SGAUS Engineer Program – Is the ISR a METL for you?

LTC(MD) Edward A. Hubner, PE

In its efforts to provide opportunities for continuing education for all SDFs, SGAUS will be sponsoring a 4 hour course on the National Guard’s Installation Status Report program, or ISR, at the upcoming Annual Conference in South Carolina. The National Guard Bureau has established the ISR program to develop a macro model which is annually populated with data from the field to establish infrastructure spending priorities. The most expensive part of a building is not the construction but the maintenance over the life cycle of the building. Too often, the maintenance, repair and upgrade of facilities are put off to a point where they affect mission readiness and soldier quality of life. The ISR program establishes an Army wide standard to assess the physical condition and readiness of facilities, identify substandard or unavailable facilities which may impact instal-lation mission, identify facility revitalization and construction requirements, estimate macro-level planning costs and help focus future facility investment strategy.

This course will emphasize the importance of identifying the root cause of the “Infrastructure Crisis” and of maintaining its viability for a functioning society. It will delve into the metrics used in the ISR program to eval-uate facilities and well as the building science of what you will be expecting.

The Maryland SDF has been executing the ISR program for the State since 2006. They annually contribute in excess of $250,000 worth of in-kind money that the State can apply to their Federal obli-gation. In the past 10 years, Maryland has also seen their contribu-tions from the National Guard Bureau grow in excess of $30,000,000. In Maryland, the program is managed by the Engineering Division, but is all-hands in execution. In fact, for the last three years, they have been teaching college freshmen to do ISRs as part of a service learning program at the University of Maryland.

Are you interested in a METL with high visibility to both your National Guard Units and your State Legislators? If so, this may be the METL for you.  Register NOW at … Register.

POC for the SGAUS Engineer Program is LTC(MD) Edward A. Hubner, PE – Bio, ehubner@mddf.maryland.gov

For more information about the SGAUS Engineer Program, please go to this link: https://sgaus.org/sgaus-academy/engineering-academy/

NY Guard’s 88th Brigade Conducts Soldier Readiness Processing Drill

by SPC Ed Shevlin, New York Guard  

QUEENS, NY – On 22 January 2017, the New York

Guard 88th Brigade held a Consolidated Drill at JFK Airport. The drill centered on the Brigade’s annual Soldier Readiness Processing (SPR) which fundamentally supports the concept of the quick responding citizen soldier.

The morning began with an address by the Brigade Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Raymond Lamboy who detailed the objectives of the day for each solider. Following LTC Lamboy’s address, Chaplain (CPT) John Muniz, the Brigade Chaplain, gave an invocation, after which the business of the SRP drill began.

The format of this drill was unique to SRP, with numerous stations located around Classroom One at the Joint Task Force Empire Shield facility at JFK Airport. The SRP began with Recruiting and Retention, where soldiers updated their mobilization forms, a critical task which helps to insure a timely muster in the face of an emergency, followed by the next station where ID were checked to be updated if necessary.

In addition to the “on the spot” advice, each soldier was informed of the Free Legal Clinic which was conducted and provided by the New York Guard Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corp at Fort Hamilton and is available to NYG Soldiers on the first Saturday of each month.

The health and safety of soldiers is a primary concern of the New York Guard, and at the SRP drill the 88th Brigade’s Medical Corps, updated records, conducted medical examinations and updated the Soldier’s medical records or information as needed.

The 88th Brigade’s Consolidated SRP Drill was a resounding success. As the New York Guard prepares to meet the challenges of the future, events such as this SRP Drill are critical to maintaining readiness to perform State missions.

Soldiers of the 88th Brigade update medical records during the SRP Drill on 22 January 2017, in Queens, NY. 

1. Puerto Rico State Guard:  Basic course – Construction  During this week, 25 soldiers of our state command are taking courses in basic concepts of construction, carpentry, plumbing and electric. The course is conducted at Fort Allen, RTI, in Juana Diaz, PR. The course was coordinated by Colonel Manuel Alicea, Commander, 500th Engineering Group led by Lieutenant Colonel Apollonius Morales. Units were visited by BG(PR) Edwin Rivera.  Photos Captain Maria Piris Grau (UPAR);  Article Captain Maria Piris Grau and Captain Javish Collazo Fernandez

2. Maryland Defense Force:

Captain (MDDF) Sanford and SGT (MDDF) Dixon were honored this morning at the Maryland State House. After photos with the Governor and Adjutant General they were recognized on both floors of the state legislature. Congratulations!

3.  California State Military Reserve:

a.  If you are an active member in the California National Guard, the State Military Reserve, or the Naval Militia you may be eligible for a state-funded program designed to provide an educational incentive to improve your skills, competencies, and abilities.  For more information, go to … https://nationalguard.csac.ca.gov/

b.  CSMR Chaplain comforts neighbors in time of need.  Evacuees at the Los Molinos shelter displaced by flooding in the unincorporated community of Williams received some unexpected comfort and spiritual support. On the night of Feb. 18, Chaplain Harlan Confer, a major in the California State Military Reserve, traveled to the shelter to provide spiritual support and comfort to those displaced by the flooding.  For more information, go to … https://www.dvidshub.net/news/224244/csmr-chaplain-comforts-neighbors-time-need

4.  New York Guard:

NY Guards 88th Brigade in New York City’s St. Patrick’s Day parade, 21 March 2017. Pictures from SPC Ed Shevlin

5.  Washington State Guard:

Governor Inslee declares emergency proclamation — “I also hereby order into active state service the organized militia of Washington state to include the National Guard and the State Guard, or such part thereof as may be necessary in the opinion of the adjutant general, to perform such duties as directed by competent authority of the Washington Military Department in addressing this event,” reads Inslee’s proclamation. “In addition, the Washington Military Department, Emergency Management Division, is instructed to coordinate all incident related assistance to the affected areas.”  For more information, go to … http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/article/20170321/ARTICLE/170329983

6.  Alaska State Defense Force:

The countries of Denmark and Canada joined with the Alaska National Guard, the Alaska State Defense Force and other agencies, in collaboration with the active duty military’s Alaskan Command, to apply and respond to scenarios that will prepare them for Artic Eagle 2018.  For more information, go to … https://www.dvidshub.net/news/226011/alaska-national-guard-trains-respond-state-emergencies

7.   Georgia State Defense Force:

Making a difference in support of DSCA operations!  Members of 1st and 5th Brigade, Georgia State Defense Force (GSDF), assist the Turner County Sheriff’s Office by loading supplies for tornado victims, January 26, 2017. GSDF members are in their second day of helping local residents recover from the devastating tornadoes that ripped through southern Georgia earlier in the week.   Georgia State Defense Force photo by Spc. Hatcher

8.  Texas State Guard:

Texas State Guard hosts ribbon cutting for remodeled headquarters building.  The project, which began in April 2015 was state funded and cost $2.4 million.  For more information, go to … https://tmd.texas.gov/texas-state-guard-hosts-ribbon-cutting-for-remodeled-headquarters-building

Texas Military Department Maj Gen. John F. Nichols Texas Adjutant General, right, and Texas State Guard Maj Gen. Gerald “Jake” Betty, commander of the Texas State Guard conduct a ribbon cutting for the newly remodeled headqaurters building at Camp Mabry, in Austin, Texas, Jan. 25, 2017. The renovation increased the Texas State Guard’s ability to better utilize the building’s square footage for training and missions. The Texas State Guard is comprised of more than 1,800 volunteers organized into four components – Army, Air, Medical and Maritime – with individual units assigned throughout the state. (U.S. Army National Guard Sgt. Elizabeth Pena)

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.

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.