**[UNCLASSIFIED]{.underline}**

**RECORD**

## **STATEMENT BY**

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## **MASTER SERGEANT ALPHONZO W. ALLEN**

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## **ALASKA AIR NATIONAL GUARD**

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## **BEFORE THE**

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## **COMMISSION ON THE NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVES**

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## **July 19, 2006**

## **San Antonio, Texas**

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**[UNCLASSIFIED]{.underline}**

Chairman Punaro, distinguished members of the commission, I am very
grateful for the opportunity to testify here today and to give you my
perspective as a Air National Guardsman who has served in the National
Guard for 8 years and who has been deployed for overseas operations.

I have been asked to provide you with my perspective based on experience
with the mobilization process, compensation and benefits, family and
employer support, and the adequacy of unit and individual equipment and
training. Additionally, I have been asked about those factors, which
will shape Guard members decisions to re-enlist.

I would like to start with a short narrative regarding my career with
the Air National Guard. I joined the Alaska Air National Guard, 168th
Air refueling Wing in October of 1998 Eielson AFB, Alaska after
completing 10 years of active duty service in the United States Air
Force from April 1987 to April 1997. Eielson AFB Alaska was my last
active duty station and is currently were my guard unit shares a joint
Security Forces complex with active duty. I have been deployed on
Operations Southern Watch/Enduring Freedom (Kuwait-Kuwait City
International Airport (KCIA) Feb 2002 to Jun 2002) and Iraqi Freedom
(Tallil AB Iraq Feb 2005 to Sep 2005). During the past 8 years I have
been very fortunate to serve under great leadership within my unit, wing
and state. During my last deployment my unit was responsible for
providing perimeter security for Tallil AB which extended 5 miles
\"outside the wire\" of the base. Protecting 10,000 Coalition Troops,
two thousand of which were US Army soldiers. A first within the Air
Force and now a model of the perimeter defense capability which uses Air
Force security forces personnel as the first line defenders for
protecting air bases in Iraq. My primary duties consisted of the direct
supervision of troop in the most dangerous sector of the base. The entry
control sector. Which was two miles outside the main base. My sector
searched over 72,000 Iraqi workers and medical patients and 11,000
vehicles during a 6-month period. Confiscating over 1000 weapons and
300-hidden/undeclared cell phones, which are frequently used as trigger
mechanisms to detonate improvised-explosive-devices. My troops also
successfully neutralized an attempt to breech security at the main gate,
destroying a decoy water truck/vehicle-born-improvised-explosive-device
and its occupants. My repetitive battle drills of enemy-action-scenarios
and a post rotation system within the sector during the hottest months
in Iraq concluded without any loses of military personnel to hostile
fire or extremely high temperatures. In short, these experiences have
given me valuable insight on what security forces guardsmen are exposed
to during deployments and I am honored to share my experiences.

# Factors Paramount in Decision to Re-Enlist 

The factors that were paramount to my decision to Re-enlist in the Air
National Guard are the people of my particular unit. Guard unit\'s train
together for years. We know each other\'s strengths and weakness and
what works to build a successful team. It starts from the commander to
the lowest airman. We see the same faces every month for drills which
builds esprit de corps! Secondly, the access to military bases
throughout the United States and their facilities. The commissaries,
exchanges, exercise facilities and lodging are exceptional. These
facilities allow guardsman to maintain a higher overall quality of life
that is not afforded to the general public. Third, what guardsmen
represent to their community. We are our community\'s example of the
core value \"Service before self.\" We are the doctors, police
officer\'s, firemen, cashiers at your local department stores, laborers,
small business owners, waiters, teachers, citizens that can be counted
upon to answer the call of duty for our nation and state in time of
crisis. Wherever it exists.

# Mobilization / Demobilization

My particular unit has experienced one partial mobilization of a 13-man
squad for year, which began in April 2002. The 13-man squad was
activated in April 2002 for one year and deployed to twice. The first
deployment was to Saudi Arabia for 4 months, May through August 2002.
The second deployment was to Baharain for 4 months, Dec 2002 through Feb
2003. Prior to that activation, I volunteered for deployment to Kuwait
for 4 months-Feb 2002 to Jun 2002. My most recent deployment was to Iraq
for 6 months-Feb 2005 thru Aug 2005. The deployed location contained 60
percent active duty security forces troops and 40 percent Guard and
Reserves security forces troops. From the Guard and Reserve troops I
worked with, morale was high and all of us volunteered for the chance to
serve in Iraq. The time frame between Kuwait and Iraq deployments was 3
years. This was perfect for my unit and employer.

Early notification of the deployment was the key to my unit\'s success
and worked well to prepare civilian employer for my absence.

# Compensation and Benefits

The total sum of my monthly pay in Iraq exceeded my civilian take home
pay by \$1800.00. All the entitlements were clearly explained to my
family and me through a town hall style briefing. This format included
organizations such as Family Support, Finance, Legal Office, and ESGR.
This also allowed my civilian employer to attend which further enhanced
their support for my deployment.

# Medical Care 

The medical care I received during my deployment occurred in Iraq and
was minor without any additional follow-up needed. After the deployment,
members of my unit where seen for follow-up medical issues and where
able to receive appointments on base. To my knowledge, no complaints
were filed about the timeliness of the appointments or quality of
medical care they received. Also, my employer (State of Alaska,
Department of Transportation & Public Facilities) allowed the
continuation of my health care coverage for my family as long as I paid
my premium, which was \$75.00 per month.

# Family and Employer Support

I received overwhelming support from my immediate family about the
deployment and the role I played. They are the best. The Family Support
Center of the 168th Air Refueling Wing has one outstanding civilian in
charge by the name of Nola Barnes. She called my family frequently
checking on them and kept them updated on my status and return date. Any
questions my wife had about the deployment, she answered or directed her
to the person with the answers and followed up with her afterwards. The
materials contained in the deployment package Nola provided were also
very, very helpful. From the time I enlisted in the Air National Guard
until today, my employer has been super supportive. I have never had a
conflict concerning the time needed to attend weekend drills or
deployments. I always keep them informed of what is to come concerning
me about deployments, training or temporary duty assignments. As soon as
I know, they know and our relationship has worked well.

# Adequacy of Unit and Individual Equipment

My unit was well outfitted with the required equipment for my deployment
to Iraq. We had the latest Body Armor(Interceptor Body Armor) with the
plates. We had the latest (Mitch style) helmets, which are superior in
comfort to the Vietnam era style helmets and offered the same
protection. We received the new M-4 Carbine(Smaller version of the M16
rifle) rifle with the laser aiming system, 6 months prior to the
deployment. This allowed us to qualify and carry our own weapons. Every
member of my team had a sufficient number of uniforms, hydration
systems, gloves and many other items. The installation in Iraq also
issued most of the aforementioned equipment, excluding the new weapon
systems.

Unfortunately, the most glaring equipment disparity was the M1114 Up
armored HMMWV\'s assigned to the Security Forces at my base. We do not
deploy with the vehicles, they are in theater upon our arrival. Our
vehicles averaged being 15 years old, broke down a lot and did not have
the Red Dot A/C units. The maintenance shop their did the best they
could keeping our fleet of Up-Armored vehicles running but our vehicles
were just to old and worn out.

# Adequacy of Unit and Individual Training

The training my unit received for deployment was mostly in house. We
have subject matter experts in radio communications and combat arms
training & maintenance within our ranks. Our unit routinely conducts
additional training with our night vision equipment, weapon systems,
setting up tents, defensive tactics or anything relevant to our mission
which is deploying. The mid-level and senior non commissioned officers
within my unit average 5 years together training as a team and at least
one operational deployment together. This has paid huge dividends for
us. Additionally, a number of our guardsmen in my unit are civilian
police officer\'s and firemen with instructor certifications in firearms
tactics, CPR and Emergency Trauma Technician. This allows us to receive
new updated training on a consistent basis from a civilian perspective
as well.

# Conclusion

I have thoroughly enjoyed my service in the Air National Guard and the
people I work with and for. To be able to offer my own experiences to
the Commission as it considers changes to the future role of guardsman
is a great, great honor and I am happy to answer your questions.