The Bayonet - June 2015

The Official Magazine of the Maine National Guard Vol 3 // Issue 2

theBAYONET

Vol 3 // Issue 1

BEST WARRIOR & AIRMEN OF THE YEARPART 4 (Conclusion) : ON THE WAY!

SHOULD THE GUARD SHRINK?

U.S. ARMY REVISES UNIFORM POLICY

THE HISTORY OF THE 152ND FIELD ARTILLERY

MAINE GUARD TRAINS FOR DISASTER

Operational Camouflage Pattern: Available July 1

Acting Adjutant General

Assistant Adjutant General - Air

Assistant Adjutant General - Army

Public Affairs Officers

Managing Editor

Journalists

Contributors

Layout and Design

the BAYONETBRIG. GEN. GERARD BOLDUC

BRIG. GEN. GERARD BOLDUC

BRIG. GEN. MICHAEL J. BOUCHARD

MAJ. DEVIN ROBINSON (AIR) CAPT. NORMAN J. STICKNEY (ARMY)

SGT. 1ST CLASS PETER MORRISON

SGT. 1ST CLASS PETER MORRISON STAFF SGT. ANGELA PARADYSPC. SARAH MYRICK

CHAPLAIN (COL.) ANDREW GIBSON1ST LT. JONATHAN BRATTEN 1ST LT. MATTHEW J. PICARDCHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 4 JON CAMPBELL STAFF SGT. TRAVIS HILL

CAPT. NORMAN J. STICKNEY

The Bayonet is produced by the Citizen Soldiers / Airmen of the Maine National Guard, and is an authorized publication for members of the Department of Defense.

Contents of this publication are not necessarily the official views of the U.S. government, the Department of Defense, National Guard Bureau, nor the Maine National Guard.

All pictures are Maine National Guard photos unless otherwise identified.

Questions and feedback:Public Affairs Office, Building 8, Camp Keyes, Augusta, ME 04333

Phone: (207) 430-5759Email: [email protected]

Online: www.me.ngb.army.mil

IntroThe Maine National Guard office of Public Affairs is pleased to present the June 2015 edition of the Bayonet Magazine.

The Bayonet is the official magazine of the Maine National Guard and is made possible by Soldier and Airmen provided content and feedback.

This quarter’s installment is full of Soldier and Airmen accomplishments, dynamic training coverage and im-portant updates to uniform and policy changes. You will also find outstanding imagery from contributors from the Maine Air and Army National Guard, health infor-mation, and much, much more.

If you enjoy the content that is pro-vided in the Bayonet and would like to see more of it, please consider “liking” the Maine National Guard on Face-book (URL is provided next to Face-book logo on this page) where weekly updates and news are shared with the public.

Thank you for your continued inter-est and unwaivering support to your National Guard. Always Ready! Always There!

-Public Affairs Officer

Capt. Norman Stickney

Front Cover: Spc. Keagan Cote with Medical Command throws a simulated grenade during the stress shoot at the Maine Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition. The stress shoot tested their ability to shoot at targets down-range after completing tasks like dragging a weighted sled, throwing a simulated grenade and high crawling in the dirt. (National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Pete Morrison / Released)

Back Cover: The 11th Weapons of Mass Destruction - Civil Support Team loads a C-17 Globemas-ter with their trucks and equipment at Stewart Air Force Base, New York, on April 1, 2015. The civil support team must constantly train on how to load their equipment on various platforms, to include aircraft, in order to ensure the team can deploy wherever is needed. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Pete Morrison /Released)

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Maine-National-Guard/286347663430

https://twitter.com/mearng

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mearng

Spc. Timothy Phadungthin, a

combat engineer from the 251st

Engineer Company (SAPPER) low

crawls during the Maine Army

National Guard Soldier of the

year competition. Phadungthin

won the Maine title, and then

went on to win the Region One

Best Warrior at Camp Edwards

MA. He will represent the region

at the National Guard Best War-

rior Competition held in Utah

this June.

The 11th Weapons of Mass Destruction - Civil Support Team conducts training at Fort Indiantown Gap, PA. The team prepares for many hazards including; reacting to, identify-ing and recovering chemical, biological and nuclear threats. (National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Pete Morrison / Released)

INSIDE THIS ISSUEA Message From The Adjutant General

“On the Way” ConclusionA History of the 152nd Field Artillery

State Marksmanship Team

Regional Training InstituteEarns Highest Accredidation Level

Maine Guard Prepares CERF-P and CST Training for Disaster

Best Warrior and Airmen of the Year

Your OpinionDo You Think the National Guard Should Shrink?

Changes to Army PolicyThe Army Re-evaluated itsTtattoo Policy

The Chaplain’s Word

Health Beat Protect yourself from Dangerous UV Rays

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Maine-National-Guard/286347663430

https://twitter.com/mearng

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mearng

New Army Combat UniformAvailable July 1, 2015 The Bayonet Vol. 3 // Issue 2

“If you sweat the small stuff, big stuff never happens!”

Think about it for a moment in terms of how it applies to all of you in the Maine National Guard, what are some of the small things you can do so that big things never occur? I have some thoughts I’d like to share with you.

Officer Performance Reports (OPRs), Enlisted Performance Reports (EPRs): Some of you have heard me discuss ad nauseam the impor-tance of completing these in a timely manner. I firmly believe that providing our Airmen and Soldiers an on-time appraisal is the most important thing we can do for them. Ratings and feedback often times are considered one of those “must do” items—a sort of annoy-ance. The implications of not completing them could be catastrophic to our personnel’s future. Consider a Soldier com-ing up for promotion without an up-to-date appraisal record.

Late appraisals have to be done quickly, possibly in haste, without an accurate account of performance. Furthermore, the new electronic signature system will automatically date the form when it is signed. Will the promotion board notice that four late appraisals were all signed in a two-week period in 2015? I ask all of you in a supervisory capacity to set per-sonal goals to accomplish all ratings for all of your members.

Leadership by Walking Around: For all leaders and supervisors in the National Guard, both Air and Army—get out there! Walk around and talk with your people. Find out what’s going on; what they need. Get a “tem-perature check” of the small stuff, which—if left unchecked—could blossom. (Caveat: Don’t forget about the chain of command!) I also believe you’ll feel a sense of professional satisfaction from simply being among the Airmen and Soldiers of the State who make you look good every day. Most importantly, thank them. A heartfelt “thank you” goes a long way.

Goal Setting: All members of the Maine National Guard need to set goals. For example, personal goals should be set prior to drill to accomplish all expired ancillary training. Don’t wait for your Training Manager to tell you that you are late. Get a training report and follow it month to month. I know the amount of training is

unbearable at times, but it is possible to accomplish. Sweating this small stuff will ensure that associated National Guard Headquarters in Washington, will take note that the State is motivated and “gets it.”

Advice from a Retired Member: The late Chief Master Sergeant Gene Frost once told me, “Every day do one thing to make yourself a better Airman, and every day do one thing to make your workplace a better place.” Very wise words. I challenge everyone to learn or do something each duty day to improve your skills, i.e. job, military,

leadership, or “followership.” To make our National Guard a better place, consider a small housekeeping task or even something like spreading ice melt on an icy walkway—the list is endless.

Awards: When was the last time you recommended or submitted one of your members for an award? This goes along with my previous “what you can do” advice from Chief Frost. I encourage you to learn how to nomi-nate your personnel for awards using your service’s computer system. It really isn’t that daunting a task. I have seen many members of the Wing without an Air Force Commendation Medal. Even our Air Force Achieve-ment Medal submissions are low. All of our Airmen and Soldiers have stood up to the task, and deserve a token of recognition. Taking care of this relatively easy task will reap huge benefits; trust me…and trust me that your service’s computer system for awards is user-friendly. All First Sergeants are highly skilled in its use, and can provide you the training and “cheat sheets” to successfully submit a military award nomination.

Customer Service: Every one of us has customers, both internal and external. I ask everyone to think about small incremental changes which could be done to improve customer service. Thinking about the small stuff we can do to improve our customer relationships will pay huge dividends in the future. It’s okay to have a brainstorming session and discuss this with your Airmen and Soldiers. I am thrilled whenever we hear about customer service improvements. Ask the Airmen and Soldiers on the front lines, what can we do to improve? You’ll be very surprised by their insight.

My thanks are extended to Lt. Col. (Dr.) Charles Belisle (Retired) for the stimulus to write this article. Since our chat in November 2008, I’ve thought often about sweating the small stuff hoping that the big stuff won’t happen. Thanks, Doc!

the aCTING adjutant general A Message From Brig. Gen. Gerard Bolduc

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Secure. Confidential. Anonymous.

The Bayonet Vol. 3 // Issue 2

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Secure. Confidential. Anonymous.

“on the way” the history of the

When the 152nd Field Artillery Regiment was bro-ken up in 1942, the 2nd Battalion was designated the 152nd Field Artillery Battalion and remained

with the 43rd Infantry Division. They were paired with the 103rd Infantry Regiment, also from the Maine National Guard, to form the 103rd Regimental Combat Team. They would fight alongside each other for the duration of the war. That summer, the officers and the NCOs of the 152nd attended the Field Artillery Firing Program at Fort Sill, Okla-homa, followed by joint exercises with the infantry. The 152nd was issued 105mm howitzers to replace their World War I-era 75mm guns. With the 103rd Infantry and the rest of the 43rd Infantry Division, the 152nd was bound for the steamy jungles of the Pacific Theater.

General Douglas MacArthur had begun taking back the Pacific Islands on his way back to the Philippines. As the 43rd Division made its way through New Zealand and, later, New Caledonia, the U.S. Marines were fighting their way onto the island of Guadalcanal. With the 103rd, the 152nd arrived on Guadalcanal in February of 1943 just as the last remaining pockets of Japanese resistance were being wiped out. This did not stop Japanese fighter-bombers from bombing the newly arrived Mainers their first night on the island.

From Guadalcanal, the 152nd traveled to Banika Island where they set up defensive firing positions. This small island was their staging ground for operations against the Japanese-held island of New Georgia, which contained the strategic Munda Airfield. The invasion of New Georgia began on June 22, 1943, when ele-ments of the 4th Marine Raider Battalion and the 1st Battalion, 103rd Infantry captured Segi Point on New Georgia. On June 30, Battery A, 152nd Field Artillery Battalion landed on Segi Point and Battery B landed at Wickham Anchorage. Battery C landed on nearby Rendova Island on July 2. From these positions, the guns could fire in support of the infantry. Going was tough for the grunts; the jungle was thick and the enemy well-trained in the art of jungle fighting. Every single battery was heavily en-gaged, their crews stripped to the waist in the thick jungle heat, trying to keep the infantry safe.

On July 25, Captain Harold Slager of the 152nd discovered a strong Japanese force trying to sneak up on the division command post. Captain Slager shadowed them, radioing

back to headquarters until he was discovered and gunned down. But his heroic actions bought time for division artillery to open final protective fires on the enemy, driving them off.

The 152nd adapted to the enemy’s tactics in creative ways. Knowing that when U.S. artillery began firing the Japanese would

Landings in New Georgia: Map showing the movements of the 43rd Infantry Division on the island of New Georgia. (Courtesy of the Army Center of Military History)


get close to the American lines to escape the bombardment, the 103rd would pull back from their lines when the 152nd started firing. Then, when the Japanese got up close to the old U.S. positions, the 152nd would shift their rounds onto the old positions, destroying the Japanese in the open. When infantry confronted Japanese defensive bunkers made of coral stone, they would call for the high explosives of the 152nd to clear them out. After weeks of furious fighting in terrible jungle conditions, Munda Airfield was taken on August 5.

Although the 152nd was briefly engaged in the New Guinea Campaign in 1944, the next test

of their mettle came on the island of Luzon, in the Philippines. On January 9, 1945, the 152nd followed the 103rd ashore through the surf of the Lingayan Gulf. From then on it was a rigorous routine: follow the infantry, pound Japanese strongholds into submission, and then move to the next one. Hills 200 and 600 took the 103rd Regimental Combat Team a full month to reduce, in extremely heavy fighting. After thirty-eight days of combat, they came off the front lines. The 152nd had fired 27,223 rounds of high explosive shells and had killed fifty-four enemy personnel during dismounted patrols alone.

On March 9, 1945, they were back in the fight, driving hard against the Japanese Shimbu Line, a series of fortified ridges. On March 21, they captured the 1,200 foot Mount Tanauan, where, under cover of artillery fire from the 152nd, the infantry scaled steep cliffs to drive off the enemy. The offensive continued, with the units constantly on the move, in nearly daily combat. The gunners of the 152nd used high-angle fire to drop shells into Japanese-held caves, causing massive destruction. On May 15, 1945, the units reached the Ipo Dam, a strate-gic point because it supplied 30% of the water used by the city of Manila. After days of sharp fighting, where the infantry followed close under the bombardment of the 152nd’s guns, the dam was cap-tured intact.

This would be the unit’s last significant fight. Japan surrendered on August 15. Both the infantry and the artillery spent a month in occupation duty in Japan, be-fore being relieved and sent home. They reached U.S. soil on October 9, 1945, three years since they left.

Although the men of the 152nd were mustered out in 1945, the Maine Army National Guard was authorized to retain it in 1946. Based out of Aroostook County, its ranks were filled with veterans and new recruits. As in wartime, it was paired with the 103rd Infantry in the 103rd Regimental Combat Team.

152nd field artillery (conclusion)

103rd RCT 152FA Gun Firing, 1950s: Soldiers of the 152nd Field Artillery Battalion fire their 105mm howitzer during Annual Training at Camp Drum, 1954. (Courtesy of Maine National Guard Historical Archives)

M-108 self-propelled 105mm howitzers from Battery C, 1-152nd Field Artillery prepare to fire during Annual Training at Camp Drum, 1960s. Battery C was one of the first units in the country to receive this new technology. (Courtesy of the 152nd Field Artillery Association)

This relationship continued until 1959 when the infantry became armored cavalry. At this time, the 152nd was changed back to the 152nd Field Artillery Regiment, to

consist of the 1st Howitzer Battalion.

In 1967, it was reorganized to be the 1st Battalion, 152nd Field Artillery. Over the years the battalion transitioned from their 105mm howitzers to 105mm M37 self-propelled tracked howitzers and 105mm M108 self-propelled tracked howitzers to 155mm howitzers. The battalion was consistently rated as one of the top-performing units within the Maine Army National Guard.

In 2004, the battalion sent a composite company titled the 1-152nd Field Artillery, Forward, to Operation Iraqi Freedom. From February 2004 to September 2005, the artillerymen

filled the role of military police in the notorious prison facility of Abu Ghraib. Arriving after the abuses committed by U.S. military personnel, the Soldiers of the 152nd helped restore the honor of the U.S. military at the prison by treating the prison-ers fairly and humanely. Their expertise was recognized by the Secretary of Defense, Secretary of the Army, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Commanding General of Ground Operations in Iraq. Although not performing their mili-tary occupational specialty and under constant enemy fire, the artillerymen made a name for themselves for their exceptional service.

Due to Army force structure changes, the 1-152nd Field Artillery was inactivated in 2006 and the units were consolidated as the 185th Engineer Support Company.

Many officers and enlisted Soldiers of the Maine Army National Guard retain their connection with their field artillery roots, and the old artillery motto, “On the Way!” brings forth many memo-ries.

1st. Lt. Jonathan Bratten is a contributing editor of the Bayonet and serves as the Maine National Guard Historian.

He is always looking for photos, documents, and stories from past and current deployments.

Contact him at [email protected]

“on the way” part 4: Conclusion

M-198 155mm howitzers from Battery A, 1-152nd Field Artillery firing at Annual Training, 2003. (Courtesy of the 152nd Field Artillery Association)

If you let a

hypocrite stand be-

tween you and God, than

the hypocrite is closer to

God than you are.

“To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. I know your afflictions and your poverty – yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who over-comes will not be hurt at all by the second death.” (Rev 2:8-11)

A small boy came running in to his father from outside. “Come look, Dad! I am the greatest baseball player of all time!” The father followed the boy outside and watched as his son picked up a bat and ball.

The boy tossed the ball in the air and took up a batter’s stance. As

the ball came down, he swung with all of his might…and missed. “Nice try son,” encour-aged his father. With only a little

look of disappointment, the boy bent down

and picked up the ball once

again. He repeated the steps, toss-ing the ball a little higher

and swing-ing even

harder…again, he missed. “That’s

okay, son,” said Dad, “you’ll get it next time.” The boy picked up the ball a third time and repeated again the steps, getting the same result. The father did not quite know what to say as he looked at his son, ob-viously disappointed. But then, the boy brightened. He looked up at his Dad and said, “I told you I was the best baseball player ever!” The father was confused. “How do you figure that?” he asked. The boy smiled and said, “Did you ever see such a great pitcher?”

There are many people, not only wide-eyed boys, who say they are something that they are not. They twist the truth to their own truth, rather than listening to the

The chaplain’s wordWord of God.

As the above scripture points out, such people often succeed in putting us down or persecut-ing us, even harming us. Howev-er, says the author, hang in there anyway. If you stay true to the God who will guide you, you will not be touched, in the long, run by these hypocrites.

Many compromise their own faith in order to avoid these people; I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard people say that they wouldn’t go to church be-cause of all the hypocrites. Just remember: If you let a hypocrite stand between you and God, than the hypocrite is closer to God than you are. Think about it; it’s true. Hold these truths in your heart and God will see you through.

Chaplain (Col.) Andy GibsonJoint Forces Headquarters Maine, Chaplain

9

new england team trains for disaster

A train full of passengers headed to Providence, Rhode Island is attacked by an unknown terrorist cell. Hundreds of individuals are injured and displaced within the wreckage. First responders notice damage to a chemical warehouse storage facility, and chlorine gas is leaking at the wreckage site. After they survey the area, they report their findings to the incident commander, who determines they need to call in the CERF-P.

The CERFP-P or Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and high-yield Explosive, or CBRNE, Enhanced Response Force Package is an additional emergency response force designed to respond when situations are too large or too hazardous for local agencies, especially in the event of a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear incident, or certain natural disasters that may cause significant strain on the local authorities.

The New England CERF-P team is comprised of National Guard Soldiers from three different states, who came together in Quonset, Rhode Island in May to train on a series of collective exercises meant to test their capabilities and limitations.

Spc. Juan Saucedo, an engineer with the 861st Engineer Com-pany, Rhode Island Army National Guard, is one of the members of the search and extraction team. Once his team is notified that the CERF-P has been activated, they have six hours to arrive and get connected to the local first responders.

As a member of the search and extraction team, Saucedo, who went in with the first recon team to search the train and help identify victims, is prepared for any situation. He and his team have been trained to dig through rubble using jack hammers and shovels and work to rescue anyone who may have still been in a building during its demise. His team’s mission is to go in af-ter all of the potential hazards have been identified and collect all of the survivors.

“We are designed to respond to a number of things,” said the West Warwick native. “Here in New England we are really centered around anything that could collapse, such as buildings, parking structures, bridges, while also remaining ready to respond to any sort of natural disasters that could require a search element.”

In the fall of 2014, CERF-P teams in Washington were called in to aide with the mudslides. The search and extraction teams had to go in and find people who had been buried alive in mud and sludge. Even though they were covered in mud, the individuals still went through a decontamination process to get them cleaned up and identify any potential injuries, and then treated by the medical teams.

“This week we are focusing on threats to rail systems and ports,” said Saucedo. “Being that we have a lot of coastal areas, and a lot of rail transit, these are likely places for a disaster to potentially take place. It is good for us to learn and train for the environment we may face.”

Cpt. Todd Abbott, with the 521st Troop Command, Maine Army National Guard serves as a branch chief for the CERF-P team. Cur-rently the 521st provides the CERF-P with their command and control element.

“All the CERFP’s are designed to be multi-agency,” said Abbott, who lives in Arundel, Maine. “But we are the only I know of that is multi-state as well. Being spread across three states gives us access to ad-ditional resources, as well as improving our timed response. Because we have people coming from all over, we are able to respond to any situation in all of our area, within six hours of being notified.”

Each CERF-P is comprised of a mission command team, a medical team, a search and extraction/recovery team and a decontamination team.

“All of the teams conduct training that is geared towards their core

Service members from the New Hampshire Army National Guard and Rhode Island Air National Guard work as one unit to decontaminate survivors in a simulated train crash. Every individual has to be brought through several stations to ensure that any hazardous materials they may have been exposed to are no longer a threat. Individuals, who have been injured and can’t walk, are guided through the process in their medical litters. The team is part of the New England Chemical, Biological, Nuclear and high-yield Explosive Enhanced Response Force Package, and are prepared to de-ploy anywhere within New England within six hours of notification to work with local first responders if such an incident were to happen.

Story and Photos by Staff Sgt. Angela Parady


skills year-round,” said Abbott. “At least twice a year we come together as a region, as a collective issue to work through whole scenarios. We want to be trained and ready, always up to date and prepared in all of our skills, as individuals and as a whole.”

Each team has a role to play in the sce-nario, just as if it were a real event. Working through the rail yard where the train was derailed, each team was able to see their training put to practice and make smooth transitions as they moved through the different processes. The search and rescue team works closely with the decontamina-tion team, who then works closely with the medical team; and they all have to com-municate information back to the command center.

Many of the servicemembers said they were happy to be taking part in the larger exercise. Staff Sgt. Raymond Chan is a fire protection specialist with the 143rd Civil Engineer Squadron, Rhode Island Air Na-tional Guard and serves as a member of the decontamination team along with soldiers from the New Hampshire Army National Guard.

“This is great refresher training for people who haven’t done this recently, or to this scale, or at all,” said Chan, who monitored individuals coming through the decontami-nation tents after they had been washed and scrubbed to make sure they no longer showed any signs of the chemical hazards. “We get very proficient on our piece of the puzzle that we forget how to work with the other pieces. We are being reminded of that here today and how important that commu-nication piece really is. We will be back up to speed quickly.”

The search and extraction team received new suits for their mission recently, suits that the decontamination team wasn’t famil-iar with. In this training environment, they had the chance to work together to learn about the new suits and how it affects some of the standard procedures for everyone, said Chan who lives and works in Boston.

Not only were there new suits, but the 521st brought along a Joint Interoperability Site Communications team that helps with the communication needs of the mission. A six man team comprised of members from the 265th Combat Communications Squadron, Maine Air National Guard, they help estab-lish radio frequencies, set up infrastruc-ture and manage cyber communications. Michael Wallace recently joined the team

assigned to the task of CERF-P and said that while it has had its challenges, the event has provided him with useful information.

“This is a good use of our time overall,” said Wallace, who is also a graduate student liv-ing in Portland. “It helps to work with units that aren’t in your day-to-day sphere, better than being your own customer. You can’t anticipate what someone is going to ask of you. So we are trying to get out of the box in our own training, it is nice to have someone from the outside ask us for something and help us find what we are or were missing.”

Abbott said that the joint exercises help the different teams develop relationships with one another and build trust and rapport. While the New England CERF-P has not been called for an active situation, other CERF-P’s have been deployed to aid in hurricane re-covery, blizzard clean up, and most recently, mudslides. While Abbott said that he hopes New England never finds themselves in a crisis that would require the support of the CERF-P, he is confident that his team is ready and prepared to respond if they ever do get that call.

Members of the New England Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and high-yield Explosive, or CBRNE, Enhanced Response Force Package (CERF-P) Search and Extraction team respond to a simu-lated train crash in Quonset Point, R.I., May 6. They provide immediate care while triaging patients and preparing them for decontamination and treatment.

Staff Sgt. Jessica Randlett and Security Forces personnel attend baton training during a unit training assembly at the 101st Air Refueling Wing, Bangor, ME, May 3, 2015 (Air National Guard Photo by Staff Sgt. Travis Hill/Re-leased)


Two aircraft from 1st of the 126th Aviation con-ducted over water train-ing off the coast of Maine over the weekend. Crews prepared their over wa-ter survival gear and he-licopters for flight over the ocean as the water temperatures were near 40 degrees. The training requires crews to wear anti-exposure suits along with other cold water sur-vival gear as part of their mission. Also, this train-ing prepares flight crew to conduct flight in a low contrast and limited vis-ibility environment safely and efficiently. (Courtesy photo by Chief Warrant Officer 4, Jon Campbell)


The 11th Weapons of Mass Destruction - Civil Support Team loads a C-17 Globemaster with their trucks and equipment at Stewart Air Force Base, New York, on April 1, 2015. The civil support team must constantly train on how to load their equip-ment on various plat-forms, to include aircraft, in order to ensure the team can deploy wher-ever is needed. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Pete Morrison /Released)


Maine National Guard Schoolhouse

By Sgt. First Class Peter D. Morrison, Maine Army National Guard

Earns Highest Accreditation levelAfter three years of hard work a Maine National

Guard school house was awarded the rating of “Institution of Excellence” by U.S. Army Train-

ing and Doctrine Command and the U.S. Army En-gineer School. This is the highest accreditation level possible.

The 240th Regiment Regional Training Institute is lo-cated in Bangor, Maine, in a state of the art facility that was completed in October 2012. The 240 RTI has multiple classrooms, a large auditorium and the ability to house nearly 100 students.

Currently, the 240th Regiment teaches the 12W carpentry and masonry course which is a U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command course, as well as combat medic classes and combat lifesaver courses.

Getting the school accredited has been a lengthy process, as TRADOC wants to make sure that soldiers are receiving the highest quality of training possible. There is no difference in the quality of instruction for

active duty, or the Reserve components. It is all one standard.

“The key to this success was the commander, Lt. Col. Sean Harmon, he set the bar really high,” said Master Sgt. Kenneth Oiler, the 12W course manager for the 240 RTI. “He said, ‘We aren’t going to settle for an accreditation score of 84. We want a score in the high 90’s in order to achieve the Institute of Excellence rat-ing’ and the staff here all went for it.”

Oiler said that they put in a lot of long days to ensure they got the accreditation, knowing that it would give them full funding and allow them to get all the required items to run their programs correctly.

The institute as a whole has been awarded the IOE, therefore allowing the 240th Regiment to conduct more courses like Warrior Leadership Course, the Raven unmanned Aerial Vehicle Course and several others.

Soldiers are learning a new skill at the carpentry and masonry

course held at the Regional Training Institute in Bangor, Maine.

The institute recently went through a validation process to

become an accredited school.

Joshua M. Munoz, 315th Engineers, Vertical Construction

Company, California Army National Guard is one of the

students to participate in the 12W carpentry and masonry

course held at the 240th Regiment Regional Training Institute

located in Bangor, Maine.

Concrete mixers are available to the students of the 12W

carpentry and masonry course held at the 240th Regiment

Regional Training Institute is located in Bangor, Maine, in a

state of the art facility that was completed in October 2012.

The 240 RTI has multiple classrooms, a large auditorium and

the ability to house nearly 100 students.

inMagazine/ January, 201218

Earns Highest Accreditation level

“We want people to see our schoolhouse as the place to go, a five star institution,” said Oiler.

“We have a great team here, it’s a great place to work and we want everyone who comes here to have the best experience and training possible and recommend it to someone else.”

The schoolhouse benefits both TRADOC and the Maine National Guard, but Oiler is quick to point out that the students and faculty buy lo-

cal, which brings revenue to the Bangor area.

“We use local catering, lumberyards, hardware and any local place we can buy food or shop for supplies. The students go out and bring money to the area,” Oiler said. “It’s a great thing, for us and a great thing for Bangor; it’s a win-win.”

Harmon said he was very happy though not surprised at the outcome and having been awarded the Institute Of Excellence.

“The Soldiers in the Regiment performed incredibly well,” said Harmon. “They put forth an outstanding effort and dedication as instructors and support staff. This was recognized by TRADOC and US Army Engineer School evaluators. The people of Maine should be very proud of their Soldiers, who proved once again that they are among the best in the Army.”

Soldiers are learning a new skill at the carpentry and masonry

course held at the Regional Training Institute in Bangor, Maine.

The institute recently went through a validation process to

become an accredited school.

Joshua M. Munoz, 315th Engineers, Vertical Construction

Company, California Army National Guard is one of the

students to participate in the 12W carpentry and masonry

course held at the 240th Regiment Regional Training Institute

located in Bangor, Maine.

Concrete mixers are available to the students of the 12W

carpentry and masonry course held at the 240th Regiment

Regional Training Institute is located in Bangor, Maine, in a

state of the art facility that was completed in October 2012.

The 240 RTI has multiple classrooms, a large auditorium and

the ability to house nearly 100 students.

inMagazine/ January, 2012 19

The Maine Air National Guard recog-nizes their Airmen for their outstand-ing accomplishments.

Leadership held the 2015 Airman of the Year ceremony March 8th, where 110 commanders, supervisors, subordinates and family members the yearly recogni-tion of excellence.

Capt. Michele Pampinella, Senior Master Sgt. Howard Gooldrup, Senior Master Sgt. Jeremiah Jordan, Technical Sgt. Joel Crow-ley, Technical Sgt. Zachary Taylor, and Senior Airman Samuel Borer went above and beyond the normal call of duty and were selected by leadership to receive the award in front of peers and family.

“I’m very proud. I don’t really have the words to articulate how proud I am of Michelle and what she does,” said Capt. Pampinella’s spouse Jacqueline. “She’s re-ally passionate about her job. She loves it, and I think that translates in what she does, and I think that was the reason she was recognized, because she absolutely loves it.”

The dining in event featured a full catered lunch, a toasting ceremony, the singing of the Air Force song, and a 101st Air Re-fueling Wing Public Affairs video produc-tion encompassing the Airmen and their accomplishments reminding families that service before self is more than just an Air Force core value…it’s a way of life.

“It’s a huge, really important job,” said Air-man Borer’s mother Kathy. “It’s a danger-ous job, so of course as a mom that makes me worried but I’m glad that I raised a son that was willing to stand and up and say, ‘take me’.”

The distinguished Airmen and their fami-lies welcomed a special guest during the event, The Honorable Paul LePage. The governor expressed his deepest gratitude and appreciation to the Airmen of the year and their families, and said he was humbled to be a part of their accolades.

“Its super-human work,” LePage said. “It’s a great honor to be around those that give their all.”

The Airmen of the Year will continue to fly into the wild blue yonder by competing at the national level against other Air Force units.

Story by Staff Sgt. Andrew Sinclair, Photos by Staff Sgt. Travis Hill, 101st Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

Above: U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Samuel Borer is presented the Maine’s 2015 Outstanding Airman of the Year award by Staff Sgt. Taubner at the Senator Inn in Augusta, Maine.

Below: The Governor of Maine, The Honorable Paul LePage, speaks to attendees at the 2015 Airman of the Year Ceremony

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Above: U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Samuel Borer is presented the Maine’s 2015 Outstanding Airman of the Year award by Staff Sgt. Taubner at the Senator Inn in Augusta, Maine.

Below: The Governor of Maine, The Honorable Paul LePage, speaks to attendees at the 2015 Airman of the Year Ceremony

maine national guard marksmanship team Story and Photos by staff sgt. angela parady

Over 40 Maine Servicemembers spent the weekend of May 16th at Gardiner Training Area display-

ing their expertise with military weapons. They were all trying to earn their way on to the Maine National Guard Marksman-ship Team.

They represented the top shooters from more than 15 different Army National Guard companies, the Air National Guard, Army Reserve and Coast Guard. During the two day event the Service-members competed in a total of six events, three with a rifle and three with a pistol. The event lets shooters see where they rank against others in the state, gain exposure to advanced marksman-ship techniques, and the potential to represent the state in future events.

Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Holmes, who has been the state marksmanship coordina-tor for the past twelve years, said that the national event has been taking place for 44 years, and that the state programs have been in place nearly as long, if not longer, than the national competition.

“The Maine National Guard State Marks-manship Matches were established to provide both Soldiers and Airmen an event that encourages friendly competi-tion and familiarize them with advanced techniques,” said Holmes. “The program adds to their skill sets.”

Holmes said that every year Maine’s pro-gram has grown. After this competition which invites both novice and experi-enced shooters to compete, they will

pick teams who will continue to practice their skill and compete at the next level.

Staff Sgt. Keith Paul, the marksmanship program coordinator said that newer shooters are ranked against others who have never shot competitively before.

“There shouldn’t be a fear of coming out here,” said Paul. “We are all out here for the same reason. It is fun opportunity to really hone in your marksmanship skills and learn from your fellow Servicmem-bers.”

Last year the team the regional competi-tion was held in Jericho, Vermont. Maine soldiers represented well, taking at least a top five position in four of six catego-ries. Staff Sgt. Kyle Bartman placed second out of 108 competitors for overall best score.

Holmes said that the competition is only the tip of the iceberg, an encouraging and rewarding way to get soldiers to improve their own basic skills.

“Maybe I am unique in my belief, but marksmanship is the most basic soldier skill, and it is the most important to me,” said Holmes. “There is nothing more important than knowing how to shoot. Starting before the Revolutionary War, civilian militiamen have been outstand-ing marksman. The British, they were better at formations, of standing in line, but we were better with weapons. Roo-sevelt was the first president to start a civilian program which I think was part of our success there as well. You know

that is why foreign countries didn’t want

to invade us, because we were so good with our rifles.”

Regardless the reason, more Service-memembers are working to excel on the

range. This training goes above and beyond the typical basic rifle marksman-ship qualifications that National Guards-men go through. Each day is broken into three parts. The first day focuses on combat rifle qualifications, and the second day focuses on combat pistol skills. For each weapon, they are tested in four different positions, standing, kneeling, sitting and prone. They have a certain amount of rounds to shoot within a predetermined time, often known as speed shooting, said Paul. For example, one of the last tables on the pistol range requires them to fire 10 rounds in 15 seconds, including one magazine change during that time. Competitors are scored based on their accuracy and aim.

At the end of the two day match, all of the points are added up, and winners are determined based on the high-est scores. Every event is scored as a separate event, with winners for all six. The overall winners of both days, and all six events were Staff Sgt. Kyle Bartman (Maine Army National Guard), Lt. Scott McCann (U.S. Coast Guard) and Sgt. Max Nickerson (Maine Army National Guard).

The teams have yet to be finalized, but the next match will be held towards the end of August at Fort Devens, Massachusetts.

Disclaimer: None of the events or organizations listed are endorsed by the United States or the State of Maine. Their inclusion in this publication is for pur-poses of informing the military community of events and organizations that may be of common interest to the military community and for no other purpose.

Things of Common Interest


Attention VeteransIF YOU ARE COMBAT WOUNDED

YOU ARE INVITED TO BECOME AN ACTIVE MEMBEROF THE

Military Order of the

Purple Heartof the United States of America

Incorporated by an Act of the U.S. Congress in 1958

Our Major Objective is to Work in Your Interestin Every Way We Can Toward the Care and Assistance

of Our Fellow Combat Wounded and their Families.

THERE IS A LOCAL CHAPTER LOCATED AT:

Chapter # 4570 Chapter # 0716Winslow, Maine South Portland, Maine

www.purpleheart.org

For Further Information – Email or Write:

Friedrich “Fred” T. Biermann(10) CFO CH 4570 NN14 Gilman StreetWaterville, Maine 04901-5434

Email: [email protected]

This is the Only Veterans’ Group in whichMembership Automatically Denotes Combat Service.

Disclaimer: None of the events or organizations listed are endorsed by the United States or the State of Maine. Their inclusion in this publication is for pur-poses of informing the military community of events and organizations that may be of common interest to the military community and for no other purpose.

Things of Common Interest

What are your goals? I want to earn a college degree and receive a com-mission as an officer in the Maine Army National Guard.

What are your future plans? Study Parks and Recreation and join the Reserve Of-ficer Training Corps (ROTC) at UMaine. I want to ap-ply this education and my military training to serve the public as a state police officer or Maine Warden.

Did you know:Pvt. Kenton Ernst is a captain on his high school lacrosse team? He is also active in hockey and runs cross country.

He has served as the platoon guide in the recruit sustainment program based on his leadership ex-perience and potential.

Ernst has completed Basic Combat Training and provides mentorship to new recruits before they depart for the demanding training regimen.

The best advice he has for fellow Soldiers before shipping out to Basic Training:

“Keep an open mind,” Ernst said. “Everyone’s experiences are different.”

Recruit sustainment program Soldier of the quarter

Name: Kenton Ernst

Rank: Private E-2

Military Occupational Skill: 31B, Military Police

Unit: 488th Military Police Company in

Waterville, Maine

Basic Training Location: Fort Leonard Wood,

Missouri

Hometown: Born in Buffalo, NY. Now resides in

Auburn, Maine.

High School: St. Dominick Academy

Interests: Hunting, Hiking, and Dirt Bikes


The Army published the re-vised uniform and appear-ance regulation, AR 670-1

and DA PAM 670-1, April 10. The new regulation lifts restrictions on the size and number of tattoos au-thorized for Soldiers, and changes the rules for the wear of the Army Combat Uniform during commer-cial travel.

The new language allows Soldiers to have as many tattoos on their arms, legs and body as they want. Additionally, there are no longer any size restrictions on those tat-toos.

However, Soldiers are still prohib-ited from having tattoos above the T-shirt neckline - meaning any-where on the neck, face and head. Additionally, Soldiers are limited to no more than one “ring tattoo” on each hand, below the wrist line.

What has not changed in the re-vised policy is the ban on extrem-ist, indecent, sexist or racist tattoos.

An Army G-1 spokesperson said the change to Army tattoo policy is not tied to what is or is not visible while wearing any particular Army uniform. Instead, the policy spells out locations on the body where tattoos are prohibited.

The same Army spokesperson said the revision of Army policies “are not taken lightly.” Such policies and regulations are under “perpetual review.” The recent changes to AR 670-1 came after much feedback from the force and an extensive review of the September 2014 ver-sion of the regulation.

Army leadership wanted AR 670-1 to better represent the perspective of Soldiers, the spokesperson said.

At the same time, revisions to the policy had to ensure that Soldiers maintain an appearance that is both professional and aligned with how the American taxpayer views their military.

The changes in tattoo policy apply also to civilians, who want to enlist in the Army. Civilians contemplat-ing an Army career will be held to the same standards regarding tattoos as Soldiers already in the Army.

OTHER UNIFORM UPDATES

Under the new AR 670-1, Sol-diers traveling commercial-ly on official business are

authorized to wear the Army Com-bat Uniform, or ACU.

Previously, Soldiers were directed

Defense Media Activity - Army, Story by Lisa Ferdinando

Revised uniform policy changes rules for tattoos, wear of combat uniform

A Soldier displays his tattoos grandfathered in under the current Army Regulation 670-1. The number and size of tattoos on the arms and legs will be less restrictive under an updated policy, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno says will soon take effect. Photos by Staff Sgt. Xaime Hernandez


to wear their dress uniform during commercial travel. They could wear the ACU when deploying, on rest and recuperation leave to and from the combat theater, or if their commander authorized the wear for emergency leave or casualty assistance duties.

New language in AR 670-1 also clarifies the wear of Army uni-

forms at off-post establish-ments that sell alcohol. Sol-diers wearing their uniform may enter a liquor store to purchase package liquor, for instance. They may not, how-ever, wear their uniform while drinking in a bar.

The G-1 spokesperson said the new policy does not pre-vent a uniformed Soldier from having dinner with his family or lunch with his co-workers at a restaurant that also serves alcohol. But the policy does prevent that same uniformed Soldier from having a drink in an establish-ment whose primary busi-ness is selling alcohol.

“The intent of the policy is for Soldiers to not wear their uni-form in an establishment where consumption of al-cohol is the primary activity,” the spokesperson said.

The revised AR 670-1 also updates wear-guid-ance of shoulder-sleeve insignia for wartime service during Operation Enduring Freedom;

adds wear guidance of shoulder-sleeve insignia for former wartime service during Operation Inherent Resolve and Operation Freedom’s Sentinel; updates wear guidance of overseas service bars for Operation

Enduring Freedom; adds wear guidance of overseas service bars for Operation Inherent Resolve; adds wear guidance of overseas service bars for Operation Freedom’s Sentinel; and clarifies approval of distinc-tive unit insignia.

The updated AR 670-1, DA PAM 670-1, and training package can be found online at: http://www.armyg1.army.mil/hr/uniform.

Revised uniform policy changes rules for tattoos, wear of combat uniform

Seven Maine Army National Guard Soldiers partici-pated in a state competition to find the best Soldier and Noncommissioned Officer of the year held at

the Augusta Armory and Gardiner Training Area April, 10-12 2015.

The best warrior competition tests Army skills and general military knowledge as well as physical and mental endur-ance.

“The competition gives everyone a chance of being a well-rounded Soldier, which makes the National Guard more combat ready,” said Staff Sgt. Scott Laliberte, a combat en-gineer with the 133rd Engineer Battalion and an instructor at Saturday’s events.

The Best Warrior Competition started Friday with the M-16 marksmanship event and the Stress Shoot, which tested the soldier’s abilities to shoot under duress. Both events were held at the Gardiner Training Area. After the range, the soldiers appeared before three sergeants major to be quizzed on their general military knowledge at the Augus-

ta Armory to finish the day’s events.

Spc. Fabio O’Donnell, an intelligence analyst with the 120th Regional Support Group liked the challenge of the board appearance. “It forced Soldiers to learn knowledge important to being a Soldier,” said O’Donnell.

The three day competition continued on Saturday with a non-standard Army Physical Fitness Test, which replaced the standard two-mile run with a three-mile run. It was conducted at the Augusta armory and the Kennebec River Rail Trail. The soldiers also conducted day and night land navigation courses at the Gardiner Training Area and took a written exam on general military knowledge.

“Land navigation is a basic warrior skill that is perishable if not practiced,” said Spc. O’ Donnell. “The competition is a good way to utilize training since we only get to train once a month.”

Maine army national guardsmen compete in best warrior competition

Story by Spc. Sarah Myrick, Photos by Sgt. Adam Simmler


On Saturday the competitors were tested on Army warrior tasks at the Gardiner Training

Area. This event included: perform-ing voice communications, a medical treatment lane, reacting to an impro-vised explosive device, reacting to chemical/biological hazard or attack, searching a person or vehicle, and a weapons assembly and functions check.

Sunday’s events started with a 10k Ruck March along the Kennebec River Rail Trail, ending at the Augusta ar-mory. The final event, kept a mystery until Sunday morning required the competitors to deploy a Claymore mine.

“Everybody did a great job,” said Lalib-erte, “you can see they all studied and took pride in what they were doing.”

Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Taylor with the 1136 Transportation Company was named the best Noncommissioned officer of the year and Spc. Timothy Pha-dungthin, a combat engineer with the 133rd Engineer Battalion was named the best soldier of the year. The best warrior from the state com-petition is slated to compete at the re-gional level Best Warrior Competition at Camp Edwards, Massachusetts in May.

The Bayonet took to the streets to ask a few service members what they thought of THE PLAN TO DOWNSIZE THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD

YOUR OPINION FEEDBACK FROM THE FIELD

DO WE NEED TO GROW THE GUARD?

Government officials have stated that former U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel recommended drastic cuts of billions of dollars that would take American military forces to its lowest level since before World War II.

“We’re still going to have a very significant-sized Army,” said a senior Pentagon official during a New York Times interview. “But it’s going to be agile. It will be capable. It will be modern. It will be trained.”

The Guard and Reserves, which proved capable in their wartime deployments, would face similar reductions.


Maj. Bradley G. KelsoMaine Army National Guard 11th Civil Support Team - Weapons of Mass Destruction

The Bayonet took to the streets to ask a few service members what they thought of THE PLAN TO DOWNSIZE THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD

Staff Sgt. Anthony R. SturgisMaine Army National Guard 11th Civil Support Team - Weapons of Mass Destruction

Staff Sgt. Lawrence MisiaszekMaine Air National Guard 11th Civil Support Team - Weapons of Mass Destruction

Fiscally, I think it’s an easy argument to grow the National Guard over the Active Duty Components. It’s been

proven through the last 14 or so years that the Guard is equally proficient in their respective skills and that comes at a fraction of the cost. Growing the Guard would also bolster our domestic defense as well as rapid response to natural or manmade disasters. If the National Guard activation process was expedited and activation to deployment time was decreased the National Guard would be able to fill the gaps of a decreased Active component.

National Defense and Interna-tional Stability heavily effect the personnel strength of our military

and based on the current climate and legitimate threats its harder to move one direction over the other, because down-sizing doesn’t seem like a good option. A clearer picture of what our role will be on an international scale would make it easier, but I think as a whole the National Guard has equal capabilities to carry out air or ground missions as the Active Duty forces. We have to train harder at every available opportunity to make sure we’re ready when our numbers called.

The restricted spending environ-ment for all areas of the federal government make it necessary to

offset active duty with more economic National Guard forces. We need to ana-lyze global concerns to ensure the forces we have can confront potential threats. The highest risks are expanding terrorist groups and states like China and Russia fighting to gain territory for resources.

The potential US military role is to support other national or regional forces in a coalition. After an

initial insertion of active duty forces, the National Guard has proven that we can mobilize and deploy quickly and effec-tively to those conflicts. The US military needs to be prepared for and respond to Homeland Defense incidences such as major disasters, emergencies, and terror-ist attacks. The National Guard is already trained, equipped, and conducting these Defense Support of Civil Authorities missions.

The national and global climate has changed and due to that change so has the mission of

our military here and abroad. I un-derstand that the military is a supply and demand organization. When we are not in a conflict we typically don’t need as many assets to complete our missions, but when something else critical happens we seem to bolster the organization up again, which includes the increasing of the military budget. It seems to me that this is a cycle.

Do I like the idea of members losing jobs because of this? No, but I cannot think of any

other option. I will keep doing my job as I have been trained, and continue to represent this organization with the same professionalism as always.

As we sit in our offices after many recent snow-storms, it is hard to believe that we may actually see the Sun and enjoy a decent Maine summer.

The Sun is roughly 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit, and the energy produced in its core is 27 million times greater than that of our best nuclear reactors. It would take 100 billion tons of dynamite exploded every second to equal the Sun’s current energy production (NASA). Thankfully we are 92,960,000 miles from this reactor and we have a safe protective blanket made up of ozone (O3) in our atmosphere to shield us. This combination of ozone and greenhouse gases creates a buffer that works to both keep heat in, and absorb a significant amount of radiation from the Sun. This balance, in turn, allows for life on Earth.

But this isn’t a science lecture; the goal is to learn how the Sun’s power can also promote health. Besides a cntinuous flow of energy, how does the Sun improve our health and what are the risks associated with Sun exposure?

In 1903 during World War One, Niels Finsen, a French physician, discovered that direct Sunlight could be used to clean bacteria out of battle wounds. He later won a Noble Prize for this discovery. Today, there are a number of studies that demonstrate the multiple benefits to Sun exposure. Healthy Sun exposure reduces rates of depression, improves bone health, reduces the risk of cancer, reduces brain aging, reduces obesity, and even strengthens teeth (greenhealth). The University of Edin-burgh published a study in 2013 demonstrating how di-rect Sun exposure on skin caused the body to releases a compound called nitric oxide. This compound reduces blood pressure and dilates our vessels (Medical news). This benefit is likely the underlying cause for a notable reduction in heart disease and stroke rates when people are exposed to sunlight. In addition to blood pressure and heart disease reduction, we know that Sun expo-sure plays a direct role in vitamin D production.

Vitamin D has been called an anti-cancer agent, anti-ag-ing medication, first line depression treatment, and has been shown to improve bone health. Studies demon-strate that vitamin D may reduce falls in elderly as well as improve kidney function (AGS). Extreme deficiencies of vitamin D can result in rickets, which is a disease of the bones which cause them to be weakened and bend.Many studies show a direct correlation between Sunlight and improved bone health. In addition there have been reports that populations with limited Sun exposure have

increased cancer rates, multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases.

The question is, are these medical benefits directly from Sun exposure, improved Vitamin D levels or elevated nitrous oxide levels? Or are increased outdoor activities related to an increase in Sun exposure and it’s purely the increased activity that improves our health. In addi-tion to a healthy lifestyle, one could presume those with elevated Sun levels may have a variation in their diet and the ability to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. The answer is unclear, but Sun exposure improves health and possibly reduces death.We also know that seasonal changes directly affect symptoms of depression. Depression during winter months is the hallmark for seasonal affective disorder, and perhaps this symptoms can be made better by tak-ing Vitamin D.

So the Sun has multiple possible benefits; but what about potential harms? Certainly too much Sun expo-sure can causes dehydration, sunburns, gene muta-tions, skin cancer and even Sun poisoning. These can be serious and life threatening. So why is the Sun dangerous?

The Sun emits very high levels of UVA and UVB light. These are high frequency wave lengths in the color of ultraviolet light. These waves of light are very high energy. High energy increases body temperature so de-hydration and fatigue occurs. With prolonged exposure it can cook things, much like a microwave oven. What gets cooked is your skin, specifically a layer of cells and genetic imprinting we use for waterproofing and protec-tion. So the solution has been to put Sunscreen on, right? Well, sort of.

Sunscreen is a chemical cream, often containing oxy-benzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene or zinc oxide. These absorb UV rays from the Sun and help protect your skin from burning. UV (ultraviolet) is known as a carcinogen and UVA is suspected to play a role in melanoma, squamous cell, and basal cell skin can-cer. Recent studies have shown that burns from UVA exposure likely increases the release of free radicals which can lead to oxidative stress, disruption of cell membranes and even degradation of vitamin D. This is a new theory for underlying cause of melanoma. Basal cell and squamous skin cancer are also related to burn frequency and UV exposure. A recent study showed individuals who continuously wear sunscreen have a

heal

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Fun in the SunSafety Tips for combatting harmful uv exposure


reduction only in squamous cell cancer, but not basal or melanoma skin cancers (JABFM).

That being said, if worn correctly sunscreen reduces the risk of burning. This has a direct reduction in risk of melanoma and other skin cancers. Interestingly, a low grade expo-sure to Sun without Sunscreen actually reduced risk the of melanoma (JABFM). This is a very con-troversial finding. Indi-viduals also assume a false sense of security with sun-screen and stay in the Sun longer, thinking they are protected from harm-ful rays. We often forget to apply sunscreen on regular intervals and ul-timately burn more frequently (JABFM). So what does this all mean, we’ve heard so much about skin cancer? Our bodies are not set up (living in Maine) to have an adequate level of protection from Sun and we often rely on sunscreen and clothing for more protection, instead of limiting our over-all exposure. An SPF 30-50 sunscreen reduces UVA A and B exposure by 1/30 or 1/50 of the normal amount without protection (Skincancer.org). You still receive a fraction of the ultra violet (UV) light exposure but it is limited. Sunscreen needs to be reapplied every two hours otherwise it is no longer as protective. Guess what the army issued tan T-shirt has for SPF protection against UVA on a sunny day? Its SPF score is 5, and goes down to 3 when wet. So remember,

even though your skin is covered, you are still setting your-self up for burns. Recurrent burns may lead to skin cancer.

So what does this all mean? Getting out in the Sun has wonderful health benefits. The Sun itself plays an important role in overall health, heart disease, bone

strength, kidney and brain function. It may even improve mood. However, you need to protect yourself from too much Sun exposure. Your cot-ton T-shirt is a poor blocker of radiation. The key to Sun ex-posure is modera-tion. De-creasing duration of direct Sun exposure and apply-ing Sun-screen frequently will reduce your risk of some types of skin can-cer. Use good SPF clothing, re-apply your Sun-screen and wear hats to prevent direct Sun exposure

especially over your ears, nose, back, lips and face.

If you end up with a new or rapidly growing spot or lesion go see your doctor. They are very easy to remove and virtu-ally painless. What is a concerning lesion? Think of the ABCDEs of melanoma (glow-MD.com). Enjoy the summer and have fun in the Sun! MEDCOM.

Fun in the SunSafety Tips for combatting harmful uv exposure

By 1st Lt. Matthew J. Picard, P.A.

Operational Camouflage Pattern

Army Combat Uniforms available July 1

U.S. Army Press Release, 01 June 2015

The Army announced today the release of the Operational Camouflage Pattern in Soldier uni-forms. The Operational Camouflage Pattern

will be available for purchase in select military cloth-ing sales stores beginning, July 1.

Stores will receive the uniforms over a period of six months from July to November, and new Soldiers will receive Operational Camouflage Pattern Army Combat Uniforms, or ACUs, beginning in January 2016. The Operational Camouflage Pattern was se-lected following the most comprehensive uniform camouflage testing effort ever undertaken by the Army, reflecting the Army’s paramount commitment to force protection.

Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel A. Dailey encouraged en-listed Soldiers to purchase new uniforms with their annual clothing allowance. “All enlisted Soldiers re-ceive an annual stipend for the purchase of uniforms and accessories. I myself will wait until I am issued my clothing allowance before purchasing a uniform with the Operational Camouflage Pattern. I encourage all Soldiers and leaders to do the same by budgeting for a new uniform, belt, boots, and T-shirts as you receive your clothing allowance over the next 2-3 years.”

The cost of the uniform in the Operational Camou-flage Pattern will be similar to the cost of the uniform in the Universal Camouflage Pattern. Enlisted Sol-diers will continue to receive a clothing allowance to replace their worn uniforms.

Uniforms and equipment in the Operational Camou-flage Pattern will be available for U.S. Army National Guard, U.S. Army Reserve, and Senior Reserve Officer Training Corps during summer 2016.

Soldiers are authorized to mix and match T-shirts, belts, and boots with either the Operation Endur-ing Freedom Camouflage Pattern or the Operation-al Camouflage Pattern during the transition period - expected to run through Oct. 1, 2019. To further ease the change, Soldiers, who already have Flame Resistant ACUs in the Operational Enduring Freedom Camouflage Pattern, will be authorized to wear them during the transition.

“I have asked noncommissioned officers to ensure their Soldiers understand that during this transition period, several uniforms and variations will be au-thorized in our formations,” Dailey said. “Presenting a professional appearance is very important to Sol-diers. But, we will not inconvenience or burden our troops. We will still be the most lethal fighting force the world has even known even if our belts don’t match for the next few years.”

In addition to the camouflage change, the Opera-tional Camouflage Pattern ACUs will incorporate mi-nor design changes. These include redesigned shoul-der sleeve pockets with a zipper opening, no trouser drawstring, a button on the lower calf pocket, two pen pockets on the sleeve instead of three, and the elimination of the elbow and knee patch hook and loop.

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Transcript of The Bayonet - June 2015