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Story and photos by 1st Lt. Mark Slaughter, Kentucky National Guard Yellow Ribbon Program
FRANKFORT, Ky. — For as long as nations have gone to war Families and friends have searched for ways to show support for their deployed loved ones. Over the years one symbol has become universal in showing love for a Soldier or Airman far away from home; the yellow ribbon. Simply tied to a porch or a tree in one’s yard, this modest image has come to represent ongoing love in the midst of absence.
The Kentucky National Guard has tied a yellow ribbon around the state, showing faithful support for the deployed troops and their Families. Authorized by the National Defense Authorization Act of 2008, the Department of Defense Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program provides National Guard and Reserve Members and their Families with information, services, referral and proactive outreach opportunities throughout the entire deployment cycle.
1st Lt. Oscar Ortiz prepares for a Yellow Ribbon event that will be held at the Keeneland Sales Pavilion, 4201 Versailles Road, Lexington, Ky. on October 23. (Photo by 1st Lt. Mark Slaughter, Kentucky Yellow Ribbon Program)
“We are here to inform the Soldiers and their Families of the many benefits they are entitled to for their service before, during and after deployment,” says 1st Lt. Oscar Ortiz, Yellow Ribbon Program Coordinator.
Ortiz and his staff are preparing for a during deployment event to be held at the Keeneland Sales Pavilion, 4201 Versailles Road, Lexington, Ky. on October 23. It is open to any and all Family members with a Soldier or Airman who is currently mobilized.
“Yellow Ribbon events like this are intended to familiarize our Families with the resources available to them and give them opportunities to speak to service providers on site,” said Ortiz.
According to Ortiz, Yellow Ribbon representatives are available during the pre-deployment stage, to provide information and services that help Service Members and Families prepare for the separation. Training, resources and services are available to help in the areas including financial preparation, emotional health, household support, deployment safety, and other strategies designed to help the Soldier and their Family transition into the deployment phase.
“It’s a pleasure working with Service Members and Families, knowing that I can make a difference,” says Rachel Conyers, Yellow Ribbon Program specialist who is helping Ortiz coordinate the upcoming event.
Rachel Conyers mails letters to families in preparation of an upcoming Yellow Ribbon event. (Photo by 1st Lt. Oscar Ortiz, Kentucky Yellow Ribbon Program)
Events are planned during the deployment that focuses on addressing the challenges and stressors associated with the separation that National Guard Families may experience. They also provide an opportunity for Family members to connect with one another while their Soldier is deployed.
Yellow Ribbon support continues following a Soldier’s return with 60 to 90-day reintegration events. Service Members and Families can look forward to receiving marriage assessment and counseling information, Veterans Affairs information and enrollment assistance, education and training benefits, domestic violence awareness and prevention, suicide awareness and prevention, as well as vital health information on traumatic brain injury and post traumatic stress disorder. Service providers from organizations like the Veterans Affairs Vet Center, TRICARE, Military OneSource, NGB Employer Support, Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program are also represented.
For more information on the upcoming Yellow Ribbon event in October — or any other question regarding the Yellow Ribbon program — contact Rachel Conyers, 502-607-1062 or email: rachel.conyers@us.army.mil.
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Spc. Michael Atcher and Spc. Nathaniel Nichols, 138th Fires Brigade, stand ready at their M101A1, 105mm Light Towed Howitzer.
Story and photos by Staff Sgt. Steve Tressler, 138th Fires Brigade Public Affairs NCOIC
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Kentucky Guardsman Master Sgt. Richard Smith loves his job as an artillery “redleg” with the 138th Fires Brigade.
“I joined the artillery because I liked to see things blow-up” said Smith.
The 138th’s nickname is “Kentucky Thunder,” and it’s been blowing things up for a long time. So it was only fitting that the 138th supported the 22nd Annual Thunder Over Louisville, a part of the official opening ceremonies to begin the Kentucky Derby Festival.
“I’ve been doing this so long I can’t even remember the first time,” said Smith.
The Soldier connection to Thunder goes even further. It turns out that Wayne Hettinger, founder of Thunder over Louisville is a former Army man himself.
A former Army man, Wayne Hettinger was all smiles just seconds before the start of the fireworks show he started more than two decades ago.
“I was so excited that the Army was a going to be a part of this as they have for so many years,” said Hettinger said. “This started as just a little fireworks show in 1990 and has really blown-up.”
“Pun intended” he added.
Soldiers from the 138th Fires Brigade stand ready on the 2nd street bridge to fire the first volley of rounds to begin the 22nd annual Thunder Over Louisville fireworks show.
This year’s Thunder started an hour later than scheduled due to heavy winds and dark clouds, not to mention a nasty spitting rain that seemed to never quite go away.
Weather wasn’t a factor for the Guard Soldiers on the second street bridge, however. Staff Sgt. JC Parsons, readiness NCO for the 138th, got his crew of 10 soldiers ready to fire the 105mm blank cartridges out of the M101A1 guns, marking the official opening of the Derby Festival.
“I’ve been a part of this for a while and I still get a buzz from being this close to it all,” said Parsons. “I’m fifty feet away here on the bridge … it’s just wild.”
Staff Sgt. Michael Polston couldn’t agree more. “It’s crazy to be this close, but it’s a lot of fun though!”
No doubt. It’s like Smith said, “You get to watch things blow-up.”
And for a “redleg” nothing is more natural or for that matter, more fun.
Spc. Nathaniel Nichols and Cadet Denis Babiyev prepare to launch some “Kentucky Thunder” at this year's Thunder Over Louisville fireworks show.
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Story by Sgt. Paul Evans and Sgt. Bryan Ploughe, Unit Public Affairs/Historian Representatives
Soldiers from Headquarters, 103rd Brigade Support Battalion put their shovels in the ground prior to planting tree seedlings outside the Harrodsburg Armory on April 22, 2011. The 103rd’s tree-planting efforts were a part of Earth Day honors across the state. (Photo by Sgt. Paul Evans, 103rd BSB Unit Public Affairs/Historian Representative)
Glasgow and Harrodsburg, Ky. — Kentucky Guardsmen joined a statewide Earth Day celebration by planting more than 120 white pine seedlings at armories across the commonwealth April 22.
Lt. Col. Jeffery Hughes and Sgt. 1st Class David Page take special care in planting one of fifteen white pine seedlings at the Glasgow National Guard Armory to celebrate Earth Day 2011. (Photo by Sgt. Bryan Ploughe, 1/623rd FA Unit Public Affairs/Historian Representative)
“The Kentucky National Guard has a long standing reputation of giving back to the communities where our units are embedded,” said Lt. Col. Jeffery Hughes, 1st Battalion, 623d Field Artillery commander. “This was once again a display of the selfless service that our Soldiers are known for.”
138th Brigade Command Sergeant Major Joey Simpson sees the effort as a matter of pride in ownership.
“The Glasgow Armory was built the early 1960’s, and has been through a few updates,” stated Simpson. “This is just a small improvement that we can make to continue to beautify our campus.”
The planting of trees across the Commonwealth of Kentucky sets the standard for what can be accomplished in the future to celebrate Earth Day and support the Guard the Environment campaign and the Kentucky’s growing green mission.
“Anybody that has been deployed overseas can appreciate the value of a tree and what it has to offer,” said Staff Sgt. Will Sewell. “I take great pride in providing this treasure for future generations.”
Members of the 103rd Brigade Support Battalion in Harrodsburg shared their fellow Soldiers’ concern for the future.
“It feels good knowing these trees are something our children will benefit from one day,” says Staff Sgt. Mark Arnold.
“We are trained to destroy the enemy on the battle field,” said Staff Sgt. Timothy Collins. “But today we are planting life on this earth.”
Staff Sgt. Mark Arnold of Harrodsburg’s Headquarters, 103rd Brigade Support Battalion distributes tree seedlings as Staff Sgt. Eddie Donahue marks a planting location on April 22, 2011. (Photo by Sgt. Paul Evans, 103rd BSB Unit Public Affairs/Historian Representative)
Capt. Brian Mattingly plants a tree seedling outside the Harrodsburg Armory on April 22, 2011. (Photo by Sgt. Paul Evans, 103rd BSB Unit Public Affairs/Historian Representative)
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Courtesy Fort Knox PAO
FORT KNOX, Ky. (July 15, 2010)- The Kentucky Army National Guard’s 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery will host a live fire event at Old St. Vith Range at Fort Knox, Ky., Friday, July 16 at 2 p.m.
Family members, employers, and media are invited to the event showcasing the unit’s artillery equipment, which includes small arms weapons, crew-served weapons and howitzers, displayed at the range starting at 1:00 p.m.
The official ceremony will commence at 2 p.m. and will include a presentation to family members and fifteen employers for their continued support and will honor the service of the battalion’s retirees. Other awards presented will be the Ancient Order of St. Barber and The Legion of Merit Award to retirees of the battalion.
The ceremony will conclude with a memorial tribute to the sixteen soldiers from the battalion who lost their lives in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, the Vietnam War and other non-combat related incidents.
“We haven’t done an event like this in nine years,” said Lt. Col. Brian Wertzler, commander of 2/138th Fires Battalion. “This allows the families and employers to see what we do when we attend drill and annual training and are gone for two weeks.”
Media who wish to cover this event must contact the Fort Knox Public Affairs Office at (502) 624-4413 or (502)296-4798 to make arrangements.
Photos of the equipment and activities are permitted by all attendees.
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Staff Report
2nd Lt. Joshua Witt speaking at the 26th Annual Governor’s Safety Conference. Lieutenant Witt is the KYARNG Safety and Occupational Health Manager.
Frankfort, Ky. (June 24, 2010) –– National Guard Soldiers across the Commonwealth will be seeing, hearing and experiencing Army Safety in a new way this summer. The J1 Safety Office has initiated a renewed commitment to actively engaging Soldiers and leaders across the organization. This plan of direct and indirect communication will foster much needed one-on-one contact with the field. Phone calls, targeted emails and Unit specific training will serve to engender a widened view of Army Safety.
“In order for Army Safety to be an integral part of the conversation, it first has to be made credible and relevant to the audience,” said 2nd Lt. Joshua Witt the KYARNG Safety and Occupational Health Manager. “Soldiers want to know what right looks like and will follow the examples they see.”
The J1 Safety Office has already begun to make inroads through recent public speaking engagements at the 26th Annual Governor’s Safety Conference and Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Weekends. Soldiers and their families are especially interested in learning about emergency preparedness for natural disasters. The resources available at www.ready.gov and Ready Army have been well received as Guard members anticipate future state active duty missions and emergency mobilizations. Preparing in advance of such events promotes individual and family safety.
The grass roots safety campaign will include site visits and formal classroom instruction at Guard facilities throughout the state. Sgt. Michael Clem, Safety Administrative NCO, is scheduled to train and certify 100 full-time KYNG technicians in Red Cross adult CPR and first aid. These skills are valuable to Soldiers at work, at home and in their communities. Field Maintenance Shop 9 in Glasgow and the Maneuver Area Training Equipment Site at Fort Knox will be the first locations to receive Red Cross training.
Motorcycle safety training will continue to be a focus due to increasing numbers of Soldier accidents and fatalities. The two and a half day Basic Rider Course (BRC) is being offered at numerous locations from Paducah to Ashland. In most cases, the cost for Soldiers to attend the BRC is paid by the J1 Safety Office.
Commanders and additional duty safety officers can also receive specialized safety assistance as units prepare for annual training and related events. The J1 Safety Office anticipates working alongside leaders at all levels to ensure that safety best practices are heard and understood.
“This level of engagement is imperative if safety is to become more than a good idea,” stated Witt. “We will go where the Soldiers are, and do what the Soldiers do. We’ll serve as the safety subject matter experts and lead from the front. This how we can best serve the Soldiers in the field.”
Contact:
SGT Michael Clem
michael.w.clem@us.army.mil
100 Minuteman Parkway, Building 124
Frankfort, KY 46041
(502) 607-1276
