515th CSSBSoldiersexperienceintensecombat lifesavingtrainingPage 14

Moody promotedto colonel; takes chargeof FMOPage 4

How a Soldierlives with PTSDPage 16

44th Army Band tours state rock

star stylePage 25

Fall 2013 / New Mexico National Guard 1

www.nm.ngb.army.milPublished by AQP Publishing, Inc., a private firm

in no way connected with the New Mexico Department of Military Affairs, or the New Mexico National Guard, under written contract with the New Mexico Department of Military Affairs. This New Mexico National Guard magazine is an authorized publication for employees and military members of the New Mexico Department of Military Affairs. Contents of this publication are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the state of New Mexico, the U.S. Government, Department of Defense or the New Mexico National Guard.

The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the state of New Mexico, DOD, the New Mexico National Guard or AQP Publishing, Inc. of the products or services advertised.

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Fall 2013

Governor Susana Martinez

The Adjutant GeneralBrig. Gen.

Andrew Salas

Public Affairs Officer Capt. Brian Raphael

Editor Public Affairs Specialist

Joseph Vigil

Public Affairs NCOStaff Sgt. Rob Gwilt

Contributors 150th Fighter Wing Public

Information Office 2251 Air Guard Rd. SE

KAFB, N.M. 87117

Public Information OfficerCapt. Brian Raphael

200th Public Affairs Detachment 47 Bataan Blvd.

Santa Fe, N.M. 87508

CommanderCapt. Teresa Martin

ON THE COVER: 515th Command Sustainment Support Battalion Soldiers train in a mass casualty simulator during annual training at the Medical Simulation Training Center at Fort Bliss, Texas.Photo: Sgt. John A. Montoya

C O N T E N T S OCS candidates graduate, earn officer commissions

Moody promoted to colonel; takes charge of FMO

Extend to Defend program helps retain the NMNG’s most valuable asset – The Soldier

Fernandez answers final call to duty with more than 41 years of service

Arellano crosses finish line of distinguished National Guard career

Hernandez takes command of 111th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade

MPs assemble for first time to conduct annual training

615th Transportation Battalion Soldiers return home from Sinai, Egypt

Officer candidates earn top honors during Phase I

Active shooter full-scale exercise demonstrates potential carnage on the Onate Military Complex

515th CSSB Soldiers experience intense combat life saving training

Honor guard joint service detail provides final honors for former Gov. Cargo

How a Soldier lives with PTSD

“Going to the range” is a lot more complicated than it looks

High school athletes, recruiters train hard at annual team camps

Transportation companies awarded Meritorious Unit Citations for service in Iraq

Citizen-Soldier: a title earned, not given

Task Force Thunder: Kids experience life in the Guard

1-200th Infantry Battalion successfully completes arduous annual training

Mariachi Nuevo Mexico a big hit for the 44th Army Band

44th Army Band tours state Rock Star style

Albuquerque Fire Department among top 15 to receive nation’s highest honor for support of Guard and Reserve employees

ESGR’s All Women Boss Lift gives women employers a touch of military training

Onate 4th graders adopt deployed Airman as Pen Pal

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Fall 2013 / New Mexico National Guard 3

10 individual exams on land navigation, training, supply, military intelligence, call for fire, leadership, military justice, military history, tactics and operations. In a rare occurrence, the leadership award scoring ended in a tie with both Inocencio and Ortega demonstrating the ability to lead Soldiers in high stress environments. The class selected Sgt. 1st Class Gary Fagner as Instructor of the Cycle.

Inoncencio, the class president, spoke of the drastic changes the class experienced since beginning the program. Along with career changes, marriages and child births, he said there were changes in their personalities, knowledge and skills which gave them the basic skills necessary to lead Soldiers. He credited the cadre’s superior instruction for teaching them the proper way to think and act regardless of the situation.

“I recognize that our journey is in no way finished and that there are many lessons yet to learn in our leader careers,” Inocencio said. “But because of our OCS instruction, we can now make the right decision based on values – even when it is difficult – as opposed to making the wrong decision because it is easy.”

“We were admitted into OCS because of the potential our commanders saw in us and were trained and our skills further honed by cadre who saw the same potential in us,” he said. “We were com­missioned today because of the potential our superiors see in us to be future leaders for our state and country.”

Salas also reminded them about being part of a militia that is as good, and in many cases, better than our active duty counterparts.

Montoya told the young leaders that while the National Guard is changing, they must be passionate about their responsi­bilities and the Soldiers they are going to lead. “They are going to rely on you. You will face new challenges as leaders, but Soldier care remains your priority,” he said. “Sexual harassment, drug abuse and preventing suicides are things you need to take seriously as you continue to build stronger Soldiers and families, while draw­downs and fiscal constraints will challenge how you will plan and think about how you are going to train.”

Montoya challenged the new lieutenants to love the profession as much as he does and to serve as long as the 32 years he has served. Montoya added, “I am very proud of you, and I look forward to seeing you out there in our formations. Congratula­tions and good luck to all of you.”

Maj. Jeffrey Olichwier, OCS class commander, presented Barerras with the Erickson Trophy for earning Distinguished Honor Graduate which is calculated by highest average scores in academics, APFT’s, leadership evaluations and peer evaluations. Barreras also earned the physical fitness award, surpassing the perfect 300 score on all three APFT test scores with an extended scale average of 333. Willwerscheid earned the academic award, averaging a high score of 92 on the

Story and photos by Joseph Vigil, Public Affairs Specialist, New Mexico National Guard

Precious gold bars were revealed on the shoulders of eight new second lieutenants Aug. 4 during the Officer Candidate School graduation and commissioning ceremony at the Regional Training Institute. Family, friends and fellow Soldiers witnessed the culmination of 18 months of rigorous leader­ship training as the New Mexico National Guard welcomed the new lieutenants into their officer corps.

Completing the OCS graduation require­ments and taking the oath of a commis­sioned officer were Jared Barreras (Ordnance), who was pinned with his new rank by his wife Erin and mother Vera; Maria Del Rio (Engineers), pinned by her son Adan Baca; Nicanor Inocencio Jr. (Military Intelligence), pinned by his mother Lori and girlfriend Brittany Allan; Matthew Nguyen (Military Police), pinned by son Adrian and daughter Jacquelinh; Arthur Ortega (Ordnance), pinned by wife Alisha and brother Andy; Jake Rose (Signal), pinned by his wife Tanya; Eric Roberts (Military Police), pinned by his parents William and Laura; and Blake Willwers­cheid (Infantry), pinned by his parents Stephen and Debra.

Col. Michael Montoya, 515th RTI com­mander and keynote speaker, recognized the candidates for their hard work and sacrifice. He reminded the new lieutenants that without the love, support, care and nurturing of family, they would have found it difficult to complete their officer training.

“The cadre trained, educated and molded these candidates into the young officers they became today,” Montoya said. “When these candidates joined other states in phases 1 and 3, our New Mexico OCs were on top of their game, and they stood out. The cadre who educates and trains them deserves the credit for the great program here.”

Montoya reiterated some of what Brig. Gen. Andrew Salas recommended to the young leaders when he met with them the day before. The Adjutant General told them to read so they continue to grow as officers. He asked them to be audacious, take risks, be fiscally responsible and accept change because it is inevitable.

OCS candidates graduate, earn officer commissions

The New Mexico National Guard welcomes eight new second lieutenants to its officer corps.

4 New Mexico Minuteman / Fall 2013

promotion and joined in their support for him on behalf of the Airmen and the NMNG warrant officer corps. “We will support you, follow your leadership, and we have your back,” they said.

Brig. Gen. Andrew Salas, The Adjutant General, acknowledged the common themes spoken about Moody throughout the ceremony, starting with the foundation of everything – core values. “Professionalism, getting along well with other people, sticking with it, attention to detail, mentoring – these are the characteristics that have brought you to this place and time where the organiza­tion places special trust, faith and confidence in your abilities to serve at the higher grade,” Salas said.

“You should be proud that you have a family that has been rock solid behind you,” Salas said. “I asked them how they have fared with you being deployed, going to schools, working long hours and weekends away from home, and they didn’t blink an eye. They thought that was just fine, because they are also called, and they are an important part of what Milo does for this organization. Thank you so much for sticking by your husband, your father. I know you are proud of him, and you rightfully should be.”

So with that, TAG told Milo, “We expect, not necessarily great things, but we expect you to continue to do the right things every day, every hour, every decision that you make, every thought that you hold captive. It should be the right decision, the right thought for the right reasons. I know you won’t fail.”

Pastor Dale Coffing knows Moody as a Godly man. He said it’s nice to hear great things about him – it follows right through his life without the uniform and how he demon­strates his faith. Coffing asked in prayer to “give Milo knowledge so he may lead his people – the same kind of wisdom that Solomon asked for in the Scriptures – so he can make decisions and further the organiza­tion’s purposes. Strengthen and increase his desire to serve the men that you have put in his care.”

Story and photos by Joseph Vigil, Public Affairs Specialist, New Mexico National Guard

Patience, perseverance, diligence and faith have always served Lt. Col. Milo Moody well throughout life. Those same attributes helped him earn a promotion to colonel June 13 at a ceremony celebrated with family, friends and fellow Guard members at the Regional Training Institute, Santa Fe. Moody was pinned with his new rank by his wife Gloria and children Nathan, Milo and Mariah.

Words of praise, professionalism and support were echoed for Moody by the colonels, command sergeants major and chief warrant officers present as each took a moment to congratulate him and his family.

“We have grown up together, and I have seen him do some amazing things,” said Col. Tim Paul, chief of staff. “He is a great leader and someone I have a great deal of faith in. He upholds the standards, not only the ones you read on the dog tags or the cards you carry around, but God’s standards.”

It is a well­deserved promotion and one that is long overdue, according to Col. Michael Montoya, 515th RTI commander. Moody has served as Montoya’s administrative officer at the RTI for the last seven months, and it was Montoya who has pushed to get him promoted. “He has been eligible for a year,” Montoya said. “It has taken a while, but here we are, and I’m proud of you.”

“Milo worked for me when I was the RTI commander, and he saved my bacon more the once. He is a true professional. Congratulations! It is well deserved, and I’m happy for you and your family,” said Col. Thomas Bump, 111th Maneuver Enhance­ment Brigade commander, who traveled from Phoenix to attend.

State Command Sgt. Maj. Kenneth Adair acknowledged the fantastic work Moody has done at the MATES, as the plans officer in the G3 and on his deployment. “On behalf of the enlisted corps – the 2,700­plus on the Army side – we honor your O­6 rank,” Adair said.

Chief Master Sgt. John Williams and Chief Warrant Officer 4 Lawrence Jiron also congratulated Moody on his well­deserved

Moody promoted to colonel; takes charge of FMO

Col. Milo Moody celebrates his promotion to colonel with Pastor Dale Coffing, sons Milo and Nathan, wife Gloria and daughter Mariah.

Col. Milo Moody is pinned with his new eagles by his son Milo and daughter Mariah.

Fall 2013 / New Mexico National Guard 5

Moody presented flowers to Gloria and Mariah, telling them “I love you and thank you for being there and for being patient.” In warrior tradition, he gave his sons an edged weapon symbolizing a blade forged under pressure and under heat, polished to a fine cutting edge. “That is what I expect out of you guys through your trials in life. Keep your cutting edge sharp,” he said. “To my children, thank you for enduring absence.”

A humble Moody thanked God for all his blessings. “I am thankful to be born an American citizen. There are a lot of people in the world that don’t have that privilege, and I don’t know why, but he gave that privilege to me and provided me an education, an opportunity, good health, and I thank him for that.”

“As I look out in the audience today, I see family and friends, and those are blessings I hold dear. I thank you for spending time here with me today. Words can’t express the gratitude I have,” Moody said. “It is often said that the Guard is a family, and I sincerely believe that. As a husband, as a father, as a brother in arms, you have all made my day very special.”

The newly promoted colonel thanked Salas for allowing him the opportunity to serve the organization in a greater and more fulfilling role.

With his promotion, Moody now becomes the facilities management officer. He says he has heard a lot of good things about the people in the FMO office and is looking forward to the

opportunity. “There are a lot of moving parts at the FMO, lots of areas of responsibility and much to learn,” Moody says. “With facilities geographically dispersed throughout the state, I look forward to the challenges that go with keeping the facilities serviceable so the occupants – our drilling Guardsmen – have a place to train that is safe, well­lit and heated and cooled as it should be.”

“We are happy to have you come aboard, and we will support you every way we can,” master planner Dan Selph said. “It is complicated but fun, and you learn something new every day about what goes into building these facilities and maintaining them.”

While Moody looks forward to his new FMO assignment, he says he will miss training with Soldiers and working with the professional trainers on the NCO cadre at the RTI. “They are just phenomenal, quality instructors and second to none.”

As Moody graduates from the two­year­long U.S. Army War College, he reflected on counting down the last 30 days, saying, “I need to stop counting the days and start making every day count.”

“It has been a long wait, and we are so proud of him,” said his wife Gloria. “He has been so patient and diligent about what he is doing.”

Spc. Milo Moody of A Company, 1­200th Infantry Battalion, summed it all up by saying, “I’m proud of him as my dad and because he’s a leader in the organization that I also serve.”

By Sgt. Maj. Karen Martin, Recruiting and Retention Battalion

The New Mexico National Guard’s most important asset is its Soldiers. Yet many Soldiers do not truly realize how important their experience and knowledge are to the future of the organization.

“I want to thank the Soldiers for serving,” said Lt. Col. Thomas Gonzales, Recruiting and Retention Battalion commander. “I also want to emphasize the importance and need for Soldiers to remain in the New Mexico National Guard – for themselves as well as the overall National Guard.”

As a way to recognize the continued service of the men and women who have provided a steady defense to this nation by being “Always Ready, Always There,” National Guard Bureau reinstated the Extend to Defend program on May 1, 2012. It is intended to be an award for Soldiers who are already trained in the National Guard instead of constantly needing to train new Soldiers. The program allows all members of the National Guard who extend for three or more years to be eligible for recognition items. All National Guard Soldiers who qualify are entitled to receive either a Single Soldier recognition kit containing a sweatshirt, Soldier certificate, E2D challenge coin, and a survival bracelet; or a Married Soldier recognition kit containing all the above plus a spouse cer­tificate, long­sleeved T­shirt, and yellow ribbon survival bracelet.

The program was expanded in New Mexico by Gonzales. All NMNG Soldiers who qualify are entitled to receive the E2D package or a National Guard pocket knife for a three­ to five­year extension, an Under Armour hoodie and hat for six years, or a desert­tan­colored backpack for six years.

Soldiers extending under the E2D program may also be eligible for bonuses up to $10,000, student loan repayment program up to $50,000 or GI Bill kicker (up to $200) for full­time college students (based on the current FY13 SRIP dated January 16, 2013).

In these tough economic times, it is imperative that our Soldiers fully understand the benefits of staying in the NMNG until retire­ment other than just the monthly pay check. SGLI is currently one of the lowest cost life insurance programs out there, and it is almost completely reimbursed for NMNG Soldiers. Soldiers will remain eligible for certain medical insurance programs such as TriCare Reserve Select after retirement. This insurance allows them to have the medical care that will help keep them in good health for years at affordable premiums and deductibles.

Soldiers should contact their retention NCO or unit commander for details of these programs and their individual eligibility.

Extend to Defend program helps retain the NMNG’s most valuable asset – The Soldier

6 New Mexico Minuteman / Fall 2013

With more than 41 years of selfless and dedicated service to the New Mexico National Guard, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Vicente Fernandez celebrated the retire­ment of his distinguished military career with his wife, Mary Ann; son, Roland; daughter, Olivia; grandson, Tyler; as well as family, friends, fellow Guard members and veterans at a ceremony July 10 at the Regional Training Institute in Santa Fe. Fernandez last served as the command chief warrant officer, advising the Adjutant General and his staff on warrant officer issues and ensuring that warrant officers are placed in the right duty MOS.

Through his humble and quiet leader­ship style, Fernandez has been a great mentor for many Soldiers, NCOs, warrant officers and officers. His care for Soldiers and his love and passion for the NMNG

Fernandez answers final call to duty

and the warrant officer corps serve as an example for all to emulate.

Brig. Gen. Andrew Salas, the Adjutant General, shared a few comments from Fernandez’s past OER’s: “‘Seek him out to fill any leadership assignment, an expert in his field in the state and probably the entire National Guard, valuable asset to the National Guard, demands perfection, a true professional, takes time to mentor company grade and field grade officers, works relentlessly, respected by all as a leader – subordinates and superiors alike, others often look to him for solutions to complex logistical problems.’ That’s our Chief Fernandez,” Salas said. “Those are from a long laundry list that I could spend all day reading, and they are indicative of the heart that Chief has had for us and the Guard.”

Salas also said he has never known Chief to complain about anything. “He’s always looking for an answer to solve problems. His counsel to me has been invaluable. As I looked at his OER’s – one thing stands out – his ability to reach others and help them succeed. It’s not about him getting to the very top. It is about him help­ing others to achieve their full potential, and that’s a rare gift that inspires us.”

Brig. Gen. Juan Griego, the deputy adjutant general, described Fernandez as the quiet, consummate professional behind the scenes and said that Chief represents all those attributes that we live by in the Army and Air force. “It is not about him – it’s about getting the mission done,” Griego said. “Chief, you have worked hard, contributed, made a difference, and I thank you for making the organization better.”

with more than 41 years of serviceStory and photos by Joseph Vigil, Public Affairs Specialist, New Mexico National Guard

Brig. Gen. Andrew Salas, The Adjutant General, presents the U.S. flag to Chief Warrant Officer 5 Vicente Fernandez in recognition of his 41 years of faithful service to the New Mexico National Guard.

Fall 2013 / New Mexico National Guard 7

chance to grow. He credits the Guard for helping him develop discipline, a strong work ethic, Soldier care, integrity and to always do the right thing for the right reasons. “Do things for the organization and don’t expect anything back in return because it’s not about personal gain. Always look at how to improve on taking care of Soldiers and better the organiza­tion so that when you leave, the organiza­tion is better than when you found it – take care of it, and it will take care of you.”

“I am truly humbled and I am thankful, but the person I need to thank the most is my wife who has supported me for 38 years and raised our children when I was not there; and my children who also endured my absence,” Fernandez said. “To the Soldiers, my brothers and sisters in arms and my mentors, thank you for always supporting me – all of you have made a good impact on my life.”

For Fernandez, the 3:30 a.m. wake­up call and long commute between Taos and Santa Fe – which he has done since 1993 without missing a work day – comes to an end as he starts a new beginning. He plans to travel with his wife; then go back to school to get his contractor’s license. He enjoys everything about the outdoors and is looking forward to doing lots of land­scaping and spending time with family fishing, hunting and boating.

Sustainment Support Bn. as the S4 officer, deploying to Iraq in July 2009 and redeploying to home station in May 2010. “I had an excellent staff and NCOs there and enjoyed working with them. There’s nothing more exciting than watching Soldiers step up, grow and rise to the top,” Fernandez said.

Col. Ken Nava, 515th commander during OIF, said he felt almost that he was cheating the rest of commanders in Iraq because he had Chief, an expert who could run circles around any of the active duty or National Guard guys. “He took care of a lot of things and did a wonderful job,” Nava said. “Our nation owes him and his S4 team for helping facilitate moving all that stuff out of Iraq and into Kuwait. It was an honor going with you to Iraq. Good luck, Chief.”

After OIF, Fernandez resumed his duties as the command property management officer and was later appointed to his current position of command chief warrant officer in July 2012.

“I love the organization, working with Soldiers and seeing them grow,” he said. “Soldiers are why I have stayed here so long. It is our job as leaders to bring them up, mentor them and help them succeed.”

He feels the Guard is one of the best organizations around, providing Soldiers with a great education, opportunities and a

Fernandez enlisted in the Guard in February 1972 after being inspired to do so by his brother, retired Command Sgt. Maj. Joey Fernandez, who told him it was a great opportunity for a young guy like him. “It is the best thing that anyone ever did for me,” the retiring Chief said.

He was first assigned as a supply specialist with HHC, 111th Air Defense Brigade. He transferred to Det. 1, Btry B, 4th Bn., 200th ADA, Taos, in 1979, where he performed duties as a food service sergeant, winning the prestigious Philip A. Connelly award twice. “I was a cook for nine years and loved it. I started out making salads and worked my way up to food service sergeant.”

He was selected for the AGR program in April 1986 and assigned to Det. 1, Btry B, 4th Bn. to serve as the unit administrator with additional duties of supply sergeant, training NCO and unit movement officer. In 1987, then­Staff Sgt. Fernandez was selected as the property book NCO for the newly activated 6th Bn., 200th ADA, Springer, where he was tasked to assist the 5th Bn. (ROLAND) 200th ADA to inactivate and transfer equipment to the 6th Bn.

Fernandez served in the enlisted ranks for 17 years, earning the grade of E­6. He then attended the Warrant Officer Candi­date Course in November 1988 at Fort Rucker, Ala., and the Property Book Accounting Technician Course at Fort Lee, Va., graduating as a warrant officer 1 in June 1989. “I decided to become a warrant because in those times no one left the Guard, limiting opportunities for advance­ment; so I took the opportunity when the 6th Bn. was activated and was hired for their PBO job.”

After the 6th Bn. relocated from Springer to Santa Fe in October 1993 and was inactivated, Fernandez was reassigned to Joint Force Headquarters and attached to the 804th Quartermaster Bn., serving as the PBO until 1998. He was then trans­ferred to the 93rd Troop Command to serve as the full­time S4 officer.

Fernandez’s career progression took him to the G3 in October 2002 to serve as force integration readiness officer/mobili­zation officer. In October 2007, he was selected to stand up and supervise the State Property Book Team. He volunteered for Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2009 and was assigned to the 515th Combat Chief Warrant Officer 5 Vicente Fernandez celebrates his retirement with his family.

8 New Mexico Minuteman / Fall 2013

staff operations G3 in April 2012 and was then transferred to his last position of sustainable ranges program manager.

Joining the Guard was the furthest thing from his mind while studying at the University of New Mexico. His father, Edward, a retired first sergeant, always stressed a good education. “But I wanted to be challenged, and once I was at basic training, I thought ‘this is great’ and I was hooked.”

He knows what our Soldiers are capable of and enjoys watching them complete their missions. He likes how the Guard has transformed over the last 10 years and is proud of the training and level of profi­ciency our Soldiers now have. “I can’t thank our Soldiers enough for their service. People don’t realize their sacrifice – time away from home, rough conditions – it takes a special person.”

He is grateful to share in the camaraderie and the bonds he’s fostered with fellow Soldiers. He is also thankful for his many mentors, especially Sisneros who helped launch his career. He says Col. Barry Stout, retired Maj. Gen. Kenny Montoya, Brig. Gen. Andrew Salas and Command Sgt. Maj. Jimmy Rivera played a role in his career.

He enjoys spending time with his son, Marc, and daughters, Brittany and Monique, and is looking forward to becoming a grandfather soon, as Monique and son­in­law Josh are expecting their first baby.

Arellano recently completed his Master of Security Administration degree in terrorism and counter terrorism and would like to get back to working for government in the State Department or the Foreign Service.

He continues to train as a triathlete, something he has done since 2006. As a member of Black Dog triathlon team, he races every weekend, training to do his first full Ironman competition. He trains 20 hours a week, logging more than 25 running miles, 150 biking miles and eight swimming miles. “It takes lots of time and dedication, but I love it.”

“The separation from the Guard is hard,” he said. “Soldiering has been my life since I was 17.”

operations on ADOS and continued until 2000, when he accepted an AGR position. He then transferred to 3rd Bn. in November 1999 as the S4 and went on to serve as the S1, S3 and battalion executive officer.

Arellano became the chief of mobilization readiness at Joint Forces Headquarters April 2003. He then assumed the duties of secretary of General Staff in May 2004. He took over as the JFHQ military support officer in April 2005.

His favorite assignment came when he took command of 2nd Bn., 200th Infantry, in November 2006 through November 2008, commanding more than 700 Infantry Soldiers in five companies. He is very proud of Charlie Company’s service in Iraq. “They trained hard, did a great job of com­pleting the mission and made it back safe.”

As 2­200th Bn. commander, he took the first National Guard unit since World War ll back to the Philippines, completing a train­ing exercise with the Filipino army and participating in ceremonies at prisoner of war camp memorials. “I requested a staff ride up to the macom (major command) to follow the actual Bataan route, and it was approved. We started at Clark Field, followed the Death March route, visited Corregidor and prisoner camps. It was pretty rewarding.”

Arellano returned to the JFHQ in November 2009 to assume the duties of director of military support, working on missions for Hurricanes Katrina, Gustav, Ike, and winter storms, floods and fires.

In November 2009, he deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom as the current operations officer with the 41st Brigade at the base defense operations center in Bagdad, serving at the same time our 720th and 1115th Companies were there performing convoy security. “It was an awesome experience to run operations and conduct daily briefings for three­ and four­star generals.”

After redeploying home in April 2010, Arellano was assigned as administrative officer/S3 for 93rd Troop Command until November 2010 when he took charge as counterdrug coordinator/Task Force Zia commander. He became deputy chief of

By Joseph Vigil, Public Affairs Specialist, New Mexico National Guard

Col. Marc Arellano retired July 1, com­pleting a distinguished military career spanning 26 years in the New Mexico National Guard, where he last served as the sustainable ranges program manager overseeing training areas, tactical ranges, maneuver areas and training aid devices that Soldiers use to train.

Arellano enlisted as a 17­year­old private February 1987 in the HHB, 6th Battalion, 200th ADA, Springer, as an operations and intelligence assistant. He spent the first 10 years of his career in the 6th Bn. – three years enlisted and seven as an officer. After earning his commission through Officer Candidate School in August 1990, he returned to the 6th in different roles: platoon leader in Battery A, assistant air defense operations officer, executive officer and commander of HHB of the battalion.

“I enjoyed being enlisted, but began feeling stagnant at the time the Guard was going through a lot of transformation,” he said. “I was the driver for our battalion commander at the time, retired Brig. Gen. Gene Sisneros, who talked to me about becoming an officer.”

He served as a traditional IDT Guards­man and began working simultaneously as one of the pioneers of the counterdrug program in 1989. While going through OCS, he worked with Border Counter Drug

Arellano crosses finish line ofdistinguished National Guard career

Col. Marc Arellano trains for an upcoming triathlon race.

HErNaNdEzTAKES COMMAND OF111th ManeuverEnhancement Brigade

Fall 2013 / New Mexico National Guard 9

By Sgt. 1st Class Douglas Mallary, HHC, 111th MEB

Col. Isidoro Hernandez took the reins of the 111th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade from Col. Thomas Bump during a July 14 change of command ceremony at the Rio Rancho armory. Brig. Gen. Juan Griego, the deputy adjutant general, presided over the event in front of a drill hall packed with families, friends, senior leaders from both the Army and Air National Guard and MEB Soldiers.

In keeping with Army tradition, the change of command was symbolized by the transfer of the colors. The brigade’s flag, along with its streamers earned over decades of service, is a visual representation of the unit. In past wars, the colors provided a rallying point for troops.

On cue, Spc. Rosa Jacquez­Jordan, the Headquarters and Headquarters Company guidon bearer, marched the brigade colors to where the official party stood. Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Baca, 111th MEB, took the colors and presented them to Bump for the last time. Bump then relinquished the colors to Griego, who handed them to Hernandez.

As Hernandez returned the colors to Baca, Capt. Phillip Smith, the brigade adjutant, read aloud Hernandez’s assumption of command orders. Baca then gave the colors back to Jacquez­Jordan, who retook her place in the formation.

After presenting Bump with the Meritorious Service Medal, Griego briefly described Bump’s successful command as the 111th MEB deployed its units – including the headquarters itself – numerous times while responding to state emergencies and keeping up with constant training requirements. Griego then recognized representatives from Hernandez’s civilian employer,

New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority, for their continued support during his multiple deployments and duty as head of the NMNG’s Counter Drug Support program, his most recent assign­ment. Griego told the audience that Hernandez is “well qualified” to assume command of the 111th MEB.

Bump, who is the chief operations officer for Edge Logistics Services Corporation in his civilian job, said that he had mixed feelings about taking off the brigade patch for the last time as he transfers to state headquarters in Santa Fe. “The 111th has been my home for most of my career,” Bump told the Soldiers. “I hope you’ll continue to make me feel at home when I visit, and I hope that you will all stay in the 111th.”

Hernandez also thanked his employers as well as his family for their support during his career. He said that he practices servant leadership and believes that there are three keys to success: attitude, effort and living the Army Values. “Also, have fun,” Hernandez added.

Although not all of the MEB’s units could attend the ceremony, each was represented. The 111th consists of the brigade HHC; 1st Battalion, 200th Infantry; 717th Brigade Support Battalion; and the 920th Engineer Company. Lt. Col. Leo Griego, the deputy brigade commander, served as commander of troops for the ceremony.

HHC, 111th MEB, held its own change of responsibility ceremony the day before. Incoming 1st Sgt. Cesar Ceja replaced 1st Sgt. Phillip Gonzales. Gonzales thanked the Soldiers for their dedica­tion and hard work during his three­year tenure and asked them to give the same support to Ceja. Ceja then pledged that the unit would continue to maintain its high standards, asking that leaders continue to take care of subordinates, and all Soldiers watch out for one another.

Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Baca, of the 111th MEB, presents the 111th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade colors for the last time to outgoing brigade commander Col. Thomas Bump. Photo: Sgt. Armando Gonzales

Col. Isidoro Hernandez practices returning the 111th Maneuver Enhance-ment Brigade colors to Command Sgt. Major Mark Baca. Hernandez took command of the 111th July 14. Photo: Sgt. Armando Gonzales

“Annual training is always special

in that it helps integrate new Soldiers into the unit,

tightens and refines command, control and operations,

and allows the individual Soldier to be a Soldier.

They are given the opportunity to live and breathe

the Soldier lifestyle, a reason many Soldiers

wear the uniform in the first place.”– Master Sgt. Brett Bedinger

10 New Mexico Minuteman / Fall 2013

The New Mexico Army National Guard’s 226th Military Police Battalion gathered at Dona Ana Range Complex for annual train­ing June 1­14. This year marked the first time the battalion and all of its subordinate units have conducted AT together.

“Annual training is always special in that it helps integrate new Soldiers into the unit, tightens and refines command, control and operations, and allows the individual Soldier to be a Soldier,” said Master Sgt. Brett Bedinger, training noncommissioned officer, 126th Military Police Company. “They are given the opportunity to live and breathe the Soldier lifestyle, a reason many Soldiers wear the uniform in the first place.”

The training consisted of lodging at Dona Ana Range Complex, McGregor Range Complex, for crew served weapons training

and Forward Operating Base Westbrook for civil disturbance training. The MPs also conducted taser and pepper spray certifi­cations on FOB Westbrook.

“A combined total of 97,000 rounds of various types of ammunition were fired,” said Lt. Col. Steve Garcia, commander, 226th MP BN. “Our MP companies success­fully completed world class convoy live fire exercises which required skilled and pre­cise timing, safety, pin­point leadership and lots of motivation.”

Bedinger added, “Our recent focus has been on our military police law enforcement function. This includes ride­alongs with Fort Bliss MPs last year and concluding with certification of law enforcement equipment this year. These Soldiers had to be tased and sprayed in order to carry the equipment while on duty as military police officers.”

In addition to dealing with the yearly certifications and training scenarios, the MPs also had to contend with triple­digit heat. “The highest recorded temperature of AT was 107 degrees,” Bedinger said. “Add that to the layers of additional equipment required to perform training, and Soldiers were feeling temperatures in body armor at around 117 degrees, sometimes on the firing line in the prone position.”

Successful and safe training aside, there were a few things that stuck out in Bedinger’s mind from 2013’s AT. He was reminded of what has kept him serving in the military for the last 22 years.

“My personal highlights of AT were being reunited with Soldiers that I deployed with to Baghdad, Iraq and Sinai, Egypt,” Bedinger said. “Connecting with everyone I had worked with in the last 10 years, minus a few getting out, transferring units, etc., was really special.”

It was also a bittersweet AT for Garcia as he finishes his time as the battalion’s commander.

“This AT was truly one for the record books, and it was my honor to have been the battalion’s commander. As I wrap up my command in July, my best memories will be this AT and the two prior with all their accomplishments,” Garcia said. “These Soldiers took our vision and guidance and surpassed my expectations on every level. The best times of my life have been serving as their battalion commander! Sartan 6 Out!”

MPs assemble for first time

The 226th Military Police Battalion assembles with all its subordinate units for the first time in battalion history to conduct annual training.

to conduct annual trainingStory and photo by Sgt. Eric J. Martinez, 200th Public Affairs Detachment

Fall 2013 / New Mexico National Guard 11

Story and photo by Joseph Vigil, Public Affairs Specialist, New Mexico National Guard

Although their welcome home celebra­tion was delayed, it didn’t stop the citizens of Springer and the New Mexico National Guard from organizing a grand style “welcome home” for the Soldiers of the 615th Trans­portation Battalion who recently returned from a nine­month deployment to Sinai, Egypt. The Yellow Ribbon ceremony and parade celebrating the completion of a successful mission and their safe return home was held Aug. 10 at the Springer Town Museum Courtyard and Veterans Memorial Park.

The 615th was deployed to Sinai in support of the Multinational Force Observer mission, a peacekeeping mission, and began returning home May 8 on various dates and flights which made it difficult to gather for a welcome home celebration at that time.

The Colfax County Fair incorporated the “welcome home” into their festivities, which gave fairgoers a chance to greet and thank our troops for their service; and it gave Soldiers and their families a chance to enjoy the fair, parade, car show, music on the bandstand, rodeo and some great local food.

Brig. Gen. Andrew Salas, the Adjutant General, thanked the citizens of Springer for supporting their New Mexico National Guard and applauded the great work the Soldiers did in Sinai.

“You have done the nation’s bidding, having gone into harm’s way to keep the peace in a very dangerous part of the world while setting aside your own careers and your time with your family,” said Salas graciously to his Soldiers. “You have sacri­ficed and gone to do what the nation has asked you to do, and we are all proud of you. Welcome home!”

While deployed to Sinai, the New Mexico Soldiers provided logistical support to all other U.S. Soldiers deployed there. They operated out of two base camps and over­saw medical, aviation, finance, postal and

explosive ordnance disposal subordinate units in support of the MFO mission estab­lished Aug. 3, 1981, by President Carter’s administration with the signing of the Protocol to the Treaty of Peace between Egypt and Israel.

Lt. Col. Louie Herrera, 615th battalion commander, said the Soldiers not only completed their prescribed duty and accomplished their mission – they did far more. “In the past nine months, we have learned to respect and admire people who represent 11 different nationalities, experiences and histories. We have not only respected them as outstanding mili­tary professionals, but liked them as people and friends. We have learned that where there is an openness of heart, a friendliness of spirit and a willingness to communicate, language barriers are quickly breached. When you share a common mission and depend on military from other nations to defend your flank, the difference of their uniform and language becomes irrelevant.”

Herrera recalls shortly after arriving in Sinai on the night before he was to take

command, the entire base camp was awakened to the sound of explosions. Upon their arrival, they and their fellow peacekeepers shared a host of problems: severe water restrictions, several mass casualty events, a near­fatal helicopter crash and a host of threats by misled protestors. Throughout these events, our Guardsmen continued with the mission to serve and support the peacekeeping operations, he said.

“Our Soldiers thank you for keeping our mailbags full with hometown caring – letters, newspapers and magazines filled with news and events of our hometowns; boxes and tins packed with New Mexico green chile, biscochitos and scores of wonderments from the ovens of our friends, families and well­wishers,” Herrera said. “The men and women in uniform here today have done their duty, have done it magnificently and have served their nation, state and home­towns with honor and human kindness.”

615th Bn. Command Sgt. Maj. Andy Maestas said he is also very proud of what the Soldiers accomplished. “We went there, did our job and returned home safely.”

Lt. Col. Louie Herrera, 615th Transportation Battalion commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Andy Maestas, 615th Command Sergeant Major, remove the yellow ribbon signifying that the Soldiers of the 615th have completed their mission in Sinai, Egypt and returned home safe.

615th TransportationBattalionSoldiers return home from Sinai, Egypt

12 New Mexico Minuteman / Fall 2013

By Sgt. Eric J. Martinez, 200th Public Affairs Detachment

The Soldiers of the New Mexico Army National Guard’s Officer Candidate School class 57­14 completed Phase I training with top honors, besting candidates from Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska.

“The purpose of Phase I is to assess your leadership potential,” Officer Candidate Jacob Kemmeren said.

The training course was held at the Kansas Army National Guard’s Regional Training Institute in Salina, Kan. During Phase I, candidates are evaluated on a land navigation exercise, a ruck march, training management, leadership doctrine as well as various battle drills. The seven members of OCS class 57­14 constantly outperformed the other candidates in their region and earned either first or second place as a group in each event.

“The first thing we did was the ruck march. Every two minutes, one of our candidates was rolling in,” said Officer Candidate Jason Henson. “All of our candidates finished within 10 minutes of each other.”

After the ruck march and examinations on the Army training management system and land navigation, the candidates took a 15 minute UH­60 Black Hawk ride to start a week of training in the field.

“During our time in the field, we were evaluated on battle drills like how to deploy a claymore mine or how to assemble and dis assemble an M­16 rifle,” Hensen said. “We had very little time for sleep.”

Kemmeren added, “You’d come in from night land navigation or an evaluation, and everyone would rack out by 1 a.m.; and about 2:30 a.m., the XO (executive officer) would come out and wake everyone up because something wasn’t being done right.”

Every step of Phase I was created to challenge the candidates. Scenarios often tested the candidate’s ability to deal with high levels of stress and very tight time constraints.

“Every task we attempted was literally designed for us to fail,” Hensen said. “It was challenging, but the situations helped us to get better as a group.”

When OCS Class 57­14 unfurls their guidon upon the completion of the entire course, it will be the only one in the NMARNG’s RTI with not just one, but two streamers. Stream­ers were earned for completing Phase 1 with top honors and ribbons are added to the class flag to show the accomplishments made by this group of Guardsmen and women.

Henson explained, “Every course creates a guidon for their class. When we unfurl our guidon it will have our Phase I streamers for top academics and for highest overall score.”

OCS Class 57­14 will continue to train during drill weekend for the next year working toward earning the initial officer rank of second lieutenant.

Officer candidates earntop honors during Phase I

New Mexico Army National Guard officer candidates from Class 57-14 display their regional Phase 1 streamers for highest overall score and top academics. Photo: Sgt. 1st Class Gary Fagner, instructor, NMARNG OCS

place where people have gathered – to take out as many casualties as possible. While many think that it will never happen here, you don’t have to go far to realize the incidents at Emcore in Albuquerque, N.M.; Aurora, Colo.; Pima County, Ariz., and Fort Hood, Texas, could happen here or anywhere.

The New Mexico National Guard sprang an active shooter exercise to test the orga­nization’s anti­terrorism capabilities along with the physical and operational security plans July 19 at the Edward D. Baca Head­quarters building where two shooters entered the building, taking out eight casualties and injuring others before sur­rendering to law enforcement. The scenario tested both the organization’s response to an active shooter and the ability of the local law enforcement agencies to respond.

“Any training you can conduct to create awareness of this potential deadly situation is good training,” said Robert Wilson,

Bang! Bang! Bang! What would you do if an armed active shooter entered the work­place looking to inflict tremendous harm to you and your co­workers? Although it goes against all that a Soldier has been trained to do, “Run, Hide, Fight” should be your correct answer to this scenario whether you wear the military uniform or civilian clothes.

We have seen the scenario take place now many times across the country – an armed person enters the workplace – or a

full-scale exercise demonstrates potential carnage on the Onate Military ComplexBy Robert Wilson, Antiterrorism Program Coordinator, NMNG

antiterrorism program coordinator for the New Mexico National Guard.

The exercise planning team of the NMNG, New Mexico State Police, Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Department and Santa Fe County Office of Emergency Management have been meeting since January 2012 to develop an exercise in accordance with the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program. The team’s objectives were to test and exercise the Force Protection’s plans; demonstrate an appropriate civilian law enforcement response to an active shooter; personnel response to demonstrate a multi­agency, multi­jurisdictional unified command structure; demonstrate an effective inter operable communications net; demonstrate appropriate combat medical care and evacuation to a patient collection area and establish a mass casualty response system.

The exercise served to analyze exercise results, identify strengths to be maintained and build upon, identify potential areas for further improvement and support develop­ment of corrective actions.

Wilson said that along with creating awareness, the exercise demonstrated the ability of local first responders and National Guard members to work together.

Law enforcement responders secure an injured Guardsman during active shooter training July 19 at Onate Military Complex. Photo: Joseph Vigil

An active shooter intrudes into the Headquarters build-ing looking for potential targets during active shooter training July 19. Photo: Staff Sgt. Rob Gwilt

The active shooter is apprehended by law enforcement. Photo: Staff Sgt. Rob Gwilt

Fall 2013 / New Mexico National Guard 13

14 New Mexico Minuteman / Fall 201314 New Mexico Minuteman / Fall 2013

In a room filled with smoke and sur­rounded by audible cries of pain and a staccato of machine gun fire mixed with explosions, Soldiers of the 515th Command Sustainment Support Battalion scurry through a maze of low walls and wire attempting to treat wounded patients during annual training. The Soldiers are hurried the entire time, but they use their prior knowledge to quickly assess and treat the patients, depending on their condition.

Soldiers from the 515th CSSB based in Belen, N.M., participated in combat life saver courses and a mass casualty simulator June 6 at the Medical Simulation Training Center, Fort Bliss, Texas. Given the strenuous conditions of the simulated mass casualty environment, Pfc. Yolanda Duran described the situation as “a little

nerve­wracking at first, but the training was awesome!”

The simulator is different from the typical combat lifesaver assessment course due to the additions of trainer input flowing to the trainees as well as live people acting as wounded casualties. Medical Simulation Training Center instructor David Bustillos said, “In reality, when you are downrange, you’re not going to have someone yelling over your shoulder and giving you orders.”

Bustillos said Soldiers learn from their mistakes during the simulation. “A mistake made is a mistake learned from. After the fact, you realize ‘I did that wrong’ and this guy would have died from it. It leaves a lasting impression on a Soldier,” he said.

The junior Soldiers were impressed with the vast amount they learned in their

Story and photo by Sgt. John A. Montoya, 200th Public Affairs Detachment

515th CSSB Soldiers experience intense combat life saving training

Soldiers of the 515th Command Sustainment Support Battalion train in combat life saver courses and a mass casualty simulator June 6 during annual training at the Medical Simulation Training Center, Fort Bliss, Texas.

short stint at the center. “They taught us how to assess casualties to make sure they are dead or alive, apply tourniquets, nasopharyngeal airways and needle decompressions,” Duran said. “The instruc­tors allow Soldiers to apply a real NPA to a simulated patient.”

Pfc. Olivia Aragon reiterated how instructors gave students the leeway to make tough medical decisions in a time of crisis. “I did the tourniquet right away, and the instructor said it was good; I then wrapped the patient up in a blanket right away,” Aragon said.

According to Bustillos, the 515th Soldiers were a motivated group. “This group was really receptive from day one. They were answering questions and trying to participate,” he said. “It’s been one of

those positive groups that say ‘Hey! We don’t do this all the time,’ so they were trying to learn and get every­thing they could out of it.”

The Soldiers appreciated the training environment and along with the profes­sionalism of the instructors. “These instructors are some of the best CLS instructors I’ve had,” Spc. Stephanie Javier said.

Duran added, “Overall, I think the training was excel­lent. I think every Soldier should know this stuff, and a lot more Soldiers should be able to take this course.”

When it comes to realistic training, the Medical Simula­tion Training Center provides Guardsmen with the oppor­tunity to test their CLS skills and bolster their confidence in themselves in case the need ever arises for them to implement those skills in an emergency situation.

Fall 2013 / New Mexico National Guard 15

515th CSSB Soldiers experience intense combat life saving training

According to Barkell, the last honor guard class held in May trained 18 state police, 11 New Mexico Game and Fish offi­cers and eight Las Cruces Police Depart­ment officers. He said the program is becoming widespread throughout the state, so enough people are being trained to standard. After receiving the training, they can become trainers themselves for their smaller communities.

“To have other agencies join us makes it that much better,” Casey said. “It’s a privi­lege for all of us to honor our fallen brethren.”

Cargo, the youngest­ever New Mexico governor, was elected for two terms, in 1966 and 1968, after serving in the State Legislature. He died July 5 at age 84.

“They perform quite a bit of funerals and ceremonies and never really had a standard program before,” Barkell said. “They started speaking with us and found out about the course we teach here in the state. They took advantage of a good training program that provides the standardization the National Guard imple­ments throughout the 50 states and four territories.”

We also send some of our Soldiers to Arkansas for an 80­hour course where they become certified instructors, Barkell said.

Barkell explained that the Air National Guard procedures are a bit different because they follow the Air Force program; so they trained a bit more for this detail to perform to the Army standard program.

“We also hope to team up with the Santa Fe Police Department in the future to do some training with them as well,” Barkell said. “With law enforcement trying to reduce overtime and having to spend lots of time in court, their agen­cies are starting to group together and form joint honor guards to honor fallen law enforcement personnel.”

New Mexico Army and Air National Guard honor guard members teamed up with New Mexico State Police and City of Santa Fe Police honor guard members to provide final honors July 11 for fallen former Gov. David Cargo, an Army veteran. The joint honor guard team provided pall­bearers for the casket into the State Capitol rotunda and provided guards for the casket where the former governor lay in state. At the end of the day, the family assumed the pallbearer detail. Following the funeral mass at St. Francis Basilica July 12, a procession took Cargo to his final resting place at the Santa Fe National Cemetery where the detail provided a full honors joint service detail and cannon firing in his honor.

The joint service detail composed of 11 state police officers, four city of Santa Fe police officers, eight Soldiers and four Airmen, performed the changing of the guard in 15­minute rotations, keeping a Guardsman and law enforcement officer teamed up throughout the service.

“It is always a privilege for us to honor all of our fallen veterans,” said Sgt. Judas Perea, 613th Forward Support Company, who has served on the honor guard for three years. “The governor was an Army veteran, and for us, it is the greatest honor we can possibly provide for a fellow military veteran.”

“It is my privilege to be a part of this today because it is the best way I can think of to give back to all our veterans who have come before us and for those who will serve after us,” said Sgt Casey Steely, 920th Engineers, an honor guard member for three years. “It’s just something we can never forget.”

New Mexico National Guard funeral honors director Stephen Barkell said organizing the joint service detail was fairly easy since they have been training state police over the last couple of years. According to Barkell, state police have attended the Guard’s 40­hour course to standardize their program.

Honor guard joint service detail provides final honors for former Gov. CargoStory and photos by Joseph Vigil, Public Affairs Specialist, New Mexico National Guard

Honor guard joint service team members conduct a changing of the guard while former Gov. David Cargo lies in state.

A joint service honor guard team composed of New Mexico State Police, City of Santa Fe Police and New Mexico Army and Air National Guardsmen carry the casket of former Gov. David Cargo into the State Capitol rotunda where he lay in state.

16 New Mexico Minuteman / Fall 2013

By Sgt. 1st Class Greg Holmes, 68W4F, 1st Battalion, 515th Regional Training Institute

What is PTSD? How does a Soldier like me live with it? PTSD, or post­traumatic stress disorder, is an emotional illness developed as a result of a terribly traumatic experience. Symptoms might include, but are not limited to, a general numbing of emotional responsiveness, chronic physical signs of hyperarousal including trouble sleeping, lack of concentration, irritability, anger, difficulty remembering things, an increased tendency and reaction to being startled and hypervigilance to threat.

For years no one could identify what this odd and sometimes violent behavior was that Soldiers were suffering from. Early attempts to classify this illness had combat veterans from the Civil War being labeled as having “Soldier’s heart.” In World War I, it was referred to as “combat fatigue or shell shock,” and in World War II, it was “gross stress reaction.” Today it is simply called PTSD. The common theme when speaking of Soldiers is that no matter what it’s called, the symptoms – for the most part – are a direct result of the traumatic stresses of war.

Let’s at least step onto the right road to recovery, even if we don’t yet have the courage to travel down it. To begin, you must address the traumatic event or events that have caused the change in your life. In my experience, being in the New Mexico Army National Guard for more than 26 years, 11 as a flight medic and a veteran, I have been through my fair share of traumatizing situations that seem very unforgiving. Some situations that I have encountered are wounded or dying children, and sometimes being the very last person a dying Soldier sees, with the bloody evi­dence from their wounds stained on my uniform and hands as if marking me as the one responsible. Knowing how untrue that may be, the outcome may be out of your control, and you acquire a sense of help­lessness, no matter how skilled or well­trained you are. After all is said and done and you can do no more, it is almost inevitable that guilt will follow – a guilt which will not kill you, but will also not let you live a normal life ever again. Immortality and

your false sense of security come crashing down all around you, and realization starts to set in that freedom has a price and Soldiers pay for it with their lives so that others may live in peace. Once you have seen, been shaken up by and wrapped your head around this harsh reality, you then start the long journey into accommo­dating PTSD into your life and begin to learn how to cope with it as I try to do.

Upon returning from Afghanistan, I tried to revel in the safety and security of my family, friends, familiar surroundings and what it means to be an American. Some­times you find that you can no longer relate to those who are unaffected by war and haven’t seen it firsthand as you have. Perhaps you are completely unaware that you even have a problem until others bring to your attention that you are not exactly being yourself by serving you divorce papers.

A once “happy­go­lucky” individual has been replaced by one with less enthusiasm, depression, anger and numbness. You feel yourself start to become irritable and frus­trated with people who don’t understand

and want to immediately label you as crazy. Then, there are those who you feel take life and freedom for granted because they have no clue what it’s like to earn it or what it means to even have it, which further agitates you.

Your “symptoms” begin to show, and sometimes you develop new characteristics of your personality such as a darker sense of humor. Possibly, you may no longer recognize yourself. In my case, another possible effect of PTSD was that I began to drink excessively. As Soldiers, we owe it to ourselves and our families to get past the stigma of PTSD and seek the help we need. I have come to find things that have helped me greatly in dealing with my PTSD. I find that talking with my band of brothers that I deployed with, other medics and veterans who have been through some of the things I have been through, serves as an outlet for me to understand that I am not the only one. Working on the task of replacing negative thoughts with positive thoughts is certainly a struggle, but very good for self­esteem. For more severe cases of PTSD, there are

Sgt. First Class Greg Holmes cares for an Afghani boy shot in the chest and the boy’s father while serving in Afghanistan with Charlie Company, 171st Aviation. Photo by Sgt. First Class Manuel Lucero

How a Soldier lives with PTSD

Fall 2013 / NEW MEXICO National Guard 17

medications one can take to help achieve calm sleep again. I stick with things that I still fortunately find enjoyment in doing, like helping others in need during state duties. I also find peace when I am working on renovations on my house. This peace eases the guilt and puts me on the road to forgiving myself and realizing that I did my duty to its fullest and gave of myself 100 percent to a Soldier in need.

How to deal with PTSD is different for everyone. I urge your family and friends to understand that there couldn’t possibly be just one emotion that is deemed appro­priate for dealing with the emotional trauma you have just been through. That’s why it is drawn from almost every emotion known to man. In the quest for recovery and rehabilitation, don’t be so hard on yourself. Talking openly about PTSD doesn’t make you less of a man, woman or Soldier. Emotions are not always justified, under­stood or the appropriate response to what society considers “normal” situations. But how do you reintegrate into a society that is unaware firsthand of what goes on behind the curtain of freedom and exactly how it cost?

There is no set of guidelines for how to deal with PTSD, but if nothing else, try to practice safety with your emotions and how it might harm you and the people around you. What may work for one Soldier may not work for you, and there is no set cure, but there are people to help you even if it’s nothing more than to just listen to what you have to say. The number of deployments and PTSD cases are statisti­cally on the rise. If I have done nothing more than to make more people aware of how to better relate to their Soldier living with PTSD, as well as to help a fellow Soldier realize that they are not the only one suffering, then I accomplished what I set out to do.

Although you may never forget your traumatic experience, there is help for easing some of the after effects and hope for moving on with your life. No matter what, I owe it to the Soldiers that have fallen to live my life to the fullest as best I can and not to take the blame for remembering how they died, but for how they lived. PTSD is unlike any other wound or scar you will have; it is open, it is deep, it is invisible and you must work at it every day in order to NOT let it take over.

FOR MORE INFORMATIONContact the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. The PTSD Information website is the same as the VA site.

VA Health Benefits Service Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1­877­222­VETSWebsite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/pages/treatment­ptsd.aspMobile App: PTSD Coach . . . http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/pages/PTSDCoach.asp

Vet Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1­877­WAR­VETS

New Mexico VA Health Care System . . . . . . . . . . . . 505­265­1711 or 1­800­465­8262

18 New Mexico Minuteman / Fall 2013

and Integrated Training Area Management,” Balmores said. “These two programs focus on the Army’s doctrinal capability of its ranges and training lands,” she added.

Balmores explained that RTLP covers everything affecting the functionality of a range or training area, while ITAM covers environmental considerations, which include public education in local communities.

Selecting a range or training area is far more complex than choosing a tract of land large enough to accommodate the training, although that in itself is often a challenge, according to Balmores. “Ranges must be completely assessed before they can be approved for use,” she said. If live

Soldiers. This cadre is responsible for coordinating the use of weapons ranges, training areas, and training aids, devices, simulators and simulations or TADSS. They’re sticklers for details, but with good reason – Army doctrine.

“The Sustainable Range Program is the Army’s overall approach for improving the way in which it designs, manages and uses its ranges (and other training areas) to ensure long­term sustainability,” said Staff Sgt. Kim Balmores, a range opera­tions specialist working out of the Regional Training Institute in Santa Fe.

“The SRP is defined by two core compo­nents: the Range and Training Land Program

By Sgt. 1st Class Douglas Mallary, HHC, 111th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade

Training never stops in the New Mexico National Guard, but it doesn’t just happen. As with any other significant event, there’s a group of people working behind the scenes to ensure that training is conducted safely in an environmentally sound manner and to standard. Such training often falls within the purview of the Range Operations Section.

Under the direction of Lt. Col. Anthony Leal, the program manager, the Range Operations Section (more commonly known as “Ranges”) consists of seven military technicians and two Active Guard/Reserve

“Going to the range”is a lot more complicated than it looks

New Mexico National Guard Soldiers train on an EST 2000 skill enhancement trainer. Photo: Staff Sgt. Kim Balmores

Fall 2013 / New Mexico National Guard 19

Ambush Training Systems, a Firearms Training System in Farmington, and 16 Individual Gunnery Training Systems.

While these simulators cannot be used for weapons qualification, Balmores said, they have proved to help Soldiers prepare for record fire. More importantly, she added, they can be integrated to provide increasingly complex and realistic training problems.

Such flexibility is one of the biggest payoffs for Gallegos. “The most rewarding part is constructing practical and effective training for real­life scenarios,” Gallegos said. Both Gallegos and Balmores feel that this training saves lives on and off the battlefield.

Besides Leal, Balmores, Buczala and Gallegos, the Range Operations Section includes Maj. David Maestas, the budget analyst; Capt. James Chavez and Capt. Todd Endres, both range operations managers; Staff Sgt. Stan Griego, a train­ing technician; and Capt. Ray Baca and Master Sgt. Jesus Holguin, who are detailed from other sections of the state operations staff.

Mountain near Deming, Happy Valley by Carlsbad and the weekend training site outside Roswell. The Range Operations Section also coordinates training at Stallion Range on White Sands Missile Range, the Department of Energy Range at Kirtland Air Force Base and, of course, oversees the training areas of the Onate Training Complex in Santa Fe.

In all, this means managing 11,840 acres of training area. Ranges throughout the state trained 26,357 Soldiers. Of that number, 23,096 individuals trained at Oñate with the remainder at Stallion and Black Mountain. The trainees come from across the entire spectrum of the Department of Defense, law enforcement agencies and even the Boy Scouts of America.

As noted earlier, Range Operations personnel also manage the state’s TADSS inventory. This includes three Mine Resis­tant Ambush Protected Virtual Vehicle trainers, two Virtual Convoy Operations trainers, a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle Egress Assistance trainer, two Engagement Skills trainers (EST 2000) – one in Santa Fe and another in Las Cruces, seven Laser Convoy Counter

ammunition is to be used, the assessment must include precise measurements from firing points to target areas, the required number and size of berms, and surface danger zones or SDZs to protect nearby structures and lands.

Furthermore, units must have leaders who are certified range safety officers before they can conduct weapons qualifi­cation on approved ranges. RSOs must be trained by level II trainers from the Ranges Operations Section – Balmores and Sgt. 1st Class David Buczala and Staff Sgt. Dave Gallegos are training technicians. These three conducted about 10 certifica­tion classes in the last year.

“The training requirements of the units establish the needs of the state,” Balmores said. “The biggest problem for our program is that we don’t own a big enough piece of land for our troops to train effectively. We have to outsource to different states and agencies,” she added.

Within the borders of New Mexico, this is usually accomplished through leasing agreements with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management for training areas such as Camel Tracks outside Santa Fe, Black

Story and photo by Staff Sgt. Rob Gwilt, Public Affairs NCO

The New Mexico National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion hosted high school team develop­ment camps June 17­21 at the Onate Training Complex, Santa Fe.

Teams from Santa Fe and the Albuquerque metro area participated in the camps designed to improve individual and team development for the upcoming school year.

Participants included Manzano High School, La Cueva High School, West Mesa High School, and for the first time, the girls’ basketball team from St. Michaels High School in Santa Fe.

The Recruiting and Retention Battalion has orches­trated this event for more than four years. The intent of the team building camp is to reiterate the National Guard’s primary mission of service to community. It is the battalion’s intent to involve the teenagers with persons who can be good role models; to inspire them to never quit, never think anything is impossible and to learn that as a team, any goal is achievable.

Different teams traveled to the Onate Complex daily to participate in the events the battalion coordinated for them. The events included a rope run, relay races, obstacle course and the rappel tower.

High school athletes, recruiters train hard atannual team camps

“The kids always have a great time when they come to our events,” said Sgt. 1st Class Paul Modesto, the assistant non­commissioned officer in charge of Recruiting and Retention team IV. “But for whatever reason, we had lower numbers this year. So next year, we’re going to get the word out more and invite more schools.”

Staff Sgt. Matthew Concha coaches high school team camp participants in the art of rappelling at this year’s camp.

20 New Mexico Minuteman / Fall 2013

The 720th and 1115th Transportation Companies were awarded Meritorious Unit Citations Aug. 3­4 at their respective armories in Las Vegas and Taos.

The citations were awarded for exceptional meritorious service during each unit’s deployment with the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Meritorious Unit Citation is awarded to units for exceptionally meritorious con­duct in the performance of duties for at least six continuous months during a period of military operations against an armed enemy. While service in a combat zone is not required, the service must be directly related to the combat effort.

Lt. Col. Ted Chavez, who served as the 1115th Bn. commander while deployed, praised the 1115th as the best unit he has ever worked with and said he will always respect these Soldiers for their commitment, professionalism and their service

“We became Task Force Volunteers ‘go to’ company,” Chavez said. “Our Soldiers were selected to provide a special convoy security team, a private security detail and since we had the best sustainment training, our range safety officers conducted the convoy live fire sustainment training for the entire battalion.”

“These Soldiers completed over 150 missions,” said Lt. Col. Thomas Gonzales, 720th Transportation Company commander during the deployment. “They traveled more than 400,000 miles on some of the most dangerous routes in Iraq, all while encounter­ing IEDs and small­arms fire.”

Transportation companies awarded Meritorious Unit Citations for service in Iraq

“We conducted convoy security and drove the gun trucks for the convoys,” said Sgt. Dennis Maestas, motor transportation operator, 720th Transportation Company. “We’d ensure they made it safely while taking them to places like to Camp Victory or Al Assad.”

During their deployment as the 720th Convoy Security Company, the Soldiers set the standard for safety. Because of the unit’s record and mission accomplishments, they were selected by the 41st Brigade commander to travel to Kuwait to conduct training for the task force that replaced them.

“We never had an accident. We never had any negligent discharges. We made it back home safe to our families,” said Gonzales.

Many Soldiers also received Bronze Stars, Combat Action Badges and Combat Infantry Badges for combat action under direct and hostile attacks in Iraq.

“This is a very emotional, but exciting final chapter for the 720th Convoy Security Company,” Gonzales said. “The magnitude of what this company accomplished in Iraq is unprecedented. They were part of freeing over 25 million citizens of tyranny and provided a new opportunity for the people of Iraq. These Zia Soldiers have recorded their accomplishments in history as the best Solders this country could offer.”

“I think we deserved the citation,” Maestas said. “We did one hell of a job.”

Lt. Col. Tom Gonzales places the Meritorious Unit Citation streamer on the 720th Transportation Company guidon at a streamer ceremony Aug. 3. The 720th was recognized with the award for their excellent performance while deployed in support of Operation Iraqi freedom. Photo: Joseph Vigil

By Sgt. Eric Martinez, 200th Public Affairs Detachment

Fall 2013 / New Mexico National Guard 21

education office for quite a few years, I helped her apply for tuition. I’ve also helped her get set up with her GI Bill,” Pacheco said.

Along with dealing with the challenge of working toward her citizenship, Padilla did not have a role model within her family to ask questions of or guide her in her decision to join the military. However, she highly recommends the choice she made.

“It’s not as bad as people say it is. I actually enjoy the military, even though I never saw myself joining because no one in my family is in the military. I’m the first one to join,” Padilla said.

She also recommended to any of the new recruits waiting to ship out that the key to making it through basic training and advanced individual training is “Don’t give up!” just push through. Now that Padilla has become a Soldier, she has also became a role model to her friends and family.

She said, “Most of my friends and family are proud of me, and one of my friends joined after me.”

Padilla’s story and positive attitude inspire her fellow troops as well. “I’m very impressed with her, very proud of her,” Pacheco said. “I’m very happy that she’s serving our country as a soon­to­be U.S. citizen.”

Padilla has earned her right to be called a Citizen­Soldier, but she still has to wait a little longer for documents to be processed. With confidence in her leaders and fellow Soldiers, she will soon be a proud citizen of the United States of America.

Story and photo by Sgt. John A. Montoya, 200th Public Affairs Detachment

Many Americans take their status as citizens for granted, but for immigrants to this country who desire to be part of the armed forces, citizenship is earned, not given. During the 2013 annual training at the Dona Ana Range Complex, one particular Soldier proved to be a great example of the will to achieve what many Americans may not give a second thought to by using her service in the National Guard as a way to advance her education and career – and to become a citizen.

Pvt. Jessica Padilla is a native of Juarez, Mexico, currently a resident of Albuquerque, N.M., and a Soldier with the 1116th Transportation Company 2nd Detachment from Rio Rancho. Padilla is in the process of becoming a U.S. citizen. She described it as being a little more streamlined in the National Guard compared to the daunting process civilian immigration often represents.

Padilla said, “It’s an easier process. When you’re not in the National Guard, it takes longer and it’s more difficult to get.”

Moreover, Padilla described the civilian process for citizenship as tedious and time­consuming because an immigrant has to be a resident for at least four years before the U.S. will even start looking at an applicant’s documents. The National Guard places a Soldier on a faster track.

“If you’re in the Guard, as soon as you enlist you can start working toward citizenship,” Padilla said.

According to her supervisors, Padilla stands out in her unit because she brings spirit and motivation. In addition, she was highly recommended from the Recruit Sustainment Program in Rio Rancho for those positive attributes, said Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Pacheco, 1116th Transportation Company 2nd Detachment readiness noncommissioned officer. Her circumstances gave Soldiers in Pacheco’s unit the opportunity to learn how to process and submit a citizenship packet for the first time.

“I had never done a citizenship packet, and that’s another reason why she stood out. I did have Spc. Ray take on that project to show me how to do it. We all learned how to complete a packet within the unit,” Pacheco said.

In addition to being a motivated Soldier, Padilla is also ambitious in terms of her education and career in the military. She is currently enrolled at the University of New Mexico for the fall semester where her goal is to earn a degree in computer engineering. She also has plans to go to Officer Candidate School as soon as she is eligible. Her readiness noncommissioned officer is also there to help her when it comes to education. “Since I worked with the

Citizen-Soldier: a title earned,not given

Pvt. Jessica Padilla from the 1116th Transportation Company takes the oath to become a U.S. citizen after using her service in the New Mexico National Guard as a fast track to citizenship.

22 New Mexico Minuteman / Fall 2013

familiarize Guard children with what their parents do and also have fun doing it. “It’s to let them have fun and meet kids from all over the state; and it kind of lets them see what their parents have to do – get up early, stay in a tent, etc.,” Salas said.

Another reason the Guard hosts youth camps such as Task Force Thunder is to give back to the children who sacrifice so much during long periods of a parent or relative being deployed or simply working long hours here in the state, explained Eric Ponce, the state youth director.

The youth camp also helps introduce the children to military values and discipline through overcoming fears they might have. Staff Sgt. Christine Cassell, a youth camp volunteer and a small group leader at the 515th Regional Training Institute, helped run the rappel tower event at Task Force Thunder. She said, “The biggest benefit for the children was confidence, overcoming fear and actually facing fear one on one, especially with heights.”

Cassell added, “I think it went really well. The kids had a really good time, and there were not a lot of them who refused to do the rappel tower.”

Task Force Thunder youth camp is an annual event and consistently gathers at least 140 kids, but has hosted up to 210 children, said Therese Sanchez, state Family Programs director. In addition, approximately 75 volunteers make the program possible, drawing from both the Guard and civilian sectors. “The service members helped make Task Force Thunder a success this year,” Sanchez said.

Sanchez added that this year’s event was very successful, and the Guard will continue to host the youth camp along with the other events the state Family Programs department hosts throughout the year, such as nights at the museum, plays and a range of other activities.

For all the fun the children of Task Force Thunder experienced in 2013, they’ll have next year to look forward to, and they might have a little more understanding of what their parents do day in and day out in order to keep this country free and the state secure.

Story and photo by Sgt. John A. Montoya, 200th Public Affairs Detachment

Soldiers encouraged youngsters to overcome their fears as they looked down from the dizzying heights of a rappel tower. An hour before, they were struggling against their new friends in epic tug of war matches. These events exemplify the learning, bond­ing and sheer fun the children of the Task Force Thunder youth camp experienced Aug. 1­3 during their brief stay at the Onate Complex, Santa Fe.

Children of service members, with some of their friends and relatives, enjoyed a weekend of activities including the rappel tower, tug of war, water survival at Cochiti Lake and a walk­through of a Black Hawk medevac helicopter.

According to Martha Salas, a Task Force Thunder volunteer and Brig. Gen. Andrew Salas’ wife, the purpose of the event is to

Task Force Thunder: Kids experience life in the Guard

Staff Sgt. Christine Cassell, instructor at the 515th Regional Training Institute, guides a youth camp participant down the rappel wall on Onate Complex Aug. 2.

Fall 2013 / New Mexico National Guard 23

By Maj. Nathaniel Carper, Administrative Officer, 1-200th Infantry Battalion

For the 1­200th Infantry Battalion, their recent annual training was far from ordinary, yet one of the most arduous and significant training events in its history. The battalion’s 512 Soldiers attended annual training at three different locations June 8­22.

The Scouts and Snipers section com­pleted area and zone reconnaissance missions, live­fire shoot house training and known/unknown distance sniper range training at Orchard Training Complex, out­side Boise, Idaho.

The Mortar section certified on the mortars and forward observation skills with four qualifying as experts at Yakima, Wash. This was the first time in the battalion’s history that the mortar section was able to conduct a live­fire exercise.

At Dona Ana Range Camp, the four line companies – Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta – continued with their accelerated efforts to increase their readiness and become aligned with the battalion’s compressed Army Force Generation cycle. Throughout the two weeks of AT, the companies com­pleted multiple iterations of squad attack, defense, ambush, MOUT and patrols using simunitions, blanks, opposing forces and other training enablers. Each maneuver company completed multiple live­fire ranges – squad dismounted live fire, advanced weapons training and close quarters battle drills, while Delta Company performed mounted gunnery tasks on their humvee mounted M­2 .50­cals and their 7.62 mounted M­240Bs. In all, the line companies fired over 160,000 rounds of several types of munitions safely and without incident.

1-200th Infantry Battalion successfully completes arduous annual training

The 1-200th Infantry Battalion’s mortar section takes a gunner’s exam during annual training at Yakima, Wash. in June. The battalion’s mortar section also conducted their first-ever mortar live-fire exercise while there. Photo: Sgt. Lazaro Lopez

Spc. Manuel Sosaavolos, an infantry scout with the 1-200th Infantry Battalion, on a zone reconnais-sance patrol during annual training at Orchard Training Complex, Idaho. Photo: Staff Sgt. Justin Butt

Both HHC and the Forward Support Company provided the necessary opera­tional and logistical support for the battalion during AT. They ensured that all training events and the tactical scenario were battle tracked and resourced so all companies could successfully train their assigned Soldiers. In all, the FSC prepared more than 9,500 meals, hauled 1,600 Soldiers around the area of operation and con­ducted services and repairs of 104 vehicles. The medical section was successful in mitigating the heat effects of DARC (major­ity of the time at Heat Category 3 or higher) and managed each training location with on site medics.

“The entire 1­200th performed excep­tionally well, training more than 512 Soldiers in the field on strenuous tasks in extreme weather conditions with no major injuries,” said Lt. Col. Dan Stark, battalion com­mander. “That by itself is the mark of a unit that places safety first, emphasizes com­posite risk management at all levels and cares for each other while still accomplish­ing the mission.”

Stark said the battalion’s next goals are to build digital TOC capabilities, complete the fielding of the Blue Force Trackers, obtain platoon level collective proficiency on mission essential tasks and start to work on company level collective tasks. “Given the hard work of our Soldiers and overall enthusiasm within the battalion, I see no reason why we will not achieve these objectives.”

24 New Mexico Minuteman / Fall 2013

Story and photo by Sgt. 1st Class Anna Doo, 200th Public Affairs Detachment

What began as a Citizen­Soldier jam session grew into what is said to be the first­ever U.S. Military Mariachi Group. Members of the 44th Army Band of the New Mexico Army National Guard have been playing the music of the local culture as citizens for decades, and have now formed a musical support team composed of nine Soldiers who play the Mexican folk style music. The specialized group is called Mariachi Nuevo Mexico.

Other military bands also have specialty teams pouring out the sounds localized to their unit’s surroundings. The U.S. Virgin Islands boasts a military steel drum ensemble. In Puerto Rico, Soldiers in uniform play salsa music. The lively sounds of Dixie can be heard by service members in Georgia. But nowhere else in our Armed Forces is there an official mariachi band except in New Mexico.

Sgt. 1st Class Fidel Archuleta, non­commissioned officer in charge of Mariachi Nuevo Mexico said the creation of the specialty team has been years in the making. The 44th had been lacking the musical instruments and personnel with the addi­tional skills needed to play the instruments and style of this genre until the fall of 2012. Three members of the mariachi band hold years of experience performing the folk music with civilian groups, and when they

Mariachi Nuevo Mexicoa big hit for the 44th Army Band

began playing one drill weekend, additional members of the larger concert band became interested in the possibility of sharing the local sounds with a broader audience.

“It started by messing around,” Archuleta said. “After hours of just playing around, we knew we needed to start the group.”

Sgt. Horacio Favela, guitar; Sgt. Mario Montoya, trumpet; and Spc. Kevin Vigil, guitarron, were excited to share their mariachi expertise with Spc. Jye Johson, marimba; Spc. Rebekah Harris, violin; Spc. Orlando Guerrero, flute; Sgt. Claranita Williams, trumpet; Spc. Elly Adams, trumpet and Archuleta, who plays guitar. The members must be well versed in their pri­mary instrument found on the unit’s list of approved equipment, and oftentimes a secondary instrument more specific to the mariachi sounds.

Military bands are required to play ceremonial tunes such as each service’s official song, our nation’s most recogniz­able tunes and other music traditionally associated with military bands. But more and more, while the Army’s School of Music is maintaining these popular ensembles, the focus is shifting to small groups or musical support teams. In addition to Mariachi Nuevo Mexico, the 44th Army Band boasts a brass ensemble named the Cabanatuan Cats; the Chili Choppers, a dinner/rock combo; a quartet of saxophones known as Darn Saxy, a bagpiper called El Gaitero;

a clarinet quartet named the Reed Runners, the Rough Riders brass quintet and Zia Winds woodwind quintet. The increased mobility of the smaller groups allows for more concerts within the surrounding com­munities by the Guardsmen as well as different types of music available for events.

While some of the members of Mariachi Nuevo Mexico are learning this genre of music at the same time they learn how to play it, Favela has a lifetime of experience he wants to share. He hopes to increase the exposure of the band as a whole through the traditional sounds and culture of mariachi music.

“I’d like to revive an interest in Army bands here in New Mexico and nationwide,” he said. “We really are a melting pot in the Army, and our music should reflect that.”

Harris, who plays violin in the group as well as sings some of the pieces, said she has faced some challenges with learning the style of music and being able to sing in Spanish. Overall, however, she said she has truly enjoyed the experience.

“The [Mariachi group] is so much fun – we have a great time,” Harris said. “My great­grandfather sang and played violin in a mariachi group, but I had no other back­ground in it.”

The mariachi band, along with the full ceremonial ensemble including brass and saxophone specialty teams, culminated a two­week annual training that spanned the southern part of New Mexico with a concert on July 4 in Albuquerque. Playing locally familiar mariachi tunes to the audience of well over one hundred guests, the instru­mental and vocal talents of the members truly shone. They played so well that a requested encore was granted to the audience who had been clapping and singing along to the songs.

Upcoming engagements for the inau­gural Army mariachi band are the annual state fair, the Mariachi Conference in Las Cruces, and some teaching opportunities at a local school. These musicians truly embody the title of Citizen­Soldier, sharing their civilian expertise with their fellow service members and giving back to the community through their music.Que Viva Mariachi Nuevo Mexico! Members of the 44th Army Band of the New Mexico Army National

Guard have formed what is said to be the first-ever U.S. Military Mariachi Group.

Fall 2013 / New Mexico National Guard 25

performance, we would go out and meet the people in the audience, including a number of veterans.”

One of the audience members at the performance in Albuquerque is the widow of an Army veteran. Mary Lombardo said she loves Army bands, adding that the 44th Band was really good and that she enjoyed the Sousa marches the best. She said, “It’s been a lovely evening, a wonder­ful setting. We need to be patriotic, show what we are feeling.”

Another audience member wanted to share the story of her brother, a Vietnam veteran who served in the Army. Sara Trice said her brother, Norman Webb, earned two purple hearts, two silver stars and two golden stars. Of the musical performance, Trice said, “Oh, it was fabulous! It couldn’t have been better.”

Members of the 44th Army Band say they serve in part to be able to share the gift of music with the community that supports the Guard. Harris said he looks forward to continuing to play for local functions throughout the year. Perhaps each performance will touch veterans, spouses and service members as it did Lombardo and Trice.

Mexico National Guard’s 44th Army Band, such as the first­ever military mariachi group.

Spc. William Wadsworth, saxophone and bassoon, said he thoroughly enjoyed this year’s annual training. “We were well received at the performances; it was well organized, and the concerts were well attended,” Wadsworth said. “It was a ton of fun to play all the concerts!”

Wadsworth’s enthusiasm for the two weeks on the road touring the southern part of New Mexico was echoed by other band members. They said being able to play for the communities is why they serve in the Guard. Harris said throughout the year the band practices what is difficult or challenging for them, thus preparing all the while for whatever audience, time of year and venue they perform in. Many of the audiences during this year’s annual training came to hear what is considered traditional Army band music replete with nationally recog­nizable tunes and marches. The trip culminated in a patriotic performance at Veteran’s Park in Albuquerque on July 4.

Spc. Stephen Segura, percussionist, said of annual training, “It’s been very successful. We’ve been welcomed by all the different communities, and after each

Story and photo by Sgt. 1st Class Anna Doo, 200th Public Affairs Detachment

The 44th Army Band’s annual training reads like a professional band’s schedule of seven performances spanning seven cities in a mere 14 days. But that’s exactly what they are – a professional band of talented musicians who each bring their own expertise and abilities to the ensemble. The band performed in Santa Fe, Clovis, Portales, Roswell, Hobbs, Carlsbad and Albuquerque. Audience members were treated to the traditional sounds of the New Mexico National Guard’s concert ensemble. In addition, specialty ensembles played a few tunes for the crowds.

First Sgt. Ralph Harris, 44th Army Band first sergeant, said the annual training was a success because the band was able to do its mission.

“The band’s mission is music and performance. We do our best work when we prepare for our mission,” he said. “The Soldiers are outstanding – simply a remarkable collection who would be successful in any environment.”

Each performance spanned about an hour and was full of recognizable ceremo­nial tunes, patriotic marches and the specific song of each military service. Additionally, jazz sounds, brass music and mariachi music were performed by the smaller musical support teams. MSTs are groups of musicians formed out of the larger ensemble to play specific types or genres of music. Each member of the band must be proficient in an instrument found in the inventory of the unit. Many, however, are proficient in two or even three instruments. It’s this diversity that allows for more MSTs to form within the New

The 44th Army Band concert series tour treated concert audiences to traditional sounds as well as jazz, brass and mariachi music.

26 New Mexico Minuteman / Fall 2013

By Beth Sherman, ESGR

ARLINGTON, Va. – Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Department of Defense office, announced that the Albuquerque Fire Department is one of 15 recipients of the 2013 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. The Freedom Award is the DoD’s highest recognition given to employers for excep­tional support of Guard and Reserve employees. These employers distinguished themselves among the 2,899 nominations received from Guardsmen and Reservists. The 2013 recipients will be honored Sept. 26, 2013, at the 18th annual Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award ceremony in Washington, D.C.

“I commend and thank the 15 recipients of the 2013 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award for providing exceptional support to our citizen warriors,” said Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel. “So many of our nation’s employers are finding ways to contribute to our nation’s security, but these employers stand out for their commitment to our Guardsmen and Reservists. They have the gratitude and thanks of the entire Department of Defense.”

The Albuquerque Fire Department was nominated by a member of the Navy Reserve. The nominator highlighted the Fire Department’s Deployed Military Support Program which ensures proper payroll,

leave and benefits for deployed employees; provides families direct access to the fire chief for assistance at home; and coordi­nates care packages and letters of support from department leadership and fellow firefighters. The City of Albuquerque also grants up to 66 days of paid military leave to employees who are members of the National Guard and Reserve.

Since 1996, only 175 employers have received the Freedom Award. Previous awardees have met with the president and vice president of the United States, and the Secretary of Defense and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The Freedom Award was instituted in 1996 under the auspices of ESGR to recognize exceptional support from the employer community. ESGR develops and maintains employer support for Guard and Reserve service. ESGR advocates for relevant initiatives, recognizes outstanding support, increases awareness of applicable laws, and resolves conflicts between service members and employers. Paramount in ESGR’s mission is encouraging employment of Guardsmen and Reservists who bring integrity, global perspective and proven leadership to the civilian workforce.

Albuquerque Fire Department among top 15 to receive nation’s highest honor for support of Guard and Reserve employees

Albuquerque Fire Department Chief James Breen, center, accepts the New Mexico Freedom Award earlier this summer in Santa Fe, N.M. Photo: Sandy Schauer, ESGR

Fall 2013 / New Mexico National Guard 27

By Sandy Schauer, ESGR Public Affairs

The women who attended the June 2013 third annual All Women New Mexico Boss Lift participated in a wide variety of activities that represent what members of the Guard and Reserve do while preparing to defend our country. The group journeyed from the New Mexico National Guard Armory in Albuquerque to the Guard’s Regional Training Institute south of Santa Fe to begin their day.

Brig. Gen. Judy Griego, chief of the joint staff, welcomed the women to NMNG’s Onate Complex. Griego and fellow officers explained how the Guard and Reserve are helping with logistical work for the fires in New Mexico and are also on standby for other fires including the massive one in Colorado Springs.

Following the welcome, the women spent several hours learning to rappel and then practicing with the help of the rappel masters on an exercise designed to develop trust between fellow Soldiers. Despite some

trepidation about going down the five­story rappel tower, the women did it.

A Black Hawk helicopter flew in and landed near the rappel tower. The crew members spoke to the women who then received a personalized tour of the aircraft. Photo opportunities were plentiful inside and outside the Black Hawk.

Lunch featured discussions about ESGR and what the women can do as employers and co­workers for those who serve in the Guard and Reserve in addition to working their jobs. The meal was catered by The Whole Hog Restaurant out of Santa Fe.

Brig. Gen. Andrew Salas, New Mexico Adjutant General, spoke about the impor­tance of employer support.

During the afternoon, the women spent time on the Firearms Training Simulator as

well as the Virtual Combat Convoy trainer. At range control, different weapons were explained, then the women were able to shoot on the range just as Soldiers do.

The convoy training proved interesting for everyone. The training is held in a trailer with equipment set up so that those training feel as if they are traveling in a convoy. Using sophisticated computer equipment, trainees can drive the streets of Bagdad watching for friends, enemies and IEDs. This method of training has proved extremely useful for Soldiers brought up in the video age.

The day closed with participants receiv­ing ESGR coins, Statements of Support (for their signature and then to display), a group photo in front of the Black Hawk, certificates for completing the training, and a thank you from all those who appreciate the support by employers of the Guard and Reserve.

On the return trip to Albuquerque, the buzz was all about the day’s events – except for those who napped.

Women employers and supervisors of our Soldiers participate in ESGR’s third annual All Women Boss Lift. Photo: Master Sgt. Paula Aragon

ESGR’s All Women Boss Lift gives women employers a touch of military training

28 New Mexico Minuteman / Fall 2013

By Tech. Sgt. Kathee Mullins, New Mexico Air National Guard Public Affairs

Every child needs a bigger than life hero and after fourth graders from Onate Elementary began writing for a class project, they were able to meet their hero during a surprise visit. Lt. Col. Scott Minas, an HH­60G Pavehawk evaluator pilot with the 150th Fighter Wing, surprised the students during their annual Career Day and brought them more than just a few good stories and insight into his military career.

Anissa Chavez, a fourth grade teacher at Onate Elementary school, found Minas through a personal friend when her students asked to “adopt a Soldier” during a lesson plan last year. The students began writing Minas, and while he was deployed to Afghanistan, even sent care packages to him.

“We sent letters, then received a letter back with pictures, and the kids were ecstatic,” Chavez said. “We then sent a care package and had a lesson plan on the New Mexico National Guard. They (students) wanted to research his helicopter, uniform and his military. It was a learning adventure all the kids wanted to participate in.”

Minas was deployed for five months between 2012 and 2013 to Bastion Air Base, Afghanistan, augmenting the 101st Rescue Squadron of the New York Air National Guard, which was assigned to the 26th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron (better known as the “Pedros”). Their mission was “personnel recovery” of downed aircrew and casualty evacuation of wounded Soldiers.

While deployed, Minas received a huge care package with letters from the children in Chavez’s class. The package was filled with handmade Christmas ornaments, cookies, candy, toiletries, fun toys and everything that an Airman would want, according to Minas.

“I, of course, shared the package and the sentiments with the members with whom I was deployed,” Minas said. “We took turns reading each one of the cards out loud. It was great fun and lifted

Onate 4th graders adopt deployed Airman as Pen Pal

our spirits in the combat zone. I decided to take pictures with those cards in front of the helicopter. I wrote back to the children expressing our great thanks and appreciation for what they had done. I attached the pictures to the email. They responded back wanting to know everything about who I was and what we were doing. We wrote back and forth a couple of times. It was so great to know that the kids, who did not know me, took such an interest in me and the men and women of my deployed unit.”

“There is nothing greater for a deployed Airman than to know he is supported by his local community. Especially considering that they did this on their own [not like family, who pretty much have to support you],” Minas said.

Once Minas returned from the deployment, Chavez asked him to visit the children during Career Day as a surprise.

“I arrived there and went to the front of the class and wrote my name on the board, said Minas as he remembered the visit. “When I did, the kids went crazy and they all ran up and group hugged me. You could feel the love emanating from those kids. It was overwhelming, and I consider it to be one of the best experiences of my life, one that I will never forget.”

“What is important to note is that the news tried to say I was a hero, and everyone has put the focus on me,” Minas said. “I think they all have it wrong. The focus should be on those kids for what they did out of the love in their hearts, and most importantly, the hero in all of this is Miss Chavez. She understood that it was all about those kids. She is the hero in all of this who deserves the most credit.”

The Air Force Core Values – Integrity first, Service before self, Excellence in all we do – are the real moral of this story. Chavez, the students and Minas are all heroes. Chavez brought to her students the chance to look up to someone and share a small part of themselves with those who are fighting and defending. The students seized the chance to learn about their defenders and honor the sacrifices military members make when they are away from home defending. Minas appreciated the fact that those at home cherished his and his fellow Airmen for their sacrifices and strength.

Lt. Col. Scott Minas receives special mail from back home while on deploy-ment in Afghanistan. Courtesy photo.

Lt. Col. Scott Minas and the gang receive Christmas cards from a special group of students at Onate Elementary School, Albuquerque. Courtesy photo.

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