News - Page 62

Unit’s first female first sergeant ‘keeps it green’ and takes care of soldiers
July 28, 2020 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. — A Pennsylvania Army National Guard noncommissioned officer has marked a first in her unit’s history. First Sgt. Valerie Jones, with Alpha Company, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 28th Infantry Division, is wrapping up her time as her unit’s first female first sergeant... MORE

HARRISBURG – First Sgt. Valerie Jones (left), first sergeant of Alpha Company, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 28th Infantry Division, confers with the company’s readiness NCO, Sgt. 1st Class Sean Cleary, prior to a ceremony at Harrisburg Military Post Jan. 11, 2020. Jones is the first female first sergeant of one of the four companies that comprise the division headquarters battalion. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Doug Roles

1/109th FA honors Lt. Col. Start during change of command
July 28, 2020 — WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – In a steady rain, the 1st Battalion, 109th Field Artillery held a change of command ceremony on July 19, 2020... MORE

Lt. Col. William G. Start, outgoing commander of the 1st Battalion, 109th Field Artillery Regiment, pulls the cord on the M101A1 howitzer during the battalion's change of command ceremony on July 19, 2020, in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. As a final gesture in recognition of Start's service to the field artillery and 1/109th FA, he had the distinct honor and privilege of firing a final round from the 1/109th FA's ceremonial cannon. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Keeler).

The first officer to receive Pa. funeral honors ribbon
July 14, 2020 — FORT HOOD, Texas - Though it is a great privilege for him to render funeral honors for deceased veterans, 1st Lt. Craig Robbins keeps in mind the pain families feel after they have lost a loved one... MORE

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Craig Robbins, UH-60 Black Hawk medevac pilot with Charlie Company, 2-104th General Support Aviation Battalion, 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade poses for a photo at the 28th ECAB's mobilization station at Fort Hood, Texas. Robbins is the first-ever commissioned officer to receive the Pennsylvania Military Funeral Honors Ribbon.

In a first, Pa. National Guard augments Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency’s Incident Management Team
July 2, 2020 — Several Pennsylvania National Guard Soldiers integrated with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency’s Incident Management Team in early March to assist in planning the agency’s COVID-19 response... MORE

Planners with the Pennsylvania National Guard attend a meeting at the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency headquarters in Harrisburg, Pa., along with representatives from FEMA, Pennsylvania Department of Health, and others on July 1, 2020. Several Pennsylvania National Guard Soldiers integrated with PEMA’s Incident Management Team in early March to assist in planning the agency’s COVID-19 response.

Political activity by government employees, service members limited
June 10, 2020 — In the 1995 movie “Crimson Tide,” Gene Hackman’s character, a Navy submarine captain, proclaimed: “We’re here to preserve democracy, not to practice it.” While that statement may be true when it comes to following lawful orders, it’s only partially true when it comes to political activity and voting... MORE

Pa. National Guard ready to support local law enforcement
May 31, 2020 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – Under the authority of Governor Tom Wolf and at the direction of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, the Pennsylvania National Guard has placed over 600 Guardsmen on state active duty to provide support to local law enforcement in keeping order during protests... MORE

Father, son work together during pandemic
May 29, 2020 — Joseph Sapienza, director of maintenance/ life safety for Pleasant Valley Manor nursing home, recently received word that someone very familiar to him would be coming to work at the home... MORE

(Left to right) Sgt. Alec Sapienza, combat medic with the 108th Medical Area Support Company, 213th Regional Support Group, Pennsylvania National Guard, and Joseph Sapienza, director of maintenance/ life safety for Pleasant Valley Manor nursing home in Stroudsburg, Pa., pose for a photo on May 21, 2020. Alec volunteered for state active duty during the COVID-19 situation and was tasked with supporting the Pennsylvania Department of Health mission to Pleasant Valley Manor where his father, Joseph, works; a surprise that he found out after he had volunteered to continue to support Pennsylvania (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Keeler).

Pa. National Guard launches COVID-19 testing task force
May 29, 2020 — The Pennsylvania National Guard has assembled a task force to conduct point prevalence sampling at nursing homes and long-term care facilities across the Commonwealth... MORE

The frontline of defense against COVID-19 in Chester County is Medical Strike Team Iroquois. Under guidance from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and closely monitored by CDC officials, Pennsylvania National Guard members with Task Force Iroquois launched a Point Prevalence Sampling Strike Team in Kendal-Crosslands Communities, Kennet Square, Pa., on May 26, 2020.

Despite COVID-19, 28th ECAB "knocks out" pre-deployment training
May 26, 2020 — Despite numerous adjustments to pre-deployment training due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade is ready for their upcoming deployment to the Middle East... MORE

U.S. Soldiers with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade stand in formation while adhering to social distancing guidelines and COVID-19 mitigation directives.

Pa. National Guard, Civil Air Patrol deliver, distribute more than 800,000 meals to Pennsylvanians
May 21, 2020 — Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, two organizations with a close relationship -- the Pennsylvania National Guard and the Pennsylvania Wing, Civil Air Patrol -- have worked concurrently under the direction of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency to provide Pennsylvanians with meals... MORE

Pennsylvania Wing Civil Air Patrol members augmented points of distribution sites for food and essential supplies to households in Bucks County under the direction of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. The Pennsylvania National Guard and the Pennsylvania Wing, Civil Air Patrol together have delivered and distributed more than 800,000 meals. (photo courtesy of Pennsylvania Wing Civil Air Patrol)