Cal Guard’s rescue skills tested in large- scale ... · Your safety and that of everyone in your...

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O f f i c i a l N e w s m a g a z i n e o f t h e C a l i f o r n i a N a t i o n a l G u a r dGRIZZLYO f f i c i a l N e w s m a g a z i n e o f t h e C a l i f o r n i a N a t i o n a l G u a r dGRIZZLY

Vol.11 No. 62016

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2016November-December Vol.11 No. 6

Top Soldiers compete at Best Warriorpages 6-7

Vigilant GuardCal Guard’s rescue skills tested in large-scale earthquake reponse exercise

November-December

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In California, a proposition recently passed to allow the recreational use of marijuana, a change from pre-vious law that only allowed for medicinal use. One thing, however, has not changed: Marijuana use – both medicinal and recreational – remains illegal for all Soldiers and Airmen.

Your neighbors in California may start using mari-juana and ignoring the federal ban. But if you break that federal law, you will be breaking your oath as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Service members who test positive for any illegal substance, including marijuana, will be reviewed by our Judge Advocate General Corps and processed for separation in accordance with Army regulation or Air Force instruction. The service member’s chain of command will make a recommendation, and ul-timately, as adjutant general, I will make the final determination on separation.

This applies to members of the California State Mili-tary Reserve (CSMR) as well. CSMR members who possess, use or distribute marijuana, on or off duty, are subject to disciplinary actions up to and includ-ing separation, non-judicial punishment, state court marital, or civilian prosecution.

Again, the recent change in California law will have no effect on any case.

Even a single use of an illegal drug may be detect-able in your system long after use, and the Defense Department drug-screening process will catch you.

Marijuana is classified as a Schedule 1 drug by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, meaning it has a high potential for abuse. The drug may dull your memory, slow reaction times and damage your respiratory system.

As damaging as marijuana can be, it does not com-

pare to the ravaging effects of methamphetamine.

Among other health consequences, methamphet-amine can cause severe heart problems, sometimes resulting in death, even in young users. It causes tre-mendous tooth decay. And it causes “formication,” the sensation of something under your skin, which prompts users to scratch themselves until they create scabs and lesions.

The long-term health consequences of meth are dra-matic and unavoidable.

Perhaps most striking is the change methamphet-amine brings about in the brain. Methamphetamine is known to elicit violent behavior in its users. The argument that drug use is a “victimless crime” does not hold here, as meth users’ addictions often cause them to commit other illegal acts.

If you have a prescription for a stimulant to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder or a similar condition, do not be fooled into thinking you can therefore test positive for meth and get away with it. Our drug-screening process distinctly detects the two substances.

If you are currently using marijuana, methamphet-amine or any other substance banned by the Defense Department, I implore you to stop using it now. If you are a Soldier or Airman who is unable to stop, there is help available through your chain of com-mand.

If you reveal your substance-abuse issue to an Army chaplain, the Cal Guard’s Army Substance Abuse Program or an officer or noncommissioned officer in your chain of command, we will help you get the treatment you need, including helping you enroll in a health insurance plan, if needed.

These communications, however, will not be confi-

dential. Your commander will be notified and will receive reports on your progress.

Commanders understand that a troop coming for-ward to seek help shows strength. Seeking help for your addiction is the best way to ensure you are mis-sion-ready and performing to the best of your abil-ity. Your safety and that of everyone in your unit de-pends on your ability to perform, and we welcome service members who recognize this responsibility and admit they cannot solve their problem alone.

Soldiers who are proactive and reveal their sub-stance abuse will receive protections from certain administrative actions: Your disclosure will not be used against you in a court-martial or Uniform Code of Military Justice action. And if separation is found to be an appropriate action, the characterization of the discharge will not be affected by your disclo-sure.

The Air Guard maintains a strict drug policy and does not provide a similar “limited use policy” pro-tection.

When you signed up for the Guard, you promised to protect your state, your nation and your brothers- and sisters-in-arms to the best of your ability. That means maintaining peak physical and mental condi-tion so you can perform your duties in a manner that brings pride to your branch of service.

Don’t make a mistake that will compromise your unit’s safety and jeopardize your military career.

Every Army unit must complete Strong Choices, a training program presented by the Cal Guard’s Army Substance Abuse Program (ASAP). If your unit has not completed or scheduled this training, please contact Wendy Van Houten, ASAP alcohol, drug and control officer, at [email protected] or 916-854-1207.

“When you signed up for the Guard, you promised to protect your state, your nation and your brothers- and sisters-in-arms to the best of your ability. That means maintaining peak physical and mental condition so you can perform your duties in a manner that brings pride to your branch of service.”

- Maj. Gen. David S. Baldwin

Marijuana remains illegal for Soldiers and Airmen

Major General David S. Baldwin

L e a d e r s h i p C o r n e r

Marijuana, along with nine other substances, is specifically prohibited under Article 112a of the Uniform Code of Military Justice and penalties for its use can range from a general discharge to dishonorable discharge (for positive results of a urinalysis) and even imprisonment for possession. Courtesy photo

Children hang out with MPsSchool children check out MPs during Vigilant Guard and go away impressed, especially by our female troops

The power of prayerChaplain Edward Ganigan from the 163rd Attack Wing finds inspiration in prayer, and in the movie “Rudy”

Shooting hoops with the LakersAirmen from the 163rd Attack Wing got the chance to train with the Lakers in the Hoops for Troops program

Ukrainians, Nigerians visit Cal GuardTop leaders from the Ukrainian and Nigerian militaries vis-ited the Cal Guard in November

140th Chem Co. heads to Alabama soldiers from the 140th Chemical Company spent annual training at the Center for Domestic Preparedness in Alabama learning all the latest skills in their field

Camp Roberts hillside set aflameTwenty-five firefighters from five fire departments conduct-ed a controlled burn at Camp Roberts as part of a rare train-ing opportunity

National Day of Service“A Sunburst ChalleNGe National Day of Service hopes to generate awareness of the National Guard’s program for at-risk youths

IG builds an appA new app gives Soldiers easy access to Army Inspector Gen-eral offices around the country

Counterdrug gets smartThe Counterdrug Task Force sends Soldier to the DEA basic intelligence course

Europe

Asia

Africa

Kuwait85

U.S.88

U.S.142

AfghanistanAntarcticaDjiboutiGermany

ItalyKuwaitQatar

Saudi ArabiaUAE65Air Army

December 2016California National Guard troops mobilized as of

Nov. - Dec.The Official Newsmagazine ofthe California National Guard

2016

Grizzly

E-mail submissions and feedback to:[email protected]

Submissions

PublisherMaj. Gen. David S. BaldwinThe Adjutant General

Director of Public AffairsCol. Peter B. Cross EditorCapt. Jason Sweeney

Cover photo by Staff Sgt. Eddie Siguenza

Sgt. Allan G. Torres, left, and Pfc. Roman O’Doherty of the California Army National Guard’s 1st Bat-

talion, 184th Infantry Regiment, look through rubble for survivors Nov. 17 during Vigilant Guard 17, an

exercise simulating a massive disaster response to a powerful earthquake in Los Angeles.

Vol. 11 No. 6

Articles:

� Articles range from 350 to 2,000 words. All articles should be accompanied by multiple high-resolution images.

� Include first names, last names and mili-tary ranks. Always verify spelling.

� Spell out acronyms, abbreviations and full unit designations on first reference.

� Only submit articles that have been approved by your unit’s public affairs officer.

Photographs:

� Highest resolution possible: MB files, not KB.

� No retouched photos, no special effects.

� Include the photographer’s name and rank, and a caption: what is happening in the photo, who is pictured and the date and location.

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Santa’s WorkshopSanta comes to Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos, but his reindeer were substituted with 80 motorcycle riders from American Legion Post 716

Female leaders visit Czech RepublicThe Cal Guard’s Col. Mimi McEwing was part of an Ameri-can delegation of female military leaders who visited the Czech Republic in December

Farewell 2016, hello to a busy 2017The National Guard stayed busy in 2016 responding to natu-ral disasters across the country and participating in opera-tions overseas. 2017 looks to be just as active.

Best WarriorThe California Army National Guard’s top performers for 2016 head to Camp San Luis Obispo and Camp Roberts to compete in another grueling Best Warrior Competit

OPAT unveiled at Best WarriorThe Army’s new Occupational Physical Assessment Test is put to the test as an event at the Best Warrior Competition

Vigilant Guard 17Cal Guard Soldiers test their disaster response skills at the Del Valle Regional Training Center in Southern California during Vigilant Guard 17, which took place Nov. 14-18

115th RSG is ‘operational backbone’For Vigilant Guard, the 115th Regional Support Group ran the show from behind the scenes providing operational oversight as troops headed into the exercise area

MPs train with FEMA and LAFD During Vigilant Guard, Cal Guard Soldiers and Airmen head to the FEMA training site in Sherman Oaks to practice their skills alongside their civilian counterparts

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Ukraine6

Kosovo1

In EveryIssue

LeadershipCorner2 At a

Glance10 News &Benefits1918 Know

Your IG

Afghanistan86

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Grizzly | 2016 | Nov. - Dec.

California Military Department

Adm. Michelle Howard, Commander Al-lied Joint Force Command, Naples, Italy, led a group of U.S. military senior female leaders on a visit to the Czech Republic Dec. 6-8, 2016 to highlight the strong role women leaders play in the military and to share best practices of fulfilling gen-der integration in peace and security.

Included in the group was California Army National Guard Col. Mimi McE-wing, currently deployed to NATO KFOR 22 as the Assistant Chief of Staff, J2.

Members of the group met with their counterparts at the Czech Ministry of Defense, participated in a women leader-ship panel held at the American Center, and attended a reception in their honor hosted by U.S. Ambassador Andrew Schapiro.

Representing the U.S. Military Women:

•Adm. Michelle Howard, Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples, U.S. Naval Forces Europe Commander,

U.S. Naval Forces Africa •Brig. Gen. Giselle M. Wilz, Senior Mili-tary Representative, NATO Headquar-ters Sarajevo Commander•Rear Adm. Shoshana Chatfield, United States Deputy Military Representative to the NATO Military Committee•Col. Mimi McEwing, U.S. Army, NATO Headquarters Kosovo Force Assistant Chief of Staff J2 (Intelligence)•Capt. Clara R. Gumm, U.S. Army, NATO Headquarters Kosovo Force Aide-de-Camp to Chief of Staff

The conference focused on the Czech Re-

public’s action plan to implement Unit-ed Nations Security Council Resolution No. 1320 (2000) on women, peace, secu-rity and related resolutions for the years 2017-2020.

The Czech action plan seeks to have bal-anced representation of women and men in decision-making positions. Currently, Czech women make up 13.8 percent of the Czech armed forces, but only 5.6 per-cent are in decision making positions. Czech women compose 15 percent of the police force, but only 8.4 percent are in command and control positions.

The ambitious goal of the Czech govern-ment is to have 40 percent of women in decision making positions within gov-ernment by 2020.

The U.S. military women participated in a round table discussion along with members of the Czech Ministry of Inte-rior and Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the Action Plan of the Czech Republic on the implementation of the U.N. Security Council resolution. The following day, they met with the Chief of the General Staff, Army General Josef Bečvář, and with Land- and Air Force commanders.

The U.S. military women also discussed the alliance and the American armed forces with their Czech women col-leagues. Various topics were raised to include: motivation, background differ-ences, benefits of having a women’s per-spective. Women Soldiers also discussed if a woman can truly do it all, balancing family and relationship issues; and Czech women soldiers wondered whether their American colleagues have ever been sor-ry to have joined the military. All unani-mously answered that they would not have changed their choice.

U.S. women military leaders visit Czech Republic The Cal Guard’s Col. Mimi McEwing heads to Czech Republic to highlight role of female military leaders

LEFT: The Cal Guard’s Col. Mimi McEwing took part in a round table discussion in December in the Czech Republic. The discussion was on increasing the role of women in the Czech military. RIGHT: The audience listens to the discussion. Photos courtesy of Col. Mimi McEwing

By COL. (CA) RICK LALORJFTB Public Affairs

For more than 100 children of California National Guard Soldiers and other military families, Christmas came ear-ly at Joint Forces Training Base Los Alamitos. And no-body -- adults and children alike -- seemed to mind that motorcycle riders from American Legion Post 716 in Los Alamitos substituted for 80 reindeer as Santa Claus was waved through the JFTB main gate on Friday evening, Dec. 16.

Santa’s Workshop marked the fourth quarterly “We Care” meeting of 2016, hosted by JFTB family assistance specialists bringing Guard families together, providing them with networking opportunities to obtain resources in their communities… and perhaps, most importantly, giving them a chance to spend a few hours of relaxation and quality time together away from the challenges and stress of military life.

All the kids got the opportunity to talk with Santa, select from hundreds of toys, view the movie “Polar Express” on a large screen television and participate in arts and crafts activities, while guests of all ages munched on a variety of holiday treats.

The event was the brain child of Cara Borm, a family as-sistance specialist at Los Al and wife of a California Army National Guard chief warrant officer. She had attended similar events at Fort MacArthur in San Pedro, California, and wanted to do something for Guard families to enjoy during this special time of the year.

“The holiday events I had attended in the past at Fort MacArthur included very few Guard families, and as a Guard spouse I wanted to organize something special de-signed primarily for our Guard community,” said Borm. “Although we always welcome military families from all branches to Santa’s Workshop, it is very satisfying to look out and see that the majority of families in attendance are from the National Guard.

“We have been doing this for six years now, and it could not take place without our many community partners who care for our Soldiers and join together to lend a helping hand in so many ways… toys donated by American Legion Post 716 in Los Alamitos, John Wayne Airport and Ameri-can Airlines, in partnership with Orange County USO, USMC Toys for Tots, Seal Beach VFW, Leisure World’s Children Are a Priority program and Dollar Tree, in part-nership with Operation Homefront.

“Meals were provided by Grateful Hearts Community Resource Center and Arrowhead Products in Los Alami-tos,” she continued. “The Orange County USO provided holiday treats and crafts for the kids. Mindful Warrior Project also assisted with the crafts, while the Sons of the American Legion grilled hot dogs, and the Camp Fire Bumblebee Troop from Long Beach assisted to serve the guests.

“And a very special nod of appreciation to the JFTB Mili-tary and Veterans Resource Center volunteers, military family members who pitched in to assist, and especially the Legion Riders who helped Santa navigate his way to the base so he could make so many kids so happy.

“It is important we never forget that the California Na-tional Guard is a community-based organization,” Borm concluded. “Having so many partners donate so much time and energy to the success of Santa’s Workshop rein-forces just how special our Guard community really is.”

Santa’s Workshop rings in the holidays at JFTBAnnual Christmas event at Joint Forces Training Base Los Alamitos features Santa, motorcycles and lots of kids

LEFT: Santa was on hand at Joint Forces Training Base Los Alamitos on Dec. 16 for the annual Santa’s Workshop event. ABOVE More than 100 military children attended the event. They received gifts, watched “Polar Express”, participated in arts and crafts and munched on treats. Photos courtesy by Col. (CA) Rick Lalor

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By TECH. SGT. ERICH B. SMITHNational Guard Bureau

The National Guard saw a busy 2016, meet-ing challenges both at home and abroad, deploying overseas, responding to large-scale emergencies and natural disasters at home while also taking part in a number of milestone events and transitioning to new roles.

One of those new roles included a change in leadership in September when Air Force Gen. Joseph Lengyel took the helm as the 28th chief of the National Guard Bureau. He took over from Army Gen. Frank J. Grass, who retired after four years as the chief and 46 years of service.

The Air National Guard also saw new lead-ership, with Air Force Lt. Gen. L. Scott Rice taking the reins from Air Force Lt. Gen. Stanley Clarke III, who retired, and the Army National Guard welcomed Com-mand Sgt. Maj. Christopher Kepner as the 11th sergeant major of the Army Guard.

As he took on the duties of chief, Lengyel emphasized the primary mission of today's National Guard.

"We fight our nation's wars as part of the United States Army and part of the United States Air Force," he said. "Our training for the warfight, our ability to deploy and sup-port it, is our number one role, the number one reason why we exist."

As part of that, approximately 300 Airmen from the Vermont Air National Guard's 158th Fighter Wing deployed late in the year in support of Operation Inherent Re-solve, a joint and coalition effort to defeat and destroy ISIS.

"We are excited to generate, execute, and sustain decisive combat airpower," said Air Force Col. David C. Lyons, commander of the 407th Air Expeditionary Group, which oversees the deployed unit.

Army Guard members continued to play key roles overseas in 2016. For the first time since the Korean War, two Army National Guard division headquarters were de-ployed to a forward location concurrently.

Soldiers from the Texas Army National Guard's 36th Infantry Division deployed to Afghanistan, while more than 450 Soldiers from the Virginia Army National Guard's 29th Infantry Division headed to Kuwait. The 29th ID Soldiers are set to provide oversight and command and control of more than 18,000 service members taking part in a variety of operations throughout the Middle East.

"This is the epitome of the Total Force and displays how the Army National Guard is fully integrated into the Total Force," said Army Maj. Gen. Blake Ortner, the com-manding general of the 29th ID, adding that the deployment will see the largest number of troops the division has led since the Second World War.

Numerous other Army and Air Guard units deployed to other locations, took part in large-scale training exercises at the Na-tional Training Center or multi-national ex-ercises in Europe and other locations.

Back at home, January saw the East Coast blanketed with snow from winter storm Jonas, prompting governors in 12 states to

call out more than 2,200 Guard members to clear snow, assist stranded motorists, provide health and wellness checks and transport first responders and emergency workers.

Later in the month Guard members from the Michigan National Guard responded to the water crisis in Flint, Michigan. With high levels of lead in the city's drinking wa-ter, Michigan Guard members distributed bottled water throughout the city.

"This is why I joined the military – to help people," said Spc. Charles Colwell, a medic with the Michigan Army National Guard's Headquarters and Headquarters Compa-ny, 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment. Colwell was one of 70 Guard members acti-vated to support water distribution efforts.

Meanwhile, more than 600 Soldiers and Airmen of the Missouri National Guard kicked off the year responding to historic flooding throughout the eastern portion of the state. While on duty, Missouri Guard members supported local authorities by staffing traffic control points, providing evacuation support, filling sandbags and purifying water.

Missouri Guard members weren't the only ones to face flooding during the year. In March, more than 1300 Soldiers and Air-men with the Louisiana National Guard responded to heavy flooding, rescuing more than 4,200 people and 354 pets and assembling emergency levee walls on river banks.

"Anything we can do to save people's busi-nesses and lives, that's what we're here to do," said Army Staff Sgt. Tommy Dunlop, with the Louisiana Army Guard's 844th En-gineer Company.

The March flooding was just the start for Louisiana Guard members. A massive, "thousand year" flood from heavy rains af-fected southern Louisiana in August and saw more than 3,800 Soldiers and Airmen respond. Guard members rescued more than 19,000 citizens and distributed more than 78,000 meals, nearly 500,000 bottles of water and 961,500 sandbags.

The flooding damaged more than 146,000 homes, saw more than 30,000 people leave their homes and was considered by some to be one of the worst U.S. natural disasters since Hurricane Sandy struck New York and New Jersey in 2012.

For some who responded, the large-scale flooding reminded them of Hurricane Ka-trina.

"It brings me back to when Hurricane Ka-trina passed in 2005 and I saw the National Guard around in all the neighborhoods," said Army Sgt. Bryan Campo, with the Louisiana Army Guard's 2225th Multi-role Bridge Company. Campo and other mem-bers of his unit navigated deep flood wa-ters using boats they typically employ to erect floating bridges used to move units in combat.

"This is one of my proudest moments," he said of taking part in the response.

October saw flooding throughout the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida from Hur-ricane Matthew. Though the storm stayed offshore, heavy rains resulted in the mo-bilization of about 6,000 Guard members

throughout those states.

For the Florida Guard, it was the first time in close to a decade they responded to a large flood.

"It's been almost 10 years since we've had to do this," said Army Brig. Gen. Ralph Ribas, the joint task force commander for the Flor-ida Guard. "But there's a lot of experience and everyone's going to do what it takes to be successful."

Guard members supported rescue efforts and assisted local law enforcement agen-cies during the flooding.

While some regions suffered through too much water, a lack of water in other areas meant dry conditions and wildfires.

In September, aircrews from the Nevada Air National Guard's 152nd Airlift Wing battled blazes in Nevada, Oregon and Ida-ho with C-130 Hercules aircraft equipped with the Modular Airborne Firefighting System. The unit is the newest Air Guard unit to fly the MAFFS mission and saw air-crews fly 142 sorties, dispensing more than 3.5 million pounds of fire retardant and water.

"The actual drops [were] challenging and exhilarating," said Air Force Lt. Col. Tony Machabee, one of the first pilots from the unit to fly the MAFFS mission. "It's a great feeling to see [the] immediate results whether we are dropping a protective line of retardant between the fire and someone's property or dropping it directly on flames leaping from the tops of trees."

In July, historically dry conditions kept California Army National Guard Soldiers busy flying UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, dropping water on wildfires in the north-ern part of the state. Members of the Colo-rado Army National Guard also responded to wildfires near Nederland, Colorado, during the same month. Later in the sum-mer, Soldiers from the South Carolina and Tennessee Army National Guard used Black Hawks and CH-47 Chinook helicop-ters to drop water on wildfires in eastern Tennessee.

The past year saw continued growth of the National Guard Bureau's State Partnership program, which pairs up National Guard elements with partner nations worldwide. Argentina became the 73rd partner nation in November, teaming up with the Georgia National Guard.

"The SPP allows us to leverage the deep and trusting ties the National Guard has built with a very large group of foreign allies across every combatant command," Lengyel said.

During the year, the Georgia Guard built partnerships in other ways.

Soldiers with the Georgia Army Guard's 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team were among the first Army Guard units to take part in the Associated Unit program, which integrates active and reserve component units at all levels for training, readiness and deployments. The brigade is aligned with the active component's 3rd Infantry Division, while an infantry battalion from the 3rd ID has been incorporated into the 48th IBCT.

"Much of [the] Army's capacity is resident in the reserve components and we must rely more heavily on them to meet the de-mands of a complex global environment," said Army Gen. Mark Milley, chief of staff of the Army, referring to the program.

While Soldiers with the 48th IBCT donned the shoulder patch of the 3rd ID, Army Capt. Robert Killian, with the Colorado Army National Guard's B Company, 5th Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group, and Army Staff Sgt. Erich Friedlein, with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, took first place in the Lt. Gen. David E. Grange Jr. Best Ranger Competition, the first time the 33-year-old competition has been won by an Army Guard team.

"It still really hasn't totally sunk in yet," said Friedlein, after finishing the competi-tion. "I'm just really amazed. I can't believe we did it after three days of struggling and just constantly trying to chip away [at the competition for] first place."

Army Guard teams also took first place honors in the Sullivan Cup, which names the best of the best among Army tank crews, the Army's annual best sniper com-petition and the International Sniper Com-petition.

The National Guard also expanded cyber capabilities this year with the addition of the 185th Cyber Operations Squadron, an Air National Guard unit based in Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. The Guard now boasts 40 cyber units in 29 states.

"We are active in nearly every facet of cy-berspace operations," said Lengyel. "And we practice our capabilities routinely at all levels."

As the year closed out, Guard members be-gan preparations for the 58th Presidential Inauguration, scheduled for the end Janu-ary. Guard members from more 40 states, territories and the District of Columbia will be among about 15,000 military ser-vice members supporting the event. More than 8,000 Guard members are scheduled to take part in a variety of roles including marching in the inaugural parade and as-sisting local authorities with crowd control and security assistance.

As Soldiers and Airmen from throughout the Guard look back on the past year, they also stand ready for 2017.

"Although we are proud of our heritage and our past, I am more excited about our future," said Lengyel.

National Guard looks back on busy 2016, prepares for 2017

Soldiers from the Louisiana Army National Guard navigate a flooded road while respond-ing to severe flooding in the southern part of the state in March. This year saw thousands of Guard members respond to floods in Louisi-ana, as well as the East Coast, parts of Wiscon-sin and West Virginia. Guard members also re-sponded to a variety of other natural disasters, deployed overseas, continued to train for ad-ditional missions and wrapped up a busy 2016 with preparations for taking part in the 58th presidential inauguration. Photo by Master Sgt. Toby Valadie


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By STAFF SGT. EDDIE SIGUENZA69th Public Affairs Detachment

Once again, the California Army National Guard’s top 1 percent of enlistees and non-commissioned officers (NCOs) underwent a mentally challenging and physically grueling test to determine the state’s best of the best in this year’s Best Warrior Com-petition.

Seven Soldiers and five noncommissioned officers competed in the 2017 Best Warrior Competition (BWC) Nov. 1-5. The annual event determines the California National Guard’s Soldier of the Year and NCO of the Year. The two winners will represent California at the National Guard Bureau’s regional competition March 2017, which California will host.

“Competition raises the level of ability and competencies for all who participate,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph R. Menard Jr., California Army National Guard com-mand sergeant major. “This level of com-petition continues to raise the challenge bar for each competitor to reach the level as the best warrior within the California Army National Guard.”

Added Menard, “We have developed the competition to be mentally and physically challenging. Each competitor will perform both standard Army individual tasks and non-standard tasks that will require physi-cal endurance, mental resilience and criti-cal thinking skills.”

Competitors represented five California Guard brigades and one division. Earlier in the year they won their respective compe-titions that enabled them to participate in BWC.

“Anyone can be a Soldier,” said Spc. Aurora M. Pass, representing the 115th Regional Support Group. “But only a few can be a Warrior.”

There were a few changes to this year’s event. Organizers integrated fitness tests

from the Occupational Physical Assess-ment Test (OPAT), a four-part test that evaluates a Soldier’s fitness level. The U.S. Army introduced the OPAT earlier this year, and California BWC leaders included parts of the test in one of dozens of events during the competition.

“Since we are testing and selecting the California Army National Guard best war-rior to compete at the region and national levels, our competition is not that unique. While the competition we develop needs to reinforce performance in similar events that will be seen at the region and national

levels, we add events that are not standard Army tasks,” Menard said.

The OPAT includes a standing long jump, seated power throw, strength deadlift and an interval aerobic run.

Another change was in the 11-mile ruck sack march, where competitors hauled a 35-pound ruck sack around Camp Roberts, California. Competitors boarded a CH-47 Chinook helicopter and landed at Camp Roberts at the march starting line.

Regular events consisted of a written exam,

obstacle course challenge, drill and ceremo-ny, in ranks inspection, land navigation and a taste of nerve gas in the Chemical, Bio-logical, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) chamber. Competitors paced themselves in an unknown distance run and later quali-fied with M-9 pistols and M-4/M-16 rifles. A mystery event—where each competitor had to crawl through a 50-meter tunnel, shoot at non-live targets and drag a 180-pound training prop uphill—proceeded a Public Affairs event that simulated a press confer-ence with reporters and cameras.

“The purpose of (BWC) is to identify that one NCO and that one enlisted Soldier who stands out above all the rest,” said Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey Winch, operations noncom-missioned officer of the California Guard’s 223rd Regional Training Institute, which hosted the event. “The best thing (for all competitors) is to take your time. I know time is a commodity, but really you want to take your time to make sure that you’re accurate. Sometimes it’s better to have bet-ter accuracy than it is to have a better time. (They) just have to stay focused at their task at hand, what they’re currently work-ing on. Don’t overthink things.”

The competition concluded with a review board, where Soldiers and NCOs stood in dress uniform before senior noncom-missioned officers. Competitors answered questions, earning points for correct re-sponses.

“For some the competition with one's self becomes more important than competing against other Soldiers,” Menard said. “At the end, I want each competitor to go from this a better Soldier and leader than when they started. Compete against each other and against yourself, but also become part of the team of competitors striving to be something larger than just themselves.”

BWC winners will be announced late Janu-ary 2017 at a ceremony in San Diego, Me-nard explained. That gives them ample preparation time for the March 2017 re-gionals.

The quest for the bestCalifornia guardsmen tested in 2017 Best Warrior Competition on the Central Coast

Twelve contestants vied for the Best of the Best honor Nov. 1-5 in the California Army National Guard’s 2017 Best Warrior Competition at Camp San Luis Obispo and Camp Roberts, Califor-nia. Photo by Staff Sgt. Eddie Siguenza

LEFT: Sgt. James W. Peterson, Intel & Sustainment Co, 40th Infantry Division, California Army National Guard, struggles in The Weave, an obstacle course event that requires competitors to go over and under an overhead beam during California’s 2017 Best Warrior Competition Nov. 1-5, 2016, at Camp San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo, California RIGHT: Spc. Jazmin Garcia-Aguilar of the California Army National Guard’s 870th Military Police Company, 49th Military Police Brigade, assembles an M-4 rifle during the weapons event of California’s 2017 Best Warrior Competition Nov. 1-5, 2016, at Camp San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo, California Photos by Staff Sgt. Eddie Siguenza


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By STAFF SGT. SALLI SABLANCalifornia Military Department Public Affairs

Civilians who want to enlist and Soldiers who want to transfer into more physically de-manding military occupational specialty (MOS) jobs such as infantry, will be required to prove they can handle the fitness demands through new physical screening testing.

A tool new to Army recruiting, the Occupational Physical Assessment Test, or OPAT, serves to screen for job selection. This year’s competitors in the state’s Best Warrior Com-petition got a chance to see what the OPAT is all about.

“The OPAT is a physical assessment test like the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Bat-tery Test), used to evaluate the suitability for Soldiers to perform in certain military jobs,” said Command Sgt. Major Vincent Herbert with the Recruiting and Retention Battalion.

“It was included as a competition event so that everyone from competitors, sponsors and support staff could learn about it. They could return to their brigades and use the OPAT for recruiting and re-classing purposes,” said Herbert.

“It was interesting to see how this testing measures your strength and endurance differ-ently than the APFT (Army Physical Fitness Test),” said Sgt. Natalie Aquino, a military police with the 49th Military Police Brigade.

Noncommissioned Officer in Charge of the event for the competition, Sgt. 1st Class Chris-tian Palisoc, with the 223rd Regional Training Institute, said this new tool is valuable to the school house that runs the competition because, “with this testing in place, students attending our 88M (Motor Transport Operator) course will be physically fit and capable to perform the daily duties of the 88M.”

Gender-neutral testing The four event, job specific, fitness testing includes the standing long jump, seated power throw, strength deadlift and the interval aerobic run; commonly known as the beep test. There is only one scoring scale, without separate charts for age and gender.

“I thought it was a very good test with a lot of variation relating to different MOS’s,” said Spc. Daniel Geray, a Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems (TUAS) Operator with the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. “Because it is gender neutral, for equality and neutrality, this tool is a big step forward.”

OPAT scores are split into four color coded, physical demand categories: heavy (black), significant (gray), moderate (gold) and unprepared (white).

Re-class Soldiers or new recruits who meet the black, highest physical demand standards

qualify for all jobs and minimally, all must meet the moderate/gold standards. Job selec-tion at this level will be limited to less physically demanding professions.

With last year’s removal of all gender-based restrictions on military service, the OPAT will be used to screen the more than 220,000 previously all-male infantry, armor and Special Forces fields across the military, now open to those that score in the heavy or black cat-egory.

In regards to diversity, the use of this tool will, “combine genders because there is just one standard,” said Aquino. “It might encourage females to attempt to join combat jobs if they can meet those standards.”

Job selection and testingLower body muscles used for lifting and carrying supplies or heavy fuel container are measured by the standing long jump. Two practice jumps are allowed and three success-ful jumps with a firm landing are required.

Upper body and core muscles used in repetitive but generally static duties like loading ammunition are measured by the seated power throw. Two practice throws of a 4.4 pound medicine ball are allowed while the member sits on the floor with their back and shoul-ders firmly against the wall. A yoga block is placed in the lower back area and legs are extended and straight. The test giver must push/throw the ball upwards and outwards for three successful attempts.

Lower body muscles used for more explosive lifting such as patient evacuation are mea-sured by the strength deadlift. Starting with 100 pounds minimally and progressing as high as 220 pounds sequentially, test givers watch for strict dead lift form and caution about pain or discomfort during the test. There is a one minute rest allowed in between progressions.

Aerobic fitness used for short burst activities common to combat arms jobs are measured by the interval aerobic run. The test starts with a 20-meter jog back and forth guided by a progressively faster beep with increasing levels mastered. This means runners need to increase their speed to level up and complete a higher number of shuttles.

Command Sgt. Major of the Army National Guard, Joseph Menard, said the APFT will continue to be an annual and entrance physical requirement. The ASVAB assesses mental ability while the OPAT screens physical requirements, he added, which can be used to direct a Soldier’s career and determine in which fields they can be successful.

“If you come in to the military and you’ve been screened to take a job you’re likely to be successful at and then thrive, you will remain in the field and advance your military career because of that success,” said Menard.

Job specific fitness tests unveiled at Best WarriorThe Army’s new Occupational Physical Assessment Test (OPAT) gets trial run as an event at Best Warrior Competition

Spc. Daniel Geray, 578th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Cali-fornia Army National Guard, tosses a medicine ball during the seated power throw of the Occu-pational Physical Assessment Test (OPAT) event of California’s 2017 Best Warrior Competition Nov. 1-5, 2016, at Camp San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo, California. Photos by Staff Sgt. Eddie Siguenza

“It was interesting to see how this testing measures your strength and endurance differently than the APFT.”- Sgt. Natalie Aquino

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By SGT. BRIANNE ROUDEBUSH69th Public Affairs Detachment

It’s a familiar scene for National Guard Soldiers and Airmen at the Del Valle Regional Training Center: rubble piles, precariously placed mannequins, medical tents, and decon-tamination stations. The scene is part of a disaster response exercise designed to prepare the California National Guard Homeland Response Force and civilian first responders to work in a collaborative effort in the event of an emergency.

The exercise, Vigilant Guard 17, which took place Nov. 14-18, called upon members of the California, Nevada and Hawaii National Guards and Federal Emergency Response Agency Region IX to respond to an earthquake in Nevada and subsequent aftershock in Los Angeles. Units participated in the exercise throughout California and Nevada. Those deployed to the Del Valle Regional Training Center practiced rescuing victims trapped in confined spaces.

“Really, the bottom line is that we build relationships with [civilian agencies] and get an understanding of how they work,” 1st Lt. Eric Neubauer, the battle captain with Head-

quarters and Headquarters Company, 579th Engineer Battalion, said. “They, in turn, have an understanding of how we work, so when an actual incident does come up, we are bet-ter prepared to respond efficiently.”

The exercise not only emphasizes interagency collaboration, but also teamwork among different National Guard units as well. Scenarios throughout the exercise required en-gineers, military police, chemical specialists and medical personnel to work together to conduct search and rescue operations and provide aid to victims.

“It promotes camaraderie,” 2nd Lt. Marta Petrenko, the 3rd platoon leader with the 235th Engineer Company (Sapper), said. “The guys on the team are really close and every time we go out and train, it just brings them closer together which promotes teamwork and makes things get done better and safer.”

These units train year-round to ensure they are prepared. Tech. Sgt. Jason Ramirez, a medical logistics noncommissioned officer with the 144th Fighter Wing, said, “It’s really important to continue these exercises with our civilian counterparts and National Guard brothers because this is what we are here for – to support our communities.”

Vigilant Guard: a collaborative emergency response effort

LEFT: Engineers with the 235th Engineer Company (Sapper) hoists a victim out of a confined space during search and rescue operations at the Del Valle Regional Training Center Nov. 17 during Vigilant Guard., which took place Nov. 14-18, and called upon members of the California, Nevada and Hawaii National Guards and Federal Emergency Response Agency Region IX to respond to an earthquake. TOP CENTER: Sgt. Susan Mead, left, with the 149th Chemical Company, helps an injured victim at the Del Valle Regional Training Center Nov. 17 during Vigilant Guard. BOTTOM CENTER: Staff Sgt. David Padilla, with the 144th Medical Group helps an injured victim at the Del Valle Regional Training Center Nov. 17. RIGHT: Engineers with the 235th Engineer Company (Sap-per) use jack hammers to breach a confined space for search and rescue operations at the Del Valle Regional Training Center Nov. 17. Photos by Sgt. Brianne Roudebush

By STAFF SGT. CHRISTINA COOPER69th Public Affairs Detachment

The California National Guard’s 115th Regional Support Group, based in Roseville, California, participated in this year’s Vigilant Guard—a multi-agency exercise designed to test the emergency response to a largescale disaster.

Vigilant Guard 17 took place Nov. 14-18 at multiple sites in Nevada and California. The National Guard Bureau and U.S. Army Northern Command (NORTHCOM) -supported exercise focused on the National Guard’s civil support re-sponse to a catastrophic Southern California earthquake.

“The 115th RSG role in Vigilant Guard was to provide the operational backbone to Task Force JRSOI (Joint Reception, Staging, Onward Movement, and Integration). We provided operational oversight of six JRCs (Joint Reception Center) and two mobile JRSOI operations to move over 10,000 na-tional forces from within California and numerous other states to impacted areas,” said Major Mario Acevedo, 115th RSG operations officer.

Soldiers, Airmen, and civilians participating in the training were from the California Military Department and Nevada National Guard, with exercise support from the California

Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), Nevada Depart-ment of Emergency Management, FEMA, and local juris-dictions in the Southern California and Las Vegas response areas.

“Because of our emergency disaster response exercises throughout the year, we are prepared to respond to real world disasters,” said Master Sgt. Ernest Serrato, 115th RSG operations NCO. “These exercises have highlighted gaps in our execution of our joint reception centers and have afford-

ed us the opportunity to adapt and overcome any shortcom-ing in our operation.”

In the event of a largescale disaster, the 115th RSG operates Joint Reception Centers where activated military personnel are in-processed and then deployed to the affected disaster areas to perform associated search and extraction opera-tions, decontamination procedures and medical aid.

During Vigilant Guard 17, the 115th Regional Support Group monitored convoy movements to and from the earth-quake training locations. Evaluators from 1st Army Midwest were at the 115th RSG headquarters building conducting an evaluation on the preparedness and readiness of the deploy-ing units.

“Citizen Soldiers who are civilian first responders bring an additional level of expertise to our operation, allowing us to quickly assess training injects and accurately make decisions during the logistical and troop onward integration phase,” Serrato said.

Vigilant Guard is one of many exercises the California Na-tional Guard conducts throughout the year. The exercises are designed to give Soldiers fine-tuned training in prepara-tion for real world disasters.

115th RSG provides ‘operational backbone’ for Vigilant Guard 17

First Lt. Brian Bell, battle captain for Task Force Joint Re-ception, Staging and Onward Integration (JRSOI), moni-tors 115th RSG operations in Roseville, California, during Vigilant Guard 2017. Photo by Capt. Kara Siepmann

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By SPC. AMY CARLE69th Public Affairs Detachment

Soldiers from the 49th Military Police Brigade’s 270th Military Police Company and 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry Regi-ment, joined by Airmen from the 129th Air Rescue Wing, trained together with members of the Federal Emergency Man-agement Agency (FEMA) and the Los Angeles Fire Department at a FEMA training site in Sherman Oaks near Los Angeles. The exercise was designed to simulate a 6.7 magnitude earthquake originating in Nevada and then striking California in the following days. The training provid-ed an opportunity for service members to practice working with civilian agen-cies in the kind of realistic environment they could face in such a scenario, said 1st Lt. Michael Molina, commander of the 270th MP Company.

Molina said that working with outside agencies and understanding their capaci-ties and resources helps ensure Guards-men will be better prepared to respond if or when a disaster should occur.

Vigilant Guard 17 is one of the largest scale multi-state civil exercise the Guard has ever conducted, said 1st Lt. Brian Frizzie, executive officer for the 270th MP Company. Frizzie said it has been moti-vating to be able to train outside of an armory in a realistic environment, while also being part of a historic mission.

“We’re here as a part of a much larger, bigger picture,” he said.

The 270th was tasked to provide civil sup-port for local authorities during the simu-lated disaster, and focused its training on the kind of circumstances they could expect to encounter. Guardsmen at the FEMA site participated in realistic exercis-es including evacuating and treating casu-alties from a simulated train wreck, clear-ing vehicles and debris from an accident site, responding to civil unrest conditions and supporting medical airlift procedures.

The training was overseen by representa-tives from FEMA and the Los Angeles Fire Department. The exercises help the agen-cies become familiar with the differences between standard operating guidelines and communications, said Charles Garcia, Hazardous Materials and Logistics De-partment Captain for FEMA. Garcia said one of the key differences is the focus the military places on full security.

“We’d rather see you get here first,” he said. “You’re going to secure the area and we’re going to be looking good.”

The training is also an opportunity for the civilian agencies to better understand the tasks and skillsets the Guard can bring in a real-world environment, said Jeff Dapper, a Battalion Chief for the Los Angeles Fire Department. Dapper said that in a genu-ine disaster scenario, the fire department would likely be over capacity within 30 minutes, so it’s important to understand the capabilities Guard units can bring to the scene.

John Ruedy, an LAFD captain, echoed the value of the training, and said it has helped reinforce a great partnership be-

tween the fire department and the Guard.

“When we get pushed to the limit, we have someone to turn to when we need it,” Ruedy said.

For many of the participants, this was the first time they had a chance to get involved with a training of this size and scope, but Molina said he felt the unit had been able to achieve its objective at the site. He said Soldiers had built skills, relationships and

networks with local agencies that would help them in future scenarios.

Garcia, the FEMA representative agreed with the overall success and lessons learned during the training.

“It’s always going to better if you can talk before an incident,” Garcia said. “You’re so much ahead of the game. Ev-ery time we do this it’s going to be better and better.”

Vigilant Guard: Cal Guard trains with FEMA and LAFD

By STAFF SGT. EDDIE SIGUENZA69th Public Affairs Detachment

They were training for a riot. Hundreds of California Army National Guard military police, with dozens of tactical vehicles, were mobilizing for a mock civil distur-bance during Vigilant Guard 17, a larges-cale disaster response exercise from Nov. 14-18 in California and Nevada. Most of the Guard troops at a FEMA training site in Sherman Oaks were draped in their standard military-issued weapons, protec-tive shields and non-lethal crowd-control equipment.

But instead of facing an angry mob, the military police experienced the exact op-posite.

Members of the 270th and 649th Military Police Companies dropped defenses and opened their arms to hundreds of young students from the Emek Hebrew Acad-emy Teichman Family Torah Center — an institution just across the street from the units’ temporary training area — in what was a surprise for everyone. The citizen Soldiers momentarily put mission aside to welcome roughly 300 youngsters into their ranks.

“They came around asking for autographs from all the Soldiers — on their shoes, on their hands, on notes of paper,” said 1st Lt. Brian Frizzie, 270th executive officer. “It was really good for the kids as well as the Soldiers to get some positive appreciation from the community.”

The Soldiers, most of them based in North-

ern California, convoyed to this Los An-geles County area training site prepared to assist in the mega-disaster exercise in-volving dozens of local, state and federal agencies. The Soldiers’ role was to aid law enforcement in simulated scenarios, such as crime prevention and civil disturbanc-es. Not long after they arrived, a different request came, one involving a call to meet with young children.

“This is their academy right here. This is their community,” said Frizzie, point-ing across the street. “They were able to get a hold of us, asked if a couple of kids can come by. We said, ‘Send them over.’ The commander was more than willing to have them here and it went really well.”

First Lt. Michael J. Molina, 270th company commander, got his unit ready. They lined

up vehicles for the kids and instructors to see, showcased several weapons, and as-sured that everything was safe for all.

“When they saw us coming into town, they were very interested to know what was going on here. We invited them to see some of our vehicles and equipment,” Molina said. “They were very fascinated in what we do. They had a lot of great questions. It was great chance for us to get out and meet another community partner-ship, especially a local school.”

Added Molina, “Their curiosity was very high. They don’t see this much movement coming through with this many troops.”

About 700 students from grades one to eight attend the Emek academy, accord-ing to its website.

“Emek is a place where our children are taught to the highest standards, pro-tected with care, and loved like they are family,” the school’s website says. “Our atmosphere is a serious but warm one, conducive to learning and to success. Our primary goal is to empower Emek’s stu-dents with Jewish values so that they will go out into the world with an unwaver-ing devotion to living a moral and ethical life.”

One surprise for the National Guard Sol-diers was the students’ interest in women who serve as military police.

Frizzie said one of the cooler things was some of the girls and women instructors from the academy asked if they could be in the Army. “Well, guess what? I actually have some female Soldiers here who have been successful, who have deployed,” Frizzie said. “A lot of (the students) came up and for a half hour got to sit down with some of our female Soldiers who said, ‘Yes, you can join the military too. It’s not just for boys.’”

Molina said the girls were fascinated. “They saw a lot of females within our ranks. They had a lot of great questions. Morale was at our highest. We had a blast with the kids.”

The interaction lasted a few hours. Par-ents and teachers eventually gathered the students and marched them across the street, to the dismay of quite a few.

“How did that impact us?” Frizzie asked. “It was very positive.”

California MPs welcome youngsters during Vigilant Guard

Members of the 270th and 649th Military Police companies move into formation to respond to a civil disturbance Nov. 17 during Vigilant Guard 17 at the Federal Emergency Management Agency Headquarters, California Task Force I, Los Angeleses. Photo by Staff Sgt. Eddie Siguenza

LEFT and ABOVE: California Army Nation-al Guardsmen from the 270th and 649th Military Police Companies, 49th Military Police Brigade, welcomed hundreds of stu-dents as well as faculty from Emek Hebrew Academy Teichman Family Torah Center prior to start of Vigilant Guard 17 at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) California Task Force 1, Los Ange-les. Photos by Staff Sgt. Eddie Siguenza

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TOP LEFT: Pfc. David Chang of the California Army National Guard’s Headquarters Support Company, 40th Infantry Division, sprints during the interval aerobic run of the Occupational Physical Assessment Test (OPAT) event of California’s 2017 Best Warrior Competition Nov. 1-5 at Camp San Luis Obispo. TOP RIGHT: Spc. Spc. Aurora Pass of the 49th Personnel Support Company makes her way through an obstacle course tunnel during California’s 2017 Best Warrior Competition at Camp San Luis Obispo. BOTTOM RIGHT: Spc. Fabio Avetisyan, Headquar-ters-Headquarters Detachment, 1106th Theater Aviation Sustainment Maintenance Group, pulls a 180-pound training dummy up a hill to a medical skid at Camp San Luis Obispo during Best Warrior. BOTTOM LEFT: Spc. Patrick Mayo of the 118th Maintenance Company, 224th Sustainment Brigade, carries a 35-pound pack and closes on the 11-mile Ruck Sack finish line at Camp Roberts during Best Warrior. Photos by Staff Sgt. Eddie Siguenza MIDDLE LEFT: Pfc. David Chang of Headquarters Support Company, 40th Infantry Division, exits a gas chamber during the Chemi-cal, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) event during Best Warrior at Camp San Luis Obispo. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Andres Viveros

A t a G l a n c e

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LEFT: A California Army National Guardsman from the 270th Military Police Company eyes a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter preparing to land in Los Angeles’ Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Headquarters, California Task Force I, on Nov. 17 during Vigilant Guard 17. RIGHT: Spc. Ricardo Denis of the 649th Military Police Company through a cracked train window for survivors Nov. 17 during Vigilant Guard 17. Photos by Staff Sgt. Eddie Siguenza

LEFT: Students from Emek Hebrew Academy Teichman Family Torah Center share a photo moment while visiting the 270th and 649th Military Police Companies, 49th Military Police Brigade, California Army National Guard, prior to start of Vigilant Guard 17 at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) California Task Force 1, Los Angeles. Photo by 1st Lt. Michael Molina RIGHT: Engineers with the 235th Engineer Company (Sapper) hoist a medical technician with the 144 Fighter Wing into a confined space during search and rescue operations at the Del Valle Regional Training Center Nov. 17 during Vigilant Guard. Photo by Sgt. Brianne Roudebush

ABOVE LEFT: Veteran’s were honored at the 2016 Veteran’s Day observance at Mather Field, California. Photo by Master Sgt. David Loeffler RIGHT: Firefighters from five Central Coast fire departments conduct a controlled burn on a hillside on Camp Roberts on Dec. 6. Photo by Capt. Jason Sweeney BELOW LEFT: Cal Guard Command Sgt. Major William Clark Jr. fires off some sim rounds in the Re-configurable Tactical Trainer during a visit to Camp Roberts on Nov. 10. Photo by Capt. Jason Sweeney

12


By CHAPLAIN (CAPT.) EDWARD GANIGAN163rd Attack Wing Staff Chaplain

In the past couple of months certain events filled my life: 1) a trip to the emergency room 2) a notification of our rent being raised 3) a follow up visit to the doctor 4) a plane ride to an unknown, never visited before place 5) an unpleasant confrontational discussion needing to take place with another person 6) an accident on the free-way 7) an election that would decide who would be the leader for the next four years at least of the greatest na-tion of this green earth. There is a commonality in all these events for me. In each of them, some to a greater degree than others, there were moments when this sobering, absolute realization be-came crystal clear: namely that there things that happen in life that I have little to no control over. I don’t know about you, but I like being in control! For me those situ-ations rob me of this spiritual condition of resting in and being at peace. In those situations, my peace is depen-dent upon someone or something else. An emergency medical technician. The landlord. The doctor. A pilot. Other voters and our democratic system. And although I’ve put my trust in those more capable than me, I find that a truer, more real and lasting sense of peace comes when I pray.

A powerful reminder about peace through prayer that I’ve found helpful comes from the movie “Rudy”. It’s the true story about a tiny Catholic boy, with average grades and average athletic skills, from a steel mill town, fight-ing against all odds in his attempt to achieve his child-hood dream of playing football at Notre Dame. After giving his all in the classroom and on the practice field he finds himself in chapel wondering if he’s done enough. A Catholic priest who’s been helping him comes in and the following dialogue takes place:

Father Cavanaugh: [in church] Taking your appeal to a higher authority?Rudy: I’m desperate. If I don’tget in next semester, it’s over. Notre Dame doesn’t accept senior transfers.Father Cavanaugh: Well, you’ve done a hell of a job kid, chasing down your dream.Rudy: Who cares what kind of job I did if it doesn’t pro-duce results? It doesn’t mean anything.Father Cavanaugh: I think you’ll find that it will.Rudy: Maybe I haven’t prayed enough.Father Cavanaugh: I don’t think that’s the problem. Praying is something we do in our time, the answers come in God’s time.Rudy: If I’ve done everything I possibly can, can you help me?Father Cavanaugh: Son, in 35 years of religious study,

I’ve come up with only two hard, incontrovertible facts; there is a God, and, I’m not Him.

Somehow, in some way, praying acknowledges that someone, something bigger and greater than my situ-ation and myself, exists. In praying I humbly acknowl-edge that there is someone who is willing to hear my cry for help and someone who can do something about my appeal. And then something incredible -- and mystical -- happens. I come to know that there is a God, that I am not Him, and that He does indeed care to know my concerns and as I pour that out to Him I receive peace.

Peace. It’s a word that adorns our greeting cards during the Christmas season. It’s the gift we wish for others and for ourselves. It is an essential piece of having a healthy and refreshed soul.

Prayer. It’s the pathway God provides to know peace in a world filled with uncertainties, in the midst of events beyond our control, to know shalom in the deepest parts of our soul.

We at the 163d Chaplain Corps would love to pray for you, pray with you, or connect you to the faith group you identify with to grow in knowing peace through the pathway of prayer.

Finding peace through the spiritual pathway of prayer

Story courtesy of the Los Angeles Lakers Community Relations Department

Members of the 163d Attack Wing joined the Los Angeles Lakers and their partner, Pechanga Resort & Casino, Friday, Oct. 21, for the third of three basketball clinics held at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, and the Honda Center in Anaheim, as part of the 2016 Hoops for Troops program. These clinics allowed the Lakers the opportunity to actively engage with members of the United States Air Force, Marines, and Navy both on and off the court. Each clinic hosted 50 servicemen and women, as they participated in a variety of shooting, passing, and ball handling drills, overseen by former Laker, Brian Cook.

The basketball drills at the clinics eventually evolved into small competitions, as each group was split into two opposing teams. Participants then had the chance to win a spot to be the Honorary Team Captain and the Game Ball Delivery person for the following game. The clinics concluded with a final game of knockout, which included every participant on the court and created an electrified atmosphere as family members cheered from the sidelines. In addition to the basketball and competition aspects of the clinics, Cook and the Lakers staff also highlighted the Laker values of teamwork and sportsmanship. At the conclusion of each clinic, military members and their families were able capture their memories on the court and continue making memories by receiving Lakers tickets to the following preseason game.

Airmen from the 163d Attack Wing work out with members of the Los Angeles Lakers organization Oct. 21 at the Honda Center in Anaheim. Photos courtesy of the Los Angeles Lakers

Game on!Airmen from the 163rd Attack Wing workout with the Los Angeles Lakers

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Delegations from Ukraine and Nigeria visit CaliforniaSenior leaders from the Ukrainian and Nigerian militaries tour state and strengthen partnerships with Cal GuardBy CAPT. JASON SWEENEYCalifornia Military Department Public Affairs

Two high-profile visits to California from Ukrainian and Nigerian senior military leaders took place in November.

Both Ukraine and Nigeria are partnered with the Califor-nia National Guard as part of the National Guard’s State Partnership Program. The purpose of the program is to enhance military ties and strengthen partnerships with na-tions around the world.

The California National Guard’s partnership with Nigeria was established in 2006 while that with Ukraine dates back to 1993.

On Nov. 9, Lt. Gen. Yuriy Allerov, Commander of the Ukraine National Guard, Col. Vladimir Grabchak, Depu-ty Director of Internal Relations for the Ukraine National Guard, and their interpreter, Oksana Goncharuk, arrived in Camp Roberts Combined Arms Collective Training Fa-

cility California to gain familiarization with Cal Guard fa-cilities, capabilities and the regional area of operations.

The Ukrainian delegation visited Camp Roberts with Maj. Gen. David Baldwin, Adjutant General of the California National Guard on Nov. 10 as part of the weeklong famil-iarization visit.

The distinguished visitors flew from Sacramento to Camp Roberts in a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and were met by Camp Roberts garrison commander, Col. Nicole Balliet, and Camp Roberts Command Sgt. Maj. James Norris, who showed them the post’s facilities and training capabilities.

The tour included a visit to the post’s Reconfigurable Tacti-cal Trainer (RVTT), a convoy operations simulator, and a walk-through of newly refurbished barracks. After lunch at the post’s dining facility, they toured the Camp Roberts Combined Arms Collective Training Facility (CACTF), and the Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (TUAS) Facility where they observed the launch and operation of a RQ-7B

Shadow unmanned aerial vehicle.

At the conclusion of the tour, the visiting party departed by UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter for Sacramento.

In Sacramento, the Ukrainians attended a Veterans Day Commemoration, visited Joint Force Headquarters and attended a dinner event with the local Ukrainian commu-nity.

The Nigerian delegation visited the state to observe Vigi-lant Guard, an earthquake response exercise Nov. 12-18 in Los Angeles County and Nevada that tested the Cal Guard’s ability to work with civilian agencies as part of its Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA) mission.

The Nigerian delegation included Air Vice Marshall Em-manuel Oche Anebi of the Nigerian Air Force, Quintus Gerald Azogu of the Nigerian Federal Fire Service and Lt. Col. Ibrahim Babatunde Gambari of the Nigerian Army.

The purpose of the event was to allow them to observe and experience Cal OES and the California National Guard’s response to state emergencies.

The Nigerian delegation visited several key emergency management civilian agencies and met with key leaders of Sacramento County Office of Emergency Services and the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District.

The Nigerian delegation had several days of introduction meetings with key leaders in both the state and California National Guard leadership.

“This really showcased our ability to partner with Nige-ria specifically for DSCA and they were able to learn a lot from our interactions,” said Maj. Michael Martin, Cal Guard State Partnership Program officer.

TOP: Cal Guard Soldiers pose for a photo with a visiting Ukrainian military delegation Nov. 10 at Camp Roberts, California. Cal Guard Adjutant General Maj. Gen. David Baldwin, center left on the sidewalk, took Ukrainian Lt. Gen. Yuriy Allerov, center right, on a tour of the camp’s facilities. Photo by Capt. Jason Sweeney BELOW LEFT: Lt. Gen. Yuriy Allerov presents Camp Roberts Gar-rison Commander Col. Nicole Balliet with a plaque during his visit of the camp on Nov. 10. Photo by Capt. Jason Sweeney BELOW CENTER: Nigerian Air Vice Marshall Emmanuel Oche Anebi, centertours an exercise location in Los Angeles County during exercise Vigilant Guard, an earthquake response exercise in Southern California Nov. 12-18. Photo by Brandon Honig BOTTOM RIGHT: Brig. Gen. Laura Yeager, center, speaks with Nigerian Air Vice Marshall Emmanuel Oche Anebi during a meeting at Joint Forces Headquarters, Sacramento, in November. Cal Guard photo

LEFT: Cal Guard Adjutant General Maj. Gen. David Baldwin, left, tells Ukrainian Lt. Gen. Yuriy Allerov about barracks renovations on Camp Roberts on Nov. 10. RIGHT: Capt. Franklyn Pangelinan briefs Lt. Gen. Yuriy Allerov on a mannequin used in combat simulations at the Camp Roberts Combined Arms Collective Training Facility on Nov. 10. Photos by Capt. Jason Sweeney

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By 2ND LT. CHRISTIAN PALANCA140th Chemical Company

The 140th Chemical Company out of Gar-dena, California, participated in a training exercise in August at the former home of Fort McClellan, and the United States Army Chemical School. Located in Anniston, Ala-bama, the area now contains small United States Army Reserve and National Guard components.

The unit’s annual training was conducted in Anniston because it is home to the Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP), which provides specialty training. The CDP is run by the Federal Emergency Manage-ment Agency (FEMA) and is used for train-ing emergency responders to respond to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, explosive (CBRNE), or any other hazardous materials (HAZMAT) incident.

The 140th registered for three courses pro-vided by the CDP in the two weeks it en-gaged in training at the facility. All of the courses related to response to HAZMAT incidents. The courses were led by a team of extremely knowledgeable instructors with years of time in the field responding to CBRNE and HAZMAT incidents. The staff came from a variety of backgrounds: firefighters, police officers, bomb squad, hazmat and military. Each instructor brought different experiences and back-

grounds from throughout the country and passed on their extensive knowledge and experience of HAZMAT to the Soldiers of the 140th Chemical Company.

The course was run in a typical training environment with lectures on CBRNE and different types of HAZMAT response. Equipment familiarization was also a big part of the course. Advanced equipment introduced during the courses were used to monitor what is in the air or detect samples of liquids or solids. MultiRAE, FirstDefender, and the Ludlum are all new pieces of equipment for the 140th, but ex-tremely important to any CBRNE incident. The 140th also trained on familiar pieces of equipment: the joint chemical agent detec-tor (JCAD) and M256, both used to detect

nerve, blister, and blood agents. But the knowledge gained on new equipment is just as important as the refresher on the equipment they are accustomed to.

As a chemical company the 140th is famil-iar with using MOPP (Mission Oriented Protective Posture) 4 protective suits; but the CDP takes personal protective equip-ment beyond the standard U.S. Army is-sued Joint Service Lightweight Integrated Suit Technology (JSLIST). The Soldiers had the opportunity to experience operations in level A, B, C, and D Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)—Level D being a typi-cal work uniform. Level C PPE is similar to MOPP 4 as they both use air-purifying respirators and a protective outer layer of clothing. Level B uses a chemical resistant splash suit with a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). Level A is the highest level of protection. Level A uses SCBA but the fully encapsulating splash and vapor resistant suit is worn on the outside which protects the SCBA.

“There are several tactical and operational applications that are unique to level A PPE and MOPP level 4. The one thing they do share in common? They both make you sweat buckets!” said Spc. John Soto, of the 140th.

What made this training extremely ben-eficial to the Soldiers of the 140th was the

amount of hands-on training and situation-al exercises they participated in. The 140th conducted training in all types of PPE to better prepare them for the challenges they face in the real world. In order to simulate the most realistic training possible the 140th entered the Chemical, Ordnance, Biologi-cal, and Radiological Training Facility, or COBRATF for short. The COBRATF is a live agent chamber where the Soldiers of the 140th got to test their skills and knowledge putting to use the equipment they trained on with live chemical and biological agents.

Suiting up into MOPP 4, the 140th entered the hot zone to test unknown powders and liquids. What they found inside the hot zone included radiation sources, anthrax, ricin, GB (sarin) and VX nerve agents. The COBRATF gave confidence to the 140th that they could effectively and safely work in a hot zone with their PPE. It also showed them that their equipment does what it’s supposed to do. Being able to swab a sur-face that looks non-threatening and get a positive hit for ricin can put a new per-spective on the dangers of a CBRNE or HAZMAT situation.

After two weeks, two live agent chambers, and countless hours of invaluable training, the 140th Chemical Company headed home to Gardena, bringing back with them the knowledge and experience from a once-in-a-lifetime training opportunity.

The 140th Chemical trains with the CDP in Alabama

Soldiers from the 140th Chemical Company attending training at the CDP pose for a photo with their battalion leadership, Lt. Col. Noland Flores and Command Sgt. Maj. Roddrick Pul-len. Photo courtesy of the CDP

By CAPT. JASON SWEENEYCalifornia Military Department Public Affairs

The hills were aflame Dec. 6 at Camp Roberts. But the fire was part of a controlled burn conducted by several Central Coast fire departments who were able to get some great training on one of the camp's designated hand crew train-ing areas.

Twenty-five firefighters from San Luis Obispo City Fire,

Paso Robles City Fire, Morro Bay City Fire, Templeton Fire and the Camp Roberts Fire Department used drip torches to ignite brush over about 200 acres.

The firefighters were training on communications and ignition, essentially preemptively burning away brush to deny a wildfire fuel.

“The purpose of this training is to get agencies to work to-gether,” Camp Roberts Fire Chief John Neilson said.

The training killed several birds with one stone by allow-ing local firefighters a rare opportunity to conduct hand crew training while also assisting the Camp Roberts weed abatement management plan and reducing the fuel load in the burn area to help prevent future fires.

“Camp Roberts is one of the few places where an agency can put fire on the ground and do hand crew training and progressive fire hose training,” Neilson said. “This is an amazing opportunity that very few fire departments have.”

Firefighters train on the burning hills of Camp RobertsFirefighters from five fire departments conducted a controlled burn on the hills of Camp Roberts on Dec. 6 for training purposes and weed abatement. Photos by Capt. Jason Sweeney

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By BRANDON HONIGCalifornia Military Department Public Affairs

Completing a National Guard Youth ChalleNGe program is a transformative experience. Cadets all enter the pro-gram voluntarily, but bring with them with a variety of motivations: to make up school credits, get “cool” military training or earn a second chance after burning bridges with behavioral problems, to name a few.

The ChalleNGe cadre and staff, though, aren’t just inter-ested in the cadets’ personal goals: They set out to change cadets’ whole outlook, and giving back to their communi-ties is part of that transformative process.

“Cadets become motivated during the ChalleNGe pro-gram to become better citizens, and service to community is part of that eye-opening experience,” said Air Force Lt. Col. Denise Varner, director of the Sunburst Youth Chal-leNGe Academy in Los Alamitos, California. “This is the first opportunity that many of our cadets have had to do something positive in their community and reap the re-wards – reap the gratitude of their neighbors – which fur-ther instills their desire to help others.”

The 40 ChalleNGe programs in 30 states and territories welcome high school dropouts and at-risk teens for a 22-week residential program that promotes the values of discipline, hard work, academic excellence and caring for your community. Service to community is a vital part of each cadet’s growth, and every cadet contributes at least 40 hours during the ChalleNGe program’s residential phase.

Cadets at the Puerto Rico ChalleNGe Academy, for ex-ample, have volunteered to perform maintenance, garden-ing and painting at public schools, municipal facilities and low-income elderly families’ homes, and they have spent quality time at a children’s home.

“Out of all of the community service activities, the one I most enjoyed was at the homes of the elderly people,” said cadet Kevin Morales Alejandro. “Besides the help [we gave them], seeing the happiness in their faces as we danced, sang and played dominoes with them, it just filled me with joy. It’s an experience that I would repeat over

and over again.”

Alejandro’s experience was just one of thousands like it in October for cadets in ChalleNGe programs all over the country, which organized the ChalleNGe program’s in-augural National Day of Service this year on Oct. 23. The nationwide push was the brainchild of Sunburst’s Warrant Officer 1 (CA) Rochelle Sonza, who said she wants to bring attention to the good work the ChalleNGe program is do-ing, both for communities and cadets.

“We want to shine a light on how these kids give back, be-cause service alone changes communities, and it changes the kids to know they are doing something good,” said Sonza, Sunburst’s community outreach coordinator. “Ev-ery service we do stems from compassion, and there is meaning behind it. So the kids can walk away understand-ing who they are helping and the impact they are making,

and how to ‘be the change’ for their community simply by caring.”

Sonza has worked at Sunburst for nearly 10 years, and she has seen firsthand the dramatic, lasting effects the Chal-leNGe program has on youths. The program’s tremendous success is the reason California is preparing to open its third Youth ChalleNGe academy this winter in Lathrop, giving the Cal Guard a ChalleNGe academy in Northern, Central and Southern California.

Meanwhile, many states still do not have a single Chal-leNGe academy.

“When you really think about it, why doesn’t every state have a ChalleNGe academy? Because they don’t know who we are,” Sonza said. “We need local community sup-port in addition to congressional support … and we can be an unstoppable force.”

Establishing a ChalleNGe National Day of Service, similar to the law enforcement community’s National Night Out, will hopefully generate enough awareness that people out-side the program will recognize Oct. 23 as the ChalleNGe Day of Service in years to come, she said. Oct. 23 was cho-sen because President George H.W. Bush signed legisla-tion establishing the ChalleNGe program on that date in 1992.

Social media posts about the National Day of Service are marked with #ChalleNGe4ChaNGe.

Sonza said new cadets don’t fully understand the value in performing service until they actually get into the commu-nity and do it. But once they pitch in to help others, they end up loving the experience.

“[Service to community] made me realize that some people have it worse off than others, and there are also people who are willing to help, which is really a great thing,” said ca-det Garrett Wise, 16, from the Arkansas ChalleNGe Acad-emy, who recently helped out at a Habitat for Humanity ReStore. “It made me want to help where I can and do as much as I possibly can, and it made me have a good feeling about what we were doing.”

Sunburst initiates National Day of Service for Youth ChalleNGe academies

Cadet Migdel Ferrel of the California National Guard’s Sun-burst Youth ChalleNGe Academy in Los Alamitos, California, presents flowers last month to a resident of the Los Alamitos Senior Center, where cadets spent time last month brightening the residents’ day. The trip to the Senior Center was just one of many ways Sunburst cadets’ provide service to their commu-nity, which was highlighted this year through a nationwide Chal-leNGe Program social media campaign on Oct. 23 and tagged #ChalleNGe4ChaNGe. Photo courtesy of Sunburst

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By DUSTIN PERRYU.S. Army Inspector General Agency

Two new mobile applications developed by a Soldier provide quick and easy access to more than 500 Army reference materi-als and a worldwide database of Army In-spector General offices.

The IG Locator and DAIG Bookshelf apps -- both of which are now available for free downloading via the iTunes App Store -- were the idea of Maj. Brian Bettis, an in-spector general with the Department of the Army Inspector General Agency.

The IG Locator app is a digital directory that contains phone numbers and street addresses for Army IG offices both in the U.S. and overseas. The DAIG Bookshelf is a searchable database that offers users quick access to more than 500 publicly available Army materials -- regulations and other documents -- that are often ref-erenced by inspectors general as part of their duties.

The idea for the apps came to Bettis in October 2015, while was he on temporary duty in Chicago, attending the Defense Entrepreneurs Forum. The forum brings together “defense and national security leaders who strive to solve national se-curity problems … by exposing [them] to the techniques and experiences of civilian innovators and social entrepreneurs,” ac-cording to the DEF website.

Prior to the event, Bettis said he was hav-ing difficulty finding the correct phone number for an IG contact. Bettis con-cluded that if he, an inspector general, was having trouble getting in touch with a fellow inspector general, then the aver-age customer would likely encounter the same problem.

“After I got back [from the conference] and I was stewing on this for six months, I reached out to a guy I met at the DEF fo-rum and asked, 'How do I build an app?'” Bettis said. “He says, 'Give me a day and

I'll get back to you.'”

Bettis' contact put him in touch with peo-ple at the Army Research Laboratory, an Army organization that conducts research and analysis to develop communications, vehicle and weapons technology for the Army, and often works with private-sector partners. Bettis submitted a PowerPoint slide he made that outlined his concept for the apps to ARL. He initially envisioned creating a mobile “tech channel” -- a se-cure, up-to-date digital phone and email roster for IGs worldwide to make it easier for them to contact each other.

The Locator app could also be “crowd-sourced,” as Bettis described it, meaning that if registered users found an error, they could submit the correct email ad-dress, phone number or street address for their respective IG location, and it would be immediately updated in the database.

“If a soldier is out in South Dakota and is looking for the IG office, and the app has the wrong address and he finds it, he can correct it,” Bettis said. “Hopefully this helps Soldiers get to their IG office faster than having to wait on a phone call back from the Pentagon.”

The concept of the Bookshelf app came about as Bettis wanted to give IGs and Sol-diers quick and searchable access to Army regulations, pamphlets and other official documents. More than 500 documents are available in Bookshelf, and are searchable with a keyword “find” function. Addi-tional features are planned for the app in the near future, Bettis said.

“My hope is that it [the Bookshelf app] will lessen the amount of work that some IGs get based off of complaints that could be easily solved by taking just a couple of minutes to look it up yourself,” Bettis said. “Anyone who has the app can do the re-search right on their phone.”

Though Bettis said his initial concept was rough -- “they were caveman drawings,” he joked -- ARL realized the potential of the idea and agreed to fund the project. His apps were added to an existing contract ARL had with TransApps, a DOD mobile apps program that began in 2010 and pro-vides Soldiers with a number of secure mo-bile applications that offer users a broad range of geospatial, tactical and analytic capabilities.

“There is this push for innovation in the military, and we're connected with another couple of entities through ARL in the gov-ernment, like the National Security Tech-nology Accelerator/MD5 and the Defense Innovation Unit Experimental, that are driving this innovation push,” said Chad Vanderslice, the principle investigator in the project. “Brian is a prime example of one of those [innovators] -- we call them 'intrepreneurs' because they're inside their organizations trying to make progress.”

A team of TransApps developers began working on the apps shortly after that. Lou Perna, a software development engineer with the veteran-owned development com-pany GXM Consulting, was asked to lead the project.

“We started having meetings with Brian and his stakeholders to go through and de-

termine, 'What are the critical requirements [of the apps] and what do they want to see them do?'” Perna said.

The first step was to create visual mockups of the apps to get an idea of how the inter-face would look. Once this was finalized, the development of the apps began. A sur-vey was conducted that revealed close to 90 percent of IGs use iPhones, so the decision was made to develop the apps on a plat-form called Xamarin, which is compatible with Apple's iOS operating system, but also allows for future cross-platform develop-ment for both the Android and Windows OS.

Test versions of the apps were finalized and uploaded to Apple's Test Flight program, which allows a select group of users to test apps, look for bugs and give feedback to the development team.

“It's been very exciting; we get to build something very quickly and get it out right away and get feedback,” Perna said. “This was an ideal environment for this project. We had a very involved stakeholder, and it's really been a wonderful experience.”

The proliferation of apps that have a func-tional and tactical use for the military has been rising steadily in the last five years, and they have primarily been developed for use in a wartime environment, Vander-slice said. Apps like those developed by Bettis demonstrate a “pendulum swing” to more peacetime missions.

“Generating ideas from within an inter-nal organization is not a novel thought; it's been going on for years, decades,” Vanderslice said. “This innovation trend is a new way to leverage technology and capabilities to get those ideas quickly up to decision makers … and get them out there quicker. I think this is obviously a trend that needs to continue.”

To download these apps, search “IG Loca-tor” and “IG Bookshelf” in the iTunes App Store.

New apps offer access to worldwide IGs

Maj. Brian Bettis, right, an inspector general with the Department of the Army Inspector General Agency, demonstrates to U.S. Army Inspector General Lt. Gen. David E. Quantock how to use the IG Locator, one of two smart-phone apps Bettis devised and developed with the Army Research Laboratory over the past year. Photo by Dustin Perry

By COL. (CA) RICK LALORJFTB Public Affairs

Capt. Spencer Murdock, who served as Alpha Company Com-mander for the California Army National Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion (RRB) before assuming his current duties as an RRB Deputy Commander, hails from a small town in Nebraska. In developing his personal lead-ership style, he has meshed to-gether the values of the American Heartland with skills acquired from his participation in two seemingly divergent sports – auto racing and wrestling.

Murdock’s father built a race shop behind the family home in Bassett, Nebraska, (population 515), using it as his base of opera-tions to drive sprint cars at tracks throughout the Midwest. It was only natural for his son to pick up the sport at an early age, driving

ATVs and go-karts and compet-ing in motocross while helping crew on his dad’s race team.

“Growing up in a racing environ-ment, crewing for my father and racing myself, I learned at a pret-ty young age that it was critical for all of the parts to fit into place so we could win,” Murdock said.

But Murdock’s first love was wrestling, a sport in which he competed in from age six through high school (earning all-confer-ence honors three times) and during his first year of college. Although he no longer competes, he has exchanged his wrestling shoes for a whistle and serves as a referee at the high school and college level.

“Once you wrestle, everything else in life is easy,” explained Murdock. “It is one-on-one com-petition and the sport pushes you

to always be the best you can be in practice and in competition. Your teammates and coaches make you better, and you help make your teammates better – both mentally and physically.

“Think about it! Wrestlers make good Soldiers because they have been pushed to the limit. There is nobody else to blame but your-self if you fail. But your battle buddies, like your teammates, help pick you up and push you to overcome barriers while focusing on the upside. In doing so all of you become a better team.”

It is often said that recruiting is the hardest job for a Soldier in the garrison environment. Physically and mentally, auto racing and wrestling are two of the hardest sports to succeed at. Murdock, who as a company commander controlled five teams and 35 re-cruiters in an operational foot-

print that encompassed metropol-itan Los Angeles, the high desert cities of Lancaster and Palmdale and communities along the coast from San Clemente to Lompoc – a total population base of some 15 million people – incorporated a lifetime of lessons learned on the track and the mat to build a suc-cessful and smooth-functioning team of Guard recruiters.

“We continually trained hard as a team to become experts in the required skill sets and constantly adapted ourselves to each of the many geographic and cultural environments we found our-selves working in,” said Mur-dock. “I empowered my leader-ship team and my field recruiters to maintain a positive attitude from top to bottom – to always believe that they would succeed at all levels!

“Recruiting is a very tough busi-

ness and everybody can have a bad month, but you have to deal with the ups and downs and the trials and tribulations,” con-cluded Murdock. “An attitude of ‘can’t’ never gets you any-where… It is essential to always look past the negatives, focus on the upside and keep moving forward.”

Capt. Spencer Murdock, a former wrestler, referees a wrestling match. Photo courtesy of Capt. Spencer Murdock

Recruiter finds inspiration in wrestling and racing

17


CDTF sends first military member to DEA basic intelligence courseBy SGT. BRIANNE ROUDEBUSHCounterdrug Task Force

For the first time, the Drug Enforcement Administration invited outside entities to attend their Basic Intelligence Research Specialist Academy. Staff Sgt. Bryan Ricablanca, a case support analyst with the California National Guard Counterdrug Task Force was the first military member to attend the school.

Ricablanca, who supports the Los Angeles DEA Field Division, was asked if he would be interested in attending the course and immediately jumped at the opportunity.

Since all DEA analysts attend the course, Ricablanca said having the same training allows him to better support the agency.

“Personally, I thought it would be beneficial for my own career development, but I also believe I will be more of an asset to Counterdrug,” Ricablanca said. “As far as the case work goes, it gave me more knowledge and skills and understanding of how the cases move from initiation to the courtroom process.”

The course, which was held Sept. 19 - Nov. 19 at the DEA Training Facility in Quantico, VA., focused heavily on procedures and case construction techniques.

“The best part was understanding law and courtroom procedures,” Ricablanca said. “They actually had us do a mock courtroom … and gave us tips on how to act in court and explain reports properly.”

Although as a member of CDTF, Ricablanca would not be called to court, he said the training gave him a better understanding of how to gather information for case construction.

From a training standpoint, Capt. Ruel Fuentecilla, the Counterdrug District Los Angeles officer in charge, said. “Most of [CDTF’s intelligence courses] are one or two weeks, so nothing compares to a nine-week agency course.”

Not only will Ricablanca “be able to apply what he learned at the BIRS Academy in the case support he provides,” but his attendance in the course “also strengthens our relationship with our [law enforcement] partners because we are all invested in the success of the analyst,” Staff Sgt. Lindsay Sandoval, the CDLA intelligence noncommissioned officer in charge, said.

Sandoval also said it bolsters CDTF’s reputation among agencies by showing they hire quality members.

Ricablanca has 15 years of military service under his belt - eight as a Marine and six as a human intelligence collector in the Cal Guard with the 250th Military Intelligence Battalion, Company B. He has attended multiple specialized schools including the Joint Analyst Interrogator Collaboration Course and the Joint Human Intelligence Analysis and Targeting Course.

Despite his background, Ricablanca said the BIRS course was challenging and very demanding. He was among a group of highly intelligent and competent individuals. Of the 27 graduates, half had intelligence experience and 16 had graduate degrees.

As it stands, the plan is to continue to send CDTF analysts who support the DEA to this school whenever possible.

“The agencies we support see that commitment to send someone to a nine week academy and helps to solidify our current relationship,” Fuentecilla said. “It proves

Spotlight on RetirementsCongratulations to Sgt. Major Clinton Lockard and Master Sgt. Gregory Dodds on their 20-year active duty retirements! Lockard held multiple positions during his time with CDTF and retired Nov. 30 as the senior enlisted advisor. Dodds , who retired Dec. 31, was a senior case support analyst. The work they accomplished throughout the years contributed to the success of the task force. Their service to their country, California, and the counterdrug program were exemplary, respected and greatly appreciated.

Chuck Rosenberg, the acting administrator of the DEA, Staff Sgt. Bryan Ricablanca, a case support analyst with CDTF, Staff Sgt. Lindsay Sandoval, the CDLA intelligence noncommissioned officer in charge, and Tech. Sgt. Isabel Rico, a case support analyst with CDTF, pose for a photo after Ricablanca’s graduation from the DEA Basic Intelligence Research Specialist Academy. Courtesy Photo

that we are ‘all in’ when it comes to supporting their mission.”

Sgt. 1st Class Crisoforo Ruiz, the CDTF intelligence NCOIC added that additional schools “are just going to make the analysts that much better.”

“Training is key,” Ruiz said. “As long as we can continue to have that at the top of our list, we will be a better force every day and that’s what it all comes down to--being able to help out the law enforcement agency and continue making those seizures and making a difference.”

COUNTERDRUGTASK FORCE


18

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Sgt. Anthony Ayala, left, of the California Army National Guard’s 270th Military Police Company, coordinates with an Air Guardsman from the 129th Air Rescue Wing as a UH-60 Black Hawk pre-pares to land Nov. 17 during Vigilant Guard 17 at the Federal Emergency Management Agency Headquarters, California Task Force I, Los Angeles. Photo Staff Sgt. Eddie Siguenza

News & Benefits

Sign up for the Camp Roberts’ Buzz Marathon It’s almost running time at Camp Roberts. The annual Buzz Marathon is scheduled for Feb. 19 this year.

Register online at www.runsignup.com/Race/CA/SanMiguel/BuzzMarathon. Registra-tion ends on Feb. 11 at 11:59 p.m.

This is the 17th anniversary of the run through the hills and meadows of historic Camp Roberts Army National Guard Reservation in north San Luis Obispo County along the fertile Salinas River Valley. The marathon and half marathon begin at 8 a.m., 6:30 a.m. for walkers; 8:30 a.m. for 10k and 5k; and 8:45 a.m. for children under age 12 who can run the mile course. The event closes at 3 p.m.

The Buzz Marathon is a Boston Qualifier (among others). All races are run on the grounds of historic Camp Roberts, just north of San Miguel, California. The run is on an out-and-back course on a paved road with dirt and packed gravel shoulders, flat to gentle rolling hills, with breathtaking views of oak-studded hillsides, Salinas and Nacimiento Rivers and abundant Central Coast wildlife. Some compare course to a trail run. Start line is at 620 feet of elevation in front of gymnasium and rises to 997 feet at the marathon turn-around spot.

Child care will be available. The Camp Roberts Museum and annex will be open during the race and some militry vehicles for viewing (perhaps even a ride).

SECURITY NOTE: To enter this fedaral facility you will need DHS REAL ID approved documents, car registration, and proof of insurance (rental agreement works if you have a rental). Most state drivers licenses are now compliant - check DHS.gov website if you are in doubt. Foreign nationals will need to send copies of passport, photo ID/drivers license to the base security by Feb. 10 for vetting.

The registration fee is $85 for the marathon; $75 for the half marathon; $85 for marathon walkers and elders; $40 for the 10k; $75 for half-marathon walkers and elders and $10 for the mile run for children under 12.

The run benefits Larsen Hornet Athletics and the Sacramento Children’s Receiving Home.

129th RQW saves two lives in a week

Resources available for military during tax season

After saving the life of a 63-year-old civilian contractor aboard a U.S. naval ship just a week prior, the California Air National Guard’s 129th Rescue Wing (RQW) conducted its 1,014th life-saving mission the evening on Nov. 19, completing a long-distance rescue over the Pacific Ocean. The mission saved the life of a seriously ill 29-year-old Filipino man on board the Noble Salute, a Japanese bulk carrier vessel.

“This, our second save in a seven-day span, is a testament to the selfless dedication andprofessionalism that our citizen-airmen bring to the table every day,” said Col. Taft Au-jero, 129th Rescue Wing Commander. “The 129th Rescue Wing is always mission-ready.”

Early that Saturday morning the Noble Salute was approximately 490 miles west of San Francisco when the U.S. Coast Guard and Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC) requested the 129th RQW to conduct the long range open ocean rescue. With AFRCC and U.S. Coast Guard coordination, the 129th RQW launched two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, two MC-130P Combat Shadow aircraft and an 11-man Guardian Angel para-rescue team from Moffett Federal Airfield around 12 p.m. to the Noble Salute.

In spite of marginal weather conditions, the Rescue Task Force successfully deliveredpararescuemen from a Pave Hawk helicopter to the Noble Salute, stabilized the patient, and hoisted him via litter. The Guardian Angel team provided en route medical care to the patient until their arrival at a local Bay Area hospital.

The 129th Rescue Wing is credited with saving the lives of 1,014 people since 1977. The Wing conducts combat search and rescue missions, as well as the rescue of distressed per-sons on board ships, lost or injured hikers, and medical evacuations across the continental

It’s time to pay your taxes. Get free help filing your taxes at Military One Source starting Jan. 16. Go to: www.military.com/money/personal-finance/taxes/do-your-taxes-for-free.html.

Or for those with incomes under $64,000, visit IRS Free File: www.irs.gov/uac/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free.

2016THE GRIZZLY NEWSMAGAZINEw w w . c a l g u a r d . c a . g o v / p a

From left, Sgt. Natalie Aquino, 870th Military Police Company; Sgt. Caleb Achuela, 578th Brigade Engineer Battalion; Staff Sgt. Joseph Stokes, 49th Personnel Company; Sgt. James W. Peterson, Intel & Sustainment Co.; and Sgt. Fernando Carmona, 1113th Transportation Company, 340th Brigade Support Battalion were the five noncommissioned officers (NCOs) competing for top honors in the Cali-fornia Army National Guard’s 2017 Best Warrior Competition Nov. 1-5, at Camp San Luis Obispo and Camp Roberts. Photo by Staff Sgt. Eddie Siguenza

Public Affairs Directorate, California National Guard . 9800 Goethe Road, Sacramento, CA 95827-3561

The Grizzly Newsmagazine Published by the Directorate of Communications, California National Guard Views and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Department of the Army, the Department of the Air Force or the California Military Department. The Grizzly is an official publication authorized by Army Regulation 360-1 and Air Force Instruction 35-101.

Submissions and feedback: [email protected]/subscription: CNG members must make changes through their unit. Retired members, email [email protected].

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