Figuring out where they were on the map and plotting the points they had to find kept each competitor focused on their map and instructions before they headed out to find their five points. They returned after dark to compete in the night land navigation portion of the competition.

Washington Army National Guard
Selects Best of the Best

The weekend trials began Thursday evening with the issuance of essay topics that each participant would write about. The junior enlisted were asked ‘What qualities they look for in a leader,’ while the NCOs wrote about ‘What they would like the Washington state Department of Veterans affairs to do for soldiers.’

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Using an old railroad bed as a target the Chinook crew tests their skills as they drop water onto a simulated fire line on the back side of Yakima Training Center near the Columbia River.

Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire

In early March at Yakima Training Center (YTC) there wasn’t any smoke or fire. In fact there probably wasn’t anything dry enough to start a fire if you tried. So why were members of Company B, 1st Battalion, 168th Aviation, dumping buckets of water around the training center? Well, it’s like this. Where there’s smoke there’s fire. And once there’s smoke and fire it’s toolate to starttraining to put the fire out.Staff Sgt. Frank S. Devine II, crew chief, B 1/168, gives the crew a “thumbs up” after they flew above an old railroad bed they used to simulate a fire line.

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Mr. James R. Masella’s collector t-shirt, a memento from First Mike’s MEPS tour February 8, 2008.All Volunteer and Technology,
Changes Military Entrance Processing

It was still dark and most of the city was still asleep as the applicants started lining up at the door. The air was cold and it would be a long wait if the doors didn’t open soon. Friday, February 8th was a relatively quiet day for the Seattle Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS). There was no one who needed to process and fly out to training, but there was someone that drew a lot of attention. Mike Gregoire, husband of Governor Christine Gregoire, dropped by the MEPS for a tour of the facility and to see how much the processing has changed since his last visit.

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Fingerprinting has come a long way since 1968. Back then you had to ink your hands and then try and clean the ink afterwards, now they don’t use ink, but you have to wash your hands with cold soapy water before scanning your prints into the computer. SSgt. 1st Class John C. Joiner fingerprints First Mike during his February 8, 2008 visit to Seattle MEPS. First Mike checks out a printout of his fingerprinting as Sgt. 1st Class John C. Joiner points out the finer details of the fingerprinting operations.


 

What is a few years younger than the Mayflower Compact (1620); a lot older than the Declaration of Independence (1776) and U.S. Constitution (1787); predates the U.S. Army, Navy and Marine Corps by 139 years; and is 311 years older than the Air Force?

Answer: The National Guard: December 13, 1636

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December Storm 2007 - National Guard Soldiers Deliver Hope
Even when the flood water rises and the trees blow over, the National Guard soldiers stand ready to help. We're Neighbors Helping Neighbors!

On December 2, 2007, a powerful storm system swept into Washington State leaving entire areas in ruin.  In response to the damage caused by the storm, the Governor called on the Washington National Guard to come to the aid of their fellow Washingtonians.  Over the course of their State Active Duty service, our citizen soldiers evacuated families, went door-to-door in cut-off areas to check on people, delivered vital supplies, staffed traffic control points and performed many other duties as well.  Read their stories here.

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National Guardsmen load an LMTV with water and firewood, a relief effort for those effected by the winter storm.National Guardsmen hand out much needed firewood to those without power in storm affected ares of Lewis County.Bringing hope those suffering from the flood waters and power outages, National Guard Soldiers hand out meals-ready-to-eat (MRE's), potable water and firewood.  National Guard brings warmth in the form of hope and firewood to areas ravaged by the high winds and record flood waters.Cold and hungry citizen rejoice as members of the Washington National Guard deliever blankets, potable water, MRE's and firewood.National Guard Chinook helichopters delievered vital supplies as well as gave bird eye tours to Gov. Gregoire, Senator Murray, Senator Cantwell, and representatives from FEMA and other agencies helping them to access the damage and prepare relief initaitives to the affected areas.National Guard Light Medium Tactical Vehicles (LMTV) with their high water clearances assist in rescues and exacutions of residents flooded out.National Guard Soldiers hand out hundreds of MRE's. The new Meals-Ready-To-Eat include heating elements providing the cold and hungry storm victums with possibly their first hot meal since the storm.Many citizens without power are enjoying their first hot meal an MRE provided by the Washington National Guard.A job well done, Governor Chris Gregoire takes the time to thank many of National Guard soldiers who put their lives on hold to come to aid of Washington State citizens in need.


National Guardsmen from 81st Infantry Brigade out of Kent Washington man traffic checkpoints along Interstate 5 near Centralia and Chehalis. Photo by PFC Chris A. LaRue, public affairs webmaster.

Keeping It All Connected - The Joint Operations Center in Action

During an emergency, nothing is more important than getting information from those in crisis to those who can help.  The Joint Operations Center (JOC) on Camp Murray is the information and communications hub for the Washington National Guard.

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High volumes of rain in a short period of time brought enough water to close Interstate 5 and many local roads. Photo by PFC Chris A. LaRue, public affairs webmaster.

Door-to-Door and Shore-to-Shore with the
Washington National Guard

The National Guard conducts phone alerts regularly to make sure they can contact unit members in case of an emergency, but they usually don’t call the day after drill weekend.

But that’s what happened the night of December 3rd.

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National Guardsmen Lend a Hand

In a backroom of a Chehalis warehouse a group of National Guardsmen huddle around an old television set.  They laugh amongst themselves as they watch an eerily mesmerizing electronic symphony play on the one channel that comes in on their jimmy-rigged set.  Behind them, cots scattered with sleeping bags and gear line the walls of the small room.  A single strand of half-functioning Christmas lights hang lazily near the door.

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The Officer Candidates of Washington State
go to Hawaii!!

            Officer Candidate School conjures many an image.  Both physically and mentally demanding, this course can be completed in as few as ten weeks or as many as eighteen months.  The candidates are subjected to intense training designed to allow them to make the right decisions under extreme duress.  But sometimes OCS candidates get a little treat, like the required Staff Ride to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

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SF Soldiers from Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne) construct a rope bridge to cross an obstacle during their Mountain Sustainment Skills Course during Annual Training this June near Leavenworth Wa.My SF Mountain Sustainment Training

I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I agreed to be a test subject for the Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Mountain Sustainment Skills Course during my Annual Training this June. I was in average physical fitness, knew how to tie a few knots, and was not too afraid of heights; but there would be so much more to this Annual Training than clove hitches and ruck marches.

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SF Soldiers from Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne) practice lead climbing on a mulit-pitch climb during their Mountain Sustainment Skills Course during Annual Training this June near Leavenworth Wa.

 

SF Trains for Terrain

Soldiers from Operational Detachment Alpha 9113, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne) gathered in Leavenworth, Washington to practice and/or certify on mountain sustainment skills during their annual training conducted the last two weeks of June. They rehearsed mountain survival tactics including vertical assaults, injured personnel rescues, and multiple pitch climbs.

 

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Washington Soldier Fights for Donor Awarenes

SGT Mark Korf Stands infront of his unit's engineer castle, recently built at the Snohomish, WA Armory

 

Loyalty. Duty. Respect. Selfless Service. Honor. Integrity. Personal Courage - these are the values that soldiers live by in today’s Army.  One soldier in particular, SSG Mark Korf, has taken the value of selfless service above and beyond as he continues his mission to bring greater organ and tissue donor awareness to the Puget Sound.

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