CG 2015 02 Web PDF

CONNECTICUT GUARDIAN
Connecticut
FEBRUARY 2015 PAGE
Guardian
VOL. 16 NO. 2
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT
FEBRUARY 2015
Dannel P. Malloy Sworn in for Second Term

In the Face of Fierce Obstacles, We Did Not Retreat
STAFF SGT. JORDAN WERME
130TH PUBLIC AFFAIRS DETACHMENT
Also sworn in for their elected terms of office were

Attorney General George Jepsen, Comptroller Kevin
Lembo, Treasurer Denise L. Nappier, and Secretary of
On Jan. 7, Governor Dannel P. Malloy was sworn in for
State Denise M. Merrill.
his second term as the governor of the state of
As is tradition, the governors inaugural began with a
Connecticut in a ceremony held at the William A. ONeill
parade concluding outside the Connecticut State
Armory in Hartford.
Legislative Office Building.
Hundreds of people,
Malloy and Wyman were joined
including civilians, military
by National Guard Service
personnel, VIP guests and
Members, Connecticut Militia,
media were on hand to bear
the Governors Foot Guard and
witness as the Honorable
Horse Guard, State and Hartford
Andrew J. McDonald, State
police departments, the
Supreme Court Justice,
Department of Corrections, as
administered the Oath of
well as marching bands and
Office for the Governors redrum corps.
confirmation of his duties.
Following the swearing-in
Malloy was re-elected in
ceremony, Malloy was honored
November 2014, following a
with a 19-gun salute on the
period of change and
Capitol Building grounds.
uncertainty for National
Fourteen Soldiers of the
Guard Service Members and
Connecticut National Guard
families, and addressed
operated four World War II-era
those
difficulties
Howitzer cannons in order to
immediately.
render the traditional salute to
My fellow citizens, said
the commander of the states
Malloy, let that be a badge
National Guard forces.
of honor that during
Families were also on hand for
difficult times, while others
the ceremony; Malloy was
shied away from hard
joined by First Lady Catherine
decisions, we made them.
Lambert Malloy, along with their
That in the face of fierce
sons, Dannel, Ben and Sam.
obstacles, we did not retreat.
Wyman was joined by her
That during crises, we
husband, Michael.
banded together.
This ceremony is not really
The governor was joined
in the ceremony by Maj. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy swears in during his second inauguration as Connecticuts 88th governor in Hartford, about any particular office,
said Malloy in the days prior to
Gen. Thad Martin, adjutant Jan. 7. The Oath of Office was administered to Malloy by the Honorable Andrew J. McDonald, State
general of the Connecticut Supreme Court Justice. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jerry Boffen, JFHQ-CT, Connecticut National Guard) the event. Its really about the
people of this great state. Weve
National Guard, and
got work to do, and Im very grateful to the residents of
Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman, who was also re- have united.
We chose to believe that there is more that unites us Connecticut for again trusting me to serve in this
elected to office and sworn in during a separate ceremony
earlier in the day. Malloy again chose to hold his swearing- in Connecticut, than divides us, said Malloy. We might capacity.
in ceremony at the William A. ONeill Armory in Hartford not always agree on the details, but we can agree that we
continuing a precedent he established following his want our children to inherit a better Connecticut than we
See More Photos on Page 6
election in 2011 as the first Connecticut governor to do were given.
so. The armory was first opened and dedicated in 1909,
by President William H. Taft.
Over the past four years, said Wyman, I have been
so proud of the all the times the people of this great state
have stood together. During epic storms, through searing
tragedy, and in celebration of great achievements, we
PAGE 2
FEBRUARY 2015
Chairman: Sequestration Cuts Would Require Strategy Change

JOHN D. BANUSIEWICZ
DOD NEWS, DEFENSE MEDIA ACTIVITY
WASHINGTON - Unless Congress changes the Budget

Control Act, which now requires a return to
sequestration-level spending cuts in 2016, the military
will need to change its strategy, the chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff said in an interview broadcast Jan. 11.
In an appearance on Fox News Sunday With Chris
Wallace, Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey said the Army
is drawing down from 570,000 soldiers to 450,000, but he
noted that a Pentagon analysis shows sequestration
would drive that number to 420,000, and even lower under
some circumstances.
Under those circumstances of sequestration in the
Budget Control Act, we would, in fact, have to change
our strategy, and we would be far less able to maintain
the kind of global presence and the kind of stability we
bring to our allies, the general said.
Options Shrink with Sequestration
As it now stands, the chairman said, the Budget Control
Act limits the options the military can provide to elected
leaders against any given challenge. We provide
options, he added. Those options really begin to shrink
dramatically [under the act], he added.
Sequestration would leave the military far less able to
do the things that we think the country needs us to do,
Dempsey said.
Meanwhile, he United States continues to face threats
from both state actors and nonstate actors, the chairman
said.
The nexus of those two make this period in our history
so incredibly complex and so incredibly dangerous,
Dempsey said. State actors, he explained, carry the risk
of miscalculation and being pulled into an escalating
conflict.
With non-state actors, its kind of a persistent threat,
the chairman said. We know for a fact that there are
nonstate radical, violent extremist organizations who
today, and for the next generation, will be plotting against
Connecticut Guardian
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(Front Page American Flag photo by Buddy Altobello)
Captain-General
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy
The Adjutant General
Commanding General, CTNG
Maj. Gen. Thaddeus J. Martin
Western interests, to include the United States. So weve

had to do is adapt our military to address both of those
challenges.
Still the Most Powerful Nation in the World
Though hes concerned about that, Dempsey said, the
United States still is the most powerful nation in the world,
by any measure, and is likely to remain so unless we
unless we talk ourselves out of it and legislate ourselves

out of it with things like the Budget Control Act.
What will get us through this is investing in our human
capital, the chairman said, because were going to have
to think our way through the future, not bludgeon our
way through it.
Life Lines
CTNG Behavioral Health Help Line - 1-855-800-0120
Wounded Soldier and Family Hotline - 1-800-984-8523
Emergency - 911
www.armyfamiliesonline.org - 1-800-833-6622
www.militaryonesource.com - 1-800-342-9647
National Suicide Hotline - 1-800-SUICIDE
www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org - 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Changing Your Address

If you move and want to continue receiving the Connecticut Guardian, you must change your address in
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All others may contact the editor at [email protected] or 860-524-4911
Assistant Adjutant General - Army

Brig. Gen. Mark Russo
Assistant Adjutant General - Air
Brig. Gen. Jon K. Mott
State Command Chief Warrant Officer
CW5 Mark Marini
State Command Sergeant Major
Command Sgt. Maj. John S. Carragher
State Command Chief Master Sergeant
Chief Master Sgt. Edward Gould
State Public Affairs Officer

Connecticut Guardian Managing Editor
Capt. Michael T. Petersen
Connecticut Guardian Editor
Sgt. 1st Class Debbi Newton
Contributors
130th Public Affairs Det., CTARNG
Maj. Jeff Heiland, 103rd AW/PAO
103rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
103rd Air Control Squadron
103rd Communications Flight, CTANG
First Company Governors Horse Guard
Second Company Governors Horse Guard
First Company Governors Foot Guard
Second Company Governors Foot Guard
The Connecticut Guardian is an authorized publication for and in the interest of, the personnel of the Connecticut National Guard, State Military Department, State Militia and their families. The editorial content of this publication is the
responsibility of the CTNG Hartford Public Affairs Office and is not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, and the Department of the Army or the Department of the Air Force. The
Connecticut Guardian is published monthly in accordance with AR 360-1 and is printed through the Government Printing Office.
Deadline for submissions is noon on Febrauary 17 for the March Issue and March 17 for the April Issue.
Circulation: 7,800
FEBRUARY 2015 PAGE 3
A Perspective from the Bottom of the World

TECH. SGT. JOSHUA MEAD
103RD AIRLIFT WING PUBLIC AFFAIRS
BRADLEY AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, East

Granby, Conn. Senior Airman Lucas McEntire, an
aircraft fuels systems mechanic with the 103 rd
Maintenance Squadron, volunteered for a short tour of
duty with the 109th Airlift Wing out of Schenectady, New
York, to the bottom of the worldAntarctica.
The five-week trip afforded him the opportunity to
perform his duties, such as replacing fuel pumps, seals
and fuel lines in one of the most environmentally-austere
places on the planet. So, once he got back and was able
to warm up, we sat him down and asked him a few
questions about his unique experience.
What was the reason or inspiration for you
volunteering to deploy to Antarctica?
It would be a real good opportunity to see the farthest
point south in the world and get some relationships going
with other C-130 bases. There are not too many people I
know that can say they have been to Antarctica and
seen the South Pole. It was a very rare opportunity that
I was grateful to have.
When you landed in Antarctica, what was the first
thing you thought of when you got off the plane?
It wasnt as cold as I thought it was going to be,
really. It was like 20 degrees Fahrenheit when I landed
so, it was kind of like a winter here, but it was just so vast
because the air is very dry so you can see really far
across a field of white ending in a perfectly flat line with
mountains on one side.
What kind of work did you do while you were down
there and did the environment play a part as a limiting
factor when getting that work done?

They day after we landed, we went down to the airfield
where we actually worked, which was about six miles, to
the McMurdo Station out on the ice shelf, which meant
there was no land below us so we werent able to ground
our planes and that limited us in the work we could do;
we couldnt do work directly inside the fuel tanks, we
could only do work inside the dry bays with fuel lines
and things like that.
I ended up having to change out two fuel lines on one
of the planes and a couple of seals on one of the others.
It took a while because Antarctica is so remote we had to
wait for a cargo plane to fly in the parts.
It was also difficult because of the cold, and since we
didnt have any intrinsically safe heaters, we couldnt
use them once I opened up part of the fuel system to
avoid risk of ignition. So, we had to build up a little shelter
out of jackets and other things like that inside the dry
bay and heat up the areathen turn them off before
working on the fuel systems.
How did it feel to be the only fuels component mechanic
on the continent?
It was cool and interesting that they would trust one
person to take care of all of the fuels problems there,
especially a senior Airman just getting started on the C130. I was able to bring a lot of knowledge from our base
and from working on the C-130s in Utah to come up with
solutions to fix their planes.
What other unique challenges did the cold environment
present?
They fly about two or three sorties a week to the
South Pole to deliver supplies and drop off or pick up
people at station down there and they basically put out
a list and allow people to take incentive flights down

there. So, I went down there and it was 9300 feet above
sea level and minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit with a wind
chill of minus 65 degrees. I spent about half-an-hour there
and I was completely frozen.
It gets so cold at the South Pole that, when they land,
they dont actually shut down the plane, they refuel them
while the plane is runningsomething that we would
never do anywhere else. If they shut down, they might
not start back up.
Aside from the incentive flight, what did you do for
fun?
There wasnt too much to do. There were a couple
places to hang out, get a few beers, something like that
a dayroom with darts, video games.
The Friday before we left though, after work I got to
take a tour of the pressure ridges which is where the
permanent ice shelf meets the expanding sea and creates
basically mountains of ice. So we took a nice three-hour
tour of that. And after we got back, a few other guys and
I decided to take a hike to the top of observation hill
which is a small mountain overlooking McMurdo station.
They have a cross up there dedicated to Scott, the guy
who discovered the South Pole but never made it back.
Based on your experiences, what advice do you have
for younger Airmen who are still honing their craft?
If you get the opportunity to go really anywhere or
do something special, take it. Especially really early on in
your career, to learn everything you possibly can because
you want to get to a point where you dont have to rely
on other people to have to do your job. Also, its great to
work with other people and units so we start building
relationships throughout the community.
Senior Airman Lucas McEntire, an aircraft fuels systems mechanic with the
103rd Maintenance Squadron, stands next to the South Pole in Antarctica Nov.
14, 2014. The ceremonial pole is actually 100 feet from the geographical South
Pole, said McEntire, and the temperature that day was minus 40 degrees, the
exact temperature at which Centigrade and Fahrenheit are the same. (U.S. Air
National Guard photo courtesy of Senior Airman Lucas McEntire)
(Inset) A C-130 Hercules aircraft sits at McMurdo Station, Antarctica,

during a snow storm Nov. 13, 2014. Senior Airman Lucas McEntire, an
aircraft fuels systems mechanic with the 103rd Maintenance Squadron,
said he took the photo from on top of one of the C-130 aircraft that he
was working on. (U.S. Air National Guard photo courtesy of Senior
Airman Lucas McEntire)
PAGE 4
FEBRUARY 2015
Connecticuts Iwo Jima Memorial:

A Testament to Bravery, Vision
STAFF SGT. BENJAMIN SIMON
JFHQ-CT PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Editors Note: There are several significant battles from

U.S. history marking major anniversaries this year. This
article is the first in a year-long series on some of those
battles.
On Feb. 23, 1995, the National Iwo Jima Memorial in
New Britain was dedicated and opened to the public.
Thousands of volunteers, Veterans, visitors and local
residents attended the dedication ceremony.
At the dedication, George Gentile, Iwo Jima Veteran,
organizer and designer of the memorial, said to his wife,
Win Gentile, that erecting the monument must have been
the reason he survived the battle of Iwo Jima.
Win Gentile said her husband often felt guilty about
returning home from Iwo Jima when many others did not,
and that creating the memorial had helped him cope with
those feelings so many years after the war.
Gentile, founder and first president of the National Iwo
Jima Survivors Association, enlisted into the Marine
Corps in 1942, following the Japanese attack on Pearl
Harbor.
In 1944, as part of the 4th Marine Division, Gentile joined
the fighting at Iwo Jima with C Company, 1st Battalion, 25th
Marine Regiment.
In an oral history, Gentile contributed in 2001 to the
War Memorial Association Oral History Project, he
recounted his military experiences and memories of the
ferocious battle:
Some strange things happen your mind starts to get
a little whacko. I can remember one incident when we
had to fight a grenade battle and we heard what we
thought were sounds of the Japanese moving so a couple
of us decided that to see better, wed get out of the foxhole and look down into the ravine because we couldnt
see very well there was a lot of brush. There was a very
narrow ledge that only one person could walk on, and I
started to walk on it so I could see better down into the
ravine and I looked up and coming around the other
way was [an enemy soldier]. We came face to face but we
were in such a close proximity that if either one of us
made a move we would have fallen off the ledge. So I just
made an about face and he did the same thing, turned
around and went down the ravine. I turned around and
then threw a grenade down into the ravine. It was one of
those things that I was so fortunate that the position I
was in, he had to go back down in the ravine, where I
could just follow along the ledge and get room enough
for me to throw a hand grenade down at him and then
duck behind the rocks there. We were surprised to see
each other face to face, your reaction was kind of screwy
it was probably not what people would think you
would do, but being on the edge of a ledge, you had to
think fast. Both of us thought the same way to turn
around and get more room, and not have a confrontation
there because either one of us, or both of us, would

have fallen off the ledge down into the ravine.
His oral account contains numerous similar instances,
including sniper and mortar attacks, cave clearings and
the unfortunate losses of cfellow Marines.
At the conclusion of the battle, Gentile chronicled
returning to the islands beach, and viewing a stack of
New York Daily News papers. The cover photograph
moved him immensely.
Iwo Jima Veteran, George Gentile organized the

design and construction of the New Britain National
Iwo Jima Memorial which was dedicated in 1995. He
was also the founder and first president of the
National Iwo Jima Survivors Association. (Photo by
Staff Sgt. Benjamin Simon, JFHQ-CT Public Affairs)
There on the front page was a picture of the flag

raising. Then we realized what kind of an impact this
was making back in the states. But it wasnt until we
got back to Maui that we fully realized the impact of
the flag raising on Iwo Jima and the impact of winning
the battle against the Japanese.
Gentile survived and returned to Connecticut where
he worked for many years as a dentist, and raised his
family before passing away in 2003.
In 1987, he attended an Iwo Jima Survivors reunion in
Long Island, and shortly thereafter founded the Iwo Jima
Survivors Association in Connecticut.
In 1995, following years of fundraising and hard work,

the National Iwo Jima Memorial Monument was finally
unveiled and dedicated. It is officially located in New
Britain but borders Newington, and occupies the site of
an old dump.
The non-profit memorial was built and designed by
volunteers, and paid for by donations. It is not a federal
or state funded memorial.
The flag-raising monument is a replication sculpture of
the famous photograph, captured, Feb. 23, 1945, of U.S.
Marines raising the American flag on top of Mt. Suribachi.
As most Americans now know, the iconic Iwo Jima
photograph was staged, as the photographer, Joe
Rosenthal, didnt capture a photo for a first flags raising,
moments before.
Actual stones imported from Iwo Jima are part of the
monument, forming the terrain on which the Marines
stand. Sand from the island was also incorporated into
the concrete base.
The memorial site features a black marble pedestal,
housing an eternal flame. There are also monuments
dedicated to the chaplain and medical corps at Iwo Jima,
and a large rock at the parks entrance shaped something
like Iwo Jima, and engraved with a map of the Japanese
island. The names of the dozens of Connecticut service
members killed during the battle are engraved into the
monument.
There is also a time capsule vault beneath a plaque
behind the main monument. The capsule was placed there
by the Iwo Jima Survivors Association and cannot be
opened until May 30, 2045, close to the 100th anniversary
of the famous battle.
Win Gentile said that in addition to its stated contents,
the official cemetery file of 6,824 Americans killed in the
1945 island battle, anything could be in the capsule: old
currency, photographs, even souvenirs and mementos
from the war.
No one will know for another 30 years, she said.
Fortunately, her husbands oral history, very much a
time capsule itself, reveals a great deal of information
about the horror and shock experienced by American
service members during the ferocious battle:
One fellow who started to go a little nutty and he had
a pouch hanging from his cartridge belt and a pair of
pliers. The [enemy] were notorious for having gold teeth
and when things got slow and quiet; he would go around
extracting teeth out of the [enemys] mouths and put
them in his pouch like it was an everyday thing. The
gold crowns and gold fillings that he pulled out of their
teeth, I dont know if he ever did anything with them.
During 36 days of fighting at Iwo Jima, which lies
roughly 600 miles east of Tokyo, American service
members killed approximately 20,000 Japanese fighters.
On Sept. 2, 1945, Japan surrendered, officially ending
World War II.
Giving Back
SGT. 1ST CLASS MICHAEL FINNEGAN
A COMPANY, 1ST BATTALION, 102ND INFANTRY REGIMENT UPAR
Twas the season for giving and thats exactly what A Company,
1st Battalion, 102nd Infantry Regiment did. On Dec. 19 a group
of thirteen Soldiers from Apache Company spent the
afternoon at the Connecticut Childrens Medical Center in
Hartford, Connecticut giving something back to the children.
Apache Companys Soldiers met at the Hartford Armory and
carpooled to the hospital just a few miles away. Greeted by the
staff at the front door, Apaches Soldiers were ready to make as
many children happy as possible this holiday season.
The mission that day, organized by the units Morale, Welfare
and Recreation Non-commissioned officer Staff Sgt. Ronald
Pitcher, started during December drill. Pitcher collected $5 from
Apache Company Soldiers who wished to help and 13 Soldiers
volunteered to come to the hospital.
Armed with bags full of stuffed animals purchased by Soldier
donations, Apache Company Soldiers went room-to-room
passing out stuffed animals and talking to the children. The
children were thrilled to see the Soldiers; some had never seen
military personnel in real life! The Soldiers, who quickly felt the
difference they were able to make, delighted in the idea of
giving back.
Battalion Command Sgt. Maj. Paul Vicinus said the event
was an, excellent example of community outreach and living
the Army values.
I am honored to call these men my brothers, one of the most
rewarding Christmas activities I can think of, God bless the
children and the Soldiers! said Apache Company 1st Sgt.
Daniel Morgan, who was present for the event.
Staff Sgt. Garrick Yanosky, a squad leader in Apache
Company said It was all about the smiles. He loved the smiles
on the childrens faces. Staff Sgt. Joseph Paoli and a few others
all agreed that this event was one of the most, if not the most,
rewarding things they have ever done in their military career.
These Soldiers are all well-trained infantry Soldiers, most
having multiple combat deployments, but have never
experienced interacting with the children and their families while
in uniform. Often times, these Soldiers are nestled away in the
woods, training to project America from its enemies.
The chance to do something right here in America for
Americans is super rewarding, said Sgt. 1st Class Michael
Finnegan, Apache Companys Readiness NCO.
This entire event was part of the units monthly MWR
strategy and organized solely by Pitcher. It was a vision that
Pitcher has always had and he was excited to make it actually
happen.
We are wired to help and put others first. I wanted to give
everyone a chance to fulfill that need, to make a difference, and
also get a sense of self-accomplishment. I wanted our guys to
feel what the uniform means to our society, said Pitcher.
This time of year is about giving; I wanted our guys to
know what that meant, how it feels, and the honest, good
feeling that caring and helping others brings. I really wanted to
come together and truly make a difference. I wanted to show
our younger enlisted that its not all just about bullets but we
can do many things to make this world a better and safer place
to live.
Soldiers of A Company, 1st Battalion, 102nd

Infantry Regiment visit with patients at the
Connecticut Childrens Medical Center Dec.
19, 2014, bringing them stuffed animals, unit
coins and military patches. The trip was part
of the units new Morale, Welfare and
Recreation program. (Photos by Sgt. 1st
Class Michael Finnegan, A Company, 1st
Battalion, 102nd Infantry UPAR)
PAGE 6
FEBRUARY 2015
Inauguration Day
Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman takes the oath of office for her
second term in office from Gov. Dannel P. Malloy
during ceremonies held in the Senate Chambers of
the Connecticut State Capitol Jan. 7. (U.S. Army
photo by Sgt. 1st Class Debbi Newton, State Public
Affairs NCO)
Members of the Connecticut Army National Guard fire blank rounds from a WWII-era model M101A1 howitzer
as part of a 19-gun salute honoring Gov. Dannel P. Malloys inauguration in Hartford, Jan. 7. A 19-gun salute is
the prescribed military honor for Governors who serve as commanders of their National Guard forces. (U.S.
Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jerry Boffen, JFHQ-CT, Connecticut National Guard)
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and First Lady Catherine Lambert Malloy are escorted into
the inaugural ball at the convention center in Hartford by Maj. Christopher Cain,
left, and Capt. Roger Conley of the First Company Governors Foot Guard on Jan.
7. The ball was the culmination of inauguration day activities. (Photo courtesy
Brian Ambrose Photography)
Members of the 2nd Company Governor's Horse Guard passes by the Connecticut
State Capitol as part of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's second Inaugural parade Jan. 7,
2015, in Hartford, Connecticut. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Maj. Jefferson S.
Heiland)
Flying Yankees Get Down and Dirty in Georgia

SENIOR AIRMAN EMMANUEL SANTIAGO
103RD AIRLIFT WING, PUBLIC AFFAIRS
SAVANNAH COMBAT READINESS TRAINING

CENTER - Garden City, Ga. Blue skies and beautiful
weather set the stage for two pilots assigned to the 118th
Airlift Squadron to receive their unimproved airfields
certification, dirt cert, on Ramagen landing strip, Bryon
County, Georgia, while training at the Combat Readiness
Training Center, Savannah, Georgia.
More than 100 Airmen from the 103rd Airlift Wing
deployed to the CRTC for Operation Snow Bird; this
certification was just one of the many training goals
accomplished.
To attain the dirt cert, a pilot must complete maximum
effort landings on a dirt landing strip. The Ramagen
landing strip is significantly smaller than a normal runway.

During this session the pilots also completed a series of
touch and go landings, a process in which the aircraft
lands and takes off without coming to a complete stop.
The purpose of the touch and go is to maintain the pilots
takeoff and landing skills.
For a pilot who has extensive hours of flight time, taking
off and landing is nothing new. Factoring in the very
small space these pilots have to land the massive aircraft,
the challenging task this certification validates, is an
impressive feat. If the aircraft approaches short of this
window, it may be damaged, but if the plane lands past
the allotted space, there may not be enough runway for
the aircraft to come to a complete stop.
The training was a team effort. The 165th Civil Engineer
Squadron and CRTC personnel prepared the dirt runway

while Airmen from Portland, Oregon took charge of air
traffic control. It is the first time the training has taken
place at this location in two years.
According to Lt. Col. Steve Gwinn, one of the pilots
flying the mission, achieving the unimproved landing
certification was the next step in the 103rd Airlift Wings
progress towards full mission ready status.
The dirt cert is not to be overlooked just because we
complete it after training at Little Rock. Its the third main
mission set of the C-130 to land anywhere, anytime to
resupply out troops, said Gwinn, Plus, what pilot
wouldnt want to land a big airplane on a piece of dirt.
Its just fun.
A C-130H Hercules aircraft assigned to the 103rd Airlift Wing prepares to take off from Ramagen dirt strip, Bryon County, Ga., Jan. 7, 2015. The aircraft was piloted by Lt.
Col. Steve Gwinn and Maj. Josh Panis, whowere qualifying for a special certification that permits them to land on short unimproved runways. (U.S. Air National Guard
photo by Senior Airman Emmanuel Santiago)
PAGE 8
FEBRUARY 2015
Dempsey: Cyber Vulnerabilities Threaten National Security

LISA FERDINANDO
BRUSSELS - Cyber vulnerabilities in the private sector

pose a serious threat to national security, the chairman
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.
While military cyber defenses are formidable, civilian
infrastructure and businesses often are targeted first and
present a significant vulnerability to our nation, Army
Gen. Martin E. Dempsey said in a January interview in
Rome, at the start of a two-nation European tour focused
on threats to U.S. and European security.
Because of that, he said, the United States faces a
level playing field against cyber threats.
As the senior military officer of the most powerful
military on the planet, I like to have the playing field
tilted to my advantage, he said. Id like the enemy to
play uphill and us to play downhill.
He ranks cybersecurity among his highest priorities,
he added.
Legislation Needed for Information Sharing
Cyber legislation is needed to protect the nation and
to allow information sharing between the government
and the private sector while safeguarding civil liberties,

he said. President Barack Obama has made cybersecurity
a top agenda item and pressed for new cyber legislation
in Januarys State of the Union address.
We havent done enough thats just not internal to
the military, Dempsey said. We havent done enough
as a nation.
The U.S. military depends on commercial networks, so
the strongest military cyber defense still could be
threatened by a weak link elsewhere, Dempsey said.
We have authorities and capabilities that allow us to
do a pretty good job of defending ourselves, he added.
But the vulnerability of the rest of America is a
vulnerability of ours, and thats what we have to
reconcile.
More than 20 countries now have military units
dedicated to employing cyber in war, the chairman noted.
He said he is worried adversaries will seek to exploit
vulnerabilities in civilian critical infrastructure, viewing
that as a softer target than the military itself.
Cyberattacks Are Becoming a Part of Conflict
Disruptive and destructive cyber attacks are becoming
a part of conflict between states, within states and among

nonstate actors, the general said.
From the day I became chairman, I realized that on my
term, cyber would become both a greater threat to our
national interests, but also a more important component
of military capability, he said.
While the U.S. dominates albeit with some
constraints, whether air, space, land or sea the cyber
domain is much different, Dempsey said, repeating that
he doesnt like that there are actors out there who can
compete with us on literally a level playing field.
The chairman noted the military two years ago stood
up the U.S. Cyber Command, which committed resources
and migrated capabilities to the combatant commander
level.
Adversaries of the United States constantly seek to
infiltrate networks and degrade capabilities, disrupt
operations, or steal information, the chairman noted. In
cyber, we have competitors, and we have competitors
who maybe arent as constrained by legal systems and
freedoms as we are, he said. Its going to be challenging
to navigate this race.
President Unveils Next Steps in Cybersecurity Plan

AIR FORCE TECH. SGT. JAKE RICHMOND
WASHINGTON - Continuing an effort to help defend

the nations computer-connected systems, President
Barack Obama announced on Jan. 13 additional steps
that call for more information sharing, modernized law
enforcement and updated security data breach reporting.
Cyber threats pose an enormous challenge for our
country, the president said. As long as Im president,
protecting Americas digital infrastructure is going to
remain a top national security priority.
Speaking at the National Cybersecurity and
Communications Integration Center in Arlington, Virginia,
Obama said since much of the nations critical
infrastructure financial systems, power grids,
pipelines, health care systems runs on networks
connected to the Internet, cybersecurity is a matter of
public safety and of public health. He noted that most of
that infrastructure is owned and operated by the private
sector, but government and non-government entities are
still not always working as closely together as they
should.
Better Information Sharing
Were proposing new cybersecurity legislation to
promote the greater information sharing we need between
the government and private sector, Obama explained.
It includes liability protections for companies that share
information on cyber threats. It includes potential
safeguards to ensure that government protects privacy
and civil liberties, even as were doing our job of
safeguarding Americas critical information networks.
The president also announced the Summit on
Cybersecurity and Consumer Protection, which is
scheduled for Feb. 13 at Stanford University in California.
He said the event is intended to help shape public- and
private-sector efforts to protect American people and

companies from growing threats to consumers and
commercial networks.
Neither government nor the private sector can defend
the nation alone, Obama said. Its going to have to be
a shared mission government and industry working
hand-in-hand as partners. And thats why Ive said that
protecting our digital infrastructure is a national security
priority and a national economic priority.
Shared Responsibility
Even before the internationally reported hack of Sony
Pictures, the issue of cybersecurity had gained
prominence within the Defense Department. In November
of last year, Navy Adm. Michael S. Rogers, the
commander of U.S. Cyber Command, the director of the
National Security Agency, and chief of the Central
Security Service, told the Reagan National Defense Forum
audience that network defense isnt an either-or
proposition that can be neatly divided into public- and
private-sector responsibilities.
There is no single sector, there is no single element of
this population, there is no single element within the
government that has the total answer. It will take all of us
working together to make this work, he said.
Rogers has used the term cyber blur to describe the
convoluted way cyber attacks are both perpetrated by
enemies and defended by American entities. Last
October, he called for leaders in all kinds of institutions
to drive the cultural changes needed to allow new
cybersecurity partnerships to thrive.
The president said the federal government needs to
continue collaborating on this issue, too. He said he will
be working with Congress to ensure partisan
disagreements dont keep the government from fulfilling
its most basic responsibilities.
192nd MPs Will Bring Skill Sets Acquired in Training to Cuba

Soldiers of the 192nd Military Police Battalion yelled, Omaha, when a suicide bomber
pulled a pin from his coat, setting off a bomb hidden within his clothes, notionally
killing two Soldiers and wounding a third.
On Jan. 10, Soldiers conducted entry control point operation battle drills at Stones
Ranch Military Reservation in preparation for their spring deployment to the U.S.
Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where they will support detention operations
and area security. While they will probably not deal with a suicide bomber during their
deployment, it is still valuable training that teaches the importance of standard operating
procedures.
Maj Michael Jakubson, Pre-Mobilization Training Assistance Element (PTAE) OIC,
was pleased with the units level of training.
Theyll be ready for their deployment, Jakubson said.
The unit trained for three weeks in January at Camp Niantic and Stones Ranch,
performing Army Warrior tasks, dismounted and mounted battle drills, pistol
qualification, among other tasks.
More than 50 Soldiers of the 192nd Military Police Battalion will serve as a brigade
staff and provide command and control at the Guantanamo Bay Joint Detention Center.
The Joint Detention Center has been operational since 2002.
In April 2014 the 192nd conducted detention operations training at Gates Correctional
Institution in Niantic and followed up with similar training at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
in June.
Sgt. Kathryn Kennedy, from Griswold, is assigned to the 192nd and said she is looking
forward to putting her training to the test at Guantanamo Bay.
Step over here to be searched, she said in a loud command voice to a role-playing
civilian entering the Stones Ranch FOB ECP.
This time, there was no notional suicide bomb.
192nd Soldiers react to a notional suicide bomb blast and evaluate casualties
during pre-mobilization training at Stones Ranch, Jan. 10. The 192nd trained for
three weeks in January at Camp Niantic and Stones Ranch. (Photo by Staff Sgt.
Benjamin Simon, JFHQ Public Affairs)
Despite the cold at the Stones Ranch Military Reservation FOB, Jan. 10, the
morale was high, courtesy of Capt. Peter Pollards snow design. (Photo by Staff
Sgt. Benjamin Simon, JFHQ Public Affairs)
Sgt. Kathryn Kennedy searches an OPFOR civilian during pre-mobilization

training at Stones Ranch, Jan. 10. In March, the 192nd is scheduled to mobilize to
Fort Bliss, Texas as part of their 12-month deployment. (Photo by Staff Sgt.
Benjamin Simon, JFHQ Public Affairs)
PAGE 10
FEBRUARY 2015
Connecticut Civil Support Team receives Army Superior Unit Award

SENIOR AIRMAN JENNIFER PIERCE
103RD AIRLIFT WING PUBLIC AFFAIRS
WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. The Connecticut 14th

Civil Support Team recently received the Army Superior
Unit Award for its actions from Sept. 1, 2010 to Dec. 31,
2011.
The team displayed exceptionally meritorious service
in support of homeland defense as part of the Chemical
Biological Radiological Nuclear and Explosives
Enterprise. The enterprise required the unit to execute
special security event missions and preparedness events
and offer support to the chemical, biological, radiological
and nuclear community in the New England area.
The Army Superior Unit Award is a huge achievement
for the 14th Civil Support Team and the Connecticut
National Guard, said Lt. Col. Daniel Janusz, former 14th
CST commander. This is the first time that the team has
earned such a prestigious award. The Airmen and Soldiers
of the 14th Civil Support Team should be very proud of
their continued accomplishments and the support they
provide to civilian authorities in Connecticut and
throughout New England.
The award-winning Civil Support Team is currently
seeking a new member for its group of 22. The general
job description for a CST member includes preparing,
planning, training, educating and equipping personnel
to respond, maintain mission capability and recover from
the full spectrum of physical threat events including
major accidents, natural disasters, weapons of mass

destruction and wartime chemical, biological, radiological,
nuclear and high-yield explosive attacks. The CST also
provides technical expertise to commanders during full
spectrum threat response operations and performs
detection, monitoring, warning and reporting of chemical,
biological, radiological and nuclear events.
We are looking for a motivated person who is very
willing to take initiative and who wants to learn, said
Tech. Sgt. Conor Thomas, Connecticut CST member. We
are a high ops tempo unit with a real-world mission. Being
a member is a really good challenge. We have to keep up
with whatever the terrorist threats are at the time. Theres
also plenty to learn between the equipment, current
threats and for our training missions.
In 2010 and 2011, the team led the entire nation in Special
Security Events standby missions and conducted more
operational missions in 2010 than the other 57 teams in
the nation (including Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S.
Virgin Islands).
Every state has at least one Civil Support Team; some
states have two, said Thomas. Each of these teams is
divided into different sections. One section is the survey
section. These are the boots on groundthe guys we
are sending into the hot zone to perform reconnaissance,
characterization and to get samples from a target that
commanders deem necessary.
There is a communications section that has a truck to
provide communications on both civilian and military

frequencies. There is also a medical section, operations
section and a command section. The opening we have
on our team is in the survey section, said Thomas.
Thomas also added that even though CST members
are busy, they love what they do because they are called
to assist on a variety of calls, Thomas said.
A few months ago, our team was able to assist in a
real-world fire in Bridgeport. This is because our gas
monitors have wireless capability so the fire department
had us set the gas monitor up around the perimeter of
the fire to ensure that no poisonous or noxious fumes
were being carried too far away into residential areas,
said Thomas. In 2007, our team was called to Danbury
where there was an active anthrax incident. We were able
to work alongside the Connecticut State Police and the
Department of Public Health. We sent teams in to take
samples from the suspects house, a barn behind the
house and soil samples around the house to determine
the spread of contamination. Ultimately, we are here if
there is a terrorist threat but, because of our capabilities,
a lot of outside agencies end up utilizing us,
If you are interested in a position with the Connecticut
Civil Support Team, please contact Tech. Sgt. Thomas
by email at [email protected] or by phone at
(860) 292-4719.
Airmen Fend off Simulated Flu Epidemic in Savannah

MAJ. BRYON M. TURNER
103RD AIRLIFT WING
SAVANNAH COMBAT READINESS TRAINING

CENTER - Garden City, Ga. Airmen from the 103rd
Airlift Wing successfully completed a three-day public
health exercise while deployed to the Combat Readiness
Training Center, Savannah, Georgia on Jan. 7.
The exercise put the Flying Yankees to the test with a
simulated flu epidemic that required a robust medical
response to work hand-in-hand with a complex
accountability process.
The exercise was a great learning opportunity for our
new wing inspection team members, said Lt. Col. James
Guerrera, inspector general for the 103rd Airlift Wing.
We also highlighted a number of strengths across the
unit and areas where process improvements have already
begun.
The first patient in the exercise was Airman 1st Class
Gabriel Cartagena, an Airman assigned to the 103rd Force
Support Squadron, who works in the dining facility.
Although his simulated illness turned out to be something
unrelated, many casualties with the flu would follow.
This exercise was a great experience for the medical
group; it helped us to identify areas of improvement for
the clinic, said Maj. Tara Hood, who served as the
deployed medical staffs officer in charge.
As the scenario came to a crescendo, more than 25
Airmen became ill, all of whom were eventually confined
to quarters, creating an accountability challenge for
personnel assigned to the 103rd Force Support

Squadrons personnel support for contingency
operations. Members of the PERSCO team successfully
accomplished casualty reports for each of the sick Airmen,
including some of their own.
Staff Sgt. Kayla Smith, assigned to the 103rd Force
Support Squadron, was a victim of a simulated fire-ant
attack which resulted in a severe allergic reaction. 1st Lt.
Coleen Hitt, a member of the 103rd Medical Group, rushed
across base on foot and administered lifesaving aid while
a civilian ambulance rushed to the site. Smith would
spend the next simulated 24 hours at a local hospital as
she recovered.
The clinical staff received good training for disease
identification, disease management and they adapted to
the stressors of being overwhelmed by casualities in a
remote environment, said Hood. It was an excellent
experience for our junior staff and officers to take on new
leadership roles.
Members of the 103rd Medical Group also conducted
door-to-door house calls at lodging, providing critical
medical aid as needed for the sick Airmen, including
Cartagena.
I felt good, it helped me know everyone is here to help
all of us, said Cartagena. If I really got sick Id want
the same treatment.
Throughout the exercise, wing inspection team
members captured detailed notes based on their
observations; notes that will be entered into the inspector
general evaluation management system to assist unit

members in making positive changes to key processes.
A formal IGEMS report will be created, and corrective
action plans will be required to achieve unit improvements
moving forward, said Guerrera.
Maj. Leah Ward and Airman First Class Marissa Ruiz,

both assigned to the 103rd Medical Group, conduct
door-to-door house calls for all Airmen who were
confined to quarters during a public health exercise at
the Combat Readiness Training Center, Savannah,
Georgia Jan. 7th, 2015. (U.S. Air National Guard
Photo by Maj. Bryon M. Turner)
1st Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment

Trains for Mobilization to Kosovo
STORY AND PHOTOS BY STAFF SGT. JERRY BOFFEN
EAST LYME, Conn. Soldiers from several different

aviation units from throughout the country joined forces
in January at Stones Ranch Military Reservation to
conduct pre-mobilization training in advance of their
upcoming mobilization together to Kosovo this spring.
Army Reserve Soldiers from F Company, 5th Battalion,
159th Aviation Regiment, of Clearwater, Florida, and A
Company, 2nd Battalion, 238th Aviation Regiment, of Los
Alamitos, California, left the warm weather of their home
states to train alongside Soldiers from the Connecticut
Army National Guards 1st Battalion, 169th Aviation
Regiment of Enfield, Connecticut.
Approximately 150 Soldiers were on ground to
participate in the week-long training event in preparation
for their year-long mobilization to Kosovo where they
will serve as part of an ongoing NATO peacekeeping
mission.
Capt. William Haselberger, commander of F Co., 5-159th,
applauded the training at Stones Ranch, which consisted
of a variety of basic soldiering tasks such as manning a
controlled entry point, vehicle and personnel searches,
reacting to an improvised explosive device and reacting
to direct and indirect fire during un-mounted patrols.
The training has been smooth so far, Haselberger
said. Theyre keeping us on a really tight schedule but
its going smooth. Youre a Soldier first so all of this stuff
is necessary.
Staff Sgt. Jerry Castonguay, a UH-60 Blackhawk
mechanic with the 5-159 th, echoed Haselbergers
sentiments.
Probably 75 percent of what we do on a daily basis in
this job is aviation related, Castonguay said. This is a
good refresher on some of that basic Soldier training
that we maybe dont get a chance to do every day like in
an infantry unit.
Getting this training done here and now, Castonguay
added, also opens up time later when we get to our
[mobilization] station at Fort Hood for more of our [job]
specific training.
Spec. Zachri Kirk, a fueler with the 1/169th, said that
this training also provides a good team-building element.
Conducting this training here is good to get
everybody together and used to working together, he
said. I think itll be a good deployment. There are a lot
of good people here from all over and everyone is mixing
together well.
Maj. Stephan Nowakowski, the battalion executive
officer for the 1/169, said that between 20 and 30 percent
of the Soldiers from the Connecticut, Florida and
California units deployed together in 2009 to Southwest
Asia in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Having worked with a lot of these guys before kind of
helps overcome some of the stigmas that are out there
about National Guard and Reserve units, Nowakowski
said. Were just as professional and competent as

anybody and having familiarity between these different
units goes a long way.
Building upon that familiarity is something that the
training here has helped these units do, which has in
turn built confidence amongst the troops.
I am absolutely confident in our Soldiers to succeed

in this mission, said Capt. Stephen Kramer, commander
of A Co., 2-238th. This training is helping us all get used
to working together and Im confident that well succeed
on this deployment. Im looking forward to it.
Soldiers from the Connecticut Army National Guards 1st Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment perform a vehicle
search during pre-mobilization training, Jan. 16, at Stones Ranch Military Reservation in East Lyme,
Connecticut. Approximately 150 Soldiers from the 169th and two Army Reserve aviation units are set to
comprise the U.S. aviation task force for a NATO-led peacekeeping mission in Kosovo later this year. (U.S.
Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jerry Boffen, JFHQ-CT)
Soldiers from the
Connecticut Army National
Guards 1st Battalion, 169th
Aviation Regiment
evacuate a Soldier with
simulated injuries during
pre-mobilization training,
Jan. 16, at Stones Ranch
Military Reservation in East
Lyme, Connecticut.
Approximately 150
Soldiers from the 169th and
two Army Reserve aviation
units are set to comprise
the U.S. aviation task force
for a NATO-led
peacekeeping mission in
Kosovo later this year. (U.S.
Army photo by Staff Sgt.
Jerry Boffen, JFHQ-CT)
PAGE 12
FEBRUARY 2015
Resilience Center: Assertive Communication

SGT. MAJ. JAMES SYPHER
STATE RESILIENCE COORDINATOR
Assertive Ccommunications helps you solve problems by remaining Confident, Clear,

and Controlled. Confidence is belief in your ability to handle the situation; Clarity
makes the message easy to understand without exaggerating; Control keeps your
emotions in check and helps you keep on track. Assertive communication may seem
like a rudimentary concept, however many of us mistake it for Aggressive communication
which can be detrimental to solving the issue.
Aggressive communication is a common communication style within the military;
particularly in the realm of combat arms. Some characteristics of aggressive
communication are the need to have the last word, out of control emotion, blaming
others, and talking down to or over another person. With the exception of the combat
environment, aggressive communication is typically counterproductive.
The third main communication style is Passive Communication. Passive
communicators are typically quiet, submissive, avoid eye contact, withdrawn, often
sulk, and are submissive and appeasing. People who choose this style of communication
are often dominated by aggressive communicators.
And even if they have valid points to make, they are never heard.
In order to be an assertive communicator, one must use the IDEAL Model.
I = Identify and understand the problem (internal communication)
D = Describe the problem objectively and accurately (remove opinions)
E = Express your concerns and how you feel (when appropriate)
A = Ask the other person for his/her perspective (what or how questions not
why) and then ask for a reasonable change
L = List all the possible outcomes (consequences and benefits)
Assertive communication takes practice. You must remain flexible and match your
style of communication to the situation or person. Assertive communication is a skill
and has little to do with personality. When the conversation starts to get too intense,
step away for a moment; take a break, relax, rethink and try again. Learning how to
discuss problems assertively, respond constructively, and praise effectively are critical
communication strategies in building and maintain strong relationships.
Resilience Tip of the Month:
Healthy families solve problems through cooperation, creative brainstorming, and
openness to others, and place emphasis on the role of social support and connectedness
(versus isolation) within the family.
Resilience Resources:
BH Helpline: 855-800-0120
Strong Bonds: Chaplain Nutt 800-858-2677
Connecticut VA: Newington: 860-666-6951 West Haven: 203-932-5711
GKO Resilience Portal: https://states.gkoportal.ng.mil/states/CT/
ARNG_Staff/G1/Resilience/SitePages/Home.aspx
Military One Source: www.militaryonesource.mil
Per Army Regulation 350-53, all units of company size or larger are required to have
at least one Master Resilience Trainer.
The next Resilience Trainer Assistant course will be conducted March 17-20, 2015 at
Camp Niantic. CTNG Circular 350-15-10 is on the GKO link above and has all of the
details.
In next months issue we will cover: real time resilience.
Until then Connecticut, Stay Resilient.
One Step Closer to Aviation MEDEVAC
SGT. MAJ. ANTHONY V. SAVINO

STATE AVIATION OFFICE
Five Connecticut Army National Guard Soldiers

graduated Dec. 19 from the Ft. Sam Houston Critical Care
Course to become fully MOS-qualified in the new
Company C (-), 3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment
MEDEVAC unit.
The graduates are: Sgt. Ian Berghorn (HHC, 1-102nd
Infantry), Sgt. Danielle Marcue (HHC, 192 Military Police),
Staff Sgt. Alfred Townsend (169th Regional Training
Institute), and Sgt. Sam Dybdahl and Staff Sgt. John
Krause (CTARNG Medical Detachment).
Prior to the eight-week course, Krause, Dybdahl and
Marcue attended a 26-week National Register EMT-P
course at Ft. Sam Houston. Townsend and Berghorn are
National Register Paramedic Certified which made them
exempt from attending the 26-week course.
The new detachment is authorized three UH-60M Black
Hawk helicopters and the 68W Flight Paramedic MOS.
Before becoming a member of the Flight Paramedic aircrew,
they will all attend an in-depth, four-week training class
at Ft. Rucker. Training includes aircraft familiarization,
procedures and medical treatment during aircraft
operations.
The initial selection process began in September 2013,
with 23 applicants earning the right to be reviewed by a
selection board in December 2013. These five NCOs
showed the board they had the right stuff and were
ready to commit 12 to 38 weeks of training, putting their
personal lives on hold for the opportunity become
CTARNGs first qualified flight paramedics.
The five NCOs will be transferred from their current
units into the 1-169th General Support Aviation Battalion
until the 3/126th comes on line, and will start training with
the pilots and crew chiefs.
(From left) Sgt. Ian Berghorn (HHC, 1-102nd Infantry), Sgt. Danielle Marcue (HHC, 192 Military Police), Staff Sgt.
Alfred Townsend (169th Regional Training Institute), and Sgt. Sam Dybdahl and Staff Sgt. John Krause
(CTARNG Medical Detachment) are on their way to becoming members of the Connecticut National Guards
new MEDEVAC unit. The Soldiers recently graduated from the critical care course at Ft. Sam Houston, Texas.
Each of the Soldiers has undergone extensive training and still have sourses to go before becoming fully
certified.(Photo courtesy Sgt. Maj. Anthony V. Savino, State Aviation Office)
PAGE 14 FEBRUARY 2015
Infantry Takes on the Mountai
A group of Soldiers conduct foot march during Winter Annual Training at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site,
Jericho, Vermont. Soldiers are from the 1st of the 102nd Infantry Battilion, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team,
Connecticut National Guard. (Photo by Sgt 1st Class Michael Finnegan, A Company, 1st Battalion, 102nd
Infantry Regiment UPAR))
Staff Sgt. Joseph Paoli takes aim during Winter Annual Training at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho,
Vermont from Jan. 8 through 17, 2015. Soldiers are from the 1st of the 102nd Infantry Battilion, 86th Infantry
Brigade Combat Team, Connecticut National Guard. (Photo by Sgt 1st Class Michael Finnegan, A Company,
1st Battalion, 102nd Infantry Regiment UPAR))
Pfc. Jaime Rodriguez conducts military mountaineer training

during Winter Annual Training at Camp Ethan Allen Training
Site, Jericho, Vermont from Jan. 8 through 17, 2015. Soldiers
are from the 1st of the 102nd Infantry Battilion, 86th Infantry
Brigade Combat Team, Mountain, Connecticut National Guard.
(Photo by Sgt 1st Class Michael Finnegan, A Company, 1st
Battalion, 102nd Infantry Regiment UPAR))
Pfc. Anthony Cornish conducting military mountianeer

Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vermont from Jan. 8 throu
Infantry Battilion, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team,
1st Class Michael Finnegan, A Company, 1st Battalion
ins of Vermont...in January
Pfc. Sergeo Narvaez conducts military mountianeer training

during Winter Annual Training at Camp Ethan Allen Training
Site, Jericho, Vermont from Jan. 8 through 17, 2015. Soldiers
are from the 1st of the 102nd Infantry Battilion, 86th Infantry
Brigade Combat Team, Mountain, Connecticut National
Guard. (Photo by Sgt 1st Class Michael Finnegan, A
Company, 1st Battalion, 102nd Infantry Regiment UPAR))
r training during Winter Annual Training at Camp Ethan

ugh 17, 2015. Soldiers are from the 1st of the 102nd
, Mountain, Connecticut National Guard. (Photo by Sgt
n, 102nd Infantry Regiment UPAR))
(From left) Command Sgt. Major Paul Vicincus, Lt. Col. Robert Brafford and Cpt. Steven MacSweeny disscuss
operations during Winter Annual Training at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site,Jericho, Vermont from Jan. 8
through 17, 2015. Soldiers are from the 1st of the 102nd Infantry Battilion, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team,
Mountain, Connecticut National Guard. (Photo by Sgt 1st Class Michael Finnegan, A Company, 1st Battalion,
102nd Infantry Regiment UPAR))
Soldiers set up artic tents during Winter Annual Training at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vermont
from Jan. 8 through 17, 2015. Soldiers are from the 1st of the 102nd Infantry Battilion, 86th Infantry Brigade
Combat Team, Mountain, Connecticut National Guard. (Photo by Sgt 1st Class Michael Finnegan, A Company,
1st Battalion, 102nd Infantry Regiment UPAR))
Around Our Guard
Pfc. Brandon Tomlinson, (top) puts his skills as a recent graduate from the
petroleum specialty school to good use during preventative maintenance checks
and services on a fueler as Spc. Luis Mota Santos assists, Jan. 27. The two are
members of A Company, 192nd Engineer Battalion and were getting equipment
ready to respond to requests for help in the aftermath of the Blizzard of 2015.
(Photo by Sgt. Sylvie Papageorge, A Co, 192nd Engineer Battalion UPAR)
Sgt. Jose Narvaez (left)

conducts an inventory of
Pvt. Jevon Salmons gear
to ensure Salmon is wellequipped to respond to
any calls for assistance
in the aftermath of the
Blizzard of 2015. (Photo
by Sgt. Sylvie
Papageorge, A Co.,
192nd Engineer
Battalion UPAR)
Spc. Bryan Robitaille, a

power generation
equipment repairer with
A Company, 192nd
Engineer Battalion,
performs a preventative
maintenance checks and
services on three kilowatt
generators in preparation
for the Blizzard of 2015.
(Photo by Sgt. Sylvie
Papageorge, A Co.,
192nd Engineer
Battalion UPAR)
Equipment undergoes preventative maintenance checks and services at the

Southington Armory on Jan. 26 in preparation for a major winter storm. (Photo by
Sgt. 1st Class Michael Finnegan, A Company, 1st Battalion, 102nd Infantry
Regiment UPAR)
Soldiers perform
preventative
maintenance checks and
services on equipment
as a winter storm hits
Connecticut. (Photo by
Sgt. 1st Class Michael
Finnegan, A Company,
1st Battalion, 102nd
Infantry Regiment UPAR)
Soldiers of the Connecticut

Army National Guard
prepare breakfast after
being on-call overnight at
the Southington Armory.
The Soldiers, and many
others throughout the
state, were on duty in
order to quickly respond to
any requests for
assistance as a major
winter storm hit the state.
(Photo by Sgt. 1st Class
Michael Finnegan, A Company, 1st Battalion, 102nd Infantry Regiment UPAR)
Enlisted Update
Welcome to February! I hope
everyone had a happy, healthy
and tranquil holiday season.
January is traditionally a time
to
make
resolutions.
Unfortunately, February is
usually the time that many of
those resolutions fall by the
COMMAND SGT. MAJ.
wayside. If you are like me, it is
JOHN S. CARRAGHER
time to pay for the extra meals
and snacks that come with the holidays. Now is the
time to reinvigorate your physical fitness program.
February starts out cold and a bit dreary - we have to
force ourselves to get out and be active. Thankfully,
the month ends with the very beginnings of spring.
Thinking about your PT program will not make it
happen- get out there and do it!
Late winter and spring is also board season. We have
completed the Sergeant Major and Master Sergeant
promotion boards. The rest of the NCO boards will
soon follow as well as the Qualitative Retention Board.
One of the most frequent questions I get is How
can I improve my performance on centralized promotion
boards?
The answer is really quite easy: Meticulously review
your record. The feedback from past boards has
consistently noted that the Soldier who reviewed his/
her record presented a better board file to be
considered. The common documents required for all
boards include an updated and validated Enlisted
Record Brief, APFT and weapons qualification data,
NCOERs and Academic Evaluation Reports, and DA
photographs (required for staff sergeant and above).
A key component is that all documents match.
Attention to detail and personal involvement in
maintaining YOUR record will ensure the best possible
results for you from the board. If you need help
reviewing and updating your record, ask your platoon
sergeant or first sergeant. The human resources
professionals assigned to your unit are available to
assist you. Do not simply sign your NGB 4100 or QRB
board notification and then wonder why you do not
get the results you expect!
The structure and roles of the components of the
Army continues to be debated in Congress and within
the Army.
The current National Defense Authorization Act
requires the establishment of a commission at the
national level to study the structure of the Army. This
may seem pretty far removed from the average Soldier
that really just wants to know what he or she can do, at
their level, to impact the debate. This, too, is a relatively
easy question to answer. Each individual Soldier can
impact the debate by maintaining his/her individual
readiness and the readiness of their unit. Individual
readiness means maintaining your level of physical
fitness, keeping your medical and dental status current,
and staying current on all the distance learning
requirements that we all face. Individual readiness

includes some more difficult things like getting yourself
into the appropriate NCOES course and keeping your
Family and employer prepared for your service.
The individual Soldier can directly impact the
readiness of his/her unit by remaining decisively
involved with unit training and operations. If you are
a leader, make sure that your Soldiers are informed and
prepared for the next training event. Additionally, make
sure your Soldiers are prepared for the next domestic
operation. Our ability to respond at a moments notice
is paramount.
The individual Soldier can also impact the debate by
joining a professional military organization that
represents your views. The strength of professional
organizations is derived from membership. Choose the
organization(s) that best represent you and get
involved. Membership is only the first step - active
membership helps the organization advance your
views and will provide you personal satisfaction.
The foundation of readiness is effective training.
The foundation of effective training is comprehensive
planning. It may seem strange to talk about annual
training in February when most units dont conduct it
until the summer months. As leaders, you should be
planning now for what you will need to execute your
training six months from now. It has been said that
good leaders think tactics, great leaders think logistics.
Spend some time now to think through your plans and
request what you need to execute. The major
equipment items are usually requested at the battalion
and higher level, the individual leader usually does
not have to worry about it. It is not the big things that
become an issue, it is the small things. Do you have
enough batteries? Chemlights? Insect repellent? Other
consumables? Order them now!
The 2015 Best Warrior Competition is just around
the corner. I encourage each company to send a Soldier
and NCO competitor. The competition is a great
training event every year and will benefit all
participants. This years event will also feature
competitors from the Connecticut Air National Guard.
This is something new that is a direct result of previous
competitors feedback. The Airmen competing will not
be eligible to move forward to the regional competition.
The competition will provide a great opportunity for
inter-service rivalry, foster Esprit de Corps, and
develop professional relationships among warriors.
As always, thank you for what you do every day for
our Airmen, Soldiers, Family members, State and
Nation. See you in April.
Quote of the Month:
The personal bond between leader and follower
lies at the root of all explanations of what does and
does not happen in battle.
Sir John Keegan, British Military Historian
1934-2012
Governors Horse and Foot Guards

Spreading Holiday Cheer
Rendering Honors
Members of the First Company Governors Foot Guard, led by Capt. Roger Conley,
present Gary Craig and John Elliot of WTIC-FM radio with unwrapped toys
collected by the 1GFG at their annual Christmas Dinner Dance. The toys are
given to needy children at Gary Craigs We Are the Children Christmas party. The
donation was made at the Toy Chest in West Hartford Dec. 18. (Photo courtesy of
Sgt. 1st Class Mark Boudreau, 1GFG)
The commandants of the four state organized militia units, from left, Maj. Gordon
Johnson, Second Company Governors Horse Guard; Maj. Ed Henfey, First
Company Governors Horse Guard; Maj Gary Stegina , Second Company
Governors Foot Guard; and Maj. Christopher Cain, First Company Governors Foot
Guard, review the troops during the parade honoring Governor Dannel P. Malloys
inauguration to his second term as governor, Jan. 7 in Hartford. Members of all
four militia units participated in the parade. (Photo courtesy of Ms. Janet Dexter)
What the Historical

Office is Doing to Help
Your Grandchildren
NICHOLAS THOMAS
INTERN, CONNECTICUT MILITARY DEPARTMENT HISTORICAL SECTION
There are many reasons why Soldiers wake up and

lace their boots, fix their collars and place pens in their
sleeves. For some, regardless of ethnicity, gender or
rank it is for a steady paycheck and for others it is the
opportunity for a chance to earn a college education.
In some cases, these men and women are the first of
their family to enlist. Many do it because their father
and grandfather did it. Some would wager that most of
who wear the uniform do it because of a strong sense
of needing to serve our state, government and people.
The Historical Section of the Military Department
has undertaken a project so family members, sons,
daughters and grandchildren will be able to understand
the role in defending freedom as well as passing on
the military heritage. This project will result in a
historical narrative for each of the units that deployed

between 2001 and 2014 for all of the Global War on
Terror initiatives like Operations Iraqi Freedom,
Enduring Freedom and Noble Eagle.
So what can you do to help protect our history as
well as continue to serve our country? We are
collecting information, documents, pictures, artifacts
and oral histories that tell the story of your
deployments. These items will be put on display in a
binder for each unit so that citizens and Soldiers can
view your accomplishments. If you would like to send
anything in, or would like to make an appointment for
a short 15- to 20-minute interview about your
experiences please contact [email protected]. If
you would like to drop items off to our office located
in the Hartford Armory; we are located in room 113
Historical Section.
Why Did I Choose to Become a Warrant Officer?

CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER THREE MICHAEL MOTTOLO
169TH REGIONAL TRAINING INSTITUTE
As the Warrant Officer Candidate School Course

Manager for 1st Battalion, 169 Regional Training Institute
in Niantic, Im afforded the opportunity to speak to many
Soldiers within our ranks about the career-broadening
opportunities available to them by choosing to attend
either Officer or Warrant Officer Candidate School.
Very much like the decision to join the Army itself,
everyone has their unique reasons, personal motivations
and story of how and why they ended up in the
occupation they are in today. However, making the

decision to become an officer, sometimes takes a
combination of personal drive, as well as external
influences.
Personally, it was a combination of leadership styles
and specific personnel that I had the privilege to work
under and learn from that solidified my desire to become
a warrant officer. Of all my mentors, there was one in
particular who caused the most introspection and personal
growth. This persons actions were never swayed by
popular opinion. This person wasnt interested in being
liked and was interested in doing the right thing, always.

As a true mentor, a great deal of time was spent identifying
and assessing my weaknesses, while also developing
my strengths. A solid foundation of humility in thought
and action, as well as a concise process-driven task
execution were areas that were stressed to me. I was
motivated by the best, to become my best.
The point of this self-reflection isnt the path I chose,
but that I was believing in myself and making a decision
to do something. Set goals, develop a plan and always
move forward. - Thank you Jody Reidenhour.
Education: Transfer Post 9/11 GI Bill as Soon as Eligible

MAJ. DEREK J. MUSGRAVE
EDUCATION SERVICES OFFICER
Shortly after marriage, I transferred all 36 months of my

Post 9/11 GI Bill to my wife. At the time, we had no
children, she was a teacher with a masters degree and
she had absolutely no desire to go back to college to
further her education. So why did I transfer all of my
benefits to a dependent with no plans to use it?
The Post 9/11 transferability option comes with a fouryear service obligation. It is a one-time obligation that
does not reset when transferring benefits to other
dependents. By transferring all of the benefits to my
wife first, I was able to start my four-year service
obligation before we had children. Two years later when
we had our first child, I transferred the benefit to my

daughter. The subsequent transfer did not start a new
four-year service obligation.
Although I transferred the benefit to my daughter, I
only transferred 35 months to her. I left one month with
my wife as a place holder. The Post 9/11 GI Bill law is
very specific, but allows you to add or remove months of
benefits from dependents how I see fit while I am still
serving. However, it is not quite as flexible after I leave
the service. If I retire from the Armed Forces and my wife
is not allocated any of the Post 9/11 GI Bill, she would
not be able to receive the benefit. Although she will
probably never use the benefit, I am leaving her one month
just in case she changes her mind years after I am retired.
If my daughter needs that last month of benefit 20 years

from now, I can transfer it back to her.
The Post 9/11 GI Bill is an extremely complicated GI
Bill. If you have any questions about this bill or any
other education benefits, please stop by the Education
Service Office in the Hartford Armory or reach us at the
following extensions and email addresses:
Maj. Derek J. Musgrave: Education Services Officer
and GI Bill Manager. [email protected] or
860-524-4816.
Mrs. Mirza Henderson: Education Service Specialist.
860-524-4820 or [email protected]
Sgt. 1st Class Erika Thurman: Incentive Manager. 860524-4809 or [email protected]
Legal: Legal Assistance for Financial Matters and More

CAPT. ERICH HEINONEN
JUDGE ADVOCATE, ATTORNEY-ADVISOR
Members of the military are expected to pay their just

financial obligations in a proper and timely manner.
However, like many other people, service members may
find themselves in circumstances where they are simply
unable to pay for all of their expenses.
Financial hardship may be the result of poor financial
planning or budgeting, or it may be due to no fault of the
service member. In either event, Legal Assistance
Attorneys (LAAs) of the Connecticut Army National
Guard are available to assist eligible service members,
their dependants, and Retirees in a wide variety of
financial legal matters, and can direct service members to
financial resources for which they may qualify.
Ensuring ones financial house is in order is vital to
ensuring Soldier readiness. Therefore, Army Regulations
allow for legal assistance to be provided in the following
types of cases that often involve economic hardship:
family law, estates, landlord/tenant disputes, the Service

Members Civil Relief Act, Fair Debt Collection Practices
Act, personal contracts or purchase agreements, as well
as other economic issues like credit card debt and
involuntary allotments.
LAAs may assist in drafting legal correspondence,
negotiating with creditors, providing clients legal counsel,
recommending courses of action, and even referrals to
other available resources that may be better suited to
assist. It is important to note that in-court representation
of individual service members is almost always prohibited.
However, the means available to LAAs to assist eligible
clients are often sufficient to reach a resolution agreeable
to the client. Nonetheless, as mentioned, there may be
other resources available that can help alleviate the
immediate economic needs of service members.
The Connecticut Military Relief Fund is available to
service members and their immediate family members for
essential personal or household goods or services. This
fund was established for the purpose of making grants

to service members and their immediate family members
if the payment for such goods or services would be a
hardship due to military service.
The State Soldiers, Sailors and Marines Fund can
also provide temporary financial assistance to meet, or
help meet, the health and maintenance needs of eligible
wartime Veterans and their dependents who demonstrate
a need. Available assistance under this fund may include
shelter (rent/mortgage interest), food, clothing, medical
expenses or funeral expenses. Still, other forms of
immediate economic assistance may be available from
the National Guard Foundation, and other Veteran Service
Organizations such as the American Legion and Disabled
American Veterans. If you or another service member in
the state of Connecticut requires immediate economic
assistance please contact the Office of the Staff Judge
Advocate at (860) 493-2770.
Diversity: The First African-American Female Soldier

MASTER SGT. BARBARA PEPIN
JFHQ-CT EQUAL OPPORTUNITY ADVISOR
The Civil War began while the government was still

fighting Native American populations in the West. The
government recalled most of its men and resources from
the Indian wars to concentrate on ending the uprising in
the South.
At the end of the Civil War, 186,000 black Soldiers had
participated in the war, with 38,000 killed in action. Most
southern and eastern populations feared that the end of
the war would bring a flood of a new source of workers
into the labor market. Fear led to general employment
opportunities in these communities that were not made
available to blacks.
With many civilian jobs unavailable to blacks, they
turned to military service which offered shelter,
education, steady pay, medical attention and a pension.
Finding employment was difficult as a black male, but it
was even more difficult as a black female. Cathay
Williams, the future female Buffalo Soldier, decided joining
the military was better than frequent civilian
unemployment. She was once quoted in a newspaper
article as saying I wanted to make my own living and
not be dependent on relations or friends.
Cathay enlisted in the 38th U.S. Infantry on Nov. 15,
1866. The 38th U.S. Infantry was one of the newly formed
regiments that consisted of African-American troops. She
informed the recruiting officer that she was 22 years old
and a cook by occupation. Cathay named Independence,
Missouri the place of her birth. When asked her name by
the recruiting officer Cathay replied William Cathay. Her
enlistment papers read William Cathey, but Cathay was
illiterate and she did not realize the mistake. For the rest
of her Army career she would be known as William Cathey.
The recruiting officer described William Cathay as 5'9",
with black eyes, black hair and black complexion.

William Cathay was examined by an army doctor upon
enlistment. The doctor noted that the recruit was fit for
duty. We must assume the exam was performed by
checking for obvious and superficial impairments only.
Neither the recruiting officer nor the army doctor ever
made note of William Cathay being female. It seems highly
unlikely that either knew the truth, because the U.S. Army
did not allow women to officially enlist in the peacetime
army for the first time until 1948.
It seems reasonable that Cathay viewed the Army as a
job open to blacks, with prospects for a decent livelihood
and a semblance of respect. She was uneducated, and
therefore consigned to laboring for her wages. As a black
woman in 1866, her prospects were dim and low-paying.
As a black man in the army she would earn more money
than a black female cook. Cathay remained in the army

until Oct. 14, 1868.
Whatever Cathays motivations were for joining the
army, she may not have realized she was setting a
precedent. Although she was not the first woman to
enlist in the army, she may be the first female to have
served in the United States Army in the 19th century. It
has been estimated that approximately 400 women posed
as Soldiers during the Civil War. Women disguised as
men fought in the volunteer armies of the Revolution
and the Civil War. Many of these women enlisted with
their husbands, brothers, and fiancs and most were not
found out unless they required hospital treatment. To
date, Cathay is the only documented black woman who
served in the U.S. Army prior to the official introduction
of women.
National Guard Association of Connecticut (NGACT)

Hagel: Budget, Congressional Partnership Central to DoD Strength
CHERYL PELLERIN
WASHINGTON- The Defense Departments budget

and its partnership with Congress are central to the
success of ongoing efforts to strengthen the institution,
increase its capabilities and prepare for future challenges,
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said in Washington, D.C.
Jan.22.
During what he called one of his last official news
conferences as secretary, Hagel said the defense budget
is critical to funding ongoing operations around the world
and to pursuing cost-saving measures essential to
fielding a ready and capable force.
Among the measures that received attention last year
were the launch of a path-breaking defense innovation
initiative, continuing efforts to strengthen and improve
acquisition systems, and progress in embracing better
business practices and moving toward greater
institutional financial accountability.
I appreciated members of Congress working together
to provide DoD with the resources we needed last year,
the secretary said, referring to a two-year budget
agreement reached in December 2013. The agreement
offered temporary relief, until 2016, from severe budget
cuts known as sequestration, and gave the Pentagon at
least short-term stability on spending for the first time in
several years.
Stability on Spending
Given an increased operational tempo, the
authorization and appropriation bills that Congress
passed in December will help ensure our ability to execute
the presidents defense strategy this year, Hagel said.
But the secretary said that recent progress would
evaporate if the department is forced to make more severe
cuts mandated by sequestration in 2016, cutting another
$34 billion from the defense budget.
We need long-term budget predictability and we need
the flexibility to prioritize and make the difficult decisions
in order to manage our institution more efficiently and
more effectively, Hagel said.
Deferring necessary decision and actions, he said, will
make them more difficult and costly down the road and
weaken the defense enterprise.
If Sequestration Returns
Hagel said he has been deliberate and direct with
members of Congress about what will happen if
sequestration returns.
This institution will not be able to fulfill the
commitments of the presidents defense strategies with
the kind of continued, abrupt, steep, large cuts that
sequestration will demand, he explained.
It is unanimous in this building ... that continuation of
sequestration will impact readiness, it will impact our
acquisitions, [and] it will impact the uncertainty of our
budgeting, he said. And that means platforms being
deferred into the future.
Hagel said he will speak with two senior senators about

sequestration, and added that over the past year the
department has made progress with members of Congress,
informing them and helping them understand and
assimilate the consequences of sequestration.
An Example of Progress
It does take time, he said. Our system takes time.
As an example of progress, Hagel said, youve got
senior members of Congress, both parties, calling me

and calling other leaders, asking for some time with us
for us me, secretary of defense to explain in more
detail, because I am concerned, the congressmen and
the senators say.
Thats progress, he added. Now, will Congress have
the courage to do what leaders have to do on these kinds
of things? Thats why we elect them.
Plan - Prepare - Execute: Finalizing Support, Rehearsing

INFORMATION PROVIDED BY LT. COL. PAUL THOMPSON
STATE TRAINING OFFICER
(Editors Note: This is the tenth part of a 12-part

series.)
The Unit Training Plan is the units over-arching plan
to attain key collective task proficiency in the time allotted
to train (planning horizon). Commanders, leaders and
training managers plan-prepare-execute and assess each
training event as the UTP progresses.
Each training event is planned and coordinated in detail
prior to execution. This is done during company-level
training meetings using the T-Month construct. This
process has to start early enough in the planning cycle
to ensure all required resources are present and
accounted for as training begins.
Unless this is done, training proficiencies the
commander envisions will not happen. Each unit has to
have a deep understanding of the local and installationlevel resources available. This also includes
understanding training resource cycles and conferences
to ensure the unit can influence these cycles early enough
to get the resources needed to train.
The following is a breakdown of major T-Month
activities to use as a guide for units to follow in the
development of training events. Keep in mind that each
major training event would fall into the T-Month concept
at different points in time on the training calendar.
Month T-2: Finalize admin support requirements &
conduct OPFOR rehearsals.
Submit all administrative clearances and requests as
necessary. This may include convoy clearances, wash
rack requests, range requests, to include Surface Danger
Zone schematics, etc.
Conduct an opposing force rehearsal to ensure the
OPFOR tactical plan

facilitates the BLUEFOR
achieving its training
objectives.
This should include the
administrative movement
and preparation for the
event as well as the tactical
plan.
The rehearsal enables subordinates to synchronize
their plans with each other and enables the leaders to
address possible decision points. The evaluators and
observer-controller/trainers should be present at the
OPFOR rehearsal to ensure they have a full understanding
of the execution of the event.
Next month will feature Month T-1: Draw equipment &
supplies and execute subordinate rehearsals and checks.
Connecticut Military History - Bugle Calls: An Essay

BRIG. GEN. (CT-RET.) ROBERT CODY
HISTORICAL COLUMNIST
The following is a short essay I wrote during Officer

Candidate School in 1983. If memory serves, it was
assigned by the Senior TAC Officer, who will remain
anonymous, as punishment for an infraction...
Its sound wakes us up, calls us to drill and chow and
never too soon, signals the end of the day. Its call can be
as boisterous as Reveille, or as quiet and mournful as
Taps. While the tools of warfare have run the gamut
from clubs to nuclear weapons, calling troops with a wind
instrument has changed very little.
At the siege of Jericho, the Hebrews used a shofar
or rams horn to summon troops. The Romans used a
wide assortment of tubas and herald trumpets to convey
commands.
The bugle is an outgrowth of a medieval hunting horn.
Its present design has remained virtually unchanged
since the mid-1700s. While prevalent in Europe, the use
of the bugle did not gain wide acceptance in this country
until the Civil War. Prior to this, troop movements were
controlled by fife and drum calls. Just as todays Soldier
can identify many different bugle calls, the Soldiers of
the 18th and 19th centuries could readily discern different
beats on the drum.
During the Civil War, both the drum and bugle were
used, with the musicians most often being young boys
not eligible for a regular enlistment. At the end of
hostilities, the drum stepped off the battlefield and back
into the band.
It was during the Civil War and the years immediately
following that saw the greatest development in American
bugle calls. Most of the calls used today are adaptations
of British and French calls, some dating back to the
Crusades.
Tattoo or Call to Quarters for example originated
during the Thirty Years War to stop nightly drinking.
The word tattoo comes from tap to, which meant to
close the beer barrels. It is the longest call played and
was adopted in 1863.

Taps or Lights Out is an entirely American
innovation. With many units on a particular battlefield,
troops had a difficult time distinguishing calls for their
unit from those of another. In July 1862, Brig. Gen. Daniel
Butterfield of the Army of the Potomac composed a short
tune to be used preceding all the calls used in his brigade.
Not being a bugler himself, Butterfield whistled the notes
over and over until his bugler learned them. The troops
in Butterfields brigade liked the call and it soon spread
among buglers in the Union Army. A few months later
the call would take on a different role.
It was customary at military funerals to fire three volleys
over the grave, saluting the deceased. Because of the
proximity of Confederate troops, one Union officer could
not risk giving away his position or the valuable
intelligence that a burial was taking place by firing the
traditional three volleys at a burial for some of the days
casualties. The Company bugler stepped forward and
very low and softly played Taps. In 1867, Taps
replaced Tattoo as the last call of the day and since the
Civil War, it has been played at all military funerals.
In the same year, all bugle calls were codified by Maj.
Truman Seymour and published in Gen. Emory Uptons
New System of Infantry Tactics.
Some of the other calls used today, Reveille for
example is identical, note for note to its French
counterpart. First Call is similar to the French Le Garde
a Vous and Mess Call is closely tied to Le Rappel.
Assembly traces its roots back to the U.S. Cavalry.
Almost all bugle calls have words associated with them,
composed by Soldiers whose daily lives were run by the
horns loud clarion. Some, like the words to Reveille,
the most dreaded of all the calls, were humorous.
I cant get them up,
I cant get them up,
I cant get them up,
in the morning.
While the words penned for Taps reflect the calls

quieting tone.
Fades the light.
And afar
Goeth Day
Cometh Night;
And a star
Leadeth all
To their rest.
Off the Bookshelf : A Hard Decision

Westley Thomas Contributes to the American Veterans Story
JFHQ PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE
One of the most difficult topics for writers to cover is the

wartime experience. This narrative of the Veteran and stories of
wartime adventures/misadventures are always difficult to
comprehend, but when it comes from the voice of a Veteran, it
has the ability to strike a nerve.
Veteran authors do not romanticize their experiences, and
Westley Thomas certainly does not romanticize his experiences
in Vietnam or his return home from Vietnam in his screenplay, A
Hard Decision.
A Hard Decision is rough, not easily digestible, and contains
rudimentary story components. Strangely, these characteristics
give Thomas writing uncanny military-esque validity. Thomas
seems to have based this screenplay on genuine military
wartime experiences.
A Hard Decision is about POW experiences, love triangles
and death. It is relatively sparse, but it is a screenplay depicting
characters in its dialogue could potentially gain more depth if
acted out on a stage. There is much room within A Hard
Decision for reader interpretation/imagination.

The sparseness of this screenplay may be Thomas writing
style, but it truly reads as if it were notated by an infantryman
on a series of MRE napkins. This should be respected and
appreciated if, for nothing else, the very serious subject
matter it details.
Thomas prods one vital component of military overseas
wartime service: the return home of service members. What
should a service member do after returning home from war to
discover that his/her life has become a complete mess?
Although he asks this question, Thomas does not exactly
answer it in his screenplay. A good actor could probably
bring life to his words, however, and fill the holes of his
story that he leaves to his readers imaginations.
In his free time, Thomas volunteers as a Veterans Rights
Advocate and as a member of the New York-based, Veterans
Quality of Life Access Network (VQLAN).
His writing should be supported as he is doing his part to
help his fellow Veterans, and to help tell our collective and
cathartic story. Thomas writes with a great sense of optimism.
Connecticut
National Guard
HELPLINE
In an effort to support the needs of our
service members and their families, the
Connecticut National Guard now has a 24hour HELPLINE.
If you or someone you know is struggling
with the stressors of life, please contact us
at
1-855-800-0120.
Your call will be answered by a behavioral
health professional. You will receive
information and referrals to community
resources to support you and your family.
HELPLINE
1-855-800-0120
By MSG Mark Baker
Retirees Voice: Focus on Female Retirees and Veterans

SGT. 1ST CLASS (RET.) STEPHANIE CYR
RETIREE AFFAIRS COLUMNIST
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs,

female Veterans are the largest group of Veterans who
under-utilize their benefits. In recognition of March as
Womens History Month, here is the first of two articles
focusing on female Retirees and benefits.
A clarification of eligibility for certain benefits needs
to be made before examining benefits. One can be both
a Veteran and a retiree. If you are like me, and served
your entire military career in the Connecticut National
Guard during peace time, there are some benefits you
will not be eligible for.
To be eligible for many VA benefits, regardless of
gender, you must have been called to active duty by
federal order and completed the full period for which you
were called. In this instance, a minimum of 90 days service
is required in most cases, and activation for training does
not count. Many retirees are eligible, but you will not
know until you apply.
Healthcare is always a focus for retirees, and your
military health benefits are no exception. The Connecticut
VA Women Veterans program manager advises and
advocates for female Veterans.
If you need help, the program manager can coordinate
all the services you may need, from primary care to
specialized care for chronic conditions or reproductive
health.
VA health care for female Veterans includes primary
and specialty care which can include gender-specific
primary care, such as cervical cancer screens (Pap smears),
breast cancer screens (mammograms), birth control,
preconception counseling, Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

vaccine, and menopausal support (hormone replacement
therapy).
The VA offers facilities specifically dedicated to womens
health Issues in Connecticut to include the Womens
Healthcare Center, West Haven VA Medical Center,
Newington Health Clinic, and Newington VA Medical
Center.
If you are not eligible for VA health benefits, you are
eligible for TRICARE, where you can visit their website
to examine the different plans offered to retirees. When
it comes to TRICARE, dont that TRICARE-For-Life
Entitlement start at age 65.
This is a free supplement to Medicare and can cover
deductibles and co-pays for all civilian doctors who
accept Medicare. You must be enrolled in Medicare A
(free) and B (not free).
Taxes concern everyone, especially retirees and those
on fixed incomes. Connecticut exempts 50 percent of
your military retirement from state income tax. Veterans,
who qualify, get an exemption on property taxes.
Qualified veteran/retirees are eligible to receive a $1500
exemption for property taxes.
Veterans below a certain income level and/or disabled
are eligible for additional property tax exemptions.
There are also plenty of travel discounts for Veterans if
you know where to look. Armed Forces Vacation Club,
Army and Navy Lodges, Air Force and Marine Inns, Paths
Across America (for RV enthusiasits) and RV Parks are
just some of the opportunities for Veterans to travel for
less. We will dive into this more next time.
Listed here are a few websites that can aid you in utilizing
your benefits, both as a Retiree and Veteran:

C t d o l . s t a t e . c t . u s / v e t e r a n s / F e m a l e Ve t s . h t m ;
benefits.va.gov/benefits; womenshealth.va.gov/
WOMENSHEALTH/healthcare.asp;
ct.gov/ctva/site/default.asp;
armymwr.com.
Marchs Retirees Voice will be remembering our female
service members at the Women in Military Service for
America Memorial.
Retirement Service Officer Notes: Update your myPay

SGT. 1ST CLASS REBEKAH AVERY
RETIREMENT PROGRAM MANAGER
CLEVELAND The key to effective day-to-day

management of your retirement pay is creating and
maintaining a myPay account. Your mailing and email
addresses in myPay are DFAS primary way of staying in
touch with you.
At the end of each year, your tax documents are mailed
to the address of record you keep current through myPay.
DFAS uses your myPay email address to send you
newsletters, breaking news and to notify you when
documents like your Retiree Account Statement and
1099R tax statements are available. The Army uses your
myPay information to send you Army Echoes.
If you have never created a myPay account, you can
find
instructions
at
http://www.dfas.mil/
retiredmilitary.html or https://mypay.dfas.mil/mypay.aspx.
If you need personal attention, you can contact the DFAS
Customer Care Center at (888) 332-7411, option 5
Monday- Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time).
Use myPay to update your correspondence address If you choose to receive your 1099R from DFAS in the
mail, having the correct mailing address on file is
important. If youve moved in the past year or will be
staying somewhere other than your primary residence

when tax season begins, let DFAS know by Nov. 15. The
quickest and easiest way to update your mailing address
is to use myPay (https://mypay.dfas.mil/mypay.aspx ).
On the Main Menu page, click on the Correspondence
Address link, enter the correct address, save your
changes and confirm the changes you made are correct.
Its that simple.
Use myPay to update your email address - Updating
your contact information in myPay ensures you receive
timely messages from DFAS that may be critical to you
and your survivors. To update your email address using
myPay, log into https://mypay.dfas.mil/mypay.aspx , and
on the main menu, click on the Email Address link, enter
and confirm the correct commercial email address. Be sure
to select primary beside the email address where you
want to receive pay statement notifications and other
important correspondence. Save your changes by
selecting Accept/Submit. You should NOT select the email
addresses that end in @us.army.mil or [email protected].
These two emails will not work, and DOD is working to
remove them from myPay.
All information for this article was found on the Soldier
for Life Website websites: http://soldierforlife.army.mil/
Upcoming Events:
5th Annual AUSA and OEC Charity Golf Tournament:
Friday, June 5, 2015 at Tower Ridge Country Club,
Simsbury.
Point of Contact for Air National Guard Retirees:
Retirees from the Air National Guard can contact the fulltime POC for Traditional Air-Guard Retirees, Master Sgt.
Lisa Todaro at [email protected] or (860) 292-2573;
or the part-time (drill weekend) POC, Master Sgt. Diana
Nelson at [email protected] or (860) 292-2366.
Often times, Air Guard Retirees will be referred to the Air
Reserve Personnel Center (ARPC) in Colorado: 1-800525-0102; website portal at: www.mypers.af.mil; HQ
ARPC/DPTTR, Retirement Division, 18420 E. Silver Creek
Ave., Bldg 390 MS68, Buckley AFB CO 80011
Point of Contact for Army National Guard Retirees:
Retirees from the Army National Guard can contact the
Retirees Service Officer, Sgt. 1st Class Rebekah Avery
(860) 524-4813 or e-mail at: [email protected].
Guardian Address Changes: Army & Air- e-mail Sgt.
1st Class Avery if you would like to update your address,
make any corrections to your name or rank, if you would
like to be removed from the retiree database, or if you
have any questions.
Connecticut National Guard Promotions

Army
To Private 2
Thomas, Richard N. Jr.
Hernandez, Kevin
Baldracchi, Louis J.
Mathewson, Daniel J.
Brown, Hunter D.
Ruiz, Stephanie
Larson, Daniel R.
St. Jacques, Tyler S.
Heath, Harley E.
Nieves, Edwin Jr.
Raniolo, Antonino
Casiano, Jesus Jr.
Roberts, Javon J.
Litke, Griffin P.
Peltz, Christopher M.
Velasco, James A.
Kaback, David S.
Espada, Jonathan O.
Leavens, Makyle J.
Mahan, Clarissa L.
Taylor, Theressa T.
Thompsongrass, Lucia
Anderson, Tyler M.
Amato, Olympia M.
Sheldon, Colin S.
Fair, Nadeea A.
Maldonado, Jadier
Thompson, Stephan R.
Hebert, Aaron M.
To Private
First Class
To Specialist
Forbus, Megan E.
Torresjimenez, Jeremy
Sorianomendoza, Mario J.
Severson, Erik K.
LHeureux, Nicole D.
Salmeron, Jose L.
Rios, Mark A.
Lyhne, Eric S.
Roberts, Kammren J.
Martinez, Keitrich J.
Nelson, Andrew K.
Scarfi ,Andrew P.
Edelbaum, Christopher J.
Ramos, Brandon M.
Miller, Colby S.
Burnette, Lainee M.
McGuinness, Sean T.
Engle, Chad D.
Repasi, Paul A. Jr.
Clapps, Morgan L.
Danko, Austin D.
Stonge, David C.
Zarn, Zackary R.
Nichols, Joshua G.
Zelenski, Tyler A.
Wonsik, James P.
Oquendo, Alajha J.
Pasha, Sabrina M.
Kelley, Joshua E.
Pascucci, Dominic M.
To Sergeant
Mondaca, Stephen M.
Matta, Rodolfo Jr.
Jackson, Rachel J.
Reynolds, Andrea J.
Maddrah, John W. III
Pomerleau, Serena T.
Richeme, Emmanuel
To Master
Sergeant
Dumas, Jason C.
To Captain
Albert, Michael S.
Banville, Matthew L.
To Lieutenant
Colonel
Leydon, Richard
Battisti, Quentin W.
To Colonel
Spineti, Daniel C.
Murphy John B.
Davis Mark A. Jr.
Diaz Antonio
Campbell Robyn N.
Naranjo Angel N. Jr.
Hall Andrew J.
Hunold Michael K.
Air
To Senior Airman
To Staff Sergeant
Hoque, Mohammed R.
Bean, Nicholas C.
Febles, Ricardo A.
Lown, Amir K.
Hoover, Bradford C.
Cartagena, Gabriel M.
Ulloa, Ivette I.
Conway, Jason R.
Ward, Preston K.
Aponte, Joshua L.
Mastroianni, Christopher
Delaney, Jon R.
Ziyadeh, Michael B.
Laskey, Zachary C.
To Airman
1st Class
Romero, Jhonny J.
Stovall, Shaquille B.
February
February 12
Abraham Lincolns Birthday
February 14
Valentines Day
February 16
Presidents Day
February 17
*Guardian Deadline for March*
February 18
Ash Wednesday
February 18
NGACT Executive Board Meeting
February 22
George Washingtons Birthday
March
To Staff Sergeant
To Airman
Coming Events
To Master
Sergeant
Grizzle, Christopher H.
To Technical
Sergeant
To Senior Master
Sergeant
Teixeira, Steven M.
Gagnon, Michael J.
Divita, Christopher D.
Thank you to all of our

Connecticut National Guard
Familes for all that you do and all
that you sacrifice
March 8
Daylight Savings Time Begins
March 17
*Guardian Deadline for April*
March 18
NGACT Executive Board Meeting
March 19-22
State Best Warrior Competition
March 28
NGACT Annual Conference & Awrds
Luncheon
March 29
Palm Sunday
April
April 3
Good Friday
April 4
Passover Begins
April 4
Breakfast with the Easter Bunny
April 5
Easter
Deadline for the March Issue of
the Guardian is February 17
Deadline for the April Issue of
the Guardian is March 17
PRSRT STD
US POSTAGE
PAID
Hartford, CT
Permit No. 603
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
FEBRUARY 2015 PAGE
Connecticut FAMILY
Guardian
VOL. 16 NO. 2
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT
FEBRUARY 2015
TRICARE Patients Must Attest to Health Care Coverage

TERRI MOON CRONK
WASHINGTON - As tax season begins, Defense

Department officials want to remind TRICARE
beneficiaries of changes in the tax laws, which require all
Americans to have health care insurance.
For the first time since the Affordable Care Act passed
in 2012, all U.S. citizens, including service members, their
families, military retirees, DoD civilians and
nonappropriated employees, must report health care
coverage on their 2014 taxes, said Mark Ellis, a Defense
Health Agency health care operations program analyst.
For this year only, taxpayers will self-attest on their
2014 tax forms to each month in which they had health
care coverage, he said.
Forms Issued to Military, Civilian Taxpayers
In January 2015, DoD and the services pay centers
will issue military and civilian taxpayers forms that reflect
medical coverage, much the same way employees receive

their W2s, Ellis said.
The IRS will require insurers to send that information,
Ellis said, adding that IRS is the agency that will assess
penalties for those who are not insured on a month-bymonth basis.
DoD has more than 250,000 beneficiaries who are
eligible for TRICARE, Ellis said, adding that its up to
each service member to make sure their DEERS data base
lists Social Security numbers for them and their families,
so the 2015 health care tax forms can be sent out.
Meets Minimal Essential Coverage
The act mandates that health care must meet minimum
essential coverage, and TRICARE coverage meets that
criteria for the majority of service members and their
families, Ellis said.
For example, TRICARE, TRICARE Overseas, TRICARE
Remote and the Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
Self-attesting to
Healthcare coverage can
be done on Line 61 on
Form 1040 (left), and
Line 38 on Form 1040A.
Check other IRS forms
for which line to use. Be
sure to follow instructions
for the form you are
using and refer to Form
8965 if needed.
meet the minimum essential coverage, he added.

Uniformed service members who have questions about
TRICARE, the act and the individual coverage mandate
can visit the TRICARE website and download the fact
sheet on TRICARE and the act, where TRICARE plans
are listed with how they match up to minimum essential
coverage, Ellis said.
The site also has suggestions for those who need
coverage to meet the acts minimum requirements, he
noted. That group of individuals could include retired
reserve members, select reserve members, young adults
up to age 26 and those who leave military service but
need transitional coverage, Ellis said.
TRICARE beneficiaries with tax questions should
contact the Internal Revenue Service or their tax advisers,
he emphasized.
The experts there can help them, Ellis said.
PAGE S2 FEBRUARY 2015
You Have Another Victory

Within Your Grasp
Most people have achieved
their greatest success just one
step beyond their greatest
failure. Napoleon Hill.
One rainy weekend afternoon,
CATHERINE GALASSO
my daughters and I were sitting
on the bleachers at the high school gym. Happy to be
together, we were watching my oldest daughters friend,
Carrie, play basketball with a few of her classmates.
Early in the game, we saw Carrie dive for the ball, but
she stumbled and landed on her stomach on the court.
The spectators in the gymnasium quieted, as Carrie
rubbed her chin, stood up and charged forward.
Next, dribbling the ball, Carrie jumped to make a basket.
However, she slipped and fell to her knees. As she stood
back up on her feet, Carrie managed to give us a halfsmile. Then, quickly Carrie dashed for the ball.
Before long, she tripped again. My daughters and I
exchanged confused glances.
Instead of quitting, though, Carrie scurried up. She did
not hesitate and got herself into position for what her
next move would be.
No matter how many times Carrie failed or fell, she didnt
just throw in the towel, make an excuse and sit on the
sideline. Without missing a beat, she bounced back. She
stayed in the game, sincerely making another effort to
succeed.
When the game was finished, my middle daughter
cupped her hands over each side of her mouth and
whispered, Mom. She tugged at my arm. Carrie would
be a great, professional basketball player.
Sitting next to her grinning I shrugged my shoulders
and questioned, Why do you think so, honey? She let
out a long, deep breath, leaned toward me and uttered,
Because she is not afraid to fall.
How do you respond to a setback, an unfair situation
or an apparent failure? Do you get bitter, resentful, and
then sit back on the sideline and quit? Or else, do you act
like Carrie, and rise up and try again?
Life can knock us down permanently if we allow it. If
its not one thing, it is another. And if were not careful,
our mind might get into a low place. Thereafter, we may
think about all of the reasons why we should, give up,
take the easy way out, and just settle.
It wont ever get any better, and Ive missed my
chance, you could downheartedly say, during moments
of despair.
Are there hopes, dreams and goals that you have
talked yourself out of pursuing?
Regardless of what has happened, you must not give
up hope for the future. Dont shortchange yourself or let
anything drag you down. Life will be brighter again. So
stand up tall.
For when you experience challenging circumstances,
remember, The Lord will stand with you and give you
strength (2 Timothy 4:17).
God was with Joshua and assured him that he and the
people would obtain the land. So, dont be frightened for
what you are confronted with now. Persist onward. For
you have Gods presence and His immense power with
you. God loves you like no other, and will work a miracle.
Be strong and courageous, God will never leave or
forsake you. (Joshua 1:1-7).
God was with David, a young shepherd boy who God
had anointed to be king, as he defeated Goliath with just
a sling shot and a stone. Before your new level of
blessings, there might be a battle to be fought. But, God
will not turn His back on you. He cares for you as one of
His very own, and He will give you the strength you
need to succeed. So, have faith and boldly say as David
said, The battle is the Lords. (1 Samuel 17).
God was with Gideon when God promised that he
would save Israel, although Gideon felt weak and
unqualified. Despite so-called shortcomings, lack or
limitations, believe in yourself. God has an exceptional
purpose for your life. Thus, let go of previous
disappointments and turn your I cant into I can, I
wont into I will, and your dreams into plans. God
will be with you... (Judges 6:15-16).
So focus on your next step. There are infinite
possibilities ahead. Whether it takes five, ten or even
100 attempts, continue to persevere. You have what it
takes to be victorious. Like the butterfly that fights to
break free from the cocoon, there can be struggles before
the outpour of blessings. Last fall, I recall hiking up a
long mountain trail with my family. The beginning path
was easy. Yet, the longer we hiked uphill and the closer
we got to the top, the terrain became more difficult.
Recognize that as you near the border of your
breakthrough and endeavor to attain your hearts desires,
that the path might not be easy. Yet, as you advance,
you learn important lessons along the way that can allow
you to help more people. Thats why you cannot allow
obstacles to distract or deter you. Place those stumbling
blocks under your feet and use them as stepping stones
as you strive forward.
God works in mysterious ways, and He is strategically
arranging the logistics. He is moving people in a position
so they can help you. And right now, God is coordinating
circumstances to bless your future. You are on the
threshold of something incredible. Victory is right within
your grasp. And new opportunities, friendships and joys
should present themselves to you shortly.
Trust Gods timing and, throw off everything that
hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us
run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
(Hebrews 12:1). You have come a long way, however,
you have further yet to go.
Stay in the game and the outcome will be far better
than you could ever have imagined.
Catherine Galasso-Vigorito is a nationally-syndicated columnist
and author from Connecticut who donates a monthly inspirational
column to demonstrate her appreciation of U.S. service members
and their families. The content is her own and does not express
the official views of the U.S. Government or the Department of
Defense.
You may write to Ms. Galasso-Vigorito in care of
Connecticut Guardian, 360 Broad Street, Hartford, CT 061063795 or e-mail her at [email protected]. Visit her
website at www.anewyouworldwide.com.
CatherineGalasso, 2015
FEBRUARY 2015 PAGE S3
Making Tax Season Easier: DOD, Military OneSource Team Up

COMPILED FROM MILITARYONE SOURCE BY
CHRISTOPHER ROULEAU
Just thinking about the start of tax season is enough to

cause most people a major headache. Between collecting
the right documents, following all the tax laws and getting
everything submitted on time, tax time can be
overwhelming. But with the correct preparation on your
part and some help from outside resources, like your
installation military Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
office and Military OneSource, you can make this tax
season much less stressful for you and your family.
Preparing ahead of time
One way to make tax time easier is to start gathering all
the necessary documents and information you need
ahead of time. Designate a specific location (a folder, a
drawer, a shoebox, etc.) where you can place all the
relevant information, so that when you are ready to file,
you have everything you need.
Here are some of the things you should start gathering:
Social Security number and date of birth for you,
your spouse and other eligible family members
Child care, education and adoption costs
All W-2 forms, from all employers for you and your
spouse
Form 1099 for independent contractors
Investment income forms
Alimony information
Social Security benefits
Miscellaneous income
Form 1098-E for student loan interest
Charitable donations
Uninsured medical and dental expenses
Real estate taxes
Receipts for any deductible expenses
Your W-2 forms are typically available from your military
service beginning in January. You can download your
military W-2 from myPay. Tax forms are available at your
local post office and library. You can also download them
from the IRS website.
In addition to gathering important documents, here are
some other ways to get ahead of the tax time curve:
Create a list of questions for a tax consultant - You
may wonder whether or not you can write off certain
expenses or whether you qualify for an extension. Write
all of this down and ask a professional.
Dont wait until the last minute to start your taxes Just because the deadline is in April doesnt mean you
have to wait until then to get started.
Be aware of special tax benefits you may qualify for
as a service member, including a filing extension - Visit
the Internal Revenue Service website or contact a
Military OneSource tax consultant to find out more about
these benefits.
Pay attention to tax scams - Each year, the IRS informs
and educates the public about the most common tax
scams, which include unscrupulous tax preparers or
phishing. To learn more about how to avoid these scams,
visit the IRS website.
Taking advantage of Military OneSource tax services
Military OneSource provides online tax preparation and
filing services at no cost to you. The service allows you
to complete and electronically file your federal and up to

three state tax returns or filings. You do not have to
complete the return all at one time. When you begin, you
create a secure user ID and password, which enables
you to log on, save, close and return to the program as
needed.
To learn more about Military OneSource tax services,
call 800-342-9647 or go online.
Determining your eligibility
The following individuals are eligible for Military
OneSource tax services:
All active-duty service members of the United States
Army, United States Air Force, United States Marine
Corps, and United States Navy
National Guard and members of the Reserve
Component (regardless of activation status)
Members of the Coast Guard Reserve activated as
part of the Department of the Navy under Title 10
authority
Spouses and children who are authorized in DEERS
A family member who is taking care of the affairs of an
eligible service member when the service member is
deployed
A severely injured service member of one of the
services noted above, or a designated family member of
a severely injured service member who is incapable of
handling his or her own affairs, medically retired
individuals are eligible until 180 days past their end of
tour of service, retirement date or discharge date
Additional resources
The personal financial readiness of service members
and their families is a top priority of the Department of
Defense. The DoD provides a wide range of tools and
services to help service members and their families reduce
debt, achieve savings goals and attain financial flexibility.
Here are some resources designed to assist you and
your family:
The Personal Financial Management Program
The PFM program is an installation-based program
offered by each of the services. Personal financial
counselors provide education and counseling services
that address a range of financial topics, including
retirement planning, banking, budgeting, record keeping
and more.
Financial counseling Financial counseling is
available through Military OneSource (in addition to the
tax consultation services) and the Military and Family
Life Counseling program.
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program The
VITA program provides no-cost tax advice and
preparation, return filing and other tax assistance to
military members and their families. To find a VITA site
near you, use the Armed Forces Legal Assistance Legal
Services locator.
IRS The IRS website is full of helpful resources,
forms and tips to make tax time easier for you.
Military families prosper when they can manage their
finances well and save money for the future. Begin this
year with a stress-free tax season and get on track to
financial.
PAGE S4 FEBRUARY 2015
Kids
Creative
Corner
A monthly feature of
fun and educational
activities for the
children of the
Connecticut National
Guard by the Members
of the Connecticut
Youth Council (CYC)

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CONNECTICUT GUARDIAN

FEBRUARY 2015 PAGE

Dannel P. Malloy Sworn in for Second Term

Also sworn in for their elected terms of office were

Chairman: Sequestration Cuts Would Require Strategy Change

WASHINGTON - Unless Congress changes the Budget

Western interests, to include the United States. So weve

unless we talk ourselves out of it and legislate ourselves

Changing Your Address

Assistant Adjutant General - Army

State Public Affairs Officer

FEBRUARY 2015 PAGE 3

A Perspective from the Bottom of the World

BRADLEY AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, East

factor when getting that work done?

a list and allow people to take incentive flights down

(Inset) A C-130 Hercules aircraft sits at McMurdo Station, Antarctica,

Connecticuts Iwo Jima Memorial:

Editors Note: There are several significant battles from

there because either one of us, or both of us, would

Iwo Jima Veteran, George Gentile organized the

There on the front page was a picture of the flag

In 1995, following years of fundraising and hard work,

FEBRUARY 2015 PAGE 5

Soldiers of A Company, 1st Battalion, 102nd

FEBRUARY 2015 PAGE 7

Flying Yankees Get Down and Dirty in Georgia

SAVANNAH COMBAT READINESS TRAINING

landing strip is significantly smaller than a normal runway.

Squadron and CRTC personnel prepared the dirt runway

Dempsey: Cyber Vulnerabilities Threaten National Security

BRUSSELS - Cyber vulnerabilities in the private sector

and the private sector while safeguarding civil liberties,

a part of conflict between states, within states and among

President Unveils Next Steps in Cybersecurity Plan

WASHINGTON - Continuing an effort to help defend

private-sector efforts to protect American people and

FEBRUARY 2015 PAGE 9

192nd MPs Will Bring Skill Sets Acquired in Training to Cuba

Sgt. Kathryn Kennedy searches an OPFOR civilian during pre-mobilization

Connecticut Civil Support Team receives Army Superior Unit Award

WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. The Connecticut 14th

major accidents, natural disasters, weapons of mass

provide communications on both civilian and military

Airmen Fend off Simulated Flu Epidemic in Savannah

SAVANNAH COMBAT READINESS TRAINING

personnel assigned to the 103rd Force Support

general evaluation management system to assist unit

Maj. Leah Ward and Airman First Class Marissa Ruiz,

FEBRUARY 2015 PAGE 11

1st Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment

EAST LYME, Conn. Soldiers from several different

said. Were just as professional and competent as

I am absolutely confident in our Soldiers to succeed

Resilience Center: Assertive Communication

Assertive Ccommunications helps you solve problems by remaining Confident, Clear,

FEBRUARY 2015 PAGE 13

One Step Closer to Aviation MEDEVAC

SGT. MAJ. ANTHONY V. SAVINO