MAGAZINE OF THE OHIO NATIONAL GUARD ~ Vol. 35, No. 3
Fostering a Culture of Innovation
Volume 35, No. 3 - May/June 2017
FOCUS ON HISTORY A closer look into the origins and lineage of Ohio National Guard's 211th Maintenance Company. In May 1846, about 7,000 members of the Ohio Militia were mobilized to support the Mexican War.
THE OHIO NATIONAL GUARD he appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement of the products or services advertised by the Ohio Adjutant General’s Department. Everything advertised in this publication will be made available for purchase, use, or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation, or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user, or patron. If a violation or rejection of this equal opportunity policy by an advertiser is confirmed, the Public Affairs Office will refuse to print advertising from that source until the violation has been corrected.
LEADERSHIP MESSAGE Brig. Gen. Schnulo discusses how the Ohio National Guard must be innovative and agile to meet the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Leveraging the talent and experience of the ONG’s 16,000 Soldiers and Airmen is key to doing so.
RETENTION REPORT Ever wondered what it takes to become an Army helicopter pilot? Learn about the different airframes flown by the Ohio Army National Guard and how to start on the path toward earning a commission as a warrant officer pilot.
Collaborating for Cyber Strength To strengthen cybersecurity in Ohio at the request of Gov. John Kasich, the Ohio National Guard has brought together more than 100 public, private, military and educational organizations to form the Ohio Cyber Collaboration Committee. Gripping at Success An F-16 mechanic, who also happens to be an inventor and entrepreneur, has developed a product called the Grypmat, a flexible, non-slip tool tray designed to hold tools on uneven or sloped surfaces. His story is one of perseverance and dedication to an idea. Close to the Real Thing Soldiers and Airmen are using realistic, cost-effective simulators and other equipment to help maintain proficiency in certain skills critical to their military jobs. We take a look at some of the training devices currently being used by the Ohio National Guard. Jobs at the Forefront of Technology Adjacent to the Cincinnati-Dayton Cyber Corridor, the 178th Wing in Springfield offers more than a dozen opportunities in high-tech career fields including intelligence, remotely piloted aircraft operation and cyber systems operations. Small but Mighty The RQ-11B Raven is a Small Unmanned Aircraft System that provides real-time, full-motion video and sensor data to help Soldiers develop situational awareness, enhance force protection and secure routes, points and areas on the battlefield.
Commander in Chief: Gov. John Kasich Adjutant General: Maj. Gen. Mark E. Bartman Director, Government and Public Affairs: Lt. Col. Dan Roche Public Affairs Officer (Federal): Capt. Sam Atkins Public Information Officer (State): Ms. Stephanie Beougher Editor: Mr. Steve Toth Layout and Design: Ms. Cindy Ayers Hayter Army Historical Content: Sgt. 1st Class Josh Mann Contributors: - Army and Air National Guard Photo/ Broadcast Journalists - Unit Public Affairs Representatives (UPARs) - Ohio Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion Marketing Office The Buckeye Guard is an authorized publication for members of the Department of Defense (DOD). Contents of the Buckeye Guard are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the DOD, the Departments of the Army and Air Force, or the Ohio Adjutant General’s Department. The Buckeye Guard is published bimonthly and is available for viewing at ONG.Ohio.gov/buckeyeguard.html . The editorial content of this publication is the responsibility of the Public Affairs Office (NGOH-PAO), Ohio Adjutant General’s Department, 2825 West Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, Ohio 43235-2789. Direct communication is authorized to the editorial staff at 614-336-7003 or ng.oh.oharng.mbx.pao@mail.mil. Guard members, Family and other interested persons are encouraged to submit any articles and photos meant to inform, educate or entertain Buckeye Guard readers. Submitted content, if approved for usage, may be used additionally or exclusively on the Ohio National Guard website, ONG.Ohio.gov, official Ohio National Guard social media sites, or in other Public Affairs Office products. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement of the products or services advertised by the Ohio Adjutant General’s Department. Everything advertised in this publication will be made available for purchase, use, or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation, or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user, or patron. If a violation or rejection of this equal opportunity policy by an advertiser is confirmed, the Public Affairs Office will refuse to print advertising from that source until the violation has been corrected.
FEATURES
In 2010, the Army created Cultural Support Teams, a secret pilot program to insert women alongside Special Operations Soldiers battling in Afghanistan. The Army reasoned that women could play a unique role on Special Ops teams: accompanying their male colleagues on raids and, while those Soldiers were searching for insurgents, questioning the mothers, sisters, daughters and wives living at the compound. Their presence had a calming effect on enemy households, but more importantly, the CSTs were able to search adult women for weapons and gather crucial intelligence. They could build relationships — woman to woman — in ways that male Soldiers in an Islamic country never could. See the Adjutant General's full reading list on the Ohio National Guard website.
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Brig. Gen. Gregory N. Schnulo Assistant Adjutant General for Air
Brig. Gen. Gregory N. Schnulo is the assistant adjutant general for Air, Ohio National Guard. He is responsible to the commander of the Ohio Air National Guard for directing Air National Guard operations and establishing policy to ensure mission readiness of more than 4,600 personnel assigned to four flying wings and six geographically separated support units. Schnulo received his commission in 1988 through the Academy of Military Science, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tenn. Prior to receiving his commission, Schnulo served as an enlisted member of the 910th Airlift Group, U.S. Air Force Reserve and the 121st Maintenance Group, Ohio Air National Guard. He has served in various operational and staff assignments to include Air director of staff, Ohio National Guard, and two wing commands. He is a master navigator with over 2,900 hours in the KC-135 E/R. He has flown in support of Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Northern Watch as well as Detainee Movement Operations.
By Brig. Gen. Gregory N. Schnulo, Ohio Assistant Adjutant General for Air As I scan through my career, I can think of no other time when the Ohio National Guard has faced such unique challenges and opportunities. Despite a demanding ops tempo, aging weapons systems, and ever-changing adversaries, our Soldiers, Airmen, and civilian team members continue to excel. As new missions and equipment come online, we rise to the occasion to execute and employ them effectively at home and abroad. There is no organization more perfectly positioned to overcome these challenges and leverage these opportunities than the Ohio National Guard. In his 2016 address at the International Cyber Summit, Gen. Joseph L. Lengyel, chief of the National Guard Bureau, said, “Innovation and agility is inherent in our DNA as Citizen-Soldiers and -Airmen.” I could not agree more. As a collective, our team possesses the breadth of talent, depth of experience and strength of will to act as a catalyst for innovation in our communities, state and nation. Maintaining our position at the tip of the spear will require each of us to seek and act on opportunities to make our organization more efficient and more effective. We must continue to develop and foster strategic partnerships with public and private organizations and entities to better serve our communities and to increase our return on taxpayer investment. We must also continue to leverage the vast ocean of skill and insight of our Soldiers, Airmen and civilian team members by engaging them in shaping the future of the Ohio National Guard through critical scenario-based strategic planning initiatives. Opportunities to innovate and improve the way we do business exist all around us. In the following pages, you can learn about some of the people and technology that are helping shape the way we do business. You’ll read about an Airman at the 180th Fighter Wing in Toledo who took a common problem among aircraft mechanics and came up with a solution that can improve how they do their jobs. You’ll see some of the most realistic, cost-effective training simulators and devices in use throughout the Army and Air National Guard and how this helps develop proficiency and readiness for our personnel to support the warfight as well as in defense of the homeland. And you’ll get an idea of some of the highly technical occupational fields available to those who join the Ohio Air National Guard. Before becoming assistant adjutant general for Air, I commanded the 178th Wing in Springfield. There are numerous technology-driven job fields at the 178th that require only the best, brightest, capable men and women to support the critical mission of providing real-time intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance in support of U.S. Defense Department objectives and the warfight around the globe. This issue highlights just some examples of the high caliber of Soldiers and Airmen in our organization and the innovative methods and equipment they use to train to be “Always Ready, Always There!” for Ohio and the nation.
Embracing opportunities to innovate, use technology, necessary for our improvement
The Adjutant General’s Department Diversity & Inclusion and Equal Employment Office provides opportunities for Ohio National Guard members to enhance their professional development and embrace diversity and inclusion. Among those opportunities is a reading list suggested by Maj. Gen. Mark E. Bartman, Ohio adjutant general. This issue’s featured title is:
Ashley’s War: The Untold Story of a Team of Women Soldiers on the Special Ops Battlefield By Gayle Tzemach Lemmon HarperCollins 2015
By Ohio National Guard Public Affairs Weak passwords, outdated software or an email attachment that contains malicious code can lead to a cybersecurity breach affecting one home computer or an entire network. In Ohio alone, there have been two recent incidents where government networks were brought down by these cyberattacks. To strengthen cybersecurity in Ohio at the request of Gov. John Kasich, the Ohio National Guard has brought together more than 100 representatives of public, private, military and educational organizations to form the Ohio Cyber Collaboration Committee (OC3). The OC3 mission is to provide a collaborative environment to develop a stronger cybersecurity infrastructure and workforce. We are taking a unique approach to make Ohio a center of cyber excellence and innovation. Among the committee’s goals is the creation of a cyber range — a virtual environment used for cybersecurity training and technology development testing. “We are creating a unique collaboration to make Ohio a center of cyber excellence and innovation,” said Maj. Gen. Mark E. Bartman, Ohio adjutant general. “It’s important to provide a virtual environment to prepare our youth for careers in the cybersecurity field. The cyber range will enable us to hold competitions and trainings at all levels to include students from kindergarten to college. It will also provide our schools, governments and businesses a space to test cybersecurity infrastructure and software.” The first phase of the range is expected to be functional in the second half of 2017 and will consist of individual training and certification, table top cyber exercises, and cyber contests for students. Future phases are in the planning stages and will expand the scope and functionality across Ohio’s colleges, universities and high schools, providing curriculum support and enlarging Ohio’s cyber workforce. There’s a growing demand from employers looking for cybersecurity professionals. According the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for information security analysts – with a median salary in 2015 of a little more than $43 an hour – is expected to grow by 18 percent between 2014 and 2024. That’s faster than the average for all occupations. “Cybersecurity is a growing priority. It makes sense for our universities and community colleges to partner in this endeavor to make our state and country safer from cyber threats,” according to Ohio Department of Higher Education Chancellor John Carey. OC3 will also identify and share best practices, policies and technologies. The committee will use public awareness tools to educate and inform about good cybersecurity practices, and ensure cyber threats are part of emergency planning at all levels of the public and private sector. By bringing together representatives from various public, private, education and military entities, OC3 has created a unique opportunity to share cyber threat intelligence. Collaboration will be encouraged in an environment that nurtures research, development and testing – while preserving classified data, personal privacy and proprietary information. As OC3 partners continue to collaborate on strategies to accomplish the goals, organizations and cybersecurity professionals interested in becoming involved with the committee may contact Mark Bell, cybersecurity outreach coordinator.
By Staff Sgt. Michael Hughes 180th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SWANTON, Ohio — Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, Bill Gates; these are a few of the names which come to mind when people talk about success. Tom Burden is not on this list… yet. Tech. Sgt. Tom Burden, an F-16 weapons mechanic assigned to the 180th Fighter Wing, developed a flexible, non-slip tool tray for aircraft mechanics called the Grypmat. The inspiration came in 2013 after he almost fell off an F-16 Fighting Falcon while trying to retrieve a tool sliding off the curved surface of the jet. He knew there had to be a better way to keep the tools he needed nearby and secure while he worked. An idea came to him while he was sitting in his mother’s car and he noticed she had a non-slip mat on the dashboard to hold her cell phone. The problem was that he needed a similar product large enough to hold tools used by aircraft mechanics on steep angles or curved surfaces, non-static for use around sensitive electronics, and resistant to corrosive chemicals used in aircraft maintenance. To solve these problems, he developed a special polymer-silicone blend that is anti-static, chemical resistant and can hold tools securely at up to a 70 degree angle. “I faced a lot of challenges,” Burden said, “but the hardest part was figuring out the chemistry.” His very first prototype was form-fitted to an F-16 gun trough and clipped onto the aircraft, but this limited his product to that specific section of the F-16 and he wanted mechanics to be able to use the Grypmat wherever they worked, so he began working with F-16 electricians from the 180th FW to analyze their needs and improve their maintenance process. They provided feedback on his product and helped brainstorm ideas for a new prototype, which he made to meet their specific needs. Burden’s biggest breakthrough came when one of the electricians asked him for a simple mat with a border tray around the edges. All of his previous prototypes had borders along one or two edges because he knew how the mat would clip onto an F-16 and where a tray would be needed to hold the tools. He hadn’t considered making it like a box. “The form-fitted prototype took me weeks and weeks to get the measurements right, but the one he wanted took me about five minutes to create in CADD (computer-aided design and drafting),” Burden said. After he had the new prototype, Burden asked for feedback from 180th FW mechanics about their preferences between the form-fitted mat and the simple mat. Everyone preferred the simple mat because of its versatility. Once he had his final prototype, his next big challenge was finding a manufacturer. “The hard part was getting the chemistry that would translate from a prototype to manufacturing,” Burden said. “It takes me 24 hours to make one prototype because it takes that long for the material to cure. I can’t do that in manufacturing. The process has to happen really fast.” Every time he took his prototype to a potential manufacturer, there would be problems producing the Grypmat. One manufacturer added graphite to eliminate the static, but this made the product black. The mat needed to be brightly colored so mechanics could easily see their tools. Another concern was the price. When he found a manufacturer who could make the mat to his specifications, they estimated the price at $60 apiece, so the production costs were four times higher than what he needed them to be for the Grypmat to be profitable. “There was always something wrong,” Burden said. “Maybe it was brightly colored or it was anti-static or the price was okay, but the rubber was like the rubber on your boot and wouldn’t hold tools at half the angle it needed to. We would get a product that would grip really well, but now it’s priced way too high and it’s high in static, so I can’t sell it to F-16 mechanics who can’t use it because all the weapons are charged with electricity.” Things began to turn around after a short vacation in Michigan. His friend kept asking him to go up to Michigan for a week to visit his lake house. Burden kept turning down the offer because he couldn’t afford to take a week off. He was too busy trying to solve his problems with the manufacturing process. Eventually his friend convinced him to take the weekend off to visit the lake and the trip turned out to be the answer to all his problems. While at the lake house, he met a man named Tom Mansfield who manufactures products for Amazon. Burden told Mansfield about all the manufacturing problems he was dealing with, and Mansfield said he could manufacture the Grypmat to the needed specifications and he could do it at an affordable price. After his experiences with other manufacturers, Burden was skeptical, but Mansfield produced the mat exactly as he claimed. After Burden had the prototype he needed, he reserved a booth at the 2016 Experimental Aircraft Association tradeshow. He took 600 Grypmats with him to the show, as many as he could fit into his father’s truck, and had plans to sell them all, but at the end of day one he’d sold only 14. He refused to let himself be discouraged though. The next day, while driving to the show, he said he pumped himself up by yelling, “I will sell a hundred Grypmats,” over and over again until he arrived. His determination paid off and he met his goal, but he still had a lot of inventory left to sell. “I told myself, ‘I’m going to talk to every single vendor here, and everyone’s going to know who I am before I leave,’” Burden said. “There will be no opportunity lost due to my effort.” On the last day of the tradeshow, he was approached by another vendor, Mueller Motorwerks, who bought his remaining inventory, becoming the first distributor for Grypmat. Business grants played a large role in funding his efforts. He raised $150,000 in grants through various business competitions, applying to everything and anything that might get him closer to achieving his dreams. Burden even moved to Milwaukee to apply for a grant for Wisconsin residents who are military members. He later found out the grant was fraud, but was undeterred by the setback. Instead, he applied for another $25,000 business grant. The new grant was only available to Wisconsin students, so he enrolled in yoga, soccer, and tennis at a local university. The risk paid off and he won the grant. The grant money helped, but it wasn’t consistent and it didn’t cover all his expenses. Burden almost went bankrupt twice while developing prototypes, finding manufacturers and marketing at tradeshows, all while studying mechanical engineering at the University of Toledo. “I went to a big military tradeshow early on and I spent all my money to be there,” Burden said. “It was $4,000 just for a booth and that’s not counting expenses for staying a week in Chicago, booth materials and samples. In four days, I spent around $10,000 and when you’re a college kid that’s a lot of money.” The obstacles he faced were stressful and led him to doubt himself at times. “I called my friend and told him I was ready to quit everything,” Burden said. “I would spend 10 hours a day at an airshow and at night I would write the grants. I actually used the money from the pre-orders just to get home because I didn’t have any money.” Times were tough, but he remained persistent and determined to succeed against all odds. He sold his house in August 2016 and spent a month living in his car so he could afford to continue pursuing his dream of becoming an inventor before moving into an apartment with friends in Columbus. Throughout his journey, his mom has always been his biggest supporter, Burden said. His father, however, didn’t always understand his drive and determination to become a successful inventor and entrepreneur. “I would say, ‘I’ve got a meeting with this big company that might buy the Grypmat,’ and my dad would say, ‘Do you think they’d hire you?’ Every time I was like, ‘Yeah, they probably would, but that’s not the point.’ He asked me that for years, but eventually he realized I was in it for the long haul.” Burden said creating, manufacturing and promoting the Grypmat was his full-time job. He couldn’t imagine trying to pursue his dreams part-time. “Trying to pursue your passion while working full-time is like trying to be a long-jumper and keep one leg on the ground. You’re just not going to go as far. You have to take the leap if you want it.” Burden knew the risks he was taking, but knew he couldn’t let fear hold him back. “People don’t really explore their fear,” Burden said. “You have to ask yourself how far you’re willing to go for your company. Technically, I was homeless. I mean, worst case scenario, I’d put the driver’s seat back and sleep for a couple hours, or I’d call a friend and ask if I could sleep on their couch, or I’d go and stay a night at my parents’ house. It’s never as bad as people imagine.” Burden uses his own experience as inspiration for others. He said one of his friends wanted to start a company but was afraid he wouldn’t be able to provide for his family. Burden advised his friend to explore the worst case scenario, which Burden said is always worse in people’s imaginations than in reality. “What are you afraid of?” he asked. “Are you afraid they won’t eat? Because in this country, that’s almost impossible. Or are you really afraid of registering for food stamps? Are you afraid of standing in line at a food pantry? Or are you afraid of asking your parents for money? Are you afraid they won’t have a roof over their head? Because that’s not a real fear. Or are you afraid that you’d have to sell your house and downsize to a small apartment? Are you afraid you’d have to move into your in-laws’ basement? Is that the real fear? Because that’s what is most likely to happen. You’re not going to be living in a box on the street. That’s not a realistic fear. People exaggerate their fears.” The risk and effort have paid off and he’s gotten the attention of some big name organizations. One of them is NASA, which ordered a small batch of Grypmats to test in employee workspaces. After passing the initial tests, NASA ordered a larger batch for its mechanics to test how well the product fits into their workflow. Burden expects them to place a much larger order if the feedback from those tests is positive. While most people would be impressed by interest from a major organization such as NASA, Burden said he’s more excited about possibly working with Aviall, the world’s largest diversified aircraft parts distributor, whose market is much broader. Last month, Burden started a Kickstarter campaign which was fully funded within the first 10 hours. The campaign ended after 29 days with $113,000, exceeding his fundraising goal, and he has pre-order available on IndieGoGo. He is now working with a digital marketing specialist, who is promoting direct sales while Burden promotes the product to large distributors like Pep Boys and Aviall. He has developed a dozen additional products to expand his line and plans to focus on the products with large markets before shifting his focus to more specialized markets. “Flexibility and innovation are the bedrock of the Air National Guard and Sgt. Burden embodies these two attributes to his core,” said Col. Kevin V. Doyle, the commander of the 180th FW. “We as leaders always talk about wanting our Airmen to enhance the way we do business and to work through obstacles and overcome adversity wherever possible and Tom has done this. His willingness to put his personal lifestyle at risk to improve how aircraft maintenance personnel accomplish their jobs across the Department of Defense and civilian sector is a perfect example of a 180th Fighter Wing Airman demonstrating two of the Air Force’s core values. I am proud to have Sgt. Burden as one of my Airmen and look forward to seeing where he goes from here.” Even though Burden has made a great deal of progress, he realizes he still has a lot more work left to do. “You always think the light at the end of the tunnel is way closer than what it really is,” Burden said. The determination to overcome obstacles, the resilience to push beyond adversity, and the spirit of innovation are unique hallmarks of the culture of success ingrained in the American people, the U.S military and the Ohio Air National Guard, and these are the same values that will guide Burden into an even more successful future.
INVENTOR, ENTREPRENEUR, AIRMAN 180th Fighter Wing Airman embraces innovation with invention to assist aircraft mechanics
By Ohio National Guard Public Affairs Flexibility and innovation are essential elements of today’s Ohio National Guard, and leveraging technology is one of the ways to promote innovation. Soldiers and Airmen are using several technology-driven devices and simulators that provide cost-efficient, realistic alternatives to training with actual equipment. This article looks at what the Army Guard is using to help maintain Soldiers’ weapons proficiency as well as aircraft training simulators in use at two of the state’s Air Guard wings, where Airmen routinely perform critical support missions domestically and around the world. TADSS: Realistic training anywhere Training time is always at a premium for Guard members. With the same training requirements as their active-duty counterparts, efficient use of time is very important. That is where TADSS comes in. TADSS, or Training Aids, Devices, Simulators and Simulations, allow for realistic combat training without posing the logistic challenges of live-fire ranges. Digital simulations of weapons systems that physically are the same as the weapons systems that Soldiers will use in combat allow them to practice wherever they are. “It’s available and it’s easy to use,” says Sgt. 1st Class David Fielding, the TADSS facilitator at Camp Ravenna Joint Military Training Center. “Having it allows Soldiers to get the training and practice they need before they have to go out and do it live.” Equipment available ranges from laser pointer type weapon sights that allow Guard members to practice basic rifle marksmanship, to virtual reality equipment where vehicle crews can react to a hostile attack on their simulated convoy. “The harder we train, the more realistically we train, the better we do in combat,” said Maj. David Swisher, state training officer with Joint Force Headquarters. “That’s what these TADSS do (for Soldiers) — they get better at being Soldiers, they become a more cohesive team, they gain confidence in their equipment, and they gain confidence in their training that is going to bring them home.” Mission-ready aircrews It looks and feels just like the cockpit of a C-130H Hercules. Members of the 179th Airlift Wing in Mansfield use a Multi-Mission Crew Trainer (MMCT) to simulate a host of environments that could be encountered when flying missions around the world to deliver cargo and personnel. The MMCT offers a safe, cost-effective training alternative to flying the actual aircraft. The full-scale replica of the C-130H2 cockpit provides pilot, copilot and flight engineer training systems that are fully populated with touch-screen switches, knobs and displays. The training system allows users to experience various simulation environments under the watchful eye of an instructor. With a database loaded with actual landscapes, pilots can virtually take off and land on the Mansfield runway or practically anywhere else in the world. The BOSS of refueling training Looking out the small window while lying on his stomach, an operator toggles the boom over to meet the aircraft coming in for refueling — a maneuver thousands of feet in the air that takes a steady hand. It’s the mission of the 121st Air Refueling Wing in Columbus to be ready to provide fuel to anything from a B-1 bomber to an F-16 fighter jet. To be mission-ready, the 121st boom operators can use the Boom Operator Simulator System (BOSS). The KC-135 BOSS is a state-of-the-art training device capable of providing a high fidelity immersive training environment in a compact device. The controls replicate those of a real KC-135, with a screen recreating a realistic window to the mission environment. EDITOR’S NOTE: Staff Sgt. Michael Carden and Stephanie Beougher, both of the Ohio National Guard Public Affairs Office, contributed to this report. BACKGROUND IMAGE: First Sgt. Bradley Hallinan, the Ohio Army National Guard state ammunition manager, calibrates a Brigade Combat Team Individual Reality Trainer (BCT-IRT), April 19, 2017, at Camp Ravenna Joint Military Training Center, near Newton Falls, Ohio. The BCT-IRT is a full-size weapons simulator that allows Soldiers to practice gunnery in a virtual environment. Use of the BCT-IRT and other training aids provides Soldiers the opportunity to familiarize themselves with weapons systems before stepping onto the live-fire range. Ohio National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Michael Carden
INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES prep Soldiers, Airmen for today’s missions
Emily Wolf, Wright State University Dayton, Ohio
OHIO AIR NATIONAL GUARD OFFERS A VARIETY OF HIGH-TECH CAREER PATHS
Emily Wolf is nearly finished with her junior year at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. Once Wolf, an accounting major, has taken her last exam for the semester, she’ll trade her books for a military uniform and report for basic training. Wolf is an Airman first class, or A1C, in the Ohio Air National Guard and is enrolled in the student flight program that helps new enlistees prepare for Basic Military Training. She drills with other student flight members at the 178th Wing in Springfield, Ohio and has been preparing to embark on her Guard career. “The military has been something I have always wanted to do,” Wolf said. “It wasn’t until about the second semester of my freshman year of college that I decided to look into it again. I checked out the Ohio Air National Guard, saw that they would pay my tuition for schooling and it was a done deal and I joined.” When she told her parents about the decision, her mom was uneasy at first. “After I really got to talking to them about it, they opened up to the idea. They have always been firm believers in supporting me and my three older brothers with whatever decisions we make in life.” Wolf will be assigned to the 178th when she finishes basic training and school. Col. John F. Knabel is the commander, and said there are more than a dozen opportunities in high-tech careers. “The 178th has a wide variety of career paths that include intelligence to Remote Pilot Aircraft operations. Many of our career fields directly translate into civilian careers,” Knabel said. “The civilian employers in our community have come to expect highly skilled Airmen from the 178th, who have been trained on cutting edge technology and have a strong sense of leading people, managing time and resources.” The incentives, aside from paid college tuition through the Ohio National Guard Scholarship Program and federal resources, include the Air National Guard’s Enlisted Incentive Program that offers a $20,000 bonus to attract and retain drill status members in identified critical specialties. There are also travel opportunities. Ohio National Guard members are deployed around the world and serve alongside their active-duty Air Force and Army counterparts. “All of our Airmen are a part of something bigger than themselves and they are an integral part of the Air Force’s global mission,” Knabel said. “Second, virtually every Airman will learn leadership skills and be required to set goals and accomplish a mission.” Wolf is ready for the challenge. “I am looking forward to meeting a variety of different people, serving my country, and most importantly the times that we can deploy,” she said. “I love going to different states and countries, so I’m excited for the chance to do so.”
Several career options available at 178th Wing Below are links to descriptions of some of the jobs available at the 178th Wing. Learn more about 120 Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) careers available in the Ohio Air National Guard Client Systems Aviation Resource Management Cable and Antenna Systems Command Post Computer Systems Programming Contracting Cyber Surety Cyber Systems Operations Cyber Transport Systems Fusion Analyst Geospatial Intelligence Operations Intelligence Radio Frequency Transmission Systems Remotely Piloted Aircraft Sensor Operator Signals Intelligence Analyst Spectrum Operations Weather
By Stephanie Beougher Ohio National Guard Public Affairs
Emily Wolf takes a break between classes recently at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. Wolf also is an Airman first class at the 178th Wing in Springfield, Ohio, and is enrolled in the student flight program that helps new enlistees prepare for Basic Military Training, which Wolf is scheduled to attend later this year. Photos by Airman 1st Class Ross Henderson, U.S. Air Force
By Sgt. Andrew Kuhn, Ohio National Guard Public Affairs
Steadying the trajectory in the clutch of his hand, the Soldier contours his lean figure as if he was a quarterback preparing to launch a Hail Mary pass. The dull humming noise from the device’s small motor now screams in his ear. His head pivots back to spot the final thumbs up, the cue for launch. He focuses back to the horizon, raises the hand-held aircraft slightly higher than his head and takes off. With two powerful side skips, his torso twists as his right arm drives the Raven forward and up into the spring breeze, creating enough drag under its wings to carry the aircraft into the sky. Another successful take off. Never having a failed launch, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Wes Strickland, brigade Small Unmanned Aircraft System (SUAS) master trainer with the 73rd Troop Command, proudly attributes it to his routine during the toss. The RQ-11B Raven is an SUAS that provides real-time, full-motion video and sensor data to help Soldiers develop situational awareness, enhance force protection and secure routes, points and areas on the battlefield. “It is beneficial because we can use it as target acquisition, reconnaissance and surveillance oversight,” said Sgt. Benjamin French, SUAS master trainer with the 811th Engineer Company (Sapper). “We can use that for out on route reconnaissance; we can see who’s setting out ambushes and that sort of nature.” The aircraft is designed for rapid deployment and high mobility. Weighing approximately 4 pounds with 4.5-foot wingspan, the Raven is hand-launched and operates for nearly 90 minutes at 300 plus feet. The system, aircraft and ground control station are assembled in about five minutes and operated by a two-Soldier team. Both color electro-optical and infrared sensors are fielded for day and night capabilities. “They’ll send these out to get eyes on the objective ahead of time,” Strickland said. “It’s better to launch a Raven than to send Soldiers out.” The Raven incorporates secure Global Positioning System navigation and a hand controller displays live video and aircraft status. The aircraft can be controlled remotely, or self-directed by issuing plotted points to guide its altitude and trajectory. Different aircraft flight modes allow the Raven to autonomously navigate, hold at a specific altitude, hover in place and return to its starting point. “They’ll launch one Raven out front and they’ll have one in the back and just the sound alone tends to detour the enemy,” Strickland said. The 10-day Raven operator course teaches Soldiers hands-on how to maintain and operate the aircraft for daytime and nighttime operations. Upon completion, operators then train at their units under the supervision of a master trainer. “I enjoy coming out here and doing it; it’s a hands on experience that a lot of Soldiers don’t get the opportunity to do,” French said. “I enjoy training other Soldiers and spreading that knowledge; I enjoy getting to better myself as an NCO.” Every 150 days, to maintain proficiency, operators have to conduct live-flight training, which consists of a launch and recovery of the Raven, Strickland said. “I think it’s important that we have more operators who can perform the duties, so if we’re called upon it’s nice to have a bigger pool to draw from because at a moment’s notice we could be called,” Strickland said. “We have to be able to (snaps finger) on the spot, because time is of the essence.” To become a master trainer, operators must attend a three-week course at Fort Benning, Ga., where they are taught fundamentals to instruct Soldiers on proper Raven operations.
Ohio battles at CNGB Biathlon Championships
Best of the Buckeye State
Ohio Army National Guard Spc. Lisa Roberts (left) competes in the relay race event March 7, 2017, during the Chief, National Guard Bureau Biathlon Championships at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, near Jericho, Vt. More than 120 athletes from 23 states competed in the annual sporting event, which combines cross country skiing and precision target shooting. READ MORE Ohio National Guard photo by 1st Lt. Aaron Smith
Chief Warrant Officer 2 William Wahler, a systems integrator with 2nd Battalion, 174th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, hugs his daughter after the unit’s call to duty ceremony April 1, 2017, in McConnelsville, Ohio. The 2-174th ADA will be conducting Counter-Rocket, Artillery, Mortar (C-RAM) missions in support of Operation Inherent Resolve and Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. READ MORE Ohio National Guard photo by Sgt. Andrew Kuhn
The Ohio National Guard
Always Ready, Always There
Military youths Molly Frey (left) and Abigail Skinner display one of the resolutions they each received from Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor as well as both chambers of the Ohio General Assembly April 26, 2017, at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus. Skinner was recognized for being named Ohio Military Youth of the Year by Ohio Military Kids, and Frey was honored for being Operation Homefront’s National Guard Military Kid of the Year. READ MORE Ohio National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Ralph Branson
Members of the 371st Sustainment Brigade receive a standing ovation during the unit’s call to duty ceremony April 29, 2017, at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio. The 371st will be carrying out sustainment operations in the U.S. Central Command Area of Responsibility. READ MORE Ohio National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Michael Carden
371st Sustainment Brigade headquarters deploys
Goodbye Daddy, see you soon
Top Ohio Military youths honored at Statehouse
Refueling in the skies above
A U.S. Air Force MC-130J Commando II with the 9th Special Operations Squadron approaches a KC-135R Stratotanker with the Ohio Air National Guard’s 121st Air Refueling Wing for refueling during a training sortie March 7, 2017, in support of Emerald Warrior 17. Emerald Warrior is a U.S. Special Operations Command exercise during which joint special operations forces train to respond to various threats and scenarios. Ohio National Guard photo by Senior Airman Ashley Williams
Staff Sgt. Nathan McKenzie (left) and Spc. Tyson Montgomery (right) stand with Ohio Army National Guard State Command Sgt. Maj. Rodger M. Jones after winning the 2017 Best Warrior Competition March 25, 2017, at Camp Ravenna Joint Military Training Center, near Newton Falls, Ohio. McKenzie, a member of the Recruiting and Retention Battalion, and Montgomery, a member of Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 134th Field Artillery Regiment, triumphed over their peers in the noncommissioned officer and Soldier categories, respectively. READ MORE
Sgt. Aaron Smith of the 211th Maintenance Company bolts a finished Humvee engine into a container in preparation for sending the engine back to the field, Kaiserslautern, Germany, 1998.
Capt. John Dawson (left), commander of the 37th Reconnaissance Company, receives the unit guidon during 37th Infantry Division day ceremonies July 23, 1954, at Camp Perry, Ohio.
Brig. Gen. Wilbur H. Fricke (left), assistant division commander, 37th Infantry Division, presents the Eisenhower Trophy to 1st Lt. Robert G. Pistole, Company A, 737th Maintenance Battalion Jan. 10, 1965, in Newark, Ohio.
737th Ordnance Maintenance Company, Camp Atterbury, Ind., 1948.
Members of Battery F, 134th Field Artillery with a 75 mm field piece at the Coshocton Armory prior to mobilization for World War II in October 1940.
Sgt. Walter Jones of the 214th Maintenance Company sews a canvas bag at the "canvas repair tent" during annual training at Camp Grayling, Mich., circa 1985.
PARENT UNIT Battery F, 135th Field Artillery DATE & PLACE OF BIRTH 23 May 1921, Dresden, Ohio MISSION To provide field maintenance to units on an area basis. CAMPAIGN CREDIT World War II Northern Solomons, Luzon (with arrowhead) War on Terrorism Iraq: Iraqi Governance DECORATIONS IRAQ 2004-2005 Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered 17 OCTOBER 1944 TO 4 JULY 1945 Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered
211th Maintenance Company, Iraq, 2006.
View a more detailed lineage of the 211th Maintenance Company
Company B, 137th Supply and Transportation Battalion, Camp Grayling, Mich., 1965.
THE OHIO NATIONAL GUARD LINEAGE LINK UP featuring 211th Maintenance Company Newark, Ohio
See what it takes to transition to warrant officer pilot in one of the Guard’s most exciting career fields. Ohio National Guard aviators fly some of the most versatile and technologically advanced aircraft in the world to accomplish missions such as troop transportation, cargo airlift, medical evacuation and disaster relief. READ MORE Call the State Aviation Office at (614) 336-7066 to find out more
Interested in becoming a helicopter pilot for the Ohio Army National Guard?
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Back issues of the Buckeye Guard (1976 to present) Watch us on the Ohio Channel Watch our companion, the video Buckeye Guard, on the Ohio Channel, a service of Ohio’s Public Broadcasting Stations. Ohio Channel web site | Past Episodes Need help from the PAO? If you would like to request public affairs support or guidance for your upcoming training event or unit activity, contact Capt. Sam Atkins, state public affairs officer, at 614-336-7449 or Samuel.D.Atkins.mil@mail.mil Have a story to tell? Guard members, Family and other interested persons are encouraged to submit any articles and photos meant to inform, educate or entertain Buckeye Guard readers. Submitted content, if approved for usage, may be used additionally or exclusively on the Ohio National Guard website, official Ohio National Guard social media sites, or in other Public Affairs Office products. How to submit photos/articles Call the editor at 614-336-7003 with any questions or concerns.
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MAY 20, 1846: The United States calls the Ohio Militia into federal service for the Mexican War. Ohio military forces were organized into five infantry regiments, 15 independent companies of infantry and one company of mounted rifleman. So many Buckeyes answered the call that five companies were supplied to the Fifth U.S. Infantry. In the end, there were about 7,000 officers and men from Ohio in the Mexican War. This constituted about one-eighth of the entire land forces of the United States. The laws required militia to furnish their own clothes at the time of mustering. Ohio issued orders outlying the uniform for infantry to consist of a 1.) dark blue coat trimmed in white, light blue wool trousers and a 2.) black cap (commonly known as a “Stovepipe Shako”) with a gilt eagle and silver bugle on the front and white plume. The equipment consisted of a 3.) white leather waist belt with bayonet scabbard, a 4.) black leather cartridge box, a 5.) tin canteen and a 6.) cloth haversack used to carry rations. A 7.) black knapsack carried the 8.) blanket and personnel items of the Soldier. The 9.) Model 1816 Springfield Musket completed the Soldier’s kit.
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HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHT
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The Ohio National Guard in the MEXICAN WAR
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