Romania, Radu Cristian, cut the ribbon to the renovated Pavilion C of the Mangalia City Hospital, Romania, May 20, as part of the U.S. European Command’s (EUCOM) Humanitarian Civic Assistance Program (HCA). (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. John Hughel, 142nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs/Released)

The Airmen thanked the people they'd met and quietly made their way back to the military transport plane bound for Portland; a little more worn out, definitely wiser and more culturally aware, and standing a little straighter then when they first arrived.

Oregon Air National Guard Civil Engineers deploy to renovate Romanian medical clinic

noreply@blogger.com (Oregon Military Department) — Fri, 22 May 2015 14:32:00 +0000

Above: Oregon Air National Guard Tech Sgt. Ramon Lopez, right, and Staff Sgt. Jared Levitt, left, assigned to the 142nd Fighter Wing Civil Engineer Squadron, work together to size and place new exterior tile flooring to a medical facility in the city of Mangalia, Romania, May 8. The mission is part of the U.S. European Command’s (EUCOM) Humanitarian Civic Assistance Program (HCA), which is designed to improve the host nation's critical infrastructure and the underlying living conditions of the civilian populace. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech Sgt. John Hughel, 142nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs/Released)

Story By Tech. Sgt. John Hughel, 142nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

MANGALIA, Romania – Framed by the backdrop of the Black Sea shoreline, Oregon Air National Guardsmen from the 142nd Fighter Wing Civil Engineer Squadron traveled nearly halfway around the globe to renovate a medical facility here as part of the U.S. European Commands’ Humanitarian Civic Assistance Program.

The restoration of Pavilion C at the Mangalia City Hospital is a Humanitarian Civic Assistance (HCA) project funded by the United States European Command (EUCOM) with the participation of nearly 90 U.S. military Airmen from Alabama and Oregon Air National Guard units. The estimated total cost of this renovation is $60,000.

The Airmen addressed a rooftop terrace, treatment rooms, bathroom upgrades, as well as other building projects at the clinic. The project was started by the Alabama Air National Guard’s 117th Air Refueling Wing, and then handed over to the Oregon citizen-Airmen to complete. Romania is a state partner with Alabama, under the National Guard’s State Partnership Program.

“The project is the duration of two rotations,” said Lt. Col. Jacob Skugrud, 142nd Fighter Wing Civil Engineer deputy commander and project officer. “Our sister unit in Alabama started the work and then the Portland team followed in their footsteps to complete the project.”

While some of the civil engineers took on the water damage repairs, a significant aspect to the project was building a wheelchair ramp to the Pavilion C entry.

Dr. Liviu Mocanu, hospital director, said the wheelchair ramp was vital to the overall construction project.

“To have a current health license for the building the addition of the access ramp was necessary to serve those with disabilities,” he said.

When the 142nd CES arrived, the basic concrete structure still had to be completed. Modifications to the handrails, additional concrete forms and a tile surface on the ramp took another eight days to complete.

“This hospital is special to this region of Romania, and it is a great honor to have been chosen for the assistance,” Macanu said.

Pavilion C specializes in oncological medicine. The severity of the water damage forced several of the treatment rooms located on the third floor to be decommissioned, forcing the practitioners to work in other facilities in the area.

The damage to the treatment rooms transpired over time from the forth floor terrace, as water exploited weaknesses in the building's structure. The Alabama team pulled the damaged floor tile and installed a new sealing membrane to keep water out, prior to laying the new tile. With the roof project partially complete, the Oregon Airmen continued to install the remainder of the tile roof, spending a majority of time with detailing the final pieces and grouting until complete.

“The new membrane will keep water from seeping into the rooms and hallway renovated on this project,” Skugrud said. “The team from Alabama had a bigger crew with about 50-plus members, so they were able to keep the project on pace and prep other areas for our team to finish.”

After arriving almost two days late to the site in Romania due to airlift glitches, and with a smaller crew of 33 members, the 142nd Airmen had to quickly pick up the pace on the clinic renovations.

Not only had the water damage affected the treatment rooms inside the clinic but it also deteriorated the exterior stucco of the building, damaging electrical lighting and fixtures both inside and out.

Left: Oregon Air National Guard Capt. Lucas Smith (center), 142nd Fighter Wing Civil Engineer Squadron (CES), points to the progress of repairs and where exterior stucco will be placed, to Chief Master Sgt. Brian Wade, (left), as Oregon Citizen-Airmen from the CES unit repair water damage to a health facility in the city of Mangalia, Romania, May 9. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. John Hughel, 142nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs/Released)

“The folks from Alabama had done the major prep and demo to the exterior,” said Capt. Lucas Smith, 142nd CES, who served as the project lead for the building exterior renovations. “We had to go from the bare concrete to primer and then to applying the stucco.”

Applying stucco was a new experience for the Oregon Airmen, and allowed for most of the crew working with Smith a chance to cross-train and develop new skills.

“We’ve had an enthusiastic team during this process and I have no doubt our younger Airmen have learned a great deal more than just how to apply stucco,” Smith said.

Deployments For Training (DFT) give Air National Guard units like the 142nd CES the opportunity to enhance existing skills while deploying outside the United States, at the same time developing a sense of responsibility in those host nations, Smith added.

“We preform DFT projects approximately once every three years, depending on real-world deployments and our annual training commitments,” said 142nd Fighter Wing Civil Engineer Commander Lt. Col. Jason Lay.

According to Lay, a key decision on why this project was selected is the diversity of skill sets within one project. Once on site, he quickly put smaller teams together to tackle different areas of the building.

“There’s a synergistic effect; people like working alongside each other, camaraderie and team building occur naturally while accomplish an objective together,” Lay said.

“Out of the group here in Romania, about two-thirds of them are on their first DFT project.”

One of the more experienced members of the Romanian deployment is Senior Airman Zachariah Lewis. As a civilian carpenter and contractor, he brought many of the skills necessary to finish renovating the treatment rooms.

Yet Lewis is also completing back-to-back international deployments, having just returned from Vietnam in a similar role with Oregon’s State Partnership Program. Oregon also has Bangladesh as its state partner.

When Lay asked for volunteers to be project leads the first day on site, Lewis immediately stepped up.

“I was confident that I can bring my knowledge to the team, and teach them how to do the job,” Lewis said.

He quickly put together a group of six to eight Airmen to finish paint scraping, plaster repair and eventually painting the water damaged treatment rooms and connecting main hallway.

“I work a lot with general contractors and typically know how the work flow goes, and have a sense for how the end results need to be,” Lewis said.

Touring the project during the final week, Macanu was visibly happy when he inspected how the final part of the project was coming together.

“I wish that we could have our American friends come back and work on other projects in the future that need more work,” he said.

During the two-weeks the 142nd CES spent repairing the clinic, citizens of Mangalia watched the work in passing with wonder and often smiles as the work progressed. A new and growing sense of camaraderie as well as a heightened willingness between the Air Guardsmen and citizens of Mangalia, Romania, began to develop in with the progress made on the medical clinic.

Since becoming a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member in 2004, Romania has continued to foster better affiliations with partner nations. As the project concluded, a formal ribbon cutting ceremony, on May 20, allowed U.S. and Romanian officials the opportunity to highlight this shared bond, as U.S. Charge d’Affairs ad interim Dean Thompson and the mayor of Mangalia, Romania, Radu Cristian, celebrated the renovation to Pavilion C.

“It is a gift from the American people to the citizens of Mangalia and the surrounding towns, villages and communities. Better healthcare leads to better outcomes and will help the future of the region to grow and prosper,” said Thompson.

The deployments are an important aspect to sustain a positive U.S. military presence while preparing National Guardsmen to stay prepared to perform their mission; whether home or aboard.

Above: U.S. Charge d’Affairs a.i., Dean Thompson, along with Mayor of Mangalia, Romania, Radu Cristian, cut the ribbon to the renovated Pavilion C of the Mangalia City Hospital, Romania, May 20, as part of the U.S. European Command’s (EUCOM) Humanitarian Civic Assistance Program (HCA). The EUCOM HCA program is designed to improve the host nation's critical infrastructure and the underlying living conditions of the civilian populace. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. John Hughel, 142nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs/Released)

“By building partnerships within these communities this has been a great training opportunity through the DFT program, while at the same time it has also been a chance to broaden our influence throughout Europe,” said Patrick Considine, HCA program manager for EUCOM.

Meeting the 142nd CES Airmen on hand for the ceremony, Considine praised the knowledge, the skill and professionalism, which contributed to the success of this project.

“Hopefully we can replicate what you guys did here, going forward with the next 20 HCA projects slated for this season, it will be tough to match because your team really knocked it way out of the park,” Considine said.

Oregon Soldiers assist West Point Academy with equipment repair

noreply@blogger.com (Oregon Military Department) — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 18:31:00 +0000

Spc. Andrew Cobb, 3670th Component Repair Company, Oregon National Guard, conducts repairs on optical devices at the Logistics Readiness Center, West Point, New York, Feb. 5. (Photo by Kathleen Silvia, West Point LRC)

Story by Master Sgt. Nick Choy, with significant contribution by Capt. Maribel Ortega

What happens to Army field equipment when it gets dirty, banged up or needs to be repaired? If you’re at the Army’s Logistics Readiness Center in West Point, New York, you call the Oregon Army National Guard.

Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers from Oregon’s 3670th Component Repair Company, 821st Troop Command, spent their two-week active duty at West Point Academy in New York, Jan. 25 – Feb. 7.

The mission was to conduct technical inspection of all optics and night vision equipment and provide training and equipment needs for West Point’s future sustainment capabilities. The equipment is used during the summer for training by cadets who attend the academy.

The Oregon National Guard 3670th CRC is the first National Guard unit across the nation to be approved and funded for this unique ARNG/RC mission support to AMC Facilities. This includes Armament Section for weapons repair and Electronics Section for PVS and Radio repair.

The Soldiers were led by 1st Lt. Andrew Leckie and Sgt. 1st Class Peter Hachey.

According to the unit’s company commander, Capt. Maribel Ortega, the mission was an extremely valuable training opportunity for the unit’s Soldiers.

From front, final testing of optical devices is conducted by Pfc. Brian Andrews; Staff Sgt. Dustin Miller; Pfc. George Costa and Spc. Andrew Cobb at the Logistics Readiness Center, West Point, New York, Feb. 3. (Photo by Kathleen Silvia, West Point LRC)

“This is extremely valuable training for all Soldiers, to be able to travel with equipment and perform their actual MOS for a military instillation that was badly in need of our assistance,” Ortega said. “This high-operational tempo over the course of 11 production days allowed Soldiers to have high moral and enjoy a valuable experience and training at an installation such as West Point.”

During the two-week period, Soldiers performed service and repair on more than 1,600 individual pieces of equipment, including 808 night vision and 800 aiming lasers. Soldiers also had an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the M-110 sniper rifle, 240 Bravo weapon, the .30 cal. Browning machine gun, and various other WWII weapons.

"She and her staff should be credited with the amazing technical skills and professionalism they displayed in conducting these repairs for us. It was a win-win," said Kathleen Silvia, West Point LRC, Logistics Operations about Ortega and the unit’s Soldiers.

Ortega added that her Soldiers worked at an extremely strong pace, leading them to complete more than the original estimate. As they completed their tasks early, they were able to take a field trip to New York City to experience the sights in one of the U.S.’s largest cities.

“This was a huge boost for moral, and allowed the Soldiers to tour of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Rockefeller Center and the World Trade Center Memorial. It’s always important as Soldiers to remember those who came before and what we are fighting to defend for our country,” Ortega added.

The 3670th Component Repair Company is already approved and funded to perform two more Annual Training rotations in March and April at West Point and two additional rotations at White Sands Missile Range, NM. LRCs (WP or WS) have specific mission and workload needs for Installations/LRCs and the National Guard units across the nation can assist in providing the manpower through Annual Training. Soldiers work on their unique MOS skills and accomplish training on their METL tasks for the year.

The U.S. Army Sustainment Command manages 72 LRCs worldwide that provide field maintenance expertise, transportation services, and base logistics support.

Testing the mind, body and soul: Oregon's Soldiers meet at the Oregon coast to vie for the title of 'best of the best'

noreply@blogger.com (Oregon Military Department) — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 22:04:00 +0000

Above: Oregon Army National Guard Sgt. Joseph Cunningham, with C Company, 7-158 Aviation, carries two ammo cans filled with cement during the final event of the 2014 Oregon Best Warrior Competition, 15 March, Camp Rilea, Warrenton, Oregon. Twenty-one Soldiers endured mental and physical tests while competing to become Oregon’s best Non-Commissioned Officer and best Soldier of the year. The winners will go forward to represent the state of Oregon at the Region VI competition later this year.

Story and photos by Sgt. Betty Boyce, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs

WARRENTON, Oregon--Twenty-one of the Oregon Army National Guard’s top soldiers from around the state came to Camp Rilea, in Warrenton, Ore., to put their mental and physical strengths to the test, March 14-16, 2014, to compete for the titles of best non-commissioned officer and best soldier of the year.

Throughout the weekend, they conquered obstacles and rose above adversity to prove their intestinal fortitude.

According to the cadre overseeing the competition, Oregon set the bar high by creating an endeavor that is unmatched. Soldiers said they were pushed toward their breaking point at each event throughout the three-day competition.

“With my years of service and training, I have never been pushed to this point. I was thinking of ways to fake injuries to get out of it, but I knew I had to keep going and finish this,” said Sgt. 1st Class Scott Stimpson, with the Recruiting and Retention Battalion, after the competition was over.

“And I’m so glad I finished; I wanted this so bad,” he continued.

Left: Oregon Army National Guard Spc. Anthony Olsen, with the 1249th Engineer Battalion, pulls himself up a rope while competing in the 2014 Best Warrior Competition, 15 March, at Camp Rilea in Warrenton, Oregon.

The event kicked off Friday evening, March 14, with an essay, followed by an eight-mile run in the dark along a trail of chem-lights. The next morning, after just a couple hours of rest, they took the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) followed by an obstacle course, and then another three-mile run with their rucksacks and helmets.

By late morning on the second day, the competitors were given an order of events with a map and grid coordinates. Each competitor was responsible for plotting their points and finding their way to the marked events, which were scattered from one end of Camp Rilea to the other.

The day looked like it was ending, as the sky turned dark and the wind and rain amplified. The competitors were finally trickling in to the barracks after their long day of events. They were wet, and their steps were more like short shuffles as they groaned with exhaustion.

At a time when you would least feel like dressing up, the competitors were briefed they had one hour to complete personal hygiene, change into their dress uniform, and report to Warrior Hall for a formal board where a panel of sergeants major tested their military knowledge. As they sat and waited for their name to be called, many stared blankly, several closed their eyes, and a few massaged strained muscles. Once they were finished with the board, they were sent back to their barracks for several hours of rest which they would need for the last day’s events.

The third and final day began with grouping and zeroing their M4 carbine weapons and from there they moved to the range for qualification, where they would shoot 40 rounds and hope to beat their opponents.

“I feel like a new man after getting that much rest,” said Sgt. Joshua Martin, with Joint Force Headquarters. “I’m ready to finish this thing.”

Above: Oregon Army National Guard Soldier listens to instruction for an event during the 2014 Oregon Best Warrior Competition, 15 March, at Camp Rilea, in Warrenton, Oregon.

Once all the competitors were finished at the range, the cadre quickly put them in route to their final event: Omaha Beach. This event was designed to replicate that day back in 1944 during World War II when, under heavy fire, engineers struggled to exit their boats and swim to shore to secure the beaches of Normandy.

The competitors laid waiting in the sand for a wave to hit them before they could start the event. They had to crawl approximately 25 yards in the sand and water before reaching two cement-filled ammunition cans. They had to pick up those “ammo” cans and carry them 100 yards, up a 70-foot elevation to the top of a sand hill before running all the way back to the surf for the finish.

“This was so much harder than I thought it would be. I flipped over in the surf and had to regain my senses, and when I hit that incline up the sand hill, I thought my heart was going to beat out of my chest,” said Spc. Darlene Jordan, with Joint Force Headquarters.

When it was all said and done, Sgt. 1st Class Scott Stimpson, with the Recruiting and Retention Battalion, took the title of best non-commissioned officer, and Spc. Anthony Olsen, with the 1249th Engineer Battalion, took the title of best soldier of the year.

After months of training, dieting and studying for the state competition, they will now continue to train and prepare to represent Oregon at the Region VI competition, which will be hosted by the South Dakota National Guard in May.

Left: Oregon Army National Guard Sgt. Joshua Martin, with Joint Force Headquarters, leads a group of competitors during a stretch of the three-mile ruck march during the 2014 Oregon Best Warrior Competition, 15 March, at Camp Rilea, in Warrenton, Oregon.

“These fine warriors represent the best of the best from the great state of Oregon. They are the warrior ethos defined and what it means to put your mind, body and soul to the test,” said Oregon State Command Sgt. Major Shane Lake.

“I want to thank the soldiers, along with their individual sponsors, for the many days spent in preparation for this event, as well as all the support staff and civilian sponsors. It is been an honor and privilege to be a part of an organization where such leaders are born!”

Army National Guard Soldier embraces martial arts as part of his career

noreply@blogger.com (Oregon Military Department) — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 20:24:00 +0000

Above: Oregon Army National Guard Lt. Col. Ed Winkler submits (taps out) to classmate Chase Warren as the two practice a choke maneuver while instructor Jared George watches their technique in Tigard, Oregon, during his Brazilian Jui Jitsu training, February 5. Martial Arts training has become a passion of Winkler’s as part of his military career and personal discipline. (Photo by Christopher L. Ingersoll, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

By Christopher L. Ingersoll, Public Affairs Specialist, Oregon Military Department.

TIGARD, Oregon. -- Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, a well-known fighting style to many martial arts fans, has become one of the more popular disciplines according to mixed martial artists. Recently, an Oregon Army National Guard infantry officer earned a bronze medal in his division at the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation’s World Masters Tournament in Long Beach, California on Nov. 2.

Lt. Col. Ed Winkler, executive officer for Joint Force Headquarters, became interested in hand-to-hand combatives after his first deployment to Iraq in 2003.

“I realized very quickly that our fight was not at 300 meters, but more like three meters or less,” Winkler said. “For example, when an unarmed Iraqi approaches a checkpoint operation, shouting in anger and frustration, we need to have the skills to take him down using the right amount of force.”

Over the next few years, Winkler enrolled in the levels one and two Army Combatives courses at Fort Benning, Georgia, for a total of 120 hours of instruction. After the course, he began to pursue martial arts privately. In 2007, he found a local Brazilian Jiu Jitsu academy to where he now trains.

Winkler said he chose Brazilian Jiu Jistu as the combat art he wished to study and pursue because the art form enhances not only his specific mission as an infantryman, but also his overall military career and lifestyle.

“Jiu Jitsu is a non-striking form of martial arts,” Winkler said. “The goal is to submit your opponent with attacks that threaten the joints in the body such as fingers, wrists, elbows, shoulders, toes, ankles, knees, neck or to render your opponent unconscious through the application of a choke that cuts the blood supply off to the brain. Because it is non-striking it is called the ‘Gentle Art’.

He said one advantage of Jiu Jitsu is that a smaller, weaker person who is well-trained can use leverage and balance against a stronger, heavier opponent. Once they gain a dominant body position, they can use a variety of techniques to incapacitate their opponent.

“As an infantryman, our overarching mission is to destroy the enemy in close combat,” Winkler said. “Competitions provide a relatively safe platform to test ones mental and physical mettle against a fully resistant opponent while engaging in a combat sport.”

While the Army Combatives program is Jiu Jitsu-based, Winkler said the sport of Jiu Jitsu leaves a number of large gaps in the need for hand-to-hand combat skills on the battlefield.

“For starters, there is no striking or weapons, but I can't imagine a combat situation that would not include strikes and/or weapons: Handgun, knife, stick, rock ... pretty much anything one could get into their hands to increase the odds of survival,” said Winkler. “That being said, the Army's philosophy explained at the Combatives School at Fort Benning when I attended is the person who wins the hand-to-hand combat fight on the battlefield is the person who's buddy shows up first with a gun.”

He said the Warrior Tasks regarding Combatives underscore the philosophy in which Soldiers are required to be proficient in gaining dominant positions over an opponent, allowing time for their buddy to show up with a weapon.

Winkler said Brazilian Jiu Jitsu also enhances his ability to command as well.

Right: Oregon Army National Guard Lt. Col. Ed Winkler is taught a choking technique from Brazilian Jui Jitsu instructor Jared George in Tigard, Oregon, during his Brazilian Jui Jitsu training, February 5. Martial Arts training has become a passion of Winkler’s as part of his military career and personal discipline. (Photo by Christopher L. Ingersoll, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

“Every Soldier I have met in my more than 30-year military career, including myself, has a natural respect for those who exhibit the Warrior Spirit and who take training and their combat role seriously,” Winkler said. “Jiu-Jitsu is one way that I demonstrate both leadership and the Warrior Spirit. It is also one of many ways a leader can earn respect both up and down the chain of command.”

Outside of his military career, Winkler says that Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has been a boost to his health and his family interactions as well.

“Training in Jiu-Jitsu not only provides a tremendous workout, but it also provides a mechanism for mental sharpness through continual learning,” he said. “After eight years of training, I still see things I have never seen before in terms of new techniques. It also adds a level of confidence to my day-to-day interactions, whether it is work related or family related.”

Oregon Airman honored with Bronze Star Medal

noreply@blogger.com (Oregon Military Department) — Sun, 08 Feb 2015 03:00:00 +0000

Maj. Gen. Daniel R. Hokanson, Adjutant General, Oregon, awards Staff Sgt. Owen Unbehaun (right), of the 125th Special Tactics Squadron (STS), Oregon Air National Guard, with the Bronze Star Medal during a ceremony held at the Portland Air National Guard Base, in Portland, Oregon, Feb. 7.

PORTLAND, Oregon - The Oregon Air National Guard recognized one of their Citizen-Airmen with a Bronze Star medal during a ceremony on Saturday, February 7, at the Portland Air National Guard Base.

Staff Sgt. Owen Unbehaun, of the 125th Special Tactics Squadron (STS), received the Bronze Star medal during a packed morning ceremony held at the unit's auditorium. In attendance were Unbehaun's parents, brother, and girlfriend. The 234th Army Band provided music for the ceremony.

Maj. Gen. Daniel R. Hokanson, Adjutant General, Oregon, presided over the ceremony, and presented Unbehaun with the medal. In attendance were Unbehaun's parents, brother, and girlfriend. The 234th Army Band provided music for the ceremony.

Oregon Air National Guard Brig. Gen. Michael E. Stencel, Air Component Commander for Oregon, along with other Oregon National Guard leadership were also in attendance.

Unbehaun, a Combat Control Craftsman with the 125th STS, served in Afghanistan with the 21st Expeditionary Special Tactics Squadron, Combined Joint Operations Air Component, Special Operations Command Central.

As the sole Airman serving as a Joint Terminal Attack Controller assigned to an Army Special Forces Team and later a Navy SEAL Team that was partnered with an Afghan Commando Special Operations Unit, Unbehaun was instrumental in providing combat airpower during 43 complex operations, according to the citation.

During one major clearing operation consisting of 300 personnel and supported by 80 aircraft sorties, Unbehaun's ability to battle track the widely dispersed ground forces was critical for the team's force protection. As he and his team moved through the objective area, hostile insurgents positioned on the high ground and ambushed their elements, the citation says.

Unbehaun neutralized the enemy insurgents with the AC-130W gunship, multiple unmanned predator drones, and four F-18s, which killed eight insurgents and destroyed four defensive fighting positions. Throughout the deployment, Unbehaun managed 160 air sorties and controlled 21 aerial resupply missions enabling the delivery of one ton of equipment, fuel, and perishable goods for his teams.

The 125th STS is responsible for training, equipping, and employing combat control (CCT), Special Operations Weather Team (SOWT), and support personnel to successfully execute special tactics operations domestically and worldwide in support of both state and federal missions.

Since establishment of the unit on May 27, 2005, the 125th STS has deployed forces in support of numerous combat operations during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, and Operations Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn in Iraq.

The unit has also responded to numerous domestic response operations to include: Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Rita, Hurricane Ike, and severe flooding in Vernonia, Ore. Currently, the unit is undergoing its first mobilization in which operators are filling a critical need as Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs) in Village Security Operations in the remote areas of Afghanistan.

Photo by 1st Lt. Heather Bashor, Oregon Air National Guard Public Affairs.

Oregon officials observe 315th anniversary of Great Cascadia earthquake, ask "Are we ready?"

noreply@blogger.com (Oregon Military Department) — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 19:01:00 +0000

A woman surveys the debris in Kesennuma, Miyagi prefecture, Japan, following the devastating 9.0 earthquake and resulting tsunami on March 11, 2011. Photo by: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Bloomberg News.

January 26 marks the anniversary of the last major Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake that shook the Pacific Northwest 315 years ago. Scientists predict the next major Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake could strike our state at any time.

"Scientists believe Oregon is in the average window of time during which another massive, destructive quake could occur," said Althea Rizzo, Geologic Hazards Program Coordinator.

Oregon is located in the Cascadia Subduction Zone; a fault line stretching from offshore British Columbia to Northern California. Experts say a rupture on the Cascadia Fault line will likely result in a 9.0 or higher earthquake with the potential to devastate the area.

"A quake of this size will produce severe damage - buildings will be so damaged that restoring full utility service could take months to years," said Rizzo. "We are taking steps right now to prepare our state for a potential Cascadia earthquake."

Rizzo said new guidelines recommend individuals prepare an emergency kit for at least two weeks, prior recommendations were for a three day kit. There are helpful tips on preparing for disasters such as earthquakes, located on the Ready.gov website.

Photo: A massive magnitude-8.8 earthquake struck Santiago Chile in the early morning on Feb. 27, 2010, killing at least 76 people, triggering a tsunami and rattling buildings more than 200 miles away. Photo courtesy of MSNBC.com.

"Highways may be down and electricity out for days making it critical for you to have enough supplies to sustain yourself for weeks," said Rizzo.

State and local government, private businesses and non-governmental organizations are doing much to prepare for the next Cascadia quake but individual preparedness is critical. There are many actions you can take to prepare for the next earthquake. Review the information below for more information.

Check out "Living on Shaky Ground: How toSurvive Earthquakes and Tsunamis in Oregon" published by Oregon Emergency Management:

OPB Radio is also currently running an informative series on the Cascadia earthquake, entitled "Unprepared: Will we be ready for the megaquake?"

For more information, contact Kim Lippert or Cory Grogan, Oregon Office of Emergency Management Public Information Office.

-- Nick Choy, Oregon Military Department Social Media Manager

A Company 1-186th Infantry Battalion transitions to Kandahar

noreply@blogger.com (Oregon Military Department) — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 21:59:00 +0000

Story and photos courtesy Capt. David Gauthier, commander of A Company, 1-186th Infantry Battalion

With the coming of 2015, the war in Afghanistan transitioned from Operation Enduring Freedom to Operation Freedom Sentinel; marking the end of U.S.-led offensive combat operations and the men of Alpha ‘Apache’ Company, 1st Battalion, 186thInfantry Regiment found themselves with a new mission. They transitioned from their previous deployment site and are now operating out of Kandahar Airfield in southern Afghanistan.

Preparation for site transition required planning that began weeks in advance. Once the marching orders were given, the company’s staff coordinated with outside elements to facilitate movement of equipment and personnel. Once the plans and schedules were coordinated, then came the tedious task of slowly reconsolidating equipment for accountability, maintenance and final movement; all while sustaining 100 percent mission capability.

In addition to the company and platoon assets, Soldiers need to prepare themselves for moving. We all dislike moving houses back home, and those feelings transfer to military life as well. Packing all the equipment that they have been issued (plus the stuff they have acquired during deployment to make their off-duty time more bearable) is a tedious process; often more difficult than anticipated given the amount of room they have available for storage.

Upon arrival, the company hit the ground running. With a zero-dark-thirty arrival, it was a continuous rush to get a multitude of tasks done in order to begin operations. Assigning and receiving billeting, off-loading equipment, moving in, and establishing a new pattern of life is just the start of the resettlement process.

With the new mission came new equipment. Receiving vehicles and weapons systems from another unit is never an easy process and since they will be held accountable for all that they receive, the Soldiers painstakingly went through all the paperwork and equipment to ensure accuracy. Once the paperwork was finished, the Soldiers needed to familiarize themselves with the equipment they received; which is a mission in itself.

After a short nap, the company moved to the firing range in order to ensure that their weapons and equipment were functioning properly and accurately. ‘Apache’ Company went on a four- mile, round-trip, dismounted patrol to the firing range and back. Preparation for the trip constituted planning, like every other combat patrol, rehearsal of battle drills, redundant contingency planning and gear inspections before they stepped off. Once the patrol reached the firing range, they confirmed the accuracy of their machine guns and practiced acquiring and engaging targets with accurate and sustained automatic fire. Upon return of the patrol, the Soldiers assumed their force protection mission and integrated into the complex defense of one of the largest operational bases in Afghanistan.

The New Year not only marked the transition of the majority of operations to the Afghanistan forces, but also the halfway point of the mobilization for ‘Apache’ Company, 1-186th Infantry Battalion. Missing the holiday season is tough for anybody, but for a Soldier half-a-world away from their families, it’s something to be respected and admired.

Despite being away from their friends and loved ones, the Soldiers have been receiving a morale boost in the ability to be together in cheering for the Oregon Ducks while watching their championship game. It was a nice reminder of home and why we are here.

Strong for Veterans: Program on Crisis Awareness

noreply@blogger.com (Oregon Military Department) — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 23:14:00 +0000

Helping Veterans Facing a Tough Fight Back Home
We recognize that some veterans face enormous challenges once they leave active service, from feeling a profound loss of community to struggling to fit back into and relate to a civilian culture that doesn't understand their service experiences and values.

Program and Presentation Focus
Veterans may feel isolated and without strong support networks, leading to crisis situations in their lives, relationships and post-military careers. Outcomes can be devastating, from substance abuse and family conflicts to law enforcement troubles, unemployment, even suicide.

This program will focus on the crisis experience for veterans and resources available to help. Ex-military counselors and others will share affecting stories of hope and resilience, actionable info on accessing counseling and other services, and how to recognize and deal with the signs and symptoms of crisis. Speakers will share experiences and expertise to illuminate real-world examples of crises veterans face – and how they can be overcome.

Regional support organizations such as Returning Veterans Project will host walk-up tables and be available to provide information and resources for veterans and interested attendees. The entire program will be filmed and made accessible online at Veterans Legacies for the benefit of veterans across the country. A second Strong for Veterans program focusing on Post-Traumatic Stress is tentatively scheduled for May or June, 2015.

DETAILED EVENT & SPEAKER INFORMATION
- January 13th, 2015 – Stanford Theater, Tiger Woods Center at Nike World Headquarters
- 3:00 p.m., Rotunda open – meet participating organizations
- 4:00 p.m., Program followed by a reception in the Rotunda
- 90-minute presentation; 45 min. Panel Presentation, 45 min. Q&A
- Filmed program will be made available online at Veterans Legacies. www.veteranslegacies.com/

EMAIL SARA.CARLSON@NIKE.COM FOR TICKETS

Presentation Speakers
- Bill Dennings – Marine. VP, Chief Information Security Officer, Nike.
- Greg Fowler – Marine. Director of Investigations, Nike.
- Sara Carlson – Navy Brat. Rotarian. Moderator
- Col Eric Hastings (Ret) – Marine. Vietnam Veteran. Co-Founder & Chair, Warriors and Quiet Waters. Featured in the documentary “Not Yet Begun to Fight.”
- Pat Slack – Army Veteran. Vietnam Veteran. Was awarded the Bronze Star. Commander, Snohomish Regional Drug and Gang Task Force.
- Gabe Russell – Sergeant Major, WAARNG. Regional Director, Federal Protective Service.
- Officer Steve Redmond – Safety Officer, Seattle PD. One of the founders of Code for Northwest.
- S SGT Eddie Black – Co-Facilitator for CADRE Program. Resilience Coordinator for Oregon Army National Guard.
- Andrea Gardner, LMSW, CSWA – Coast Guard Veteran. Military Crisis Line Intervention Specialist, Lines for Life.
- Captain Matt Wegenknecht – Army Veteran. Portland Police Bureau Tactical Operations Division.
- Lt Col Bill Jacobus (Ret) – Air Force Veteran. Executive Director, US Military Endurance Sports.
- Shannon Stacy – Military Wife. Director of Family Programs, The Station Foundation.
- Josh Sweeney – Marine. Was awarded the Purple Heart. Josh is a Paralympic Gold Medalist in Sled Hockey and he received the Pat Tillman Award for Service.
- Amber Sweeney – Josh’s wife.
- Marissa Jones. Marissa’s fiancée PFC Andrew J. Keller was killed in Charkh, Afghanistan on August 15, 2012. He served with the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team.
- Jeff Keller – Andrew’s Dad.

Attending Organizations
- Warriors and Quiet Waters – www.warriorsandquietwaters.org/
- Code 4 Northwest – www.code4nw.org
- Returning Veterans Project – www.returningveterans.org/
- Lines for Life – www.linesforlife.org/
- US Military Endurance Sports – www.usmes.org/
- The Station Foundation – www.thestationfoundation.org/
- Historical Outreach Foundation – www.historicaloutreach.com/
- One Mind – www.onemind.org/

New VA Secretary presents Bronze Star, Purple Heart to wounded hero

noreply@blogger.com (Oregon Military Department) — Tue, 23 Dec 2014 22:14:00 +0000

By Lori Newman

Brooke Army Medical Center Public Affairs

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON -- Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert McDonald presented Staff Sgt. Steven Tessitore the Bronze Star and a Purple Heart medal during a ceremony Dec. 19 at the Center for the Intrepid.

Brooke Army Medical Center Commander Col. Evan Renz hosted the ceremony, with Navy Adm. James A. Winnefeld Jr., vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also in attendance.

“It is heartwarming to see your family here today,” said McDonald who met with Tessitore and his family prior to the ceremony.

“Our nation is indebted to you and we are also indebted to your family as well.”

Tessitore, an infantryman with Company B, 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment, suffered a gunshot wound Nov. 15 while on a Quick Reaction Force in Afghanistan.

McDonald said he read Tessitore’s personal account of being wounded and the days that followed.

“He was shot in the throat, gravely wounded, and he received what he described as ‘the luckiest’ lethal wound,” McDonald said.

“By Nov. 19 he was communicating with friends, family and fellow Soldiers in Afghanistan. Apart from what that says about technology, think about what it says about our Soldiers -- about their focus, their fortitude and their skill in life-saving first aid in the direst of circumstance,” the secretary said.

“Think what it says about all the surgeons, doctors, nurses and support staff who attended to Sgt. Tessitore from the dirty, dusty streets of a faraway land to the pristine Brooke Army Medical Center.”

McDonald thanked Tessitore for his service and sacrifice, and promised that when it was time, the VA will be honored to care for him and his family, and “will provide all the services and benefits he has so richly earned.”

Tessitore received the Bronze Star for “his outstanding performance, expertise and dedication to duty which greatly contributed to the success of the unit’s mission during combat operations.”

The Bronze Star medal is the fourth highest individual military award and the ninth-highest by order of precedence in the U.S. military. It may be awarded for acts of heroism, acts of merit or meritorious service in a combat zone.

The Purple Heart is the oldest U.S. military decoration in present use and the first American award made available to the common Soldier. The Purple Heart is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who are wounded by an instrument of war in the hand of the enemy.

“Nobody in their right mind wants a Purple Heart, and I find myself receiving one today against everything that I have ever wanted, but I appreciate it,” Tessitore said. “The only reason I am here today to receive this medal is because of my unit and how well they prepared, so on behalf of Bravo Company 2-162 and my entire battalion, thank you very much for taking care of me and for allowing me to be here today.”

Following the ceremony McDonald and Winnefeld spoke with amputees about their care and toured the CFI and BAMC.

Oregon military voters stationed overseas encouraged to submit absentee ballots early

noreply@blogger.com (Oregon Military Department) — Mon, 20 Oct 2014 20:06:00 +0000

If you are a registered Oregon voter who is stationed overseas, here is some information on voting in the general election.

There are several laws which apply to voters, and specific guidelines for absentee voting. In order to vote in U.S. elections you must be:

• A citizen of the United States on the date of the election in which you wish to vote.

• At least 18 years old on Election Day. (Some states allow 17-year olds to vote in primary elections if they will be 18 on or before the general election).

The absentee voting process applies to you if you are:

• An active duty member of the U.S. Uniformed Services, Merchant Marine or Activated National Guard.

• A family member (spouse or dependent).

• A U.S. citizen residing outside the U.S.

You must request your absentee ballot before Oct. 30, 2014, and your finished ballot must be received by 8:00 p.m. PST, on Nov. 4, 2014. Keep in mind this is not a mailing deadline! You must mail your voting materials early enough to account for mail delivery times.

For Oregon-specific questions on voting and the process to request your absentee ballot, visit http://www.fvap.gov/oregon. Here, you can also find links to review Oregon’s absentee voting guidelines, review the state’s election website, and find local election officials. You can also check the status of your submitted ballot.

If you are from another state, visit http://www.fvap.gov/military-voter, and click on your home state. Keep in mind, each state has specific local and regional laws governing absentee voting and deadlines for submitting ballots.

For more information on military members registering to vote, returning ballots, or other questions about voting, visit http://www.fvap.gov/military-voter/overview.

Oregon National Guard member added to Oregon Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial

noreply@blogger.com (Oregon Military Department) — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 17:48:00 +0000

Nancy Farrar (center) is assisted by a member of the Oregon National Guard Honor Guard (right) as she adds her cousin’s name to the Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial Staff during a ceremony, Sept. 18, at the Oregon Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial in Salem, Ore. Melvin Claude Richardson, an Oregon National Guard member, was killed while fighting the McKenzie Bridge fire that burned more than 2,500 acres of the Willamette National Forest in 1935. Farrar worked with the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training to have Richardson added to the memorial. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class April Davis, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

An Oregon National Guard Soldier was added to the Oregon Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial and honored in a ceremony, Sept. 18, at the Oregon Public Safety Academy in Sal em, Ore.

The Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) added five Oregon fire fighters who were killed in the line of duty to the list of names on the memorial. The ceremony brought together multiple fire fighting and public safety agencies from throughout the state, including members of the Oregon National Guard, to honor the fallen and their families.

Melvin Claude Richardson, age 18, of Albany, Ore., was killed on September 6, 1935 when a flaming tree branch fell and struck him. He was one of 40 initial National Guard fire fighters recruited to fight the McKenzie Bridge fire that burned more than 2,500 acres in the Willamette National Forest.

Richardson's cousin, Nancy Farrar, contacted the DPSST to have his name added to the wall of the Oregon Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial. Farrar also added his name to the Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial Staff during the ceremony.

A combined Honor Guard representing multiple fire fighting and public safety agencies fold the American flag during a memorial ceremony, Sept. 18, at the Oregon Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial in Salem, Ore. A member of the Oregon National Guard, Melvin Claude Richardson, was added to the memorial and honored during the ceremony for his selfless sacrifice while fighting the McKenzie Bridge fire that burned more than 2,500 acres of the Willamette National Forest in 1935. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class April Davis, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

Members of the Oregon Fire Service Honor Guard, including their Dalmatian mascot, kneel at the Oregon Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial honoring fire fighters killed in the line of duty during a memorial ceremony, Sept. 18, at the Oregon Public Safety Academy in Salem, Ore. Five Oregon fire fighters were added to the memorial and honored during the ceremony, including a member of the Oregon National Guard, Melvin Claude Richardson, who was killed while fighting the McKenzie Bridge fire that burned more than 2,500 acres of the Willamette National Forest in 1935. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class April Davis, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

More photos from the ceremony are posted on Flickr:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/oregonmildep/sets/72157647774428115/

KISS raises $1.15 million for Oregon Military Museum at All-Star Salute event

noreply@blogger.com (Oregon Military Department) — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 18:27:00 +0000

Paul Stanley and Tommy Thayer perform at an event to raise money for the Oregon Military Museum. (Photo by David A. Barss)

Gene Simmons with Dan Dutton, Chairman and CEO of Stimson Lumber at an event to raise money for the Oregon Military Museum. (Photo by David A. Barss)

Editorial submission by Historical Outreach Foundation (HOF)

LAKE OSWEGO, Ore. - On a picture-perfect evening in Lake Oswego, Sept. 14, at the private island estate of Rick and Erika Miller, members of the legendary rock band KISS played an all-acoustic set for a small group of guests at this year's All-Star Salute; making memories to last a lifetime and raising more than $1.15 million dollars for the Brigadier General James B. Thayer Oregon Military Museum.

Band members Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer arrived at the intimate gathering following a national tour where they played to more than 600,000 fans in more than 42 shows. Sunday's audience was just under 200 in number.

Tommy Thayer, lead guitarist for KISS and son of Brig. Gen. James B. Thayer, has been involved with the Oregon Military Museum for several years, and is committed to honoring those who have served in the military. With all four KISS members in attendance, the event was unique in its size, setting, and the goal-exceeding $1.15 million it raised for the cause.

News anchor Steve Dunn of KATU emceed the program and introduced guest performers including The Patrick Lamb Trio, Julianne Johnson and Jean Pierre-Garau.

For Tommy, the museum named for his father holds a very personal connection. He is quick to express his gratitude and respect for members of the military who have served, and the heroes who have risked their lives for others.

"I've been blessed to live in this country and have the opportunity to do what I love and follow my passion for music," said Thayer. "None of it would be possible without people like my dad, and so many other veterans, who have bravely fought to protect our liberties and freedoms."

Alisha Hamel, as the executive director for the Historical Outreach Foundation, is charged with supporting the fundraising efforts for the Oregon Military Museum, and other educational initiatives including the Oregon WWII Memorial and the Veterans' Legacies Project. She has been involved in each phase of the museum project, and is an integral part in the development of the educational aspects of the museum. An educator, historian, and veteran of Desert Storm, Hamel brings a valuable perspective on Oregon's, and the country's, rich military history.

"The funds raised at this year's All-Star Salute will jump start the process of creating truly interactive, hands-on exhibits at the museum," said Hamel. " We know that the best way to teach history is to engage people in the learning experience."

The Oregon Military Museum, now under construction at Camp Withycombe, in Clackamas, is the largest initiative underway at the Historical Outreach Foundation, and Sunday's All-Star Salute was the largest single fundraiser in the history of the museum. The proceeds put the museum over the halfway mark on a $14.6 million project.

"We are incredibly grateful to KISS and to the Millers for creating this once-in-a-lifetime event." said Hamel. "This was beyond anything we could have imagined, and is an evening we will not soon forget."

1-186th Infantry Battalion wraps up training, prepares to depart for Afghanistan

noreply@blogger.com (Oregon Military Department) — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 20:13:00 +0000

Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers of Alpha Company, 1-186th Infantry Battalion, train with Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles at Fort Hood, Texas, in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan. (Photos courtesy Sgt. Daniel Hutchison, 1-186th Inf. Bn.)

Editorial submission by Oregon Army National Guard Capt. James Ball, commander of Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment.

FORT HOOD, Texas – Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, headquartered out of Ashland, Ore., are wrapping-up their training at Fort Hood, Texas, and getting ready to depart for Afghanistan this month in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

The Soldiers have spent the last two months training for their mission and say they’re getting excited to move forward and take the next step. While many Soldiers are looking forward to the mission, others are simply excited to get out of the central-Texas heat and into the relatively cooler weather in the mountains of Afghanistan.

The training has been exceptionally relevant to the mission in Afghanistan. Soldiers have learned how to fire nearly every small arms weapon system in the Army inventory, from the 9mm pistol to the .50 caliber machine gun. Another crucial training event was the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) training where Soldiers learned to recognize and react to IEDs.

In early August, a group from United States Senator Ron Wyden’s (D-OR) office visited the Soldiers during their training in Texas. The senator’s aides were given the opportunity to try on body armor and shoot an M4 rifle with the Soldiers on a marksmanship training range. It was a brand new experience for one of the aides who had never fired a gun in his life.

The Soldiers based in Ashland have mostly administrative jobs and they say one of the challenges has been getting used to a seven-day work week schedule. “Things are a little bit slower on Saturday and Sunday, but it’s definitely a mental hurdle when you realize that the weekend is just another day at work,” one Soldier shared.

Another highlight from the training was our battalion’s “Staff Ride”. The leadership of the battalion took a trip to a historical site for professional development and a day away from training. This year’s “Staff Ride” was to The Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, which is only about 200 miles from Fort Hood. Once we reached The Alamo, we analyzed the battle using modern warfighting principles and tactics, and discussed the strengths and weaknesses from both the offensive and defensive point of view.

Whatever your views on the war in Afghanistan, it’s important to remember that these Soldiers are answering the nation’s call and selflessly serving the United States. All of these Southern Oregon Soldiers are leaving families and jobs behind for nearly a year of military service. While nine months may not be an eternity, many Soldiers will miss important milestones in the lives of their family which they will never get back.

Thank you for your continued support of our Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers!

Alpha Company hones their skills with vehicles and weapon systems:

Editorial submission by Oregon Army National Guard Sgt. Daniel Hutchison, unit public affairs representative for 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment.

FORT HOOD, Texas — Soldiers from Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry, based out of Medford, Ore., conducted mobilization training and evaluations at Fort Hood, Texas, prior to their departure for Afghanistan. The major tasks during these few weeks culminated into qualifications for the crews on mounted gunnery.

The different stages for qualifying a unit can be very arduous, resulting in long hours in the heat and humidity of Texas, testing Soldiers’ physical fitness, discipline and military bearing.

The qualification process started with getting Soldiers qualified to drive the different vehicles they will be utilizing during their deployment. Those vehicles are the MAXXPRO and MATV, two vehicles belonging to the Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) family of military vehicles.

The next step was for the Soldiers to qualify on the weapons systems they are assigned. The Soldiers spent almost a week on different ranges training on their marksmanship abilities, ranging from their individual weapons to crew served machine guns. The next stage involved the crews moving through several scenarios, engaging a series of targets being graded on time, accuracy and correctness of commands.

Once the individual crews were qualified on gunnery, the next task was to conduct a Convoy Live Fire patrol. This exercise was comprised of several vehicle crews, which moved along a route and encountered scenarios to test their ability to react to the different situations in a timely, organized and effective manner. The crews spotted Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), and reacted to a simulated explosion and small arms fire. The crews became more proficient and confident in their abilities to coordinate fires safely and effectively with those units beside them.

This sort of task is important for the unit because it familiarizes them with the vehicle and weapons systems that will be essential tools for them during their time in Afghanistan. It also hones their ability to work as a team.

With each individual position having their own certain responsibilities in the crew, the communication between Soldiers must be sharpened for them to be a potent fighting machine. This is just one of the many skill sets Soldiers in the unit are acquiring in order to enhance their survivability when they head downrange.

Charlie Company overcomes obstacles:

An Oregon Army National Guard Soldier of Charlie Company, 1-186th Infantry Battalion, navigates a Leaders' Reaction Course at Fort Hood, Texas, during pre-deployment training in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan. The course featured a series of obstacles and practical exercises in problem solving to test the teamwork and leadership capacity of the Soldiers. (Photos courtesy Sgt. Daniel Hutchison, 1-186th Inf. Bn.)

Members of Delta Company, 1-186th Infantry Battalion, pose for a group photo prior to departing Fort Hood, Texas on their way to Afghanistan. (Photos courtesy Sgt. Daniel Hutchison, 1-186th Inf. Bn.)

Editorial submission by Oregon Army National Guard Capt. Jered Carpenter, commander of Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment.

Dear friends and family,

We began our training as a consolidated forward deploying unit in April 2014, and we have been training on a full-time basis since the middle of June. As we close out the training phase of our deployment, I am confident that we have become a cohesive team that is ready to adapt to the many challenges that lie ahead. We are now transitioning into the theatre of operations in Afghanistan and all of the Soldiers that I have spoken with are excited to begin the next chapter of their journey.

Throughout our first few weeks at Fort Hood, Texas, the active duty unit responsible for conducting our training was pleased with the amount of training that we had already completed. As a result, we found ourselves in a situation where we were planning training to fill in down time. Some of the training events that we conducted during our first month in Texas included in-processing, additional rifle and machine gun training ranges, convoy simulator training, Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle training, squad level obstacle courses, and land navigation.

By the time we moved into the second month of training at Fort Hood, the pace picked up slightly and the unit completed training events. These events included combat patrols on MRAPs with an emphasis on detecting Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), machine gun and maneuver training from MRAP vehicles, and finally a culminating training exercise. Delta Company had the highest scores and brought home the “Top Gun” honors during the mounted gunnery training exercise. Mounted Gunnery is a timed event where a gunner fires at targets with a machine gun from an armored vehicle (MRAP in our case) while stationary and on the move.

The five-day culminating training exercise was our final training event, which allowed us an opportunity to conduct a “dress rehearsal” for our Afghanistan mission. During this exercise we provided security for a small base, conducted combat patrols, practiced personnel searches and responded to simulated attack scenarios. This exercise allowed us to operate on a 24-hour basis and refine our tactics and techniques prior to entering the combat theatre.

Throughout the course of our training, Delta Company placed a great deal of emphasis on Physical Training (PT). Delta Company Soldiers did physical fitness training twice per day, six days per week. A typical day would include company or platoon-led PT in the morning, followed by scheduled training, and finally an evening work-out at the gym. Our schedule has been relatively conducive to maintaining a regular PT program and the results have been outstanding. The unit conducted a diagnostic physical fitness test in the early part of June and the company average was 213 out of a possible 300 points. By the time a second test was conducted at the beginning of September, the company average had risen to 263, an outstanding score for any active duty unit in the United States Army. Many Soldiers have lost an average of about eight pounds.

We now enter the country of Afghanistan fully prepared, both physically and mentally, to execute our assigned mission. We enter Afghanistan in a time of transition and uncertainty, and we must remain flexible as our mission requirements are subject to change. We must also maintain positive attitudes as times of austerity await our Soldiers, who will be living in one of the most remote regions of the world. We are an experienced unit however, with more than 60 percent of our Soldiers having previously deployed before. I am fully confident that we will execute our mission to the highest standard and uphold the great reputation that Oregon National Guard Soldiers have established over the last 13 years.

The Oregon National Guard wraps up a busy week, busy summer

noreply@blogger.com (Oregon Military Department) — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 23:55:00 +0000

-->

SALEM, Oregon — The Oregon National Guard finished out a busy summer with accolades and a high-profile visit from representatives of the Vietnam National Committee for Search and Rescue (VINASARCOM).

A delegation from the Vietnam National Committee for Search and Rescue (VINASARCOM), visited Oregon National Guard facilities throughout the state, with a focus on the state’s domestic emergency response mission. Monday kicked off with a visit to the Oregon Air National Guard’s 142nd Fighter Wing in Portland, Oregon, and concluded with a visit to Camp Rilea, where delegates observed a domestic response evaluation exercise by the Oregon National Guard’s CBRNE Enhanced Response Force Package (CERFP).

Oregon Army National Guard Capt. Thanh Vo (far left), Search and Extraction Commander for Oregon's CBRNE Enhanced Response Force Package (CERFP), briefs a delegation from Vietnam's National Committee for Search and Rescue (VINASARCOM) during a tour of the unit's annual certification training exercise, Aug. 25, at Camp Rilea in Warrenton, Ore. The delegation visited Oregon National Guard facilities throughout the state to gain an understanding of Oregon's emergency and disaster response preparedness in conjunction with the State Partnership Program. The Oregon National Guard is partnered with both Bangladesh and Vietnam's VINASARCOM through its State Partnership Program. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class April Davis, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

The delegates would go on to visit the Joint Operations Center and Oregon Office of Emergency Management in Salem, Oregon, and the Portland Office of Emergency Management in Portland, Oregon. The visit was in conjunction with the Oregon National Guard’s ongoing State Partnership Program. Oregon is also partnered with the country of Bangladesh.

The last week of August saw Oregon Citizen-Soldiers and Citizen Airmen of the CBRNE Enhanced Response Force Package (CERFP) participating in an evaluation exercise, Aug. 25-28, at Camp Rilea in Warrenton, Ore. Inspectors from the National Guard Bureau, subject matter experts, and Joint Interagency Training and Education Center (JITEC), rated the Oregon National Guard’s CERFP unit one of “the best in the nation,” following a week-long exercise which culminated in an inspection on Aug. 28. Results from the inspection are due out later this fall.

--> A search and extraction team carries a victim away from a five-story tower in the state’s newest “rubble pile” during a week-long evaluation exercise for the Oregon National Guard’s CBRNE Enhanced Response Force Package (CERFP), held at Camp Rilea in Warrenton, Ore., Aug. 27. Approximately 200 Oregon Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen participated in the exercise, practicing incident site search and rescue, medical triage, and decontamination. Earlier this year, the unit worked alongside the Hawaii National Guard CERFP during the Vigilant Guard Exercise held in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo by Master Sgt. Nick Choy, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

An Oregon National Guard team participated in the annual 197-mile Hood to Coast relay race, which starts at Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood, and ends on the beach at Seaside, Ore. The annual event draws competitive teams from across the country. Proceeds from this year’s event went to the Providence Cancer Research Center.

--> The Oregon National Guard Hood to Coast team finishes the 197-mile course at Seaside, Ore., the last week of August, 2014. Proceeds from the annual race, which starts at Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood, and ends at the Broadway Avenue turnaround in Seaside, go to various charities in the region. Photo courtesy of the Oregon National Guard.

Oregon Symphony concert-goers at Tom McCall Waterfront Park in downtown Portland, Oregon, were given a special treat when the Oregon Symphony concluded Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture with real cannons! Citizen-Soldiers of the 2-218th Field Artillery Battalion fired 105mm Howitzers as the grand finale to the concert. The free event, in its 18th year, also hosted classical music selections played by the Oregon National Guard’s 234 Army Band, the Metropolitan Youth Symphony, Hillsboro Mariachi Una Voz, BRAVO Youth Orchestra, Portland Youth Philharmonic, the Portland Taiko Drum troop, and the Oregon Symphony, featuring performances by the Portland Opera and Oregon Ballet Theater. The event also featured a live fireworks display.

--> Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers with the 2-218 Field Artillery Battalion, fire a volley using 105mm Howitzer cannons, during the playing of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, during the Oregon Symphony’s Waterfront Concert, held Aug. 28 at Tom McCall Waterfront Park in downtown Portland, Ore. The annual event also featured the Oregon National Guard’s 234 Army Band, and several other local classical performers. Photo by Spc. Matthew Burnett, 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.

Earlier this summer, the Oregon National Guard wished Citizen-Soldiers a farewell, as they mobilized for duty in Afghanistan. Members of units from the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team held separate mobilization ceremonies throughout the state, as family, friends, community members and Oregon National Guard leadership attended the events. The 234th Engineer Company also mobilized for duty in Kuwait.

--> Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry, of the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, stand in formation during the unit’s mobilization ceremony, held July 18, at the McNeal Pavilion, Southern Oregon University, in Ashland, Ore. The unit is scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan to provide security missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The unit is commanded by Lt. Col. Noel Hoback and Command Sgt. Maj. Brad Huppunen. Photo by Master Sgt. Nick Choy, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs.

Citizen Soldiers from various Oregon Army National Guard units participated in their annual training event, held in June, at the Yakima Training Center in Yakima, Washington. Soldiers from the 2-218th Field Artillery Battalion, 162nd Engineer Company, 141st Brigade Support Battalion and other elements within the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team and 1249th Engineer Battalion converged on the training site to conduct live-fire exercises, and practice what Command Sergeant Major Michael R. Polley, 1249th Engineer Battalion Command Sergeant Major, called a “culmination of a year’s worth of training.”

--> Oregon Army National Guard Spc. Cody Shepherd (left), and Private 1st Class Jordan Pena (right), both of Alpha Battery, 2-218 Field Artillery, fire a 105mm round during their unit’s annual training at Yakima Training Center, Wash., June 23. Shepherd, from Milwaukie, Ore. Shepherd, who is from Milwaukie, Ore., and Pena, of Portland, Ore., are joined on their gun crew by Gun Crew Section Chief Staff Sgt. Jonathan Stocker; Ammunition Team Chief, Sgt. David Tully of Gresham, Ore.; Assistant Gunner, Private 1st Class Jordan Pena of Portland, Ore.; and Gunner Spc. William McKnight. McKnight completed the Oregon National Guard’s Air Assault Course—an intensive week-long competition which challenges Oregon’s best of the best in air assault operations, sling-load operations, and rappelling, enabling participants to perform skills required to make maximum use of helicopter assets in training and in combat to support their unit operations. Photo by Master Sgt. Nick Choy, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs Office.

In two separate large-scale fires in Oregon, aviation assets including CH-47 Chinook, HH-60 Blackhawk, and UH-72 Lakota helicopters, were brought to the fight during what forest fire managers called one of the worst fire seasons in Oregon in recent history. Some of the more serious fires occurred near Grants Pass and Ashland, Oregon.

--> An Oregon Army National Guard CH-47 Chinook helicopter drops water on a fire in support of fire suppression efforts at the Logging Unit fire west of Madras, Ore., July 20. The "Bambi" bucket used on the Chinook helicopters can carry up to 1,500 gallons of water. Two CH-47 Chinook helicopters and two HH-60M Blackhawk helicopters of the Oregon Army National Guard arrived at the Madras Airport, July 19, to assist local authorities in suppressing the wildfire west of Madras, Ore. Photo by Staff Sgt. Jason van Mourik, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs.

Once again, Citizen-Soldiers and Citizen-Airmen of the Oregon National Guard served and sacrificed in their communities, state, nation, and around the globe - proving once again the National Guard mantra, “When we are needed, We are there!”

--Master Sgt. Nick Choy,

Oregon Military Department Social Media Manager

DoD JAG guidance: Endorsement of "Ice-Bucket Challenge" not allowed under regulations

noreply@blogger.com (Oregon Military Department) — Thu, 21 Aug 2014 16:13:00 +0000

Above: Boston City Councillor Tito Jackson, right, leads some 200 people in the ice bucket challenge at Boston's Copley Square, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2014 to raise funds and awareness for ALS.

We have all seen the videos and photos--a person takes a bucket of ice water, and dumps it over their head. The act is followed by much cheering and fanfare.

Most of these challenges are meant to raise awareness for a worthy cause. This, along with what appears to be an online fad that is growing in popularity may motivate many service members to participate.

According to Art Kaff, Administrative Law Division of the Office of The Judge Advocate General for the U.S. Army Headquarters, however well-intentioned this participation may appear, it is an impermissible endorsement of a non-federal entity.

The Standards of Conduct and the Joint Ethics Regulation (JER) are clear concerning such activities. An officer or employee may not use his or her government position or title or any authority associated with his or her public office in a manner that could reasonably be construed to imply that the government sanctions or endorses the employee's personal activities or those of another. 5 CFR 2635.702(b).

An employee is also prohibited from using or permitting the use of his or her government position or title or any authority associated with his or her public office to endorse any product, service or enterprise. 5 CFR 2635.702(c); JER 3-209.

An employee may only engage in the raising of funds for a nonprofit organization in an official capacity where the employee is authorized to engage in the fundraising activity as part of his or her official duties. 5 CFR 2635.808. The JER, at paragraph 3-210, makes it clear that (with very limited exceptions) DoD employees shall not officially endorse or appear to endorse membership drives or fundraising for any non-federal entity.

Fundraising done by government employees in their personal capacities should not use official time, resources or personnel in connection with the activity, nor should the individual's official title, authority or command be invoked in connection with the personal fundraising efforts. In addition, employees engaged in personal fundraising may not personally solicit funds from a subordinate or from any other person known to the employee to be a prohibited source. 5 CFR 2635.808(c); JER 3-300.

The bottom line for full-time AGR or Title-10 Oregon National Guard members is to steer clear of these kinds of endorsements. M-Day or Drill Status Guardsmen should be okay, as long as they conduct these kinds of activities in a purely civilian status, without any references or representation to their National Guard affiliation. However, just to be safe, it is always best for everyone to seek guidance from their chain of command and/or direct supervisor.

Owen Summers: Father of the Oregon National Guard

noreply@blogger.com (Oregon Military Department) — Tue, 27 May 2014 16:44:00 +0000

Photo credit: Mike Francis, Oregonian

Owen Summers is more than just a photo on the wall as you enter the headquarters for the Oregon National Guard.

Owen Summers was born in Brockville, Canada, on June 13, 1850. At the age of two, his parents, John and Elizabeth Ann Summers moved the family to Chicago, Ill., where his father worked as a cobbler. Five years later, Owen and four siblings were left as orphans after his parents and a younger sister died during the cholera epidemic.

Six year old Owen was taken to a farm near Frankfort, Ill., and spent most of his youth working on the farm in exchange for room and board. He attended a small schoolhouse in La Center, Lee County, Ill.

At the age of 12, Owen and three of his schoolmates tried to enlist in the Army to join the ranks of those fighting in the Civil War, but were refused by recruiting officers because they were too young. Undeterred, Owen tried unsuccessfully twice more. On his fourth attempt to enlist in 1865, he garnered the help of a Pennsylvania Dutchman, who consented to become his guardian. With the permission of this man, the examining Army surgeon granted his acceptance into the United States Army. He was barely 14 years old.

On February 1, 1865, Owen joined Company H, Third Illinois Cavalry. He served in the eastern part of Mississippi, and later in Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, and the Carolinas. Following the close of the war, his unit was ordered to St. Louis, Mo., and fought against the Sioux Indians in Minnesota and the Dakotasbefore being mustered out of the service on Dec. 11, 1865.

In January, 1875, he headed west, taking odd jobs and bouncing back and forth between San Francisco, San Diego, and Portland. He eventually settled in Portland, Ore., where he and his brother-in-law, J.C. Olds, founded a crockery and glassware business known as Olds & Summers. The company occupied a building at No. 183 First Street in downtown Portland.

After several set-backs, including a fire which destroyed their building and inventory in 1886, Owen persisted in his business endeavors, becoming a force in the local trade, becoming a well respected, and prominent merchant in the Portland business community.

During this time, Owen had been appointed to the state legislature as the United States Appraiser of the port of Portland. He worked closely with the Oregon delegation and the general assembly on the passage of a bill which resulted in the creation of a militia for the state of Oregon. The bill allowed for the reestablishment of a State Adjutant General, and three regiments and a company of Veteran Guards, composed of ex-members of Civil War regiments—of which he was chosen as first lieutenant.

According to the new law, which came to be known as the “Summers Law,” Oregon’s militia was authorized a minimum strength of 1,320 men in one battalion and each of its three regiments. Furthermore, Summers oversaw the outfitting of the units, and the creation of an efficient, disciplined force.

In 1887, the militia was reorganized into the Oregon National Guard, and Owen was elected as lieutenant colonel of the First Regiment. Seven years later, he was promoted to the rank of colonel.

At the opening of the Spanish-American War, all National Guard troops were ordered to Portland and consolidated into the Second Oregon Regiment of the United States Volunteers. Colonel Summers was named as commander of this new group, and on May 24, 1898, the regiment sailed to the Philippines. The unit was the first military unit to leave the continental United States, and along with the First California and five companies of the 14th U.S. Infantry, were the first to arrive in a foreign country during the war. The men under Summers found him kindly, considerate and helpful.

Col. Summers’ unit was involved in several battles, including the advance on Guadalupe, the battle of Malabon, and the liberation of Manila. Among the many telegraphs Col. Summers received, the following is said to be his most prized:

Manila, P.I., August 30, 1898

Col. O. Summers, Commander, 2d OregonU.S.V.:

Sir: I desire to express to you in very strong terms my appreciate of the manner in which you and your regiment performed the very difficult and delicate duties of acting provost marshal and provost guard during the time immediately following the capitulation of Manila. It gives me much pride and pleasure on the eve of my departure to recall the way in which I have been supported by all of my troops, and the cheerful fortitude with which they have endured the hardships of the campaign.

Very respectfully,

Wesley Merritt,

Major General, U.S.A.

In 1899, just before his regiment returned to Oregon, Col. Summers was recommended for promotion to the rank of brigadier general. Then, on Sept. 1, 1899, Summers was reappointed as the United States appraiser by the President in Portland, Ore.He shortly began re-immersing himself in the business community, founding Summers & Prail Crockery Company—a company he sold shortly thereafter.

On July 23, 1880, Summers married Clara T. Olds, a native of Oregon, and sister to his old business partner, J.C. Olds. The two had only one child, Owen George.

In his later years, Summers became active in civic and social circles. He joined the Commercial Club, Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He also became a Mason, and was a charter member of Columbia Lodge No. 114.

Summers died of pneumonia in Portland, Ore., on Feb. 2, 1911. He was 60. He is buried in RiverView Cemeteryin Portland, Ore.

The title of “Father of the Oregon National Guard” is appropriate, given Summers’ accomplishments throughout his life. The legacy Summers created lives on in the evolution of the 2d Oregon Regiment to what we know today as the 2nd Infantry, 162nd Battalion, also earning him the title of “Oregon’s First Volunteer”.

Moreover, his effort to create Oregon’s militia lives on in today’s Oregon National Guard. Summer’s example of citizen-soldier, model businessman, and successful statesman, is a proud heritage to which all Oregonians can aspire.

Information for this post resourced from Oregon State Defense Force History website, Ancestry.com, and Ask.com.

Oregon Army Guard Aeromedical Nurse Practitioner honored with national award

noreply@blogger.com (Oregon Military Department) — Tue, 20 May 2014 19:41:00 +0000

SALEM, Ore.—Oregon Army National Guard Capt. Sarah Wickenhagen, a physician’s assistant and Aeromedical Nurse Practitioner with the Oregon National Guard’s Medical Command, based in Salem, has recently been named by the American Association ofNurse Practitioners (AANP) as one of the recipients of their prestigious State Award for Excellence for 2014.

Wickenhagen, FNP, DNP, is also a policy analyst for the Oregon State Board of Nursing. She and other nurse practitioners and advocates will be honored at an awards ceremony and reception held during the AANP 2014 National Conference June 17-22, 2014 in Nashville, Tenn.

The State Award for Nurse PractitionerExcellence, founded in 1991, recognizes a nurse practitioner (NP) in a state who demonstrates excellence in practice. In 1993, the State Award for Nurse Practitioner Advocate was added to recognize the efforts of individuals who have made a significant contribution toward increasing the awareness and acceptance of the NP.

Prior to joining the Board of Nursing in March, Wickenhagen worked in the Oregon Health Science University (OHSU) School of Nursing teaching in the graduate nursing programs and working clinically in Pre-Operative Medicine. She has a varied background that includes serving as an Army Nurse and caring for patients across the lifespan in both primary and acute care settings. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1996 from the University of Mobile, located in Mobile, Ala., and her Masters of Science and Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) from OHSU in 2005 and 2013, respectively.

In her spare time, Sarah enjoys spending time with her family, including her husband who is an Army helicopter pilot and her two children.

The AANP is the largest professional membership organization for NPs of all specialties. It represents the interests of the nation's 189,000 NPs, including more than 50,000 members, providing a unified networking platform, and advocating for their role as providers of high-quality, cost-effective, comprehensive, patient-centered, and personalized health care.

CONGRATS to Capt. Wickenhagen!

--Master Sgt. Nick Choy, Oregon Military Department Social Media Manager

Don't eat the Marshmallow

noreply@blogger.com (Oregon Military Department) — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 21:25:00 +0000

There was a famous experiment done by Stanford University child psychologists in the 1970s where four-year olds are placed in a room with a single marshmallow. They are told that if they can last fifteen minutes without eating the marshmallow they will earn a second one.

Most of the kids fail, many in under four minutes, but 1/3 of them succeed. This ability to delay instant gratification is correlated with generally greater success. At first glance it makes sense, we all know the story of the grasshopper and the cricket. But why were some kids able to do this task while others couldn’t?

In thinking about this experiment, we sometimes focus on how many of the kids struggle under the temptation of the marshmallow before them.

A slightly different, and in my opinion, a key view, is that the successful kids weren’t suffering without the present marshmallow, they were suffering for the future marshmallow. Bottom line: their focus is different.

Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist as well as Holocaust survivor, Viktor Frankl said, “Those who have a why to live, can bear with almost any how.”

Our military training, our missions, routinely call for difficult actions now for a better future.

There are a variety of skills available to ‘not eat the marshmallow’, many of which are components of the Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness (CSF2) program, such as PIIP, Energy Management, Detect Icebergs, and more.

Ask your unit Master Resilience Trainer (MRT) on how to incorporate this into your training plan.

Staff Sgt. Eddie Black,

Resilience Program Coordinator,

Oregon National Guard

Senate Bill allows for community college credits to be awarded for military training and education

noreply@blogger.com (Oregon Military Department) — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 22:57:00 +0000

In 2011, the Oregon Legislature unanimously passed Senate Bill 275, which requires local community college boards, in consultation with the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs (ODVA), to develop standards for community colleges to award credits for education and training obtained by individuals who served in the Armed Forces.

The bill was sent to then Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski, who signed it into law on June 14, 2011.

The legislation also requires learning institutions to inform interested persons the opportunity to receive this credit for their military training and professional military education.

Senate Bill 275 does not guarantee that colleges will award college credit based on military training, but it simply requires community colleges to develop a standard by which they will award credit.

Local Oregon community colleges are familiar with the deployments Oregon has experienced, and are committed to helping the large number of Oregon military members who pursue post-secondary education during their deployments and after their return home, said Krissa Caldwell, Deputy Commissioner for Oregon Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development.

“This bill is about helping Oregon’s veterans transfer their military acquired knowledge and skills to civilian life and careers,” she said.

Coupled with the complications of multiple deployments, the way students pursue their education has prompted colleges to adjust their practices of recognizing and awarding credits, she added.

The Joint Services Transcript (JST) is the military transcript that lists the recommended college credits based on military training. The JST replaced the Coast Guard Institute Transcript, the Army/American Council on Education Registry Transcript System (AARTS) and the Sailor/Marine American Council on Education Registry Transcript (SMART).

JST is an academically accepted document approved by the American Council on Education (ACE) to validate a Service Member's military occupational experience and training along with the corresponding ACE college credit recommendations. The official military transcript can be requested through the JST website at https://jst.doded.mil.

Due to concerns with college accreditation, colleges want to ensure that students receive the entire course of training within their degree program and that credits are not awarded for training that does not fulfill the all course objectives. Many colleges will award one to three physical education (PE) credits, but any other courses often require additional documentation to substantiate equivalency between college and military course objectives.

“There is a shared concern to work with veterans to help them jump-start civilian education and training,” Caldwell said. “Oregon’s community colleges stand ready to continue to help veterans pursue post-secondary education as they return from active duty around the world.”

For more information on this bill, or to read the various committee meeting minutes, visit http://gov.oregonlive.com/bill/2011/SB275/.