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527THENGR BNRUSTON

This newspaper is an Authorized Publication for members of theLouisiana National Guard. Contents of the Louisiana Guardsmanare not necessarily the official views of, endorsed by, the U.S.Government, Dept. of Defense, Dept. of the Army, or the LouisianaNational Guard.

TWIRD CLASSPOSTAGE

PAIDCedarburg, WlPennttNo. 199

Page 2 LOUISIANA GUARDSMAN APRIL/MAY 1992

CPT. Michael J. Borrel

Borrel Selected forMac Arthur Award

Reprinted in part from On GuardBy CPT Phil Blahut

One of Louisiana's own wasselected for the prestigious GeneralDouglas MacArthur LeadershipAward.

Capt. Michael J. Borrel,commander of Company B, 199thSupport Battalion was selected asone of five Army Guard captains forthe award. The award is presentedannually to a lieutenant or captainwho demonstrates the MacArthurideals of "Duty, Honor, and Country."

The stones of the five recipientsrange from serving in Desert Stormto developing a winning unittraining program.

Although Bor re l ' s LouisianaArmy National Guard unit did notfight in the desert sands duringOperation Desert Storm, a 5th U.S.Army evaluation labeled them"fully capable to accomplish theirwartime mission" had the Gulf Warlasted longer.

An open communications policyand teamwork style leadership werethe successful ingredients used byBorrel while his unit was deployed toFort Hood, Texas. While there,Borrel's soldiers successfullyprovided direct support maintenancefor the 256th Brigade in the areas ofautomotive repair, communications,electronic repair, track vehicle,artillery, small arms TOW missile

repair and provided parts supplyduring warfare training.

"Training and maintenance atFort Hood were a challenge for myuni t . What made our mission asuccess was the programs weimplemented back in 1990," saidBorrel. "Before we were mobilized,my troops were familiar withsharing ideas, talking problemsout and doing a lot of work duringdrill weekends."

Achievement is nothing new toSorrel's unit. Prior to the DesertStorm activation, the unit wasawarded the Superior Unit Awardand the Fifth Army Award forMaintenance Excellence, twice and in1990, the Chief of Staff of the Armyfor Maintenance Excellence Award.

"We were fortunate to have a lotof citizen-soldiers with technicalbackgrounds. Many young soldierswere able to gain experience fromthe activation period which willhelp their civilian careers, theNational Guard and the U.S. Army,"said Borrel.

"My NCO's established a lot oftrust in the younger soldiers. Theydid a superior job under a lot ofstress. They were proud to do themission with no outside assistancefrom other units."

"We were ready to go to war ifneeded. We were trained and qualifiedto do our mission," concluded theMacArthur Award winner.

ON THE FRONT COVER: (Top) MG Ansel M. Stroud, Jr., and CW4Allan Couvillion accepted Louisiana's first place distinctive ACOEtrophy and flag at a May 21 ceremony in the Pentagon CenterGardens in Washington, D.C. Representatives from each major com-mand in the state accompanied MG Stroud to Washington for theacceptance events. (Photo by SGT Kristi L. Moon, 241st PAD)(Bottom) Louisiana troops turned up in New Orleans from all overthe state representing their units to the 1992 ACOE Evaluation Teamin February. (Photo by SSG Carl Waelde, 209th P8C)

Study ReleasedAn environmental assessment forexpansion of two small-arms rangesinto eight separate small-armsranges at Camp Beauregard nearPineville will be available for publicreview beginning Tuesday.

The ranges will be able to handlesmall-arms fire only. That includesM-16 rifles, .45 caliber pistols, M2and M60 machine guns, andM203/LAW launchers. The latter canuse only non-explosive rounds.

The document, prepared by theNational Guard Bureau and theLouisiana National Guard, will beavailable for review at postheadquarters, Building 409, F Street,

the main Rapides Parish Library,411 Washington St., Alexandria; andthe Ward 10 Library, 809 Tioga HighSchool Rd.,Tioga.

A limited number of copies areavailable through the mail. Anyoneinterested should contact LANG-Public Affairs Office, ATTN: Sgt.Kristi Moon, Building 32. JacksonBarracks, New Orleans, LA 70146.Her telephone number is 504-278-6281.

If environmental impacts for theexpansion are found to be significant,an environmental impact statementwill have to be prepared beforeinstruction can begin.

New Memorial To HonorWomen SoldiersArmed Forces Day May 16, 1992

The Women in Military ServiceMemorial Foundation (WIMSA) issponsoring a national campaign toregister women veterans, as well aswomen serving on active duty, in theNational Guard and Reserves.

WIMSA was authorized byCongress in 1986 to build a memorialin Washington, D.C. dedicated to thewomen who have served the UnitedStates military throughout history,from the American Revolution toOperation Desert Storm and beyond.

A unique feature of the Memorialwill be the Register, a computerizeddata base containing a photo,military history and memorable

experiences of the almost 2 millionwomen who have served.

The search is underway for thesewomen (or their descendants) whocan tell the stories which will finallydocument women's role in themilitary. WIMSA is asking allwomen veterans and present dayservice women to register for theMemorial in order to capture themissing pieces of history of women'scontributions to out* nationaldefense.

For more information about thememorial, write:

Women in Mili tary ServiceMemorial Foundation Dept. 560Washington, D.C. 20042-0560

Or call: I -800-4-SALUTE

Louisiana GuardsmanThe Adjutant General, La. Army

and Air National GuardMaJ. Gen. Ansel M. Stroud, Jr.

Chief of Staff (Army)Col. Paul D. Afford. Jr.

Deputy Commander (Air)Cot. Harry A. Trosclalr

Public Affairs Officer1stU. Maria L.Jonkers

This newspaper is an authorizedpublication for members of the LouisianaArmy and Air National Guard. Contentsof the Louisiana Guardsman are notnecessarily the official views, or endorsedby, the U.S. Government, Department ofDefense, Department of the Army, or theLouisiana National Guard.

Original articles pertaining toLouisiana National Guard units orindividuals that would be of interest tothe Guard community may be submittedto La. National Guard, Office of the AG,LANG-PAO (SGT Moon), JacksonBarracks, New Orleans, La. 70146-0330.

241st PUBLICAFFAIRS STAFF

EditorLayoutReporter

SSG Paul SylvestSGT Kristi MoonSOT Lucas Landren«auSGT Kristi MoonSPC Michael RitterSPC Rebekah Lloyd

Chief of StaffHotline

1-800-233-6796

State FamilyAssistance Office

1-800-531-5860

APRIL/MAY 1992 LOUISIANA GUARDSMAN Page 3

j.̂ ^**&£:

Women's History CelebratedThe Federal Women's Program

was a success because of you. OnMarch 26, 1992, the first FederalWomen's Program luncheon was heldat Jackson Barracks. The program'stheme "A Patchwork of Many Lives"emphasized the background ofwomen from all societies . A posterdisplayed over forty courageouswomen who contributed to ournation's history. These women inmany ways are the same as you andme. Mr«. Sybil Morial, (pictured) the

guest speaker, acknowledged. Sheinspired all women to celebrate theirpotential and to build strength withstrategies through education.Honorees from the National Guardincluded: MAJ Paula Nunez, 1LTMary Alice Salcido. 2LT DianneMandeville, CW2 Kin Ansardi, SGMDarlene Trahan, SMS BrendaLomax, TSGT Judie Mclntyre, andTSGT Stacy Schambach. (Photo bySGT Kirk A. Johnson, LANG-PAO)

May Dedicated to AsianPacific American Heritage

In 1991, Congress' Joint Re-solution 173 designated May 1991and 1992 as Asian/Pacific AmericanHeritage months.

May was chosen to highlight theculture, heritage and contributions ofAsian- and Pacific-Americansbecause significant events pertainingto their struggles in their adoptedcountry occurred during the month.

May 7, 1992, marks the 149thanniversary of the arrival of the firstJapanese immigrants to America in1843-ion

May 8, 1992 is the 123rdanniversary of the driving of the"golden spike", which symbolized thecompletion of the nation's firsttranscontinental railroad.The"golden spike" joined the two ends ofthe railroad in 1869. Many of thelaborers were Chinese immigrants.

May 4, 1979, was the beginning ofthe first Asian/Pacific-AmericanHeritage Week observance in theUnited States.

More than 6 million Americanstrace their ancestry to Asian andPacific Islands. This year's theme is"Asian/Pacific-Americans -Effective-ness- E m powerment- Enhanceme nt."

"We selected this theme trying todescribe how Asians and PacificIslanders are effective, and throughtheir effectiveness, they become morerecognized and gain more influence.That's empowerment. Through all ofour efforts, society as a whole will beenriched," said Ruth Sing Wong,executive director of theAsian/Pacific-American HeritageCouncil for the Washington, D.C.,area.

The annual observance began anas informal week-long celebration inMay 1979. "During the Reaganadministration, I was a volunteerinside the White House, and we wereable to get the first officialrecognition by the president in asigning ceremony in 1987," said

Wong. Congress and PresidentGeorge Bush extended theobservance to a month in 1991.

The world marvels at the wealthof ancient art and philosophy, thefine craftsmanship and the colorfulliterature and folklore that havesprung from Asia and the PacificIslands," Bush said in hisproclamation. "Whether they tracetheir roots to places like Cambodia,Viet Nam, Korea, the Philippinesand the Marshall Islands or cherishtheir identities as natives of Hawaiiand Guam, all Asian and Pacific-Americans can take pride in thecelebration of their heritage."

Bush said Asian- and Pacific-Americans have worked hard to reapthe rewards of freedom andopportunity. "Many have arrived inthe United States after long andarduous journeys, escaping tyrannyand oppression with little more thanthe cloths on their backs," thepresident continued." "Yet, believingin America's promise of liberty andjustice for all and imbued with astrong sense of self-discipline,sacrifice, courage and honor, theyhave steadily advanced, earning therespect and admiration of theirfellow citizens."

Bush said political and economicties between the United States andcountries in Asia and the Pacific arefortified by strong bonds of kinshipand culture. "All Americans areenriched by those ties, and thus willproudly unite in observingAsian/Pacific-American HeritageMonth."

When California Rep. Norman Y.Mineta introduced the houseresolution, he said, "America hasbeen called the melting pot of theworld. Rather than the melting pot,this nation is like a tapestiy withyarns of different fabrics and colors,interwoven to bring strength to ourcountry.

A 1992 Armed Forces Day Luncheon was held at the Sheraton Hotelin New Orleans May 28. Admiral Paul Miller, commander-in-chief ofthe U.S. Atlantic Fleet was the guest speaker.(Photo by SOT Kristi I . . Moon, 241* PAD)

Page 4 LOUISIANA GUARDSMAN APRIL/MAY 1992

Easter Comes To LifeBy SFC Edwin W. Guidroz

209th PSC

The lobby of Children's Hospital inNew Orleans became a playgroundApril 17; a playground of Easterfestivities for children at the hospitaland Louisiana National Guardsmenalike.

Members of Troop Command, the209th Personnel Service Company,their families and friends joinedtogether to sponsor an Easter EggHunt for the patients and visitors ofthe hospital.

Guardsmen collected stuffedanimals, coloring books, crayons,toys and plastic eggs to insure theirhunt was a success.

The children were greeted by theEaster Bunny, better known as Lt.

Col. Charles W.tt i - . executive officerof Troop Command. Chairs, sofas,tables and plants made excellenthiding places for Easter Eggs.

Following the Easter Egg Hunt,each child took a picture with theEaster Bunny and received a hand-made Easter Card frame.

The Easter Bunny and his helpersalso visited patients who wereunable to participate in the hunt.The next Troop Command/209thendeavor is the annual Children'sHospital Telethon in May, a fundraiser for the hospital. Members ofthe Easter Guardsmen agree there isno better feeling in the world thanlending a helping hand to those inneed, especially children.

Members of Troop Command and the 209th Personnel ServicesCompany made Easter happen for some very special children.Children's Hospital of New Orleans welcomed the guardsmen andlook forward to their next civic project. (209th PSC Photo)

LTC Charles Watts I D and SGT Marc Allen along with students fromVic Pitre Elementary School add to the thousands of pounds of fooddonated during the recent Starvation Awareness Week. (Photo andStory by SGT Kristi I.. Moon, 241st PAD)

Guard UnitsHelp Feed Hungry

Members of the Louis ianaNational Guard recently aided in thesuccess of Starvation AwarenessWeek, throughout New Orleans andJefferson Parish. This year's schoolfood drive efforts brought a total of116,572 pounds of food to SecondHarvesters Food Bank EmergencyFood Box Program.

At a press conference in May, theSecond Harvesters recognized keycontributors to this years successfulcampaign. Lt. Col. Charles Wattsand Sgt. Marc Allen represented theTroop Command units whoparticipated.

The Louisiana National Guard,

Troop Command, providedassistance in delivering bags andboxes to the area schools and withpick up and delivery of collected food.Fourteen National Guardsmen withthe use of five military trucks madethis year's Starvation AwarenessWeek School Food Drive a success.Members of Del 3 HQ STARC, the209th PSC, the 812 Med Co (AA),159th MASH, the 241st PAD and 1-244th AV all assisted with the eventfor the second year in a row.

The collected food will provide atwo month supply of nourishingmeals for the 29 agencies in theEmergency Food Box Program.

Get Your Stories In Guardsman PrintThe Louisiana Guardsman staff

welcomes story and photographsubmissions from individuals as wellas units and other organizations.

We thrive on stories from "thefield". Please tell us about yourtraining experience, communityprojects and drug demand reductionendeavors. We accept all stones andphotos and print as much as we can.

To aid uni t public affairsrepresentatives (UPARs) and othercontributors, the 241st Public AffairsDetachment provides the followingtips on how to write according to theAssociated Press Style Guide andmake the most of your stories.1-Give credit to the author. Include

a by-line: Rank and Name (ex.) BySGT Kin L. Rank Unit 3333d PAD

2-Give credit to the photographer.Include a cutline:

The 555th Armor Battalion,from Bunting, La., participates infund raising events to benefit alocal orphanage. (Photo by SGTKin L. Rank, 3333d PAD)

Photographs can also standalone. This means that there is noaccompanying story. Rather, thefew facts are provided as a storycutline and may include quotes, aswell as identifying key personnelin the picture.

3- In cutlines and bylines use threeletter all capitals rankabbreviations. Examples: PVT,SPC.SGT,2LT,CPT

4- In the text of the story use fullrank - Pvt., Sgt., Staff Sgt., Sgt.

First Class, Sgt. Maj., Second Lt..Capt, Col.

5-Write in the active voice. Thiscan be confusing so if youremember to show as much actionin each t h o u g h t as possible,you'll do fine.

6-Compliment stories with quotes.But don't use question and answertranscripts.

7-Double space and typesubmissions.

8-Deadlines are the first of everyother month - 1 May, 1 July, 1September, 1 November and 1Dec 92.

9-Provide a proposed headline ortitle for your story. Headlinesshould show action, too.

10-In second reference to a person.

only use last name.(Example: Pvt. John Doe won the

race. Doe's time was 3:45.)11-Type stories in upper and lower

case letters. Using all caps isconfusing since the military usesso many acronyms.

12-Put the most important facts inthe first and second paragraphs.

I3-The shorter the story the better.The shorter the paragraph thebetter. The shorter the sentencethe better.These are suggestions for those

who contribute to the LouisianaGuardsman. Don't throwimagination to the wind, but thecloser to a real newspaper story yourstory sounds, the better the chance ithas at being published.

APRIL/MAY 1992 LOUISIANA GUARDSMAN Pages

204th ASG Units Work Year Round204th Conveys Anti-Drug Message

Soldiers of the 204th Area SupportGroup took the initiative for thisyear's drug demand reductionprogram recently.

When Capt. Donna A. Lajoie,commander of HHC, 204th ASGrequested assistance, she was metwith motivat ion by so ld iurs whocared to go the extra distance.

Four soldiers of the 204th, Pvt.Anthony Henry, Spec. Brian Forjet,Spec. Kirk Landreneau and Spec.Steven Barter devoted their time,energy and efforts to help area schoolchildren win the war on drugs.

Holy Cross School held a"Wellness Week" the third week ofApril. On April 13 and 14, the 204thsoldiers manned a display booth

equipped with films, audiovisuals,bumper stickers, bookmarkers andpamphlets for the school's f if ththrough eighth grade students. Thesoldiers also went to the classroomsand did presentations on the dangersof drugs. Then, the studentsparticipate in an open question andanswer discussion. The program wassuch a success that the 204th hopesto expand their presentation to otherelementary .junior and high schools.

"There is the basic message tothese kids that to be successful youhave to be drug free. The Armydoesn't do drugs and these soldierswent beyond the call of duty to showthem that," Lajoie said.

204th SoldiersLearn From Children

B y SPC I ) - . H I , , Gilardi204th ASG/PIO

Some very special children at theSoboloff Center recently remindedsoldiers of the 204th Area SupportGroup that not all battles are foughton the battlefield.

Touro Infirmary provides servicesfor 300 children with cerebral palsy.The Soboloff Center at Touroaddresses the needs of 15 preschoolchildren with the disease.

Part of the 204th's ArmyCommunities of Excellence programis to support the center. On March18. members of the 204th broughtchildren ages two through eight tothe Audubon Zoo for the day. Withwheelchairs and leg braces, thechildren set out to see the animalsand picnic with our guardsmen.

When the United Cerebral Palsy

Foundation of New Orleans lost itssponsor last December, the 204thwent to its aid. Now, the 204th holdsraffles, t-shirt sales and hat sales toraise money for the children. Notonly does the unit fund field trips,but it also provides funds for specialeducational equipment the childrenneed, such as power pads forcomputer learning.

The center, however, still needs afu l l - t ime sponsor. With mili tarybudget cuts, the 204th can only helpso much. "We donate our time evenwhen we can't donate enough funds,"Capt. Donna A. Lajoie said. Somemembers of the unit visit the centeronce a month and plan field tripsquarterly. Staff Sgt. Denise Walterssaid, "Their energy and strength arevery motivating. They are so willingto look out for each other. We, assoldiers, can learn a lot from them."

3673d Maintenance Co.Earns Excellence Award

The Department of the ArmyDeputy Chief of Staff for Logisticshas named a Louisiana NationalGuard Unit among the runners upfor the Army Chief of Staffs Awardfor Maintenance Excellence(AAME).

The 3673d Maintenance Company(Forward/Direct Support) was namedrunner up in the National GuardTOE/MTOE Units Heavy Category.

These awards are presented bythe Department of the Army torecognize exceptionalaccomplishments in UnitMaintenance. Competition for theaward includes submission of apacket spelling out the Unit'saccomplishments in the areas ofreadiness, Maintenance

Management, Cost Savings,innovative programs andMaintenance Training. The Unitsalso received on-site evaluations byfour two-man teams from the U.S.Army Ordinance Center & Schools(USAOC&S) Directorate ofEvaluation and Standardization, theexecutive agent for the program.

There were 36 semi-finalistsevaluated by USAOC&S this year.The program, which started in 1982,"focuses on the unit levelmaintenance operations of thecompany, battery and troop sizeunits in the active Army, U.S. ArmyReserves and U.S. Army NationalGuard," according to Jerry Macon,project officer for USAOC&S.

IWANTYOU

Our GreatestBattle is theWar on Drugs.Let's Win BIG!

DRUGFREE

Soldiers Train OnCoast Guard Turf

BY SPC Dane Kerne204th ASG/PIO

One of the keys to allied success inDesert Storm was the ability of theforces sent there to adapt to thesubstantially different environmentin Southwest Asia. However, one ofthe reasons they were able to do sowas because they based their methodof operation on a few, set, time-proven practices that wi l l workregardless of the surroundings. Thisallowed the 204th Area SupportGroup to execute a successful FieldTraining Exercise in a bit ofunchartered territory commonlyknown as the Coast GuardCommunications Station in the NewOrleans suburb of Algiers.

"We have proven that we canoperate in a tactical environment inthe past. I just felt it was time to getback to the basics." said Capt. DonnaLajoie, commander of HHC, 204thArea Support Group. The soldiers didjust that, centering the entireexercise around common tasktraining '("IT . Although many of thetasks reviewed were some familiarold standards, a few were somewhatless common. For instance, manysoldiers were fascinated andchallenged by the task of identifyingenemy aircraft. Another task thatwill recall fond memories of PrimaryLeadership Development Course wasa mini- Land Navigation Course. Thedriving proficiency of many of theunits' drivers was updated when theytook part in a night driving exercise

held on a dirt road - the MississippiRiver levee.

The exercise was smoothlyexecuted, mostly because of feedbackreceived by Lajoie from the soldiersduring the many After ActionReviews (AAR). "The company got alot out of the reviews because thesoldiers' feedback helped us to learna few things," said Lajoie. The lastAAR of the exercise was attended byCol. William Thomas, 204th's GroupCommander. After watching theproceedings, Thomas said that hewas pleased with the unit's effort.Thomas said that, since this was thefirst time he had ever observed theunit in action in the field, he wasn'tsure of what to expect. The initiativeshown by the NCOs in gettingthings done, the effectiveness oft ra ining away from our usualtraining site (Camp Villere), andmostly the cohesiveness of thesoldiers as a group was veryimpressive," said Lajoie.

Some of the aspects of thetraining received by the soldiers ofthe 204th in this exercise may oneday be glossed over as just "basicstuff* in comparison to other, morecomplex tasks they will encounter inthe future. Well, just ask some ofthe veterans of Desert Storm youencounter in the future one daywhile on duty and ask them justhow important some "basic" thingslike NBC was (and is) to them. Ifyou do, you may get the same soundadvise the 204th got: just get "backto the basics".

Page6 LOUISIANA GUARDSMAN APRIL/MAY 1992

Candidates CountdownTo Commission

B y I I I Jordan T . JonesLAMA

Annual Training for manyguardsmen means two weeks of sleepdeprivation, a relentless battle fightingbugs, and a grand opportunity to be onthe same aromatic level with nature.

To senior officer candidates nearinggraduation from the LouisianaMilitary Academy Officer Candidateprogram, it has a slightly differentconnotation. Their Phase HI annualtraining means a commitment todemonstrate what they have learnedup to that point in their training, and afinal opportunity to show theirpotential as future officers in theLouisiana Army National Guard.

Phase III is the culmination of thecandidates' 'training, highlighted by atrip to Texas. It is there that they workside-by-side with Texas and NewMexico senior candidates showingtheir skills. They perform practicallyall the functions required ofinfantrymen. They conduct raids,ambushes, go on patrols, carry outoffensive maneuvers and set updefenses. The candidates learn toperform these activities in squad tocompany-size elements, which givethem a better understanding of therole each plays.

The candidates are placed invarious leadership positions to obtainthe genuine feeling of responsibilityall officers encounter. They also learnthe role of the enlisted ranks by beingplatoon sergeants, M-60 gunners, orprivates on a defensive perimeter—actually digging armpit deep fightingpositions. They experience stress,frustration, anger and pain as aminimum. At Best, they understandthese feelings and learn how to usethem for constructive purposes. But,learning is the key. "What does notkill me makes me stronger,"Neitzsche.

Our job is to train, advise ancounsel (TAG) candidates. We are theTAG Officers. We place them insituations which bring out theaforementioned emotions to determinetheir physical and psychological

boundaries. When we find a weakness,we explore it, then show thecandidates how to overcome it. Thebottom line is that we turn candidatesinto leaders.

The most difficult aspect of being aTAG officer is knowing when andwhen not to apply varying levels ofstress to the senior candidates whenthey are seniors. Though we aredealing with a variety of personalities,we follow standards directly related totheir level of training in the program.By then they are ready to begin beingtreated .is officers and that is when thedifficulty comes in.

Sometimes the desire to help out toomuch arises, similar to an olderbrother attempting to assist a youngerone in need. But a TAG must alwaysstrive to maintain his bearing andremember his role with the academy.Sure, we advise and counsel but wecannot allow ourselves to becomeemotionally involved. We understandwhat they are going through becausewe have been there.

The majority of the TAG Officersare graduates from the Army ReserveComponent Officer CandidateProgram. We know what goes througha candidate's mind on arrival in Texas.They think about what they havelearned, the experiences they havehad, and how good it feels to be a fewweeks away from a commission. Thistrip to Texas will not be much differentfrom any other Phase III annualTraining, except there will be differentfaces in different places and differentforces serving as aggressors.

For the seniors, it is almost overwith only a few days of administrativework to accomplish, a dining-in, thenthe "Big" day. For the TAG officers, itis a brief reflection on the past year'straining, and an hour and a half towatch the faces of those we trainedcross the stage with pride. We sendthe newly commissioned off withwords of wisdom; such as, "Forexample, is not proof," Yiddishproverb. The new lieutenantscelebrate the moment, and TAGofficers go back to work because thereis another OGS class to train.

Officers Trade-In Warrants1LT Susan Keller

AMEDD Recruiting

In February, 1992 three hundredPhysician's Assistants traded in theirwarrant officer rank for commissionedofficer rank insignia. Physician'sAssistants Army-wide are presentlybeing converted to commissionedofficers under this new provision. Thereserve component has a 10 yeartransition period in which Physician'sAssistants are able to remain warrantofficers before converting tocommissioned officers. This allowance

was made due to the difference ineducational requirements, professionalcredentials, and the preference of thePhysician's Assistant to remain awarrant officer. Physician Assistantsthat meet all qualifications are beingcommissioned in the Army MedicalSpecialist Corp, Area of Concentration65D, and in the rank of second to firstlieutenant

Prerequisite requirements forconsideration of commissioned officerstatus within the Army MedicalSpecialist Corps are graduation froman American Medical Association

approved Physician Assistants trainingprogram, BS or BA degree in any areaof study, and current certification bythe National Commission Certificationof Physician's Assistants. The 10 yeartransition period will enable warrantofficers to meet all prerequisiterequirements or remain in theirwarrant officer rank for the remainderof their military career.

In the Louisiana Army NationalGuard we have successfully convertedone Physician's Assistant to thecommissioned officer ranks. SecondLieutenant Eddie Thomas, assigned to

Headquarters 3/156th Infantry, wasappointed as a commissioned officer onMarch 13, 1992. The newcommissioning process will effect morethan just the already trained PhysicianAssistants. Direct CommissionPhysician's Assistants and Armytraining participants wi l l alsoexperience changes in processing,training, and rank structure. Theregulation pertaining to this subjecthas not been distributed yet, howeverinformation is being disseminated byword of mouth from the NationalGuard Bureau.

5th AG's Shooting Match HeldSGT Thomas W. Moulton

I ' M )

With worldwide Army drawdownrapidly becoming a reality, soldiersmust be the best they can be, in allfacets of their training. Recently,soldiers from the major commands(MAGOMs) around the state wentto Fort Polk to show just howproficient they are with combat rifleand pistol shooting.

The occasion was the 5th AdjutantGeneral's Combat Rifle and PistolCompetit ion Although the weatherwasn't particularly pleasant, the cold,wet and windy March day did notstop the four teams from competing.

Each team was comprised of sixsoldiers, a team captain, coach and fourteam members with a maximum rankof captain for officers and mastersergeant for enlisted. They fired theM16A1 or A2, which ever is assigned totheir respective units. It was alsorequired that they wear kevlar helmetsand full load bearing equipment.

The day began with a safetybriefing by 1st Lt. Paul Addison,Range OIC and Sgt. First Glass DanSaxon, the Range NCO of HQSTARC. The team members thenbegan the actual competition with atwo mile run carrying everything thatwould be carried on the range.

This should be completed inunder 25 minutes. Sgt. Gary Root,of the 156th Infantry, upheld theteam concept to the fullest extent,completing the course in squadformation. The last runnercrossed the line in 19 minutes andfive seconds.

The course of fire consisted of 10rounds, sustained fire from thestanding position in two minutes at100 meters. Then 10 rounds of rapidfire in the sitting position at 200meters in 50 seconds, followed by 10rounds of rapid fire at 300 metersassuming the prone position in 60seconds. In each of these events, ashooter could score a maximum of 150points, 50 for each event.

The event which really testsshooter skill is shooting 400 metersout with 20 rounds of slow firedelivered on target in 22 minutesfrom the prone position. This event ismost taxing on the shooters becausethe target is dropped and scored after

each round is fired. This eventgarners a possible 100 points.

With the competition complete, LtCol. Bob Williams, Deputy Director ofSecurity and Training and Col.Edmund J. Giering awarded firstplace to the 2228th Engineers, 2ndplace to the 204th Area SupportGroup, 3rd place to the 415th MilitaryIntelligence Battalion and 4th placeto 2/156th Infantry, representing the256th Infantry Brigade.

There was better weather on thefollowing day and the competitioncontinued. After the usual safetybriefings, the pistol competitorsbegan their match with a two milerun and then the firing portion.All targets were engaged from 25meters. Table II, called the "Duel",tests the shooters abi l i ty torapidly engage a target and placeaccurate sustained fire from thestanding position. Table III is themil i ta ry rapid fire from thestanding position.

The 205th Engineers scored 1122points of a possible 1200 points forfirst place. The 2/156th Armor wassecond with 1103, the 3671st HeavyEquipment Maintenance scored 1079for third place and the 159th MASHfinished in fourth. Capt. Joe Nobles ofthe l/156th Armor was top shot with289 out of a possible 300 points.

According to Williams, theparticipants in the Adjutant General'scompetition are the best from aroundthe state. ,

"Each command is limited to thenumber of teams that canparticipate," said Williams, "and thatteam represents the winner of theMajor Commands (MAGOMs)competition. This competition is notthe end of all these events. TheWinston P. Wilson Combat Rifle,Pistol and Machine Gun Match isheld annually at Camp Robinson,"Arkansas, as well as other levels ofArmy competition."

Primarily, it's a competitive event,"Williams said, "but it does cover theaspects of readiness, meaning eachsoldier should be proficient with hisindividual weapon. It not only bringsout the competitive spirit of theindividual in marksmanship, it alsoincreases unit involvement andenhances the proficiency of thesoldiers with their assigned weapons."

APRIL/MAY 1992 LOUISIANA GUARDSMAN Page?

Louisiana National GuardFamily Assistance Program

Office of the Adjutant General, LANG - DPA - FS Jackson BarracksNew Orleans, LA 70146-0330

Family News In BriefFAMILY NEWS IN FOCUS!!LOOK FOR FAMILY NEWS

AND UPDATES IN THELOUISIANA GUARD

NEWSPAPER!!

For Information, Assistance or toSubmit Suggestions Contact:

THE STATE FAMILY ASSISTANCEOFFICE

LANG-DPA-FSJACKSON BARRACKSNEW ORLEANS, LA 70146-03301 -800-541 -5860. (504) 278-6324,

FAX (504) 278-6290

ROLE OF THE FAMILYASSISTANCE PROGRAM?

The role of the Family AssistanceProgram is to serve as thecommander's primary source forprograms which enhance readiness ofservice members and their familiesand contribute to overall morale andwelfare. To establish pre- and post-mobilization family assistance supportrequirements, responsibilities,resources and procedures to supportthe overall mission of the LouisianaNational Guard.

GOALS OF THEFAMILY PROGRAM

1. Establish a level of awarenessamong leaders, service members, andfamily members that encourageservice member retention andimproves readiness.

2. Emphasize the importance of thefamily and support family memberparticipation in unit activities.

3. Educate families about theexistence and nature of benefits andentitlements both in their currentstatus and upon mobilization (ex.Family Member ID Cards,Commissary Privileges, Morale,Welfare and Recreation Benefit*).

4. Link service members andfamilies with available andappropriate resources.

WHY A FAMILY PROGRAM?

Everyone Involved Hem-fits:

a. For the Family: A unit FamilyProgram (FP) develops a family

support network through whichfamilies mutual ly support eachother. Communications networks areestablished between the unit andfamily members improving familyawareness of the organizations of themilitary unit, its missions, andactivities. A successful FamilyProgram can develop a more positiveattitude in family members towardthemselves, the unit and the court.

b. For the Soldier: It is theassurance that family members willhave support in their absence.Knowing their families are providedfor creates stabili ty in servicemember performance in the unit, andenhances training and psychologicalreadiness to fight.

c. For the Command: A uni tFamily Program affords increasedlevels of group confidence,commitment , and predictabil i tyamong service members. There is apotential for higher levels oftraining. A successful FamilyProgram can help the unit prevent asignificant portion of annoyingproblems within families that arelikely to impact adversely on servicemember performance or reduce unitstrength levels through attrition.The commander's time and resourcescan be conserved, and detractorsfrom ittt mission minimized, throughFamily Program Assistance.

d. For the National Guard: Asuccessful unit Family Program willmake family members feel that theyare truly a part of the NationalGuard Family. A successful FamilyProgram combined with a trainingprogram that challenges the servicemember makes an unbeatablecombination that will assure successin the al l - important mission ofretaining quality service members.

Who are the Family ProgramMember*

There are two types of FamilyProgram members:

a. Volunteers. Family Programvolunteers are representatives orcommittee members responsible for avariety of Family Program projectsand activities. Volunteers may beGuard members, spouses, children,parents, grandparents, brothers.

sisters, retires, — any member ofthe fami ly who is interestedsupporting the unit.

b. Program Participants. Theseare the recipients of the FamilyProgram services. They may attendclasses, seminars, or social eventssponsored by the volunteers.

How To Begin?

There is no single way to start afamily program in individual units.The program success depends onthe volunteers and the approvaland support of the commander.

What Are Some FamilyActivities?

Activities can be as varied as thenumbers of members in the unit.However, they should match thegroup. When p lann ing activitiesconsideration should be given to theaverage age, backgrounds, andinterests in the group. An activitythat was a success in one unit maynot be successful in another.

Activities To Consider

Family Member Sponsorship,Command Letters Telephone Trees,Family Member Briefings, YouthActivities, Employer Support,Volunteer Recognition, Adopt aSchool, Adopt a Highway, StressManagement Classes, Home andAuto Repair Classes, FamilyFinances, Parenting/Commun-ication Skills, and Sports Activities.

Planning Successful UnitFamily

Support Group Meetings:

* Announce the meeting farenough in advance to ensure thatfamilies can place it properly intheir already busy schedule. *

* Send the invitation directly tothe family members. •

* Provide child care during themeeting and make sure that youinform the families of the care intheir letter of invitation. *

* Conduct the meeting in a cleanand friendly environment. *

* Let families know that they arewelcome. *

* Unless absolutely impossible,the Commander and the Uni tFamily Assistance Officer should bein attendance to show commandsupport. *

* Refreshments are a big plus. *

* In addition to the familysupport meeting, provideinformation or a speaker that candiscuss issues that will helpimprove the attendees quality oflife. *

For More Information:

The fol lowing references onfami ly member involvement andactivities can be requested fromeither the local unit or The StateFamily Assistance Office:

a. Establishing a National GuardFamily Assistance Program (Na-tional Guard Regulation 600-12, AirNational Guard Regulation 211-1).

b. A Guide To EstablishingFamily Support Groups(Department of The Army Pamphlet608-74).

c. Family Support GroupsReserve Component Handbook - ACompanion To Department of TheArmy Pamphlet 608-47.

FOUNDATIONS OF THEFAMILY PROGRAM

FAMILY MEMBERS

FAMILY SUPPORT GROUPSVOLUNTEERS

FAMILY PROGRAMCOORDINATOR

MILITARY STAFF PERSONNEL

COMMANDERS/SUPERVISORS

THE ADJUTANT GENERAL

PageS LOUISIANA GUARDSMAN APRIL/MAY 1992

Family News In BriefARE YOU DEERSPRE-ENROLLED?

The Defense EnrollmentEligibil i ty Reporting System(DEERS) tells the Army who iseligible for benefits and entitlements•Pos t Exchange, Commissary,Medical, Army Emergency Relief,etc.) in the event that a soldier iscalled to active duty for 30 days ormore.

Eligible family members applies tospouses, children, step childrenl iv ing in the soldier's household,wards and dependent parents. To gethis/her eligible family membersDEERS Pre-Enrolled the soldiermust present to the unit documentsthat provide proof of dependency(marriage license, birth certification,divorce decree, adoption papers,court documentation showing thatthe child is a ward). To find out ifyou are DEERS Pre-Enrolled ask thesoldier, the soldier's National GuardUnit, or the State Family ProgramOffice at 1-800-541-5860.

DID YOU KNOW?

Anyone having Post Exchange/IBase Exchange (PX/BXi privilegesmay purchase merchandise from theExchange Mail Order Catalog? Thiscatalog is a multi-service operationthat supports the Army, Navy,Marine Corps, Air Force, and CoastGuard (both active and reserve). Thecatalog has a selection ofmerchandise from around the world,and may be reviewed at allexchanges. The Exchange Mail OrderCatalog Center assures eligibility forexchange shopping privileges byaccessing the DEERS data base.Catalog merchandise may be orderedat the customer service desk of anyArmy or Air Force Exchange, or bycalling toll free at 1-800-527-2345, orby telefax at 1-800-446-0163. Thehearing impaired may call 1-800-423-2011.

CAMPUS NEWS!!

CAMPUS NOW COVERS LEAD-LEVEL SCREENING FOR

INFANTS

CAMPUS has expanded its well-baby care benefit to include one bloodlead-level screening for infants up tothe age of two. This new benefit,authorized by Public Law 102-190,became effective December 6, 1991,for care received on and after thatdate.

Claims for lead-level screeningshould be submitted to the CAMPUSClaims processor for the state inwhich the care is provided. Foradditional information contact yourlocal Health Benefits Advisor or theoffice of CAMPUS Benefit Services

Branch, Auroro, CO 80045-6900,telephone (303) 361-3907.

FREE INFORMATION ON AUTOINSURANCE AND FINANCING

EDUCATION

The Consumer Information Centerhas developed two booklets that willhelp you lower your auto insuranceas well as finance education costs.For a free copy, send your name andaddress to Consumer InformationCenter, Department 5503X (for theinsurance pamphlet) or Department578W (for f inancing education).Pueblo, CO 81009.

-DO's AND DONTS" OF JOBINTERVIEWS

Today, for many different reasons,members of our families are outlooking for jobs. A very necessarypart of job hunting is the interviewwith prospective employers. Likewith everything else there are someways that are better than others inapproaching a job interview. Wehope that the following tips will helpyou in your job search endeavors:

* Be well groomed, in appropriateattire (no gum chewing, no smoking).

* Be prepared to answer manyquestions about yourself.

* Make sure the prospectiveemployer can reach you to set up aninterview.

* Be specific about the kind ofwork you want to do and what youare good at.

' Don't forget any body language.Pay attention to posture, eye contact,and a firm handshake.

* Don't forget to tell theprospective employer what you cancontribute to the company ororganization.

* Information to take with you:(Social Security Number, Driver'sLicense, Resume — although not allpositions require a resume, youshould be able to furnish theinterviewer with information aboutyour education and previousemployment).

* Don't sell yourself short. Avoidunderestimating your worth.

* Don't forget to follow-up on yourinterview. Write a short thank younote.

EXAMPLES OF QUESTIONSYOU CAN ASK DURING THE

JOB INTERVIEW

The job interview process is a twoway street. Not only is theprospective employer evaluating you,but you are also making decisionsabout him/her. It is very appropriatethat you ask questions during theinterview. Preparing a list ofquestions before the interview to

take with you might be helpful,

THESE QUESTIONSMIGHT INCLUDE:What the the job duties?Is there a chance for overtime?What are the opportunities for future

advancement?Are there any union requirements?What are the hours of employment?What fringe horn-fits are provided by

the company?May I have a tour of the work site?Why is the position open?Is there a chance for overtime?

FAMILY CARE PLANS

WHAT IS A FAMILY CARE PLAN

It is a plan for the- car«> of familymembers during a service member'sabsence. A Family Care Plan is:

REQUIRED: For all service

members who have dependents andwho are either single or part of adual-service couple (both havemilitary affiliation). This applies toboth Active and Reserve Forces. AFamily Care Plan can be helpful forother service members wi thdependents. This working planprovides guidance for people in yourabsence. For example, it helpsguardians and others with decisionsabout care for your dependent familymembers, financial and legal mattersand medical needs. Family CarePlans are an essential part ofmilitary readiness. Deployment ormobilization could occur at any time.A Family Care Plan ensures thatyour wishes are carried out onessential iuues. Soldiers who desiremore information on Family CarePlans may contact either theirindividual units or the State FamilyAssistance Office.

527th Engineers FSG AdoptsOperation ExcellenceBy Mary Billberry,Battalion Coordinator

The saying goes. Time flies whenyou are having fun or busy." At the527th ENGR Battalion and itsoutlying units, we are doing both.

Under the command of ColonelClaude W. Patterson and MajorRonnie Stuckey our BattalionFamilies are participating inendeavors in keeping with the themeof ACOE, "Leading & Caring."

The name Operation Excellencehas been chosen for the 527th'sfamily programs, with the followinggoals for 1992.

1. Encourage participation offamily members in activities whichsupport the unit.

2. Develop a Family SupportNetwork through which familiesmutually support each other.

3. Identify the need of supportingcommunities activities and becomeinvolved with the community.

4. Maintain a Family SupportGroup (FSG) bulletin board at eachunit with current information.

6. Publish a FSG Newsletter.6. Improve family awareness of

the units organization, mission, andactivities through volunteer services.

7. Educate the family on benefitsand entitlements available to theGuard Family.

8. To prepare family members inthe event of mobilization.

9. Recommend programs to theCommander that will improve theQuality of Life for the soldier andhis/her family.

10. To work closely with StateFamily Assistance Office at Jackson

Barracks, to ensure the following ofproper guidelines and procedures ofa FSG.

During Operation DesertShield/Storm when it becamenecessary to mobilize and deploy thesoldiers of the 527th EngineerBattalion, our Family SupportGroups were in place and ready tomeet the needs of our familymembers. We are all encouraged bythe many reports received on thededication of our soldiers, families,and our communities to overcomepersonal hardships for the benefit ofour country. It is for this reason thata FSG is strongly urged and activelysupported in each unit of the 527th.We hope to ensure our soldiers andtheir families of continuedinformation and support they needduring periods of separation,weekend drills, annual training,deployments, and/or mobilization.

Under the direction of LTDianne Mandeville, State FamilyAssistance Coordinator, Mr. SamuelB. Cata and I attended Track ITraining in San Antonio, Texas on21-23 February, 1992 hosted byFirth Army.

During 4-5 April drill, Mr. Catoand I visited each unit in theBattalion to meet with the UnitCommanders and Family SupportGroup Leaders. It was a pleasantvisit for us and everyone whoattended. Each unit was eager tocontinue their efforts in keeping thestandards high in their groups andto implement programs to benefittheir families. Fun and a spirit offellowship was the majn topic ofdiscussion. Cont'd on p. 13

APRIL/MAY 1992 LOUISIANA GUARDSMAN Page 9

Members of HQ STARC assiated VFW Poat10666 of Arabi, La., with their St. Patrick'sDay Parade. Hie unit members volunteeredto lead the parade through the streets ofArabi with a color guard. After the parade,Grand Marshall Frank Davis of WWL TV4thanked the guardsmen for a job well done.Pictured from left to right are: SGT CherylArcement, SGM Ernie Guerra, SFC TobyM u l h n s , SFC Lawrence Hatch and SGTPeggy Thibodeaux.

Public Servants RecognizedBy J*Anwicftn Foic«» InfomMion Service

Government workers often feel like RodneyDangerfield: They don't get any respect.

Public Service Recognition Week, May 4 to10 this year, informs Americans about thetalents and contributions of federal, state andlocal government workers. The week issponsored by the Public EmployeesKoundtahle, a coalition of 30 professionalassociations.

"We want to make people aware of the neatthings government does," said GretchenHakola, roundtable spokesperson. "The onlytime most Americans become aware of thegovernment is when there are mistakes. Asmoothly running program just doesn't getmuch press."

The week is designed to counteract this andshowcase the contributions made by govern-ment workers at all levels. The week startedin 1985 in four cities. This year, plannersforecast more than 1,000 celebrations encom-passing all states and territories. Some willbe held at DoD facilities overseas.

"Each celebration has a distinctly localflavor." Hakola said. "In New Orleans, they're

""^ having a riverfest. In California, a golftournament. There will be baseball games inNorth Dakota and a breakfast bash in Wash-ington state "

In addition, many cities are sponsoringinteragency festivals. Hakola said this givesemployees themselves the chance to sec what

other agencies are doing. "Many employersFind these a good way to meet people in otheragencies and find new ways of approachingsimilar problems," she said.

In Washington, D.C., a three-diiy blitz isscheduled. "Tin- National Mtill will be takenover for three days to highlight the contribu-tions of government workers," Hakola said."Well have everything from tanks and heli-copters to weather balloons and how money ismade. The Beitglc Brigade from the Depart-ment of Agriculture will demon.stnite howthey search for pests and foods.

•^he idea is to remind Americans that thegovernment — no matter what level — ispeople and that government is accessible," shesaid. That's the idea the theme of the weektries to get across. 'Make America Work forYou' has been our theme since we started. Wehope people will realize that government isn'tsome lofty idea, but their neighbors."

The week will also highlight educationalefforts. The council distributed teachers kitsand is looking at what public service will looklike in the 21st century. "We're also workingon a computer game that will show peoplewhat their stake in government is," she said.

But the week is not just for education andinformation for those outside government. Itis also to give public service employees a paton the back. "Many professional organizationsare concerned about the morale of publicservice employees," Hakola said. "This is oneway of giving people a pat on the back for a jobwell done." *̂

DPA Displays CultureBY SSG Arthur J. Johnson

209th PSCLouisiana, New Orleans in

particular, has been called a meltingpot of cultures. Its uniquecombination of cultures is what givesthe state its special flavor and worldfamous charm. Because of this, andthe need to get everyone in tune withthe many cultures of the people theywork and live with, the Director ofPersonnel and Administration <DPA)has appointed a Culture AwarenessBoard.

The board, under the supervisionof Second I - t Dianne Mandeville, hasdesignated the bulletin board at themain entrance of DPA (Bldg 36) as

the Cultural Awareness board. Eachmonth a different cultural/ethnicgroup will be highlighted.

During the month of February, inkeeping with the traditional theme ofBlack History, the bulletin boarddepicted famous black Americans.The display consisted of pictures ofHistorians such as Benjamin O.Davis, Jr., the first black LieutenantGeneral; P.B.S. Pinchback, the firstblack Louisiana governor; JamesWeldon Johnson, author of the blacknational anthem "Lift Every Voiceand Sing"; and others.

The month of March honoredWomen's History month wi th asimilar pictorial dedication.

DPA Adopts SchoolBYCW2Gerard \.

DPA

As part of the Louisiana NationalGuard Army Communities ofExcellence program, members of theDirectorate of Personnel andAdministration Adopt-A-Flag-PoleCommittee adopted ArabiElementary School's flag pole. Theclass of Ms. Lorie Kennedy wasassigned to assist the committee.

A flag and a plaque were dedicatedin honor of the men and women ofLouisiana's military who served anddied for this great country. Inaddition, a flower bed was planted inmemory of those who died duringOperation Desert Shield/DesertStorm to remind us of those greatsoldiers; who will be dearly missed,but never forgotten.

An Easter Egg Hunt wassponsored by the committee at ArabiElementary, and the studentsenjoyed themselves thoroughly.Although the ACOE inspections andformalities are over here at JacksonBarracks, the group will continue to.visit Arabi Elementary school.

The committee would like to givespecial thanks to Col. Lester Schmidtfor his assistance and support.

ACOE can be a challenge, but thegratitude they received from visitingthe school more than compensates forall the time and effort put into the"Adopt a Flag Pole" Program.

Involved: Committee MembersCW2 Gerard A. Abair, Staff Sgt.Denise Ryan, Staff Sgt. CharlesHardges, Sgt. Cheryl Arcement, Spec.Jerry Gillette, Mrs. Dana Williamsand Principal James Connors. •

Page 10 LOUISIANA GUARDSMAN APRIL/MAY 1992

Third Time's Charm For LoFor the past three years Louisithe top three of the Army Comi

1990 we won third place.And in

1 1 is community projects like this one, wrapping Christmas presents for patient* at Children'*Hospital, by members of Troop Command and the 209th Personnel Services Company, beingechoed throughout the state down to the detachment level, that have gotten Louisiana intothe top three spots of the ACOE competition for three years in a row. (Photo by SGT Kristi I .Moon, 241st PAD)

In theThe photographs here t«

dedicated road to providing tof any national

This scene was repeated all over Louisiana in February as the Department of the Army andNatipnal Guard Bureau ACOE Evaluation Team visited our facilities, shops, offices and com-munities to see first hand all the tireless work put into the Louisiana effort to become il in thenation. (Photo by SSG Carl Waelde, 209th PSC)

ACOE supporters from all over the Louisiana Army and Air National Guard showed up atJackson Barracks for a Mardi Gras-style welcome for the ACOE Evaluation Team. A paradecomplete with throws and street-filled spectators, three days of southern hospitality andunlimited cajun cuisine combined, put the finishing touches on our 1992 ACOE entry.(Photo by SSG Carl Waelde, 209th PSC)

Leading that ACOE welcome parade was tha* always upheld the reputation of beinganywhere would be complete without a MPSC)

APRIL/MAY 1992 LOUISIANA GUARDSMAN Page 11

siana's ACOE Master Plana has participated and placed innities of Excellence Program. In1991 we won second place.)2 we are

At the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. May 21, GEN Gordon K. Sullivan congratulated all theparticipants in this year's competition but encouraged everyone not to wait too long beforeplanning and implementing next year's campaign. Fort Sill, Oklahoma won first place for theactive component. (Photo by SGT Kristi I . Moon, 241st PAD)

Nation.h < - story of the long, hard,absolute best customer serviceird in the nation.

To celebrate our first place winnings, HQ STARC held a picnic .n New Orleans complete withgrilled burgers, volleyball, cabbage hall, horseshoes, three-legged races, wheel barrow races,and water balloon tosses. Other facilities throughout the state also held ACOE celebration pic-nics and events. (Photo by SSG Carl Waelde, 209th PSC)

>rld renowned Olympia Brass Band. Louisianaat what we do. So no Mardi Gras style festivityline march. (Photo by SSG Carl Waelde, 209th

On April 1, MG Ansel M. Stroud, Jr . . received notification that Louisiana was selected as thefirst place winner in the 1992 ACOE competition. You can bet there was no April Fools there.Immediately, COL John Landry (kneeling), and MG Stroud updated our status on the ACOEmural at Jackson Barracks. (Photo by SGT Lucas J. Landreaneau, 241st PAD)

Page 12 LOUISIANA GUARDSMAN APRIL/MAY 1992

Lafayette Joins Guard forWeapons Qualification

By SPC Bernard Chaillot256th Inf Bde PAO

In these times of economicconstraint, the Army National Guardjoins many organizations in lookingfor ways to get the most bang out ofeach buck.

For unit weapons qualifications inFebruary and March, the Guardfound an ally in the Lafayette ParishSheriffs Department, which agreedto let soldiers use the department'sTraining Academy shooting range.The support of Sheriff Don Breauxand his staff saved the statethousands of dollars, since theGuardsmen would have had to travelto Camp Beauregard nearAlexandria or to Fort Polk for themandatory weapons training.

1st Lt. Harold Molbert, a BreauxBridge native, said the use of therange not far from the headquartersof the 256th Infant ry Brigaderesulted in higher qualif icat ionscores as well, since soldiers wererelaxed and ready to concentrate onthe task instead of trying to get thekinks out from a long bus ride.

"We support the community allyear round, so it is very gratifyingwhen we get community support likethis in return," Molbert said.

Molbert, the officer in charge ofrange firing during one session inMarch, praised the efficiency andcleanliness of the academy range.This is obviously a class operation.The soldiers are all impressed by theprofessionalism here," he said.

Jim Staton, in-service trainingcoordinator for the facility, said thesheriffs department "was happy tohelp out. A number of different

groups request to use the range fromtime to time, and it's one of theservices we provide as a publicoutreach function."

The facility was provided for theuse of the Guard free of charge, therange manager said. "Sheriff Breauxwon't allow any charges, except formy K (compensatory) time," Statongrinned. "And that compensation ispicked up by the department."

Staton, who has managed therange since 1986, said it's a pleasureto work with the military, "since thetroops are always squared away anddon't have to be drilled about safety.They're well-trained and know howto handle weapons properly."

The range, in a corner of ruralLafayette Parish, a few milesnorthwest of Breaux Bridge, is at theend of a long, winding road, with ahigh, soldier berm, or levee betweenthe target area and nearbyInterstate 10; several hundred yardsaway through a thick wooded area.

"If anyone shoots over the berm,you're off the range," Molbertboomed through the range soundsystem. "That's a disqualification,and if you bolo (fail to qualify) twice,we start processing dischargepapers."

No one shot over the top of the 20-foot levee. In fact, the majority of thezeroing (sighting) rounds found theirway into the 3-centimeter circles(about the size of a half dollar) on thetarget silhouettes.

Staton, who shot No. 1 in thelatest Dixie Nationals with his Smith& Wesson 38 special, whistled softly"That's some mighty goodmarksmanship," he said.

At the recent graduation ceremony of Primary LeadershipDevelopment Class 5-92 from the Region VI Non-CommissionedOfficer Academy at Ball, Louisiana, BG John D'Araujo, Jr., DeputyDirector of the Army National Guard, presented the academy withits official accreditation certificate. Accepting the certificate arefrom left to right: CSM H.B. Cook, State Command Sgt. Maj.; CSMJohn R. Morrow, Region VI NCO Academy Command Sgt. Maj.; MGAnsel M. Stroud, Adjutant General; and D'raujo. Seventy-eight activeduty and reserve soldiers graduated from the month long class.(Photo by SGT Kriati I Moon, 241st PAD)

Chaplain CitesStorm Lessons

By SPC Bernard Chaillot266thInfBdePAO

Brigade Chaplain Col. AndreBroussard, looking back on thelessons of Desert Storm a year latersaid recently the Chaplain's Corpscame to a new awareness of itsmission that cont inues to paydividends today.

"We learned the areas we wereproficient in and also the areas weneeded to work on, such as preparingfor mobilization," Brouasard said."The important th ing now issustenance training to stay fresh onthe lessons we learned during DesertStorm."

The Catholic priest, who pastorsat Our Lady of Sacred Heart inChurch Point, oversees the activitiesof five other chaplains in the 256thI n f a n t r y Brigade, one for eachbattalion.

In addition, he has a battalion-sized force to minister to, includingthe headquarters company and itsdetachments, the 256th Engineers inOpelousaa and the Cavalry of TroopE in Natchitoches.

Usually, a brigade supervisorychaplain would not have a battalionof his own to manage, but I enjoy theinteraction with the troops and beingout in the field with the soldiers,"Broussard said.

The brigade chaplain is a familiarsight in t ra ining areas, oftenseeming to be in two or more placesat once as he criss-crosses hisHumVee through the backwoods ofFort Polk, conducting religiousservices and offering counsel to thosein need.

"In the Chaplain's corps, we needto do our counseling jobs at the sametime as we perform all the functionsof other soldiers," he said. "Theintensity of wartime training was avaluable experience for manyreasons, offering us views into ourown souls as we dealt with soldierswho were undergoing some of thetoughest training of their lives."

With just six chaplainsresponsible for helping maintain thespiritual well-being of nearly 5,000brigade soldiers, the mission is anever-ending challenge that taxeseach chaplain and forces each to callon his own deepest spiri tualreserves, Broussard said.

"That's why you can't just show upat the recruiter's office and say youwant to be a chaplain/ he said. "Itrequires four years of college andgraduation from an accreditedseminary recognized by the Army asan accepted denomination."

Broussa rd said chapla incandidates also must be endorsed bydenomination officials and undergoall of the courses other officers mustmaster. Addit ional courses arecustomized to the duties of achaplain, he added.

A 23-year veteran of the ArmyNational Guard, Broussard has beenbrigade chaplain for 18 of those ofyears.

He was pinned as a full-birdcolonel in 1990 during the fellowshipportion of Mass one day at brigadeheadquarters in Lafayette. BrigadeCommander Brig. Gen. GaryWhipple stood and pinned the eagleon the holy vestments of a verysurprised Broussard.

APRIL/MAY 1992 LOUISIANA GUARDSMAN Page 13

PV2 David Smith of Co. C, 769th Engineer Battalion headquarteredin Gonzales takes a break during annual training to have his bootsshined. The unit deployed to Honduras in May with a mission ofrefurbishing a medical clinic. (Photo by SGT James Dewhurst, 769thENGR BN)

«*• r*l--—s JI '*'«•**•'^^>/(&

C O M M U N I C A T EC L E A R L Y

527th FSG Cont'd from p.8

To date we have participated inthe following activities for 1992:

1. Reception following theChanged of Command Ceremony.

2. Assisted in the ACOEInspection.

3. Adopt-A-Road Project (The527th Engineer Battalion adoptedthe interchange at LA33 andInterstate 20. Look for the signsaying Louisiana National Guard,527th ENGR BN has adopted thissection of the Highway).

4. Adopted the Ruston ChristinaCommunity Action Program.

5. Co A at Camp Beauregardassisted with the 1992 High SchoolRodeo in Alexandria.

6. Co C at West Monroesponsored a Coed Volleyball gameafter drill in April. Connie Crowelland Rhonda Kyser are FSGCoordinators for this unit.

A Commander's Prayer Breakfastu scheduled for July 25, 1992. Plansare being discussed for a MilitaryBall in September.

Good and positive things aretaking place in the 527th. Come visitus anytime as we strive together toachieve our goals toward being an"ARMY COMMUNITY OFEXCELLENCE."

Co. C 769th EngineersTouch Native Lives

Reprinted in part fromthe Morning Advocate

The days were sunny and hot, thenights were cool and the nativeswere friendly.

It wasn't a typical tropicalvacation, but some of the 53members of CO. C, 769th EngineerBattalion headquartered in Gonzalessaid they will never forget their two-week stay in Honduras.

The unit, on a mission to refurbisha medical clinic, returned May 23 toa police escort and parade throughGonzales.

The festive homecoming was a

four-year military transport planeride and a world away fromSiguatepeque, Honduras, a remotemountain town about an hour's drivefrom the U.S. air base in Sato Canoin the Central American country.

This was the first trip abroad forabout two-thirds of the unit. 'I wasastounded. The whole differentculture and atmosphere and poverty... It's just a very underdevelopedcountry," said Sgt. James Dewhurst.

The people — the way they live —it makes you appreciate everythingyou have over here," said Sgt. ChadLynch.

Cont'd on p. 14

Season Requires SafetyMay is American Bicycle Month,

which makes it a good time to brush upon bike safety. Each year, nearly 900bicyclists are killed in collisions withmotor vehicles, according to theNational Highway Traffic SafetyAdministration. Another 300 bicyclistsare killed in accidents in parks, bikepaths and driveways. In addition to thefatalities, more than a million bicycleinjuries are treated annually.

About a third of the cyclists killed inmotor vehicle crashes are between theages of 5 and 15. The fatality rate forthis age group is more than two and ahalf times greater than the fatality ratefor older cyclists.

Parents as well as kids often thinkof bicycles as toys, but they are not.Bikes are a form of transportation andare subject to the same rules of theroad as any other vehicle. For thisreason, knowledge and skill inoperating a bike are critical to thebicylist's safety. Some bicyclists,particularly young ones, are notfamiliar with either the rules or thehazards of the road. There is, however,plenty of protection available. Helmetsarea must.

Three out of four bicycle deaths aredue to head injury. Studies have shownthat using bicycle helmets can reducehead injuries by up to 85 percent.Parents must insist that children wearhelmets at all times while riding.Parents should also wear helmets.

A bicycle helmet should fit snuglybut comfortably atop the head. Parentsshould not purchase a helmet assomething a child will "grow into".Helmets are available with differentthicknesses of internal padding to helpin proper fit. The helmet must have achin strap and buckles that will staysecurely fastened.

There are two nationally recognizedsafety standards for bicycle helmetssold in the United States: the SnellMemorial Foundation requirements orthe American National Safety Institute(ANSI) requirements. Helmets meeting

those requirements will be so labeled.Clothing provides extra protection.

In addition to a helmet, ridersshould wear the proper clothing.Clothing should be of light color andmarked with reflective material forriding at night. Vests, jackets, tape,wrist bands and other items that makethe rider visible to motorists are widelyavailable.

Clothing should be close fitting toavoid getting caught in the movingparts of the bicycle. Headphones shouldnever be worn, as they hinder therider's ability to hear traffic. Bike mustfit the rider.

Make sure that the bike is thecorrect size for the person, is safelymaintained, and has reflectors.Consumer Product Safety Commissionregulations require reflectors on thefront and rear of the bicycle, on thepedals, and on the wheels. Front andrear lights on the bicycle improvenighttime visibility for the cyclist andincrease the recognizability of thebicycle for other road users. Lights maybe required by law in some places.Rules of the road are for everyone. '

When riding in the road, cyclistsmust obey traffic laws that apply tomotor vehicle operators (for example,driving with traffic). Children must betaught these rules of the road

Young children should not ride atnight, and children under age nineshould not ride in the road as they donot have the skills to identify and avoiddangerous traffic situations. Bicyclistsshould ride single file and signal theirintentions to other road users,including pedestrians. Children shouldbe taught to look left-right-1 eft whenentering the road or crossing anintersection.

Many bicycle deaths and injuriescan be prevented through propereducation and training. Parents andteachers play a major role in educatingchildren in proper behavior andtechniques. Motorists can and shouldbe alert to bicyclists, especially inschool zones and residential areas.

Page 14 LOUISIANA GUARDSMAN APRIL/MAY 1992

The 236th Combat Communication* Squad-ron provided air traffic control for theHammond Air Show in May. Participants inthe show included the U.S. Army GoldenKnights Parachute Team, several civilianballoonist*, and members of local militaryand civilian aviation forces. The 159thMobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) setup their hospital for display and providedmedical support for the event.(Photo by SGT Kristi I . . Moon, 241st PAD)

Fuel For The Force.

Save Army Energy.

For the 3rd year running, the 1-244th Aviation Battalion won theState Chief of Staff SupplyExcellence Award for BattalionLevel. This year, the battalion wasamong the top 3 in the notion for thisprestigious supply award. The awardwas presented to Maj. Tom Mix, the

battalion executive officer, by Col.Fred Palmer, (left) Commander ofTroop Command. Mix said that thisaward represents the hard work putforth by all unit supply sergeantsand the S-4 section. (Photo by CPTMitchell T. Seaborn, l-244th AV)

769th ENGRSCont'd from p. 13

Most of the residents ofSiguatepeque were Spanish-speak-ing native Americans, apparentlydescendants of the ancient Mayans,Lynch said, noting the Batman andcollege T-shirts some of the sported.

"It's fairly large towns, from whatwe could tell," said Staff Sgt. DirkErickson. "It was probably the size ofdowntown Gonzales."

Erickson said the clinic had run-ning water every day for only threehours and no hot water.

The electricity was sporadic, atbest, he said.

Many of the residents lived in tra-ditional mud brick homes with bee-hive-shaped mud ovens outside,although some residents had homesmade out of cinder blocks.

The houses were small, most only5 feet high. That was high enoughfor the short-statured residents,Lynch said. The large homes of theupper class were located near thepeasant huts. "It did remind me ofthe plantation (in Louisiana)," Lynchsaid.

Water wells and outhouses mayhave been remnants of a PeaceCorps project and an irrigation sys-tem was a Japanese-sponsored pro-ject, said Lynch and Dewhurst.

Agriculture accounts for 55 per-cent of the countries gross nationalproduct. Honduran President RafaelCiillejas said during a speech earlierthis year at Louisiana StateUniversity, during which he arguedagainst trade barriers on bananasand shrimp that hurt his country'seconomy.

"Most of the farming is very per-mitted — slash and burned,"Dewhurst said.

The beauty of the mountainregion could not mask the filth of

the town.Spc. Lane Louque said he could

smell the burning trash every day.Medical waste, including used

hypodermic needles, littered theground near the clinic where thebarefoot children played, saidLynch.

"Basically, we walked into amess," said Spc. Kim McGinnis.

The clinic, staffed by seven nursesand one doctor, served up to 150 peo-ple daily, and up to 400 people a daywhen they offer free inoculations,Dewhurst said.

Despite the overwhelming prob-lem besetting the country, the guardmembers said the Hondurans theymet were friendly and industrious.

Dewhurst said the nurses con-ducted classes to update themselveson medical procedures.

"I found the people in Honduraswere a lot better off (economically)than in Panama," said Sgt. 1st classQuinn Richardson.

Richard, a carpenter went toPanama in 1985 to build a roadthrough a remote mountain pass. Hebrought four boxes of his own toolsfor the Honduran project.

The soldiers shared their MRE's(meals ready to eat) with the resi-dents and paid youngsters to shinetheir boots.

They also brought toys donated bythe Wal-Mart Discount Cities hereand dental equipment donated by aNew Orleans dentist.

Charl ie Company is p l ann inganother overseas development tournext year in another centralAmerican country, Guatemala.

"Everybody learned a visible les-son down here," McGinnis said.

"My kids can't put me on a guiltytrip about not buying them this andthat anymore," Dewhurst

APRIL/MAY 1992 LOUISIANA GUARDSMAN Page 15

Officer Education ChangesBy MAJ Dave StoltzOfficer Procurement

Louisiana was recently advisedthat the FY 92/93 National DefenseAuthorization Act has made change*in the educational requirement* forcommissioned officers in the Guard.Changes which will take effectimmediately pertain to attendance atthe State Officer Candidate School.These changes require that officercandidates who will graduate fromOCS during FY 93 have 70 collegehours instead of the 60 hours nowrequired. This number will increaseten hours per year through FY 95 to atotal of 90 hours. The act also changesthe entry level college hourrequirement by adding ten hours eachyear to a total of 60 hours after FY 95.

Additionally, the act requires thatALL officers have a baccalaureatedegree prior to promotion to anygrade above first lieutenant after 1October 1995. The intent of the act isto bring ARNG officers in line withpresent active duty requirements.

• •

These changes to educationalrequirements will have a majorimpact on the Guard if preparationfor their implementation is notstarted now. Officers who met thepresent 60 hour requirement byobtaining hours through such collegesas Liberty and Cumberland will findthat the credit received cannot beused to pursue a degree at amainstream university. This meansthat pursuing a baccalaureate degreemay take more time than expected.

With the downsizing of the force, itis expected that civilian educationalrequirements wi l l continue toincrease. College requirements maybe implemented for warrant andsenior enlisted ranks. Officers in theGuard today who do not have abaccalaureate degree and plan to stayon the Guard beyond FY 95 need tomake plans to begin to pursue adegree NOW. The state educationaloffice at Jackson Barracks hasprograms available to assist in thispursuit. Call them at (504)278-6355or 1-800-899-6355

Television BecomesA Learning Tool

In today's uncertain mili taryenvironment, a quality education isgoing to be a valuable, if not vitalasset: the key to advancementsthrough the ranks or success outsidethe service.

Now, the military community hasa way for military men and womento make sure the demands of homeor duty do not stand in the way ofearning a college degree.

Four credit courses and degreeprograms from major Americanuniversities are now being deliveredby cable television and directsatellite broadcast to 19 mill ionAmerican homes by Mind ExtensionUniversity (ME/U): The EducationNetwork, a pioneer in distanceeducation.

As a result of the affiliation withDANTES, the Defense Activity forNon-Traditional Education Support,service members are eligible fortuition assistance, as set by theirservices, for college level coursescompleted via the ME/U network.ME/U and its affiliated institutionsare part of the DANTESIndependent Study Program. Toenroll, service members should visittheir education center.

"No matter where you are, wemake your home or office aclassroom," said Glenn R. Jones,CEO of Jones Intercable, Inc., one ofthe largest cable television operatorsin the U.S. and founder of ME/U, oneof the fastest growing basic cablechannels in the country. "Our goal isto make quality education equallyavailable to everyone, regardless of

where they live or other situation inlife."

ME/U offers undergraduate andgraduate degree instruction from acoalition of 20 colleges anduniversities. Students participate inlectures, complete the same coursework as their on-campuscounterparts and communicate withinstructors by mail, telephone, fax orcomputer. Courses can be taken tofulfill degree requirements or tomeet other academic or personalgoals.

For example, at Malmstrom AFBin Great Falls, Montana, an averageof six service members are enrolledin MBA classes each semester.Thanks to ME/U, I'm working on anMBA degree from Colorado StateUniversity even though I'm stationedin the middle of Montana," said AirForce Lieutenant Steve Manley."And no matter where I go next,ME/U and my course work willfollow me. It's a portable educationsystem."

Students can earn a Bachelor'sDegree in Management from theUniversity of Maryland UniversityCollege or a Master of BusinessAdministration from Colorado StateUniversity's American AssemblyCollegiate Schools of Business-accredited College of Business. ME/Ualso enables educators and trainersto earn a Master of Arts degree inEducation and Human Developmentwi th an emphasis on educationtechnology from the GeorgeWashington University.

Available through cable television

in nearly 6,500 U.S. communitiesand by satellite to virtually all ofNorth America, ME/U offers courseson videotape.

"We've erased the barriers tolifelong learning," said Jones. "If jobor family keeps you from spendingtime on campus, we have a solution:

we bring the campus to you."Additional information about the

educational opportunities availablethrough ME/U is obtained by calling1-800-777-6463. Information abouttuition assistance is availablethrough local mili tary educationservices offices.

DANTES Delivers ClassesBy Evelyn D. Harris

American Forces InformationService

Service members can get a collegedegree without setting foot in aclassroom.

Helping them do that is DANTES,the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support, aprogram for members who can't takeadvantage of the usual extensioneducation programs offered by mostinstallations. The members may bestationed in remote locations or be shiftworkers. Or they may be transferredmidway toward a degree and find thecollege near their new assignment hasdifferent requirements.

To meet educational needs of theseand other service members, DANTESoffers access to a variety of tests andself-study programs that are "non-traditional" in the sense they don't relyon classroom settings. Members canearn college credits for self-study andknowledge gained on the job by passingsubject standardized tests or otherssuch as College Level ExaminationProgram tests, said the activity'sdirector, Barry L. Cobb.

In 1989, more than 300,000 servicemembers earned 569,000 hours ofcollege credits through theseprograms. Most DANTES-sponsoredtests are free to service members.Although there has been discussionof extended program services tofamilies, only active duty and reservecomponent members are now eligible.

"Credits gained through DANTESare from civilian sources - accreditedcolleges or based on recommendationsfrom an appropriate, recognized civilianagency. They are generally accepted bycolleges and universities as fully validcredit for degree completion. Collegesaward credits, not DANTES," said Cobb.

The Military Evaluation Programoffers service members the chance toget academic credit for their militaryservice. The American Council onEducation evaluates militaryoccupations and service schools andrecommends college credits be givenaccordingly. Colleges and universitiesbelonging to the ServicemembersOpportunity Colleges awarded some390.000 credit hours through thisprogram in 1989. The Guide to theEvaluation of Educational Experiencesin the Armed Forces outlines how toget credit through this program. Theguide has just been updated, and thelatest addition should be available ateducation centers.

Another program, the IndependentStudy Support system offers morethan 6,000 correspondence courses

from accredited colleges anduniversities. Also, tests from some30 civilian agencies for professionalcertification in vocation, professionaland technical fields are available tomilitary people through DANTESand base education offices.

"Technologically delivered"education is the newest trend, saidCobb. For example, DANTES andMind Extension University (ME/U):The Education Network, which is agroup of 20 colleges and universities,now has an agreement to offer servicemembers the chance to take coursesdelivered through cable or satellitetelevision. In Louisiana, ME/U affiliatecable systems are located in theseareas: Covington, Denham Springs,Eunice, Gonzales, Lake Charles, NewOrleans, Shreveport and Slidell.Students can tape the courses on theirVCRs and watch them whenconvenient. Students formerly enrollfor the courses and communicate withtheir professors by toll-free telephone,mail, or voice mail. Students takecourse examinations in the baseeducation office test center. The collegeor university in which the student isenrolled awards credits. The collegesand universities include: CaliforniaState University, Long Beach; ColoradoState University; Emporia StateUniversity; George WashingtonUniversity; Governors StateUniversity; Kansas State University;New Jersey Institute of Technology;Oklahoma State University;Pennsylvania State University; StateUniversity of New York<SUNY)/Empire State College;University of Arizona; University ofCalifornia, Santa Barbara; Universityof California Extension-Berkeley;University of Maryland UniversityCollege; University of New Orleans;University of Oklahoma; University ofSouth Carolina; Utah State University,Washington State University andWestern Michigan University.

"Our programs are cost-effective,"Cobb said. "Post-secondary creditobtained through non-classroomprograms costs the services an averageof $5 to $6 a credit hour. Traditionalclassroom education costs the services$50 to $60 a credit in tuition assistancefunds. Furthermore, non-traditionaleducation can save the service membertravel time and money for books."

Non-traditional opportunities arenot limited to the college level. One ofDANTES' older programs help servicemembers obtain their high-schoolequivalences from their home states.

For more details, visit theinstallation education center. *

Page 16 LOUISIANA GUARDSMAN APRIL/MAY 1992

Talley Touches Army Taste BudsBy SPC Mike Hitter

241st PAD

Julia Child has probably nevereaten the eternal Army breakfaststaple of creamed beef over eggs. Butsoon, the famous British televisionchef (or at least her palate) will havesomething in common with thesoldiers of A Co. of the 769thEngineers in Baker. Louisiana.

Every month the soldiers of the769th are treated to the cooking ofStaff Sgt. Charles Talley who is justa few hours away from becoming abonafide chef. Talley, 26, has enteredhis Sweet Potato Oceola in the"Sweet Tastes of La." dessert contestwhich is being judged by Child, whois the president of the AmericanFood and Wine Association.

The army kitchen evokes imagesof mountains of potatoes to be peeledand KP Duty, but for Talley militaryservice was a natural step to

achieving a lifelong dream ofbecoming a chef.

As the oldest of six chi ldren ,Talley began cooking when he was 8years old; whipping up grits, baconand eggs for his family. He soonmastered red beans and rice, ard hasbeen cooking ever since.

Three and a half years ago Talleyjoined the National Guard to get aneducation and learn how to cook.

He is currently completing theChefs Apprentice Program atDelgado Community College, worksas a chef at Mercy Hospital in NewOrleans, and runs his own cateringcompany in Slidell. As part of histraining, Talley has worked withJohn Folse, the world famous chef ofLafitte's Landing who has preparedmeals for Pope John Paul andPresident Ronald Reagan.

Talley's army training has playeda significant role in his climb tobecome a chef. Army leadership

Members of 2nd Vertical Platoon, Company C, 769th Engr Bn installnew rafters on the main building at VFW Post 3693 in Gonzales.(769th Photo)

Do You Know

When did the Spanish-AmericanWar begin?

April 24, 1898

What U.S. battleship sank inHavana Harbor before the Spanish-

American War began?USS Maine

(Jan. 25. 1898)

How many Medals of Honor wereawarded for action during the

Spanish-American War?109

How many U.S. militaryparticipated In the Spanish-

American War?5O6.76O

What rank did Theodore Roosevelthold during the Spanish-American

War?lieutenant colonel

courses earned Talley a total of 18hours credit in his course at Delgadoand also gave him an advantage overother students in the course. For theopportunity to cook Talley is gratefuland his expertise make it worthwhilefor his fellow guardsmen.

When opportunity permits, Talleyw i l l cook Cajun-fr ied turkey orshrimp etouffe—not things normallyfound in just any mess hall.

"I feel l ike I'm not doing myjob if I don't cater to the troops,"Talley says.

The troops in the 769th havealso been treated to jambalaya,g u m b o and f r ied f i s h . T a l l e ytakes special orders for peoplewho are on diets, too.

It's that kind of extra attentionthat landed Talley one of the fivefinalist spots in the dessertcompetition and wi l l also get himthrough an interview with a panel ofsix culinary experts; that will be his

final step to becoming a chef inDecember.

Talley's Country Style SweetPotato Pie2 cups (mashed) sweet potatoes4 ozs melted butter3 eggs1.5 cups sugar2 ozs flour4 ozs evaporated milk.25 tsp. cinnamon (ground).25 tsp. nutmeg (ground).75 tsp. vanilla extract1 9-inch unbaked pie shell1. Boil sweet potatoes until soft and

allow to cool. •2. While potatoes are cooling allow

oven to preheat to 325 degrees.3. In a large mixing bowl combine sweet

potatoes, eggs, butter and flour.4. Mash until well blended.5. Add milk, vanilla, cinnamon and

nutmeg.6. Place batter into pie shell and

bake 40-45 minutes.

769th Repairs VFW PostCompany C, 769th Engineer

Battalion commanded by Capt. GreggA Putnam completed work on anothercommunity assistance project duringApril drill. The project gave muchneeded construction support to theGonzales Chapter of the Veterans ofForeign Wars Post 3693. "CharginCharlie" completed the project in twophases. Both phases had horizontaland vertical work requirements.

The engineers cleared underbrushand select trees from five acres,excavated fill material from a burrowpit to create a pond, constructed alevee, formed a picnic area,constructed a storage shed andrelocated some electrical wiring.Second Lt. Dameon Gray, Sgt FirstClass Quinn Richard, and Staff Sgt.Eric Erickson assigned to theHorizontal Platoon provided thecommand and control for phase I.

Phase II consisted of more verticalwork. It included renovating anexisting concession stand, installing ahot water closet, minor interiorrenovations, placing new rafters over a

flat roof and installing new tin on theleaking roof. Second Lt. RalphGoodman and Second Lt. LeonardNewton were the platoon leaders forsecond platoon during the project.

Erickson said, "We could not havecompleted the project without thesupport of Sgt. Richy Sauce, Sgt.David Pearley, and Staff Sgt. TerryMorales who came in on their timebetween drills to finish theexcavation of the pond."

According to Putnam, CharginCharlie has two new community actionprojects beginning in August CompanyC will construct a softball field complexfor the City of Gonzales RecreationDepartment and renovate a concessionstand with a new 29 space concreteparking lot the Ascension ParishRecreation Committee and theAscension High School Girls Fast PitchSoftball Team. All of this will beaccomplished in addition to normaldrill requirements. According to FirstSgt Carroll Smallwood and Stan" SgtGonzales, the unit usually gets a fewsurprise missions for almost every drill.

769th Holds Annual TournamentSome high spirited Louisiana

engineers recently improved theirteam concept playing volleyball.

The 769th Engineer Battalioncommanded by Lt. Col. RandyHilborn held its first annual 769thVolleyball Tournament in NewRoads. The event supported the769th ongoing efforts to be a frontrunner and excel in the ArmyCommunities of Excellence Program.

Company B in New Roadscommanded by Capt. Luke Hall

hosted the tournament. Teams from •Companies B, C and HSCparticipated in the best two out ofthree elimination matches. Staff Sgt.Eric Erickson and Sgt. BertBerthelot coached the ChampionChargin' Charlie Volleyball Team tovictory. Members of the Company Cteam include: Sgt. Jeffery King, Pvt.Carl Griffin, Spec. Craig LeBourgois,Sgt. Wayne Yates, Spec. KeriTemplet, Pvt. First Class LeroyDavis, and Sgt. Adrian Bourgeois.

APRItyMAY 1992 LOUISIANA GUARDSMAN Page 17

Last Year, 106,000People Received An Award

For Missing W>rk.The members of the National Guard

and Reserve make up 44 percent of ourdefense forces, and 106.000 of themserved overseas during the Gulf War.So. when your employees need timeoff to train, be a hero. Give your em-ployees the freedom to protect ours

ESGR Launches New AdBy Madro Bandaries

ESGR PAOIn time for the summer annual

training period for many of ourGuardsmen and Reservists, LouisianaESGR is kicking off its 1992 adcampaign. Titled "Be a Hero, GiveYour Employees the Freedom toProtect Ours", Public ServiceAnnouncements are being deliveredto every television and radio stationin Louisiana. In addition, print mediaare being provided with ads.

Last year's mobilization ofNational Guardsmen and Reservistsfrom communities across the nationfor Operations Desert Shield/Stormhad significant impact to employersand family members. Medicalservices, law enforcement, airlines,and many other service industrieswere particularly hard hit. In fact,over 248,000 men and women lefttheir jobs and families to support thewar effort.

As we begin to downsize themilitary forces, reserve componentsbecome exponentially more

important. With smaller active andreserve forces, future emergenciesmay require increased dependence onthe reserve forces. Louisiana ESGRwill continue to work even harderwith Louisiana employers because asthe visible threats for conflictdiminish, it may become harder foremployers to appreciate the need togive their Guard/Reserve employeestime off for training.

In the next several months many ofthe 1.6 mill ion Guardsmen andReservists will be required to performtheir annual training. ESGR willchallenge employers to continue theirbusiness operations in spite of theirGuard/Reserve employees being awayfrom the workplace. Besides employercontact, ESGR depends on its adcampaign to get the message across.Public awareness of the missions ofthe Guard and Reserve and theimportance of their relationship withtheir employer, can lead to a dialoguethat allows our citizen soldiers tobetter serve their country and in sodoing, become better employees.

Engineers Support LifeMembers of Company B, 527th

Engineer Battalion in Marksville,recently provided life support to oneof America's most preciousendangered species.

In March, Sgt. First ClassStephen W. Decuir and Staff Sgt.Dale W. Lonidier of the 527thEngineer Battalion along with JohnStanton and Tom Pride of the U.S.Fish and Wildlife Servicetransported fourteen eaglets, viamil i tary vans, from the AudubonZoo in New Orleans to the LakeOphelia National Wildlife Refuge incentral Louisiana. After beingcaptured just south of Houma, La,the eaglets were taken to the zoo forobservation and care until theywere old enough to feed themselves.

The move is part of a re-establishment project designed toenhance survivability of the eaglets."The relocation program, under theclose supervision and guidance ofthe U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,is an effort to re-establish the baldeagles in areas where there are noeagles, or very limited numbers ofthem," said Charles Dupuy,chairman of the Avoyelles Soil andWater Conservation District whichis one of the sponsors of the project.

"About two years ago, Sookie Roy,a banker from Marksville, came upwi th the idea that we try torelocate, or establish some eagle inour part of the sate. The ideaeventual ly developed into thisrelocation project. Other states likeTennessee have re-establishedeagles successfully, so we thoughtwe'd give it fl try."

"Our eaglets were transferred toa 'hacking ' tower on the LakeOphelia National Wildlife Refuge,"said Ken Merritt, refuge manager."The tower is about 25 feet tall witha platform about 12 by 40 feet insize on top of it. The Ophelia tower'splatform has three chambersapproximately eight feet tall and 10feet long."

"I hope we're successful in thisproject," said Dupuy. "The baldeagle is truly one of America'smagnificent birds. This is just one ofthe many different projects that soiland water conservation districtsthroughout the state are involvedin. I'm proud of this project and verygrateful that so many peopleworked so well together in trying tore-establish this majestic bird in ourarea," he added.

Construction of the new Headquarters State Area Command (HQSTARC} Armory began in October of 1991 and is scheduled for com-pletion in April 1993. The new 77,200 sq. ft. building will house over500 employees from HQ STARC, Det. 3. Det. 4. and all New Orleansbased state level directorates, according to the Directorate ofFacilities Engineering. (LANG-PAO Photo)

SFC Stephen Decuir, 527th Engr Bn; assists John Stanton, U.S. Fishand Wild Life Service with preparing eaglets for transportation fromAudubon Zoo to Lake Ophelia. (Photo by SGT Kristi I , . Moon, 241stPAD)

Page 18 LOUISIANA GUARDSMAN APRIL/MAY 1992

Saudis Honor AmericansMfnwKOT rorcM information S*nnc«

Military members who directly participatedin Operation Desert Storm may qualify for aKuwait Liberation Medal from the SaudiArabian government.

Established by the Saudi Arabian king, themedal is for military men and women whowere in the war zone between Jan. 17, 1991,and Feb. 28, 1991. To be eligible, an indi-vidual must have served at least one day witha unit in ground or shore operations or aboarda naval vessel directly supporting operations,or flown us a crewmember during at least oneaerial mission. An individual who was ontemporary duty in the war zone must haveserved at least 30 days consecutively duringthis period.

Designated by executive order, the PersianGulf war zone consists of Bahrain, Iraq,Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and theUnited Arab Emirates. Also considered partof the war zone are the Persian Gulf, Red Sea,Gulfs of Oman and Aden and a portion of theArabian Sea.

The medal is suspended from a greenribbon with red, white and black stripesrepresenting the Saudi Arabian and Kuwaitiflags. The emblem of Saudi Arabia, a palmtree with crossed sabers, is superimposed on asunburst. According to DoD officials, thesunburst represents the light of freedomshining over Kuwait. A map of the Arabianpeninsula is on a globe inside the sun.

The services will determine in the nearfuture specific eligibility requirements andimplementing instructions for the KuwaitLiberation Medal.

Former service members who qualify for themedal should check with the unit they servedwith for details, said DoD officials. 5jk

Boot Camp Aids Guardsmenat Police Academy

BY SSG Paul J. Sylve*t241st PAD

Three members of the Counter-Drug Program were chosen from afield of over 500 applicants to becadets in the State Police TrainingAcademy.

The three guardsmen, Staff Sgt.Kevin Allen, 205th Engr. Bn., Sgt.Kenneth Martin, HQ STARC, andStaff Sgt. Jeffrey White, 1087thTrans. Co., are part of a forty-member cadet class which beganMarch 9, 1992.

Following the 16-week course, thecadets will be commissioned as

Louisiana State Troopers.Maj. Bobby Achord, Louisiana

State Police Region I commandersaid, "Having three members chosenfor the academy speaks well of thecaliber of people in the Counter-DrugProgram."

"Thirty to forty percent of thecadets at the academy never hadmilitary training and were shockedby the 'boot camp' atmosphere, butthe CDP guys fell right in," Achordsaid.

The entire CDP crew extends theircongratulations and wish these threemen the best of luck at the academy.

Guardsman Doublesas DEA Liaison

By SSG Paul J. Sylvest241st PAD

Maj. Larry Deblieux executiveofficer of the 769th EngineerBattalion (combatively) in BatonRouge, was recently assigned as theNational Guard liaison officer forthe New Orleans field division officeof the Drug EnforcementAdministration (DEA). The NewOrleans Meld division office is theheadquarters for DEA operations inLouisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi,and Alabama.

His role as National Guard liaisonofficer is to provide direct assistanceto the DEA in it's execution of thenational drug strategy.

His position also encompasses theduties of the p r i n c i p a l mi l i t a ryadvisor to the Field Division SpecialAgent in Charge. In thiscapacity .Deblieux will fill a criticalneed for National Guard expertise inplanning and coordinating NationalGuard and other Department ofDefense military support tocounterdrug activities in the NewOrleans field division.

Monitoring the effectiveness ofthe National Guard and Departmentof Defense countercharge support,NWij. Deblieux wil l collect anddisseminate lessons learned to DEAHeadquarters, field personnel and tothe National Guard Bureau.

As liaison officer, DeBIieux willserve as single point of contact forNational Guard matters w i t h i nthe New Orleans field division ofthe DEA.

DeBIieux was ordered to activeduty on March 16, 1992. His tour of

duty is for three years. A graduate ofNorthwestern State University,DeBIieux earned a Bachelor of Artsdegree in economics and wascommissioned through the ROTCprogram. He joined the LouisianaNational Guard in December 1973.His entire National Guard careerhas been wi th the 225 EngineerGroup. He commanded at theplatoon and company levels in the527 Engineer Battalion. He hasserved in staff assignments at the225 Group Headquarters and at,thebattalion level in the 527th and769th.

DeBIieux is transitioning from atwenty year civilian career in thebanking industry to this active dutyassignment. He was Vice-Presidentand Market Manager in FirstCommerce Corporation's Alexandriaaffi l iate bank, Rapides Bank andTrust Company.

DeBIieux is a nat ive ofNatchitoches, La. He has heldleadership positions with AttakapasCouncil , Boy Scouts of America,Kiwanis Club of Alexandria, CentralLouisiana Chamber of Commerce,United Way of Central Louisianaand the School Boards of HolySavior,Menard Central High Schooland Our Lady of Prompt SuccorElementary.

He and his wife, Becky have threechi ldren , Richard, Jennifer ,andDenise.

With the success the Counter-Drug Program has had supportinglaw enforcement agencies, NationalGuard involvement with the DEA issure to have a very positive impacton that agency's counterdrug efforts.

Drug Program ProvesSuccessful in St. Bernard

Members of the LouisianaNational Guard Counter DrugProgram recently assisted lawenforcement agencies with one of thelargest cocaine seizures ever in St.Bernard Parish.

1,000 kilograms of cocaine wereseized and 12 defendants arrested asa result of a year-long investigationby the U.S. Customs Service and theFederal Bureau of Investigations.

Uni ted States Attorney HarryKosenburg praised the cooperativeefforts among federal and local lawenforcement agents: "The arrest andindictment today is the culminationof thousands of hours of hard workby Customs and FBI agents, togetherwith assistants provided by membersof the Louisiana National Guard andthe St. Bernard Sheriff s Office. Thisteamwork, which prevented the

distribution of massive quantities ofcocaine in our community and othercities throughout this country, isexemplary."

The cocaine seized was importedto the United States inside oft imbers which appeared to berailroad ties. The timbers had beenhollowed out to transport the cocaineand then were painted with creosotein an effort to make them appear tobe normal railroad ties.

In addition to the cocaine, thegovernment's investigation hasresulted in the seizure of numerousvehicles and other propertybelonging to these defendants.

Rosenburg said, "Members of thewell-known Cali cartel based inColumbia were responsible for thecocaine importation into theUnited States." *

APRIL/MAY 1992 LOUISIANA GUARDSMAN Page 19

Recently the 159th CivilEngineering Squadron complet-ed an humanitarian projectwhile deployed to Howard AFB,Panama. Twenty-six volunteer*helped build a church/school forthe Choco Indians, in a jungle offthe Chargres River. Picturedhere are: front row left to right:SSG Christine Gained, Mission-ary Fina Fahy, SSG KeithZarders, MAJ Mike Hatcher, SSGIke Hunter, MSG Richard Kuhn,TSGT Sharon Moore. SecondRow: TSGT Xavier Elvir, MSGCharles Toney, TSGT RoyHawkins, TSGT Robert Harr is .SMS Edward Barranco, SRA NedScioneaux, SRA Beth Cusimano,AMN Kevin Gardebled, SRAJanet Morgan, SRA KimberlyBlake, SRA Philip Lataple. LastRow: SRA Kevin Basset, MSGTom Jennings, SRA BrianSchexnaydre, SSG Derek Duvic,SRA Orlando Novoroal, TSGTClarence Brocks, A H StephenVerrett. Not pictured : MSGAnthony Taylor.

159th CES Deploys to PanamaBY SRA Beth A. Cusimano

15»th TFG/CES

During March of this year, theLouisiana Air Nat ional Guard's159th Civil Engineering and ServicesSquadron deployed to Howard AFB,Panama, The 42 member teamworked on projects for the VolantOak unit, a C-130 Rotation unit thatsupports American Agencies.

The 159th was the fifth PrimeBeef team in a series of 10 teamsthat rotated to Howard AFB toconduct renovations on the VolantOak site. This project offered manyhours of t ra in ing to the CivilEngineering members. They receivedtraining inside and outside of theircareer fi t -Ids.

The project consisted of t i l inglatrines and showers, wood work,carpentry, sheet rocking, airconditioning, electrical andplumbing work.

This has got to be the best work

I've seen from any of the visitingunit's," complemented Brig. Gen.Richard McCartney, Commander ofVolant Oak. "They were veryorganized and took the ball and ranwith it. I would be proud to servewith these individuals in a wartimeor peacetime situation."

26 of the 42 Civil Engineeringmembers volunteered to participatein a Humanitarian project on theirday off. They ventured into anIndian village located deep in thejungle to help build the foundation ofa church/school.

The deployment proved successfulunder the direction of Maj. MikeHatcher, Officer in Charge and BaseCivil Engineer, and EdwardBarranco, Charge and FacilityManager. Both are full-timepersonnel with the 159thEngineering Squadron at the NavalAir Station. This was the CivilEngineering's fourth deployment forthe year.

Military Reunion NewsAAC/OSAF

17TH BOMB GROUP/17THBOMB WING

Reunion Date: Sep 30-Oct 4,1992

Reunion Site: Sacramento, CA(Red Lion's Sacramento Inn)

POC: W. D. BAIRD6776 E Northwest Hwy

Dallas. TX 75231(214)348-9124

WWII, Korea, annual reunion

493RD BMB GRPMEMORIAL ASSN8TH AIR FORCE

Reunion Date. Oct 6-11, 1992Reunion Site: Louisville, KY

(Gait House Hotel)POC: JOHN F. CONWAY

58 College AvePoughkeepsie, NY 12603

(914)4548074WWII, annual reunion

122nd Supports BAM A BrigadeBY AIC Kelly I . HuUon122nd Weather Flight

The Louisiana Air NationalGuard's 122nd Weather Flight inBelle Chase is not your ordinary AirForce Weather Flight. The 122ndcarries an additional task ofsupporting the 31st ArmoredBrigade stationed in Tuscaloosa,Alabama. In support of this mission,the 122nd participates in tworequired bivouacs each year inaddition to their annual training.

At the flight's April drill, membersbegan preparation for their Juneannual training at Camp Shelby,Mississippi. The flight will spend twoweeks conducting field exercises withthe 31st Armored Brigade whilesupplying the brigade with theirweather information. "In a wartimesituation, the 31st would depend onus to aid them with their

maneuvers," said Capt. James D.Miller, Officer In Charge.

In order to train proficiently, the(Light practices such tasks aschemical warfare procedures; foxhole preparation and procedures;mine and booby trap detection; andfirst aid and buddy care. The 122ndalso participates in the selection oftemporary field sites at CampShelby. "After setting up, wecamouflage our working and livingquarters in compliance with Armyregulations," said Tech. Sgt. RayMolaison, the flight's station chief. Inaddition to all of this, the flight willperform their specialized forte -observing and forecasting theweather.

"For such a small f l ight , 13members, we carry quite a bit ofresponsibility," said Tech. Sgt.Charles Patterson, the flight'smanagement assistant.

Page 20 LOUISIANA GUARDSMAN APRIL/MAY 1992

62nd NGALA Conference Held in Lafayette

Fifth U.S. Army Commander LTG Neil T. Jaco said at the 62ndNational Guard Association of Louisiana Conference in Lafayette,that Mabout ten years ago I realized that there are three issues thatapply to the total force: 1. Leader development at all levels. 2. MOSqualification because you can't be professional if you're not quali-fied. 3. Training to standards with the best standardized trainingsystem in the world." Jaco also gave his "formula for a successful lifein the military: train, maintain, be disciplined and have fun.** Thehard part is to put them all together and do u . he said. (Photo bySGT Kristi L. Moon, 241st PAD)

During the 62nd National Guard Association of LouisianaConference MG Ansel M. Stroud, Jr., recognized two members of the156th Army Band for their dedication and service with one of thefinest Army Bands in the nation. CW4 Ernest Peterson, band master,was promoted to that rank by MG Stroud and Mrs. Peterson (1). 1SGCharles Young was recognized for his dedication. Young, who isretired, volunteered to play with the band for this conference.(Photo by SGT Kristi I . Moon, 241st PAD)

In April, Mrs. Linda Ross andMaj. Gen. Ansel M. Stroud, Jr.,changed this man's shoulder boardsfrom a bird to a star. He is Brig. Gen.Kenneth L. Ross, commander of theLouisiana Air National Guard.

Rosa, a native of Orange, Texas,graduated from Hammond HighSchool, and Louisiana State

Universi ty* and is a senior lawpartner in the firm of Scale,Macaluso and Ross. He is also vice-president of Ross & Wallace PaperCompany, a Louisianamanufacturing company.

Rosa and his family reside inHammond. (Photo by SGT Kristi L.Moon, 241st PAD)

Guardsmen Attend Male

Responsibility Training

by SSG Paul J. Sylvwt241st PAD

During the second weekend of May,Camp Beauregard in Pineville, LA,became a temporary site for somevital training, but it wasn't military.

You would normally expect to findNational Guardsmen sharpening upon their military skills. Instead, thistraining offered a change of pace forabout twenty guardsmen.

The Southwest Regional Center forDrug-Free Schools and Communitiessponsored a two-day seminar titledMule Responsibility/Male MentorshipTraining of Trainers.

The purpose of the seminar is totrain adult males who can go back totheir communities to instruct otheradult males on how to be role models.The deterioration of able-bodiedyouth in society has caused theinitiation of several new groups andorganizations which are looking for

ways to deal with troubled youth andthe issue of substance abuse.

National Guardsmen attended thetraining to increase the volunteerinvolvement on the community level.

Placing a high priori ty on theGuard supporting drug preventionefforts, Maj. Gen. Ansel M. Stroud,Jr.. Adjutant General, LouisianaNational Guard, said. "The waragainst drugs must be won in thehearts and minds of the men andwomen of America. There will be aserpent which devours the peacedividend if something isn't doneabout drugs."

Maj. Willie Davenport, a five-timeOlympian and community relationsofficer for the Nat ional GuardBureau, said, "In September of 1989,President Bush designated theNational Guard as the leader in drugdemand reduction. There are 3200units in the U.S. and a half million

-troops.