Washington Military Department Evergreen Magazine, Vol. I, Iss. IV

RECOVERING OSOThe Washington National Guard activated for the Snohomish County Mudslide. pg 9

VOL I, ISSUE IV

SR 530 MISSIONpg. 11

Commander in ChiefWashington State Governor

The Honorable Jay InsleeThe Adjutant General

Maj. Gen. Bret D. Daugherty

State Public Affairs OfficerCpt. Joseph F. Siemandel

Chief EditorSpc. Samantha Ciaramitaro

ContributorsWendy Freitag

Gary LottMark StewartShar HawleyLarry Pierce

Cpt. Chyteira DuesSpc. Matthew SisselSgt. Bryce WrightSpc. Tyler Meister

Ssg. Rory FeatherstonTech. Sgt. Michael Brown

Cpt. Nicholas StuartSgt. Jennifer SpradlinNOTABLES:

TAGLINE......................................................................Answering the call........................................................Purple Heart, Staff Sgt. Kenneth Walker...................

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Washington Air National Guard members from the 141 Civil Engineer Squad-ron look out at the hill that was the origin of the mudslide while searching the debris field. Over 80 Wash. National Guard personnel are here to help the community of

Oso in the wake of the Mudslide March 22nd. (Photo by Army Staff Sgt. Rory Featherston WA ANG)

ARTICLE SUBMISSIONSContributions to the Evergreen Magazine are always welcome! Send articles, photos, questions and art to Washington National Guard Public Affairs Office at: [email protected]

Communications DirectorKarina Shagren

ON THE COVER

Governor Jay Inslee signs an Employer Support of the Guard & Reserve (ESGR) Statement of Support to show Washington state government’s emphasis on hiring our service members. ESGR was established in 1972 to promote cooperation and understanding between Reserve Component service members and their civilian employers and to assist in the resolution of conflicts arising from an employee’s military commitment. (photo courtesy of Gary Lott)

Technical EditorSgt. Peter G. Christian

MIL.WA.GOV VOL. I // ISSUE IV 2

T BLE of CONTENTS

If you are involved in the Full-Time Force Management processes of your unit, then no doubt you are familiar with the Standard Form 52, Request for Personnel Action, or SF-52 for short. The SF-52 drives every official personnel action from hiring to retiring and can be a lengthy and difficult process to navigate successfully.

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11

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17There is nothing special about Camp Murray’s Building 33, the location where this year’s Washington National Guard Combatives Tournament was held Feb. 8. It houses a basketball court, a cramped weight room, and a handful of offices and services as the perfect facility for the Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen to compete.

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Best Warrior Competition

The best warriors in the Washington Army National Guard competed to crown the best of the best during the 2014 Best Warrior Competition February 28-March 2, 2014, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

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Joint Approach to LEAN

Are you Tough Enough? Student-Athlete-Soldier

March 11 was the third anniversa-ry of the Great East Japan Earth-quake and tsunami, which killed nearly 16,000 people, damaged or destroyed 1.1 million buildings, and caused roughly $200 - $300 billion [US] in economic damage.

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Lessons Learned

Proclaimed to be a unique strength by his unit, Staff Sgt. Samnang Virakpanyou helps Soldiers from the Washington Army National Guard bridge the cultural and language gap during the Kingdom of Thailand’s annually hosted exercise Cobra Gold.

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Bridging the Gap

Air National Guard members from the state of Washington met at the Spokane Convention Center, in Spokane, Wash., Feb. 8, for the 5th Annual Washington Air Na-tional Guard Awards Banquet.

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Three Wings Unite

He noticed a vehicle some distance in front of him start to swerve and then roll off the highway down into a field. SSG Fox drove to the place where he saw the vehicle leave the road, walked down to the field and began to assess the situation.

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Always Ready

The Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion has placed an emphasis on connecting with local high school coaches and athletes, drawing on stronger relationships to build a stronger Washington National Guard.

Always There

“From Individual Responsibility to Family Change”

WASHINGTON NATIONAL GUARDTHE ADJUTANT GENERALMajor General Bret Daugherty

THE

TAGLINE

Colleagues:

It seems every passing day brings more news about dwindling budgets and reductions to government agencies. Given the Washington Military Department has a strong state and federal component – it often feels our agency is getting hit twice as hard as some of our partners. I want you to know that we’re doing everything we can to protect our resources within the WMD – including our personnel, our equipment and infrastructure, and our ability to meet our mis-sion.

With that said – I want to be completely transparent, and ensure you’re aware of the uphill battle we’re facing.

Over the past several years, we’ve seen a steady decline in the amount of state funding we’ve received – and that trend is expected to continue as legislators feel the pinch to place more money in education. On the federal side, sequestration has forced the Department of Defense to make

significant reductions which are greatly impacting the National Guard. We’re facing the potential of losing units within the Washington Army National Guard, as well as some of our equipment.

With every challenge – we’re forced to analyze our organization, and the result leads to improvement. We’re not going to let budget or force structure cuts get us down. Let’s contin-ue to work together to find ways to get the job done.

I’m pleased that many of our divisions are incorporating Lean into our daily oper-ations. This will certainly allow us to accomplish our mission with reduced resources, and I’ve already heard many stories of success – several are the result of your innovative ideas.

I’m now asking you to help identify potential cost savings within our organization. No idea is too small, your expertise is needed.

Additionally – the current budget situation stresses the need for our organization to better connect with our communities and lawmakers. Help us ensure that both state and

federal leaders understand the importance of our work, and the value we bring to the citizens of our state and nation. Talk about what we do at community events.

Send a letter to your lawmakers. We have staff within the WMD that can help craft a strong message on your behalf, and con-

nect you with the right people.

This organization is in the business of dealing with ad-versity, whether it’s an earthquake or a war. No matter how difficult the challenge is, we will prevail. We will always keep our mission in mind; protecting the lives and property of the citizens of Washington, the North-west, and the United States. Budget problems? We’ve been here before and we will get through the chal-lenges together.

Thanks for your service and for your commitment to our state and nation.

More With Less

Maj. Gen Bret DaughertyThe Adjutant GeneralWashington National Guard

Dr. King’s quote is not only a challenge to all Americans to be an individual of character, it is especially meaningful to the staff and cadets at the Academy. After all, our purpose is to help young men and women who voluntarily participate in the program develop the character and moral fiber they need to be successful, contributing members of society. Several documented studies, including MDRC (2009, 2011), Rand (2012), and CNA (2013) have validated the efficacy of the ChalleNGe program in meeting the mission, in providing a mea-sureable return on the investment the state and federal government make in funding the program, and to the gains in non-cognitive skills graduates need to be successful. The CNA study of the WYA revealed that ChalleNGe also erased gender-based differences in the development of the “soft skills”. One area of change and growth we observe in our daily work that has not been well studied is the change that occurs in many families once a graduate successfully completes the program and returns home. Family dynamics often take a new, positive direction as the graduate learns to be responsible and respectful toward his/her parents and/or guardians. Families find themselves eating meals together, scheduling time for mutually inclusive activities, and being able to have conversations about subjects that would have traditionally ended in an argument. Many families begin to heal as they see their children become young adults. For example, these young adults view the world through a new lens and see twisted beams from the World Trade Center as more than bent metal but as the embodiment of the American Spirit. They also begin to see their ability to succeed in an adult world that was once foreign to them. New WYA Foundation Board Member and mother of an academy graduate, Tam-my Neese, was quoted in the Kitsap Sun (3/9/14) describing the changes in her son, Terrence, and other cadets she’s met: “The ever widening (cadet) circle will affect change we can’t yet measure as they reveal their potential, their unlimited potential.”

“From Individual Responsibility to Family Change”

Washington National Guard

Larry PierceDirector, Washington Youth Academy, Washington Military Department

Maj. Gen Bret DaughertyThe Adjutant GeneralWashington National Guard

FEATURED

GUESTEDITOR

Director - Washington Youth Academy Larry Pierce

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy”

-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr

Senior leadership from the U.S. Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve visited troops deployed to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, February 6-8, as part of the Joint Monthly Access to Reserve Component program. JMARC helps facilitate face-to-face interaction between RC and National Guard leaders and their deployed units. Among those leaders visiting was Maj. Gen. Bret D. Daugherty, Adjutant General for the state of Washington, and Air Force Command Chief Master Sgt. Timothy R. Tyvan, Washing-ton Senior Enlised Advisor, who met with deployed Soldiers and a deployed Airman from their home state. “The purpose of my visit is to thank the great Soldiers and the one Airman from the state of Washington for what they’re doing out here and to see how they are representing the state. I’ve really enjoyed getting the chance to get some briefs on what they’ve been doing and hear from the [U.S. Army Central] chain of command on how they think [the Washington troops] aredoing,” said Daugherty. “I’m really just thrilled by what they are doing here.” During their stay, the senior leaders shared a meal with the deployed troops and toured their working areas to learn from them firsthand how the mission here was progressing. “I think it’s important that they actually see firsthand what we are doing and just how well we are representing our state. Especially for the younger Soldiers, it means a lot to them, that senior-ranking individuals are actually interested in what they are doing,” said Master Sgt. Paul Gautreaux, who is the Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear and logistical specialist for the 96th Military Engagement Team. Gautreaux has served 12 years in the National Guard and four years in the Active Duty Army. He said he was excited by what his unit has been able to accomplish on this mission. The 96th MET works with other military leadership throughout the

USARCENT area of responsibility to create, develop and sustain important military relationships with partner nations. Daugherty also expressed his enthusiasm for the MET’s accomplishments. “I think that what they are doing here with the military engagement teams could really be a model. Of course, I was here during 2011 when Gen. [Vincent] Brooks was coming up with this concept. So it’s great for me to come back and see my Soldiers putting Gen. Brooks’ ideas into action,” saidDaugherty. “Now that Gen. Brooks is at [U.S. Army Pacific Command], I’d like to report back to him what our Soldiers are doing and what they are developing here from an engagement strategy.” He continued, “As we move out of this era of constant warfare into a period what I hope is engagement, this could really be a good model.” While present at the JMARC, Daugherty will have the opportunity to meet with other senior leadership to compare notes and solidify the working relationship between other states. As deployments lessen, he said his state is looking to refocus its efforts on community outreach - in particular, with regard to natural or manmade disasters. He said they are actively engaged in refining contingency operations with their state and emergency response agencies; however, he does hope that his troops continue to serve a function here with USARCENT. “This is my second trip to Kuwait. I really think this is a crucial mission for the country, and I do hope that in the future there is still a way to incorporate the Reserve and National Guard Component into what goes on here at USARCENT. As guardsmen we need to have a meaningful deployment every nowand then to feel good about our service, something rewarding, which keeps our soldiers and airmen wanting to serve,” said Daugherty.

The Adjutant General & Senior Enlisted Advisor Visit Troops Deployed

5 EVERGREEN MAGAZINE VOL. I // ISSUE IV

Story by Sgt. Jennifer Spradlin19th Public Affairs Detachment

U.S. Army Central

LEANJOINT APPROACH

TO LEANStory by Sharmin Hawley

Process Improvement Coordinator Washington Military Department

If you are involved in the Full-Time Force Manage-ment processes of your unit, then no doubt you are familiar with the Standard Form 52, Request for Personnel Action, or SF-52 for short. The SF-52 drives every official personnel action from hiring to retiring and can be a lengthy and difficult process to navigate successfully. So much so, that when used in conver-sation, the term “SF-52” is often accompanied with a sigh or grumbled statement of frustration from reluctant Commander’s Support Staff personnel. The 194th Force Support Flight (194 FSF), who is a partial owner in the process, was aware of the challenges with the current process and identified it as a prime target for a Continuous Process Improvement event. Maj. Ryan Price, 194 FSF Commander stated, “employ-ing Lean principles on the current process has great potential to produce significant time savings which will benefit both the customers we serve and my staff responsible for managing it.” Recognizing that the Wing could not make changes alone the FSF reached out to their main partner in the process, the Human Resource Office (HRO) for help. HRO was ready and willing to jump in, recognizing the need for a Lean approach. In early March, 14 Airmen and Soldiers came together, minds open and motivated for change, to spend the next five days establishing a more streamlined process to support the Airmen of the 194th Wing. In addition to FSF and HRO personnel, the team also included representation from the Wing, Finance, and most importantly, the customers. Together, these 14 individuals dedicated 40 hours of their week to figure out a better and more efficient way to conduct business. The first step the team took was to identify how many current steps it took to hire someone. The team attempted to walk an actual SF-52 Fill Request through the entire process, but ran into roadblocks almost immediately that stopped them in their tracks.

After spending much of the first two days struggling to get one action through the process, they were ready to take on the next big task. Through this effort the team determined that it took 123 steps and more than 130 days to hire a new employee! After closely scrutinizing the process, the team concluded that only 9% of the steps were considered to be value-added steps. The next phase was to develop the future state. The team brainstormed and came up with multiple options that could help streamline the lengthy process and then voted on which options they would focus on. Once they completed this phase the team settled on a process that could be immediately reduced to 51 steps and an estimated 60 days to hire – a 58% reduction in processing time! Originally, the process was a bulky combination of both hard copy, electronic and hand carried routing procedures. The future state moves the Wing to a slick new electronic based process which promises to significantly decrease the required processing time. Upon hearing the results of the proposed new process, Colonel Jill Lannan, 194th Wing Commander, enthusiastically proclaimed, “If you think you can’t take the time to learn how this process can improve your organization, let me assure you, it is time well spent!” At the final management outbrief, the team expressed great enthusiasm and were very pleased with the results and the overwhelming support they received from the senior leadership. Col. John Tuohy attended the final meeting and was very ap-preciative of the efforts made and expressed his support of the initiative. “Outstanding work,” Tuohy said. “Thank you for all your efforts. If you need help reducing roadblocks I am here to support you.” While there was a significant investment upfront, the payoff promises to produce major benefits to all involved.


There is nothing special about Camp Murray’s Building 33, the location where this year’s Washington National Guard Combatives Tournament was held February 8th. It houses a basketball court, a cramped weight room, and a handful of offices. Old wrestling mats were rolled out on the basket-ball court, taped together and lined with three-row bleachers for the event. A highlight reel of last year’s competition played on a large wall-mounted projector screen and rock music filled the air. An enormous American flag, perhaps 60 feet or more in length, provided a bold, patriotic backdrop to an otherwise less-than-colorful space. But what the building lacked in character, the competitors made up in skill. Amateurs who signed up on a whim found themselves competing against professional mixed martial artists, a local legend and a former medal winner at the Jiu-Jitsu World Championships. Lt. Col. Michael Lorich, a doctor who was providing medical support for the event, said he was expecting to see medical problems common to combative sports, such as joint sprains, rib injuries, exhaustion and dehydration. In spite of this, he expressed his strong support for the combatives tournament. “I absolutely support activities such as this. Yes, there are going to be injuries, but the benefits far outweigh the risks,” Lorich said. Some of the benefits he listed included mental and physical toughness, esprit d’ corps, and unit cohesion. Based on my observation of the day’s events, he might be right. Prior to the tournament, the mood was light. I asked soldiers what motivated them to participate and if they felt prepared to fight. Responses were animated by humor, with answers ranging from, “It’s better than being in Yakima,” to “I’ve been watching mixed-martial arts videos, so I think I’m ready.” The room full of competitors were sharing in the laughter. Since matches were arranged according to weight class without regard to skill level, some of the them didn’t even last ten seconds. But in the end, even the soldier who broke his nose during a match, his nostril now stuffed with cotton, was joking with his fellow fighters.

One of the day’s dominant fighters, Pvt. Joe Carman, 38, started wrestling when he was 6-years-old, and hasn’t stopped fighting since. He founded United FC, a gym in Kent, where he trains

fighters in mixed-martial arts, combatives, Crossfit and yoga. A camera man was following him around,

filming Carman for a documentary

about the world of amatuer mixed-martial

arts. Carman’s

competitors had little-to-no experience in combative sports. His opponents were nervous and using brute force, when they needed to be relaxed and use technique. He applauded their willingness to compete, because he said it’s important to face the experience fighting provides. “What kind of person do you think you are if you’ve never been in a fight,” Carman said. “You need to test yourself as a soldier and a man. Can you take that punch?” He used the competition to take the role of a mentor. He is enthusiastic about the benefits of fighting sports and its value to the military. “Combatives gives people a focus, drive, purpose. Sometimes we lose that purpose in the national guard,” Carman said. “Getting yourself in condition for a combatives tournament helps you train for your PT test.” Air National Guard 2nd Lt. Christopher Davis, 31, started training in mixed-martial arts when he was in the 11th grade. His brother showed him a video of legendary UFC fighter Royce Gracie, and he got hooked. Davis has been training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for 13 years with fighter Marcel Alonzo, and holds a black belt. Now Davis is a professional mixed martial arts fighter with a 8-0 re-cord. His training, he said, made him a better person. “By getting my neck grabbed by big, strong men, I realized I shouldn’t be so cocky. It made me run my mouth less and made me a nicer person to be around.” Learning to fight makes a person tougher, he said. He was happy to see inexperienced soldiers testing themselves through competition. “I want to take my hat off to the people that came out

Story by Spc. Matthew Sissel122nd Public Affairs Operations Center


Air National Guard member shows versatility as a professional martial artist, nurse and instructor. 2nd Lt. Christopher Davis, formerly a member of the now inactive 215 Electronic Information Squadron (EIS) and now assigned to the 194 Medical Group, shows just how versatile, involved, and well-trained members of the 194th Wing truly are. He recently competed in the Washington National Guard Combatives Tournament and won first place for the third consec-utive year in his weight category. He is also a Mixed Martial Arts instructor at Evolution Mixed Martial Arts in Tacoma and holds a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Other military combatives titles that Davis holds include: 2013 JBLM post tournament - 185lbs (1st place); 2012 Modern Army Combatives Tournament (MACP) National tournament - 170lbs (1st place); and 2011 MACP National tournament - 170lbs (1st place). Davis has worn many hats throughout his military career. He served six years active duty Army where he was a Battalion Section Sergeant in charge of training fifteen snipers and setting up exercises for Squad Designated Marksmen. Davis made a change to join the Air National Guard as a member of the 215 EIS in 2011. While with the 215 EIS, he worked as an antenna/cable systems apprentice. He completed his undergraduate degree last summer at Pacific Lutheran University where he earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing. Upon completing his degree, Davis received his com-mission as a 2nd Lt. in the Washington Air National Guard and was assigned to the 194 MDG where he now works as a registered nurse. In his civilian career, Davis works as a trauma nurse in the emergency department at St. Clare Hospital in Lakewood. He also teaches an aggressive patient management class at St. Clare where he provides hospital employees with information and strategies on deescalating potentially dangerous situations involving patients and family members within the hospital. Davis is also a husband, a parent, and a model example of a Guard member who works to protect his country, his state, and his community.

and did it,” Davis said. “Whatever your job, it’s a great way to instill confidence in a soldier from the ground up.” Lt. Col. Lorich said the military is combative in nature, and is frustrated by leaders who try to eliminate fighting sports, whether boxing or combatives, over safety concerns. Davis loves representing the military through compet-ing in mixed-martial arts, and he echoes Lorich when he de-scribes the role combatives plays in the military. “I want the military to be tough, and not just sound tough,” Davis said. When the tournament was over, Davis and another advanced fighter, Sgt. Coby Parmenter, competed in an exhibition match. Both of them love martial arts, and they thought the other competitors would be encouraged to advance their skills if they watch a live competition between advanced fighters.

Parmenter, 37, has been involved with martial arts since he was 12 years old. Last year, he won a bronze medal in the brown belt division at the Jiu-Jitsu World Championships in California. “The more people we can get involved in the sport, the better,” Parmenter said. “A soldier should have every opportunity to stay alive and beat the enemy, and that can be done through combatives.” At the end of the day, the old wrestling mats were rolled up and Building 33 went back to its normal, uninspiring condition. But in the eyes of men like Lorich, Carman, Davis and Parmenter, the soldiers who fought on those mats didn’t go back to normal, but instead were better men and better warriors for their efforts.

Story by Cpt. Chyteira DuesPublic Affairs Officer with the194th wing


2nd Lt. Christopher Davis (left) after a professional fight. (courtesy photo)2nd Lt. Christopher Davis (center) placed first in the 2014 Washington National Guard Combatives Tournament. (courtesy photo)

When the Seattle Seahawks celebrated their triumphant performance in the Super Bowl with a parade in front of 700,000 screaming fans through the streets of Seattle, they were accompanied by another team known for its strong defenders: the Washington National Guard. Guard members were on hand to escort the players, Coach Pete Carroll and his staff, General Manager John Schneider, and team owner Paul Allen as they waved, pumped their fists and kissed the Lombardi Trophy in front of throngs that lined Fourth Avenue on February 5th. In addition to the Guard members, Washington had 5-ton Medium Tactical Vehicle (MTV) Troop Carriers, Standard Humvees and Light Armored Humvees assisting in the escort. Besides transporting the team, the Guard supported local law enforcement in an effort to keep the huge crowd safe. Even though the crowd quickly grew past the estimated 400,000, not a

single major injury or arrest was reported in this organized chaos. Braving subfreezing temperatures, the fans cheered the parade as it made its way through the city’s downtown toward a celebration at CenturyLink Field. State politicians, including Gov. Jay Inslee, U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, King County Executive Dow Constantine, Seattle Mayor Ed Murray and other VIPs, rode ahead of the Guard in the city’s iconic Ride the Ducks of Seattle amphibious tour vehicles. Seattle’s first Super Bowl victory parade didn’t involve the Washington National Guard because of the vehicles’ cool factor. It happened because of an ongoing statewide relationship and community outreach effort between the Guard and the Seahawks. “The Seahawks and the Sounders FC [of Major League Soccer] are proud partners and supporters of the Guard, with activities like this taking place throughout the year,” says Mike

35 YEARS IN THE MAKINGWashington National Guard plays pivotal part of Seattle’s first championship parade since 1979

Story by Gary LottMarketing Program Manager, Joint Services Support


Flood, Seahawks vice president of community relations. “We salute Washington National Guard service members and families for the dedication to our country and the great state of Washington!” Community outreach is one of the major priorities of Major General Bret D. Daugherty, adjutant general and director of the Washington Military Department. The Guard stood proud next to the Seahawks during many statewide community outreach efforts. “We are so honored that the Seahawks and the Seafair organization asked us to help out with this celebration,” says Daugherty. “Our men and women wear many hats. They’re protectors of our state, defenders of our nation and some of the most committed 12th MAN fans you’ll ever meet. We are pleased to play such an important role in [the] parade.” The Recruiting and Retention Battalion of the

Washington National Guard has worked closely with the Seahawks organization for years. The Guard has placed static military vehicles before games at CenturyLink, conducted re-enlistment ceremonies on the field, and coordinated with NFL players to join High School Player Development (HSPD) events with high schools throughout the state. The NFL HSPD program works to incorporate the leadership and responsibility framework of the Guard/military among high school athletes, as well as champion the military through recruitment presentations. “As the battalion commander for [a unit in] this city and a season ticket holder since day one, this was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I will never forget,” says Lieutenant Colonel Adam Iwaszuk, 181st Brigade Support Battalion command-er. “Getting to experience the unimaginable dream of walking through down town Seattle, holding the Vince Lombardi champi-onship trophy, is something I will forever cherish.”

35 YEARS IN THE MAKINGWashington National Guard plays pivotal part of Seattle’s first championship parade since 1979

Photos by Msg. Tony Sailer, Cpt. Joseph Siemandel and Gary Lott



Ed Lamar fields phone calls into the Alert and Warning Center on a daily basis--a child is missing, a river is approaching flood stage, a road is blocked. “Initially the mudslide seemed like it was going to be sort of routine,” said Lamar, a 19-year veteran of the Military Department’s Emergency Management Division (EMD). “We opened a record of the initial response as being a search and rescue mission.” Within 15 minutes of the first phone call, Lamar knew that Saturday, March 22, would be anything but routine. “I got a call from one of the Snohomish County Sheriff’s deputies, who told us they had a slide and that they wanted to open up a search,” Lamar said. “Fifteen minutes later, they called again. Once on the scene, they realized it was much more severe than they first thought.”Lamar received these first calls to the Alert and Warning Center at EMD about the SR 530 landslide. Details were limited, but Lamar sensed that local responders were going to require much more help. “It kept escalating, escalating and escalating,” La-mar said. “What usually happens when an incident starts to challenge the capabilities of the two duty officers in the Alert and Warning Center is an activation of the State Emergency Operations Center (State EOC).”

The State EOC activates in phases. Lamar’s guid-ance to EMD management on March 22 triggered an early activation to a phase 2. Three hours later, the State EOC was at a phase 3, a status reserved for significant state disasters that require some normal EMD functions to cease so personnel can support the incident. Meanwhile, employees from other state and fed-eral agencies began reporting to the State EOC to ensure a coordinated, efficient response to the situation in Sno-homish County. Working as one unit now, the State EOC responded to a variety of requests for help, including requests for aviation support, search and rescue teams, K-9 search and rescue teams, geologists to monitor for any further slides, hazardous materials teams and emergency housing for those whose homes were lost.

“It kept escalating, escalating and escalating,”

- Ed Lamar

“You see all that equipment and personnel massed out where the mud and the slurry are,” said Washington Gov. Jay Inslee during a visit to the State EOC, “and you and I know every single one of those resources had to come from an organized effort. It’s great to see the coordination of so many agencies working together in a quiet room. It’s good to see.” Within the State EOC, which is designated as the central location for information gathering, disaster anal-ysis and response coordination are representatives from the state departments of Agriculture, Ecology, Enterprise Services, Fish & Wildlife, Health, Natural Resources, Social and Health Services, and Transportation, and the

FIELDING THE CALLStory by Gary Lott


“...every single one of the resourc-es had to come from an organized effort. It’s great to see the coordina-tion of so many agencies working together in a quiet room. It’s good to see.” - Governor Inslee

Washington State Patrol. Other state agencies do their work outside the State EOC—the Employment Security Department, Office of the Insurance Commissioner’s Office to name a few. Then there is the Federal Emergency Man-agement Agency (FEMA), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other federal agencies. The work rhythm consists of daily briefings, conference calls, and using online resourc-es to provide situational awareness and track requests for assistance ensuring the timely delivery of critical resources.“It’s very well organized,” Inslee said. “It’s great to have this clearing house as a central place to marshal resourc-es.” This organization can be credited to years of train-ing and exercise. Members of the Washington Military Department’s Emergency Management Division, along with partner agencies, spend several weeks each year ex-ercising their coordination and emergency response skills. When disaster hits, they can react quickly and effectively. During a disaster, every minute counts, and the mission of protecting lives and property with immediate, coordinated and pre-planned response is essential.

For Ed Lamar, every day is a training day and every day brings something new. During every shift he’s on his toes prepared to respond to the next call for help. “Granted we had to take care of the mudslide but, that isn’t going to stop Jack and Jill from climbing Mount Rainier and needing helicopter support or an 18-wheeler turning over and spilling gasoline everywhere,” Lamar said. “We were lucky that other missions slowed down during the initial time of the landslide occurring, since literally every single phone line in here lit up.”

“Granted we had to take care of the mudslide, but that isn’t going to stop Jack and Jill from climbing Mount Rainier and still needing he-licopter support or support-ing an 18-wheeler turning over and spilling gasoline everywhere,”

“I found something,” he said while probing the mud with his shovel. Several members from the Washington Air National Guard search and extraction team look up at the civilian, a young man in his late twenties or early thirties whose father is missing. The airmen, thigh deep in the mud, attempt to make their way over to his find. But the mud acts like a suction, making each step slow and deliberate. And perhaps ‘mud’ is not even the appropriate term. It’s more like sludge. On March 22, a fast-moving mudslide smashed its way through Oso, Wash., a small river town hidden in the Cascade Mountains. Nothing in its path was left standing. As a result, a vast debris field is all that remains. The debris is everything that makes up a town: houses, cars, televisions, computers, household chemicals, propane tanks, sewage, wires, trees, books, backpacks, cribs, and . . . people. The Guardsmen finally make their way to his discovery. They carefully poke and prod with their shovels, speculating as to what might be hidden beneath the surface. It could be a car, they think, and if that’s the case, someone might be in there. They continue to expose it, one shovelful of sludge at a time. An airman splashes some dirty water on the mystery, attempting to clean it with his gloved hand. “It’s just a rock,” he said. The search continues, and the young man looking for his father stands on a tiny patch of dry ground to gain a different perspective. Looking up from his vantage point 500 feet from the edge of the mudslide, as far as the eye can see, is a one square mile of wasteland still waiting to be searched. In spite of the many challenges, Washington Air Nation-al Guard Staff Sgt. Michael Cohan, search team member from the 141 Civil Engineer Squadron, said that the search and rescue teams are doing well. “It’s difficult because you are crawling around trying to find things that are hidden in the mud, but there’s good teamwork and morale is high,” Cohan said. “Everyone has been putting in 150% and is eager to get their hands in there.” The teamwork that Cohan refers to, which has been crucial to the search, requires a coordinated effort between civilian volunteers, firemen, rescue dogs, county workers, non-governmental organizations, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the National Guard. The state mission of the National Guard is to provide

assistance to local communities affected by natural and man-made disasters. In response to the Oso disaster, more than 100 Washington National Guardsmen with search and extraction training and experience have been activated by the governor, with more planned to follow. Up to this point, the major search and extraction efforts have been limited to the fringes of the mudslide. Highway 530 is the only route through the area, but now it’s covered by tens of feet of mud and debris for nearly a mile. Because of Oso’s remote mountainous location, the blockage requires a more than two-hour detour to get from one side of the mud to the other. Presently, trees are being felled to make way for a bypass created with fist-sized gravel. The bypass will allow more

efficient access to other areas of the debris field with a high-probability of finding miss-ing persons. Following the disaster, improv-ing access to the mudslide has allowed for an exponential increase in search efforts. A local resident who identified himself as John, 36, has spent two days helping with the search. His friend’s son went missing and he wanted to help. “I can’t just sit on my couch and won-der, so I’m here to do what I can do,” he said with tears in his eyes. He spent his time in the debris field with his chainsaw removing fallen trees that were hampering the search. John didn’t find his friend’s son or anyone else, but he was able to recover im-

portant mementos. “We found dog tags that belonged to a friend’s dad who is missing, and that’s the stuff that matters a lot to people whose families are gone,” John said. “We gave them to him. That was tough.” Washington Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Tabarus James, a resident of Lakewood, Wash., and member of the 141 Civil Engineer Squadron, said he is humbled to be working alongside local residents such as John. “You always hear that you can lose everything in a blink of an eye, but you rarely spend time with people who just lost everything,” James said. He was honored to be helping with the search effort, and his search and extraction team was instrumental in recovering missing persons from the debris. “Since we started helping with the search, there wasn’t a day when a local volunteer didn’t thank me and shake my hand.”

The Long Search

“It’s difficult because you are crawling around

trying to find things that are hidden in

the mud, but there’s good teamwork and

morale is high,”


Story by Spc. Matthew Sissel122d Public Affairs Operations Center

Members of the 141 Civil Engineer Squadron work with the Everett Fire Department to remove trees and debris to allow water to drain from the area that they are searching. Over 80 Washington National Guard personnel are here to help the community of Oso in the wake of the mudslide Saturday.

Washington Air National Guard Airman 1st Class Dean Borgford with the 141 Civil Engineer Squadron digs a drainage ditch to divert water from the search area so that search dogs could be brought in. National Guard Members that have been activated to help are specifically trained in search and recovery operations.


Members of the 141 Civil Engineer Squadron work with the Everett Fire Department to remove trees and debris to allow water to drain from the search area. Over 80 Wash. National Guard personnel have been helping with search and recovery operations in the wake of the Oso Mudslide Saturday. (Photo by Army Staff Sgt. Rory Featherston WA ANG)

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1- Service members navigate over mounds of debris during search and recovery operations, March 31, 2014, Oso, Wash. Air and Army National Guard members work side by side for the eighth consecu-tive day. (Photo by Army National Guard Spc. Sarah M. Booker)

2- After pulling on a thin red string buried in a pile of debris from the Oso landslide, Staff Sgt. Michael Cohan from the 141st Logistical Readiness Squadron based out of Fairchild Air Force Base in Washing-ton uncovers a tattered American flag and displays it proudly. (Photo by Air Force Msgt. Kevin Borden)

3- Service members continue another day working together with Snohomish county and other emergency responders at the Highway 530 mudslide sight. (Photo by Army National Guard Spc. Sarah M. Booker)

4- Air Force National Guard Master Sgt. Caleb Guthimiller, of the 141st embar-rased as he realizes that his struggles to free his left leg from a muddy stream are caught on camera, March 31, 2014, Oso, Wash. Guthimiller leads a group of Civil Engineers in the search and recovery op-erations of the mudslide.(Photo by Army National Guard Spc. Sarah M. Booker)

5- Washington Air National Guard mem-bers Tech. Sgt. Smith Nance, right, and Senior Airman Nicole Holland, left with the 141 Medical Group, remove debris to drain the water from their search area. Over 80 Washington National Guard per-sonnel are here to help the community of Oso in the wake of the mudslide March 22nd. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Rory Featherston WA ANG)


The best warriors in the Washington Army National Guard competed to crown the best of the best during the 2014 Best Warrior Competition February 28-March 2, 2014, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. The Best Warrior Competition is a four-day event that pushes soldiers' physical and mental limits. The events of the compe-tition included uniform and equipment inspections, board interviews, written essays, shooting ranges, battle tactics, a fitness test and a six-mile road march with full rucksack and combat gear. The events typically started around 5 a.m. and continued with few short breaks until after midnight each day. "This event over the last four days has focused in on every aspect of basic soldier skills and physical readiness of our sol-diers," said Command Sgt. Major Robert Barr, the Land Component Army Sergeant Major for the State of Washington. The spirit of competition was very much alive among the competitors. Staff Sgt. Jason Degroot of B Battery, 2-146 Field Artillery Battalion said, "I did the Best Warrior Competition to push myself and to see how much I could do and compete with the younger soldiers." Sgt. Robert Kendrick, a chaplain's assistant with the 420th Chemical Battalion, said, "The most challenging part of the Best Warrior Competition by far, was the six-mile ruck run with full load." The junior enlisted winner, Spc. Andrew Johnson with the 286th Engineer Company, said, "It feels good to be the best, com-pete against the best. It pushed me to my limits." Johnson and the Non-Commissioned Officer category winner, Sgt. Kennith Pheifle with the 81st Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 81st Brigade Combat Team (BCT), now have the opportunity to compete at the regional level.

Story By Sgt. Bryce Wright122nd Public Affairs Operations Center


There are many parallels between success as an athlete – and success in the Washington National Guard. Both require an individual to be loyal, respectful and courageous. Like soldiers and airmen, athletes also need to be selfless leaders, who think of their entire team ahead of themselves. That’s why the Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion has placed an emphasis on connecting with local high school coaches and athletes, drawing on stronger relationships to build a stronger Washington National Guard. In February, among the student athletes that filled the Tacoma Dome for the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) Mat Classic wrestling state championship, were RRB’s SSG Roland Hawkins and SFC Michael Maye. “The whole experience is exciting,” Hawkins said. “I’m proud of these athletes and glad to be here to help coach them on.” Hawkins is a volunteer wrestling coach for Lakes High School. Maye was an official timer of the tournament matches. Both used the opportunity to ensure a successful event, and con-nect with talented young athletes that would be a good fit with the National Guard. Among those student athletes included PV2 Jake John-son, PV2 Max Hummer and PVT Roverto Orozco. “I’m actually more excited this year than last (when Roverto took first in his weight class and conference),” said Orozco, who attends Connell High School. “This is my last year wrestling but it’s my little brother’s first year here, so we’re keep-ing the tradition alive.” All three athletes are some of the Washington National Guard’s newest members participating in the Guard’s Recruit Sustainment Program. This program has been a major success in introducing new soldiers to the Guard and easing their transition to Basic Combat and Advanced Individual Training.

Story by Gary LottMarketing Program Manager, Joint Services Support

“I’m excited to serve my county and I chose the Guard so I can still attend college while I serve,” added Orozco. Orozco continued his reign as a state champion, winning his second straight 2A State Championship in the 145lb. weight class. His determination, combined with his desire to serve, will ensure success as a soldier. “It’s that combination that truly leads to a winning formula of future success, dedication, and commitment.” added MAJ Chris Blanco, RRB Executive Officer.

“I’m proud of these

athletes and glad to be here to help coach

them on.”


It’s a cold, winter’s day in the hills of Whitefish, Montana - and Air Force Staff Sgt. Kenneth Walker is led on a snowshoeing trip in Glacier National Park. The quiet, peaceful outing is a stark contrast to the event that led to this excursion. On July 3rd, 2011, while serving with the Washington Air National Guard’s 116th Air Support Operations Squadron near the Abdibay Village, Parwan Province, Afghanistan, Walker was with a fellow airman when the insurgents attacked. “Two enemy grenades hit the ground right next to us. I jumped on [my partner] and covered him from the explosion and we got hit by the grenades,” Walker said. While Walker protected his partner - he suffered several severe injuries, including blown ear drums, shrapnel in his right knee, a bruised brain stem and spinal cord damage. The injuries are too many to count. “I look at my wife to pick out certain injuries in case I forget some,” Walker says, referring to his wife, Sarissa. For his heroism, Walker received a Purple Heart - as well as a lengthy medical recovery. Over the last year, Walk-er has been healing and rehabilitating in San Antonio, Texas. Though far from friends and family - he’s far from alone on his journey back to good health. Steve Shea is a West Point Military Academy grad-uate who now volunteers with Team Red, White and Blue - a non-profit organization that enriches the lives of America’s veterans by connecting them to their community through physicaland social activity. Team RWB works closely with the Whitefish Wounded Warriors Support Program to bring wounded warriors to Whitefish during the Winter Carnival week to provide a unique opportunity to get away, build relationships, and gain confidence in their physical abilities. “The [United States Special Operations Command’s] Care Coalition put Kenny and his family in for this trip and we invited them to the resort,” Shea said. “Everyone was clapping when they announced we were on the plane and where we were going,” Walker said. “[Steve] handed me a schedule for the next five days and we headed into town.” Through the WWWSP, injured service members are given the chance to gain confidence in their abilities and readjust to their bodies. For Walker it was a chance to relax, spend time with his family, and feel appreciated by those he has served.

“People wanted me to sign a flag. People I had never met just wanted to say thank you,” Walker said. “It was pretty cool.” The five-day trip included tours of the mountain by groomer, ski trips, snowshoe outings, snowmobile tours and much more. “[Team] Red, White and Blue provided us instructors,” Walker said. “They cover everything and tookcare of us.” Walker knows he’ll need additional care as he continues on the road to recovery. In the meantime, that fateful July day will never be forgotten. And his recent trip to Montana - along with the support and generosity he and his family have received - will remain a lifelong memory.

Story by Cpt. Joseph SiemandelWashington National Guard State Public Affairs Officer

STAFF SERGEANT

KENNETH WALKER


SUKHOTHAI, Thailand - Proclaimed to be a unique strength by his unit, Staff Sgt. Samnang Virakpanyou helps Soldiers from the Washington Army National Guard bridge the cultural and language gap during the Kingdom of Thailand’s annually hosted exercise Cobra Gold. With Exercise Cobra Gold 2014 in full swing, Virakpanyou’s contributions are vital to the Thai-U.S. co-sponsored multinational, joint theater security cooperation exercise. Virakpanyou is with the 176th Engineer Company, and for the past four years the unit has been invited to Cobra Gold, an exercise committed to improving regional partnership, prosperity and security in the Asia-Pacific region. Their mission was to support an engineer civic assistance project (ENCAP) where they constructed a new schoolhouse for the communities of Sukhothai province, Thailand. U.S. Army forces attended Cobra Gold 2014 in support of U.S. Army Pacific. Local Thai interpreters are present at the projects to ensure the separate nations can communicate effectively and get the job done on time. Luckily for the 176th, Virakpanyou was born in Cambodia and raised in Thailand near the Cambodian border, so he is fluent in Thai, Cambodian and English. His language skills and understanding for both cultures has allowed a unique bond to be formed between the men working at the Ban Sa la Kai Fub School. “He (Virakpanyou) is an irreplaceable asset,” said 1st Sgt. Frederick Wahlgren, the ENCAP noncommissioned officer in charge. “He always takes time to try and cater to the needs of both the Thai and U.S. It is really neat to see our nations mingle and truly enjoy each others company as they form lasting friendships.” Wahlgren said he was honored to promote Virakpanyou last year in Thailand during Cobra Gold 2013. It was humbling to witness and be a part of something that meant a great deal to him, Wahlgren continued. Soldiers frequently asked Virakpanyou how to speak specific phrases in Thai, so they can improve their working relationships. They also ask Virakpanyou to help crack jokes and tell stories during the evenings when they gather to so-cialize and play card games. “Staff Sgt. Virakpanyou is mission essential to working with the Thai because he mitigates the language barrier,” said Sgt. 1st Class Michael Gegenheimer, the construction project subject matter expert. “We only have one interpreter, so having him always around to handle small things saves lots of time.” Gegenheimer has known Virakpanyou since 2007,

and knows he is a very generous and flexible guy who is not afraid to get his hands dirty to help the lower enlisted. Virakpanyou is known as a true family man, and when his family comes to visit they enjoy treating the unit to a Thai meal, added Gegenheimer. Virakpanyou moved to the U.S. as a young man and joined the U.S. Navy. He served four years and got out to later join the Washington Army National Guard. He met his wife when she was attending school in the U.S. and she is also from Thailand. They visit a local Bud-dhist temple back home in Washington to retain their bond with Thailand. “We both speak multiple languages, but when we get mad the Thai breaks out,” Virakpanyou joked. This is Virakpanyou’s fourth Cobra Gold. He said he comes to do what he can and looks forward to mingling with the other nations. As a welcome addition to the project, members of the Malaysian and Indonesian Armed Forces have joined the Royal Thai Army and 176th to construct the schoolhouse. “We enjoyed their support and it has been fun to try and understand each other,” said Virakpanyou. “Since only a few of them (Malaysians and Indonesians) understand English, we use body language and gestures to communicate with each other.” Gegenheimer noted that Virakpanyou is about to retire from the Army and could have easily opted out of the mission this year, but he did not. “It’s as good as it gets to be out here as part of a team and build relationships,” said Virakpanyou. “Being able to help, and then step back and feel good about what we accomplished for the community, is the true purpose.”

Story and photo by Spc. Tyler Meister117th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment (Hawaii)

Members of the Western Air Defense Sector participate in the WADS Canadian-American challenge hockey game at Sprinker Rec-reation Center Tacoma, Wash., Feb. 21. This annual event strengthens the partnership between the two nations. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Christopher Prows, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

Members of the Western Air Defense Sector participate in the WADS Canadian-American challenge hockey game at Sprinker Rec-reation Center Tacoma, Wash., Feb. 21. This annual event strengthens the partnership between the two nations. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Christopher Prows, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)


Air National Guard members from the state of Washington met at the Spokane Convention Center, in Spokane, Wash., Febru-ary 8th, for the 5th Annual Washington Air National Guard Awards Banquet. The event, hosted by Col. John S. Tuohy, Assistant Adjutant General - Air, Washington, kicked off with a social hour at 6 p.m. with members from all over the state re-connecting by sharing stories, laughs and events of the last year. “I’m so excited to be a part of this tonight, I’m so humbled and honored to be associated with these professionals,” said Tuohy. Each year the event rotates between the three wings of the WAANG, the 141st Air Refueling Wing, the 194th Regional Sup-port Wing and the Western Area Defense Sector. Members of each wing submit their nominees and travel to the location of the awards banquet to see if their nominee takes home the award. There were nine awards categories this year with 18 individual nominations and two unit nominations. The award winners were as follows: Airman of the Year: Staff Sgt. Nathan Lucas, tracking technician, Western Area Defense Sector. Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year: Tech. Sgt. Cory Welton, tactical air command and control craftsman, 111th Air Support Operations Squadron. Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year: Master Sgt. John Lawton, 1st Sgt., 111th Air Support Operations Squadron.First Sergeant of the Year: Master Sgt. Jeffrey Wiyrick, 1st Sgt., 141st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.Honor Guard Member of the Year: Senior Airman Jessie Clifford, tracking technician, Western Air Defense Sector. Honor Guard Program Manager of the Year: Tech. Sgt. Christopher Marrazzo, aviation resource management journeyman, 116th Air Refueling Squadron. Civilian of the Year: Mr. Jerry Castleberry, data link analyst, Western Area Defense Sector. Company Grade Officer of the Year: 1st Lt. Shon Eizenhoefer, host operations officer, 143rd Information Operations Squadron. The Washington Air National Guard Outstanding Unit Award: The 111th Air Support Operations Squadron. Once the award winners were announced, the keynote speaker of the evening, Chief Master Sgt. James W. Hotaling, 11th Command Chief Master Sgt. of the Air National Guard, made a few brief remarks. “I’m honored to be here to share in the recognition of Airmen who have set themselves apart from the rest and earned the title of outstanding Airman,” said Hotaling. “They’ve submitted themselves to service and sacrifice and that is what we call, a calling. Their actions create an enduring example that each of us needs to emulate. I consider myself blessed every day to serve alongside each of you.” He also commented on the difficulty of choosing a single winner in each category. “Choosing a single outstanding Airman for each category isn’t an easy task, because our military is comprised of some very extraordinary individuals.” The command chief also made a point to thank the families of all our military members commenting that, without them none of these accomplishments would be possible. “The military family is the foundation on which our successes and service is built,” said Hotaling. “So in honor of those who contribute so much, I would ask that you all join me in a round of applause for the spouses, children and parents with us tonight.”

Col. John S. Tuohy, Washington Air National Guard Assistant Adjutant General, Chief Master Sgt. James W. Hotaling Air National Guard Command Chief and Chief Master Sgt. Trisha D. Almond Washington Air National Guard Command Chief, present Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Nathan Lucas, Western Area Defense Sector, tracking technician, the Airman of the Year trophy at the Washington Air National Guard Annual Awards Banquet at the Spokane Convention Center, Spokane, Wash. Feb. 8, 2014. (U.S. Air National Guard Photo by Tech. Sgt. Michael L. Brown/Released)

Three wings unite for annual awards banquet

Story by Tech. Sgt. Michael Brown141st Air Refueling Wing, Public Affairs


March 11th was the third anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, which killed nearly 16,000 people, damaged or destroyed 1.1 million buildings, and caused roughly $200 - $300 billion [US] in economic damage. Damage to industries disrupted electronics and automotive supply chains worldwide, and tsunami waves crippled a nuclear power station whose owners still struggle to repair it. Are there lessons for us from this event? You bet, says John Schelling, interim Mitigation and Recovery Section Manag-er for the Military Department’s Emergency Management Divi-sion. “The Great East Japan Earthquake caused us to reevaluate our hazard and to rethink our preparedness strategies” he says. Washington has a similar fault sitting off the coast called the Cascadia Subduction Zone. This is where one plate of the earth’s crust moves beneath another. Stress builds where the plates meet. Every few hundred years, stress becomes too great, and the plates slip past each other with violent motions that generate very large earthquakes and destructive tsunami waves. Schelling says the Japan event changed the thinking of scientists about the maximum slip a Cascadia earthquake might generate. Measurements of plate movement off Japan’s coast were greater than scientists believed could occur. “What we don’t know is whether what occurred off the coast of Japan is typical of all subduction zones,” said Schelling. “New science means we will need to reevaluate our current hazard assessments and, potentially, revise evacuation maps in collaboration with local jurisdictions and tribes. “Tsunami waves larger than those currently modeled for our coast could also have a significant impact on our Ports and maritime communities,” he said. In addition, scientists previously thought distant tsunami waves would not substantially get past Admiralty Inlet and Whidbey Island at the north end of Puget Sound. However, a tide gauge 60 miles south in Quartermaster Harbor on Vashon Island recorded increased wave height from the Japanese tsunami.

One new preparedness step relates to the size and height of the vertical evacuation platforms planned by Washington’s coastal communities. Such structures are where people in low-ly-ing areas would go for protection before the first tsunami wave arrives. “We’ve had to incorporate new assumptions about the hazard into our planning,” said Schelling. Planning for a larger event means safe haven structures will have to be taller and stron-ger, and their placement more carefully considered. Further study will be needed to determine engineering and design parameters for these structures. Another emphasis will be on the Great Washington ShakeOut, the annual earthquake drill and preparedness event, sponsored in part by the department. This year’s drill, at 10:16 a.m. on October 16, will incorporate a tsunami evacuation com-ponent for coastal communities. Schelling says a study of survivors of the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami showed that in one of the most prepared countries in the world, people along the coast were not clear about how the earthquake caused the tsunami. “People in low-lying areas along the Japan coast said they would have evacuated sooner had they known how the earthquake caused the tsunami,” he said. Based on this critical finding, earthquake and tsunami preparedness messages and drills will be more fully integrated to reduce any delay in coastal evacuations. And, to help local and state officials and responders better prepare, initial planning is underway for a multi-day, multi-county Cascadia earthquake and tsunami emergency response exercise in 2016. More than 200 individuals from local, state and federal agencies attended a February 19 meeting in Ocean Shores. The latest information about the threat posed by the Cascadia Subduction Zone was shared and an outline pro-posed for a four-day exercise. Decisions and meetings related to development of the exercise will begin in early summer.

Story by Mark StewartExternal Affairs, Emergency Management Division


In December, I was honored to be part of a delegation that met with leaders from the City of Hai Phong, Vietnam to discuss disaster response and recovery issues related to climate change. Peace Winds America (PWA), a non-govern-mental organization, invited me on an initial assessment trip to provide subject matter expertise on business disaster resiliency, and offer insights on ways to structure private-public partner-ships that could benefit the city’s desired outcomes for disaster response and recovery outcomes. PWA, based in Seattle, focuses on mitigating the impacts of natural disasters in the Asia Pacific region. PWA received a U.S. Agency for International Aid (USAID) grant for a three-year project to strengthen business disaster resilience, improve hazard mapping, and support implementation of an emergency operations center in Hai Phong. The project will leverage Seattle’s sister city relationship with Hai Phong. This project is akin to the National Guard State Partnership Program, where best practices are shared in a variety of areas such as military support to civilian authorities, emergency management and port security. The program also facilitates cultural, economic, and social exchanges. We arrived in Hanoi, Vietnam on December 14th and began meetings two days later. It became apparent during our first meetings with national and local government officials that people are highly aware of the projected impacts of climate change. The local awareness is based on several factors. HaiPhong is considered one of the top 10 cities in the world most threatened by coastal flooding and sea level rise already is damaging delicate coastal ecosystems. Further, a majority of the nation’s population lives just a few meters above sea level close to the coast where much of the country’s food staples (rice, fish, and shellfish) are raised or caught.

We asked local officials about partnerships that were already in place and what they needed from the national government. For example, we learned that Hai Phong businesses were interested in bringing training opportunities found elsewhere in the county to their area through using a “train thetrainer” model. We also learned that coastal flood modeling and risk maps that were of great interest to local businesses were not available, and Vietnam does not have any formal national-level disaster relief programs such as in the United States. Hazard insurance is an emerging industry, and not easily obtainable. Private sector organizations such as the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Hai Phong Alliance of Cooperatives and Enterprise, as well as management from the Dinh Vu Industrial Zone, provided valuable insights into how businesses were starting to prepare for the impacts of climate change. Business owners shared their near-disaster experiences from the Typhoon Haiyan that devastated cities in the Philippines last November. Local businesses seemed receptive to support aPeace Winds start-up program designed to increase information flow between the private sector and government before, during, and after disaster. The day before we arrived, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry announced $17 million in USAID-funded projects designed to reduce the impact of climate change in Vietnam. Such investment in Vietnam is no surprise, given that the nation is growing in importance as a trade partner. The value of allimports and exports with Vietnam was just short of $30 billion last year, having nearly doubled in value since 2009. With the help of knowledge-transfer programs like the one led by PWA, Vietnam is willing to listen and learn about how to lessen the impacts of a disaster as it clearly understands how much it stands to lose.

Story by Wendy FreitagExternal Affairs Director, Emergency Management Division

EMD Employee selected for outreach delegation to Vietnam



ALWAYS READYALWAYS THERE

On December 8th, 2013 SSG Jason Fox was driving home on State Highway 17 to Oroville, WA from his drill weekend in Moses Lake. The roads were icy and the temperature was less than 15 degrees. He noticed a vehicle some distance in front of him start to swerve and then roll off the highway down into a field. SSG Fox drove to the place where he saw the vehicle leave the road, walked down to the field and began to assess the situation. Trapped inside the overturned car were a woman and her two year old son. SSG Fox immediately forced his way through the broken rear window, crawled into the car and quickly began to evaluate and treat the injured passengers. The woman, Ms. Julie Ward, informed him that she was 26 weeks pregnant and was having contractions, presumably from the stress of the situation. Her son was still in his car seat, hanging upside down. SSG Fox evaluated the boy’s injuries and despite the fact that they appeared minor, he wisely elect-ed not to remove the child from the car seat until the paramedics arrived. Neither SSG Fox nor Ms. Ward was able to get cell phone service in the rural area. As another motorist approached, SSG Fox ran back to the road to stop the driver. He then instructed the driver to go to where he could get cell service and call 911 to report the rollover. SSG Fox returned to the overturned vehicle and continued to calm both passengers. He found a coat inside the vehicle which he used to cover Ms. Ward. He then removed his ACU top and wrapped the child in it to keep him warm in the sub-freezing temperatures. His primary concern was to prevent either the child or the mother from going into shock and prevent hypothermia. For over forty minutes he stayed inside the overturned vehicle talking to both injured passengers. He read two “Thomas the Train Engine” books to the boy as they waited for help to arrive. Once paramedics arrived at the scene, he assisted them by cutting the car seat free from inside the vehicle and evacuating the boy into their care. Once the paramedics had the situation under control, SSG Fox returned to his vehicle and went home. In an email to the Washington National Guard Public Affairs Office, Ms. Ward describes SSG Fox as a “guardian angel” and credits him with “saving my life and my children’s.” SSG Jason Fox’s heroism, professionalism and competence directly prevented these events from becoming tragic. He is credited with saving the lives of Ms. Ward, her son and her unborn child.

For over 80 years, The Daffodil Festival has provided Pierce County with community service, leadership training, educational opportunities and four fantastic parades. Each year, high school students from Pierce County schools are chosen to be part of the Daffodil Court. The Royalty court was given a presentation, followed by a question and answer session about the Washington National Guard, posed for some photos with Guardsmen and even toured Camp Murray, learning about some of the history and tradition of the Washington National Guard.

Story by Cpt. Nicholas StuartCommander, 161 Infantry Battalion

SERVING COMMUNITY

THE


Alpha Battery 2-146th Field Artillery Regiment provided their community an opportunity to meet the unit, see the military equipment and learn about the history of the regiment at Fort Wal-la-Walla Museum during the uncasing ceremony Jan. 11, 2014.

75 veterans from Moses Lake who have died received a final salute Feb. 18, 2014 during a Veterans Memorial Tribute. The Washington Army National Guard Honor Guard gave a full military hon-ors with support from American Legion Post No. 28, Ephrata and No. 209, Moses Lake. The honors included an unfurling of the flag, a rifle volley and the playing of Taps.

Students from the Tri-Tech Skills Center traveled to the Yakima Training Center March 6, 2014 to learn from the Wash-ington National Guardsmen that work at the Mobilization and Training Equip-ment Site (MATES).

The Washington Military Department collected 900 lbs of food and $1,000 worth of cash donations from the Martin Luther King Jr. Food Drive held in February. The food and cash do-nations were delivered to the Tillicum-Woodbrook community center. Their food bank serves an average of 400 people each month and serves around 80,000 meals per year.

(Top photo by Msgt. Bettina Knaack, Washington Air National Guard Headquarters, Public Affairs. Bottom Photo by Spc. Sa-mantha Ciaramitaro, Washington National Guard Public Affairs Office)

The Honorable Jay Inslee, Governor of Washington spoke to the soldiers, airmen, and civilians of the Washington Military Department during this years annual Legislative Day Jan. 31, 2014.

SGT Leo Altamiranda spent some time showing the Washington Music Educa-ters Association how to “Salsify” their ensembles. His presentation had music teachers from across Washington State clapping and drumming to a variety of Latin grooves. SGT Altamiranda is the Music Director for Mt. Tahoma High School in Tacoma, WA.

Coeur d’Alene, ID - Guardsmen from the 1041st Transportation Company, 96th Troop Command, participated in winter survival train-ing at Kanisku National Forest during February’s drill weekend. The unit worked directly with Guardsmen from A Co. 1-19th Special Forces during the training. The objective was to give the Guardsmen a basic knowledge of winter survival tactics in a cold weather environment. (photo courtesy of PFC Hye Stanford, 1041st Transportation Company)

Government & Nonprofit

Washington Military Department Evergreen Magazine, Vol. I, Iss. IV