Montana Big Sky Guardian - Winter 2008

Governor’s
Message
Montana Guard
Biathlon team
brings home
medals
Montana Quick
Reaction Force
Statewide firefighting
efforts
get boost from
Guard during
Firestorm 2007

Governor’s Message For
THE BIG SKY GUARDIAN
As we move into the new calendar year and end the chapter on
2007, let us prepare ourselves for the upcoming challenges and opportunities.
We are an organization charged with protecting this great
state and nation. It is a monumental task that you take in stride and I
know that we have THE BEST men and women in our National Guard
for the job. I stand proudly beside you, no matter what the calling.
I encourage each of you to reflect on your accomplishments and
shortfalls from the years past and take a moment to gain perspective
and understanding. It is the tough times in life that expand our experiences
and help us prepare for any event. Those of us in the National
Guard understand that events can range from mild to catastrophic.
With that said, I want to take this opportunity to thank you for
your service and tell you how proud I am of the work you do to keep
this state and nation the best place to live. I am humbled and hon-
On behalf of the people of Montana, I
thank all Montana National Guard men and
women and their families for their service
and dedication. I hope the New Year will
bring health and happiness for all of you.
It is my honor to tell you how proud I am
of your accomplishments. You have responded
to our state needs and protected our freedoms
abroad with bravery and distinction.
Montanans are known for their integrity
and willingness to pitch in and help their
neighbor. The men and women of your
organization exemplify those ideals. The
state is fortunate to have you as one of our
resources for the protection of our citizens in
time of need. Whether protecting the skies
overhead or on the ground; assisting in a
wild land fire, or handling the aftermath of
an earthquake or flood—you are always
there and you are always ready. All
Montanans know they can count on your
hard work, dedication and a can-do attitude.
In the spirit of the New Year,
greetings to each and every one of you!
2/ BIG SKY GUARDIAN / Winter 2008
Maj. Gen. Randy Mosley, AG of Montana National Guard
I work closely with your leadership to
ensure that the Montana National Guard is
the best equipped and the best trained force
for any mission you may face. Your record
speaks for itself. I know you will continue to
work effectively and professionally side-byside
with your Reserve and active duty counterparts
to secure this nation.
I have kept in close touch with our congressional
delegation in Washington, D.C.,
and am very pleased with recent progress on
the National Guard Empowerment Act. Its
provisions are designed to raise the stature of
the National Guard within the Department of
Defense and to restore the traditional state
control of the Guard for domestic missions.
Again, thank you for your service and my
best personal wishes to your families.
Sincerely,
BRIAN SCHWEITZER
ored to be in the position to work alongside the men and women
who have answered the call to serve. Your efforts are recognized.
I hope that each of you will have the opportunity to spend quality
time with family and friends this year. Remind them of how
important and precious they are to you. For, without our families,
our lives would be much less rich and vivid.
Whether recreating or just crossing town, use common sense in
all you do and ask for help if you need it. Together we will succeed
no matter how big the task.
Again, thank you for all you do and have a great winter season.
Sincerely,
Maj. Gen. Randy Mosley
The Adjutant General

Montana Guard aviation experts visit Kyrgyzstan
By Sgt. 1st Class Tom Steber
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan—Six members of
the Montana Army National Guard recently
visited Kyrgyzstan, providing expertise and
assistance to the helicopter squadron of the
Kyrgyzstan air force. The Montana Guard
members departed Helena Sept. 18 and
returned Oct. 2, 2007.
The purpose of the visit for the Montana
Guardsmen was to share ideas, build relationships
and share aviation expertise with
members of the Kyrgyzstan air force.
The delegation included Lt. Col. Tom
Malee, Maj. David Shute, Maj. Garth Scott,
1st Lt. Rob Oleson, Chief Warrant Officer Tal
Williams and Spec. Rich Holdorf.
The representatives from Montana were
there in support of the State Partnership
Program that began in 1997. Montana is one
of many states that have formed partnerships
with countries around the world to enhance
relations and share ideas. Montana delegate
leader Lt. Col. Tom Malee said, “The
Montana delegation received an excellent
immersion into the culture and our host
treated all of us excellently.”
The trip across the world took about 32
hours with stops in Minneapolis, Amsterdam,
London, Tbilisi, Georgia and Bishkek.
“We were given a very warm welcome
by the commander of the air force, Col.
Azimov at 4 a.m., and were treated excellently
the entire the trip,” said Maj. Garth
Scott, the Montana National Guard Public
Affairs Officer. They are working hard to
make every possible improvement to their
aviation squadron.”
Early in the trip, the delegation was taken
by an MI-8 transport helicopter to a remote
location at Lake Issyk-Kul (a land-locked
saltwater lake) for a general overview of the
geography of the country. Much of
Kyrgyzstan is similar to Montana with high
mountains and clean water.
“It was a great way to begin our journey,”
Scott said. “We were able to communicate,
with help from an interpreter, and you start
to realize how similar we are in many areas.
We are all working hard for resources to be
prepared for any circumstance that may
arise. But I know how fortunate we are in
Montana to have state-of-the-art facilities
and equipment. The buildings and equipment
in Kyrgyzstan are pretty old, but they
make the best of what they have, and that is
the lesson I learned.”
In addition to mountains, rivers and
lakes, Kyrgyzstan also supports a great
Lt. Col. Tom Malee shakes hands with Kyrgyzstan officers during a recent visit to the country,
(left to right), Lt. Col. Tom Malee, Col. Sidora and Col Sysoev. Photo: Maj. Garth Scott
amount of farmland with horses, cattle and
mules. However, the Kyrgyz face many challenges
which are apparent just on the outskirts
of Bishkek. The country was stripped
of many assets and lost many people when
the Soviet Union broke up. Poverty is obvious
and many abandoned buildings are a
result of some people leaving Kyrgyzstan
during that period. The country struggles to
meet the need of road repair, traffic control
and trash removal with limited resources.
At the air base, many of the military vehicles
are from the ‘50s and ‘60s and the aircraft
hangar could use updating or replacement.
Improvements are planned and some
new construction has taken place, which has
enhanced overall air operations.
Several new supply buildings were built
last year and the fuel supply system is adequate.
Many of the aircraft, however, are very
old and the tarmac is in bad shape.
1st Lt. Rob Oleson said, “The Kyrgyz people
have been very receptive to our visit and
expressed their continued commitment to
build a positive relationship with the people
of Montana and the United States.”
Further discussions between the Kyrgyz
and the Montana aviators lead to the possibilities
of additional help in equipment and
emergency relief support. The Montana representatives
bring a wealth of experience to
the table as five of them are war veterans and
have worked for many years in aviation oper-
ations. Information flowed both ways; the
Kyrgyz pilots are very knowledgeable and
have many good flying techniques. They are
landing helicopters at much higher altitudes
than the Montana pilots and they are making
do with very little support and equipment.
“They know how to improvise and make
something happen,” said Maj. Dave Shute,
Aircraft Maintenance Officer for the Montana
Army Aviation Support Facility.
“After meeting and spending time with
fellow aviators and touring their aviation
facilities, it is evident that they are doing
their very best with the resources that
they have,” said CW3 Tal Williams,
Standardization Pilot for the Montana
National Guard. “However, we would like
to help them with more resources and training
to enhance their aviation capabilities.”
For the Montana delegates, this was their
first time they have visited Kyrgyzstan, and
the first time since the program began that
an entire delegation of helicopter aviation
experts have gone to Kyrgyzstan.
Kyrgyzstan declared its independence
from the Soviet Union in 1991. With some
help from the United States, the situation
in Kyrgyzstan will continue to improve all
the time.
“It was a great exchange of ideas and friendship
and I hope to visit Kyrgyzstan again in
the near future,” concluded Malee.
Winter 2008 / BIG SKY GUARDIAN / 3

New 260th Engineer Company established
By Capt. Lori Hampa-Chamberlain, Community Relations Officer
HELENA, Mont.—The newly established
Montana Army National Guard 260th
Engineer Company, co-located in
Culbertson, Sidney, and Miles City, completed
its first 15-day Annual Training period at
Fort Harrison in July.
Headquartered in Miles City, the 260th
EN CO, with detachments in Sidney and
Culbertson, is approximately 120 Soldiers
strong, with each unit manned at about 40
Soldiers. During their AT, July 12-26, the
unit focused predominately on Warrior Task
Training; or to put it more simply, they
trained in those common skills all Soldiers
need to master.
“So far things have been going pretty
well,” said 1st Sergeant Randy Anderson, the
senior ranking non-commissioned officer in
the unit and the commander’s right-hand
man. “It’s been pretty warm for our afternoon
training operations, but as it’s been 110
degrees Fahrenheit back home, everyone is
pretty happy to be here. Our morale has
4/ BIG SKY GUARDIAN / Winter 2008
been good overall.”
The 260th EN CO is a horizontal construction
engineer company. Their formal
mission mandated by Congress includes:
Rapid Runway Repair, Obstacle Breaching,
Assault Landing Zones, UAV (unmanned
aerial vehicle) Airfield Construction,
Helicopter Landing Zones, Area Clearing
and Initial Base Camp Construction.
Formally established Sept. 1, 2006, the
unit has a variety of sections including equipment
maintenance, a headquarters and supply
element, heavy equipment operations, transport
operations and earth moving sections.
“Most of our Soldiers need to go to their
specialty school, so during our first AT as a
cohesive unit we concentrated on the Warrior
Tasks that are so important,” explained Capt.
Adam Deutsch, the commanding officer.
With 72 Soldiers attending the AT,
troops practiced what are known as Basic
Theatre of Operations Stability and Support
Actions. For example they refreshed them-
selves in general combat first aid, such as
life saving techniques and preventative
measures like treating an open wound. They
also conducted basic land navigation skills;
convoy operations; night vision goggle
device training; radio communications;
chemical, biological, radiological & nuclear
training; combative training, which is handto-hand
combat; engagement skills training;
and engineer training.
Mastery of warrior skills is very important,
but for this engineer unit the construction
equipment training was their favorite. They
were able to receive familiarity training on the
medium and light equipment they will have
to master, which included front end loaders,
dozers, graders and compacting equipment.
Not all their activities were mere “training
events.” Fort Harrison is building a FOB or
Forward Operations Base, for training purposes,
and the 260th Engineers were able to
assist the 219th RED HORSE Engineers,
Montana Air National Guard, in constructing
the FOB. The 260th Soldiers assisted by conducting
area clearing operations; readying
the general location of the FOB for the actual
structural building phase.
“FOBs are small posts that expand a military
installation’s area of operations,” said
Capt. Deutsch. “Located specific distances
from the home base, they serve as the ‘forward’
eyes for leadership. They are all over Iraq.”
Deutsch explained additional benefits of
the training.
“It was also good for our guys because
they got real-world experiences they can use
in civilian jobs,” he said. “That’s important to
us. Many of our Soldiers served in the various
batteries of the old unit, the 190th Field
Artillery that used to be located in these
three communities; there was a lot of competition
between the men.”
Having served in Iraq, Capt. Deutsch
fully understands the vital nature of a military
unit working together as a team.
“The competitive nature between the batteries
of the former unit will be difficult to
overcome, but we’ll get there … over time,”
he said confidently.
The 260th EN CO resumed its monthly
training schedule in August 2007, when
each section returned to train in its respective
community.

Serving in
two uniforms
MISSOULA, Mont.—Serving one’s
country is hard enough, but doing so as
a beauty queen can be even more challenging.
However, Amber McDonald
does both, with enthusiasm and a
smile. Her journey as Montana’s delegate
to the 2007 Mrs. United States
Pageant and as a Soldier in the Montana
Army National Guard exemplifies her
beliefs, strong values and moral fiber.
A young lady with great ambitions
and aspirations, she has many responsibilities
and duties, both professionally
and personally. Recently married
and a new mother, Amber takes the
challenges all in stride.
So how does a former Hellgate
High School cheerleader, with no
family background in the military,
become a Soldier? “I knew that I
wanted to go to college, but I wanted
to do it on my terms,” Amber said.
“Capt. Brian Schmaus, a recruiter at
the time, approached me about being
a Soldier in the Montana Army
National Guard and I was hooked.
My mom was very upset, she was just
sure I was going to die! As it turned
out, it was the best thing my mom
never wanted me to do.”
Amber enlisted in 1999, at the
age of 17.
“I attended my first drill at Det. 1
of the 3669th General Support
Maintenance Company in my cheer- Photo: Staff Sgt. Dan Bushnell
leading warm-up outfit as I had to
cheer at a game right before,” she said
laughing. “I took a lot of ribbing because of it, too.”
After graduation, she was off to Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., for basic
and advanced individual training to become a generator mechanic.
“Basic training was an awesome experience, I loved it,” she said. “I
learned a lot there. I especially liked the teamwork aspect.”
Upon her return to Montana, she enrolled at the University of
Montana, majoring initially in pharmacy and chemistry but graduating
with a degree in political science and public law. During her time
at U of M, she worked part-time for the Montana National Guard
Recruiting and Retention Command’s office, where she eventually met
her husband.
Currently, Amber is assigned to the S-1 section for the 495th
Combat Sustainment Support Battalion as a personnel sergeant for the
battalion. She has worked as a paralegal at Ogg Law Office in Missoula
for almost two years. She hopes to one day work in a small firm where
she can make a difference.
By Staff Sgt. Dan Bushnell
“I’m very interested in military and
family law, because I enjoy helping
people,” she said.
Sergeant Kellan McDonald, her husband,
is a full-time recruiter for the
Montana National Guard based out of
Missoula. He has been a member of the
Montana National Guard for about four
years. He is also a U of M graduate.
Amber and Kellan met after he
returned from basic training and they
were attending the same courses at U of
M. She recognized his name, as she had
been working files and paperwork for
many of the new recruits.
“We just hit it off and began to
spend a lot of time together; now we’re
inseparable,” she said.
Kellan is a member of B Company,
1-163rd Infantry Battalion and was
deployed to Iraq in 2004-2005. At that
time, the two were only dating.
According to Amber, the deployment
brought them closer as a couple.
“Our time together and our conversations
had to count each and every
time during that period and we created
this bond,” she said.
The two were married July 15, 2006.
Pageant Life
When asked how she became a
beauty queen, she answers the question
quickly and deliberately.
“I wanted to! I’ve always enjoyed
those types of venues. I entered my first
pageant when I was 17, the Junior Miss Montana America pageant.”
While Kellan was deployed, she was still attending the U of M and
was bored, with no outside activities. So, the quest began in 2005, for
pageants that she would be eligible for. She found the Mrs. United
States pageant, although she wasn’t eligible until after her and Kellan
wed. The first step in that direction was for her to apply and compete
for the Mrs. Missoula city title.
She received a call shortly thereafter from the state director for the
Mrs. United States Pageant.
“Are you interested?” the director asked. “Because we’re getting
ready to hold the first pageant in Montana.”
Due to lack of interest or participants in prior years, Montana had
simply sent a delegate to the national contest, and 2007 was the first
year that a state pageant was conducted.
After the wedding, Amber went through the city of Missoula title
process, which consisted of an application, interview and payment of
Winter 2008 / BIG SKY GUARDIAN / 5

fees. She was then off to the state pageant.
There are two main pageant programs for married women in the
United States, the Mrs. America Pageant and the Mrs. United States
Pageant. Both are similar, however, the Mrs. America program is the one
that most people readily identify with pageantry. According to Amber,
however, there are hundreds of pageant programs available for anyone
interested. Ladies interested in pageants must compete and win their
city title, then win a state competition
to be eligible to compete nationally.
The same is true for international competitions.
The one-day state pageant for the
Mrs. Montana United States was held
in May 2007, in Bigfork at the Bigfork
Summer Playhouse Theatre.
“It was the most exhausting experience,”
said Amber. “We had almost
three days of straight dance practice
prior to the competition, I loved it!”
There are three areas each contestant
is judged on during the pageant:
Evening gown, swimwear and interview.
There is no talent aspect to this
program.
“It’s a good thing,” explained Amber.
“It’s one thing to be good at a talent; it’s
a whole other to be able to do it at a
competitive level in front of a crowd.”
The interview question portion of
the competition is done the day before
the actual pageant. Preparing for the
pageant took some time and Amber
relied on a number of resources.
“One of the best interviewing
preparations was going to the schools
and talking about my platform,
which is positive body image, in
Missoula,” she said.
She also relied on her family and
sponsors to help her prepare for speaking in public.
The difficulties that Amber struggled to overcome during the pageant
were the voices in her head telling her that wasn’t good enough
or that is good but now you have to do the next event.
“Keeping my own negativity at bay,” said Amber, “I had to get over
the idea that I was being judged and just keep it as if I was performing.”
She accomplished that and a lot more, sweeping the state title and
taking all the additional titles, including Mrs. Photogenic, Mrs.
Congeniality, along with others.
“I was honored to be a part of the first pageant, to set the standard
and be a part of Montana history.”
Competing and winning at the state level has allowed Amber to
take her message and her platform across the state.
“I think that society doesn’t put enough emphasis on normal body
size based on bone structure and symmetry,” she said. “People that
are trying to be an image in a magazine or something they will never
be rather than just being a productive member of society. This pageant
program has given me the opportunity to go in and talk to young
people, teens and pre-teens, and let them know that this is not the
proper way to think. My hope is to provide them some tools so that
they can make positive decision early.”
Being Mrs. Montana United States is truly a once in a lifetime
opportunity for Amber. The rules of her pageant state that she can
6/ BIG SKY GUARDIAN / Winter 2008
never be Mrs. Montana United States again. This time limit has driven
Amber to reach as many people as possible with her message during
her reign.
“Had I not won the state title, I would have been happy. I would
have done a lot of work right here in Missoula. But, being crowned
Mrs. Montana United States allows me to take my message and my
platform to a larger audience and have that much more impact for the
entire state.”
Competing at a National Level
Upon winning the state title, she
began preparing for the national competition
that was just two short months
away.
The Montana pageant director and
one of the judges from the state pageant
began working with Amber. They gave
her numerous pointers to get ready for
the pageant, like standing and delivery,
how to turn on stage with a dress and a
train. In addition, her coaches assisted
her in what clothes she should and
shouldn’t wear.
“This is what is called a trunk show,”
she explained. “A trunk show is where
the coaches and director go through
your clothes, jewelry and all items you
plan to wear at the pageant. They are
tried on and verified that they meet the
requirements for the pageant.”
Although a bit intimidating, Amber
says that it’s constructive overall.
“They are really there to do everything
they can to help you win,” she
said. “Even if you don’t agree.”
Photo: Courtesy of Amber McDonald
Eight-months pregnant, Amber
found herself boarding a plane for Las
Vegas on July 10. However, that’s where
a bit of misfortune caught up with her as she struggled just to get out
of Montana. Amber’s plane was two hours late due to mechanical
issues. Upon arriving in Las Vegas and the Silverton Hotel, the site of
the pageant, the pageant director told her she had 30 minutes to get
changed and ready for a photo shoot, including travel time, to Lake
Mead, just outside of Las Vegas.
“I was just a little bit flustered,” Amber said. “I had the biggest
belly, but it was a lot of fun and hectic at the same time.”
As it turned out, Las Vegas experienced one of the hottest periods
in its history, with temperatures reaching more than 117-degrees in
the shade. Again, she took the challenges in stride as did the other
contestants that were pregnant.
Although she didn’t make it into the top 10 competitors, she wasn’t
disappointed with her performance or her experience.
“It was an awesome experience,” she said. “I wouldn’t have changed
it in anyway.
Being crowned Mrs. United States would have posed new challenges,
said Amber.
“It requires a level of commitment that I’m not sure I could have
made being eight-months pregnant and newly married. When you
win, you really are accepting a job offer to be Mrs. United States and
travel around to engagements and events around the country.”
The top ten candidates were outstanding, according to Amber.

“Outstanding competitors, outstanding ladies, outstanding human
beings,” she said. “I was in awe of their greatness. It would have taken
many years of preparation to compete at their level. They’re not just
involved in their platforms locally but also nationally and internationally,
which allows them to have impacts at that level.”
Amber’s first impression of the contestants was full of falsehoods.
“When I first got there I thought, ‘What impacts are these women
making on the world?‘ However, after meeting them, these women
are some of the most serious volunteers I’ve ever met in my life. They
really dedicate their lives to helping people. There are 54 competitors
with 54 causes willing to stand up and say to the world: This is something
I believe in and I think is important for mankind and I’m willing
to lead the battle! That’s very powerful. That is the thing that I will
take away from the pageant, the fact that there is so much that
mankind has done, but there is more to do.”
Now that she’s done with the pageantry of the national competition,
she only has a few events statewide that she is obligated to
attend as the reigning Mrs. Montana United States. She hopes to take
advantage of the opportunities to communicate her platform to as
many Montanans, including her fellow Soldiers, as possible. She is
also planning a trip of her own, with a bit of help.
“I’m planning to take a trip statewide with the Miss Montana Teen
United States this spring,” she said. “The tour will take us to most of the
bigger cities and towns throughout the state. I’m looking forward to it.”
What’s in the future, as far as pageants, for Amber? Currently, she
is looking into more pageants, but not actively.
“Pageants provide me a platform to get my message and thoughts
out to a bigger audience. So I’m looking forward to doing more, but it’ll
be awhile. I won’t seriously consider another one until my son is older.”
Being a Queen and a Soldier
“Being a beauty queen and being involved in pageants hasn’t
changed my situation in life or my position in the Guard, it’s just that
I’m a little different,” Amber said smiling. “It’s no different than a politician
being in the Guard. It just happens that I’m a public figure is all.
But there are lots of people in the Guard that are special…lawyers,
policeman and firefighters. I just happen to be a beauty queen.”
Amber has been able to carry her platform about positive body
image to other members of the Guard. She is currently mentoring
many Soldiers in the 495th CSSB.
“In the military, if we’re not happy with ourselves, how can we possibly
maintain our morals, values, ethics, and integrity? How can we
possible be ready to do our jobs when those issues come into question?
When you look at it like that, none of us are fit to fight. It’s really
preventive maintenance on ourselves, ensuring we’re good to go.”
Amber feels it is imperative that we find a level of trust and comfort
in ourselves.
“It all falls under Maslow’s hierarchy of needs,” she said. “A person
has to be secure in themselves before they can reach a point where they
can productively help others and be a valuable member of society.”
Amber is an active member of her unit, according to her company
commander, first sergeant and first line leaders.
“She is highly motivated and highly spirited; it doesn’t matter what
the task,” explained Sgt. 1st Class Randal Hunt, the 495th CSSB S-1
non-commissioned officer in charge. “From completing MOSQ
actions and paperwork to the Army physical fitness test testing and
documentation Amber is willing to take on the task.”
According to Hunt, Amber is responsible for compiling and preparing
the battalion briefing each month to the battalion commander.
Winter 2008 / BIG SKY GUARDIAN / 7

“She has to compile all the quality force indicators from approximately
200 pages and synthesize them down into a complete and
thorough presentation,” he said. “And, she does a great job with it
each and every time.”
What the Guard Means to Me
Amber has taken to the military and the military lifestyle like a duck
to water and so has her family. Her brother recently joined and is in B
Company (Missoula), 1-163rd Inf. Battalion; and her future brother-inlaw
is a member of the Det.1, 623rd Engineering Co. (Hamilton).
“I love the military,” she said. “The military has provided me with the
realization that I am part of something bigger than me, than my state,
nation and country. The National Guard has carried the weight of the
world on its shoulders the last six years and I’m proud of that fact. I am
a college graduate, the first in my family, because of the military, and I
look back on all the good things the military has given us, all of us.”
8/ BIG SKY GUARDIAN / Winter 2008
Photos: Courtesy of
Amber McDonald
Upon enlisting, Amber was eligible for the GI Bill, the tuition
assistance program, and she used her enlistment bonus to help her
during her college career.
“It helped a lot,” she said. “I didn’t want for anything during my
college career. It allowed me to just concentrate on school.”
But, it’s the integrity of the military that sticks with her most.
“If I left the Guard today, the one thing I would take with me is
this idea of integrity,” she explained. “If you do what is right by you
then you’re willing to do what’s right when no one is around. And
that’s what I’ve experienced in the Guard is this high level of
integrity.”
In addition, she’s been equally impressed with the camaraderie
and family that she’s a part of now.
“The one thing that impresses me the most about Montana
National Guard members is how committed they are to this family
and their own. It’s like having one big family.”
What makes it all worthwhile for Amber?
“When I’m coming home from drill and stop to get gas somewhere
and someone stops me and says ‘Hey, thank you for your service!’
That right there, it pays for an entire year for me of being gone and
the sacrifice. My mom said that joining the Guard was the best decision
I ever made (besides having a baby). It has had such a positive
impact on my life. I have learned so many positive life lessons from
being a member of this organization. There is more than just college
money behind joining.”
But, she’s humble about it all: The title, the Guard, her family.
“This (the title) isn’t just about me; there are lots of folks in the
Montana National Guard that are doing amazing things,” she said
smiling. “The folks in the Guard are what America is … we represent
the melting pot of this country. If you want to see America, look at a
Guardsman. We have families, lives; we are an active part of our communities.
We are just like your average American!”

Montana Air Guard helps out the Angels
By Maj. Rick Anderson
WEST YELLOWSTONE, Mont.—The
measurements must be exact, tension must
be precise, and the installation team must be
focused; if not, the result could mean a multimillion
dollar fighter aircraft careening off
the runway and ultimately destroyed.
MAAS installed
Ten specialists from the 219th RED
HORSE Squadron of the Montana Air
National Guard and an engineer from 819th
RED HORSE Squadron from Malmstrom Air
Force Base were recently sent out to install a
mobile aircraft arresting system (MAAS) to
support the Navy’s Blue Angels demonstration
team at the Yellowstone Airport in West
Yellowstone, Mont.
In order to conduct safe flying operations,
the Navy and Marines have some specific
requirements that are not normally established
at Air Force bases or commercial airports.
One of these requirements is a MAAS,
which is a hydraulic braking system that is
designed to stop a fighter aircraft, equipped
with a tail-hook, during in-flight emergencies
or inclement weather conditions.
The average runway has room for pilots
to land safely; however, in an emergency,
precautions such as the MAAS are necessary.
The MAAS is designed jet traveling approximately
150 miles per hour.
How it works
A 175-foot steel cable is attached to a
complex, modified B-52 aircraft brake system.
Nylon tapes are revolved around individual
66-inch reels. As the tape gyrates out
to the hooked aircraft, hydraulic pressure to
the braking system slows down the aircraft
in a matter of 1,000 feet to 1,200 feet.
“The aircraft drops its tail hook; the aircraft
tail hook engages a 1-1/4-inch-steel
cable that is floating 2 inches above the run-
way with the help of a number of black, rubber
disks,” said Master Sergeant Brian
Imbrescia, Chief of Electrical and Power production
and the noncommissioned officer in
charge of the installation. “The system is necessary
and saves aircraft and pilots’ lives. The
most rewarding part of the experience was
having the number seven Blue Angel come in
and take the cable evenly and then come to a
complete stop. We did our job safely and
correctly.”
Elite engineers
RED HORSE units are an elite corps of
rapid deployment civil engineers and spe-
cialists who work in very challenging, but
rewarding conditions. They are the engineering
SWAT team of the Air Force and Air
National Guard. Their specialty is what officials
have called “horizontal capability” –
runway and ramp construction, maintenance,
and repair.
In addition, the Red HORSE units are
meant to be extremely flexible, and they can
do all civil engineering tasks.
The RED HORSE is trained to operate in
highly dangerous and austere environments.
They are trained to be self sufficient; to
deploy with their own weapons, equipment,
rations and medical supplies.
Photos: Maj. Rusty Vaira
Winter 2008 / BIG SKY GUARDIAN / 9

Montana Guard Guard Biathlon team team
brings brings home home medals medals
Capt. Dale Black, with the Montana
National Guard Biathlon team, skates
after a competitor during the sprint
race on Dec. 7, 2007. Soldiers from
around the country participated in the
West Regional Biathlon
Championships hosted by the
Montana National Guard at West
Yellowstone, Mont.
Photo: Staff Sgt. Roger M. Dey
10 / BIG SKY GUARDIAN / Winter 2008
By Staff Sgt. Roger Dey and Staff Sgt. Dan Bushnell

Capt. Dale Black, with the Montana National Guard Biathlon team, is joined by members of the Alaska team on the firing line during the
sprint race on Dec. 7, 2007. Soldiers from around the country participated in the West Regional Biathlon Championships hosted by the
Montana National Guard at West Yellowstone, Mont.
Specialist Lance Clark, with the Montana
National Guard Biathlon team, picks up
speed coming off a hill during the team
pursuit race on Dec. 8, 2007. Soldiers from
around the country participated in the West
Regional Biathlon Championships hosted
by the Montana National Guard at West
Yellowstone, Mont.
Photo: Staff Sgt. Roger M. Dey
WEST YELLOWSTONE, Mont. — On
December 8, the Montana National Guard
Biathlon team brought home several medals
at the largest National Guard competition to
date. In two days of races against 120 other
biathletes, Montana’s wins included one gold
and four silver medals.
Lt. Col Steve Martinka, race coordinator,
said this was one of the largest races ever
held here in Montana and the popularity of
the sport is continuing to grow. “We had
over 120 participants with 40 of them from
Canada,” he said. “That is a record for this
event.“
The event was a part of the North
American Cup races, which are used by the
Canadians as qualifiers for membership in
their national and Olympic teams.
The Montana National Guard Biathlon
team consists of eight members who serve in
line units and have joined the biathlon team
to compete on a national level. Team Coach
Staff Sgt. Bob Evans said, “It was an excellent
effort on Montana’s part to compete at such
a high level given this early in the season.”
Specialist Lance Clark, Montana’s premier
biathlon member, won gold in the pursuit
race and silver in the sprint race. After six
and a half years on the team, Clark, a member
of the 1-189th General Support Aviation
Battalion, keeps his successes in perspective,
“It’s very challenging, and can be very humbling
at times,” he said. “It’s just a fun activity
and it’s a lifelong sport. There is always
room for improvement.”
This year Montana’s team is stronger and
faster than it has ever been, with a strong
sense of teamwork that’s not lost on its newest
member, PFC Daniel Friday. Competing for
the first time after only two weeks on skis, he
credits his teammates with helping him prepare.
“The guys are really helpful with it since
I’m the new member of the team,” Friday
said. “It reminds me of active duty … the
camaraderie and the brotherhood.”
Wyoming, with a strong team that
includes Olympian Capt. Rob Rosser, took
the gold in the team pursuit race this year.
Utah also has an excellent team and beat
Montana last year. Montana took the silver
in the team pursuit race, despite tough competition
from neighboring regional states.
Winter 2008 / BIG SKY GUARDIAN / 11
Photo: Staff Sgt. Roger M. Dey

Sgt. 1st Class Greg Fox
By
12 / BIG SKY GUARDIAN / Winter 2008
“Thanks for your
service Greg”
A tribute to retired Sgt. 1st Class Greg Fox
By Sgt. 1st Class Tom Steber
He
was the first one to
turn on the lights every morning
and normally every evening
he was the last one to go. I’m
talking about Sgt. 1st Class
Greg Fox, who up until about a
year ago was the Visual
Information Specialist for the Montana National Guard.
Greg’s career was cut short last year when he was diagnosed
with cancer. You would have never known that
Greg was afflicted with such a serious disease because he
was the type of person who could turn the most awful situation
into a positive life experience.
That’s exactly what he did with cancer. Knowing that
his days are now a gift, he looks forward to every day and
is able to convey to all he has a connection with that life
really is a gift and it should never be
taken for granted. There are very
few people, if any, in the Montana
National Guard who have not been
touched in some way by Greg. If he
passed you in the hallway he would
take the time to stop and ask how you
were doing. There was something different
when Greg asked that question,
he really wanted to know—it just
wasn’t a meaningless phrase to him.

Photos: Sgt. 1st Class Greg Fox
He truly cared about his fellow
soldiers and if one was in
need of help, he took the time
to afford that person help. I remember a story Greg told
when he joined the National Guard back in 1984. He told the
recruiter he wanted to do something in photography because
photography was a way that Greg could truly express himself.
The recruiter listened to his request, enlisting him as a 13B,
Cannon Crewman, and cannon does not mean a camera. Greg often said if he
would have been given a job as a photographer at that stage of his military career, he never
would have learned the battle skills he needed for his future in the military. He finally became a
photojournalist in 1990. Greg went on eight deployments in his 20-year career in the Montana
National Guard, amassing a body of photo and video archives depicting historic events and the
every day lives of people who choose to serve their country.
Editor’s Note: Greg is now living in the Seattle area, recovering from treatments following
his second bout with cancer. His attitude toward life remains the same: Live every day as if a gift
from God, and take nothing for granted.
Winter 2008 / BIG SKY GUARDIAN / 13

MONTANA
QUICK REACTION FORCE
CONTINUES TO TRAIN FOR THE UNEXPECTED
BY STAFF SGT. DAN BUSHNELL & STAFF SGT. ROGER DEY
HELENA, Mont.—Driving a Humvee by the green glow of night
vision is not something most bomb handlers in the Air National
Guard have the chance to do, but a select group of Airmen like Tech.
Sgt. Brian Bartz, are doing just that. An ammunition secialist with the
120th Fighter Wing, Bartz is also a member of the Montana National
Guard’s Quick Reaction Force.
After two years of planning and equipping, the QRF began to train
in June 2007 to be able to deploy within four to eight hours of a
request by the governor. Their mission is to augment local or federal
law enforcement agencies in any emergency situation in the state of
Montana, with the QRF being under the control of the law enforcement
agency in charge of the incident.
The QRF is split into two teams, with each being responsible for
a separate geographic region of the state. The separation equates to
roughly splitting the state with a diagonal line from approximately
Browning to Broadus.
QRF 1, made up of soldiers from Helena and commanded by Maj.
Rick Kostecki, is responsible for the southwestern half of the state.
Maj. Tim Lincoln’s airmen of QRF 2, from the 120th Fighter Wing in
Great Falls, cover the northeastern half.
Members of Montana’s QRF
assemble at Fort Harrison for a
joint training event in August 2007.
Photo: Pfc. Britney Bodner
14 / BIG SKY GUARDIAN / Winter 2008
According to 1st Sgt. Ted Regan, the senior noncommissioned officer
of QRF 1, the teams will most likely provide support by manning
entry control points, traffic control points and perimeter security,
remaining on station for 24-48 hours, until a full National Guard unit
could be brought in to relieve them. The probability is that a deployment
will pull members from both elements of the QRF to meet an
expected request for 24-36 people, making joint training vital to their
ability to succeed at their mission, said Regan.
The QRF is not unique to Montana. All states, under directive
from Lt. Gen. Steven Blum, Chief of the National Guard Bureau, must
have an assembled and trained QRF to assist and augment local and
federal law enforcement when requested.
In a homeland security scenario, the QRF would work with local
emergency operations teams as well as the Montana National Guard’s
83rd Civil Support Team, located in Helena, that provides support to
defuse any potential hazards at locations within the borders of Montana
and other areas around the country that require the teams’ support.
Due to the speed with which the elements of the QRF have to
deploy, the volunteer members were recruited from the full-time force
of Army and Air Guard technicians and Active Guard and Reserve

(AGR) troops. The result is a diverse force
with varied backgrounds and specialties,
which adds to the strength of the QRF.
Differences between the two service’s cultures
are being quickly overcome though training
events. Training is currently in the “crawl
phase”, with members of both teams receiving
instruction on individual tasks and being
brought up to speed on such things as weapons
qualification and driver‘s training. The training
will continue to develop, as will the members, to
ensure their proficiency in everything from individual
to team tasks. The overall goal being that
the team is able to handle emergency situations
anywhere in Montana and do so as a team.
For many of the Airmen, the amount of
time spent with weapons is new to them.
Several, like Bartz and Staff Sgt. Steven Hart,
only qualified with their weapons once every
three years before joining the QRF. For Hart, a
ground vehicle maintainer with the 120th
Fighter Wing, weapons familiarity can be an
issue. “You have to remind yourself of
weapons discipline,” said Hart.
In November, 2007, the QRF gathered at
Fort Harrison to train with night vision goggles.
For many of the soldiers, NVGs are as familiar
as a pair of binoculars, but it was a new experience
for several QRF Airmen. The training in
November centered on the finer points of driving
with NVGs as well as learning how they are
best used in perimeter security missions.
When the QRF assembled at Gore Hill in
December, 2007, it was the soldiers of QRF 1
with the steep learning curve. Senior Master
Sgt. John O’Brien and members of the 120th
Security Forces taught soldiers about the
proper use of force and how employ nonlethal
weapons against aggressors.
With many of the members of QRF 2 being
from the Air Guard Security Forces, O’Brien sees
the main difference between the teams being
that of a law enforcement mindset versus a combat
mindset. With a large exercise planned for
the QRF in February, 2008, the goal is to meld
Technical Sgt. Brian
Bartz adjusts night
vision goggles during
training for the
Montana National
Guard’s Quick
Reaction Force on
November 15, 2007.
Photo: Staff Sgt.
Roger M. Dey
Staff Sgt. Steven Hart adjusts night vision
goggles during training for the Montana
National Guard’s Quick Reaction Force on
November 15, 2007.
Photo: Staff Sgt. Roger M. Dey
those two approaches, building a joint force that
incorporates strengths and tactics from both
services and is capable of responding to any
incident in their area of responsibility.
With so many career fields and skill levels
represented throughout the QRF, the emphasis
is on training the entire force from the ground
up with many of the cultural differences being
set aside,. “You’d never know we were from
two different branches,” said Kostecki.
The QRF has access to equipment for transportation
that is already pre-positioned or available
within an hour. In addition, the teams are
working with a variety of entities of the Montana
National Guard to get proficient at certain tasks,
such as loading a CH-47 Chinook helicopter or
a Black Hawk helicopter. However, much of
the training that occurs is familiarization, such
as Tech. Sgt. Bartz driving a Humvee with
NVGs. This type of familiarization and training
ensures that if called upon, the QRF will perform
as needed to protect lives and property
for the people of the state of Montana.
Winter 2008 / BIG SKY GUARDIAN / 15

Statewide firefighting efforts get boost
from Guard during Firestorm 2007
By Sgt. 1st Class Tom Steber
FORT HARRISON, Mont.—The Montana National Guard aviation
and line units played a vital role in the state’s fire suppression efforts
during fire season 2007, assisting with aircraft and ground personnel
across the state.
As has been the case for the past few summers, National Guard
Black Hawk helicopters have been working in tandem with the
Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation UH-1H
helicopters, providing a powerful one-two punch operation that is
essential in initial attack.
The mission is to keep new fires small through quick response.
During Firestorm 2007, Black Hawks were positioned in Helena,
Missoula and Kalispell. In addition to UH-60 Black Hawks, the
Montana National Guard offered a new aerial resource to the fire
effort—the CH-47 Chinook helicopter. Stationed in Helena, the CH-
47 saw significant action on the Meriwether Fire. It was the first time
a Montana National Guard Chinook helicopter was used for fire suppression
in Montana. One of the key benefits of the Chinook is it’s
payload of 2,000 gallons of water per drop.
This is an abundance of water and resource, which made it less
viable for initial attack, but highly effective in extended attack situations
on bigger fires, which Montana had throughout the summer.
“The Chinook is a great complement to our Huey and Black
Hawk helicopters, which deliver less water, but are more maneuverable
for quick response and initial attack,” said Paula Rosenthal, fire
information officer for the Montana DNRC. “The high volume of
water that can be delivered in a single drop, in addition to shuttling
crews and cargo, is amazing and the support shows the team effort
in our state.”
16 / BIG SKY GUARDIAN / Winter 2008
MT National Guard Black Hawk Helicopter and the DNRC UH-1
Helicopter at work together. Photo: Sgt. Stacey Tyson
Rosenthal also noted that having diverse air resources gives fire
managers more options for picking the best tools for the job at hand.
“Air support is absolutely critical in initial attack, especially for
fires that are remote and might take crews several hours to reach,”
Rosenthal said. “We’ve had a number of good catches with aircraft,
keeping fires under 10 acres.”
DNRC pilot Tal Williams agrees.
“Working together is really a good set up,” Williams said. “When
the fire is increasing, we are able to tackle the initial attack with more
efficiency and the coordination between DNRC and the Montana
Guard was great.”
Williams is also a UH-60 standardization pilot with the 1-189th
General Support Aviation Battalion of the Montana Army National Guard.
In addition to aircraft, there were more than 250 Montana National
Guardsmen on state active duty supporting aviation and security

Fire at the Gates of the Mountains, North of Helena.
Photo: Montana National Guard Public Affairs Office
efforts. The fires that benefited from Guard support included the
Ahorn, Jocko Lakes, Sawmill Complex, Fool Creek and Meriwether.
National Guard officials were prepared last summer to increase
that level of support if necessary.
“The Montana National Guard is preparing to support the state in
the upcoming years,” said Major Garth Scott, Public Affairs Officer for
the Montana National Guard. “Prior to the fires of 2000, the Guard was
fairly reactive in nature for this kind of response. Now, the Montana
National Guard plans and prepares yearly for such an event.”
Black Hawk crew saves homes at the Meriwhether Fire North of
Helena. Photo: Montana National Guard Public Affairs Office
MT National Guard
Chinook Helicopter
works the
Meriwether Fire
Photo: Montana
National Guard
Public Affairs Office
Winter 2008 / BIG SKY GUARDIAN / 17

Montana Military
Family Relief Fund
The Montana Military Family Relief Fund (MMFRF), signed into law in 2007 by Governor Brian Schweitzer, provides
monetary grants to families of Montana National Guard and Reserve Component members who, on or after April 28,
2007, are on active duty for federal service in a contingency operation.
The MMFRF grants are intended to help Montana families defray the costs of food, housing, utilities, medical services and
other expenses that become difficult to afford when a wage earner has temporarily left civilian employment to be placed on
active military duty.
The three separate grants available include the following:
Status Based Grant – The Status Based Grant offers a flat fee of $250 for each eligible dependent to help offset and defray costs
associated in relation to the deployment process.
Needs Based Grant – The Needs Based Grant offers assistance to those families who experience a decrease in household
income or a financial hardship during a deployment. If the member’s military income is at least 30 percent
less than their civilian income, or a family incurs unexpected or emergency costs, this grant can provide
up to $2,000 to assist the family.
Casualty Based Grant – The Casualty Based Grant offers $2,000 to help offset costs of a member who is injured during a contingency
operation. The injury must have been sustained in the course of or in relation to combat. This
grant is typically justified through the issuance of a Purple Heart.
Families of a deployed service member should review the information provided on the Department of Military Affairs Web site
located at http://dma.mt.gov/familyrelieffund.asp. Eligibility criteria, application instructions, and additional information are located
at this site. Applications MUST be submitted WHILE the service member is on orders, to be eligible!
For further information contact Ms. Karen Revious, State of Montana,
Department of Military Affairs, Centralized Services Division at 324-3330 or krevious@mt.gov.
18 / BIG SKY GUARDIAN / Winter 2008

REKINDLE THE FIRE
OF YOUR ROMANCE,
LOVE, FUN
AND DEVOTION.
By Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Ken DuVall
Montana National Guard State
We are looking for 20 military and local veteran
couples who want to rekindle the fire of
their romance, love, fun and devotion, to go on a
weekend retreat to one of the many locations
planned in 2008. The Montana National Guard is
hosting married couple retreats throughout the year.
Couples will be presented with short courses on
communication, perceptions and listening, just to
name a few. More importantly, this is a weekend
when you leave the kids in good care at home and
get away by yourselves.
The Marriage Enrichment Weekend includes (at
no expense to you or your spouse):
1) Two nights lodging
2) Drill pay as a SUTA (with clearance from a supervisor)
3) Mileage from your home, if more than 50 miles, except
for dual status soldier marriages
4) Four great meals
5) Materials to enhance your marriage
6) Time together as a couple—honeymoon style
“The idea behind the Marriage Enrichment
Weekend is to teach the couple to communicate like
they did when they were dating“, explained Montana
National Guard State Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Kenneth
DuVall. “As program coordinator, I know that good
communication enables marriages to be stronger. No
couple is on display or has to tell dark secrets. Rather,
it’s about working on your relationship, to make it the
best it can be or what you’ve always wanted it to be.”
Gail Nelson of Sidney attended a Marriage
Enrichment weekend in Lewistown with her husband
back in January 2007. She is now an advocate
of Marriage Enrichment Weekends. Since attending
the Lewistown Marriage Enrichment Weekend, she
has received more flowers from her husband than
ever before!
In our busy world, it is more important than ever
to have a strong marriage. Many couples say there
are too many activities, obligations, temptations and
duties that tend to draw couples apart. The Marriage
Enrichment Weekend is the first step in drawing you
together, as a couple.
Locations for the Marriage Enrichment
Weekends in 2008 are:
February 22-24. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lewistown
April 18-20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Billings
May 16-18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Missoula
June 27-29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bozeman
September 12-14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Site TBA)
To sign up, contact Kim Sloss at (406) 324-3221
or kim.sloss@us.army.mil; or contact Chaplain
Duvall at (406) 324-3307.
The Montana Army National Guard
hits an 11-year high for strength!
By Sgt. 1st Class Jon Sprenger
For the past two consecutive years, the Montana
Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention
Command recruited more than 1,000 Soldiers to fill
the ranks. These numbers surpassed both recruiting
goals and helped fulfill the overall Montana Army
National Guard strength goal.
The 2008 recruiting goal for the Montana Army
National Guard Recruiting & Retention Command is
to meet the increased end strength of 2,750 Montana
Army National Guard Soldiers; and the command is
on target to accomplish this mission.
The R&R command will accomplish its mission
through the most professional recruiting forces and
programs ever developed in Montana. Its mission
statement is clear and to the point: “Recruit, Train,
Ship and Retain quality Soldiers for the Montana
Army National Guard.”
To meet its objectives, the Montana Army
National Guard R&R Command is equipped with two
mobile event teams. These teams stay busy seven
days a week planning and executing events to
expose the Army National Guard story to the citizens
of this state. These teams work directly with recruiting
and retention non-commissioned officers, producing
quality leads for enlistment. Each team is
equipped with a climbing rock wall, inflatable obstacle
course, portable weapons simulator, dog tag
machine, bunkers for paintball tournaments, multiple
x-box packages for tournaments and much more.
The Montana Army National Guard’s Recruit
Training Battalion is also on point. Once a new warrior
enlists into the Montana Guard, they are immediately
assigned to the Recruit Training Battalion. They
are attached to one of eight company sites based off
of their home of record. After the warrior completes
his/her enlistment at the MEPS, they are transported
to the in-processing station for initial counseling and
issued basic uniforms and physical fitness uniforms,
as well as equipment issue.
The new warriors will receive a drill letter and
welcome packet from their respective RTC site.
During drill weekends, warriors will receive training to
get them prepared for basic and AIT. They will have
a PT assessment every month that will be logged into
their battle books. They will also receive mandatory
SEAR (Soldier Empowerment and Readiness) classes.
These classes are given in four phases with the
first targeting brand new warriors and the last as the
battle handoff to their assigned unit. This allows regular
units to focus on their perspective training and
the brand new warrior to receive the training necessary
to graduate BCT (Basic Combat Training).
Through this program, the Montana Army National
Guard has increased the amount of Distinguished
Honor Graduates from Basic Training.
In addition to the programs created in state, the
Montana National Guard R&R Command has the
assistance of the National Guard Bureau introducing
exciting recruiting initiatives. Most recently, the Army
National Guard has teamed up with Dale Earnhardt
Jr. as the premier driver of the “88” car. In September,
Orange County Choppers presented the Army
National Guard with the “Patriot Chopper” on behalf of
all the service and sacrifices Citizen Soldiers have
given to communities, states and the nation for the
past 371 years.
The Guard Recruiting Assistance Program
(GRAP) has been a huge success. This program
allows Guard Soldiers and retirees to cash in on their
referrals who access into the Army National Guard.
The overall payment of $2,000 is split into two disbursements.
The first disbursement occurs at enlistment,
with the second occurring after Advanced
Individual Training (AIT). The payment jumps to
$4,000 for officers and expands to $8,500 for medical
professionals.
The Army National Guard has also teamed up
with the U.S. Army Recruiting Command through the
Active First program. This program provides an Army
National Guard Recruiter the opportunity to enlist
qualified applicants into the U.S. Army for a period of
30, 36 or 48 months. After his/her initial active duty
commitment, the Soldier fulfills their remaining obligation
in the Army National Guard.
Winter 2008 / BIG SKY GUARDIAN / 19

20 / BIG SKY GUARDIAN / Winter 2008
Montana Army National
Guard Enlistments
95TH TROOP COMMAND
Wieglenda, Danny Jade
MONTANA MEDICAL
DETACHMENT
Martin, Courtney Jo
1050TH ENGR DET FFTG
Krause, Logan Thomas
Wheatley, Kyle Austin
Larsen, William Ben
Brown, Anthony Micheal
Horrocks, Trent Troy
Brockett, Cotton Riley
495TH CBT SUST SPT BN
Riddle, Trevor John
Ackermann, Gary Robert
DET 2 CO B 640TH AV ASB
Plovanich, Jessamine Ivy
Smith, Phillip James
67TH SIGNAL COMPANY
Wagner, Andrew Bryan
Doll, Nathan Garrett
Eichel, Cody Brennen
Fitzgerald, Sean Alan
631ST (-) CHEM CO (CS)
Elliott, Joshua David
Sartuche, David Julian
Holmberg, Carl Joseph
Witkowski, Jay Donald
Rozan, Bryan James
Lehman, Sandy Lee
Wetherbee, Kevin Michael
DET 1 639TH SUPPLY CO
Miller, Nathaniel Alan
Logan, Brittany Makae
Det 2 639th Qm Supply Co
Gikiere, Ryan Hal
Long, Justin Robert
639TH QM SUPPLY CO (-)
Gage, Zebbidiah John
Has, Eagle Donald Joseph
Bird, Darryl Clayton
Hardesty, Matthew James
Tyree, Christopher Daniel
143RD MILITARY
POLICE DET
Cichosz, Raymond Thomas
Weber, Paul Victor
DET 3 CO A 1-112 AV (S&S)
Irvine, Michaela Leeann
Crider, Reannon Nichole
CO E 145TH (-) FSC
Dilka, Richard Gordon
Dumond, Brandon Delor
Izzi, Bryan T
DET 1 260TH EN SPT CO
Johnson, Levi Victor
Amundson, Alan Michael Richa
Jones, Levi John
260TH EN SPT CO (-)
Lingg, Tana Leann
DET 1 623RD EN CO
Horner, Gregory Shane
Johnson, Brendan Shane
Wilson, Kate Elizabeth
Oyler, Dalton Dean
Chaney, Donald William
Segovia, Danel Renn
Heptner, Kory Allen
Walen, Andrew Everett
Rennick, Rollin Rene
Anderson, Jessica Kristine
Krause, Kristopher Kelly
103D PUBLIC
AFFAIRS DET
Olsen, Tyler Dennis
484TH MP CS COMPANY
Griffith, Jeramy Travis
Weist, Joshua Shelton
Spatzier, Samantha Gail
Debuff, Courtney Michelle
Kelley, Kody Lee
Ruttenbur, Cameron Dean
Shipp, Joseph Wayne
Logan, Ian Andrew
HHC 190TH CSSB
Nedens, Matthew Victor
Miles, Dandelow Gabriel
Maley, Jonny Martin
Mcdowell, Blake Andrew
Monroe, Rachel Joy
Wectawski, Sean P
Witham, Jonathan Michael
A CO 1-163RD CAV REGIMENT
Whitedirt, August Charles
Lewis, Kyle Patrick
Mulder, Garrett Emerson
O Brien, Whelen Bernard
D1 A CO 1-163RD CAV
REGIMENT
Whitmore, Cory Joseph
B CO 1-163RD CAV REGIMENT
Gill, James Alan
Bloomfield, Curtis David
Bryan, Kelly Ray
Wilson, Nicholas Scott
Seibert, Jacob Thomas
D1 B CO 1-163RD CAV
REGIMENT
McNabb, Stuart Thomas
Ryder, Timothy Allen
C CO 1-163RD CAV REGIMENT
Kilmer, Clifford Norm
Patterson, Korie Blake
Young, Delbert Leroy
Crislip, Michael Scott
Jones, Christopher Lee
Jelly, Christopher Yong Ho
Rinehart, Paul Daniel
Bergeron, Jonathan Shane
Martin, Andrew John
Radford, David L
D CO 1-163RD CAV REGIMENT
Reed, Kyle Allen
Thompson, Travis Mckinley
Davies, Thomas Charles
Dunlap, Jacob Louis
Silflow, Zachary James
Layton, Richard Jesse
Teruel, Damian Kyle
HHC 1-163RD CAV REGIMENT
Lockman, Dustin Samuel
Moore, Cormac Jameson
Healy, Theodore Jay
Firestone, Roman Derek
Price, Nicholas James
Berquam, Scott Robert
Ras, Bryan Keith
Smith, Joseph James
Irvin, Macon David
Frick, Gerrad Dean
Swigert, Jesse Lee
Wolff, Benjamin John
Boe, Brandon
Pyle, David Andrew
DET 1 CO C 1-189TH GSAB
Marais, Gert H
CO D (-) 1-189TH GSAB
Andridge, Zachary Charles
Berryman, Nicholas Wayne
Symons, Caitlyn Danbee
Shipp, Wyatt Allen
Fredrickson, Bradley Alan
CO E (-) 1-189TH GSAB
Brewer, Kirsten Lea
Somers, Jacob Ray
Main, Chase Nathaniel
Gonzalez, Rio Jade
Hoerner, Kristina Marie
Andridge, Chase Thomas
HHC 1-189TH GSAB
Felber, Mikol Dean
Seymour, Felicita Agnes
Peterson, Casey Joe
Payne, Kristopher Edwardpaul
PRIOR SERVICE SOLDIERS
Radford, David L
Anderson, Timothy W
Jacintho, Jeremy A
Knittel, Jesse L
Darby, William A
Arzuaga, Felix O
Boe, Brandon
Wectawski, Sean P
Greene, Jason
Thornsley, Andrew B
Woods, Michelle A
Nichols, Sarah A
Friday, Daniel L
Cole, Chad B
Flint, Eric A
Briggs, Joseph K
Brossman, Aaron D Jr.
Coyle, Michael J
Stafford, Christopher W
Gilbert, Peter J
Smith, Nicholas K
Crossman, Benjamin J
Arpan, Miranda L
Schultz, Jerald S
Rees, Adam T
Cain, Jamie L
Hewitt, Dale B
Anderson, Arthur L
Mahr, Robert L
Nilan, John K
Kipp, Max E