At Ease - Wisconsin National Guard Department of Military Affairs

74 WMA Graduates 50th Class
76 A Decade of Success
77 What School? WOC School!
78 Brick and Mortar at Camp Justice
79 Badgers in Iraq
80 Troop E Completes the Run
81 332nd ROCs Iraq
82 Annual Report
On the Cover:
Retired Col. Tommy Makal, left, and Platoon Sgt. Pete Smoczyk, 32nd
Division veterans of World War II, escort the 32nd Brigade colors as
honorary color guards at the start of the brigade’s send-off ceremony,
in Madison Feb. 17. Makal enlisted in 1937 and saw combat with the
Red Arrow in North Africa and Europe. Smoczyk joined the Wisconsin
National Guard’s horse cavalry in 1936 and fought in the Southwest
Pacific as part of the division’s 127th Infantry Regiment. Photo by Staff
Sgt. Joe Streeter
From the top
I hope you
enjoy this updated
and modernized
At Ease magazine.
Our Public
Affairs office, led
by Lt. Col. Tim
Donovan (now on
deployment to Iraq)
evolved this awardwinning
publication
to a more modern
format; and under
the leadership
of our new state
public affairs
officer, Maj. Jackie
Guthrie, will
guide its ongoing
transformation.
I will contribute Brig. Gen. Donald P. Dunbar
periodically as the
adjutant general to share issues, items of significance,
commentary and vision.
Your Wisconsin National Guard performed
magnificently in 2008. Our deployment activity peaked at
about 5 percent, with as many as 500 Soldiers and Airmen
deployed in the combat zone at various times throughout
the year. Fifteen years ago, that would have seemed
breathtaking, but not today. Our contribution in 2008 was
significant, but not remarkable.
2009 is already fulfilling its promise to be historic.
The Wisconsin National Guard will participate in its
largest operational deployment since World War II, as
the famed “Red Arrow” deploys again. The 32nd Infantry
Brigade Combat Team will deploy approximately 3,200
Soldiers to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
After an All-Wisconsin send-off Feb. 17, the brigade
traveled to Fort Bliss, Texas, for additional training, and is
expected to arrive in theater in late April.
As the 32nd Division prepared to deploy to the Pacific
in World War II, Life magazine ran a cover story entitled
“Red Arrow Division gets the call back to duty,” and the
cover depicted many of our Soldiers in various stages of
deployment preparation. As I viewed this piece of history, I
asked myself — what has changed?
Well, everything has changed. The National Guard
is now operational and involved in rotational combat
operations, we are receiving brand new equipment, and
we are leaner and more lethal following transformation.
But as I reflected on it, despite the changes above,
nothing has changed. The Wisconsin National Guard still
represents the best that Wisconsin has to offer, and our
Soldiers and Airmen continue to be ready, willing and able
to defend our nation when called. The Wisconsin National
Guard represents enduring value for our citizens.
A few things you need to know about this historic
deployment. First, although it is the 32nd flag that is
deploying under Col. Steve Bensend’s leadership, we
have Soldiers deploying in significant numbers from each
of our major commands, including the 157th Maneuver
March 2009 3