Washington State Guard Soldiers are the Tip of the Spear in Cyber Warfare

by PFC John Sauer

“Cyber Shield is an opportunity for our Guardsmen to work with professionals from other states,” said Col. Curt Simonson, commander, 56th Theater Information Operations Group. “These cyber experts are the tip of the spear in the new front of cyber warfare.”

 By working closely with interagency partners and the private sector, the National Guard seeks to strengthen network cybersecurity and the capability to support local responses to cyber incidents. Cyber Shield 17 is part of the National Guard’s ongoing effort to improve their ability to respond to real-world cyber incidents. This is the sixth iteration of this training exercise.

Washington participants included members from Joint Force Headquarters, the 56th Theater Information Operations Group and the Washington State Guard.

 “Cyber Shield 2017 has been an amazing opportunity for our Washington guardsmen,” said Lt. Col. Charles Randolph, commander, 156th Information Operations Battalion. “This year’s exercise had particular focus around issues such as Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems. Our cyber soldiers were able to gain exposure to and mitigate risks involving these issues, which could have severe effects to any state and the country.”

 In cooperation with the U.S. Army Reserve, Cyber Shield is designed to conduct Defensive Cyber Operations (DCO), training, and assessment for Defensive Cyber Operations Elements (DCO-Es), Cybersecurity detachments or cells, and Cyber Protection Teams (CPTs).

 Divided into two phases, the first week offers participants the opportunity to hone their skills through academic instruction covering everything from the legal aspects of cyber operations to the nature of cyber threats to hands-on technical training. Equally important, the soldiers and airmen are learning their roles as part of the larger cyberspace defense community.

 During the second phase of Cyber Shield, exercise participants from cyber protection teams face off against trained antagonists, who simulate online adversaries. The teams try to defend their networks and mitigate the effects of attacks in a free-wheeling clash of cyberspace acumen.

 The National Guard’s dual state-federal character makes it uniquely positioned to help civilian agencies and critical nongovernmental entities, such as public utilities, if an incident occurs. Because of their status as a state military force when not under federal mobilization orders, Guard units are available to respond to state-level emergencies at their governor’s discretion. The Washington State Guard fills a similar role with their status as a state military force.

 “I’m extremely proud of the efforts from a combined force of both army and state guard personnel,” said Randolph. “Their skillsets, teamwork and professionalism were second to none.”

Washington State Guard Soldiers: 1LT Russ McRee and SGT

Andrew Baze with 156 IO BN CDR LTC Charles Randolph. LTC Randolph, 1LT McRee and SGT Baze work for Microsoft. The team brings the Industry partner expertise to Cyber Shield.

[Camp Murray, Washington] Recently two soldiers from the Washington State Guard’s Cyber Unit joined more than 800 other cyber experts at Camp Williams, Utah, for the National Guard’s premier cyber defense training event: Exercise Cyber Shield 17..

Cyber Shield is designed to assess participants’ ability to respond to cyber incidents. The yearly exercise includes members of the National Guard from 44 states, the Army Reserve, state and federal

The Virginia National Guard has approximately 200 personnel staged and ready Jan. 7, 2017, at guard readiness centers through the Hampton Roads area.

Some soldiers and vehicles are prepositioned at firehouses and other emergency services facilities in the region in order to quickly deploy if needed as part of the state’s multi-agency response.

“I am incredibly proud of how quickly our forces were able to stage Friday night in order to be ready for possible missions Saturday morning, and most importantly they did it safely,” said Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the adjutant general of Virginia. “Our state and local partners count on us to provide the capabilities they need in order to help the citizens of the commonwealth when faced with hazardous weather situations, and once again our soldiers, airmen and Virginia Defense Force troopers have demonstrated we are able to rapidly respond when we are needed. Our forces are standing by to assist local first responders in keep our fellow Virginians safe.”

Expected missions for the guard include using Humvees and light/medium tactical trucks to provide transportation for first responders through snow or help evacuate citizens in need of shelter. Soldiers are also organized into debris reduction teams with chain saws to help clear roads if needed.

Additional soldiers, airmen and Virginia Defense Force troopers are on duty in Sandston and Fort Pickett providing mission command, sustainment, incident management assistance and public information support.

Governor Terry McAuliffe declared a state of emergency Jan. 6, 2017, and urged residents of the commonwealth to prepare for impacts from a winter storm system, which potentially could result in significant snow accumulation, hazardous road conditions and high winds. This order authorizes state agencies to assist local governments in responding to this major winter storm that is expected to impact the commonwealth through the weekend.

STEWART ANGB, NEWBURGH, NY – 2016 AUG 12. Airmen of the 105th Airlift Wing Security Forces Squadron gather in classrooms. Each one has a black, USAA pre-deployment kit. In one room, sergeants and airmen alike joke and pass the time. In the other, the sound of papers rustling and muted chatter can be heard as those preparing to deploy speak with lawyers from the New York Guard. It’s a fairly somber mood as the airmen prepare last wills and powers of attorney to give to their loved ones before deployment.

While stoic in nature, this Legal Services Operation, or LSO for short, provides a much-needed service. Airmen are provided with free legal services to help make the deployment transition easier and to make sure their affairs are in order. Volunteer lawyers from the New York Guard provide a full range of services for deploying troops overseas. These operations usually run all day and involve anywhere from eight to 10 lawyers and several support staff members.

The officer-in-charge, or OIC, is MAJ Steven Hartov; commander of Task Force 105. As the liaison between the NYG and AW 105, he arranges rooms, times, and personnel for these operations. Full cooperation is given to him to prepare what he needs and to make sure the operation runs smoothly. The NCOIC, SSG Jim Masi, coordinates the roles of the support staff, who provide everything from witnesses for document executions to technical support staff for network operations.

< Airmen line up to receive legal services from the New York Guard LSO team.

During these operations, lines can sometimes form as airmen wait to get their documents executed. During these times, the support staff converses with the airmen to set their minds at ease. In stark contrast to the mood inside the room where documents are being prepared, the mood outside in the hallway is more jovial. YouTube videos are being shared and conversations about cross-branch jargon happen. Despite this, the serious nature of what is going on in the next room is not lost.

The New York Guard will be holding another LSO, for airmen that did not have a chance to prepare documents this time around, on 2016 SEP 10. While the soldiers from the NYG did process roughly 40 plus airmen through in one day, the number deploying is much larger. With the aid of the JAGs from the NYG, those that will be sent overseas will have greater peace of mind knowing that their affairs have been set in order and their loved ones will be taken care of.

Photos and story by SPC Matthew Gussow, New York Guard

In support of the Maryland National Guard (MDNG), the Maryland Defense Force (MDDF) Band, widely known as “Maryland’s Musical Ambassadors,” performed three concerts of patriotic music.  The MDDF Ceremonial Band performed at the Columbus Center in Baltimore for a reception, hosted by Maj. Gen. Linda Singh, the adjutant general of Maryland.   MDDF Band performed two concerts.  The first performance consisted of a Jazz Combo at Government House in Annapolis, Maryland which serves as the Maryland Governor’s residence.  The second performance consisted of a Woodwind Quintet at the Baltimore Convention Center. 

The Maryland Defense Force Band is a ceremonial unit of the MDDF that provides musical support to the Maryland Military Department and provides ceremonial support to the State of Maryland. 

The Maryland Defense Force (MDDF) is the State’s uniformed volunteer military unit providing professional and technical assistance to the Maryland Military Department. Established in 1917, the MDDF consists of nearly 250 personnel who perform legal, engineering, finance, medical, chaplain, field support and ceremonial services for the State of Maryland. For more information: www.mddf.maryland.gov.

(Camp Pendleton, CA)–With the recent re-organization  of the California State Military Reserve (CSMR) happening across the state, and  personnel numbers  increasing at a slower rate than expected, soldiers are stepping up to fill gaps to complete missions.  One example of this effort is the joint mission on 21 October 2016, where 25 soldiers from the 79^th Support Brigade (headquartered in Kearney Mesa, CA) came together in a joint range mission to support the 1/18^th Cavalry.  This mission was led by Charlie Company Commander, CPT(CA)  Daniel Derkum, with the support of HHC/ 79^th Support brigade and it’s Alpha, Bravo and Charlie Company soldiers.  The mission operations order detailed support of 530 members of the 1/18th Cavalry, assisting them on weapons qualification on the M4, M9 and M249 weapons.

When asked about how he felt about the joint mission, Derkum said, “I think it is fantastic that Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie Companies are working together.  We’re looking for more soldiers to help the National Guard meet their missions successfully.” Prior to soldiers’ names being placed on the mission TDA, they each attended the PMI class conducted by the Charlie Company PMI instructors with soldiers from other companies in attendance.  In tandem with recruiting efforts, this trend of working jointly across units and geographical areas validates the CSMR soldiers’ commitment, capability and dedication to meeting missions successfully in support of our State Guard. Soldiers, both National Guard and CSMR, trained and worked side by side, in support of this range mission.

SPC (CA) Michael Harrison remarked, “I never thought we would get this opportunity.  This mission gives us an idea of what the other side does.”  SPC (CA) Andre Tardiff agreed, ” I enjoyed it so much, I want to do it again.  It makes me want to give and do even more.”

A command field visit was conducted by COL(CA) Joseph von Sauers, Commander of the 79^th Support Brigade, along with COL(CA) Russell Nakaishik, Chief of Staff, and CSM(CA) Richard Moriarity, Command Sergeant Major.

“CSMR soldiers continue to train to meet and exceed standards in support of whatever mission they are called to do.  This range mission in support of the 1/18th Cavalry proves that our soldiers are committed, dedicated and needed for the National Guard to succeed.  We will be supporting 1/18th Cavalry’s upcoming 2017 Annual Training (AT) next June and encourage more soldiers to participate,” said CSM(CA) Moriarity of the 79th Support Brigade.

The California State Military Reserve (CSMR) is an all-volunteer State Defense Force. Our primary mission is to support the Soldiers and Airmen of the California National Guard (CNG) in its Homeland Defense, Homeland Security missions and service to California during times of State Emergencies.

Article written by 2LT Chin.

Maryland Defense Force Information Release

By Maj. Stephen Rice srice@mddf.us

Members of the Maryland Defense Force (MDDF) and allied emergency response agencies (Howard County Police, Baltimore County Fire Service, & Prince Georges County CERT) recently completed a three-day, Hazardous Materials / WMD Operational Level training course presented by instructors from the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX).   Held at the MDDF headquarters, June 3rd, 4th, and 5th, 22 soldiers completed the training as a part of their MDDF Disaster Response Specialist – Basic Qualification.

The training prepares emergency responders to recognize and identify, assess, assist in the mitigation of hazardous materials situations through the development of defensive actions to prevent further contamination of people, property, and the environment.  Through a combination of classroom and field exercises, the course focuses on the unique response and personal protection challenges that responders face during a Weapons of Mass Destruction / terrorist incident or a Hazardous Materials incident.

The course is based on nationally recognized standards (NFPA 472) and satisfies Operations-level core competencies and personal protective equipment, mission-specific competency providing compliance with OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120 and EPA 40 CFR Part 311 response regulations.  Through completion of this course and associated testing, students will obtain certification under the fire service, National Professional Qualifications Board (NPQS/Pro-Board) as Operations Level responders.

Volunteer State Guard Searches Turtle Creek for Body

The third battalion of the Texas State Guard was searching Turtle Creek this morning for the body of Mark McCullers, the SMU officer who went missing after being washed away by flood waters in July.

The volunteer military group planned to walk into the creek and try to bring up underbrush to find him, as part of their search and rescue training, but were impeded by the heavy rain.

Lt. Col. Richard Steele, the group’s commanding officer, said they were only able to search one area of interest, since the others were flooded.

They were not able to find anything, but Steele said “we’re going to continue to train in the community until all areas have been searched.”

Steele’s company of about 34 is a part of the Texas military forces, but they all serve on a volunteer basis. “Hopefully,” he said, “we can help bring some closure to the family.”

Water Survival Training

By Pvt. Oscar Cano, oscar.cano@gasdf.us

GSDF SGT Roger Boles of 1BDE / 3BN completes one of the many skill exercises required as part of the water survival training program. Georgia State Defense Force Photo.

SMYRNA, Georgia, July 16, 2016 – A group of 11 soldiers across different units of the Georgia State Defense Force (GSDF) recently participated in a water survival training course aimed to expand their skills when operating in or near bodies of water.

This type of training is conducted to build GSDF soldiers’ confidence for waterborne operations as well as to prepare troop leaders on how to operate around water, but most importantly, to teach them what protective measures are necessary to ensure the safety of every soldier around water.

Participants learned and demonstrated through a series of evolutions, several different skills needed to survive in waterborne activities.  Examples included how to waterproof the rucksack, how to make water entries, maintaining buoyancy in full gear, use of personal safety and water survival techniques, how to assist other soldiers in the water and many others detailed in the Army’s TC 21-21 Water Survival Training.  In addition, other GSDF specific topics related to water rescue were instructed, which included the proper rope throwing techniques to drowning victims in the water.

To counter the tendency of panicking when unexpectedly entering water — CW4 Lloyd Garrard, who was the lead course instructor with the assistance of MSG Wade Price — emphasized the use of the SAFE principle. Doing so, reminds soldiers of the fundamentals of swimming survival:

S – Slow, easy movement A – Apply natural buoyancy F – Full lung inflation E – Extreme relaxation

“The ability to survive if you fall into water wearing your uniform and gear as we perform Search and Rescue (SAR) operations is imperative” said CW4 Garrard who also was instrumental in the development of the course to GSDF soldiers.

CW4 Garrard also noted that “having fear and anxiety around water and during waterborne operations can be disastrous if it gets out of control, but successfully completing this program removes most of the fear of having a problem in or around water and builds confidence in our soldiers”. At the end of the day, all participating soldiers were able to execute with confidence several water survival techniques and learned many valuable lessons from the instructors.  Upon completion of the course, SPC Jonathan Melko of 76th BDE / 911th BN said “It was one of the best training I have received in the GSDF”.

Both CW4 Garrard and MSG Price are currently assigned to GSDF G3’s office.

GSDF soldiers practice the “hanging float” as part of water survival training. This technique can be used while waiting for help to arrive and as a resting position when swimming to safety. Georgia State Defense Force Photo.