Washington Military Department Evergreen Magazine - Winter / Spring 2022

WINTER / SPRING 2022

A Heroes Welcome

Guard members return home following deployments to Ukraine and Poland

Black History Month | MyShake App Goes Live | State Guard Building Relationships | New Requirements at Camp Murray

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Evergreen Magazine Winter / Spring 2022 Vol. 7, Issue 3

Fe tures

Washington Military Department Camp Murray, WA 98430 253-512-8989 - mil.wa.gov

4New Gate Requirements

and listen to our podcast Commander in Chief Washington State Governor The Honorable Jay Inslee The Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Bret D. Daugherty Communications Director Karina Shagren State Public Affairs Officer Joseph Siemandel Contributors Mckenzie Airhart Peter Chang Leroy Cruse Steven Friederich Stephen San Jose Hans Zeiger

Washington Military Department Evergreen Magazine is published quarterly by the Washington National Guard Public Affairs Office, Building 1, Camp Murray, 98430. Telephone 253-512-8989. Members can receive additional copies of the Washington Military Department Magazine by contacting the Public Affairs Office.

To submit stories / photos / letter please email to Joseph Siemandel, State Public Affairs Officer at joseph.f.siemandel.mil@mail.mil or call 253-512-8989.

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Visitors to Camp Murray will have to ensure they have the proper ID cards and documents following updates.

5MyShake App Available Washington residents and visitors now have an additional way to receive seconds of warning before earthquake shaking arrives.

6Tribal Relations

Washington State Guard member builds relationships with Washington Tribes.

10Welcome Home

Guard members return home from nine-month deployment to Poland.

12Black History Month

Learn about the contributions African American Guard members have made in the Organization.

22Spreading the magic

Joint Services Support hosts Holiday Magic for Washington National Guard families.

On The Cover: On Apple or Google Play 2 | Washington Military Department | Winter | Spring 2022

Guard members from 2nd Battalion, 146th Field Artillery return home following a nine-month deployment to Poland on January 25, 2022 at McChord Air Force Base, Wash. Guard members were part of Battle Group Poland, a combined arms task force for that was supporting the NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence - Poland mission. (U.S. National Guard photo by Joseph Siemandel)

Guard members from 3rd Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment return home following a nine-month deployment to Poland on February 10, 2022 at McChord Air Force Base, Wash. Guard members were part of Battle Group Poland, a combined arms task force for that was supporting the NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence - Poland mission. (U.S. National Guard photo by Joseph Siemandel)

Winter | Spring 2022 | Washington Military Department | 3

DoD ID Card Reference

Do you have questions about your Common Access Card (CAC) or your Uniformed Services ID Card? Trying to figure out if you are able to get on Camp Murray?

New security requirements at gate of Camp Murray New Camp Murray access control requirements went into effect on Feb. 1 utilizing the Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS) for all persons entering the installation.

Security spent the past few months testing DBIDS and scanning REAL ID Act compliant credentials to recognize the specific capabilities and limitations of the system, ensuring it met the needs of the organization and the diverse population that works on and visits Camp Murray.

Visitors to Camp Murray will now have to follow the new protocols to gain access to the installation.

Common Access Card (CAC) “Smart” ID card for active-duty military personnel, Selected Reserve, DoD civilian employees, and eligible contractor personnel.

Employees

Camp Murray uses the Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS) for entry to the installation. Use the pre-enroll website before visiting the Camp Murray Visitor Control Center, located adjacent to the Main Gate, to register.

Visitor and Commercial Vehicles

If you do not have an ID card listed on the Department of Defense issued ID cards website, you must stop by the Visitor Control Center on Camp Murray to receive a temporary visitor pass.

REAL ID Act

Camp Murray is in compliance with the REAL ID Act of 2005.

This means visitors presenting drivers licenses and identification cards stating “Not Valid for Federal Purposes” or “Federal Limits May Apply” will need to provide supplemental documentation to prove identity in order to be issued a temporary installation pass.

For more information, scan the code to visit the Gate Access site on mil.wa.gov 4 | Washington Military Department | Winter | Spring 2022

Next Generation Uniformed Services ID Card ID Card for military family members and military retirees to access service benefits and privileges. Beginning July 31, 2020, the Next Generation USID Card will be issued to eligible individuals at select DoD ID card facilities.

If you do not have a DOD ID card, you must stop by the Visitor Control Center on Camp Murray to receive a temporary visitor pass.

Call the visitor center to learn more at 253-512-2045

MyShake Earthquake Early Warning app now available You can get earthquake early warning in three ways in Washington Washington residents and visitors now have an additional way to receive seconds of warning before earthquake shaking arrives, giving them time to drop, cover and hold on to protect themselves. The MyShake App, which has already been delivering alerts in California and Oregon, will be available in Washington as of Jan. 26, 2022.

Designed by the University of California, Berkeley seismologists and engineers, the MyShake App is now available for FREE to download to IOS users through the Apple App Store and through GooglePlay for Android phones.

The MyShake App is funded by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES). Officials with the Washington Emergency Management Division worked with Cal OES experts to ensure that the app has additional protective action information for tsunamis before being rolled out in Washington state.

“Getting seconds of warning before an earthquake strikes may not sound like much, but it is plenty of time to drop, cover and hold on to protect yourself,” said Maximilian Dixon, the geologic hazards supervisor for the Washington Emergency Management Division. “Practicing how to drop, cover and hold on as soon as you get an alert, or feel earthquake shaking, will help you to do it even faster. I’d like to thank Cal OES for their amazing partnership and providing this service for free to our residents and visitors.”

Alerts based on information from the USGS ShakeAlert earthquake early warning system are already available to all mobile phones through the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system and/or through a built-in-earthquake alerting system on the Android Operating System. MyShake provides a third option that may be a faster way for users to get an earthquake alert on their phones than the WEA

system. Users can learn more about the different options available at mil.wa.gov/alerts.

The app as well as Android’s built-in system will deliver alerts to people for earthquakes exceeding magnitude 4.5 which will cause light to strong shaking in their area. As a comparison, the WEA system is expected to send alerts for earthquakes larger than a 5.0 which cause moderate to strong shaking. See this chart for details.

“Accessing tools such as the MyShake app will help you, your family and community be better prepared and have a more positive outcome in the event of an earthquake,” said Christina Curry, Chief Deputy Director of Cal OES. “We are pleased to share this resource with our West Coast neighbors.”

The app has been downloaded more than 1.6 million times since it was launched in late 2019. It has successfully delivered alerts to users before shaking for several California earthquakes since its official release. Most recently, the Earthquake Early Warning system provided warning to about half a million phones, for a magnitude 6.2 earthquake near Petrolia, California on Dec. 20.

The ShakeAlert® Earthquake Early Warning system, run by the U.S. Geological Survey in partnership with the Universities of Washington, Oregon, California-Berkeley and Caltech, uses ground motion sensors in all three states to detect earthquakes that have occurred and automatically notifies residents and visitors so that they can “drop, cover and hold on” in advance of ground shaking. The Earthquake Early Warning system has been activated in Washington state providing public alerts to mobile phones since its rollout on May 4, 2021.

You can learn about the three different alerting options and get detailed instructions on how to enable them at mil. wa.gov/alerts.

For more information or to download the app, scan the code.

Winter | Spring 2022 | Washington Military Department | 5

Strong Ties: State Guard member helps

build a stronger relationship with tribes Washington’s 29 federally recognized tribes, which account for nearly 150,000 Native residents in our state, aren’t immune to floods, fires and potential tsunamis.

other tribes to help supplement the tribe with food and medical needs and worked to ensure the members and families affected by the landslide were assisted.

That’s why the Washington State Guard’s Chief Warrant Officer Three Bill Elliott is committed to open communication with tribal partners, and ensuring they’re prepared for whatever disaster might strike.

“They’re in a unique situation,” said Elliott in 2014. “They’re federal, but yet they’re state. They’re sovereign, but they’re within a sovereignty. So you have to have a knowledge of what agencies can service them and then how to crossover between the state and local agencies so there’s an adequate division of resources. Like making sure that the Red Cross gets out there, that’s one of the things that we did.”

“They each operate under their separate constitution, organization and structure, so it is important that we educate ourselves as to how they function not just politically, but in an emergency,” said Elliott.

“If we can bring that knowledge to Emergency Management it will make our ability to assist the tribes a lot more efficient.”

Elliott, who has decades of experience working with tribes across the state due to his civilian career, as well as his time in the Washington State Guard as the Tribal Liaison, started work on a project with the Joint Force Headquarters in late October to build strong relationships among the tribes and the Military Department.

Elliott’s knowledge of tribal relations was valuable in 2014 following the devastating State Route 530 Landslide. With the road closed between Darrington and Arlington, most of the SaukSuiattle tribe was cut off from their jobs and basic needs. Beyond the frightening environmental and emotional impact, the tribe was concerned about the damage to the fish runs, which are a major part of their subsistence and economy.

Elliott made arrangements with

While the state does have an agency that focuses on tribal affairs, Elliott’s role is to directly assist with the needs of the tribes from an emergency stand point.

“It sometimes comes down to communication, and how we can work together. But overall I believe the tribes have a great relationship with the Military Department, we are just trying to make it better,” said Elliott.

The project he is taking on with JFHQ also includes identifying tribes with veterans and how to incorporate them into the emergency management process.

“They are highly respected in the communities, so any way we can get them involved will be great,” said Elliott.

Elliott believes these types of projects take time but are increasingly important as we have seen more disasters recently.

“In the past it was always forest

6 | Washington Military Department | Winter | Spring 2022

fires. Now it is massive snow fall, flooding, and even the potential tsunami after an underwater volcano,” said Elliott. “The tribes are already very good but this is our way to gauge the tribes to see what they may need and how we can assist. This is really about gathering the necessary information.”

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Bill Elliott, a tribal liaison with the Washington State Guard talks with members of the Nisqaully Tribal Council on November 17, 2021 at the Tribal Council headquarters in Nisqually, Wash. (U.S. National Guard photo by Peter Chang)

Scan the code to learn more about CW3 Elliott’s work with the tribes in our state.

Winter | Spring 2022 | Washington Military Department | 7

GUARD MEMBERS RESPOND TO FLOODING IN LEWIS COUNTY

Following heavy rain, high winds and record-breaking snow, the Washington National Guard activated members to support flood response operations in Lewis County on Friday, Jan. 7, 2022. This marks the second time the National Guard has responded to flooding this season.

“Our Guard members know that when a disaster happens they are needed, and our folks arrived in Lewis County quickly in order to help save lives and mitigate any more property damage in the area,” said Maj. Gen. Bret Daugherty, the adjutant general. “They went right to work and accomplished that mission.”

Rivers in Lewis and Thurston County rose to record levels overnight. By morning, the local authorities had closed parts of Interstate 5, as well as many of the main roadways in the county. With the main roadways closed and a break in the weather, Daugherty activated members of the National Guard under the immediate response authority. Immediate response authority outlined in DoD Directive 3025.18 authorizes local commanders to take action to save lives, prevent human suffering or mitigate great property damage in a situation of urgency.

“We knew in talking with the governor that a proclamation was coming but having a chance to get our folks on the ground right away was critical,” Daugherty said.

Guard members supported the city of Centralia by performing sand bagging operations in cooperation with the city, conservation corps and Army Corps of Engineers. By the end of the evening, rivers had receded faster than expected and the interstate and main roadways were able to open.

This was the second time since Thanksgiving that the National Guard activated members in support of flood operations. Days after the holiday, 40 members deployed to the town of Everson, a small community in Whatcom County, that was hit with heavy rains and melting snow from the Cascade Mountains.

8 | Washington Military Department | Winter | Spring 2022

GUARD MEMBERS HELP COMMUNITY FOLLOWING RECORD-BREAKING SNOW

Record-breaking snow fall in the city of Leavenworth, a quaint Bavarian themed town in central Washington, led to the mobilization of nearly two dozen members of the Washington National Guard in early January.

“We came to Leavenworth to do health and wellness checks, deliver meals to those in need of food and do some limited shoveling for the elder residents that couldn’t get out and shovel their walkways,” said Cpt. Luis Torres, the liaison officer assigned to the city of Leavenworth.

On the morning of January 10, the group of Washington National Guard members met with city officials and started crafting a plan of how they would contact every home in Leavenworth in a timely manner. It didn’t take long for the Guard members to get to work and reach out to more than 1,000 homes in just four days, connecting with more than 2,200 citizens.

“Our guys got right to work on day one, conducting health and wellness checks and helping dig out folks after they got nearly four feet of snow in just a few days,” said Torres.

“Our teams just got to work and within a couple days we completed the mission for the city.”

In recent history, the Washington National Guard has been activated twice to support snow missions. In January 2009, Guard members in Spokane were activated to clear off school rooftops, airport runways and sidewalks around Spokane following record snow fall. In February 2019, Guard members were activated in King County to help Eastside Fire and Rescue after North Bend, May Valley, Carnation and Duvall were hit by a storm that left citizens digging out of two feet of snow.

PROVIDING RELIEF: NATIONAL GUARD COMPLETES HOSPITAL SUPPORT MISSION As the number of COVID-19 cases continue to decline across the state, members of the Washington National Guard concluded their support mission to eight local hospitals on Feb. 19, 2022.

For the last month, nearly 100 Guard members supported three COVID-19 testing sites in Olympia, Seattle and Tacoma and performed non-clinical duties at hospitals in Everett, Richland, Spokane, Wenatchee and Yakima.

Their duties included transportation, meal delivery and supporting staff with clerical duties.

“Things went very well and we are so grateful for the support they gave us,” said Emily Volland, director of communications at Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland.

During the past month, Guard members conducted more than 2,500 COVID-19 tests. At the five hospitals, Guard

members provided more than 9,000 hours of support to hospital staff that have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.

During his press conference on Feb. 9, 2022, Gov. Jay Inslee thanked the Guard and mentioned the case trends and rates would mean the Guard was no longer needed for the mission.

“Our Guard members continue to answer the call during this on-going pandemic response,” said Maj. Gen. Bret Daugherty, the adjutant general, Washington National Guard. “They continue to volunteer for the opportunity to serve their state during a time of need.”

Since March 2020, more than 2,600 Washington National Guard members have deployed in support of the COVID-19 pandemic response.

Spokesman-Review Story: Like father, like son: National Guard member serves at hometown Sacred Heart during omicron surge of COVID-19

Scan Here to Read

Winter | Spring 2022 | Washington Military Department | 9

10 | Washington Military Department | Winter | Spring 2022

Welcome Home Guard members return home from ninemonth deployment to Poland

More than 750 Guard members from “Task Force Dark Rifles” are now home following a nine-month deployment to Poland.

“These Guard members truly performed at the highest level and built relationships with our partners,” said Maj. Gen. Bret Daugherty, the adjutant general. “They should be proud of the work they achieved, and I know they are excited to be home with their families.”

In April 2021, Guard members from 3rd Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment, 181st Brigade Support Battalion and 2nd Battalion, 146th Field Artillery Regiment deployed to Poland, taking over the NATO enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) – Poland mission, also known as eFP Battlegroup Poland. Battlegroup Poland, established in 2017, is comprised of units from four nations: Croatia, Romania, the United Kingdom and the United States. Its mission is to contribute to and strengthen the NATO alliance’s deterrence and defensive posture in Poland.

Guard members trained with NATO allies through multiple exercises across Poland. They also took part in several good-will community outreach events in the country, working with schools and community leaders to showcase the work done by the joint nation team.

The first group of Guard members returned on Jan. 25, 2022, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. The next groups returned home through the month of February with the final group returning home the first week of March.

Meanwhile, more than 100 members from the 2-146th Field Artillery and 898th Brigade Engineer Battalion deployed in January to Poland, joining up with 1st Battalion, 185th Infantry Regiment, a sister unit of the 161st Infantry Regiment from the California National Guard.

Guard members from 3rd Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment return home following a nine-month deployment to Poland on February 10, 2022 at McChord Air Force Base, Wash. Guard members were part of Battle Group Poland, a combined arms task force for that was supporting the NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence Poland mission. (U.S. National Guard photo by Joseph Siemandel) Winter | Spring 2022 | Washington Military Department | 11

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

GUARD MEMBERS REFLECT ON HISTORY, SEE OPPORTUNITIES IN FUTURE DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH OBSERVATION

Black History Month is an annual observance when the achievements by African Americans are recognized and celebrated. For nearly 160 years, African American soldiers and airmen have played a pivotal role in the Washington National Guard, in both combat overseas and at home in our state.

“At all points in our organization’s history soldiers and airmen of all color, gender and backgrounds have played a key role in our successes and have helped shape a very bright future for our Guard,” said Maj. Gen. Bret Daugherty, the adjutant general. “We are proud of every member for their service to community, state and nation.”

First officially proposed in 1970, Black History Month became an official holiday in 1976 when then President Gerald Ford recognized Black History Month during the celebration of the United States Bicentennial. He urged Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history”.

For the Washington National Guard, the recognition of Black History Month means reflection, celebration and a chance to grow and learn.

“I think about what my people went through and where we are now and by no means is the journey complete, but I think that things like this are crucial,” said Staff Sgt. Ra-Sha Sanford, a senior paralegal non-commissioned officer and court reporter with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team. “Maybe it doesn’t have a major effect, but it is something. At the very least it provides an opportunity for learning and the exposure to different ideas and ways of life.”

Spc. Bhagirath Bhatt, a human intelligence collector with the 341st Military Intelligence Battalion echoes the same sentiment.

“I feel that this gives us a platform to speak from, educate from, allows us the ability to truly reflect on the traumas past and present, all while keeping our eyes steadfast on manifesting change in the future,” said Bhatt.

The Washington National Guard’s history is scattered with stories of the accomplishments of African American service members and the impacts they made while in uniform and following their time in the Guard.

One such story from our past features two Guard members who would gain national recognition for their musical talents. In 1947, Robert Blackwell was an inspiring musical producer and performer in Seattle. To continue developing his skills he joined the Washington Army National Guard’s 41st Division Band, becoming the leader of the band and promoted to Warrant Officer. Blackwell had made relationships with young musicians in the Seattle area. One of the young inspiring performers was a then 14-year-old Quincy Jones.

12 | Washington Military Department | Winter | Spring 2022

In a 2018 GQ article, Jones admitted to lying about his age, claiming to be 18 so he could join his friends on weekends and in the summer to perform with the 41st Division Band.

“We used to go to Fort Lewis and Fort Lawton in the summertime,” Jones said. “And you’d smell the racism.”

Jones and Blackwell would both go on to have award winning careers following their time in the National Guard. Through shifts in force structure and changes, the 41st Division Band led to the foundation of today’s 133rd Army National Guard Band, which continues their tradition.

“This observance means to me a celebration of every single person who is a part of the African culture. It is representative of our struggles, our resilience, and our triumphs,” said Sgt. 1st Class Tramal Williams, a recruiting and retention non-commissioned officer with the Recruiting and Retention Battalion. “It shows that we are all connected, that we all share the same problems, and that we can all work together to find solutions. It isn’t where you start it is where you finish.”

That statement was true for Brig. Gen. Victor Langford III, who served in the Washington Army National Guard from 1972 until his retirement in August 2001.

In 1972, Langford, who was already a well-known and seasoned chaplain, joined the Washington Army National Guard and was assigned as the 3rd Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment Chaplain.

“When I started in 1972, I had no idea where the journey would take me,” said Langford in a 2018 interview with podcaster Richard Stewart. “I knew I just enjoyed being in the military.”

“I was the first colonel chaplain in the state,” said Langford.

“In 1995, General

Barlow, the adjutant

general asked who was

interested in attending war

college, which was usually for

line officers who commanded

troops. But I said I would go.”

Langford completed war college in 1997. When the board for General Officer came up, he was clearly the most qualified, but was not a shoe-in for the promotion.

“I had the schools, the rank and was the only one with War College, but they didn’t want to select me,” said Langford.

After a review of the promotion board’s recommendation, it took the chief of the National Guard to step in and ensure that Langford was promoted. Langford was appointed as assistant chief of chaplains for the Army National Guard and promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in 1998, serving three years in the position before retiring in August 2001.

“If I didn’t have to leave, I would have stayed. I loved the military,” said Langford.

Langford is recognized today as the first Black General officer in Langford took every chance to gain the Washington National Guard. A few years later Brig. Gen. Bruce knowledge, attend schools and Linton, then commander of the 66th Theater Aviation Command, serve troops as he would become followed in his footsteps. chaplain for two battalions, a brigade and ultimately the Linton immigrated to America as a child, coming from the Caribbean nation state chaplain before being of Barbados as a teenager with his family. selected to attend the U.S. Army War College, “I would have never had the opportunity to do what I do now. That is why becoming the first (service) is so important to me,” said Linton in a 2018 article after becoming National Guard chief of police for the city of Tukwila. chaplain to attend the school.

Staff Sgt. Catherine Njuguna, a medic with the 194th Medical Group is finding

that same opportunity today with the Washington Air National Guard. Originally from

Nairobi, Kenya, Njuguna joined the National Guard to serve her new home, seek

education benefits and learn new skills.

Since joining in 2014 she has deployed to Hawaii, Qatar and returned home after deployment to assist during the COVID-19 pandemic with administering vaccinations.

“This observance to me means acknowledgement of the black culture and history, as well as the appreciation of it,” said Njuguna. “Different cultures can teach us different views and how to accommodate one another, hence the Black history month gives others the opportunity to learn and celebrate black history.”

Winter | Spring 2022 | Washington Military Department | 13

Preparedness: How I learned to be better prepared

By Magin Maier, Emergency Management Division

It was my senior year of college and I had just finished a solid grocery haul with my roommate at the Tchoupitoulas Street Walmart in New Orleans, Louisiana. As we loaded bags of Top Ramen, gallons of ice cream and frozen TV dinners into the back of my decrepit Volvo station wagon, we had nothing but excitement for the final push to the finish line of our college careers. Little did we know, we wouldn’t be going back to class that first week. And I should have prepared better.

These are a few important lessons along the way: Keep your gas tank at least half-full. I may not be hopping into a line of cars to evacuate town every now and then anymore, but I’m very aware that severe storms, winter weather or power outages may render the pumps at gas stations useless or that I may not be able to make it to a gas station. There are other benefits too: if you’re trapped at home and the power goes out, you can charge your phone in your car or use it as a place to stay warm.

Having an emergency kit in your vehicle is crucial. If you’re trapped on the road due to unforeseen circumstances, having a well-stocked vehicle kit can help make you more comfortable and prepare you for the worst-case scenario. Items to put in your kit include: cell phone charger, water, snacks, blanket, flashlight with extra batteries, jumper cables, seasonal equipment (e.g. ice scraper) and road flares/reflectors.

Have a go-bag. A go-bag is a smaller, portable version of your home emergency kit that is used in the event of a rapid evacuation. Everyone in your household, including pets and service animals, should have one. Learn what items to put in a go-bag here.

Local emergency alerts save lives. It can take mere minutes to sign up for this critical, free service. Sign up for local emergency alerts in Washington State here.

How did I learn these lessons? Read on to discover the ride of my life.

Living in Southeast Louisiana, you get used to tracking storms that come rolling off the Gulf of Mexico. Although you love the folks in neighboring states, you always hope the storm’s track shifts away from where you live or dissipates entirely without making landfall. My dad was the first to text me that New Orleans was in the “cone of uncertainty,” the probable track of the center of a hurricane, for a recently developed storm. This was nothing new, so I didn’t think too much of it.

Here’s the deal. In New Orleans, when classes or work are cancelled due to hurricanes or tropical storms, you host a “hurrication” (a hurricane vacation) with your friends who are unable or choose not to evacuate. It often tends to be a rip-roaring good time. With Hurricane Isaac classified as a Category 1, we had planned to hunker down with fellow classmates who were planning to wait out the storm in the city.

However, Isaac was looking more ominous as it moved closer inland. It was a large and slow-moving storm, even if its categorization didn’t seem too scary. Hurricane Katrina and more recent flooding events left indelible memories on the city’s inhabitants, and many chose to leave during the city’s call for a voluntary evacuation.

As the universities cancelled the first week of classes, businesses were boarding up their windows and residents were packing their bags to head out of town. It was at that moment, my roommate and I decided to make the call. Our street often flooded during heavy rains and another sticky, hot summer week was predicted. Without working air conditioning in a power outage, it was at best uncomfortable; at worst, downright dangerous. We piled into my rickety station wagon and headed north to my brother’s house in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

After listening to the local news station and getting a round of local emergency alerts blaring from my phone, I took a chance. The major interstate heading out of the city, Interstate 10, was bumper-to-bumper traffic. During a mandatory evacuation, New Orleans will implement contraflow on the interstate, meaning vehicles travel in the opposite direction of a lane’s normal traffic flow. As a result, people can move quicker inland to safety and get further away from the Gulf Coast. Since this was only a voluntary evacuation, I figured I’d take the back roads to save some time sitting in traffic.

In the spirit of previous optimism, I had no vehicle emergency kit, but I did have some plastic water bottles (that had been roasting in the Louisiana sun for three years = not good), a picked-over first aid kit that only had odd-shaped bandages left, and a can of Fix-a-Flat. It was better than nothing, I guess. (My parents would’ve been appalled.) I figured it was only a 90-minute drive anyway.

That typical 90-minute drive took us closer to seven hours, and you know what’s the worst? When it feels like it’s 1000 degrees outside, the sun is beating down on your car, and you can’t keep your AC running in standstill traffic because you didn’t heed the advice of your parents and keep your gas tank as close to full as possible during hurricane season.

I wound up turning my car off as we sat in traffic to save on gas, as both my roommate and I sweated profusely next to 14 | Washington Military Department | Winter | Spring 2022

each other. There’s nothing like the sickly smell of each other’s ripe body odor to bring you closer together. Plus, with a lack of emergency snacks and car charger for our phones, we weren’t in the best of moods.

We finally made it to Baton Rouge as twilight rolled in, with dead cellphones, a few items of clothing, and minimal toiletries in tow. I figured we’d be back on the road in a couple of days anyway. Wrong again.

As we waited out the storm in my brother’s cramped apartment and the days ticked by, I thought about how I could literally run faster than Isaac moved. The storm parked itself over Southeast Louisiana and shifted between sprinkling rain and full-on monsooning. The power went out in Baton Rouge not long after it went out in New Orleans. So we passed the time by cooking food from the refrigerator on a makeshift grill before it went rancid.

Here comes my second mistake. I had never thought to put together a go-bag.

I hadn’t brought along many clothes, a spare battery pack for my cellphone, cash, enough toiletry items, or a comfort item – something to keep me preoccupied like a book, colored pencils, or cards. I was bored out of my mind, but we were safe; and that’s what mattered.

Hurricane Isaac made not just one, but two landfalls. The storm briefly came ashore in Louisiana before heading back out to sea and then making landfall again. It caused tornadoes and widespread flooding in five states. The strong storm surge inundated many of Louisiana’s coastal regions, rendering homes uninhabitable.

In New Orleans, the power was out in my neighborhood for more than a week as local utility crews triaged the damage from Isaac. Eventually, we returned to our soggy neighborhood, with tree branches and debris scattered throughout the street. Plus, frozen dinners and gallons of ice cream perfumed the air in our apartment with the smell of rotting food and sour milk. Welcome back!

To this day, even though I’ve since relocated to the Pacific Northwest, I hold those lessons from my days of hurricane evacuations close. Preparing for disasters can be simple, easy and inexpensive. It can also reduce stress and help you survive.

Scan Code to learn about how you can become better prepared!

Winter | Spring 2022 | Washington Military Department | 15

ABOVE AND BEYOND: The last two years have been historic for Emergency Management Division

Emergency Management Division employees staffing the State Emergency Operations Center hit an extraordinary milestone in late January. On Jan. 24, 2022, the SEOC had been activated for two years straight in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the longest state activation ever for a single incident.

“You have shown extraordinary commitment, resilience, and

determination during what has been the most difficult of times,” EMD Director Robert Ezelle wrote staff in a division-wide email. “Additionally, you have dealt with a host of other issues and incidents that, while not rising to the level of a major disaster, have required your time, attention, and innovation.”

Along with COVID-19, employees handled two catastrophic wildfire seasons, resulting in 44 state fire mobilizations and 18 Fire Management Assistance Grants. Additionally, employees supported local jurisdictions responding to civil unrest, winter storms and flooding events.

Four disasters over the last two years resulted in federal Major Disaster Declarations, adding to the workload of response and recovery staff. When a major disaster is declared,

federal funds become available to assist local jurisdictions.

When adding small business administration grants, along with individual assistance and public assistance funding, EMD staff has coordinated more than $313 million in federal funds to help respond to these disasters.

“I know it’s been a long two years,” said Maj. Gen. Bret Daugherty, director of the Washington Military Department, in a staff newsletter. “I fully recognize that the operational tempo has stretched our collective patience and has taken a toll. While we’re so used to taking care of others, please don’t forget to take care of yourself. I am so thankful you’re on our team, and encourage you to make self-care a priority so you’ll remain a valued member of our WMD family.”

The Washington Military Department seeks exceptional men and women to join our team and help the department meet our important mission of protecting lives, property and the economy of Washington state.

We offer full-time state and federal employment opportunities in a variety of job classifications. Additionally, we hire project, non-permanent and disaster reservists to support disaster recovery efforts and workload peaks.

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Col. Kenneth A. Borchers (left), 194th Wing Commander, passes the 252nd Cyberspace Operations Group guidon to Col. Thomas Pries Jan. 9, 2022 at Camp Murray, Wash. Pries assumed command of the 252nd COG from Col. Robert Siau.

(U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Mckenzie Airhart)

Col. Pries to lead 252nd Cyber Operations Group Col. Robert Siau handed over command of the 252nd Cyberspace Operations Group to newly-promoted Col. Thomas Pries during a ceremony at the Pierce County Readiness Center on January 9. Pries previously commanded the 262nd Cyberspace Operations Squadron, and Siau is moving on to serve as vice commander of the 194th Wing, of which the 252nd Group is a part.

Col. Kenneth Borchers, commander of the 194th Wing, said that Siau led the Group during an intense period for domestic operations. This included 96 Group members who took part in military assistance for civil disturbance operations in 2020. It included 252nd airmen who made up almost half of recent Red Card-trained Wing wildfire crews. It included cybersecurity support to the Washington State Secretary of State to protect the 2020 election. That is on top of the Group’s federal mission, which included ex-

tensive geospatial targeting work by the 194th Intelligence Squadron, said Borchers.

Borchers told airmen of the 252nd that Siau “fought for you at every turn” and described him as a “servant leader” who worked “tirelessly.”

Pries said that whenever Siau made a decision, he always asked the question, “How is this going to affect the airmen?”

Siau lauded Group headquarters staff who “make it a joy to come to work every day” and praised airmen who “stepped up time and time again.”

Pries enters the 252nd Group command with an extensive background in cyberspace operations. Borchers said that under Pries’s leadership, the 262nd COS has been “the absolute leader in the field of cyber ops.”

Siau commended Pries for prioritizing airmen at all times while staying focused on the mission.

Pries began his journey in the Washington Air National Guard in 1989 when he joined the 111th Air Support Operations Squadron as an enlisted member. It was Maj. Jack Arnold, the first commander of the 111th ASOS, who “introduced me to what it meant to be a Guardsman and what it meant to be part of the Guard family.” Over the course of his career, Pries moved into a variety of roles. “Tom has been a warrior in many different arenas,” said Siau.

In remarks to airmen during the change of command ceremony, Pries pledged that he will be as dedicated to advocating for his airmen as they are in the work they do to advance the mission. “I couldn’t be prouder than to be your commander,” he said. “It is an honor and a privilege to lead you into this next chapter of our history.”

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“IN ART AS IN LIFE WE OFTEN ATTACH SADNESS TO THE WORD GOODBYE - I HOPE TODAY’S CEREMONY REMINDS YOU THAT JOY AND GRATITUDE ARE ALSO APPROPRIATE” - Amy Steinhilber, Director, Washington Youth ChalleNGe Program Graduation of Class 21-002, Dec. 2021

Watch the Washington Youth ChalleNGe Program Graduation of Class 21-002 from Dec. 2021

RECOGNIZING WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

When Teresa Burgess joined the U.S. Army in 1982, few women stood beside her.

“When I reported to Warrant Officer Candidate School, there were two other women that I had met,” said Burgess, who graduated in December 1982 as an aviation warrant officer and became a medevac pilot. “Medevac is the best mission you could have in peace time, because back then we didn’t have civilian medevac here in the state of Washington. So we flew all of the missions. We did hoist missions, blood runs, patient transfers, as well as our military missions on Fort Lewis and Yakima.”

Burgess later joined the Washington National Guard, and 25 years after her appointment, helped make history in 2007 when she participated in and led the first all-female combat UH-60 Black Hawk crew in Iraq.

“It was not just the air crews themselves, but all of the support staff were female,” said Burgess. “It was quite a feat in itself.”

Women have a long history in the U.S. Military, beginning in 1775 when they originally supported the civilian fields of nursing, laundering, mending clothing and cooking. Many women contributed to the American Civil War, whether it was through nursing, spying or physically fighting on the battlefield.

However, women were not allowed to join the National Guard until October 1971, when Specialist Five Nora Campbell swore in to the Washington Army National Guard, becoming the first woman to join the National Guard.

In February 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued a presidential proclamation declaring the week of March 8, 1980, as National Women’s History Week. In 1987, after being petitioned by the National Women’s History Project, Congress passed into law a joint resolution which designated the month of March 1987 as Women’s History Month. Since then, every March is dedicated to highlighting the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society, like those made by Burgess.

Following her return home from Iraq, Burgess was promoted to Chief Warrant Officer 5 in 2009 and was selected to be the Command Chief Warrant Officer in 2011, just the second Command Chief in state history. She retired from the Washington National Guard in July 2018 after 35 years of service.

Burgess paved the way for female pilots, not just in Washington but across the Army.

“My favorite part of serving has been flying for the Army and learning new skills that I never thought I would learn in my lifetime,” said1st Lieutenant Liliana Chavez Uribe, a pilot with 1st Battalion, 168th General Support Aviation. “I enjoy seeing younger people, especially females, realize that anything is possible as long as they give all they got toward reaching their goals.”

Chavez Uribe immigrated to the United States from Mexico as a child but always had a dream to fly.

“I have been wanting to fly since the first time I saw an airplane, but I kind of put that dream aside, since I thought it was very competitive,” Chavez Uribe said in a 2018 interview. “It was like dreaming to be a movie star, you put it aside because you think it will never happen.”

After completing Reserve Officer Training Corps., Chavez Uribe was selected for flight school and was able to fly a mission with the Texas National Guard on the Southwest Border from April 2018 until November 2020 when she moved up to Washington.

“To me this observance means that my job as a National Guard pilot does not only involve flying the customer around but also helps the nation’s domestic needs and emergency reliefs,” said Chavez Uribe.

Like Chavez Uribe, Staff Sgt. Samantha Garcia, who’s family also immigrated from Mexico, wanted to give back through service to our state and nation.

“My parents immigrated from Mexico and I wanted to serve the country that gave my family an opportunity at a more desirable life,” said Garcia. “Not only am I the first member of the family to join, I am the first female.”

Garcia, a human resources noncommissioned officer with the 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team is a police officer in her civilian career, another career field that has seen a significant change in recent years with more female officers on the front lines.

“To join the thousands of women on the frontlines of change is an honor. I hope to continue to bring awareness of the existing inequalities and be that inspiration for many more to follow because knowing women’s achievements expands their sense of

what is possible,” said Garcia.

This past year, Garcia joined a group of 150 soldiers from the 81st SBCT on a deployment to Ukraine in support of the Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine. Command Sgt. Maj. Carter Richardson, the Command Sgt. Maj of the 81st SBCT and senior non-commissioned officer on the deployment, says the female soldiers on that mobilization had a huge impact.

“We had some of the most professional, out-going and driven female soldiers on this mobilization,” said Richardson. “They brought that passion for their position every day and worked side-by-side with the Ukrainian armed forces.”

Richardson has some experience working with strong female service members, having worked directly for Command Chief Master Sgt. Trish Almond during her tenure as the state’s Senior Enlisted Leader.

After joining the U.S. Air Force in 1988, Almond would serve more than 30 years in uniform, often holding positions of responsibility traditionally held by her male counterparts. Almond worked her way up and in 2013 was named the Senior Enlisted Leader of the Washington Air National Guard.

Her work there led to Maj. Gen. Bret Daugherty, the adjutant general to name Almond the senior enlisted leader for the Washington National Guard in 2015, making her the first female to hold that position at the state level in the entire National Guard.

After nearly four years in the position, Almond retired in Sept. 2019. She stayed involved in the organization as the alumni chair for the National Guard Association of Washington, which she oversaw as president for two years and worked with another strong female leader, Col. Kristen Derda. Derda is currently the director of operations for the Joint Force Headquarters, where she oversees all domestic operations for the Washington National Guard.

While current Guard members can most likely point to a female leader or two they have worked directly with that impacted their career in some way, it is the civilians in the organization that sometimes have made the greatest impacts. For 54 years, Master Sgt. (Ret.) Constance Byzinker, known by so many as Ms. Connie from the Inspector General’s office, served with pride and drive to help soldiers. Many may have not had the chance to work with Byzinker during her 37 years in uniform but she truly had a remarkable career in and out of uniform.

Byzinker joined the active Army in 1967 at the height of the Vietnam War, a time when many weren’t joining the service.

“The Vietnam War was in the national news and in many high school discussions during my senior year,” said Byzinker. “My father had served in WWII and my grandfather in WWI and I felt a desire to also serve. But being a young woman, I did not know how I could fit.”

After reading about the Woman’s Army Corp Band needing oboe players, Byzinker went to a local radio station with her recruiter and recorded an audition tape. Her performance was good enough to earn her a spot with the 14th Army Band with service at WAC Center Ft. McClellan, Alabama.

“It was a segregated all female band as women were not permitted in the male bands at that time,” said Byzinker.

After serving six years on active duty, Byzinker transitioned to the Virginia Army National Guard before moving to Washington and joining the Washington Army National Guard in September 1973 and was assigned to the 133rd Army Band.

“I was hired as a full-time technician to fill the administrative and supply needs of the band which was attached to 144th Transportation Battalion in the armory in downtown Tacoma,” said Byzinker.

In 1996, Byzinker transitioned to the Inspector General’s office taking an open Active Guard Reserve (AGR) master sergeant position in the office.

She would go on to serve for the next 25 years in uniform until her retirement in 2004. For the last 17 years, she has supported the office as a Department of the Army civilian employee.

Later this month Byzinker will be inducted into the U.S. Army Women’s Foundation Hall of Fame for serving more than half a century in the Women’s Army Corp, Army National Guard and as a Department of the Army Civilian with the Guard.

“I believe it is a time to highlight the changes that the Army has made giving women soldiers so many more opportunities,” said Byzinker.

“Sometimes it is hard to appreciate where you are without looking back to see where others like you have been.”

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JSS HOSTS HOLIDAY MAGIC FOR WASHINGTON NATIONAL GUARD FAMILIES The Washington National Guard’s Joint Services Support has alleviating some holiday stress for service members in need during the holiday season.

“This year, just like last, so many were affected by COVID, so just making sure we were able to help out those in need was important,” said Carl Steele, director of the Joint Services Support. “It is just good to be able to help out with our soldiers and airmen.”

The Joint Services Support held its Holiday Magic event on Camp Murray Dec. 10. The drive up event provided holiday gifts for more than 300 families and 570 children. Maj. Gen. Bret Daugherty, the adjutant general, and a slew of volunteers would take special requests from the families and would bring gifts to the vehicles. Steele believes this event is critical to supporting our Guard families in need, but it wouldn’t have been possible without the donations from their amazing community partners.

“We received donations from the Association of the U.S. Army, the National Guard Association of Washington, the American Legion, Elks, Heartbeat for Warriors and Pierce Military Business Alliance,” said Steele. “Without them we would not be able to support as many families as we do.”

Guard members who took part not only received gifts, but a meal with all the fixings and snacks for Santa Clause, along with stocking stuffers.

“We try to provide holiday cheer for those that need a little help this time of the year. It is so critical that we support our Guard families, because they are here to support our state in times of need,” said Deb. Discolo, lead Military and Family Readiness Specialist with the Joint Services Support. “The least we can do is put these events on for them.”

Scan code to check out the video for the JSS Holiday Magic!

22 | Washington Military Department | Winter | Spring 2022

Joint Services Support... Service When You Need It...The Support You Expect!

Joint Services Support Director Carl Steele 253-512-7600

Operations NCO SFC Michelle Thomas 253-512-7755

State Family Program Director MAJ Marianne Hegg 253-512-8723

For emergency assistance call 1-800-364-7492

Message from Carl Steele - Director, Joint Services Support, Washington National Guard One of our favorite times of the year.......February is “Parent Recognition Month”.

Parents are being recognized throughout the state because they have shown strength, courage and empathy in their communities. We also acknowledge that this year parents and primary caregivers have been called upon more than ever to be the buffer for the traumatic experiences that our world has been facing. Parents and caregivers around Washington State are supporting their children, families and communities in exceptional ways through this pandemic. By providing information to parents, child care professionals and others who work with children, we help build these protective factors in families with young children and build family strength and a family environment that promotes optimal child and youth development.

Work for Warriors - helping Guard members find employment

Work for Warriors (formerly Employment Transition Services) enhances the well-being of National Guard, Reservists, Veterans, Active Duty and their Families by mitigating unemployment and under-employment that negatively impacts their lives. Work for Warriors Coaches (WFWC) empower clients by developing employment opportunities including career guidance, job skills assessment, resume development and interview skills. WFWC advocate the benefits of hiring military; identify regional employment opportunities; apprenticeship programs; and partner with ESGR and WorkSource for job and hiring events.

- Community Partnerships - Individualized Employment Plans - Hiring and Job Events - Resume Guidance - Military Skills Translation - Career Self-Assessment Tests (ONET Access) - Interview Techniques and Tips - Apprenticeship Program Information - Agency Referrals - Always Free Services

Take the first step towards finding gainful employment by contacting the Employment Coach in your area or scan the QR code below.

Winter | Spring 2022 | Washington Military Department | 23

Bldg 1 Camp Muarry, WA 98433 Phone: (253) 512-8989 mil.wa.gov

SCAN CODE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND HOW TO APPLY