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December-March 2011

Volume 1, Issue 1

“THE WEEKENDER” Official publication of the

110th

Public Affairs Detachment

A pre-deployment ceremony was held on

January 8, 2011 for F Company, 1st Battalion,

126th Aviation (MEDIVAC) as they prepared to

deploy to Afghanistan in support of Operation

Enduring Freedom with an anticipated return in

January 2012.

Some of the Soldiers deploying are on their first

deployment, while others were deployed as part

of Operation Noble Eagle in 2003 or to Iraq in

2005.

Operation Noble Eagle was a support mission for

the active duty Army bases in the Southeastern

area of the United States. F Company, then the

249th Medical Company (Air Ambulance) flying

UH-1 “Hueys”, provided support for the active

duty forces so units that are equipped with the

UH-60’s can go forward in support of the war

effort.

The Rhode Island unit will join their two

detachments from Delaware and Wyoming and,

as a complete unit, will field 155 personnel and

15 UH-60 helicopters. They will support ground

combat operations and move civilian personnel

as directed by the ground operations

commander.

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F Company 1st Battalion, 126th Aviation stands ready to deploy.

“We’ve all heard that the Rhode Island National Guard is well-respected for operational accomplishments both home and abroad. That reputation for excellence preceded the Department of the Army (DA) Inspector General (IG) Sergeant Major’s visit to Rhode Island in December. Void of the formalities that traditionally surround such visits, Sergeant Major Henry Jackson came only to meet and lend his support to the members of the Rhode Island National Guard—the 43d Military Police Brigade in particular, who will soon be deploying,” according to Maj. Michael Cote, Rhode Island Army National Guard’s Inspector General.

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1st Sgt. Jackie Hazley listens closely to her daughter Maya,

who presented her with a plaque from her husband Derrick

and Maya expressing their appreciation for her. 1st Sgt.

Hazley is the newly assigned First Sergeant for the

Headquarters Detachment.

1st Sgt. Michael Beaver receives an award from the

Headquarters Detachment during the Change of

Responsibilty Ceremony. 1st Sgt. Beaver is returning to

the 43rd Military Police Brigade in Warwick.

Col. Mark Jannitto greeting soldiers at Change of

Command Ceremony at Schofield Armory Jan. 09, 2011

Brig. Gen. Matthew Dzialo receives the Legion of Merit award

during Joint Force Headquarters Change of Command Ceremony.

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The Soldiers of C Co. 1st Battalion,

143rd Infantry (Airborne) conduct

a vehicle recovery drills on

Saturday March 5, 2011 at the Big

River Management Area of

Coventry, RI. It is essential that

Soldiers can recover disabled

vehicles quickly to move out of the

kill zone. The Soldiers are training

in preparation for an upcoming

deployment to Afghanistan later in

the year.

The Soldiers of C Co. 1st

Battalion, 143rd Infantry

(Airborne) train to defeat

Improvised Explosive Devices

on Saturday March 5, 2011 at

the Big River Management

Area in Coventry, RI. IEDs

are a dangerous threat to

service members deployed

overseas in Iraq and

Afghanistan. The Soldiers are

training in preparation for an

upcoming deployment to

Afghanistan later in the year.

(Photos by Army Spec.

Michael Iacona)

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The Soldiers of C Co. 1st

Battalion, 143rd Infantry

(Airborne) conduct a vehicle

recovery drills on Saturday

March 5, 2011 at the Big

River Management Area of

Coventry, RI. It is essential

that Soldiers can recover

disabled vehicles quickly to

move out of the kill zone. The

Soldiers are training in

preparation for an upcoming

deployment to Afghanistan

later in the year. (Photos by

Army Sgt. Peter Ramaglia)

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If you would like to contribute or have an event planned and would like to get media

coverage, please contact the 110th Public Affairs Detachment.

(401) 275-4868

Photos by the 110th Public Affairs Detachment

“….If you leave here with the word DUTY implanted in your mind; if you leave here

with the word HONOR carved in your soul; if you leave here with love of COUNTRY

stamped on your heart, then you will be a twenty-first century leader worthy..of the

great privilege and honor..of leading..the sons and daughters of America…”

-General H. Norman Schwarzkopf

Col. Mark Jannitto receives the flag from Maj. Gen Robert T.

Bray as he becomes the new Joint Force Headquarters

Commander

110th

Public Affairs Detachment

Schofield Armory

705 New London Avenue

Cranston, RI 02920

COMM. PHONE:

(401) 275-4868

FAX:

(401) 275-4869

E-MAIL:

russell.donahue@us.army.mil

Or

Megan.burmeister@us.army.mil

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The 110th Public Affairs Detachment is a Rhode Island National Guard unit whose focus is telling the Soldier’s story. We are eight Soldiers strong and are proud to be a part of the tradition of the RI National Guard.

About Our Organization…

Our federal mission is to provide direct public affairs support to units deployed in support of Army, joint, combined, or unified operations.

Our state mission is to support our state’s Public

Affairs Office, promote community relations and highlight the incredible work our National Guard Soldier’s accomplish on, or off, a weekend drill.