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© 2013 KentuckyGuard
Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs Staff Report
Secretary of Defense, Ash Carter gathers with more than 50 U.S. general officers during the CAPSTONE General and Flag Officer Course in Washington, D.C., July, 2015. Kentucky’s Brig Gen. Scott Campbell was one of six National Guard officers selected to attend. (Courtesy photo)
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Brig. Gen. Scott Campbell, of the Kentucky National Guard, is the deputy commanding general of the 38th Infantry Division and was chosen to attend the Department of Defense’s CAPSTONE Program July 13 to Aug. 14, 2015.
The CAPSTONE General and Flag Officer Course was created in 1982. The Goldwater-Nichols DoD Reorganization Act of 1986 subsequently mandated that all newly selected active duty generals and flag officers attend CAPSTONE. The course is managed by the National Defense University in Washington, D.C. Course attendance is still competitive for National Guard and Reserve general officers.
According to NDU, the course objective is to make these individuals more effective in planning and employing U.S. forces in joint and combined operations. The CAPSTONE curriculum examines major issues affecting national security decision making, military strategy, joint/combined doctrine, interoperability, and key allied nation issues.
Campbell was one of only six National Guard general officers included in the class of 55 Fellows. Few Kentucky Guard general officers have been extended the privilege of attending this course since its inception.
Brig. Gen. Scott Campbell tours the Great Wall of China during the overseas portion of the CAPSTONE General and Flag Officer Course, July, 2015. Campbell visited China, Japan and Korea as part of the course which examines major issues affecting national security decision making, military strategy, joint/combined doctrine, interoperability, and key allied nation issues.(Courtesy photo)
“This was by far the best educational experience of my 34-year career,” said Campbell. “It was an amazing experience that exposed me to senior decision makers, both domestic and international, and gave me a better understanding of the complexities in the world and the security challenges facing the U.S.”
The course began in Washington, D.C. with briefings from directors of the various federal agencies and combatant commanders. Day 3 began stateside travel with visits to various military command headquarters in Virginia, Florida, Nebraska, Colorado, and Illinois.
The class returned to Washington upon completion of the 10-day stateside trip and prepared for overseas travel. The class was broken into three groups traveling to Europe, South America or the Pacific region.
Campbell was selected for the Pacific trip which included stops in Japan, South Korea, and China with a visit to U.S. Pacific Command in Hawaii on the return trip. The overseas trip lasted approximately 13 days with the CAPSTONE Fellows visiting with U.S. and host nation military officials, U.S. Embassy officials to include ambassadors, host nation government officials and local think tanks.
Campbell said the focus of the overseas tour was to study U.S. policy as it relates to the visited nation and the region. The exchanges also included cultural stops which included The Forbidden City and The Great Wall of China, the Demilitarized Zone, Seoul Tower and Gyeongbok Presidential Palace in Korea, and Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.
The course ended back in Washington, D.C. and concluded with briefings from the Secretary of Defense and directors of federal agencies, to include the National Security Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, Federal Emergency Management Agency, as well as the DoD Service Chiefs from each branch of the military.
“I feel very privileged for being selected to attend,” Campbell said. “The senior leader briefers and CAPSTONE staff told us that the most fundamental objective of this course is an understanding and appreciation of the other services and agencies and building relationships with the other Fellows that will stay with you throughout your life. I feel like that objective is being met. I’ve already met several of my Capstone classmates in other forums and we now share a common bond.”
Remember! Celebrate! Act!
Story courtesy Kentucky National Guard Equal Employment Opportunity Office
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?”
On the third Monday in January each year, Americans answer that question by coming together on the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday to serve their neighbors and communities. The day represents an opportunity to start the year off right by making a positive impact in one’s community.
All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence. —Martin Luther King Jr
Legislation was signed in 1983, creating a federal holiday honoring the birthday of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Congress designated the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday in 1994 as a national day of service, and charged the Corporation for National and Community Service with leading this effort.
During his lifetime, King encouraged all citizens to pursue the purpose and potential of America. He strove to realize the dream of equality and a nation that affords freedom and justice for all. In this spirit, the act of volunteering and helping others realize their potential takes on special significance.
Volunteering remains a vibrant part of our nation’s fabric across generations, enriching both our communities and those who serve.
The MLK Day of Service is a way to channel King’s life and teachings into community action. King encouraged all citizens to apply the principles of nonviolence to make this country a better place to live—popularizing the notion of “The Beloved Community.” In Dr. King’s Beloved Community, people and communities would be united by inclusion, shared prosperity, and peaceful conflict resolution. In the spirit of the Beloved Community, Dr. King’s day of service is an opportunity to live out Dr. King’s life and teachings in communities around the world.
A 2013 U.S. Department of Labor report found that one in four adults donates time to volunteer organizations. Last year, 62.6 million Americans volunteered nearly 7.9 billion hours. The estimated value of this volunteer service is nearly $175 billion.
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, who subsequent to 31 December 1992, perform outstanding volunteer community service of a sustained, direct and consequential nature. (U.S. Air Force graphic, AFNEWS/PAND)
Over the past six years, volunteering has also increased among teenagers (ages 16-19). Volunteers aged 65 and over spend more time engaging in volunteer activities than any other age group. Working mothers continue to volunteer at a higher rate than the population as a whole.
The Department of Defense values those who volunteer. One of the ways it demonstrates this is by honoring distinguished volunteers with the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal. The medal was authorized in 1993 to members of the U.S. Armed Forces and Reserve components and is awarded for outstanding and sustained voluntary service to the civilian community. The front of the medal has a five-pointed star with a circular ring over each point; the star, a symbol of the military that also represents outstanding service, is encircled by a laurel wreath, which represents honor and achievement. The reverse has an oak leaf branch, symbolic of strength and potential, with three oak leaves and two acorns along with the inscriptions, “OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER SERVICE,” and “UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES.”
If you would like to join the hundreds of thousands of people who serve on MLK Day and throughout the year, find a project in your community or register your own project so that volunteers can find it.
Go to Serve.gov for more information.
Story by David Altom, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs
The Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Frankfort is one of a kind. The shadow of the sundial falls on the name of a fallen Kentucky military service member on the anniversary of their death. The memorial lists 1,103 names on its roster. (Photo by David Altom, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs)
Click here for more on the Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Smoke belches from tube of a 155mm howitzer as two crewmen outside the self-propelled weapon protect their ears from the mighty blast. The Kentucky Army National Guard’s of 2nd Battalion 138th Field Artillery reinforced fires of 101st Airborne Division against distant enemy in northern area of South Vietnam. (U.S. Army photograph)
FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Kentucky National Guard is now an official Department of Defense partner in commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War.
On April 19, 1968, the 2d Battalion, 138th Field Artillery with units in Louisville, Bardstown, Elizabethtown and Carrollton, Kentucky were ordered to active duty by President Lyndon B. Johnson. Among 24,500 men ordered to active duty in 88 units across the United States were 570 Kentucky Guardsmen and 750 Kentucky Air Guardsmen. From hilltop positions such as Fire Base Bastogne, Tomahawk Hill and Hamburger Hill the Kentucky gunners supported troops of the 101st Airborne Division, a regular army unit normally based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The Battalion’s C Battery lost nine men killed and thirty-two wounded when North Vietnamese troops overran Fire Base Tomahawk on June 19, 1969.
Click here for the full story on the Kentucky National Guard’s mission during the Vietnam War.
A Soldier from Charlie Battery, 2nd Battalion 138th Field Artillery and the unit insignia, complete with a Kentucky cardinal. (Kentucky National Guard file photo)
In recognition of Kentucky’s participation in the Vietnam War and honor those who served and those who fell, state officials met with representatives from the Department of Defense to sign on as a commemorative partner. Commemorative Partners are requested to commit to conducting two events in 2015, 2016, and 2017. Communities across the nation already honor veterans at events, such as Memorial Day ceremonies and Veterans Day parades. At these events, partners can specifically highlight those who served during the Vietnam War.
Following a tour of the Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Frankfort, Department of Defense representative Yvonne Schilz presented Kentucky Air Guard Chief of Staff Col. Steve Bullard with a certificate making the Kentucky National Guard a partner in commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War.
Following a tour of the Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Frankfort, Department of Defense representative Yvonne Schilz presented Col. Steve Bullard with a certificate making the Kentucky National Guard a partner in commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. Joining in on the presentation were Sandra O’Dea, Department of Defense and Col. (retired) Jerry Cecil, KVVM board member. (Photo by David Altom, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs)
“The Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial is a sacred place and truly honors the Commonwealth’s Vietnam veterans,” said Schilz. “We look forward to working with the Kentucky Guard in the future on this very important project.”
“The Kentucky National Guard’s mission in Vietnam is legendary,” said Bullard. “There is hardly anyone in the veterans community who isn’t familiar with the story of the boys of Bardstown. We need to keep that memory alive, not just for their generation, but for their children and their children’s children. Being a partner in this commemoration is key to preserving the history of what happened fifty years ago.”
Click here for more info on Kentucky’s 50th Anniversary project.
Staff report
November is Military Family Appreciation Month, a celebration of the Military Family in which the Department of Defense and the nation honors the commitment and sacrifices made by the families of the nation’s service members. We offer the following to raise awareness on matters of importance among Kentucky’s unsung heroes.
FRANKFORT, Ky. – Money is often cited as the number one problem when it comes to preserving domestic tranquility. Money builds us up and it brings us down. Some think it is the key to happiness; the mismanagement of it is most certainly key to our misery.
Not everybody has a Santa to bail them out during the holiday spending season. Good money management can be the greatest gift your family can receive. (Kentucky National Guard file photo)
In the military community money is a huge factor when it comes to wartime deployment. Adding to those hardships are complications arising from pay issues, particularly during the recent sequestration and federal shutdown.
That’s the bad news. The good news is that the Kentucky National Guard recognizes these challenges. Regina Harris is an accredited finance counselor on staff with the Family Programs as a personal finance counselor. Let’s see what she has to say about money and what to do about it.
So what exactly is your job?
My official mission is to assist service members with any personal financial issue that arises in their or their families lives. I strive to let them know that my services are free, anonymous and confidential.
Is this strictly a National Guard program?
While I work with National Guard Family Programs, I’m available to help any military service member, active duty and reserve force. We support Kentucky’s entire military community.
What are some of the financial challenges military families face?
Couples don’t always see eye to eye on finances. It helps to have a neutral person assist or guide them to making sound financial decisions; establishing that neither person is right or wrong. We can always realize outlandish financial decisions without any other input.
It’s not just married couples, either. Single service members often need someone to talk with about financial accountability. I can do that for them. Service members sometimes want guidance on budgeting, buying a car, buying auto or life insurance, buying a house, getting into an apartment, child support, preparing for a Furlough or answering a Security Clearance inquiry. Also, relieving debts, saving for emergencies and retirement are worthy topics.
Does a military service member have to be in trouble to use your services?
No, you do not have to be in financial distress. A personal finance counselor may be the only phone number you have to connect you to other resources; we gladly connect. Even when things are going fantastically well financially we can be a sounding board to help you plug any possible financial oversights or to agree with your plan.
Do you ever visit units on site?
Yes, I’m happy to provide financial briefs at the unit level. I regularly attend Yellow Ribbon ceremonies and I’m available for other events as well.
It’s my pleasure to help service members feel good and in control of their money. It’s my passion to serve, it’s what I do and it’s why the DOD has provided these person financial counselor services for you.
If you need help with your finances or just have general questions contact Regina Harris at 502-548-4836 or [email protected]
dwa
Story by Capt. John T. Stamm, 123rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Volunteers for the National Disaster Medical System carry simulated patients off a C-130 during a earthquake-response exercise held May 18, 2011, at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky. Operated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services with volunteers from multiple agencies like the Department of Veterans Affairs, NDMS was created to manage the federal government’s overall medical response to major emergencies and disasters. (U.S. Air Force photo by Maj. Dale Greer)
Click here for more photos on this story.
KENTUCKY AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Amidst the chaos of moans, groans and cries for help, members of the 123rd Airlift Wing conducted patient triage and provided emergency medical care for more than a dozen men and women badly injured in an earthquake and subsequent plane crash here May 18.
Paul Beard (left), a mental health professional at the Robley Rex Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Louisville, and Troy Colón, an assistive technology professional at the Louisville VA hospital, carry a simulated patient off a Kentucky Air National Guard C-130 during earthquake-response exercises held May 18, 2011, at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky. The exercises were designed to test the capabilities of government agencies following a major earthquake along the New Madrid fault line. (U.S. Air Force photo by Maj. Dale Greer)
Fortunately, the patients were volunteers, and their injuries weren’t real. Instead, they were part of two simulations designed to test the disaster-response capabilities of the Kentucky Air Guard medical group and multiple federal agencies, including the Robley Rex Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Louisville.
Tech. Sgt. Heather Speidel, a medic with the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Medical Group, simulates inserting a breathing tube in the windpipe of a notional plane-crash victim during earthquake-response exercises held May 18, 2011, at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky. The exercises were designed to test the ability of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Kentucky Air Guard to provide medical care following a major earthquake along the New Madrid fault line. (U.S. Air Force photo by Maj. Dale Greer)
In the first scenario, a C-130 carrying injured earthquake victims landed at the Kentucky Air Guard Base, where medical personnel were standing by to carry them off the plane and prepare them for transport to local hospitals. Many of the “patients” had been evacuated from simulated hospitals and nursing homes in the notional earthquake zone, which meant they required special care as soon as they arrived in Louisville, according to Lt. Col. Beth Leistensnider, medical readiness officer for the 123rd Airlift Wing.
Although medical personnel from the wing assisted with patient care during the first scenario, the event primarily was intended to test the VA’s support of the National Disaster Medical System, Colonel Leistensnider explained. Operated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, NDMS was created to manage the federal government’s overall medical response to major emergencies and disasters. In addition to the VA, the NDMS also partners with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Defense, state and local departments of health, and private hospitals.
“In the event of a large-scale disaster such as an earthquake, the Louisville VA will be responsible for setting up a patient reception area on our base,” Colonel Leistensnider said. “Under NDMS, federal authorities will arrange for patients to be flown here from affected areas, the patients will be received by the VA, and they will be transported to local healthcare facilities.”
The partnership between the VA and the Kentucky Air Guard is a valuable one, according William Young, emergency response coordinator for the Louisville VA.
“The base’s involvement in this operation is very critical,” Mr. Young said. “We don’t have the manpower or support to do this by ourselves. Additionally, the medical staff here provides us with invaluable training on how to provide the best care to a large number of patients.”
Colonel Leistensnider agreed that joint exercises offer tremendous benefits for patient care.
A member of the Louisville Regional Airport Authority Fire Department responds to a simulated plane crash during earthquake-response exercises held May 18, 2011, at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky. The exercises were designed to test the capabilities of government agencies following a major earthquake along the New Madrid fault line. (U.S. Air Force photo by Maj. Dale Greer)
“The more contact we have with the different agencies we may be involved with during an emergency, the more effective we all become,” she said.
The second exercise held May 18 was limited to the wing’s 123rd Medical Group, whose members were tasked with rendering aid to earthquake victims who were subsequently involved in a plane crash. The scenario required triage of difficult and combative patients and emergency medical care under field conditions, with cases ranging from head trauma and fractured bones to a heart attack and a woman in labor.
“After notification of the incident, we set up our medical control and emergency operations center, set up our communications channels, practiced our system of patient tracking and provided treatment as patients arrived,” Colonel Leistensnider said.
“We didn’t know what was coming at us, which is a very realistic possibility. But we met our objectives by creating a realistic environment and performing our duties using the equipment we had available. With each exercise, we improve. The next time, we’ll be even more prepared.”
Both exercises augmented National Level Exercise 2011, a weeklong event designed to test the local, state and national response to a simulated earthquake along the New Madrid Fault. NLE 2011, which concludes May 20, includes participation from emergency responders in eight central states, the National Guard and multiple federal entities.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. (Feb. 23, 2010) - The U.S. Departments of Defense, Labor and Veterans Affairs are pleased to introduce the re-designed and enhanced National Resource Directory Web site, www.NationalResourceDirectory.gov.
Created for Wounded Warriors, Veterans and their families and caregivers, the new National Resource Directory has proved to be a useful tool for service providers who support the military and Veterans communities.
The National Resource Directory provides access to over 10,000 services and resources at the national, state and local levels to support recovery, rehabilitation and community reintegration. We are proud to assure our users they can trust the content as resources are reviewed regularly by a content management team that includes several Veterans and subject matter experts.
A few features of the new Web site include a faster, more robust search engine; a Bookmark & Share capability for use with social media tools; and an “In the News” feature that provides links to news and updates about Wounded Warrior and Veterans issues. Also included on the site is an expanded Homeless Assistance section where users can find information on a variety of programs and benefits.
