Camp Mabry Prepares For Next Hurricane With DICE
Elizabeth Cohen, Texas Military Forces Public Affairs
2009/06/08

Camp Mabry, Austin, Texas (June 8, 2009) – The Department of Defense Interoperability Communications Exercise, or DICE, was a four-day long event at Camp Mabry. This exercise included over 25 agencies participating on state, local and national levels, many of whom where communication experts who sought to test emergency communication through a simulation of hurricane conditions.

Situated on Camp Mabry’s parade field was a double line of vans, representing the first responders in the event of a natural disaster. Towards the center sat Sprint/Nextel’s Satellite Cell on Light Truck or SatCOLT, a vehicle designed to give a satellite-powered version of cell phone service to the hundred wireless handsets that Sprint had brought and charged for DICE. These were used in the exercise to simulate downed cell phone towers and snapped power lines.

“We are here to support the other units,” said Lee Martin, Raytheon Director of DoD Sales. He and his team ensured that the radio systems of the first responders were tied together, so they could talk to one another. “Everyone has their own system,” Martin added. “[but they] all have to talk on a common network.” Raytheon gear provided this synergy.

“This is what tax dollars get you,” said Cary Snyder, Technical Support Manager of Sprint’s Emergency Response Team, as he indicated the emergency response vans around his SatCOLT.

The inside of the vans were equipped with all the technology that each specific agency would need to complete their part in a natural disaster setting. Some, such as the Texas General Land Office, were visiting with communications consultants about upgrading their technology. “We are here to learn,” said Greg Pollock, Deputy Commissioner of Oil Spill Prevention and Response of the TGLO. He and his team were there to observe, and thus were not actively scripted into the exercise, Pollock added.

Chief Jack Colley, Division of Emergency Management, Office of the Governor, arrived on the final day of the exercise to discuss the objectives of DICE. “This exercise is extremely important because it shows the efforts of about eight years of not only funding but deployment of equipment across the state and our capability to work together as a team throughout the entire state of Texas. Our focus is on a single effort which is to provide a rapid and orderly response to any event,” Colley said.

Chief Colley was briefed on the event by Col. Kevin Turnbo, J6/Chief Information Officer. According to Col Turnbo, the DICE program consists of five phases: check-in, staging, training, and the breakdown and after-action report. Col Turnbo said that: “The after-action reports resulting from this training should prove invaluable to operators during the coming hurricane season.” The DICE exercise shows that many state, local and national organizations and first responders to disaster situations are gearing themselves up for the hurricane season.

TXSG Team Wins First Place In 2009 Texas Adjutant General’s Combat Pistol Sustainment Exercise Competition
MAJ J. Michael Spraggins, PAO, TXSG TMF
2009/05/07

Camp Swift, Bastrop Texas - The Texas State Guard (TXSG) took top honors winning both the individual and the team combat pistol events on a rainy and cold weekend recently at Camp Swift. High pistol shooter was SSG Daniel Ernest, who won the competition last year. High team was 19th QRT (SFC Dzivi, SFC Sliger, SGT Pasaic, 1SGT Booth, MAJ Hobbs (19th QRT Commander). High Novice: 1LT Bornwell, 8th QRT, TXSG.

19TH QRT scores in the Individual category were: Hobbs Barry R. - 604, Sligar, Mark W. - 736, Dzivi, Daniel R. - 586, Pasalic, Admir - 527. Team score was 3141.

TXSG shooters were awarded four out of the eight coveted Governor’s Twenty tabs that were awarded. The TXSG citizen – soldiers awarded the Governor’s Twenty tab were SSG Ernest, 2LT George, 1LT Bornwell and SFC Sliger.

A total of 42 personnel participated in this year’s event. Second and third placed teams were the 136th AW TXANG.

The Texas State Guard is one of the three branches of the Texas Military Forces. However it operates a little different than the Texas Army and Air Nation Guard. The individual TXSG soldiers must pay for all, uniforms, equipment, ammunition, travel and training expenses out of their own pocket and only draw a small stipend from the State of Texas when they are activated by the Governor for State Active Duty (SAD).

The TXSG mission as a branch of the Texas Military Forces is to provide mission-ready military forces to assist State and Local authorities in times of state emergencies, with homeland security and community service through Defense Support to Civil Authorities (DSCA). To augment the other two branches of the Texas Military Forces, the Texas Army National Guard and Texas Air National Guard as force multipliers.

Texas Maritime Regiment Swearing-In Ceremony
PO1 George Monnat Jr., PAO, 2nd BN TMAR TXSG TMF
2009/05/06

New Braunfels, Texas - As one of his first acts as Commander of the Texas Maritime Regiment (TMAR) of the Texas State Guard (TXSG), Brigadier General Robert “Duke” Bodisch swore in the two newest members of TMAR’s Second Battalion (2nd Bn). The ceremony occurred inside the 2nd Bn’s monthly drill facilities, the National Guard armory in New Braunfels, in the early afternoon. BGen Bodisch and 2nd Bn’s Commanding Officer, Commander Joe Cave swore in Senior Chief Petty Officer (SCPO) Brad Westberry and Petty Officer First Class (PO1) Miriam Lee.

SCPO(SW/AW) Brad Westberry grew up in Bulverde, Texas and joined the Navy right after high school where he spent the next twenty-six years and retired as a Senior Chief Damage Controlman. His last assignment before retirement was as the Command Senior Chief and senior DC instructor at the Center for Naval Engineering Learning Site, Ingleside, Texas. He is currently employed by the State Fire Marshal’s Office. He and his wife Pat reside in Ingleside.

PO1(SW) Miriam Lee grew up in Houston, TX and joined the Navy right after high school where she spent twenty years

retiring as a PO1 Electronic Technician. Her last assignment was as an instructor of the AN/SPS-67(V)1&3 Radar System at Center for Surface Combat Systems, Norfolk, VA. After retiring, she worked in Admiral Lotring’s staff as a Data Analyst for the Navy’s Accessions Programs in Great Lakes, IL. She relocated to Texas and is now a full time student at Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, a junior, majoring in Management Information Systems.

The Texas State Guard Maritime Regiment was created on November 1st, 2007 as the maritime branch of the TXSG. It consists of retired and honorably discharged members of the United States Coast Guard, United States Marines, and United States Navy as well as non-prior-service volunteers.

The mission of TMAR is to provide the Governor of the State of Texas and the Adjutant General of Texas with, highly trained, mission-ready military personal for Defense Support to Civil Authorities (DSCA), for operations in the maritime, littoral, and riverine environments in support of Homeland Defense and in response to man-made or natural disasters.

MAJ J. Michael Spraggins contributed to this story

North Texas State Guard Unit Deployed by Governor Perry to Assist in Aftermath of Wildfires
SGT George Garriott, PAO NCO 4RGMT CA TXSG TMF
2009/04/16
Texas States Guardsmen from the 4th Civil Affairs Regiment, Texas State Guard (TXSG) located in Denton, Decatur and Fort Worth, Texas had an eventful Easter holiday weekend due to the devastation caused by a recent string of wild fires in Montague, Jacksboro and Cook counties, where over 100 homes were destroyed.

Members of the Texas State Guard deployed at the request of its Commander in Chief, the Governor of Texas to team up with the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, Texas Baptist Men and the Texas Animal Health Commission to name few who were among the 19 organizations in Montague County, offering assistance at the Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster Assistance Center (VOADAC).

Many families across the counties were still in shock, trying to sort out how to begin cleanup and rebuilding of their homes. The flames were undiscriminating; others were even less fortunate having lost everything they had to the wind swept flames.

The sight of the Texas State Guard men and women being there rendering assistance and aid in time of need was emotional for many. Frazzled, lost or in need of assistance, they came from various areas, what some have described as a “different planet, scorched and devastated, total despair”.

All of Texas can not help but to stand tall and be proud of these citizen – soldiers who sacrificed their personal time with their families at Easter to answer the call for help from fellow Texans in times of need. “The true meaning of the State Guard’s motto “Texans Serving Texas”.

The Texas State Guard is oldest of three branches of the Military Forces of the State of Texas, reporting to the Governor of Texas and the Adjutant General. The other two Branches are the Army and Air Guard.

TXSG has units throughout the State of Texas, providing Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA) by maintaining a highly trained, mission-ready, military force, providing services to state and local authorities in times of State Emergencies and Homeland Security throughout Texas;

MAJ J. Michael Spraggins contributed to this story

“THIS IS AN EXERCISE ... THIS IS AN EXERCISE” - Disaster Assessment Exercise
MAJ J. Michael Spraggins, TXSG Public Affairs
2009/03/31
 

This is an exercise .... this is an exercise, are the first words that will be heard and the last, for any Mock Disaster communications radio / telephone traffic during three days in May in Brown and Comanche County, which includes the City of Brownwood, and City of Early.

A Planning session was held on 19 March, for the Disaster Assessment Exercise sponsored by the Texas State Guard (TXSG) and the Brownwood / Brown County Local Government and Columbia Regional Geospatial Service Center.

CPT Robert Spratt, HQ J3 TXSG, who lives in the Brownwood area, is OIC of the exercise. Chaplin (CPT) Dave Fair, HQ TXSG, also of Brownwood, and City Councilman, working with CPT Spratt, they were instrumental in insuring wide spread participation of local and regional governmental and non government organizations (NGO). In addition National Guard Civil Support Team Six -HAZMAT will participate in the disaster drill.

CPT Spratt is credited with completing and producing the comprehensive Disaster Assessment Exercise Plan, incorporating requirements set forth by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP).

The TXSG will be supporting this exercise with five GPS trained Damage Assessment Teams, Communications, Command Center staff and three TXSG Texas Medical Brigade medical aid teams supporting the teams in the field.

The purpose of this exercise is to measure and validate performance of participants’ capabilities and their associated critical tasks.

• Emergency Operations Center Management
• Communications
• Emergency Public Information and Warning
• Triage and Pre-Hospital Treatment
• Medical Surge
• Mass Care (Sheltering, Feeding, and Related Services)
• Wide Area Damage Assessment (GPS)

The TXSG will be assessing its capability and adequacy of plans for responding to and conducting Wide Area Damage Assessments. This includes land navigation, establishing waypoints and a GPS network.

Some of the participants at the planning session were:

• TXSG COL Kissel, COL C. Miller, COL R. Miller, COL Watkins, MAJ Spraggins, CPT Hollands, CW4 Sanchez
• TXANG MAJ Creek, CPT. Robert Nash, Camp Bowie
• Columbia Regional Geospatial Service Center (CRGSC)
• West Central Texas Council of Government (WCTCOG)
• Brown County Officials, City of Brownwood Officials, Comanche County Officials
• Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce
• Brownwood Regional Medical Center / Guardian EMS
• Howard Payne University

Robert D. Gaylor NCO Academy recognized by Texas Military Forces
Chief Master Sgt. Norm King, TXMF Public Affairs
2009/02/27

Brig. Gen. Bob Cheeseman, the Texas State Guard Air Division Commander, recently presented the Texas Meritorious Unit Award to Chief Master Sgt. Albert McGowan, Robert D. Gaylor NCO Academy Commandant, and his instructors.

Academy instructors and staff have supported the Airmen and Soldiers of the Texas State Guard by voluntarily offering both an NCO and Senior NCO Professional Development Course of Instruction since 2002. The courses, presented each summer, are a comprehensive and professional program tailored to the needs of the Texas State Guard NCO Corps.

The courses include an advanced reading list requirement and four full days of instruction over two intense weekends. More than 200 Texas State Guard NCOs have been trained in the last seven years.

This professional training has paid great dividends in advancing the NCO Corps of the Texas State Guard helping them to more easily interface with their counterparts in the Texas Army and Air National Guard. The training provided to the Texas State Guard has been a voluntary, community service effort by the academy’s faculty on their off-duty time and at no cost to the Texas State Guard or the Air Force.

Soldiers to Use GPS Next Hurricane Season
Ashlea Sigman
2009/02/07

GPS devices are becoming more and more common. Now, the Texas Military will be using them after a disaster.

The 2nd Battalion, 8th regiment of the Texas State Guard, based in Bryan, trained at Lick Creek Park in College Station Saturday.

Working with a program developed by the Columbia Geospatial Center, the soldiers learned how to better respond after natural disasters, using GPS.

“Like downed power line or injured personnel or hazardous waste and when we’re done making all of our points, we can upload it to a computer and then print it on a map so emergency responders can see exact spots where the problem areas are,” said Lt. Joseph Ferguson.

The technology was used by a small group after Hurricane Ike, and will be more widely used this coming hurricane season.

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Texas State Guard Graduates New Recruits
KTBC - Fox 7 News - Austin
2009/01/31

AUSTIN (my FOX Austin) -- The Texas State Guardsman welcomed 12 new recruits on Saturday during a graduation ceremony. They also accepted a donation of GPS units from Wal-Mart that will help the guardsmen during disaster response.

Fair Tapped for Homeland Security
Police USA
2009/01/30
Dr. David Fair, President of the American Association of Police Officers has been chosen to write a course for the American Board for Certification in Homeland Security. The training is entitled Terrorism Trauma Syndrome, and will cover the education, prevention, and intervention of psychological trauma as the result of or threat of terrorist events.

The concept is to create and keep a healthier homeland security force on the national, state and local basis.

Members of the ABCHS are from the military, law enforcement, private sector, security and other entities involved in protecting the homeland.

Once completed Dr. Fair’s course will be available to members and will create a certification in Terrorism Trauma to better equip members.

Fair is Certified in Homeland Security at Level III and serves on the groups curriculum committee. He is a licensed Texas Peace Officer, and a Chaplain for the Texas Military Forces, TXSG-HQ.

Veterans receive special honor
Elissa Rivas, KTRK ABC13, Houston
2008/12/13

At the Houston National Cemetery our veterans’ sacrifices are honored in a special way this holiday season, with the laying of wreaths, thousands of them.

“These families, you know, their loved ones have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country,” said Airman First Class Justin Watts of the Texas State Guard. “It is a way for us to step up and say to that family member we thank you for what has happened.”

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