prng presente magazine october 2010

Presentea u n i q u e b i l i n g u a l m a g a z i n e

PUERTO RICO NATIONAL GUARDArmy/Air/State

The new 1600 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit is here!

PresenteOctober 2010

...and is looking for a few good men and women.

CAMP SANTIAGO: PREMIER TRAINING DESTINATION IN THE CARIBBEANPage 4

0

KosovoGood news from our troops in

Pages 3, 13, 36 and 37

. MENSA JE DEL AYUDANTE GENERAL

Maj. Gen. Antonio J. Vicéns

PresenteM A G A Z I N E

“Presente” is an unofficial bilingual publication of the Puerto Rico National Guard, authorized under AR 360-81, and prepared by the Public Affairs Office and 113th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment. This magazine is published for all members of the National Guard, courtesy of the Puerto Rico National Guard Institutional Trust Fund (FIGNA). The viewpoints expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of the Department of the Army or Air Force, the Puerto Rico National Guard or the Adjutant General of Puerto Rico.

Articles and photographs for publication in PRESENTE should be submitted to: Editor, PRESENTE, ATTN: PR-PAO, Public Affairs Office, P.O. Box 9023786, San Juan, P.R. 00902-3786. Telephones: (787) 289-1474, 289-1475, 289-1479. Fax: (787) 289-1478, e-mail: [email protected].

Design and Artwork by: Staff Sgt. Waldemar Rivera, PRNG-PAO

El éxito de una organización está funda-mentado en los principios de relevancia y dedicación para con el pueblo al que sirve. No existe, ni existirá, una empresa que pueda adjudicase el éxito de su cometido que haya ignorado las necesi-dades y asuntos de aquellos a los que está llamada a servir.

Por los pasados 91 años nuestra institución ha cultivado la dedicación al servicio de nuestro país y nuestra nación,

convirtiéndose de esta manera en una organización relevante para el pueblo que espera nuestra presencia y cometido en los momentos de crisis y que ahora, más que nunca antes, depende de nuestro ejemplo y valores. Desde 1919 nuestra institución ha llenado todos los cometidos históri-cos a los que se ha enfrentado y ha traído honor y honra a nuestra tierra, elevando la conciencia colectiva de nuestro pueblo a grandes alturas. Ninguna agencia gubernamental o militar en la historia de nuestro país ha tenido tres misiones fundamentales y ha cumplido a cabalidad con todos sus cometidos sin sacrificar la estabilidad y segu-ridad de nuestra población.

Hemos superado los retos que trajeron las movilizaciones federales en apoyo a la Guerra Global Contra el Terrorismo, donde cientos de nuestros ciudadanos-soldados sirvieron y sirven gallardamente en diversos frentes alrededor del mundo. Superamos los retos de una transformación sin precedente en nuestra historia donde docenas de unidades fueron desactivadas, otras más fueron creadas y nuevas

misiones han sido implantadas para atemperar nuestra organización a las exigencias de un nuevo mundo. Todo esto lo hemos logrado sin perturbar la fe de nuestro pueblo en nuestra capacidad de responder a sus necesidades.

Demostramos nuestra relevancia como institución al ayudar a nuestro pueblo en el mejoramiento de su calidad de vida al implantar programas de impacto social como lo es ChalleNGe y más reciente-mente C.R.E.A.N.D.O. Estamos colaborando con el desarrollo de nuestros niños y jóvenes con los programas STARBASE, STAY ON TRACK y las charlas continuas de la oficina de DDR (Drug Depen-dency Reduction Program) a las escuelas y a la comunidad. De la misma forma continuamos brindando seguridad a la comunidad con la participación en conjunto con la policía y las agencias de seguri-dad.

Ahora, estamos enfrascados en una visión que nos llevará a con-vertirnos en la institución de mayor relevancia en las Américas. Todo esto con el propósito, no de de ser exitosos o por lo que esto signifique para la organización, sino por el bien y el orgullo de nuestra nación y de nuestro país.

Guardia Nacional de Puerto Rico…¡SIEMPRE PRESENTE!

The Adjuntant GeneralMaj. Gen. Antonio J. Vicéns

Chief of StaffCol. Víctor Pérez

Air NG PAOMaj. Ricardo D. Castrodad

Master Sgt. Tomás RamirezMaster Sgt. Anthony Hall

State GuardCol. Maribel Alejandro

Lt. Col. Gelabert Monserrate2nd Lt. Javish Collazo

Editorial BoardMaj. Paul W. Dahlen

Sgt. lst Class Luis E. OrengoStaff Sgt. Waldemar Rivera

Staff Sgt. Marizol RuizSgt. Angel D. Martinez

Sgt. Robert OwensSpc. Wilma Vega

...in our next issue

Joint forces maneuver between PRNG and U.S. Marine Corps airlifted two 18th Cen-tury Cannons from El Morro Castle to a preservation facility in Old San Juan.

Pho

to b

y S

gt. R

ober

t Ow

ens,

PR

NG

-PA

O

October 2010 - 3

Soldiers from A Company, 1 Battalion, 296th In-fantry Regiment, 92nd Maneuver Enhancement

Brigade, Multinational Battle Group East, officially took over the mission at Mount Goles from Hellas Coy during a Transfer of Authority ceremony, Aug. 16.

The ceremony, held at the secured site at Mount Goles in Eastern Kosovo, included the lowering of the Greek flag and the raising of the U.S. flag in the center of the camp, signifying the change of responsibility for the mission.

“The soldiers of Hellas Coy did an exceptional job at Mount Goles. They successfully ensured that the safe and secure environment was maintained” said Col. Francisco J. Neuman, commander of Multinational Battle Group East, and a member of the Puerto Rico National Guard. “They have been an instrumental part of the KFOR mission, and were very helpful in transi-tioning the Mount Goles mission to the U.S. Coy.”

“We are looking forward to this mission, it should be a good time for my Soldiers,” said 1st Lt. Alexis Avel-lanet, Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, platoon leader, 296th. “We will be rotating Soldiers out here throughout our time on Goles.”

While on Mount Goles, the Soldiers of the 296th will be responsible for maintaining the security of the nu-

merous com-munication antennae as well as maintaining a safe and secure environment and ensuring locals have freedom of movement throughout the area.

Even though they will be at the secluded location, the Soldiers of the 296th are looking forward to the unique opportunities pro-vided by the mission.

“This will be a good experience for my Soldiers, “said 1st Lt. Avellanet. “Being away from the base will give my guys time to focus on any schooling they are taking, plus we will be interacting with the Italian and Portuguese armies while here. It’ll be a good experi-ence for all of us.”

With the Transfer of Authority completed, the Greeks will head back to Camp Rigas Ferros, but they aren’t worried about the job the Soldiers from Puerto Rico will do while at Goles.

“I’m happy to get my guys back to Rigas Ferros,” said Greek 1st Lt. Kostas Karanikolos. “I know the Ameri-cans will do a great job here, at least as good as we did, probably a better one and if they need any help or have any questions, my soldiers and I will be there to help them.”

Multi-National Battle Group East (MNBG E) is a U.S. led task force commanded by Col. Francisco J. Neuman. The Headquarters is the 92nd Maneuver Enhancement Brigade from the Puerto Rico National Guard. MNBG- E includes soldiers, from Arme-nia, Greece (Hellas), Polish, Romania, Turkey, and Ukraine. The charter mission of MNBE E is maintain-ing a Safe and Secure Environment and providing Freedom of Movement for the people in Kosovo.

Story and photo by: Pfc. Brian J. Holloran, 130th Public Affairs DetachmentPRNG unit takes over mission in Kosovo

Sgt. Gerardo Figueroa, Saint Just, Puerto Rico, infantryman, A Company, 1st Battalion, 296th Infantry Regiment, raises the U.S. flag during a Trans-fer of Authority ceremony, Aug. 16, at Mount Goles, Kosovo. During the ceremony, responsibility for safeguarding Mount Goles was turned over to A Company, 1st Battalion, 296th Infantry Regiment.

4 - Presente magazine

Troops from the 65th Army Reserve Command, Ft. Buchanan, Puerto Rico, while undergoing WLC training at Camp Santiago Joint Maneuver Training Center. The WLC training taught at Camp Santiago is a require-ment in order to be promoted as an NCO.

Story and photos by Staff Sgt. Waldemar Rivera, PRNG-PAO

Camp Santiago is a military training center in Salinas Munipality, Puerto Rico, operated by the

Puerto Rico National Guard. It has an elevation of 312 feet occupying 12,000 acres of land at the south of the island.

Since its establishment in 1940 as Puerto Rico’s National Guard training facility, Camp Santiago, now known as the Camp Santiago Joint Maneuver Train-ing Center (CSJMTC), has seen several generations of soldiers go through its training courses on a daily basis throughout the years.

Though it has no permanent residents, the barracks at this facility can temporarily house thousands of troops.

This facility accommodates brigade-sized or larger units for maneuver and specialized training. It is used by Special Operations Forces, the National Guard and other military units from the US and abroad including troops from Caribbean nations such as the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Barbados, Central America and the United Kingdom.

Camp Santiago was utilized to provide training to CARICOM Forces to support United Nations Reso-lution 940 prior to Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti in 1994.

Stable weather conditions and a strategic geographi-cal location make Camp Santiago the premier training destination in the Caribbean.

“I was given the chance to choose between going to the one of the States or coming to Camp Santiago for my Warrior Leadership Course,” said Sgt. Titus Dubois, from the 661st MP Co., Saint Croix, Virgin Islands. “Of course I chose coming here because the

weather conditions are similar to that of back home. Also I heard that there’s a challenging Land Naviga-tion Course here and I wanted to measure myself to it. This is my second time coming to the island, so I already knew what to expect from the weather and I really enjoy the training here.”

The year-round warm weather is a decision maker when you get to choose where to train for a deploy-ment that will land you in a hot weathered hostile country. Although, sometimes it is a bit challenging getting used to it.

“Camp Santiago is a little bit hotter than what I’m used to, but it is a regular training destination for my unit back home,” said Sgt. Emmrie Edwards, from JFHQ-HHD, Saint Croix, Virgin Islands. “I know some other people back home who have already been here precisely for WLC training like I am right now.”

Neither good weather or geographical position alone will result in a great training, there has to be a very important complement to make all this work together.

PREMIER TRAINING DESTINATION IN THE CARIBBEANCAMP SANTIAGO: CAMP SANTIAGO:

October 2010 - 5

destination, it really made my day because I knew it wasn’t going to be another cold weather training.”

On anything from PTAE (Pre-Mobilization Training Assistant Element), WLC and weapons qualification to just about anything pertaining to troops training, it is almost certain there’s a Readiness NCO somewhere browsing a list of training destinations, making a pause and reading out-loud: “Camp Santiago, Puerto Rico National Guard!”

PREMIER TRAINING DESTINATION IN THE CARIBBEAN

Soldiers from the Virgin Islands while undergoing WLC training at Camp Santiago Joint Maneuver Training Center, Aug. 17. From left: Sgt. Titus Dubois from the 661st MP Co., Sgt. Latoya Létang and Sgt. Emmrie Ed-wards, both from JFHQ-HHD. The WLC training taught at Camp Santiago is one of the main requirements in order to be promoted as an NCO.

“The training is wonderful, the trainers are knowl-edgeable and they know the ‘in’s and out’s’ on ev-erything they taught us,” said Sgt. Latoya Létang, from JFHQ-HHD, Virgin Islands. “The facilities are confortable and the training gets a little intense some-times, but it is fun. I would definitely come back for more training.”

Units from the Army Reserve at Fort Buchanan regu-larly send their troops to Camp Santiago to get trained and better their skills.

“It is pretty common for us in the Army Reserve to come to Camp Santiago for our training,” said Spc. Nelson Nieves, from the 271st Postal Company, 65th Army Reserve Command, Ft. Buchanan. “It would be uncommon to go somewhere else when the training we need is available right here in the island.”

Troops from the northern colder states also prefer the warm weather and the training opportunity Camp San-tiago has to offer.

“When I was told there was an open seat for Military Police qualification training here in Camp Santiago I got excited,” said Sgt. Teresa Laporte, from the 42nd Regional Support Group, New Jersey National Guard. “I had been waiting for two years to get my 31B (Mili-tary Police) qualification training and finally found it here after it was cancelled in California. I’m so glad Camp Santiago was listed as an option for a training

Sgt. Teresa Laporte, from the 42nd Regional Support Group, New Jersey National Guard, while undergoing weapons training for her 31B MOS (Military Police) qualification at Camp Santiago Joint Maneuver Training Center, Aug. 17. Graduates from the 31B training taught at Camp San-tiago return to their units fully qualified as Military Police.


Historia por: Tnte. Cnel. Gelabel Monserrate, PRSG-PAOFotos por: Soldado 1ra Clase José L. Torres y Soldado 1ra Clase Abelardo Pérez, PRSG-PAO

El Comando Estatal de Puerto Rico (PRSG) celebró su Campamento Anual 2010 en las facilidades

de Campamento Santiago en Salinas del 26 al 29 de agosto.

Más de 1,000 ciudadanos-soldados de distintos gru-pos de apoyo a través de la Isla participaron en entre-namientos de capacitación y certificación en un esfuer-zo combinado entre instructores de la Guardia Nacional de Puerto Rico y el PRSG.

El General de Brigada, Héctor Sorrentini, Comandante del PRSG les dio la bienvenida a las tropas y comentó sobre los cambios y procedimientos del Comando con el fin de trabajar mano a mano con la GNPR.

“Este campamento será diferente a los anteriores”, co-mentó Sorrentini mientras se dirigía a las tropas. “Us-tedes van a notar que el Comando Estatal y la Guardia Nacional van a estar trabajando a la par, no solo con el apoyo de instructores sino también en diferentes aéreas administrativas y demás”.

La misión primordial del adiestramiento fue la de ajustarse al cambio estructural y organizacional de la GNPR para poder responder a cualquier situación de emergencia que pudiera surgir en la isla y dar apoyo a cada una de las unidades de la GNPR.

“Para lograr esto, muchos de nosotros vamos a tener que re-adiestrarnos y adquirir nuevas especialidades militares”, dijo Sorrentini. “Queremos que Puerto Rico sepa que estamos capacitados y que puede contar con el PRSG.

Esto, siguiendo la visión del Ayudante General de Puer-to Rico de que la Guardia Nacional, la Guardia Nacio-nal Aérea y el Comando Estatal somos todos un solo cuerpo. Y así es que vamos a estar trabajando desde ahora en adelante”.

Por primera vez en la historia, la Compañía de Comu-nicaciones del PRSG, transmitió la apertura del campa-mento a través de la red cibernética. Cientos de famili-ares y amigos dentro y fuera de Puerto Rico tuvieron la oportunidad de ver la transmisión en vivo del evento.

Para accesar la página del PRSG en la red cibernética: www.prstateguard.com

COMANDO ESTATAL PARTE INTEGRAL DE LA GNPR

October 2010 - 7


“We are not selling a product, we are promoting a life style, a service based on duty, loyalty

and commitment toward country and nation,” said Lt. Col. Zane Lance, Recruiting and Retention Battalion Commander. “All candidates to join the Puerto Rico National Guard must understand that there is an obli-gation to our people here and to the nation. The Guard is not just benefits, but commitment and responsibility. Our mission is to get units ready for whatever mission arises.”

The PRNG Recruiting and Retention Command is also in a process of evolving, and changes are everywhere.

“Our guidance is to use recruiting as a tool to keep the readiness of our units, and to ensure units have the personnel they need to deploy or to support state missions,” said Lance. “Our primary focus is for

RecruitingCommand

those skill level 10 positions in the units to be filled.”

R&R also has to comply with specific goals estab-lished by the Adjutant General

“The aim of Maj. Gen. Antonio Vicéns is that our strength equals our force structure allowance,” said Lance. “So, for fiscal year 2011 our goal is to recruit 900 citizen-soldiers and 60 officers and also meet our force structure allowance of 7,177 personnel. It is a very big challenge. We did not have that type of mis-sion in terms of enlistment from some years now.”

According to Lance, FY 2010 was very successful, however, there are Military Occupational Specialties that are still hard to fill.

“Before the transformation of the PRNG we were a Combat Arms heavy organization in terms of units and mission,” said Lance. “After the transformation we became a Combat Support heavy organization with only 25 percent of it being combat arms units. How-ever, we are short in areas such as Military Police, Engineers, Infantry, Transportation, Chemical Special-ists and personnel in specialized units like the 1600 Explosive Ordnance Detachment and the 232 Engineer Diving Detachment, but we are not the only ones in this situation. Even at the national level there are people unable to pass the training courses.”

By Sgt. 1st Class Luis E. Orengo, PRNG-PAO

Promoting a Life Style

PRNG

October 2010 - 9

The language barrier and stiff competition from other services has made the recruiting task a daunting and challenging one but the PRNG R&R command has tackled this test head-on with all available tools.

“In the island we are recruiting under the Foreign Lan-guage Recruiting Initiative, which allows us to recruit any candidate who has problems with the English language,” said Lance. “We are in a kind of advan-tage point here, because we are a larger organization and have more MOSs to offer, compared to the Army Reserve or any other service. We have the educational benefits of FIGNA and we have a domestic role to support our communities, which is very attractive to many applicants. So those are our three selling points for recruiting.”

The near future looks challenging, but the PRNG R&R has proven its capabilities to adapt and get the job done.

Staff Sgt. Peter Rivera, Recruiting and Retention Non-commissioned officer from the Recruiting Command, PRNG, while helping Geiren Rivera fill out his initial enlistement documents during a recruiting event at “The Outlets” shopping center in Canóvanas. The Recruiting Command participates in recruiting events troughout the year all over the island. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Waldemar Rivera, PRNG-PAO)

“We have implemented changes in how do we do busi-ness out in the field,” said Lance. “Now we are look-ing to go back to areas that have been abandoned due to the difficulties and opposition from some sectors. We are trying to get back to high schools and colleges. We are looking for new markets.”

The PRNG R&R capabilities have been tested over time. In 2010 it raised from position 51 to number 13 of all NG recruiting battalions. It was recognized as the most improved Recruiting Sustainment Program in the nation.

“Our job is carried out by a team effort and everybody is part of the team,” said Lance. “If the Guard has been good to all of us it may also be good for many great people out there. We have to reach out to them, and tell them what we do, and motivate them to join us.”


The Puerto Rico National Guard confronts constant changes and challenges since the Guard in general

came to be an important asset in the fight against terror-ism.

According to the Personnel End Strength report of Glob-al Security for July 2010, the National Guard constitutes roughly a sixth of the total U.S. Military fighting force. Not to mention that during part of the war on terrorism the Guard has made up, in some instances, about 50 per-cent of the total force in combat.

With the ever-changing combat environment met during the ongoing war on terrorism, every National Guard must be proactive and equipped with the right technology to counter the enemy’s wit.

Enter the 1600th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company as part of the Puerto Rico National Guard.

“This unit was created in 2007 and activated in 2008 as a spin-off from what used to be Troop E, 192nd Cav,” said 1st Sgt. Jorge Luna, unit’s First Sergeant. “This happened after the 92nd Brigade bacame the 92nd Maneuver En-hancement Brigade.”

“This is a unique unit that specializes in reducing or elim-inating the hazards of munitions and explosive devices. This includes Improvised Explosive Devices placed by the enemy and conventional U.S. and foreign Unexplod-ed Explosive Ordnance that represent a threat to opera-tions, installations, personnel and materiel,” said Luna.

The unit’s mission is not exclusively one of combat op-erations. It also has some special roles included with its capabilities.

“As per our mission statement we also provide support to the U.S. Secret Service in the protection of the President, Vice-President and any other dignataries as directed,” said Luna. “Also, we provide EOD service to state and local agencies and foreign governments as required.”

Story and photo by: Staff Sgt. Waldemar Rivera, PRNG-PAO

1600th EOD COMPANY

One of the most important tools in the 1600 is a “squad” comprised of seven robots that includes six Man Trans-portable Robotic Systems (MTRS) and a 700-pound Re-mote Ordnance Neutralization System (RONS) that they nicknamed “Onion Head.”

“These robots are the pivot point of the unit,” said Sgt. Charlie Silva, robot operator and Training NCO for the unit. “They are the ones who do the dirty work for us when the situation turns awry.”

“These robots are used in dangerous situations,” said Sil-va. “They are an important complement to our protective

“There’s a new unit in town...”

Sgt. Charlie Silva, robot operator and Training NCO for the 1600 EOD Unit in Salinas, takes one of the unit’s new Robotic Systems for a stroll while checking the operational status of the machine, Sept. 12. Silva is the first Soldier from the PRNG who qualified as an EOD. (Photo by Staff Sgt, Waldemar Rivera, PRNG-PAO)

October 2010 - 11

suits when a suspected explosive device is encountered. It is better to send the robot to assess the situation rather than sending EOD personnel into harm’s way.”

The RONS is sent to recon the potentially dangerous area and look for a possible secondary IED or even maybe a third one or more since that is the trend nowadays.

“It has a total of four cameras for a 360 degree surveil-lance capability,” said Silva. “It has a microphone and a speaker that enables the operator to remotely commu-nicate with a Bomb Technician or any other personnel downrange from a safe distance of 300 meters.”

“The main purpose of the RONS is not to detonate the explosives itself,” said Silva. “We always try to protect the equipment as much as possible and the RONS should be placed as far away from the detonation as possible be-fore it occurs. In the case that the RONS is handling a suspicious object and a bomb goes off, the robot could be destroyed, but it’s better to lose a robot than to lose a soldier.”

Even in the event of losing a robot due to an explosion, the robot would still be doing its intended job, which is to protect the Soldier from getting killed, and that is just one of its main jobs.

“One of the main jobs for the robotic systems when an IED is encountered is to try to disarm or separate the components of the device,” said Silva. “One way is trying to pull away the blasting cap or the main trigger from the bomb assembly. This could sometimes be a cell phone,

a simple wire, a pressure plate or one of many ways the enemy manages to put the device together depending on their inventive.”

“Once this is done, and the surrounding area is free from secondary devices, then we get close with our Bomb Technicians and disassemble the artifact and work on the evidence gathered to try to identify and arrest the cul-prits,” said Silva.

“I feel proud to be the first member of the PRNG to go through the EOD School and the first one to get qualified in this MOS in the 1600 EOD Unit,” said Silva. “It was a 10-month-long course that started with the first phase at Redstone Arsenal in Alabama and ended with the second phase at Eglin AFB in Florida. It was a hard course; you had to pass with a minimum of 85 percent score on all tests. It was tough but not impossible.”

The unit seeks soldiers E-5 and below who are willing to take the challenge of going through the training. The candidates have to be in good physical condition, pass the APFT, 105 minimum GM score and posses a Secret clearance to apply for Top-Secret clearance.

For more information you may contact 1st Sgt. Jorge Luna at: (787) 824-7492 or visit building 900 at Camp Santiago Joint Maneuver Training Center in Salinas.

DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO WEAR ONE OF THESE?OFFICER

THE PUERTO RICO ARMY NATIONAL GUARD

EXCEL AT WHAT YOU DO BESTBECOME A LEADER

POC: 1st Lt. Maribel Oliveras (787) 565-7261 / (787) 289-1522E-mail: [email protected]

Puerto Rico


Until recently, most members of the Puerto Rico National Guard did not know what was Geospa-

tial Information Interoperability Exploitation-Portable or “GIIEP”.

GIIEP is a man-portable equipment which gives the PRNG a new capability to rapidly deploy during De-fense Support to Civilian Agencies (DSCA) operations providing Incident Awareness Assessment products

that can be quickly disseminated among mission part-ners and PRNG Emergency Management personnel.

It is composed of two “Go-Kits” and a Remote Oper-ated Video Enhanced Receiver (ROVER) 4 that can be rapidly deployed to produce Full Motion Video and still photography for the use of Incident Command-ers, first responders, state and local leadership, federal partners and national level leadership. It also eases the access to the product since it has a web-based inter-face.

In an effort from National Guard Bureau/J2 to field this equipment to all 54 National Guards, Puerto Rico received this new capability early during the month of July.

Mr. Patrick Plummer and Mr. Jesse Cowen, instructors from the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Com-mand, instructed PRNG members at the Joint Opera-tions Center, Joint Force Headquarters, on GIIEP handling and operation procedures, July 7-9.

They took turns teaching the modules and performing hands-on training to members from the JOC, Counter Drug program, 22nd Civil Support Team, 92nd Ma-neuver Enhancement Brigade and the J2.

“This has been the first group we’ve seen with so much interest,” said Mr. Plummer. “Most of the time people either do not have much knowledge of the equipment or interest in the training; this was not the case here.”

The personnel trained here will also help to train more users to spread the knowledge and availability of qualified person-nel to operate the equipment during DSCA operations.

HI-TECH EQUIPMENTPRNG RECEIVES NEWBy Col. Adalberto Rivera, PRANG

Air Force Staff Sgt. Arnaldo Torres, from the 22nd Civil Support Team, while testing the new GIIEP at Joint Force Headquarters in San Juan, Sept. 7. The GIIEP is a man-portable equipment that provides incident awareness assessment to emergency management personnel during emergency op-erations. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Mario Fernandez, PRNG-JOC)

October 2010 - 13

Members of the KFOR 13, Multinational Battle Group East, Liaison Monitoring Team, met with

more than 40 local children during a Summer camp program in Strpce/Shterpce, July 20.

The program, hosted by Strong Start, a non-govern-mental organization in Kosovo, offered the Soldiers of LMT 7, who arrived in Kosovo only two weeks prior, their first chance to interact with the youth of their sector.

“This is the new face of KFOR in Strpce,” said 2nd Lt. Suehaine Cancel, officer in charge, LMT 7. “We are more than glad to be sharing this moment with all of you,” Cancel told the camp participants.

Cancel, a Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, resident, and her Soldiers, took the opportunity to spend time with the Kosovo children, while also handing out various school supplies and engaging in several activities with the youngsters.

“We love to participate in all of these activities,” said Cancel, “especially with the kids. They are the future of Kosovo.”

The Soldiers participated in various activities with the children, including soccer, volleyball, board games and more. Also, during the camp, the children are of-fered activities ranging from language lessons, singing and dancing and athletic competitions among others.

The children participating in the camp are from vari-ous ethnic and cultural backgrounds, which is by design on purpose by the event organizers.

“We try to get all the communities in one place,” said Mirlinda Sylejmani, assistant supervisor for the camp. “We select kids from multiple ethnicities … so they see that they can live and work together if they want to.”

Multi-ethnic cooperation and friendship is what can ensure continued success in the building of a strong future for all the people in Kosovo.

“This is a good start,” said Cancel. “Let’s all contrib-ute to this giant step in the build-up of the multi-ethnic society and a better future for everybody, especially for Kosovo. The future of Kosovo is in these kids’ hands.”

TEAMS-UPWITH LOCAL SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM

Story by Sgt. Jordan Werme, 130th Public Affairs Detachment

KFOR 13

2nd Lt. Suehaine Cancel (kneeling), of Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, officer in charge, Liason Monitoring Team 7, Multinational Battle Group East, KFOR 13, poses with her team and a group of children participating in a Strong Start summer camp program, July 20. The LMT Soldiers spent the day with a group of more than 40 local children from multiple ethnicities and municipalities in Kosovo. Soldiers partici-pated in various activities with the children throughout the day, including soccer, board games, and group discussions. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jordan E. Werme, 130th PAD)


Se gradúan dos de

La GNPR recibió a los primeros dos buzos cualifi-cados del Naval Diving & Salvage Training Center

en Panama City, Fla., pertenecientes al recién formado 232vo Destacamento de Buzos Ingenieros el pasado agosto.

El Sgto. Alvin Flores, natural de Humacao, y el Solda-do de 1ra Clase Jason Ortiz Torres, natural de Bayamón, hacen historia al ser los primeros buzos cualificados de la GNPR.

El Destacamento de Buzos Ingenieros se forma durante la transformación general que sufrió la GNPR en el año 2008, cuando varias unidades cambiaron de estatus y otras desaparecieron para incorporarse a otras unidades ya existentes o recién creadas.

Desde la formación del destacamento, cuya misión prin-cipal es la de ejecutar misiones de salvamento en aguas profundas, se ha hecho el llamado para atraer candidatos y llenar las posiciones que aún quedan vacantes. Hasta el momento cerca de un 50 por ciento de las posiciones quedan por ser ocupadas.

“Yo estaba en la 892va Unidad de Ingeniería en Huma-cao cuando decidí transferirme a este destacamento a principios del 2008”, dijo Flores. “Fui el primer can-didato que llegó al destacamento y llegué pensando en que sería de los primeros en cualificarse en este tipo de trabajo en la historia de la GNPR. Ya tenía en mente

cuán difícil podría ser el adiestramiento”.

Los candidatos a buzo del destacamento se enfrentan a 29 semanas de entrenamiento que varía desde concen-traciones académicas hasta rigorosos adiestramiento físicos. Es precisamente el estrés del adiestramiento lo que hace que algunos candidatos no logren terminar el curso. De 38 candidatos que comenzaron el curso en octubre, 13 no lo lograron.

“El entrenamiento fue uno muy demandante y hubo momentos en que este se puso muy difícil”, dijo Flores. “Decidí meterme de lleno en los estudios, tener la mente en claro y seguir adelante con el adiestramiento. Pensaba mucho en la familia y en lo difícil que se le hacía a mi esposa manejar su trabajo, la casa y nuestros cuatro hijos por sí sola. Todo esto me hacia ganar más bríos para comenzar con nuevos ánimos en la mañana siguiente. Quería volver a casa pero con la frente en alto”.

“Siento mucho orgullo de haber sido el primer NCO de la GNPR que se gradúa del NDSTC que es una escuela de tanto prestigio”, dijo Flores. “También siento orgullo de haber sido parte de la primera clase del NDSTC que se graduó con más del 65 por ciento de los estudiantes. Los instructores dicen que fue la mejor clase que ha pasado por ese entrenamiento hasta ahora”.

La NDSTC es la escuela de rescate en profundidades marinas más prestigiosa del mundo ofreciendo una gran variedad de ambientes de entrenamientos controlados como piscinas, cámaras de presión y muelles, así como acceso a buceo en mar abierto.

Para ser parte del 232vo Destacamento de Buzos In-genieros se requiere una puntuación de GT (General Technical) de no menos de 107, pun-tuación en GM (General Mechanics) de 105, Pulhes de 111111 y pasar el DPFT (Divers Physical Fitness Test).

Para mas información llamar al Sgto. Alvin Flores al 787 559-1906.

1ra Unidad de Buzos

El Sgto. Alvin Flores, del 232vo Destacamento de Buzos Ingenie-ros, durante su entrenamiento en Panama City, Fla.. Flores hace historia al ser uno de los primeros buzos cualificados de la primera unidad de buzos de la GNPR. (Foto provista)

Por Sgto. de Estado Waldemar Rivera, GNPR-PAO

October 2010 - 15

The Puerto Rico National Guard, alongside State government and Federal agencies, got together

in the PRNG-Joint Force Headquarters in San Juan to establish a cooperation agreement to better support the veterans community in the island. The team is named C.E.I.B.A. and it stands for Committee for Enhanced, Integrated services and support Benefits for veterans, service members And their families.

The Ceiba is a tall and strong tree that grows in many islands in the Caribbean and is known for its strength and capability to withstand hurricanes.

Early this year the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for Returning Service Members, Veterans and their Fami-lies Policy Academy invited 10 states & territories to Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico was among them.

“We received an invitation to attend this meeting in Washington D.C. early this year,” said Mr. Héctor De Jesús Transition Assistance Advisor for Puerto Rico. “The Puerto Rico Task Force analyzed and reviewed the current issues and challenges of Puerto Rico’s Veterans support system strengths and weaknesses, including a review of the unique political environment in which it has to operate.”

Once in Puerto Rico, the task force took the task to assemble all relevant government and federal agencies to study them and their alternatives.

So, the CEIBA committee was born.

Five of the most relevant points of the meeting were:

1. It has been a long war that stretches a system not designed for such a long conflict.2. Conflicts with small groups that don’t support Vet-erans.

C.E.I.B.A.

3. Limited resources.4. Disparity of benefits with claim decisions when compared with Continental U.S.5. Lack of jobs and employment strategies.

The C.E.I.B.A. Committee includes Honorable Lucy Arce, Senator and president of the Veterans Affairs Committee in the PR Senate, two Governor’s special representatives, the PR Transition Assistance Advisor, the PR Advocate for Veterans Affairs, PRNG Family Program Director, Veterans Administration representa-tives, the ESGR (Employer Support to the Guard and Reserve) president and selected personnel from differ-ent military and Veteran service organizations.

“At this point all members of the CEIBA Committee are engaged in the process to educate our community, government agencies and the private sector on the sig-nificance of the Veteran community and their families. Also, to update laws and benefits that the Veterans community and their families are entitled to.” said De Jesús. “The committee will work hand-in-hand to deal with matters concerning all Veterans, and bring solutions to the most relevant issues. After all, Veter-ans have sacrificed themselves for the community, the country, and our nation.”


A strong tree for times of crisis

an interagency group for challenging times

The Puerto Rico Advocate for Veterans Affairs, Agustín Montañez Allman (center), and members of the CEIBA Committee discuss some of the issues and concerns of the benefits earned by Veterans. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Waldemar Rivera, PRNG-PAO)


La Guardia Nacional de Puerto Rico ha sido precur-sor de programas, servicios y actividades dirigidas

al beneficio comunitario, sus miembros y por el bien de Puerto Rico. Todos estos esfuerzos están enfocados a beneficiar a nuestro pueblo.

Sin embargo, el deseo de servir trasciende ya que la GNPR es parte del Programa de Países Compañeros (SPP por sus siglas en inglés) el cual tiene como mis-ión principal el establecimiento y fortalecimiento de relaciones mutuas a largo plazo con países compañe-ros a través de todos los niveles de la sociedad.

Este programa evolucionó del Programa de Equipo de Contacto Conjunto iniciado en 1993 que fue un programa de alcance creado para las nuevas democra-cias surgidas en Europa Central, del Este y la antigua Unión Soviética. Desde 1994 el programa comenzó a expandirse hasta convertirse en una iniciativa global.

El SPP es una misión exclusiva de las Guardias Nacio-nales de los estados y territorios de los EE.UU. y está dividida en cinco comandos: Comando Europa, Co-mando África, Comando Central, Comando Pacífico y Comando Sur-América. Hoy en día hay un total de 61 asociaciones del Programa de Países Compañeros en todos los comandos.

En asuntos relacionados al SPP, la GNPR responde al Comando Sur-América, el cual cuenta al momento, con 19 países-compañeros-miembros. Puerto Rico es uno de solo dos estados del Comando Sur-América que mantiene lazos con dos países-compañeros a la vez; siendo estos países: la República Dominicana y Honduras.

Entre los objetivos principales a ser logrados para con los países-compañeros se encuentran: el de apoyar los objetivos de cooperación de seguridad, desarrollar

Por Sgto. de Estado Waldemar Rivera, GNPR-PAO

GNPR

actividades donde el gobierno de los EE.UU. pueda crear vías sociales de crecimiento socio-económico dentro del país-compañero y contribuir en la creación de operaciones de coalición en la guerra global contra el terrorismo.

El programa incrementa las oportunidades económicas entre los estados y los países-compañeros, promueve la amistad entre militares y civiles de ambas partes y habilita el intercambio de información y tecnología para el beneficio de ambas partes. Es un programa flexible hecho a la medida basado en los requisitos y deseos del país-compañero que no limita otros inter-cambios ni operaciones.

El valor primordial del SPP es su habilidad de enfocar la atención de una sección del Departamento de la Defensa – la Guardia Nacional de algún estado – hacia uno o dos países o región en apoyo a la política del Gobierno de los EE.UU.

Este enfoque de atención permite que se desarrollen relaciones personales a largo plazo y un mecanismo que sirve para atraer más apoyo desde fuera del Depar-

parte del Programa de Países Compañeros

Capitán Rolando Rodríguez, actual Coordinador del Programa de Paises Compañeros de la Guardia Nacional de Puerto Rico. (Foto por Sgto. de Estado Waldemar Rivera, GNPR-PAO)

October 2010 - 17

parte del Programa de Países Compañeros

A Simple ObservationA Single Report can lead to actions that may STOP a terrorist attackTHINK ABOUT THE POWER OF THAT. THE POWER OF iWATCH.

See Something - Say Something

Always Ready, Always AlertBecause someone is depending on you

Call (787) 723-7700

tamento de la Defensa que de otra manera no habría de ocurrir, pero que aún así complementa la política de los EE.UU.

Un compromiso óptimo es aquel en que: el país anfitrión profesa un interés genuino de asociación; los objetivos del compromiso se satisfacen; el riesgo a la fuerza de protección es mínimo; se requiere un mínimo de recursos adicionales para llevar a cabo el compromiso y donde la habilidad de compromiso de la Guardia Nacional, particularmente el apoyo militar a autoridades civiles, se haya incorporado de lleno.

Hoy en día, 35 estados, dos territorios y el Distrito de Columbia están asociados con 38 países alrededor del mundo.


The Puerto Rico National Guard Field Maintenance Shop (FMS) #9, located in Fort Allen, Juana Díaz, was selected runner-up of the Department of the Army Award for Maintenance Excellence (AAME) competition

2010 in the small TDA (Table of Distribution and Allowances) category, June 24.

The award ceremony was held at Richmond, Va., and the Chief of Staff of the Army, General George W. Casey Jr. was on hand to recognize the 82 outstanding units being awarded for logistics excellence. This is not the first time the Puerto Rico National Guard competes for this award. Last year FMS #5 from May-agüez competed and ended up as the winner of the 2009 AAME.

“At the Pentagon, we can make policies and plans, but none of it can be achieved without the Soldiers in the field,” said Lt. Gen. Mitchell H. Stevenson, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army for Logistics. “The Logistics Excellence Awards provide an oportunity to recognize outstanding units and their diligent efforts to sustain the force.”

The award description states that: “All mechanics were ASE (Automotive Service Excel-lence) qualified and had attended all required technician training courses. Puerto Rico has been a great supporter of the award program with maximum participation during the past years and has seen the benefit of improved readiness and recognition of their mainte-nance personnel by participating.” The AAME Award was established in 1982 by the Department of the Army and is co-sponsored by The National Defense Industrial Association. It has recognized the exceptional accomplishments in maintenance excellence and logistics performed by FMS #9.

An Army Award for Maintenance Excellence

FMS #9 Commended

Story and Photo by Staff Sgt. Waldemar Rivera, PRNG-PAO

October 2010 - 19

El Secretario del Departamento de Corrección y Rehabilitación, Sr. Carlos Mo-lina Rodriguez, junto al Ayudante General de Puerto Rico, General de División Antonio J. Vicéns, develan la bandera del programa CREANDO como parte de la actividad protocolar que dio inicio a un nuevo ciclo de este programa. Un total de 28 jóvenes son parte de este programa de 22 semanas el cual es producto del empeño y la esperanza de tres agencias gubernamentales que se unen para desarrollar esta alternativa educativa. (Foto por: Sgto. de Estado Waldemar Rivera, GNPR-PAO)

Un total de 28 jóvenes procedentes de los Centros de Tratamiento Social de la Ad-

ministración de Instituciones Juveniles iniciaron el segundo grupo del programa CREANDO (Camino al Reto del Éxito A través de Nuevas y Diferentes Oportunidades) en ceremonia llevada a cabo en los Cuarteles Generales de la Guardia Nacional en San Juan.

“Jóvenes, ustedes son la razón por la cual estamos aquí. Ustedes reconocieron la necesidad de reali-zar un cambio positivo en sus vidas y depositaron su confianza en nosotros para facilitar el mismo”, dijo el Ayudante General de Puerto Rico, General de División Antonio J. Vicéns. “De hoy en adel-ante sus vidas jamás serán las mismas. Hoy da inicio una etapa en sus vidas, una segunda y única oportunidad que la vida y la Guardia Nacional les ofrecen. Desde hoy la Guardia Nacional de Puerto Rico se encargará de encaminarlos hacia el éxito, pero necesitamos su aceptación no solo en palabra, sino en compromiso, entrega y aceptación. Su futuro y su éxito está en sus manos y comienza hoy”.

El programa CREANDO es el producto del empeño y la esperanza de tres agencias las cuales se unen para desarrollar esta alternativa educativa.

“CREANDO es el primer programa educativo para jóvenes bajo la custodia de la Administración de Instituciones Juveniles que ofrece una modalidad de enseñanza no tradicional, acelerada y residencial, que les permitirá completar en un término de 22 semanas los requisitos necesarios para obtener el diploma de Escuela Superior”, dijo Vicéns. “Esta va a ser una clase para la historia. En ustedes hay un

verdadero deseo de superación. Sé que aquí van a haber muchos honores, premios y muchas historias de superación y éxito. Yo confío en ustedes y su Guardia Nacional también”. La plataforma académica y administrativa del Pro-grama CREANDO está fundamentada en los procesos experimentados exitosamente durante los pasados 10 años por el Programa ChalleNGe de la Guardia Nacio-nal de Puerto Rico. “Este nuevo grupo de jóvenes ha demostrado que lo que hicimos en un principio fue lo correcto y que cu-ando se brinda la oportunidad hay quienes la valoran y proceden al cambio”, dijo Vicéns. “Este día celebra-mos nuevamente el resultado de la unión de esfuerzos y el deseo de ayudar a jóvenes que serán los futuros líderes de nuestro país. Estos jóvenes han decidido alcanzar metas y nosotros, todas las agencias concerni-das, nos hemos comprometido a estar en la disposición incondicional de ayudarles a lograrlo”.

Por Sgto. 1ra Clase Luis Orengo, GNPR-PAO

GNPR, AIJ, DCRINICIAN NUEVO GRUPO CREANDO


The Puerto Rico National Guard assisted the Maritime Transportation Authority in shipping much needed

goods to Vieques, an island-municipality of Puerto Rico. It has a population of 10,000 people which lies about 8 miles to the east of the Puerto Rican mainland.

In recent months the maritime transportation to and from Vieques has become a source of concern for its popula-tion. Most of the cargo vessels that transport goods into the island have been docked for maintenance.

“Our citizens in the municipality of Vieques were in dire need of our support to overcome a potential crisis, and we were asked to help,” said the Adjutant General of Puerto Rico, Major General Antonio J. Vicens. “Now we are taking appropriate action. This is what we do for the well-being of our communities.”

The situation arose after three of four MTA cargo vessels were docked for maintenance. Additionally, Hurricane Earl caused major damage to the island’s piers.

“The government of Puerto Rico approached us request-ing help with cargo transportation to Vieques,” said Col. Susan Valentín, 191st Regional Support Group com-mander. “The PRNG maintains three operational vessels ready to move at a moment’s notice with a fourth one in reserve. That has been our practice for more than ten years. We are always ready.”

The Vieques population relies on the MTA cargo ferries for most of its daily needs.

“MTA has four cargo vessels that serve the islands of Vi-eques and Culebra,” said José R. Ruíz Ríos, a supervisor at the MTA. “Our vessels move over 10 heavy vehicles in three daily trips to the islands. With the absence of three of those vessels, the movement of supplies and goods to and from the islands has become a challenge.

Thanks to the PRNG we are helping the Vieques’ com-merce by taking their vehicles to the main island for resupply and re-stock of the island’s stores. We will give Vieques’ businesses a priority and continue to do so until our service can be reestablished again.” The PRNG Landing Craft Detachment is the only one of its kind throughout the National Guard of all 54 States and Territories. “Our mission is to provide transportation to those vehi-

Personnel of the PRNG Landing Craft Detachment supervise the loading and unloading of vehicles from their vessels as part of the PRNG support to the Maritime Transportation Authority and the community of Vieques Is-land. After the MTA vessels were docked for repairs and maintenance, the PRNG was mobilized to provide transportation of cargo and commercial vehicles to and from the municipality of Vieques Island.

PRNGTO THE RESCUEStory and photos by Sgt. 1st Class Luis Orengo, PRNG-PAO

October 2010 - 21

The PRNG Landing Craft Detachment has four Landing Craft Mechanized (LCM) vessels manned by a crew of four each. This detachment is the only one of its kind among all NG units across the United States and its territories.

cles taking goods and supplies to the island of Vieques,” said Chief Warrant Officer Enrique Mercado, command-er of the PRNG Landing Craft Detachment. “We make three trips a day from Ceiba to Vieques with two Land-ing Craft Vessels. We are only carrying cargo vehicles because the Landing Craft are not designed to carry pas-sengers. Each trip back and forth takes two hours plus the time it takes to load and unload the vessels.” According to Mercado, all cargo and vehicle coordina-tion is done in Vieques by an MTA supervisor.

“We do not know who needs our services and support, so an MTA supervisor evaluates the situation and authorizes the loading of our vessels,” said Mercado.

The citizens of Vieques are very grateful for the PRNG support.

“I’m grateful to the PRNG because without their help I may not be able to restock my store and serve the people of Vieques,” said Roberto Velez, store owner. “I had to close my coffee shop for lack of supplies, but thanks to the PRNG I was able to resupply it and keep the business going,” said Alicia Rosa, business owner.

“Our National Guard is part of the community and this is what we do for its well-being,” said Mercado. “This is who we are.”


Con la República Dominicana...

Personal del Centro de Operaciones Conjuntas (JOC por sus siglas en Inglés) de la Guardia Nacional

de Puerto Rico y de la Agencia Estatal para el Manejo de Emergencias de Puerto Rico se dieron a la tarea de viajar a la República Dominicana en la primera de una serie de intercambios de conocimientos y experiencias en el manejo de emergencias y desastres.

Como parte del Programa de Países Compañeros, la función principal de la GNPR es la interacción con los paises compañeros para promover y realzar las rela-ciones bilaterales entre estos y los EE.UU.

Con este propósito, la Guardia Nacional de Puerto Rico tiene a su cargo, como parte del Programa de Pai-ses Compañeros, a la República Dominicana desde el año 2003.

“La principal ventaja en el aspecto del manejo de emergencias es incrementar la interoperabilidad entre la Guardia Nacional de Puerto Rico y las entidades públicas del estado que participaron en este evento con las autoridades militares y civiles que participaron

de parte de la República Dominicana” dijo el Capitán Rolando Rodríguez oficial a cargo del Programa de Países-Compañeros en de la GNPR.

En su visita de cinco días, el personal visitó las ofici-nas del Centro de Operaciones de Emergencias (COE) en Santo Domingo y en la provincia de La Romana en las cuales dieron charlas y clínicas relacionadas con diversas formas de cómo manejar situaciones de emergencias y de cómo desarrollar su propio plan de prevención de situaciones en caso de una eventuali-dad.

Directores de diversas agencias como Bomberos, Defensa Civil, Policía Nacional, Ejército Nacional, Marina de Guerra, Ministerio de Salud entre otras agencias del país se dieron cita durante estas charlas.

“Se espera que haya una continuidad de eventos con la Republica Dominicana para el próximo año fiscal”, dijo Rodríguez. “La prioridad que tiene el Comando Sur y la GNPR en cuanto al Programa de Países Compañeros es la de crear una línea de eventos en tres

GNPR UNIENDO FRONTERASHistoria y fotos por Sgto. de Estado Mario Fernández, GNPR-JOC

Personal del Centro de Operaciones Conjuntas de la Guardia Nacional de Puerto Rico y de la Agencia para el Manejo de Emergencias de Puerto Rico (extrema derecha) se reunieron con sus contrapartes de la República Dominicana en Santo Domingo con el fin de evaluar los procedimientos y capaci-dades conjuntas en el manejo de emergencias. La GNPR, como parte del Programa de Paises Compañeros, tiene a su cargo a la República Domini-cana en este programa desde el 2003.

October 2010 - 23

áreas principales que son Manejo de Emergencias, Operaciones de Paz y Asistencia Humanitaria.

La idea es expandir la interacción no solo entre mili-tares, sino militares civiles y por ende llegar al punto donde el Gobierno de Puerto Rico y el de la Repú-blica Dominicana empiecen a crear eventos entre ellos como interacciones civiles y que sean ellos los que nos inviten a sus eventos”.

“Como representante de la GNPR en el área de manejo de emergencia nuestra meta es poder entrela-zar a Puerto Rico y la Republica Dominicana en el caso de una emergencia real”, indicó el Sgto. Maestre Alfredo Rodríguez, Oficial no Comisionado a cargo de Operaciones del Centro de Operaciones Conjuntas de la Guardia Nacional de Puerto Rico.

“Después de estas visitas, Puerto Rico y la Repub-lica Dominicana podrían establecer unos acuerdos y planes firmados de cómo responder a una emergencia donde agilizaría el proceso de responder al llamado de ayuda”, mencionó Alfredo Rodríguez. En la forma de operar en una emergencia ellos tienen planes muy sim-ilares a los nuestros, la ventaja que tenemos nosotros es que tenemos más equipo tecnológico y unos planes ya establecidos basados en experiencias previas.

Fue una experiencia a gran escala donde se abren las puertas en caso de una emergencia para poder salvar vidas y propiedades, esto nos consolida una vez más como hermanos en el Caribe”.

Durante su visita a La Romana, se ofrecieron adies-tramientos al personal del Centro de Operaciones de Emergencia, Bomberos y Defensa Civil a petición del COE en Santo Domingo.

“La visita de la GNPR fue calificada como una de las mejores en cuanto al adiestramiento práctico y fun-

GNPR UNIENDO FRONTERAS

cional recibido”, dijo Luis Island, Director del Centro de Operaciones de Emergencias de la Provincia de La Romana. “Yo opino que sería de gran utilidad si se pudieran desarrollar al menos cuatro foros regionales en un futuro inmediato. Un ejercicio de mesa condu-cente a uno práctico ayudaría a consolidar los obje-tivos principales en el manejo de emergencias entre Puerto Rico y la República Dominicana”.

Se espera que para el próximo año se puedan conc-retar otras visitas a la República Dominicana con el propósito de solidarizar aun más el compromiso que tiene Puerto Rico, en el Programa de Países-Compañe-ros, para con la República Dominicana.

El Sgto. Maestre Alfredo Rodriguez, del Centro de Operaciones Con-juntas de la GNPR, comparte experiencias con sus contrapartes de la República Dominicana en Santo Domingo durante una visita con el fin de evaluar los procedimientos y capacidades conjuntas en el manejos de emergencias. Junto a Rodriguez de derecha a Izquierda: el General Juan Manuel Méndez, Director del Centro de Operaciones de Emergen-cias, Oscar Sotomayor de la Agencia para el Manejo de Emergencias de Puerto Rico y Julián Alberto Román García, subdirector técnico del COE de la RD.


The Employer Partnership of the Armed Forces participated in the Society of Human Resources

Management (SHRM) conference in Puerto Rico last month. The Employer Partnership was on hand in order to promote the program’s benefits to employers and Guardsmen alike.

The Employer Partnership, referred to as “EPO”, connects civilian sector employers with the skilled and experienced workforce residing in the Reserve Components. EPO establishes partnership agreements with employers which facilitate the hiring of National Guard & Reserve Service members.

In PR the program currently has four signed employer partners; Municipio de San Juan, Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority, St. James Security and Radio Uno Group. Overall, the program has more than 1,100 Em-ployer Partners. And through a relationship with the Direct Employers Association, job seekers have access to more than 450,000 available positions Nationwide at any given time by using the EP virtual job search portal.

“We are working to expand the number of partners in the island,” said Lt. Col. Rafael Diaz, Human Resourc-es Officer for the Employer Partnership. “The partner-ship benefits both employers and Service members; so increasing the number of partners here is in everyone’s best interest.”

Diaz and Program Support Manager (PSM) from Florida, Ms. Rachael Foster, also met with Col. Vic-tor Torres, the Asst. Adjutant General for the PRNG. They discussed opportunities for increasing Guards-men awareness of the program’s benefits.

Service members also have access to direct assistance through EPO PSMs, who have developed relationships

with employers. Aditionally, the program is working with its partners to develop shared training initiatives and to streamline professional credentialing processes for service members who already gained relevant skills through the military. On Nov. 12, EPO is launching a new, state-of-the-art job search application for job seekers. The applica-tion will allow users to set-up a personal profile so that he or she may save searches, search parameters and individual job announcements within their own “dash-board”. By activating the alert option, seekers will be provided with a notification whenever a desired posi-tion is posted. The portal offers other useful features as well. The Resume Builder allows users to create and keep their resume available within the system. Service mem-bers will have an additional feature available to them: access to the PSM network for career counseling and resume assistance. The new portal’s functionality improvements make the search and application process much more efficient and time-saving for job seekers.

But the improvements don’t stop there. Employers will find the new portal more useful as well. They may enter position vacancies directly into the system and track those jobs, applications and views through their company dashboard. Employers may also reach in to the system and locate the resumes of qualified candidates who may not have had the chance to apply themselves. So just by posting a résumé, Guardsmen may be contacted by an employer who needs their skills.

For learn more about the program or to begin using the search tools, we encourage you to visit: www.EmployerPartnership.org.

Reaches Out in Puerto Rico

By Lt. Col. Matt LeonardEmployer Partnership of the Armed Forces

October 2010 - 25

The Puerto Rico National Guard participated in an event against domestic violence, during National

Guard Week at Fort Allen Training Center, Juana Díaz, Sept. 14.

During the event, the Adjutant General of Puerto Rico, Major General Antonio J. Vicéns, led on the march which ended on the grass near the FATC stage dome where dozens symbolically formed a human ribbon representing the need for awareness against domestic violence. A theatrical presentation was performed as PRNG Language Center students acted out scenes of domes-tic violence that triggered emotions and reactions from the audience. The play revealed a clear message of how domestic violence impacts our society. “We celebrate this event as part of the PRNG Week, with the participation of the different tenants in Fort Allen, not only the Language Center, but also the Youth Challenge and the C.R.E.A.N.D.O. programs; these are kids that need to know that domestic vio-lence stops with them,” said Vicéns.

During the Puerto Rico National Guard Week, all PRNG major commands united to send a loud mes-sage to the community and country.

“We have such a serious problem regarding domestic violence, and particularly violence against women and children. We decided to send an educational message to the community, that we also are against violence,” said Lt. Col. Efraín Soto, Commander of the Regimen-tal Training Institute.

The spirit of unity and awareness from the PRNG members, demonstrates the serious commitment of the PRNG against everything that negatively affects the communities and the country.

“We are a representation of our communities; our society is within our ranks,” said 1st Sgt. Luis Cora, PRNG Language Center 1st Sgt. “The Puerto Rico National Guard is an active player on all our commu-nity functions and programs, this march sends a loud message.”

Photo by Staff Sgt. Waldemar Rivera PRNG-PAO

Domestic ViolenceMarch

Story by Staff Sgt. Marizol Ruiz, PRNG-PAO

National Guard Week

Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Luis Orengo, PRNG-PAO


La Guardia Nacional de Puerto Rico junto a la Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico,

inauguró un nuevo Centro Cibernético en el Fuerte Allen en Juana Díaz.

“Para nuestra institución es de gran júbilo el poder iniciar la Semana de la Guardia Nacional en unión a la Universidad Interamericana”, dijo el Ayudante General de Puerto Rico, General de División Antonio J. Vicéns. La UIAPR ha establecido siete centros cibernéticos en varios pueblos de la isla, pero este es especial.

“Este Centro Cibernético tiene un significado especial pues es el primero que se establece en unas facilidades militares como lo son estas pertenecientes a la Guardia Nacional”, dijo el Presidente de la

Inauguran Centro Cibernético

La Guardia Nacional de Puerto Rico y la Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico, inauguraron el Centro Cibernético en el Fuerte Allen, en Juana Díaz. Este Centro servirá como una alternativa enriquecedora para la Guardia Nacional brin-dando grandes beneficios a su personal y a sus programas juveniles. En el tradi-cional corte de cinta vemos, de izda. a der, al Lcdo. Jorge Farinacci, Síndico de la UIAPR, El Ayudante General de Puerto Rico, General de División Antonio J. Vicéns, La Dra. Vilma Colón, Rectora del Recinto de Ponce de la UIAPR y el Lcdo. Manuel J. Fernós, Presidente de la UIAPR. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Marizol Ruíz, PRNG-PAO)

GNPR y UIAPR

Por Sgto. 1ra Clase Luis E. Orengo, GNPR-PAO

UIAPR, el Lcdo. Manuel J. Fernós. La visión de convertirse en institución premier de las Américas ha llevado a la GNPR a establecer alianzas educativas que sirvan a ese propósito.

“Nuestra institución atraviesa uno de los momentos de más trascendencia en su historia”, dijo Vicéns. “La alianza con la UIAPR es valorada grandemente por nuestra institución. Estamos confiados en que nuestros ciudadanos-soldados, sus familiares y los empleados civiles aprovecharán las oportunidades educativas y las experiencias que una institución de este calibre puede ofrecer. Este Centro Cibernético servirá como una alternativa enriquecedora para la Guardia Nacional ya que brindará grandes beneficios a nuestro personal y a nuestros programas juveniles”.

October 2010 - 27

248thARMY BAND, PRNG

AND OTHER PERFORMERS

PASEO LA PRINCESA, SAN JUAN11 NOVEMBER 2010

6:00PM

Staff Sgt. Mayra Rodriguez, who served a one-year deployment with the Multi-National Forces and Observers in Egypt, receives the conmemorative American Flag from Land Forces Commander Brig. Gen. Rafael O’Ferrall during a Freedom Salute Ceremony in Santa Isabel, Aug. 15. Rodriguez is accompanied by her daughter, also named Mayra Rodriguez. (Photo by: Sgt. Angel Martínez, PRNG-113th MPAD)


Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 296th Infantry Regiment is on a year-long deployment in Cuba in support of Task Force Guan-tanemo. Capt. Robert Dekony unveils the unit guideon during a transition of authority ceremony in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. (Photo provided)

2nd Lt. Juan Torres, from the Puerto Rico National Guard, was recognized the most junior, or most recently commissioned officer in the 132nd NGAUS (National Guard Assosiation of the United States) General Conference & Exhibition, at Austin, Texas, by Maj. Gen. Tod Bunting, The Adjutant General of Kansas, Aug. 22. (Pho-to provided)

Lorenzo Dillard, Personal Financial Counselor from DoD’s Military and Family Life Consultant Program, is available in Puerto Rico to address all your financial questions or concerns in a confidential manner. He can be reached at (787) 349-6185 or e-mail: [email protected] (Photo by: Staff Sgt. Waldemar Rivera, PRNG-PAO)

From left to right, Capt. Edwin Cruz (125th MP BN S-3), retired Command Sgt. Maj. Tony McGee (Military Police Regimental As-sociation President) and Capt. Jose Santos (124th MP BN S-3) meet at the Military Police Corps Memorial Grove in Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. to dedicate a memorial brick representing the sacrifice of the Puerto Rico National Guard in the Global War on Terror. (Photo provided)

October 2010 - 29

Jóvenes del Puerto Rico Youth ChalleNGe Academy participaron por la primera vez en un torneo de Taekwondo donde la cadete Valeria Cappas obtuvo el primer lugar en la categoría femenina. Tambien se obtuvieron varias medallas de primer lugar en la cat-egoría masculina. (Foto provista)

Honduran Officers and Senior Non-commissioned Officers trav-elled to Puerto Rico for an orientation visit of the facilities in Camp Santiago and Fort Allen last August. The visit strengthened the State Partnership Program between the PRNG and the Honduran Armed Forces and enhanced the rapport and mutual cooperation between the two countries. (Photo by Sgt. Robert Owens, PRNG-PAO)

El Sgto. Enrique Matos de la Banda 248 de la GNPR, interpreta los acordes musicales marcando el comienzo de la ceremonia del Día del Patriota celebrada en el teatro de las facilidades del Campamento Santiago en Salinas. (Foto por Sgto. de Estado Waldemar Rivera, GNPR-PAO)

El Ayudante General de Puerto Rico, General de División Antonio J. Vicéns, junto al Sgto. de Estado Hector Luis Tor-res del Centro de Operaciones Conjun-tas de la GNPR y Eliezer Hernández, soldador de la Oficina de Ingeniería de la GNPR, hacen el primer corte al bizcocho durante la celebración del 91er Aniversario de la GNPR en los Cuar-teles Generales de Fuerza Conjunta en San Juan. Torres representó al Soldado mas recientemente adquirido y Hernán-dez, quien es miembro activo de la GN, representó al miembro mas lóngevo en la GNPR. (Foto por: Sgto. de Estado Waldemar Rivera, GNPR-PAO)


Los jóvenes y niños dependientes de ciudadanos-soldados miembros de la Guardia Nacional

movilizados en y fuera de Puerto Rico tienen a su dis-posición una serie de programas que buscan ayudarles durante la ausencia de su familiar.

“Nuestros programas están adscritos a la Oficina de Apoyo Familiar de la Guardia Nacional de Puerto Rico y están disponibles para todos los jóvenes y niños que deseen hacer uso de ellos”, indicó la Sra. Derilis Santos, Coordinadora del Programa de Jóvenes y Niños de la Guardia Nacional. “Estos programas consisten en ayudar a los niños que tienen a sus padres movilizados y alcanzan niños y jóvenes entre los 3 meses de nacidos hasta los 18 años. Una vez el militar es movilizado nosotros lo referimos al programa que este corriendo durante el tiempo que dure esa movili-zación”.

La G.N.P.R. utiliza tres programas cibernéticos y man-tiene activo un concilio de jóvenes.

“Tenemos el programa NACCRRA (National Net-work of Child Care Resources and Referral en inglés) el cual paga los gasto de cuido de los niños desde las tres semanas de nacido hasta los cuatro años de edad y dura el período de la movilización del padre”, dijo Santos.

Según Santos, no importa donde sea la movilización después que tenga una orden el dependiente del ciudadanos-soldado cualifica para los pagos por cuido.

“Otro programa ‘Our Military Kid’ (nuestro niño mili-tar) se centra en ayudar a los niños entre los tres años de edad hasta 4to año de escuela superior en activi-dades extracurriculares,” dijo Santos. “Este programa

paga cualquier actividad extra-curricular que tengan los niños tales como: clases de canto, baile, deportes y puede pagar la matrícula, los materiales y el equipo que sea necesario para practicar el deporte o la ac-tividad. Si los padres entienden que pueden usar este dinero para pagar tutorías también se pueden transferir para este propósito.

Otro programa lo es de tutorías a través de ‘Military One Source’ y están disponibles para todos en la familia a través de la red cibernética. Estas tutorías se dan tanto en inglés como en español y pueden utilizar-las a través de: www. tutor.com”.

Aún con los programas de ayuda disponibles su uso no ha sido el esperado.

“Los programas están disponibles, se refieren a las personas pero no se están utilizando”, indicó Santos. “Entiendo que la situación reside en el proceso de referido. Nosotros referimos al programa, pero es el ciudadano-soldado, o sus dependientes, los que tienen que darle seguimiento al servicio y someter los docu-mentos”.

Aunque este seguimiento se da a través de la red ciber-nética Santos y su equipo están dispuestos a ayudar en el proceso. Los programas, los servicios y los fondos están disponibles para aquellos que los soliciten, solo falta que los ciudadanos-soldados que estén en vías de movilizarse o sus familiares, apliquen para recibir los mismos.

“Nosotros podemos ayudarles y ser facilitadores, pero los documentos que tienen que someter es información personal que solo ellos deben de tener el control y en eso no podemos envolvernos”, indica Santos. “Nuestro propósito es ayudarles y servirles en todo lo que podamos”.

Por Sgto. 1ra Clase Luis E. Orengo, GNPR-PAO

Programa de Aprestamiento Familiar GNPR

JÓVENES Y NIÑOSTAMBIEN CUENTAN

October 2010 - 31

Como parte del Programa de Jóvenes y Niños de la Guardia Nacional es necesario el mantener un concilio juvenil con un mínimo de 15 miembros, la G.N.P.R. cuenta con 32.

“Estamos activos todo el año como parte del programa haciendo actividades para los niños y los jóvenes”, dijo Santos. “Para veranos, que es el tiempo en el que nos movemos más, hicimos días familiares, fuimos al yunque e hicimos un campamento de verano. Hemos participado en actividades comunitarias en apoyo a causas benéficas como Relevo por la Vida y hemos visitamos hogares de niños y niñas maltratados, en-volviéndonos de esta forma con la comunidad”.

El concilio y las actividades hacia los niños y jóvenes comienzan temprano en la etapa de movilización del familiar con su participación en los eventos “Yellow Ribbon” (Cinta Amarilla).

“Durante las actividades de Yellow Ribbon, mientras los padres están en orientaciones, sus hijos se dividen por edades en 4 grupos (0-5, 6-9, 10-12, 13-17)”, dijo la Tnte. Cnel. Marisel Cántres, directora del Programa de Apoyo Familiar de la GNPR. “Durante

Programa de Aprestamiento Familiar GNPR

este tiempo, las coordinadoras del programa de niños y jóvenes, junto con las voluntarias del programa, se encargan de educarlos y orientarlos en los temas que les preocupan. De esta forma los preparamos para la separación o reintegración del familiar y los apoyamos durante el proceso para lidiar con el estrés asociado a la separación utilizado manualidades, dinámicas y for-mas divertidas de educar utilizando también charlas, películas y actuaciones entre ellos mismos”.

Al movilizarse el ciudadano-soldado también la familia se moviliza, y la Guarida Nacional de Puerto Rico está presente con sus programas familiares para ayudar en el proceso de separación, adaptación y re-integración familiar hasta el retorno de su ser querido.

Para más información del Programa de Jóvenes y Ni-ños de la Guardia Nacional puede comunicarse con la Sra. Derilis Santos al 787-289-1516 ó 787-289-1499, correo electrónico: [email protected], la Sra. Keila Pérez al 787-289-1684 correo electrónico [email protected] o con la oficina del Programa de Apoyo Familiar de la Guardia nacional de puerto Rico 787-289-1516.

Grupo de Niños dependientes de miembros de la GNPR que participaron del campamento de verano del Programa de Jóvenes y Niños de la GNPR durante una de las actividades en el Albergue Olímpico en Salinas. (Foto por Joselline Molina, Voluntaria del Comité Jóvenes y Niños del Programa de Jóvenes y Niños de la GNPR)


The Army has a commitment to the families of Fallen Warriors and has recognized the need to ex-

pand and improve services to survivors of fallen ser-vice members, so it placed Survivor Outreach Services teams throughout active duty bases in April 2009 add-ing also one position to each State and territory of its National Guard HQs.

Edwin Ramos-Jourdán, a Family Support volunteer for the PR Air National Guard, a Youth Coordinator volun-teer with the Family Support Program and former Leg-islative Advisor at the State Capitol Hill, assumed the position as Puerto Rico National Guard’s first Survivor Outreach Services (SOS) Coordinator.

The SOS coordinator’s main function is to assist fami-lies of deceased Service Members providing access to support, information and services reassuring survivors that they are continually linked to the Army Family for as long as they desire.

The SOS office is located at the JFHQ-PRNG, San Juan.

Ramos works alongside the Army National Guard’s Casualty Assistance Officer and Air National Guard’s Family Liaison Officer who function as long-term sup-port personnel for survivors.

Ramos’s experience and education has taught him that when a family loses a Service Member, it not only in-cludes the loved one, but also a way of life, a culture and often a community.

“We’re here to try to bridge the gap,” said Ramos. “I want to establish a relationship from the beginning and fulfill the covenant to help families for as long as they want or need.”

Survivors can expect to hear from Ramos, who also hopes to collect information to establish the family’s needs. His goals are to set up support groups and find active community groups that also aid in coping with the lost.

Ramos assists Service Members who experience a loss of an immediate family member, such as a spouse or child. He is prepared for active duty SOS coordinators to call on him when a surviving family lives locally.

“My priority is to the PRNG, although if someone contacts me from another branch, I will not turn them away,” said Ramos.

Although Ramos is anxious to stay busy, he’s thankful he has no new cases.

“The Puerto Rico National Guard has had some good fortune and I hope that continues,” he said. “I hope to be the least busy person around here.”

To reach Ramos for questions or services, call (787) 564-2014 MPSC Mobile, (787) 289-1408/1409/1410 or 1411.


urvivor utreach ervices Coordinator

Puerto Rico National Guard Welcomes

The PRNG has selected Mr. Edwin Ramos-Jourdán as its first Survivor Out-reach Services (SOS) Coordinator. Ramos-Jourdán wishes to never per-form his duty, as to the loss of a Warrior, but he is ready and eager to help the families of the fallen. The SOS coordinator mission is to assist the survi-vors to get support, information and services reassuring them that they are part of the Army Family. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Waldemar Rivera, PRNG-PAO)

S .O . S .


FIRST TO OPEN IN PUERTO RICO

The Puerto Rico Air National Guard held an open-ing ceremony for its first storefront recruiting

office at the San Patricio Plaza Mall, Guaynabo.

The Adjutant General of Puerto Rico, Maj. Gen. Antonio J. Vicéns, and the Commander of the Puerto Rico Air National Guard, Brig. Gen. Carlos Rodríguez Quesada, participated in the opening ceremony.

The Recruiting and Retention Superintendent, Senior Master Sgt. Hector D. Burgos, did the actual cutting of the ribbon, officially opening the first recruiting station that will support Air Guard units in Puerto Rico.

“This new facility gives our recruiters that much needed community bond and starts a new era in the Puerto Rico Air National Guard recruiting program spectrum," said Burgos.

The initiative for storefront recruiting offices in Puerto Rico began under the leadership of Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Sara G. Ríos, former Recruiting and Retention Superintendent. It all started when military bases began tightening security and it became harder for civilians to enter military installations looking to be recruited.

Since Sept.11, nearly 1,700 Puerto Rico Air National Guardsmen have been called upon to fight the war on terrorism and support relief efforts for multiple natural disasters.

The new storefront recruiting station is located in the basement of San Patricio Mall, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. For more information on career opportunities in the Puerto Rico Air Guard National call: 1-800 GO-GUARD or (787) 253-5233.

From left, Air Force Master Sgt. Luis A. Hernández, Recruiting Office Supervisor, Maj. Gen. Antonio J. Vicéns, The Adjutant General of Puerto Rico, Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Héctor D. Burgos, Recruiting and Retention Superintendent, Air Force Brig. Gen. Carlos Rodríguez Quesada, Assistant Adjutant General for Air and Commander of the Puerto Rico Air Guard, and Air Force Master Sgt. Carlos J. Soto, Production Recruiter. (Photo by Air Force Master Sgt. Tomás Ramírez, PRANG PAO)

AIR NATIONAL GUARDSTORE FRONT RECRUITING OFFICE

October 2010 - 33


El cadete Giovanny Chaparro, natural de Aguada, mientras ayudaba a remozar y pintar la cancha de la Escuela Elemental Playa Grande en el municipio de Vieques. Chaparro, como parte del programa ChalleNGe de la Guardia Nacional de Puerto Rico, estuvo ayudando a rehabilitar varias escuelas del Departamento de Educación en todo Puerto Rico.

Cadetes del programa ChalleNGe de la Guar-dia Nacional de Puerto Rico impactaron nueve

escuelas del Departamento de Educación durante el verano en un esfuerzo por ayudar a re-acondicionarlas y tenerlas listas antes del regreso a clases. Esto como parte de su trabajo voluntario y comunitario.

Los 166 cadetes trabajaron en escuelas de los pueblos de Santa Isabel, Salinas, Juana Díaz y la isla muni-cipio de Vieques.

En Vieques, los cadetes realizaron las labores de re-acondicionamiento de las escuelas elementales de Playa Grande y María M. Simons de Rivera aún cu-ando ya había comenzado el curso escolar.

“Los Cadetes comenzaron re-acondicionando siete escuelas del sur de la isla y luego los transportamos a Vieques donde estuvieron trabajando en dos escuelas elementales del área”, dijo Matilde Almodóvar, di-rectora del programa ChalleNGe de la GNPR. “Ellos sienten que están teniendo nuevas experiencias en otro lugar mientras que, a la misma vez, se sienten realiza-dos al ver que están ayudando y viendo el resultado de su trabajo”.

Además de trabajar en las escuelas, los cadetes ayuda-ron en labores de limpieza y reciclaje en los pueblos que visitaron, pues una de las doctrinas que se les enseña en ChalleNGe es la de estar consciente del medio ambiente y protegerlo. “Esto de ayudar con el medio ambiente y las escuelas me hace sentir muy bien”, dijo el cadete Giovanny Chaparro de Aguada. “Hay que ayudar en todo lo que podamos pues hay gente que no tienen toda la ayuda que necesitan y para eso estamos aquí. Aunque no podemos ayudar en todas las escuelas, por lo menos ayudamos con mucho cariño donde podamos. Lo que

estoy haciendo aquí me enseña a compartir y me da más ánimo de querer ayudar”.

La Alcaldesa de Vieques, Honorable Evelyn Delerme Camacho, se expresó “muy agradecida de la labor que realiza el programa ChalleNGe por el bien de la juventud puertorriqueña y por el trabajo que los cadetes realizaron en las escuelas de la ‘Isla Nena’ durante su visita”.

La labor de ayuda en las escuelas y el programa de reciclaje del programa ChalleNGe son solo parte de las labores que se llevan a cabo durante todo el año para crear conciencia, educar a los jóvenes y pre-pararlos para a ser los líderes del futuro.

ChalleNGeAyudando en las escuelasAyudando en las escuelas

Historia y foto por: Sgto. de Estado Waldemar Rivera, GNPR-PAO

October 2010 - 35

Sabes qué es FIGNA??

Tú y tu cónyuge e hijos son importantes para nosotros. Puedes llamarnos, visitar nuestras oficinasen San Juan, visitar nuestra página: http://www.figna.gobierno.pr/ o enviarnos un facsímil:

(787) 289-1420/1421/1520 Facsímil: (787) 721-1836

Es el Fideicomiso Institucional deLa Guardia Nacional de Puerto RicoEstás aportando a nuestro fondo?Conoces los beneficios que ofrecemos y losprocedimientos para obtenerlos?Sabías que FIGNA puede aportar a la educacióntuya y la de tus dependientes?

??

?

No permitas que la desinformación te prive de nuestros beneficios

* Grado Vocacional/Post-graduado - hasta $900 por año académico* Maestría/Doctorado - hasta $1,350 por año académico* Estudios en Medicina para especialización de Médicos validados de la GN - hasta $1,000 por año académico hasta un máximo de dos años

Ever wonder where all the pictures you see taken by the Public Affairs Office go? Check out the Puerto Rico National Guard Facebook page and become a fan!

The page can be found at: http://tiny.cc/yf0sw

·Find old and new friends and connect with fellow soldiers.

· New photos and video added frequently.


Col. Francisco J. Neuman, Multinational Battle Group East Commander, Bajrush Ymeri, mayor of Novoberde/Novo Brdo, Kosovo, and Jahir Syla, school director for Ardeni school, cut the ribbon to inaugurate a new sports field and improvements to Ardeni school. (U.S. Army photo provided by 130th Public Affairs Detachment)

Sgt. Ileana Rodríguez, Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, with the 192nd Liaison Mon-itoring Team, Multinational Battle Group East, watches as a child shows her how to write his name in a school in the Ferizaj/Urosevac municipa-lity Sept. 2. Rodríguez, and many other Soldiers, donated money to help pro-vide school supplies for underpriviledged children in Kosovo. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Sarah A. Cummings, 130th Public Affairs Detachment)

Col. Francisco J. Neuman (right), Ponce, Puerto Rico, commander of Multinational Battle Group East, hands the NATO flag to Command Sgt. Maj. Gilbert Arocho, Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, command sergeant major of MNBG E, during a Transfer of Authority Ceremony at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, July 24. By handing the flag to Arocho, the highest-ranking noncommissioned officer in the battle group, Col. Neuman signified the trust he has in his enlisted Soldiers. The ceremony marked the change of responsibility to MNBG E from Brig. Gen. Al Dohrmann, Bismarck, N.D., and the 141st MEB to Col. Neuman and the 92nd. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jerry Boffen, 130th PAD)

KOSOVOINOUR TROOPSMORE GOOD NEWS FROM

October 2010 - 37

Swedish Army 1st Lt. Christopher Johannson, Stockholm, Sweden, gives an orientation briefing to train Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 296th Infantry Regiment Soldiers near a starting point for Administrative Boundary Line patrols with Serbian Armed Forces. The briefing was ongoing as the Sol-diers asked questions and shared experiences during the event. The U.S. infantrymen are members of the Puerto Rico Army National Guard and are deployed to Kosovo for the KFOR 13 rotation. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Joshua Dodds, 130th Public Affairs Detachment)

Rexhep Sylemani (left), the manager of Industrial Battery in Gjilan, guides Maj. Jose Velazquez (right), Ponce, Puerto Rico, the chief engineer for Multinational Battle Group East, and Kosovo Security Forces 1st Lt. Muharrem Asllami, chief of laboratories in the chemical company from the KSF's civil protection regiment, during an inspection of the battery factory in Gjilan/Gnjilane. Velazquez assisted Asllami and the KSF during an in-spection of the factory's hazardous materials. Velazquez, a member of the Puerto Rico National Guard, is deployed as part of the NATO peacekeep-ing mission in Kosovo. (U.S. Army photo by Jerry Boffen, 130th Public Affairs Detachment)

Soldiers from the 192nd Liaision Monitoring Team, Multinational Battle Group East, pose with students and teachers at a school in Stimlje/ Shtime municipality Sept. 1. Soldiers with the LMTs donated their own money in order to purchase backpacks and other school supplies for underprivlaged children living in Kosovo. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Sarah A. Cummings, 130th Public Affairs Detachment)

Spc. Elias Montañez, Cayey, Puerto Rico, former supply specialist, now government specialist with the 192nd Liaison Monitoring Team, Multinational Battle Group East, shows off the backpacks that he and his fellow LMT Soldiers purchased for school children throughout Kosovo. The backpacks and other school supplies were purchased using money donated by individual Soldiers. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Sarah A. Cummings, 130th Public Affairs Detachment)

German Army Maj. Gen. Erhard Buhler (left), commander, Kosovo Force, looks on as U.S. Army Col. Francisco J. Neuman, Ponce, Puerto Rico, commander, Multinational Battle Group East, addresses members of the local media following the official Transfer of Authority for response missions within the MNBG Center Area of Responsibility to Col. Neuman and MNBG E, Sept. 30. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jordan E. Werme, 130th Public Affairs Detachment)

38 - Presente magazine38 - Presente magazine

The Air National Guard Non Commissioned Of-ficer Academy recognized retired Command

Chief Master Sgt. Ferdinand (Freddy) Vega with the ANGNCO Graduate Association Hall of Fame Award for a lifetime of outstanding NCO accomplishments in the Guard, the community and NCOAGA related programs.

Vega is the first Hispanic to receive such a distinction.

During his military career in the Puerto Rico Air National Guard, Vega left six permanent programs: 1) Induction Ceremonies for Chiefs, Senior NCO and NCO, 2) Honorary Chief Induction, 3) Chief’s Coin Presentation, 4) Female Enlisted Senior NCO Council,

Spirit and Tradition that last in the Guard…5) Senior Enlisted Advisor Continuity Folder (before it was officialized) and 6) “From the Deck of the CCM” in the Base Bulletin Paper. Vega, the sportsman, was the only one to qualify at Olympic level in Archery representing Puerto Rico and the PRNG in the 1972 Olympics Games in Mu-nich, Germany and also in the 1979 VIII Pan-Ameri-can Games in Puerto Rico, among many others sport activities.

Vega is a well-known artist having his paintings and sculptures in diverse places in Europe and the United States. His sculptures of the minuteman and the minutewoman are on display at the Air NG Readiness Center in Andrews AF Base and also in Lackland AFB in Texas. Switzerland, France and Spain are among the many international locations where Vega’s art is displayed. Vega retired from the PR Air Guard in 1996, but still serves with pride. As a proud member of the Puerto Rico National Guard, Ferdinand Vega epitomizes the spirit and tradi-tions of the citizen-soldier and airman,

CCMSgt. Ferdinand Vega

Command Chief Master Sgt. Ferdinand (Freddie) Vega (right) poses with Lt. Gen Harry Wyatt, III, Director of the Air National Guard dur-ing Vega’s induction to the Air National Guard NCOAGA Hall of Fame during Seminar 41 held in Reno, Nevada. This is the highest and most prestigious recognition the NCOAGA can award one of its own. (Photo provided)

October 2010 - 39

AVENTURA 2011

Four days and three nightsfilled with fun for the whole family

at an unbeatable price!

Great family cruisefrom July 28 to 31

Requirements are:*Good English communication skills*E-4 or E-5*Good interpersonal skills*107 GT minimum (required)*Pass an MOS specific interview*Must attend Defense Information School training

Mobile Public Affairs DetachmentThe 113th

Puerto Rico Army National GuardIs seeking highly motivated personnel to take the challenge and join the unit

Contact: Sgt. 1st Class Luis Orengo (787) 289-1479 / 1475

Coming soon...

Details in our next PRESENTE edition

OR CALL TODAY:

(787) 289-1522

ARMORIES

JOINT FORCE HEADQUARTERS, SAN JUAN 787-289-1635JOINT OPERATIONS CENTER, SAN JUAN 787-723-7700CAMP SANTIAGO JOINT MANEUVER TRAINING CENTER, SALINAS 787-824-7400FORT ALLEN TRAINING ACTIVITY, JUANA DIAZ 787-260-8000MUÑIZ AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, CAROLINA 787-253-5100PUERTO RICO STATE GUARD, SAN JUAN 787-723-4578

PUNTA SALINAS ARMORY787-795-7980PEÑUELAS ARMORY787-289-1400EXT-1204RAMEY ANG ARMORY787-890-87251-800-944-6854SAN GERMAN ARMORY787-892-1050UTUADO ARMORY787-894-2966

AGUADILLA ARMORY787-890-2810AIBONITO ARMORY787-735-4626ARECIBO ARMORY787-880-0090ARROYO ARMORY787-839-4012CABO ROJO ARMORY787-851-1740CAGUAS ARMORY787-743-2182CAYEY ARMORY787-738-2349

HUMACAO ARMORY787-852-1252ISLA GRANDE (AASF)787-722-3916ISLA GRANDE(HANGAR 21)787-722-1819JUANA DIAZ ARMORY787-837-2496MAYAGUEZ ARMORY787-833-8180TOA BAJA ARMORY787-784-4790

CEIBA ARMORY787-885-7365(LANDING CRAFT)CEIBA ROOSEVELT ROADS787-534-0985COAMO ARMORY787-825-1711GUAYAMA ARMORY787-864-1554GURABO ARMORY787-737-2443GURABO (FMS)787-737-2800HATO REY ARMORY787-771-0084

PUERTO RICONATIONAL GUARD

prng presente magazine october 2010

Documents

nuestra nacin y

bien y

polica y

track y

escuelas y

nuestro pas y nuestra

crisis y que ahora

relevancia y dedicacin