Fighting New Battles - Arkansas National Guard

Teamwork Canteen Paladin Mobes Silver Star Racingarkansas minutemanVol. 28, No. 2 Summer 2006Fighting New BattlesWorking to mend the scars of war

The Arkansas Minuteman12inside1216Teamwork in TrainingActive duty Airmen take team approach at 189th AirliftWing Loadmaster course.142nd Gets a Bang out of Paladin1st Battalion fl exes muscle by holding live fi re exercisewith new artillery equipment.2020222426Guard Troops Rescue “Hostage”Exercise in Prescott demonstrates skills learned duringOperation Iraqi Freedom mobilization.Silver Star Hero1st Lt. Michael McCarty’s heroism in Iraq earns highpraise.Airman Revs it upRacing bug bites 189th Airman, dirt track car featuresArkansas National Guard theme.Working to Mend the Scars of WarCombat Stress and PTSD loom as potential problems forArkansas National Guard Veterans.Front CoverLast spring, hundreds of Soldiersreturning from Iraq with the 39thBrigade Combat Team thought theywere putting their yearlong deploymentbehind them. For many of them,however, the deployment wasn’t leftfar behind. See our special PTSD sectionbeginning on page 24. (Photo by1st Lt. Chris Heathscott.)departmentsCommander’s Corner..........................................................4Up Front...............................................................................5Of Interest.............................................................................6Photo Op............................................................................34Army Guard News..............................................................36Air Guard News..................................................................38Summer 2006 Page 3

The Arkansas Minutemancommander’s cornerFrom the Adjutant GeneralFor 43 and a half wonderful years it has been myprivilege to be a member of the Arkansas NationalGuard. From the first day of my enlistment in1963 as a private in the 217th Engineer Battalion,I knew that I was a part of something special.It has also been my privilege to serve with some incredible people,and work with some of the best troops our nation has to offer. I especiallyappreciate the noncommissioned officers and commanders who helped ayoung second lieutenant learn what it means to command and lead. Theirmentorship and leadership helped me form a true love for the the ArkansasNational Guard.I want to take this opportunity to say how proud I am of each and everySoldier and Airman, officer and NCO, and civilian employee workingfor the Guard. All of you are serving your state and nation with dedication,spirit and resolve. And to our veterans, I thank you from the bottom of myheart for having borne our nation’s defense upon your backs. To you weowe a debt of gratitude and the responsibility for never forgetting your sacrifices.And for those who made the ultimate sacrifice, we are dedicated to never forget them and to continually find ways to honortheir memories. We are also dedicated to honor those who bear the pain of having lost a loved one. My heart goes out to eachand every one of them.job.It has truly been an outstanding honor for me to have had the opportunity to work with the men and women of the Guard, andOver the years I have seen the Guard grow and transform, becoming an effective fighting force in addition to respondingquickly and effectively to our state’s needs. Not only have you served our communities, you have distinguished yourselves inbattle, proving that the National Guard is an effective fighting force and a reliable part of our nation’s defense.Since the global war on terrorism began, over 8,000 Arkansas Guard Soldiers and Airmen have answered the call to federalactive duty, taking up missions all over the globe. All Arkansans can be as proud as I am of these men and women, and of theirselfless service.One thing that has struck me as a defining aspect of the Arkansas National Guard is its family-like nature. The Guard is trulya big family, with strong bonds and friendships acting as the glue that holds us together, and making us an effective organization.To the spouses and children, and mothers and fathers of our members, I thank you for being a part of our family, and for helpingthe Arkansas Guard remain ready, relevant and reliable.It has been a very great honor to serve with the men and women of the Arkansas National Guard. Each and every one of youhave performed magnificently in every mission our state and nation has asked of you. Although I will not be in uniform, I will alwaysbe a part of the Guard, and the Guard will always be in my heart. For what you do for this great state and nation, thank you!Don C. MorrowMajor GeneralThe Adjutant GeneralPage 4 Summer 2006

up frontThe Arkansas MinutemanMotorcycle riders should makesafety first priority, be vigilantAs of April 30, 2006, 25 Soldiers have been killed in motorcycleaccidents throughout the entire United States Army, fourfrom the Army National Guard.Commanders need to include the wearing of personalprotective equipment for motorcycle riders in their unit safetybriefings. This is not only a requirement for anyone in anymilitary duty status, it is crucial to a Soldier’s survival if heor she is involved in an accident, according to the MotorcycleSafety Foundation.Motorcycle riders are 16 times more likely to be injuredon a motorcycle than in an automobile.Soldiers and Airmen are required to enroll in the MotorcycleSafety Foundation’s Basic Rider Course in order to rideon any Arkansas military facility. The BRC is available freeof charge through the Safety Office.Commander and Safety NCOs can download and posta “Got Risk” poster from the U.S. Army Combat ReadinessCenter Composite Risk Management section at this Internetlink: https://crc.army.mil/mediaandpubs/posters_art/got_risk/27Apr_03May_06.pdf.Another site for information on the BRC and the EnhancedRider Course can be found at the Arkansas MotorcycleSafety Internet link: www.arkansasmotorcyclesafety.com.For national information, go to the Motorcycle SafetyFoundation site at: http://www.msf-usa.org.The non-profit Arkansas Bikers Aiming Toward Education(A.B.A.T.E.) also offers information, education and motorcyclesafety courses: http://www.arkansasabate.org.For more information, Soldiers and Airmen can contactthe Safety Office at Camp Robinson at (501) 212-5095 or(479) 484-2390 at Fort Chaffee.Summer 2006 Page 5

The Arkansas Minutemanof interestArkansas National Guard pays homage to fallen heroesPledge to remember fallen Soldiers continues, honor extended to conflicts pastStaff Sgts. Stacy C. Brandon and BillyJ. Orton were heroes to their familieslong before they made the ultimate sacrificefor their country. On Saturday, May6, the Arkansas Army National Guardpaid homage to them and 31 other fallenheroes who served with the 39th BrigadeCombat Team in support of OperationIraqi Freedom.The brigade’s 2nd Battalion, 153rdInfantry dedicated a permanent memorialat the Col. A.J. “Bo” Baker ReadinessCenter in Searcy, Ark., ensuring that thebrigade’s fallen Soldiers are never forgotten.The memorial honors 16 Arkansansand 17 fellow Soldiers from other stateswho died during the brigade’s mobilizationfrom October 2003 to April 2005.On Sunday, May 7, the ArkansasArmy National Guard revisited an existingmemorial previously dedicated toArkansas’ most recent fallen Soldiers, inorder to extend the honor to fallen Soldiersfrom previous conflicts. The Guardreached into its past to honor Arkansanskilled in action during the War with Mexico,the Civil War, World War II and theKorean War. Twenty-eight plaques wereadded to a Camp Robinson memorial thatalready bears the names of the ArkansasSoldiers killed in action during OperationIraqi Freedom. The monument is locatednext to the post chapel and was initiallydedicated on Sept. 10, 2005.Twenty of the newly placed plaqueshonor Guard members killed in the Warwith Mexico, along with three fromWorld War II and four from the KoreanWar. A single plaque honors all Soldierslost in the Civil War since those Soldierscannot be appropriately categorized.For April Brandon, memorials likethese have a special poignancy. She andher children, Jonathan and Brianna, losttheir father on April 24, 2004, while hewas serving in Taji, Iraq with the 39th.“This is a permanent symbol of whatmy husband and so many others havegiven to this country,” she said as shestood next to the Searcy monument.“When I look at it I think about howI’ll be able to bring my kids and theirkids to see things like this, and like theydid today, they’ll be able to find theirdaddy’s and granddaddy’s names andkeep remembering.”Stacy Brandon was 35 when he losthis life in Iraq. Jonathan was three andBrianna one at the time.“If Stacy were here I can see himdoing just like all of these Soldiers aredoing here today, he’d puff up and go‘hooah,” she said, fighting off a flood oftears. “He’s probably very proud. He’sproud that people are remembering him,and for what the military has done for usas far as taking care of us.”The idea for the Searcy memorialbegan when Family Readiness Groupmember Jeannie Smith saw a similarmonument at the courthouse in Jones-Page 6 Summer 2006

The Arkansas Minutemanof interestChastain named new Adjutant General of Arkansas National GuardGovernor Mike Huckabee namedMaj. Gen. Ron Chastain as the new adjutantgeneral of Arkansas Wednesday,May 31. Maj. Gen. Don C. Morrow,the current adjutant general, announcedhis retirement after 43 years of servicewith the National Guard.Chastain has accumulated over 34ytears of military experience, includingtwo tours of command in Iraq. He iscurrently assigned as the wartime chiefof staff for the U.S. Forces, Korea.During Operation Desert Storm,Chastain commanded the ArkansasNational Guard’s 25th REar OperationsCenter. One of the most notable highlightsof his career was leading 4,200men and women into combat as thecommander of the 39th Brigade CombatTeam during the brigade’s 18 monthmobilization in support of OperationIraqi Freedom.“I feel honored to be able to succeedMaj. Gen. Don Morrow as yournext adjutant general,” said Chastain.“And as adjutant general, I pledge tocontinue to improve the readiness of theArkansas National Guard units. At thesame time, I’ve got a goal of lookingout after our Airmen and Soldiers, andall of their families here in Arkansas,”he said.Arkansas Guard Soldier reports on life in Iraq– Long days, hot sun, good food selection are part of deploymentBy Spc. Trevor McIntyre, Battery C, 1-142nd Fires Brigadelife, and the days are not too hot--butI am currently deployed with Charlie they’re getting there.Battery, 1st Battalion of the 142nd Fires The living conditions are prettyBrigade, out of Rogers, Ark., in support good, as far as I’m concerned. We liveof Operation Iraqi Freedom. Although in barracks that were just constructed.we are a field artillery unit we have been They have running water, indoor plumbingand three-man rooms. This makestasked with the duties of a security force.Life in Iraq is not quite what I life a little easier after coming off a 12-expected. I had expected to come over hour shift. That’s my only complaint, sohere to blazing hot days and sand as far far. Twelve hour shifts make for a longas the eye could see. Instead, there is day, especially in the desert sun. Butmore mud than I’ve seen in my entire that’s all part of being in Iraq.Spc. Trevor McIntyre, Battery C, 1-142nd Fires Brigade, on night patrol in Iraq.Morrow was appointed as the adjutantgeneral by Governor Huckabee in1996 and has witnessed the role of theGuard shift during his tenure. He ledthe Arkansas National Guard throughthe transition and the strongest operatingtempo Arkansas Guard membershave ever seen. Since the global waron terror began, 8,000 have answeredcountless calls for stateside support aswell.“It ahs truly been an outstandinghonor for me to have had the opportunityto work with these men and women,and all of those others out there thatthey represent,” Morrow said.As far as free time goes, we’re a littleshy of that. But we are able to stay intouch with loved ones back home. Thereare facilities such as the Morale, Welfareand Recreation center, and the phonecenter located fairly close to where Ilive and work. We are able to go on-lineand/or call our families and friends backin the states 24 hours a day, which makesit a little easier on us.The food over here is something ofits own. I can’t recall a time when I’vebeen able to eat this much, and have suchgreat selection in an Army chow hall.We have the main line, short order (fastfood, hamburgers, hot dogs, etc.), thesalad bar, taco bar, sandwich bar, potatobar and an ice cream bar. You name it,it’s available.We are fairly close to one of thelargest bases in Iraq, so on our days offwe have the opportunity to go and enjoythings like the huge Post Exchange,Popeye’s Chicken, Burger King, Cinnabonand other assorted shops. It makesfor a fun day off and a place to relax.That’s about all I have to say aboutlife in Iraq, thus far. Hopefully it willstay the same for the remainder of thedeployment.Page 8 Summer 2006

The Arkansas MinutemanRumsfeld, Blum Support Temporary GuardBorder Mission – Arkansas is prepared to goBy Donna Miles – American Forces Press ServicePresident Bush’s proposal to temporarilyboost the National Guard’s contributionto U.S. border security stands as atestament to the Guard’s flexibility but inno way signals a new, long-term Guardmission, Defense Secretary Donald H.Rumsfeld told Congress today.Under Bush’s plan, announced May15, up to 6,000 National Guard memberswill provide mobile communications,transportation, logistics, training, andconstruction support to the U.S. BorderPatrol, the secretary said in testimony beforethe Senate Appropriations Committee’sdefense subcommittee.Rumsfeld emphasized that theNational Guard will not provide lawenforcement support. “Military forceswill not be involved in apprehension ordetention of illegal immigrants,” he said.To those concerned that the missionwill put too much stress on theforce, Rumsfeld noted that the numberof troops proposed represents less than2 percent of the Guard’s 400,000-plusmembers. During the mission’s secondyear, Guard participation is expected todrop to 3,000 or less, he said.These troops will operate duringtheir two- or three-week active-duty-fortrainingperiods. The National Guardalready operates this way in support ofcounter narcotics missions along theborder, he noted.Rumsfeld said the mission willprovide Guard members real-life trainingwithout disrupting other missionsor causing undue personal hardship, hesaid. “This will not only not adverselyaffect America’s ability to conduct thewar on terror or respond to other domesticemergencies,” Rumsfeld said. “It willactually provide useful, real-life trainingfor the members of the National Guard.“It will be beneficial to the Guardbecause they’ll be doing the very samethings they would be doing if they weretraining their two weeks on an exercisebasis, as opposed to doing somethingthat the country really needs.”California, Arizona, New Mexicoand Texas, the four border states involved,would use their own NationalGuard members to the extent they havethe skill sets the Border Patrol needs, thesecretary said.The National Guard Bureau willwork with other state governors to providetroops, as needed. No state governorwill be required to commit Guard troopsto the mission, Rumsfeld said.The secretary emphasized that thearrangement is not a long-term commitment.Bush’s proposal would commit theNational Guard only “on an interim basisas the Department of Homeland Securityramps up to a greater level of capability,”he said.Army Lt. Gen. H Stephen Blum,chief of the National Guard Bureau, toldsubcommittee members that the conceptof using the Guard temporarily whiledeveloping other, long-term capabilitieshas become “a long-lasting, time-provenmodel.”He noted the days following theSept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, when theNational Guard provided airport securityuntil the Transportation Security Administrationcould recruit and train enoughpeople to take over the mission.“The Guard provided that capabilityfor this nation on an interim basis untilthe proper federal agency could standup, train and equip their people, andthen they took over the mission, and theGuard left that mission and went back todoing other things,” he said.Similarly, the National Guard conductedcargo-handling inspections alongthe southwest border for several yearsas the U.S. Customs Service recruited,trained and equipped its own people forthe job, Blum said.“It would be my intent to workthe National Guard out of this [BorderPatrol support] mission as quickly as theDepartment of Homeland Security canstand up their capabilities,” the generaltold the subcommittee members.“I think the National Guard issuperbly ready to be the military force ofchoice for this interim mission until theDepartment of Homeland Security canstand up and assume this mission,” Blumsaid.“We are prepared to do our duty,”said Maj. Gen. Don C. Morrow, the adjutantgeneral of Arkansas. “If this missioncomes our way, we will send our bestbecause that is what is expected of us.”TRICARE Onlinedebuts on InternetAccess is Power! TRICARE Online.com is the Department of DefenseInternet medical portal that providesTRICARE beneficiaries with secure,interactive, one-stop-shopping accessto a host of unique and exciting service,tools and resources. TRICAREOnline.com allows beneficiaries totake control of their family’s healthcare needs.Features:• Real-time, online militarytreatment facility appointing – forprimary care and certain self-referralappointments.• Rx checker – for drug interactionsand side effects.• TRICARE health care – claims,benefits, enrollment and other entitlementinformation.• Personal Health Journal – usersrecord and update their own medicalinformation, such as immunizations,test results, treatment instructions,medications and more.• Medical library – provides a varietyof databases for the latest informationabout pharmaceuticals, symptoms,illnesses, surgical and diagnosticprocedures.• Health and wellness – links towomen’s, men’s, children’s and teen’shealth; aging and health; food andnutrition; sports and fitness; mentalhealth; sexuality and health; alternativemedicine and health; medications;traveler’s health, articles from theNew England Journal of Medicine andmore.• Health life style tools – programssuch as smoking cessation and healthcalculators for individual, overallhealth assessments.• Facility and Clinic pages – informationabout each facility, its clinics,hours, driving directions and more.• Provider pages – credentialed providers’individual pages feature theireducation, clinical background, andcare and treatment philosophies.For more information visit www.tricareonline.com, or call statesidecustomer service at 1-800-600-9332 or(210) 767-5250 (direct).Summer 2006 Page 9

The Arkansas Minutemanof interestArkansas National Guard news magazine hits golden anniversaryBy Buddy Garrett – State Information OfficerThe Arkansas National Guard magazineyou are currently reading, Arkansas Minuteman,packaged in a vibrant coloramaof photographs and design pages, is a farcry from its black and white newsprintprototype of 50 years ago. Although thefaces have changed along with the stylesof uniforms, the content is still about themost important element in the ArkansasNational Guard – its people.The trial edition ofRazorback Guardsmanwas printed in May 1956.Orval Faubus was governorand Maj. Gen. Sherman T.Clinger was the adjutantgeneral.“I wish to extend tothe Arkansas Guardsmenmy best wishes for the successof this new publication,”Faubus said. “As it will serveevery member of the Guard, itsfuture growth and developmentshould be assured. I am confidentthat the Razorback Guardsmanwill contribute materially tothe feeling of pride and satisfactionwhich every guardsman has in bothhis home unit and in our entire NationalGuard establishment.”Following its trial edition, the newspaperproduced its first copy – Volume1, Number 1 – in June 1956. Headlinesfrom those two issues sound eerily likethose we might find in today’s news.“Military Equipment Cost Is Tremendous”told a story of Arkansas National Guardhaving an equipment inventory worthover $135 million. “Changes His Mind,Decides He’ll Stay” told how a changein jobs for Sgt. Newton Strandland gavehim the training he wanted for automotivebody mechanic work without him havingto pay for civilian training. “NationalGuard Heritage: Long and Proud Record”explained the benefits offered by the NationalGuard Association.The Arkansas National Guard is adynamic organization and is ever changing.So, too, the flagship publication thatserves as the adjutant general’s voiceand two-way communication tool tokeep Guard members and their familiesinformed of training, deployments andopportunities available to them.Over the years the name of the newspaperchanged to The Minuteman, thenArkansas Guard. The newspaper/newsmagazine was published by the InformationOffice. That, too, has changed. Theoffice is now called the Public AffairsOffice.Sincepublic af-fairswriters are moreconcernedwith telling the Soldiers’ stories,their own names are often left out of thearticles they write, and left to fade withthe passing of time. We don’t regret that.The Soldier, Sailor, Airman and Marine isthe whole reason we are here. It is theirstories -- need I say YOUR stories? -- thatwe write about. You are more importantthan we. Still, it’s a shame we don’t haveall the names of those folks who wrote orphotographed the hot, dusty annual trainingsor the housing of the Cuban refugeesat Fort Chaffee or the loss of our familymembers from accidents or on the battlefield.Nonetheless, those stories remainin the archives in the Public Affairs Officeand in copies of the magazine at the ArkansasNational Guard Museum on CampRobinson. Public Affairs also sendscopies of the magazine to the ArkansasHistory Commission and to the variousuniversities around the state.Our commitment to history is that“Old Soldiers Never Die, They Just FadeAway” until their stories are brought backto life by those who do research. PublicAffairs writers are well aware that today’snews is tomorrow’s history.So, although we don’t have all thenames let us try to remember those wecan.Recent contributors, still active inother areas of the Guard, include: Col.Cissy Rucker, AASF commander, whoedited the newspaper formany years; Lt. Col CaryShillcut; Capt. Tracy Saucy,Military Support coordinator;Capt. Kristy Munn, whois now with National GuardBureau Public Affairs; BrandieMikesell who worked in PAbefore joining the Family Assistanceteam; Sgt. Leanna Higginbothamwho manages the EmployerSupport of the Guard and Reserveprogram; Master Sgt. Bob Barnett,119th Public Affairs Detachment; andMaj. Craig Heathscott, National GuardBureau.Other names that come to mindare people who worked directly in theInformation Office, or supported the PAprogram, or were members of the PublicAffairs Detachment. Their names arelisted here sans rank: Markham Howe,Ron Addington, Bill Lawson, Jim Cathey,Jerry Pfeifer, Regina Maxim, Jeff Carlton,Gary Burgess, Bill Smith, Buford Barentine,“Weird” Harold Higgins, Bill Craig,Ken Powers, Billy Dixon, Gina Hinkson,Linda Jones, Naomi Howard, and a wholebunch of others to whom we apologize fornot being able to list them at this time.As for Ol’ Buddy … I’m still here. Iedited Arkansas Guard for 17 years. I’mhappy to be the transitional pivot betweenthen and now. The rest of the team needsto be introduced as well. 1st Lt. ChrisHeathscott, state public affairs officer,leads our team. Joining him is Maj. KeithMoore from the Arkansas Air NationalGuard. Adrienne Brietzke is our neweststaff member/information officer. Thatbrings us up to our current editor, Sgt.Chris Durney. Through him, and everyoneelse who points us toward good stories,the magazine will continue to serve… YOU!Page 10 Summer 2006

The Arkansas Minutemanstructors with lots of flying time, he said, “the Air Force gainsa much more competent and knowledgeable instructor whenthey leave us” and return to flying.Moore came to the school from the 62nd Airlift Squadronhere on base, where he taught loadmaster initial- and missionqualificationcourses. He also worked in the unit’s standardizationand evaluation section, which consists of an elite group ofaircrew members who ensure aircrew members stay current intheir qualifications by administering written tests and in-flightevaluations.With 3,500 hours in the air, he’s got tons of experiencedealing with C-130 cargo for the past 13 years. And he’s readyto pass that knowledge on to the Air Force’s future.“It’s a good day when you see the light bulb click [for thesenew Airmen],” Moore said.Many of his students are fresh out of basic training, butsome are older Airmen and NCOs who have retrained fromanother career field.“I love the continuity here,” he said. With his last unit, hemight see a different student every day. Now he has an entireclass for 23 academic days.Dickinson came from Hurlburt Field, Fla., where he flewon C-130 gunships for Air Force Special Operations Commandfor the past six years.With more than 800 combat hours in the C-130, and 1,800overall, he’s asked a lot of questions by students who are aboutto start their Air Force career in the Hercules.“This is my very first experience dealing with the Guard,”the 10-year veteran said. An experience he’s starting to enjoynow that he has time to go to college and finish his CommunityCollege of the Air Force degree.The reason both Airmen are here is because Sheppard AirForce Base, Texas, used to have a loadmaster school, but itclosed in 2002, sending C-141, C-5 and C-17 loadmaster trainingto Altus AFB, Okla., and C-130 loadmasters here. With aninflux of about 220 C-130 students looming, the school neededmore instructors. Air Force and ANG officials decided to addtwo active-duty instructors and one Guard instructor, doublingthe loadmaster staff at the school from three to six.The first two instructors in the program recently returned toactive-duty units after their three-year commitment was up.Moore and Dickinson are here on four-year tours and areadministratively assigned to the 314th Operations SupportSquadron, so that they have an active-duty commander, firstsergeant and a flight commander, but they report to work at theGuard’s Enlisted Aircrew Academics School.Loadmaster instructors have about nine students per classfrom the Air Force and its reserve components, the MarineCorps and occasionally an international student, the chief said.The school is also one of two schools that teach entry-levelflight engineer training.The 189th AW is one of five ANG units that train studentsfor AETC. In addition to the Enlisted Aircrew AcademicsSchool, the wing also teaches C-130 aircrew members tobecome instructors in their respective crew positions.Opposite Page: Rhode IslandAir National Guard MasterSgt. George Capron, a C-130loadmaster trainee, listens toTech. Sgt. Todd Dickinson,an active duty loadmasterinstructor who teaches at theArkansas Air National Guard’sEnlisted Aircrew AcademicSchool. All Air Force, ANGand Air Force Reserve C-130loadmasters attend the entrylevelschool before they graduateand move across base tothe active duty 314th AirliftWing for initial and missionqualification training.Left: Staff Sgt. Dane Moore, anactive-duty loadmaster instructor,teaches entry-level loadmastersabout C-130 weightand balance procedures.Summer 2006 Page 13

The Arkansas MinutemanfeatureNew canteen construction getsunderway on Camp RobinsonBy Staff Sgt. Chris A. DurneyArkansas National Guard Public AffairsPage 14 Summer 2006

The Arkansas MinutemanWhere a row ofdilapidated warehousesonce stood on CampJoseph T. Robinson there will soon be agleaming new building dedicated to the morale,welfare and recreation of the camp’s workers,residents and guests. Work is underway onthe new 44,000 Square foot, $3.4 millioncanteen.A ground breaking ceremonyFeb. 22 kicked off construction on anew facility that will dwarf the currentcanteen complex, which began life asa World War II bath house for the adjacentswimming pool.According to Brig. Gen. Larry Haltom,deputy adjutant general, the new canteen will house a muchlarger store, a restaurant that seats 300, a cleaners, barbershop, a floral and gift shop, and an expanded version of thepopular Rock Lounge.Jack Scarbrough, Camp Robinson’s MWR general manager,said the new facility will better serve the needs of thecamp’s expanding mission. “We serve a lot of diverse groupshere,” said Scarbrough. “In addition to the normal flow ofGuard members who work on Camp Robinson, we see a lot ofpolice who are training here, and an increasing amount of PECstudents,” he explained. Camp Robinson recently hosted theWorld Swat Challenge, and is home to the Wilson Matches.According to Scarbrough, the new canteen store will see amarked increase in the number and diversityof items, including more uniform items, theaddition of a hiking and camping department,outdoor equipment and the saleof firearms. “We’re working onthe ATF application right now,”he said.“We’re really excitedabout the new larger storeroom,”explained Scarbrough,“which will allow usto keep more items on hand andin stock.”According to Haltom, the newfacility was designed by Lewis, Elliot &Studer Architects, and is being funded througha bond issue with the Bank of the Ozarks. “We’renot using any appropriated funds,” said Haltom, “and we’reacting as our own contractor. We’ve hired a very experiencedand knowledgeable builder in Mike Kierre as our contractingconsultant.The current canteen is located at the corner of 6th Streetand Missouri Ave., near the Arkansas National Guard Museumand the Professional Education Center, and did approximately$7 million in gross sales in fiscal year 2005 according toHaltom. The new facility will be located on part of LouisianaAve., just East of 6th and in sight of the old canteen. Thegrand opening of the new building is slated for early January2007, said Haltom.Breaking ground for the new 44,000 Square foot, $3.4 million canteen are (l-r): Janson Thompson and Terry Borreson,Arkansas Federal Credit Union; Sheila Mayden, senior vice president of the trust department and Rex Kyle, president of thetrust department, Bank of the Ozarks; Jim Rank, vice president, Bank of the Ozarks; Brig. Gen. Larry Haltom, deputy adjutantgeneral of the Arkansas National Guard; and Edmund Hurst, Cruz & Associates. (Photo by Buddy Garrett.)Summer 2006 Page 15

The Arkansas Minutemanfeature142nd gets a bangout of Paladin asunit flexes muscleBy 1st Lt. Chris Heathscottand Staff Sgt. Chris A. DurneyArkansas National Guard Public Affairs• Paladin M109A6 cannon artillery system• First fielded in 1994• Operated by a crew of four -- commander, driver,gunner and loader• Able to operate independently• Fires the first round from the move in under 60seconds• Receives mission data via a secure voice anddigital communications system• Used in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom inMarch/April 2003• 39 calibre, 155mm M284 cannon• Range of 24km to 30km• Fires up to eight rounds per minute• “Shoot and scoot” capability protects the crewfrom counterbattery fire• Automatic fire control system with ballisticcomputer and optical backup• Inertial positioning and navigation system isintegrated with the automatic fire control system• 12.7mm M2 machinegun is mounted on turret• Crew remains in the vehicle throughoutthe mission• Includes protection against nuclear, chemical andbiological warfare• Individual crew protection systems• Turret is fitted with Kevlar spall suppression liningfor additional ballistic protection• Equipped with secure voice and digitalcommunications suite• Powered by a 2-cycle diesel, 400 horsepower,DDEC 8V71T engine• Allison ATD-XTG-411-4 transmission with fourforward and two reverse gears• Range of 214 miles with a maximum speed of 40miles per hourIn early March the 2nd Battalion of the 142nd Fires Brigadegave their newly fielded M109A6 Paladin 155mm self propelledhowitzers a shot. Several actually.Late on the morning of March 13, at a remote firing pointon the Arkansas Army National Guard’s Fort Chaffee ManeuverTraining Center, Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion pulled thetriggers on their own Paladins for the first time. A phalanxof high-explosive 155 mm rounds were lobbed across eightmiles of Fort Chaffee expanse, sending up large columns ofdirt, weeds, grass and debris at the impact point.The event marked the climax of the battalion’s new equipmenttraining after receipt of the Paladin system as part of the142nd’s transformation into the first modular fires brigade inthe National Guard. The 142nd is one of six National Guardbrigades designated as fires brigades in the Army’s transformationinitiative, and one of 11 in the Army as a whole.The 2nd Battalion transitioned to the accuracy of thePaladin system from the lethality of the M270A1 MultipleLaunch Rocket System (MLRS), which the brigade’s 1st Battalioncontinues to operate. The fires brigade also maintainsits own internal support element in concert with the power ofthe MLRS and Paladin, making it more sustainable in combat.The transition to modular fires brigades provides the U.S.military with a more responsive and deployable force capableof fighting smaller operations independently of division levelassets.The Paladin was developed by the Ground System Divisionof United Defense LP (now BAE Systems Land andPage 16 Summer 2006

The Arkansas MinutemanArmaments), and is manufactured in Chambersburg, Pa. Thesystem was first fielded in 1994.The striking, tank-like Paladin is operated by a crew offour that includes a commander, driver, gunner and loader,and is able to operate independently. The crew can receivemission data, compute the firing data, automatically unlock thecannon from the travel lock, point and fire, and quickly moveto a new firing location all without any external technical assistance.This “shoot and scoot” capability more sustainableand effective in the face of counterbattery fire.The most noticeable feature of the 32-ton Paladin is the39-calibre, 155mm M284 cannon, which has a range of 11miles for unassisted rounds. According to www.army-technology.com,the system has a maximum firing rate of eight roundsper minute, and a sustained firing rate of one round per threeminutes. An automatic fire control system with a ballisticcomputer operate the gun. The vehicle’s inertial positioningand navigation system is integrated into the automatic firecontrol system.The large turret was designed with crew protection inmind. Nuclear, chemical and biological warfare protection isintegrated into the heated and air conditioned crew compartment,and the turret is fitted with a Kevlar spall suppressionlining designed to dissipate the effects of a direct attack.The vehicle is powered by a 2-cycle 440 horsepowerdiesel and a tough transmission that includes four forward andtwo reverse gears. The Paladin has a range of 214 miles and amaximum speed of 40 miles per hour.As the 2nd Battalion wrapped up its transition to thePaladin, its troops began to prepare their own transition fromcitizens to Soldiers. The battalion received an 18-monthmobilization order to support Operation Iraqi Freedom onMarch 5. Over 300 Soldiers with the unit are slated to join thelist of over 400 other troops from the 142nd who are currentlymobilized in support of the global war on terrorism.The battalion has units in Fort Smith, Van Buren, SiloamSprings and Ozark, Ark., and is scheduled for a July mobilizationto Camp Shelby, Miss., prior to deploying to the Iraqitheatre of operations, where they are projected to perform asecurity mission. They will receive specialized training at themobilization station to equip them with the skills necessary tocomplete the task.“This battalion has a long and proud lineage of supportof the nation’s defense, participating in every major conflictbut one since 1893,” said Lt. Col. John B. Posey, commanderof the 2nd Battalion. “Although this is not a standard FiresBrigade mission, my Soldiers are very excited to do what thenation has asked of them in support of the global war on terrorism.”With the addition of the 2nd Battalion, the 142nd willhave nearly 800 of its Soldiers mobilized. The brigade’s 1stbattalion currently has units in Kosovo and Iraq. The additionwill bring the total number of mobilized Arkansas Army andAir National Guard members to over 1,100. Since Sept. 11,2001, the Arkansas National Guard has mobilized approximately7,500 service members.Photo by 1st Lt. Chris HeathscottSummer 2006 Page 17

The Arkansas MinutemanfeatureArkansas National Guardspanning the globeFort Hood, TexasDet. 1, Co. B, 449th AVIM**, 77th AviationCompany B, 1-185th (Air Assault), 77th AviatioHHC, 1-185th, 77th Aviation BrigadeDet. 1, Company E, 1-185th, 77th Aviation BDet. 2, Company D, 1-185th, 77th Aviation BFort Sill, Okla.Det 1, Company C, 111th (MEDEVAC), 77th Aviation BrigadeIndividual Air Guard Deployments188th Fighter Wing:United Arab EmiratesKuwaitIraqAfghanistanNevada189th Airlift Wing:AfghanistanKuwaitQatarItalyIraq123rd Intelligence SquadronColumbiaPage 18 Summer Spring 2006

The Arkansas MinutemanBrigaden BrigaderigaderigadeSpain189th Security Forces, 189th Airlift WingKosovoBattery A, 1-142nd Fires BrigadeCamp Shelby, Miss.2-114th AME*, 77th Aviation BrigadeCo. D, 114th ATS, 77th Aviation BrigadeAfghanistanJoint Force Headquarters Forward 9IraqBattery B, 1-142nd Fires BrigadeBattery C, 1-142nd Fires Brigade25th ROC, 87th Troop Command188th Security Forces, 188th Fighter Wing* Airfi eld Management Element** Aviation Intermediate MaintenanceSummer Spring 2006 2006 Page 19

The Arkansas MinutemanThe Arkansas MinutemanGuard troops rescue “hostage” in dramBy Sgt. Rick Fahr, 119th Mobile Public Affairs DetachmentOne hostage saved. Three terrorists killed. Hundreds of area residents impressedNational Guard’s 77th Aviation Brigade and 39th Brigade Combat Team participatedSaturday, Apr. 1, in Prescott, Ark., while area residents lined the streets around the sThe scenario consisted of two UH-1 Huey helicopters ferrying troops from Co. A,site, a “compound” occupied by a small band of “terrorists” who had taken hostagetroops quickly disembarked the helicopters, taking up shielded positions around theA sniper was able to “eliminate” two terrorists with long shots from a concealedstormed the compound, with pyrothechnics and blank rounds giving the exercise thebat. Troops were able to “kill” another terrorist inside of the compound and take sevthe “hostage,” Wendy Ledbetter, a journalist in both the scenario and the real worldLedbetter, editor of the Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times, said that thfor being in the “wrong place at the wrong time.” They hid her away in a small roomWhen the infantry troops stormed the complex, Ledbetter heard gunfi re and knew aLedbetter said seeing the troops up close provided a rare glimpse into training tcomplete their missions successfully. She said that the troops responded quickly toencountered. In addition to serving an important military role, Guard members arecommunities, she said. “You recognize their names. You recognize their faces. Youthat makes it really important because it’s not some Army guy on a billboard,” she efriends, our neighbors, the sons of people we went to school with.The 153rd was part of the 39th’s 18 month mobilization in support of Operationreturned to the state in the spring of 2005. Since returning, the troops have maintavarious types of training.Among those watching were lots of youngsters. Mitchell Zitano and Tyler Oliver,the fi repower on display was fun to watch. Oliver noted that he especially focused othe guard someday,” he said. “My grandpa was in the Green Berets, so that’s someMain photo: Sgt. Nathan Cornish gets into his role as the opposition force commanbetter. (Photo by Sgt. Chris A. Durney.) Top left: Spc. Elvis Nduku of Co. A, 1st of thby helicopter during the hostage situation exercise in Prescott. (Photo by Sgt. Rick Fment.) Left: Spc. Shannon McGough awaits orders to storm the terrorist compoundMobile Public Affairs Detachment.) Bottom left: Prescott and Arkadelphia, Ark., Guwhere the “terrorists” held their “hostage.” (Photo by 1st Sgt. Bob Barnett, 119th Mright: One if by land, two if by sea, 77th if by air. Pilots and crew with the 77th Aviafrom Camp Joseph T. Robinson in North Little Rock, deliver the infantry to the site oSoldiers quickly moved into place to secure the site. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Tom GBottom: A 39th CBT Soldier who played the role of one of the terrorists during the eing “taken out” by sniper fi re. Members of the community lined the streets to enjoywith realistic training and gave the public a fi rst hand look at their Soldiers at work.Chris Heathscott, Arkansas National Guard State Public Affairs Offi cer.)Page 20 Summer 2006Page 20 Spring 2006

atic exerciseThe Arkansas MinutemanThe Arkansas Minuteman. Members of the Arkansasin a hostage situation exerciseite to watch the Guard in action.1st Battalion of the 153rd to thean embedded journalist. Thecompound.position, and the Soldiers thensounds and smells of real comeralprisoners while rescuing.e terrorists took her hostageinside of their compound.showdown was imminent.echniques that help Soldierswhatever obstacles theyintegral parts of their localknow everybody, and I thinkxplained. “These are ourIraqi Freedom. The brigadeined their combat skills with14-year-olds from Prescott, saidn the sniper’s work. “I’d like to jointhing that I could look forward to.”der, guarding his “hostage” Wendy Lede153rd waits for fellow troops to arriveahr, 119th Mobile Public Affairs Detach-. (Photo by 1st Sgt. Bob Barnett, 119thard Soldiers storm an abandoned buildingobile Public Affairs Detachment.) Bottomtion Brigade’s 1st Battalion, 114th Air Assault,f the mock hostage situation in Prescott. Theuminsky, 119th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.)xercise added to the realism of the training after betheshow. The full blown exercise provided the troops(Photo by 1st Lt.Summer 2006 Page 21Spring 2006 Page 21

The Arkansas MinutemanfeatureArkansas NationalGuard hero earnsSilver Star medalStory and photos by Sgt. Rick Fahr119th Mobile Public Affairs DetachmentThe scene was reminiscent of an action movie, but the situation1st Lt. Michael McCarty found himself in was real, and itwas dire.Baghdad, Iraq. Nov. 20, 2004.McCarty’s platoon was serving as a quick reaction forcefor elements of the Arkansas National Guard’s 39th BrigadeCombat Team. An insurgent attack on a nearby Iraqi policestation forced McCarty to lead his platoon into action.As the troops neared the station, they found themselvesoutnumbered by insurgents armed with rocket-propelled grenades,machine guns and small arms.A suicide car bomber stormed the platoon’s convoy, detonatingthe vehicle 20 feet from one of its gunships, injuringtwo of McCarty’s troops.Springing to action, the lieutenant evacuated the woundedtroops and quickly returned to the battle. What he found wasapproximately 75 insurgents facing his two dozen Guardsmen.At that moment, an armor-piercing rocket-propelled grenadestruck the lieutenant’s vehicle, incapacitating the driver,gunner and radio operator. McCarty was the only consciousperson in the vehicle as it rolled out of control.As it continued to roll, McCarty saw a three-man ma-Col. Mike Ross, commander of theArkansas National Guard’s 39thBrigade Combat Team, congratulates1st Lt. Michael McCarty forreceiving the Silver Star. McCartywas honored in a ceremony at theCol. A.J. “Bo” Baker ReadinessCenter in Searcy, Ark., Feb. 4.Page 22 Summer 2006

The Arkansas Minutemanchine gun team taking dead aim on his troops. From 50 feetaway, that machine gun could wipe out what remained of theplatoon.McCarty’s training took over. “I did what I do best. I gotout and closed with the enemy and destroyed them.”An understatement.The 26-year-old lieutenant took out the machine gunnerssingle-handedly and exposed himself to fire to draw out insurgenttargets. With no regard for his personal safety, McCartydirected ammunition resupply movements and evacuatedcasualties, while taking the fight to the enemy.At the end of the battle, McCarty and his troops had killedat least 30 insurgents, thanks in large part of the lieutenant’squick, decisive and courageous actions.Those actions earned him the Silver Star, the nation’sthird-highest combat honor.McCarty, a resident of Bald Knob, Ark., deflected attentionfrom his actions to praise all members of the platoon.“There were 26 of us that started the mission, and if oneman hadn’t done his job, then none of us would have comehome,” he commented. “Without teamwork, you are an individual,and individuals don’t last long in combat.”The lieutenant was one of several troops of the 39thBrigade Combat Team honored during a ceremony at the headquartersof its 3rd Battalion, 153rd Infantry in Searcy, Ark., onFeb. 4.Sgt. Billy Hellums earned a Bronze Star with Valor, whilefour officers — 2nd Lts. Bryan Keiffer, John Irvin, ChristopherLawless and 1st Lt. Travis Goodwin — each earneda Bronze Star for meritorious service. Purple Hearts wereawarded to Spcs. Christopher Burns, John McShane, RodneySimpson and Craig Mitchell.On hand to honor the troops was Arkansas Governor MikeHuckabee, commander-in-chief of the state’s National Guard.Huckabee said bravery is a cornerstone of our democracy.“Gallantry is courage combined with a level of unselfishnessand disregard for one’s own safety and self in order toadvance the safety and security of another,” he said. “With allof these awards, but especially with the Silver Star ... what wetruly were doing was recognizing that our nation was built onthe shoulders of people like this lieutenant.”The governor, who recently returned from Iraq, added thattroops serve their nation without expecting awards and are truerole models.“I wish that posters of people like the lieutenant were onthe walls of teenagers and not necessarily those that end upgetting there because our country has been made great andmade free because of folks like those of you in this room,”he commented. “The footprint that the 39th left in Iraq wasimmeasurable. Everywhere I went in Iraq, people said, ‘Arkansas.Yep, that’s where the 39th’s from. What a great, greatgroup of Soldiers!’ They would specifically list the mannerin which the professionalism, the courage, the competenceof this group of Soldiers made a difference in that nation andultimately in ours.”Col. Mike Ross, the commander of the 39th, echoed thegovernor’s statement, saying that a number of young officersmatured rapidly in life-and-death situations.“To be thrown immediately into a combat environment, itwas just amazing how they grew to be combat-effective leaders,”he said. “This war in Iraq was not fought at the brigadelevel. It wasn’t fought at the battalion level. It wasn’t fought atthe company level. It was fought at the platoon level and thoseplatoons were right out there with the action every day.”The commander said the troops should serve as examplesto all Guard personnel.“It’s all about training, and every day that you go to drill,you need to be thinking that you are training for combat,” heexplained. “Every day that you’re in the military and you wearthat uniform, everything ought to be about training Soldiersand growing leaders. It’s not if we go to war but when we goto war that we take America’s sons and daughters into conflictas the best trained, the best equipped, the best led.”1st Lt. Michael McCarty of the Arkansas National Guard’s39th Brigade Combat Team is pinned with the Silver Star byArkansas Governor Mike Huckabee during a ceremony atthe Col. A.J. “Bo” Baker Readiness Center in Searcy, Ark., onFeb. 4. McCarty earned the award for “gallantry in action”during an ambush by insurgents who outnumbered hisplatoon three to one.Summer 2006 Page 23

The Arkansas MinutemanfeatureAirman revs it upfor National GuardStory and photo by Tech. Sgt. Bob Oldham189th Airlift Wing Public Affairs“The No. 3 Air National Guard car takes the checkeredflag.”Those are the words Staff Sgt. Paul Ording, a 189thAirlift Wing life support craftsman, wants to hear over theloudspeaker this year.Racing has been described as a bug. Sergeant Ording’sbug is dirt-track racing. Like others who drive in the FridayandSaturday-night specials, he loves to be behind the wheel.The bug bit while he was on leave at a racetrack with hisbrother in law near his hometown of Bloomington, Ill.His first car was in the Hobby Stock class. He made thejump toPage 24 Summer 2006

The Arkansas Minutemanthe Modified class his second year because he was on activeduty at the time, and if he’d received orders, his Hobby Stockcar might have required serious modifications, depending onthe sanctioning body of the region of the United States wherehe might have been stationed. Modifieds are sanctionednationwide by IMCA.He sold his Modified in the middle of the second seasonso he could buy a house. But the racing bug wouldn’t goaway. To feed the bug, he bought a new car for the EconomyModified class and plans to run it this year at tracks in Beebe,Augusta and Batesville.Being new, the car will be in great shape to start the seasonand there’s no doubt it will stand out on the track. If hisdriving skills don’t earn supporters in the stands this year, thepatriotic look of his car is sure to be a fan favorite.Service before selfThe car is red, white andblue – a spin off of GregBiffle’s No. 16NationalGuard car that races in NASCAR’s Nextel Cup. It has theAir National Guard’s Minuteman logo on the hood. Downthe side, are logos for the Arkansas Air National Guard, andPOW/MIA remembrance logos. As he passes opponents theycan learn how to fuel their own future in the ANG.How much did the ANG pay to advertise on his car?Nothing. He offered up the space for free. “This is one wayto give back to the unit,” he said.He said he felt he owed the Air Guard something becausethe timing worked out great for him to leave activeduty but continue to serve his country in the Air NationalGuard.On the decking on the passenger side, he included a memorialto the Arkansas National Guard Soldiers who died inIraq, listing each Soldier’s name so people won’t forget thosewho gave the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq.He hopes to take it to victory lane early and often thisyear.“I’m sure the first thing its going to probably win is thecar show,” he said. “They typically will have a car show atthe beginning of the year.”Racing is an expensive hobby. Cars can cost thousands.Engines alone can run from $1,000 used to $30,000 new.Tires are cheap at $25-$30 each. The methane fuel he burnsis around $2 a gallon. A driver either needs a lot of sponsors,a deep wallet or learn how to race on a budget.Top speed is an estimated 55 mph on the straight-awaysat Beebe, which is a quarter-mile track. The cars use a tachometerin place of a speedometer.Augusta and Batesville are longer tracks at just under ahalf mile, so speeds there are a little faster. “It’s just a matterof changing gears to run those tracks,” he said.Terms to knowHeat races: A track will have several preliminary races,known as heat races, to select the best drivers of that nightfor the A Main Feature race. Usually, there are eight to 10cars per heat race and they typically race eight laps, dependingon the rules for a given race track.B Main Feature race: The B Main Feature is a lastchance for one or two lucky drivers to advance to the featurerace. Drivers who lost in the heat races can try to qualify forthe feature by finishing well in this race.A Main Feature race: The A Main Feature is the moneyrace. Every driver wants to make it to this race, so he cancash in on his success. There are usually around 20 drivers,and they race 20 laps for the checkered flag.Dirt track secretA dirt track driver’s best friend is baby oil applied to thecar before a race. Why baby oil? It keeps mud from stickingto the car. Mud equals weight and more weight equals aslower car.Summer 2006 Page 25

The Arkansas Minutemancover storyIraq in their shadow,Arkansas’ troops arefighting new battlesWorking to mendthe scars of warStory and photos by 1st Lt. Chris HeathscottArkansas National Guard Public AffairsAlong with the physicalreminders, the loss of 16Soldiers from shared hometownsin Arkansas has searedmemories into the minds ofmany of these men and women.Last spring, hundreds of Soldiers returning from Iraq with the39th Brigade Combat Team thought they were putting theiryearlong deployment behind them. For many of them, however,the deployment wasn’t left far behind. It continues to shadowtheir lives.Nearly 300 Soldiers who deployed with the 39th broughthome injuries from battle, along with the Purple Heart in honorof their sacrifice. However, these brave men and women werenot the only Soldiers tagged with reminders of their time inIraq. Non-battle injuries born from the strain of a yearlongdeployment offered many more with an undesirable souvenir oftheir time in service.Along with the physical reminders, the loss of 16 Soldiersfrom shared hometowns in Arkansas has seared memories intothe minds of many of these men and women. Experience onthe battlefield has left some fighting new battles at home. Thetruth of the matter is that battles leave scars…both physicallyand emotionally.The first step to healing these wounds is to identify theproblem, a challenge that the commander of the 39th BrigadeCombat Team, Col. Mike Ross, took seriously.“My primary concern right now is for the health and wellbeing of my Soldiers,” said Ross, who served as the brigade’sdeputy commanding officer during the deployment. “It is ourintent to take care of our Soldiers and to assist them the best wecan.”One method used to assist the troops is the Post DeploymentHealth Reassessment (PDHRA). The goal of the PDHRAis “to identify any potential health issues our Soldiers may haveas a result of their service, no matter how small….anythingfrom headaches to [Post Traumatic Stress Disorder],” said Ross.The initial results of the reassessment returned high numbersof referrals for follow up care for the brigade. PTSD hadindeed risen its head as an issue of concern, however, the largemajority of referrals were for follow up in relation to physicalSee ‘new battles’ on page 28Page 26 Summer Fall 2005 2006

The Arkansas MinutemanSummer Fall 20052006 Page 27

The Arkansas Minutemancover storyNew battles, continued from page 26injuries.But with an estimated 15 to 30 percent of Vietnam veteransdiagnosed with PTSD, and 10-15 percent of vets from the firstGulf War developing the condition, it remains an issue of concernwith our nation’s newest veterans. With this in mind, Rosswants to ensure his Soldiers get the help they need, offeringassistance without a stigma attached to it.“Commanders, [first sergeants], and [first line leaders] willuse the assessment in order to identify Soldiers suffering fromPTSD. Leaders at all levels will use the utmost confidentialityin dealing with these Soldiers,” Ross wrote in a commandpolicy letter addressed to his subordinate commanders. “Neitheradverse actions nor any mistreatment will be toleratedwhen dealing with these Soldiers.”The 39th’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry, in Searcy, conducted its PDHRAduring the unit’s drill weekend in January. Prior to the assessment,the battalion commander, Lt. Col. Cary Shillcut, embracedRoss’ policy while encouraging his Soldiers to completethe survey with absolute honesty.“No one is going to look at you differently under this command,”Shillcut said. “It’s not going to affect your career. Behonest. We can get you the assistance you need.”Despite such strong assurances, the concern remains thatour troops are not stepping forward to announce their need forhelp. With this in mind, Arkansas gave birth to another initiativeto ensure the well being of its men and women in uniform.The Community-based Services Outreach Workshop wasdeveloped by the Arkansas National Guard’s Family ReadinessProgram in an effort to provide service members with anopportunity to seek help in a confidential forum. The program,which is strictly voluntary, educates its participants on the useof “resiliency skills.”These self-help skills are designed to provide the participantswith an avenue to deal with a variety of their ownindividual issues, as well as the ability to help identify others inneed of assistance. Most importantly, the workshops take placewithin the community, away from the military, and without apaper trail.Page 28 Summer Fall 2005 2006

The Arkansas Minuteman“My goal is to ensure our service members get the helpthey need,” said Sgt. 1st Class Mary Myers, state familyprogram director for the Arkansas National Guard. “With thisprogram, there is no rank involved…no intimidation…no papertrail.”While the 39th offers a large percentage of the targetaudience for the program, the workshops are available for anyuniformed service member who has served on a deployment.Service members interested in participating in one of the community-basedworkshops can contact Sgt. 1st Class Myers formore information at (501) 212-4102.“Our Soldiers and Airmen are the most important assets wehave,” said the adjutant general of Arkansas, Maj. Gen. DonC. Morrow. “Even the best equipment is useless if you don’ttake care of the men and women who operate it. We want toensure that all of our service members, and their families, havethe tools to overcome any health problems resulting from theirservice.”Service members in need of immediate assistance in relationto symptoms of post traumatic stress are encouraged tocall the Veteran’s Administration Readjustment CounselingServices Center between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at (501) 324-6395.For immediate help after hours, a service member can call theVA at (501) 257-1000 and ask for the emergency room. Thereis no requirement for prior PTSD diagnosis in order for militarypersonnel to use this service.“There is nothing more important to us than our Soldiers,”said Ross. “They have endured an amazing sacrifice for theircountry that took them away from their families for a year anda half. The very least we can do is provide them the assistancethey need to ensure their good health and well being. If oneof my Soldiers has back problems because of this deployment,we’re going to get that Soldier help. If one of them hasnightmares because of it, we’re going to get them help. It’s ourresponsibility to do whatever it takes to take care of these menand women.”Facing Page: Lt. Col. Kirk VanPelt addresses men of the 39thBCT’s consolidated 2nd and 3rd Battalions during a PurpleHeart Ceremony in Taji, Iraq in September 2004. Nearly 300Soldiers with the 39th were awarded the Purple Heart forwounds received in combat. The Soldiers of the 39th areparticipating in a health reassessment to help identify thosein need of follow up care.Above: Maj. John Stubbs completes his Post DeploymentHealth Reassessment at the Searcy Readiness Center on Jan.8, 2006. The 39th is participating in the reassessment in orderto identify Soldiers that may be in need of follow up caredue to physical, behavioral or emotional problems occurringas a result of the deployment. Stubbs served as the commanderof the 39th BCT Company C, 3rd Battalion , 153rdInfantry during the brigade’s yearlong deployment to Iraq.Left: Lt. Col. Cary Shillcut (top left), Commander of the 39thBCT 2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry, looks on as his Soldiers sitthrough a post deployment health reassessment briefing onJan. 8, 2006.Summer Fall 20052006 Page 29

The Arkansas Minutemancover storyPTSD and stressGetting help is the first stepCompiled from National Center for PTSDfact sheets and on-line informationRelationship problems, troublesat work or with finances and disruptedsleep are just some of the signs ofcombat stress.During deployment Soldiers and Airmen may have taken partin missions and operations that exposed their military unit tostressful or life threatening experiences. They may have beenshot at, seen the death or injury of civilian and enemy combatants,or even witnessed the death or injury of friends and fellowGuard members. The statistics are startling.According to research conducted by the National Center forPTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), an agency of the VeteransAdministration, 89% of Army troops in Iraq report beingattacked or ambushed, 86% have received incoming fire, 93%have been shot at, 95% say that they have seen dead bodies orremains and 86% know someone who has been seriously injuredor killed.The VA, Department of Defense and the National GuardBureau have gone to great lengths to understand how theseexperiences affect our troops, and what can be done to identifyand treat those who experience the unwanted side affects of theharshness of war.Combat Stress ReactionService members respond to traumatic situations in differentways. Some report feeling upset or “keyed up,” even afterthey return home. They may continue to think about events thatoccurred in combat, sometimes even acting as if they were backin a combat situation.These “combat stress reactions” (also called acute stressreactions) can last for days or weeks and are a normal reaction tocombat experiences. Most recover naturally, but others continueto struggle with the memories of their combat experiences andtheir reactions to it.Relationship problems, troubles at work or with finances anddisrupted sleep are just some of the signs of combat stress. If theSoldier or Airman continues to experience these reactions, and itbegins to cause problems for the family or at work, the conditionmay indicate a prolonged combat stress reaction known as PTSD.What is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?PTSD is psychiatric disorder that can occur following theexperience or witnessing of life-threatening events such asmilitary combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, serious accidents,or violent person assault like rape.PTSD is marked by clear biological changes as well aspsychological symptoms. PTSD is complicated by the fact thatit frequently occurs in conjunction with related disorders such asdepression, substance abuse, problems of memory and cognitionand other problems of physical and mental health. It is associatedwith impairment of a person’s ability to function in social orfamily life, including occupational instability, marital problemsand divorces, family discord and difficulties in parenting.Understanding PTSDPTSD is not new. There are written accounts that go backPage 30 Summer Fall 2005 2006

The Arkansas Minutemanto ancient times, and there is clear documentation in historicalmedical literature pointing to a Civil War disorder known as “DaCosta’s Syndrome.” A large amount of research covers PTSD inWorld War II and Holocaust survivors.Careful research and documentation of PTSD began inearnest after the Vietnam War. PTSD has subsequently beenobserved in all veteran populations including the Korean conflictand the Persian Gulf War.But PTSD is not only a problem for veterans. According tothe NCPTSD, it occurs in men and women, adults and children,Western and non-Western cultural groups, and all socioeconomicstrata. A 1995 study of American civilians estimated that thelifetime prevalence of PTSD was 5% in men and 10% in women.What are the symptoms of PTSD?Basically, PTSD is a set of reactions that can be normal immediatelyfollowing a traumatic event, but when these reactionscontinue long after combat or a traumatic event it can becomeserious. PTSD varies widely in how severe it can be, from mildand short lasting to severe and chronic, causing problems in gettingalong with family and friends, functioning on the job or atschool, or adjusting to the transition back to civilian life. Thereare three primary types of reactions or “symptoms:”• Re-Experiencing — Continuing to think about combat orfeeling as if still in combat. PTSD sufferers often have nightmaresabout events they have witnessed or actual combat situations.Sometimes they feel as though they are actually back inthe war zone. Some veterans report that some sights, sounds orsmells act as triggers for upsetting images of the war zone thatflash into their minds, making it difficult to think or concentrate.• Avoidance and numbing of emotion — Not wanting todiscuss the traumatic event, feeling detached from others orfeeling shut down emotionally. Individuals with combat stressreactions or PTSD often go to great lengths to prevent memoriesor discussions about their past experiences. They may withdrawemotionally or physically from family and friends. They mayeven become angry when asked to talk about their feelings orbehavior. Alcohol, drugs or prescription medications are sometimesused to help them avoid thinking or feeling.• Arousal — Having a hard time relaxing or feeling “onguard,” feeling jumpy, unable to sleep, unable to concentrate,excessive concerns about security, or getting angry easily. PTSDsufferers often have excessive concerns about their safety or thesafety of a loved one. They are jumpy or easily startled. Theymay find themselves closely examining people or places for signsof danger or attack. This “keyed up” feeling can also make itSee ‘PTSD’ on page 32Summer Fall 20052006 Page 31

The Arkansas Minutemancover storyPTSD, continued from page 31harder for them to sleep and concentrate adding irritability totheir list of obvious symptoms.Other common reactionsOther common reactions to combat stress include:• Depression — Feeling down or sad more days than not, andloosing interest in hobbies or activities that used to be enjoyableor fun. Depression also involves a feeling of hopelessness ordespair, or the feeling that things are never going to get better.• Suicidal thoughts — War experiences and combat stressreactions, especially personal loss, can lead a depressed person toconsider hurting or killing themselves.• Anger or aggressive behavior — Anger and irritability aresymptoms of PTSD and often associated with fear or loss of control;someone who is physically tense tends to be angry as well.A typical example is over reacting with anger to the slightestprovocation.• Alcohol and/or drug abuse — “Self medicating” by drinkingor abusing drugs is a common way many cope with upsettingtraumatic stress reactions. When a person wants to avoid thememories or feelings associated with combat, alcohol or drugsseem to offer a quick solution, but they actually lead to moreproblems.• Self blame, guilt and shame — Sometimes service memberstake too much responsibility for bad things that happened, forwhat they did or did not do or for surviving when others didn’t.Guilt and self blame are common for those who have beenthrough difficult combat situations.Headaches, gastrointestinal complaints, immune systemproblems, dizziness, chest pain and discomfort in other parts ofthe body are common in people with PTSD.Effects on family lifeSometimes the everyday stress of family life can feel overwhelmingfor the service member. He or she may become moreirritate or react more strongly to typical family issues, frighteningspouses and children, and even the service member. Continuedangry outbursts or over-reacting or everyday situations may indicatea need to seek help.Men and women often differ in the way in which they integrateback into the family. IN coping with stress men may isolatemore and leave the home to be with friends or buddies. Womenmay need to communicate more with their partners. Some malepartners may experience resentment or misunderstanding towardsthe returning woman veteran, and are reluctant to sympathizewith her experiences in the combat area.Also, children may feel resentment, abandonment, sorrowor anger when a parent leaves. A child may have learned to relymore on the parent who remained at home, and homecomingmay bring back the child’s normal fears of separation.Problems with family relationships, or relationships withother people, should not be overlooked. Initial difficultiescan turn into marital separation and divorce, family violenceand caregiver burden. Communication is essential to workingthrough these problems, as is talking to a counselor or seekinghelp at every level.Getting helpCombat stress reactions usually go away over time. But ifthey persist the Soldier or Airman may develop PTSD. The goodnews is that there are effective treatments to PTSD and many ofthe symptoms discussed above.Counseling for combat stress reactions or PTSD is quitepractical and involves common sense steps. The person hasregular conversations with a trained professional. They learnabout PTSD and how it is affecting them and those around them.They may even talk with other service members who served incombat operations as a way to give and receive support.Service members and their families may receive treatmentfor war zone related problems from a number of qualifiedsources, including chaplain services, mental or behavioral healthservices through hospitals or clinics, primary care physicians ornursing and family assistance programs.Many National Guard and Reserve members will receivetreatment for PTSD at VA PTSD treatment programs andReadjustment Counseling Service Vet Centers. Most treatmentis performed in an outpatient setting while the service membercontinues to live at home and attend individual appointments andgroup sessions.Where ever the Soldier or Airman seeks help, the treatmentusually focuses on assessment, learning, coping, medication andtherapy.Common therapies for treating PTSDPTSD is often treated through a variety of forms of psychotherapyand drug therapy. There remains no definitive treatmentand no complete cure, but some treatments appear to be promising,especially cognitive-behavioral therapy and medication.• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) — This has beenshown to be the most effective treatment for PTSD. CBT involvesworking with thoughts to change emotions, thoughts andbehaviors. There are several types of CBT:Exposure therapy uses careful, repeated and detailed imaginingof the trauma (exposure) in a safe, controlled environment tohelp the person face and gain control of the fear and distress thathas overwhelmed them.Cognitive restructuring allows patients to identify andPage 32 Summer Fall 2005 2006

The Arkansas Minutemanexamine upsetting thoughts about their trauma, challenge thosethoughts and replace them with more balanced and accuratethoughts.Stress inoculation training reduces symptoms throughanxiety reduction techniques, by teaching coping skills and bycorrecting inaccurate thoughts related to the trauma.• Medication — Many drugs can reduce PTSD symptoms, aswell as the anxiety, depression and insomnia often associatedwith PTSD. The most widely used drug treatments are the selectiveserotonin reuptake inhibitors such as Prozac and Zoloft.Basically, medication is used to help relieve the distressingsymptoms of PTSD, making it possible for the patient to participatein CBT programs.• The family — Adult family members can help their lovedone by learning and understanding some of the possible stressorsand emotions a veteran may experience after being in a war zone.The family’s most important role is to be genuine, loving, supportiveand assertive in expressing their own needs and expectation.They also need to be supportive and respectful of the vet’sneed for real time to adjust.Family members should be ready to learn and accept newskills or tolls for coping used by the service member. Having adiscussion about potential “triggers” will allow both partners tounderstand what might cause an upsetting reaction.It’s also important to remember that everyone counts. Thespouse or partner at home should be prepared to seek counselingfor themselves and children if needed. Often times couplescounseling can help to identify the needs of individual familymembers.Encouraging veterans to seek helpAdult family members are often the first to notice a problem.While the vet needs some practical time to acclimate, problemsthat continue over several months may turn into negative habitsand family patterns. Encouraging the vet to seek help when he orshe is using negative strategies to cope with stress.Getting help may not always be easy. A study of Soldiersreturning from Iraq found that only 40% experiencing mentalhealth problems said that they were interested in receiving help.Many avoid treatment for fear that it will hurt their image or ruintheir military careers.The most important task for family members is to encouragethe vet to seek counseling and treatment. Effective treatmentsexist and early treatment can prevent the problems from gettingworse. Encouraging the vet to seek help is a benefit for allconcerned.Combat stress reactions are like any other physical injuryfrom war. There is a range of how severe these invisible injuriesare, just as with physical injuries. If problems do persist, treatmentmay help everyone lead a happier, more well-adjusted life.Where to go for helpand information• VA Services —www1.va.gov/health_benefits/• VA Health Centers —Located across the country• VA Centers —1-877-VETS or www.vba.va.gov/EFIF1-800-827-1000 or www.va.gov/rcs• Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs)www.va.gov/vso• VA Readjustment Counseling —1-800-905-4675• NCPTSD —www.ncptsd.va.gov• NGB Family Program —www.guardfamily.org• Army Familys Online —www.armyfamiliesonline.org• American Red Cross AFES —www.redcross.org/services/afes• Military One Source —www.militaryonesource.com• Military Homefront —www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil/• Air Force Family Advocacy Program —www.airforcefap.org/home.asp• Arkansas Family Readiness —www.guardfamily.net/• 189th AW Family Readiness —www.arguard.org/189/family.htm• 188th FW Family Readiness —www.arftsm.ang.af.mil/site/FWFRG.aspSummer Fall 20052006 Page 33

The Arkansas Minutemanphoto opDeploying troops getemotional send-offsPage 34 Summer 2006

The Arkansas MinutemanFarewells are always difficult, but when it involves a loved one leaving on mobilization for over a year it canbe especially emotional. Approximately 1,700 Arkansas Guard Soldiers and Airmen are currently mobilized orhave mobilization orders in hand. Nearly 8,000 of the state’s 10,000 troops have served on federal mobilizationssince the global war on terror began. Here Staff Sgt. Thomas Allen Bowen of Company B, 449th AviationIntermediate Maintenance of the 77th Aviation Brigade says goodbye to his sons Ciara and Laind, and his wifeSylvia before boarding a bus to Fort Hood, Texas. (Photo by Sgt. Chris A. Durney.) Far left, top: Spc. ZacharyDavidson says one final goodbye to his wife prior to heading out for Fort Hood to begin an 18 month mobilizationwith the 77th Aviation Brigade’s 1st Battalion, 185th Aviation. (Photo by 1st Lt. Chris Heathscott.) Farleft, bottom: Two month-old Delaney Martin is held one last time by her father Chief Warrant Officer JoshuaMartin before he leaves for an 18 month mobilization with Company B, 1st of the 185th Assault. Also picturedare his other children Alex, Chelsey and Sean, and his wife Elizabeth. (Photo by Sgt. Chris A. Durney.) Belowleft: A young child watches over a formation of Arkansas Army National Guard Soldiers atCamp Joseph T. Robinson as the troops take their first step towards an 18 month deployment.About 50 Soldiers with Company D, 2nd Battalion of the 114th Aviation Air TrafficServices loaded buses for a trip to Camp Shelby, Miss., where they are training inpreparation for a fall deployment to Iraq. (Photo by 1st Lt. Chris Heathscott.)Bottom right: Maj. Chris Campbell, who proudly sports the Arkansas flagon his rucksack, is given a sendoff by Maj. Gen. Don C. Morrow, theadjutant general of Arkansas, as he prepares to board a planewith approximately 200 Oregon Guard members heading overseas.Campbell, from Jacksonville, Ark., left Gulfport, Miss.,with Arkansas’ Joint Force Headquarters - Forward 9, whichis a 16 Soldier cell deploying to Afghanistan with Oregon’s41st Brigade Combat Team. Campbell returned fromIraq in the spring of last year after an 18 month mobilizationwith the 39th Brigade Combat Team.(Photo by 1st Lt. Chris Heathscott.)Summer 2006 Page 35

The Arkansas Minutemanarmy guard newsArkansas Army National Guard member receives Soldier’s Medalfor bravery in Iraq – Haines pulled Iraqi man from burning vehicleBy Staff Sgt. Chris A. Durney, Arkansas National Guard Public AffairsTo Sgt. 1st Class Curtis Haines ofHope, Ark., being presented the nation’shighest awards for non-combat relatedbravery is a source of pride for his wholeunit, and not just himself.Haines is a member of the ArkansasArmy National Guard’s CompanyA, 1-153rd Infantry of the 39th BrigadeCombat Team, and he thinks that anyone of his fellow Guard Soldiers arecapable of the same level of bravery thatearned him the Soldier’s Medal. “Thisis for all of you,” he said to his unit afterArkansas State Senator Percy Malonepinned the impressive medal on hisuniform. “I know all of your charactersand I know that if any one of you werein my place at the time, you would havedone the same.”Haines received the medal at aceremony May 21 in the Prescott HighSchool auditorium in Prescott, Ark.,where the unit is based. He earned thehonor for his actions in the aftermathof a car bomb explosion at a militarycheckpoint in Baghdad, Iraq, May 6,2004, while he was deployed with the39th.After getting word of the detonation,then-Staff Sgt. Haines led hissquad to the scene and quickly securedthe site. Disregarding his own safety,Haines dove into a burning vehicle toextract an Iraqi citizen who was seriouslyinjured and on fire. Haines pulledthe person away from the raging fire andcarried him over 50 yards to safety beforeimmediately administering medicalaid. He transferred the citizen to morequalified medical personnel, ultimatelysaving the man’s life, and then wentright back to directing his troops andextending the area perimeter.Malone also read an Arkansas StateSenate Citation officially recognizingHaines’ bravery and heroism, and thehonor he brings upon the state. Maj.Gen. Don C. Morrow, the adjutant generalof Arkansas, also took a few minutesto thank Haines for his selfless act.Sgt. 1st Class Curtis Haines of Hope, Ark., is congratulated by his family afterbeing awarded the Soldier’s Medal, the nation’s highest award for non-combatheroism. Haines is a member of Company A, 1-153rd Infantry of the ArkansasNational Guard’s 39th Brigade Combat Team. Following a car bomb explosion,Haines (a Staff Sgt. at the time) pulled an Iraqi citizen from a burning vehicle andcarried the man over 50 yards to safety and medical attention. The 39th returnedfrom a 18 month deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in thespring of 2005. Pictured from left to right: Sgt. 1st Class Haines, his 15-year-olddaughter Emily, 12-year-old son Austin and wife of 20 years Linda. Haines ownsSWATS Security in Hope and has been with the Prescott-based Co. A for over 19years. (Photo by Sgt. Chris A. Durney.)“He is indeed an outstanding Soldier andhe is indeed a brave man,” said Morrow,“he deserves our thanks and our respectfor the terrific job he did that day undervery trying circumstances.”The Soldier’s Medal is awarded toany person of the Armed Forces of theUnited States, or of a friendly foreignnation, who distinguishes themselvesby heroism not involving actual conflictwith an enemy. The medal was establishedby Congress in 1926.“I’m very honored and proud tohave this award,” Haines said as his wifeLinda, daughter Emily and son Austinstood by his side at a reception followingthe ceremony. “But, it wasn’t just me,you know, my whole squad was thereand they were doing just as importantwork. So for them and the entire Guard,this is an honor.”Approximately 3,000 ArkansasSoldiers were deployed with the 39thand the 1st Cavalry Division during the18 month mobilization in support ofOperation Iraqi Freedom. The brigadereturned to the state in the spring of2005.Over 800 Arkansas Soldiers andAirmen are currently mobilized to Kosovo,Iraq and Afghanistan, with that numbergrowing to 1,700 by the end of July.Since September 11, 2001, the ArkansasNational Guard has mobilized nearly8,000 of its 10,000 service members insupport of the global war on terrorism.Page 36 Summer 2006

The Arkansas MinutemanArkansas National Guard Soldier and NCO of the Year announced– Austin and Marino are tops after grueling three-day contestSgt. Tracy G. Austin and Sgt. TimothyS. Marino were named as the ArkansasArmy National Guard’s “best of the best”following an intense 2006 Soldier andNoncommissioned Officer of the Yearcompetition at Camp Joseph T. RobinsonMarch 16-19.Command Sgt. Maj. Deborah Collins,Arkansas National Guard statecommand sergeant major, announcedthe winners at an awards luncheon Mar.19, and commented that “their dedicationand commitment to being the bestthat they can possibly be is an inspiration.”Each of the eight participants wasawarded the Army Achievement Medaland a $50.00 cash award. Each of thewinners received the Army CommendationMedal and a $300 cash award.All enlisted men and women of theArkansas Army National Guard, E-4and below, are potential candidates forSoldier of the Year, and all members E-5and above are eligible to compete forNCO of the Year. Individual units in thestate evaluate and nominate unit representatives,who then undergo a rigorousthree-day test of their military knowledge,skills and physical conditioningconducted by the 233rd Regional TrainingInstitute at Camp Robinson.Austin and Marino representedArkansas at the 1st Army Region 5Soldier and NCO competition Apr. 21-23at Camp Robinson, where Austin toppedSoldiers from Louisiana, Oklahoma,Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Texas forthe Region 5 Soldier of the Year title.Austin is a member of CompanyC, 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry, 39thBrigade Combat Team, based in Mena,where his family resides. NCO of theYear Marino lives in Jacksonville andis assigned to Company D, 114th AirTraffic Services, 77th Aviation Brigade,based at Camp Robinson. They competedfor the coveted honors from a fieldof four Soldiers and four NCOs, eachchosen by their perspective major commands.Austin traveled to Fort Campbell,Ky., where he competed for, but did notwin, the 1st Army Soldier of the Yeartitle.Maj. Gen. Don C. Morrow, the adjutant general of Arkansas, congratulates Sgt.Tracy G. Austin, (middle) 2006 Soldier of the Year, and Sgt. Timothy S. Marino,2006 NCO of the Year. (Photo by Sgt. Chris A. Durney.)212th Signal Battalion cases colors last timeThe Arkansas Army National Guard’s 212th Signal Battalion cased its colors forgood at a somber “Last Call” celebration and ceremony May 6 at Fisher ReadinessCenter in North Little Rock.The battalion, which brought over 130 of its Soldiers home from Iraq this pastwinter, formally deactivated as a result of the total Army transformation. Portionsof the battalion’s communications assets are moving to the 39th Infantry BrigadeCombat Team and the 142nd Fires Brigade, but the 212th as a whole remains activeonly in the state’s history.The battalion also said good by to its companies during the ceremony, includingCompany D which was housed with headquarters in North Little Rock. The 212th’sCompanies A, B and C were located in Hot Springs, Benton and Pine Bluff, respectively.Photo by 1st Sgt. Bob Barnett, 119th Mobile Public Affairs DetachmentRetired 212th Signal Battalion Command Sgt. Maj. Tommy Hughbanks rolls upthe battalion colors during the May 6 deactivation ceremony and “Last Call”celebration at Fisher Readiness Center in North Little Rock, Ark.Summer 2006 Page 37

The Arkansas Minutemanair guard newsFort Smith Native Assumes Command of 188th Fighter WingCol. Kevin L. Wear assumed commandof the 188th Fighter Wing, as Col. JohnR. Dallas handed over the responsibilityduring a change of command ceremonyin Fort Smith, Ark., May 7.In view of hundreds of Airmen,Soldiers, civic leaders, family andfriends, Dallas presented the unit’s colorsto the Commander of the Arkansas AirNational Guard, Brig. Gen. Shelby Bryant.With the handoff, Dallas stated thewords, “Sir, I relinquish command.”As the former commander steppedaside, Bryant continued the militarytradition that symbolized the transferof command by handing the colors toCol. Wear who had stepped forward toreceive the responsibility. With a firmgrasp of the guidon, Wear stated, “Sir, Iassume command.”Wear was born and raised in FortSmith, the son of Carl and Doris Wear. A1974 graduate of Northside High School,Wear joined the 188th Fighter Wing in1978 and completed undergraduate pilottraining in January, 1980. He has over27 years of fighter experience in both theF-4 and the F-16 and is now charged tolead the 188th into its conversion to theA-10 “Warthog.”During his service as a traditionalGuardsman, Wear worked as the directorof mid-continent operations for PenningtonSeismic Exchange, Inc. from 1981 to1993. For the next four years, Col. Wearserved at the Pentagon on a four yearactive duty tour, as the chief of fighterdeployments for the Air National Guard.Col. Wear’s military service also includedtours at the headquarters for boththe United States Air Forces Europe andPacific. Wear served as the commanderof the 12th Expeditionary Fighter Squadronwhile deployed to Curacao, AntillesNetherlands, in 1999. Traditional assignmentsfor the new commander includedfour years as the 188th’s vice wing commanderand most recently, as the specialassistant to Bryant.Wear has been a pilot with FederalExpress since 1997 and is currentlyscheduled to transition from first officeron the DC-10 to captain. He will remainwith FEDEX while serving as the 188thFighter Wing Commander. Lt. Col. TomAnderson, a member of the 188th since1987, was selected as the wing’s newvice commander and began a full-timeactive duty tour to serve in that capacity.Brig. Gen. Shelby Bryant, commanderof the Arkansas Air National Guardpasses command of the 188th FighterWing to Col. Kevin L. Wear May 7,2006 as 188th Command ChiefMaster Sgt. Bobby Hopkins and former188th commander Col. J.R. Dallas participate.(Photo by Tech. Sgt. StephenM. Hornsey, 188th Fighter Wing.)Col. J.R. Dallas celebrates final flight with 188th Fighter WingCol. J.R. Dallas celebrated his finalflight in a 188th Fighter Wing F-16Saturday, May 6. Dallas relinquished hiscommand to Col. Kevin L. Wear May 7.His “fini” flight began early withpre-flight briefings, and included atraining mission over Razorback Rangeat Fort Chaffee near Fort Smith, Ark.,where the 188th is based.Dallas and his flight performedbombing missions before returning to theFort Smith airport where he received ahearty, albeit wet, reception.As he exited his aircraft he receivedthe traditional “hosing down” by hisfellow pilots as his flying career with the188th came to a close.Dallas assumed command of the188th in November of 2001. He hasseen the Wing through the latest BRACinitiative, and a progressive plan forupdating base facilities.Photo by Tech. Sgt. Stephen M. Hornsey, 188th Fighter WingPage 38 Summer 2006

Carlisle takes ‘keys’ to a 189 AW C-130– 189th dedicates stampeding bisonBy Master Sgt. Bob Oldham, 189th Airlift Wing Public AffairsThe newly-dedicated “City of Carlisle” C-130 is the backdrop for a group of about40 residents and officials of Carlisle, Ark., and pilots, crew and commanders ofthe Arkansas Air National Guard’s 189th Airlift Wing. (Photo by Senior AirmanJames Collins, 189th Airlift Wing.)If Airmen on the Little Rock Air ForceBase see a stampeding bison on theflight line, they shouldn’t worry; it actuallybelongs there.The Arkansas Air National Guard’s189th Airlift Wing on Saturday dedicateda C-130 Hercules aircraft, namingit the City of Carlisle.Above the crew entrance door is alogo that includes an outline of the state,a star where Carlisle is in the state, thecity’s high school mascot – a black andwhite stampeding bison, and the words“City of Carlisle.”About 40 city leaders, businessleaders, school officials, parents andstudents were on hand for the ceremonyand received a base tour, Air Guard missionbriefing, one-hour orientation flighton their cargo plane and participated in aquestion-and-answer session.The group erupted in applause planeside when Mayor Bob McCallie unveiledthe logo above the aircraft’s crew entrancedoor. The dedication has caused abuzz around his city.“I’ve not talked to a soul who didn’tlike it,” the mayor said.He said the day’s activities openedhis eyes and the eyes of several othersabout the opportunities that exist in theArkansas Air National Guard.“This aircraft dedication programhas helped us tell our story to the stateof Arkansas,” said Col. Dwight Balch,189th Airlift Wing commander.Every military installation needsthe support of its local community, thecolonel said. “We certainly have thathere in Central Arkansas, but our memberscome from over 120 cities aroundthe state. We like to think of those as our‘local community,’ too.”With unit members from so manycities around the state, the colonel saidthe Air Guard is Arkansas’ hometownAir Force. And with the wing’s estimated$50.7 million economic impact, someof that money is spread around the stateto cities like Carlisle.“These residents are now a forcemultiplier for us,” the colonel said.“They’ll talk up the Air Guard and AirForce base at church, at school eventsand everywhere in between.”The wing has been dedicating itsfleet to cities around the state since February2004. Morrilton was first, and wasfollowed by Searcy, Forrest City, Cabot,Conway, Batesville, Lonoke, Bryant andBeebe. Unit members nominate theirhometowns for the honor.The Arkansas MinutemanDolanski earnsBronze Star MedalLt. Col. Robert Dolanski, 188thFighter Wing Mission Support Groupcommander, was awarded the BronzeStar Medal at a Commander’s Call forthe 188th on Sunday, Feb. 5.The Bronze Star Medal is the10th highest decoration awarded bythe president and the Department ofDefense.“This marks the first time a Guardmember from the 188th Fighter Winghas been awarded the Bronze StarMedal while a member of this unit,”said Col. J.R. Dallas, then 188th FighterWing commander. “I’m so proudof Rob, and of all my commandersthat have walked the walk and talkedthe talk. I’m proud of their sacrificeduring the Wing’s deployment, andfor all of the great leadership that theydisplayed,” said Dallas.Dolanski recently returned froma four month tour as the base commanderof the new Al Muthana AirBase near Baghdad, Iraq.As soon as he arrived there Dolanskiknew that he was facing an obstaclecourse of challenges as the basewas only 80 percent complete. “Therewasn’t even a fence around it when Igot there,” he said. He immediatelyset up a force protection program thatincluded a six-foot high chain linkfence with concertina wire on top.More involved security proceduressoon followed.There were also attacks on thebase while he was there. “They werecalled ‘indirect fire’ attacks, “ Dolanskisaid. “I walked into the hanger oneday and there was a mortar laying onthe ground.”New Al Muthana functions asthe site for basic training for all of theIraqi Air Forces, as well as most ofthe technical training. The base wascompleted by the time Dolanski’s tourwas finished.“I hope that the things we didwhile there have made a difference,and that success will follow,” saidDolanski.Summer 2006 Page 39

The Arkansas MinutemanAre you going to Minuteman Daysthis year, Sarge?I never miss it!I‛m calling the rest of theplatoon to remind them tobe there, or be square!Minuteman Days – September 8 - 9arkansas minutemanArkansas National GuardTAG-DZ-PACamp Joseph T. RobinsonNorth Little Rock, AR 72199-9600Page 40 Summer 2006