JET LETTER

North Dakota Air National Guard November-December 2007

Hooligans creating

habitat for humanity
2 JET LETTER/Nov.-Dec. 2007

119th Wing performs first drill in Minot

NDANG Major escorts father on honor

flight to Washington, D.C.

Jet Letter is a funded U.S. Air Force newsletter published regularly for personnel of

the 119th Wing, North Dakota Air

National Guard. Opinions expressed herein

do not necessarily represent those of the

Air National Guard or the Air Force. Public

Affairs office: Direct line (701) 451-2195,

fax (701) 451-2197, DSN 362-8195, or

e-mail: PA@ndfarg.ang.af.mil

JET LETTER

Volume 53, Number 9

We’re on the Internet

http://www.ndfarg.ang.af.mil

119th WG Commander

Col. Robert J. Becklund

Editorial Staff

Capt. Penny A. Ripperger

Tech. Sgt. Samantha J. Clarke

Layout and Design

Senior Master Sgt. David H. Lipp

Photographic Support

 Multimedia Center

Printer

Quality Printing Services

Bismarck, N.D.

Departments

RedRiver Zoo brings animals to family program picnic.

Afterburner

If you don't know where you're going, you'll end up somewhere

else.

Commander's comments 3

Bulletins 3

16

Feature

CONTENTS

November-December 2007

Photo by Senior Master Sgt. David H. Lipp,

119th Communication Flight

JET LETTER sTaff

Retirements, Promotions, New Members, 2007 UTA Schedule

Hooligan News 15

4

6-7

Chief Master Sgt. of the 119th

Civil Engineer Squadron,

assembles parts of a new home

being built for the Lake Agassiz

chapter of Habitat for for

Humanity Oct. 20.

N. D. Army and Air National Guard

members are joining together to

build the twinhome, giving an Iraqi

widow with seven children and

another family hope, peace and

security in the United States.

Story on pages 12-13.

N.D. Air National Guard first UTA at Minot Air Force Base, Minot, N.D.

Honor flight for veterans goes to D.C. to see WWII monument.

Emergency management courses held

at Fargo regional training site

8-9

Active duty, Guard and Reserves are training together in Fargo.

One mistake can have lasting effects

Alcohol must be used carefully to avoid life problems.

10-11

TAG will help serve holiday lunch; TRICARE information; MWR

equipment for rent.

N.D. National Guard builds Habitat for

Humanity house for Iraqi immigrant

Soldiers and Airmen are coming together to provide a house.

12-13
JET LETTER/Nov.-Dec. 2007 3

Here in North Dakota, we sure know where we are going! Our

transformation from a manned fighter mission into unmanned aerial systems

(UAS) and Airlift missions isn’t even complete and already our operations tempo

is increasing in these new areas! It looks like we picked some good weapons

systems to pursue in order to keep us relevant in the wake of the F-16!

The combatant commanders who are directly engaged in the global war on

terrorism can’t get enough of the Predator and are continually asking for more of

the real-time full-motion video that we provide. Due to our superb personnel

and proactive and forward-leaning attitudes, we have positioned ourselves to be

able to assist with the expansion of the Predator resulting in tasking that

essentially has us reaching our full operational capability in this mission more

than one year ahead of schedule! There is no other unit in the Air National

Guard that is doing, or is able to do, what we have done with the Predator in such

a short time. Remember that we flew our last F-16 missions less than nine months

ago!

Our new airlift mission is no different. We flew our first operational missions

in the C-21 for the Joint Operational Support Airlift Coordination Center

(JOSACC) this month again, while still in a conversion status and only nine

months after flying our last fighter missions!

At Minot Air Force Base, our new security forces squadron has officially

stood up. Interestingly enough, Space Command’s Site Activation Task Force

team just held their initial planning meeting for this activation, a full six months

after we began the mission ourselves!

Our 119th Mission Support Group, in addition to supporting the base

through our conversions, has continually deployed airmen all over

the world, including into the combat theaters of Iraq and

Afghanistan.

All of these accomplishments are a testament to our great

people, work ethic and capabilities. We have all worked together to

form personal plans to take advantage of these new opportunities.

No one has their head in the sand pretending the changes wouldn’t

affect them personally. We have no self-created internal barriers, or

doubt, or “it won’t affect me” attitudes. We keep open

communications and all have a willingness to find positive

solutions, compromises and solutions to problems brought about by

change. We have always been willing to go out on a limb when

needed in order to take advantage of situations or opportunities!

Because of all of this, we attract attention to ourselves. As I

travel around the United States and interact with the many agencies

and personnel, I can’t begin to tell you the amount of unsolicited

compliments I get for the Happy Hooligans! We are excelling in all

aspects of these new missions right from the very beginning and it

is not going un-noticed! You all need to know that I am honored to

accept these compliments on your behalf and that it is truly inspiring

to be part of such a great organization because of people like you!

Again, as the old adage says: If you don’t know where you are

going, you’ll end up somewhere else! Well, we certainly know

where we are going, and we are going there the right way!

Keep up the great work!

Bulletin briefs

If you don't know where you're going,

you'll end up somewhere else

119th Wing commander

Commander's comments

TAG will help serve holiday lunch

Maj. Gen. David A. Sprynczynatyk and

119th Wing senior leadership are scheduled to serve the holiday meal 1 p.m., Dec.

1 at the Aerospace Dining Facility.

TRICARE information

Margaret Franklin, a representative from

TRIWEST (our region’s contractor for

TRICARE), will now be in the Bismarck

office once a month! She is a true expert

and can help answer many of your

TRICARE questions. Margaret can assist

you with claim issues, enrollment, etc.

Her office is at 4200 E. Divide, Room 320,

Bismarck, N.D. 2007 dates she is scheduled to be in this office are Nov. 15 and

Dec. 11.

If you have any questions, you also may

call Master Sgt. Barbara J. Anderson at

(701) 451-2244 or WOC Joshua Simmers (in

Bismarck) at (701) 333-3072.

MWR equipment for rent

Winter is just around the corner, so don’t

forget to stop by and rent ice augers, ice

fishing houses and more from the Services

Flight. Please contact Senior Master Sgt.

Walter Laudon at 701-451-2680 for more

information.

The 119th Wing commander takes his turn in the dunk

tank during Hooligan Day activities Sept. 8.

Photo by Tech. Sgt. Bradly A. Schneider, 119th Wing
4 JET LETTER/Nov.-Dec. 2007

119th Wing members attached to the new security forces

squadron at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., performed their first unit

training assembly, otherwise known as a “drill weekend,” on Oct.

6and 7.

The start of drill weekends enables the squadron to begin

training to provide mission-ready airmen for security duties within

the missile fields. Guard members train and serve alongside the

active duty personnel within the 91st Security Forces Group at

Minot AFB.

“I am very proud of the men and women who have

volunteered to be a part of this new security forces unit. It is

evident from the quality of the Airmen from Minot AFB and the

members of the N.D. Air National Guard that the saying, ‘only the

best come north,’ is true in this total force concept,” said Maj.

Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, Adjutant General for the N.D. National

Guard. “This concept is the future platform for conducting

military operations and, once again North Dakota leads the

nation.”

“This drill weekend is a significant milestone not only for the

N.D. Air National Guard, but also for our partnership with the

Minot AFB. Many people have worked very hard to make this

mission successful and this weekend is proof of that,” said Lt.

Col. Tad Schauer, Detachment 2 Security Forces Commander.

The unit is the largest security forces squadron in the entire

Air National Guard. The squadron is expected to bring

119th Wing performs first drill in Minot

approximately 60 full-time and 80 part-time Air National Guard

positions to the Minot area.

Currently, the squadron has hired 15 full-time and five

part-time Guard members.

The hiring process for the security forces squadron has

been going extremely well. We have received qualified

applicants because the Guard typically has a more stable

force, due to the fact that Guard members normally serve a 20-

year career at one location, explained Schauer.

“This is the first unit in the Air National Guard whose

mission is to support the protection of priority resources

within the missile fields. This mission has been in the

development process for years and is finally under way,”

Schauer said. “The support provided by the 91st Space Wing

and the 5th Bomb Wing has been outstanding!”

The Air Force has gone above and beyond to make this

mission a success, explained Capt. Kit Allen, a Detachment 2

Operations Officer who recently moved to Minot to support

the new mission.

“Without the support of Space Command, we wouldn’t

be here today. The total force concept is alive and well and

has produced many great opportunities for everyone in the

military,” Allen said.

Distinguished guests visited the squadron during its first

drill weekend including Maj.Gen. Emil Lassen, Air National

Guard Assistant to the Air Force Space Command, Maj.Gen.

David Sprynczynatyk, N.D. Adjutant General, and Brig. Gen.

Allen Palmer, Air Component Command Commander.

By Capt. Penny A. Ripperger

119th Wing Public Affairs

Photo by Tech. Sgt. Bradly A. Schneider,

119th Wing

The Air National Guard

(ANG) Assistant to the

Commander, AFSPC,

shakes hands with a 119

Wing First Sergeant. The

members of the North

Dakota Air National Guard

Happy Hooligans' are

welcoming the Maj. Gen. to

their first Unit Training

Assembly at Minot Air

Force Base, Minot, N.D.,

Oct. 6.
JET LETTER/Nov.-Dec. 2007 5

Changing your address and phone numbers in vRED

By Master Sgt. Barbara J. Anderson

119th Mission Support Flight

Updating your address in vRED is mandatory. You can change your home address, mailing address or both. If you do not

specify which address you are changing, the system will automatically update your home address and your old address will stay in

the system as your mailing. Here are your options:

· Home should reflect the address you reside at (cannot be a P.O. Box)

· Mailing is the address to which you want your mail sent

· Select Home/Mailing if the new address is where you reside and where you want your mail to be delivered

For example, if you live in Fargo, N.D., and want your mailing address to remain the same as your parents’ address, then you

would update the mailing address as your parent’s and update the home address as where you actually live.

Your “home” phone number listed in vRED should be the first number you would like the NDANG to use when contacting

you. This means if your cell phone is your primary point of contact, please enter your cell phone number as your home number.

If you have any questions, please contact the Personnel office.

Hooligans donate bicycle to show appreciation

Photo by Master Sgt. Eric A. Johnson, 119th Wing

On Sept. 24 a Fargo boy is awarded a bicycle by the 119th Wing at the Fargo Air Museum to replace his bicycle that was stolen

in the parking lot of the museum in August . The boy volunteered his personal time nearly every day throughout the summer to

help out at the Air Museum, which displays vintage airplanes and Happy Hooligan memorabilia.

We wanted to show him how grateful we are for his volunteerism at the Air Museum. He is preserving the heritage that we have

all been a part of for so many years, said a Master Sgt. from the 119th Mission Support Group.

The money for the bicycle was raised through personal donations made by Happy Hooligan members.
6 JET LETTER/Nov.-Dec. 2007

I had the rarest of opportunities recently: a chance to join

250 WWII Veterans on a 747 and travel with them to see the

WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C. for the first time. My own

father was among them.

I learned a few things on this trip, not all of which I

expected. To spend a couple of days with a group of spry 82 to

97 year olds is to regain confidence that God does not abandon

us to misery in our old age. I had a grandfather who taught me

this lesson once. Yet, as my own knees begin to creak and I

find limits to my strength that were not there a few short years

ago, I guess I needed to be reminded again.

I’ve been on a lot of military “planes, trains and

automobiles” in 25 years of my own military service. Military

members know their common ground and tend to be quick to

use humorous one-liners and zingers to help break the ice and

build a feeling of camaraderie. I learned that the only thing that

changes in 60 years is the speed with which they get on and off

the bus. One gentleman had lost his tour ID at the Lincoln

Memorial. Another member of our same bus found it and

turned it in. The gentleman said, “Wow, I was looking all over

for this thing, thank you, thank you....Where did you find it?”

The finder shouted out from the back of the bus, “I found it in a

strip club!”

Far and away the most important lesson I learned took me

by surprise. This trip wasn’t about stories from long ago, or

remembrances of friends who died as mere children on overseas

119th Wing

NDANG Major escorts father on honor flight

battlefields. Although I did see the tears that still run from

those events, as well. The most common emotion I saw

displayed, now more than 60 years since the war’s end, was a

sense of relief. I witnessed a generation in their 80’s and 90’s,

still carrying a burden to know that they must somehow

preserve the things that happened six decades ago, not for

them but for us. They bear a sincere concern that forgetting

those lessons will allow it to all happen again.

This is the generation that traveled through childhood at

the height of the Great Depression. Then the same generation

who received the least was called upon to give the most. The

numbers are staggering. More than 80 percent of men from age

18-35 would put on the uniform. The world they lived in saw

more than 20,000 people die from war every single day for six

long years. The statistics are mind boggling and endless.

More than 12,000 bombers lost by the Americans alone. More

than 100,000 Allied aircrew lost just in Europe. Of the 40,000

men from both sides who served on submarines, 30,000 never

went home. It goes on...and on.

 It’s all history to you and I. It’s personal to them. They

see the names and faces still. They speak with a haunting

passion about a world that so desired peace, but was nearly

overcome with evil. Their aged eyes still flash when talking

about how foolishly unprepared America was to defend it’s

freedom. I heard opinions on all sides of the current war among

them. So, it was not some bastion of conservatism which

offered this advice. Many of them commented again and again

how “People don’t realize how much went into saving this

country. People don’t think it could happen again, but we

didn’t think it would happen then. And then it was on us, and

Photo by Maj. Allen K. Albright, 119th Wing

The National World War II Memorial as seen by the NDANG major of the 119th Wing on his trip to Washington, D.C. Sept. 7-8.

The World War II Memorial honors the 16 million who served in the armed forces of the U.S., the more than 400,000 who died, and

all who supported the war effort from home. Symbolic of the defining event of the 20th Century, the memorial is a monument to the

spirit, sacrifice and commitment of the American people, states the National WWII Memorial web site at www.wwiimemorial.com.
JET LETTER/Nov.-Dec. 2007 7

The major takes a break from the honor flight tour in Washington, D.C.

with his father, a retired U.S. Army Sgt. on Sept. 7. His father was among

the first U.S. Army troops to go into Hiroshima, Japan, after the atomic

bomb drop. I probably would not be here today if the U.S. had not dropped

the bomb because I would have been one of the thousands of U.S. troops on

the ground in Japan fighting to end the war, says the father.

we almost gave up the ship before we got things

turned around.”

These are men and women who looked

directly in the face of a future that didn’t include a

United States of America as we know it, and they

experienced what it took to ensure that destiny

was changed. They clearly still carry the burden

of wanting to know that lesson will never be

forgotten. I believe that is why so many of them

appeared so relieved when they walked the granite

memorial. One 80-something veteran nurse I spoke

to that morning quietly said it best: “All this stone

and marble, this thing will be here forever. Finally,

something to help remind people of all that

happened.

The time of the Greatest Generation has

almost passed. With them will be lost the personal

experience of why 52 million people perished from

the face of the earth as a result of one war. I saw

many elderly veterans carry that burden and set it

down on a circular monument of marbled stone

and granite at the National Mall in a sincere hope

that you and I will pick it up and never forget.

National POW/MIA Recognition Day

Editorial by SeniorAirman Jessica B. Clark

119th Services Flight

On Friday, Sept. 21, the Fargo Veterans Affairs Medical Center hosted a recognition day ceremony to give a long-deserved

thanks to our fellow military members, the POWs, during National POW/MIA Recognition Day. Through the tears shed and the

many salutes, I witnessed what we as Americans too often forget - the ugliest part of war.

As an intern for N.D. Senator Kent Conrad, I was asked to read a letter on his behalf at this significant event. As I read his

letter, I looked around the room at the eight former POWs and approximately 125 people who attended the event. The courageous

men and their family members who never lost hope saw the men who wore their military hats proudly and who saluted with honor.

At the closing remarks, the Veterans Affairs choir sang each military branch’s song. As the choir sang the Air Force song, I

stood proudly as an Airman next to Col. Martin, who was there on behalf of Governor John Hoeven.

Again, I think too often we forget the sacrifices our men and women make for our country, especially our POWs. We can come

to drill once a weekend and not have to think about our service until another month, but these POWs do not have that privilege.

Their service is forever etched in their memory.

The National POW/MIA Recognition Day should not be just another event on our calendars, but a day where we can formally

and respectfully honor our POW/MIA.

Photo courtesy of Maj. Allen K. Albright, 119th Wing

Photo by Senior Master Sgt. David H. Lipp, 119th Wing

The POW/MIA flag flies proudly at the entrance

gate for the North Dakota Air National Guard,

Fargo, N.D., Oct. 3.
8 JET LETTER/Nov.-Dec. 2007

Story and photos by Senior Master Sgt. David H. Lipp

119th Wing

Intelligence agencies determine that a group that has been

making threats against the United States is working in a clandestine

lab. Law enforcement moves in to secure the lab, but the people who

have been coming and going from the lab are lying strewn about on

the ground around the building. An urgent call is immediately placed

to the emergency management response team.

This is a scenario, which is being played out at the North Dakota

Air National Guard Regional Training Site, Fargo, N.D., during the

Active duty, Guard and Reserves are traini

first-ever emergency management training that is unique

to the civil engineer 3E9X1 emergency management career

field.

The course is offered as a total force hazardous

material (HAZMAT) operations and core competency

deployment for training.

U.S. Military members from various branches and

locations are coming together to learn and train using the

same standards in emergency management.

The regional training site in Fargo is one of only two

locations in the United States offering 3E9X1 training for

the emergency management personnel in both the Air

National Guard and the U.S. Air Force, and it is one of

four regional training locations set up to offer Civil

Engineer training for the Air National Guard in the United

States.

“While all of the regional training sites are located at

Air National Guard facilities, the sites are being used to

train the total force members of active duty, Guard and

Reserve emergency management responders from the

different branches of the service in exactly the same

manner.” says Chief Master Sgt. Mike Connors, the U. S.

Air Force emergency management career field manager.

“The training that is being conducted at the North Dakota

Air National Guard regional training site is the perfect

venue for emergency management responders to practice

techniques and procedures.”

The instructors for the course also are a total force

group of people coming from active duty and National

Guard U.S. Army and Air Force organizations in North

Dakota and various other states

“The North Dakota Air National Guard Regional

Training Site is literally setting the standard in the

Above, a tech. sgt. of the

119th Civil Engineer

Squadron, takes a sample

of an unknown powder

during a training exercise

at the Regional Training

Site, Fargo, N.D., May 23.

A staff sgt. decontaminates

an airman 1st class, both

of the 138th Civil

Engineer Squadron, after

completing the dike, dam,

divert and retain practical

portion of the HAZMAT

operations level

certification course at the

North Dakota Air National

Guard Readiness Training

Site June 6.
JET LETTER/Nov.-Dec. 2007 9

ng together for emergency management

A staff sgt. and senior airman, both of the 183rd Civil Engineer Squadron,

along with a staff sgt. of the 138th Civil Engineer Squadron, use a

HazMatID chemical substance identifying computer to test for evidence of

weapons of mass destruction during a training exercise at the Air National

Guard Regional Training Site, Fargo, N.D., May 23.

An instructor from the

61st CST, center,

demonstrates the

amount, substance and

procedure for testing

various chemical and

toxic agents to a tech.

sgt. of the 436th Civil

Engineer Squadron, left,

and a staff sgt. of the

159th Fighter Wing,

during an emergency

management training

course at the North

Dakota Air National

Guard Regional

Training Site, Fargo,

N.D., Sept. 12.

Emergency Management career field with the

courses that we are teaching here,” says Senior

Master Sgt. Thomas ‘T.K.’ Stoudt, National Guard

Bureau A7 command emergency manager, during a

recent stay in Fargo as a course instructor.

“This first-ever total force training in Fargo is

very effective because the site is uniquely

equipped to host all types of emergency

management training, and we have very

professional and knowledgeable instructors from

around the country teaching in both the classroom

and in the field” says Senior Master Sgt. Michelle

Reitan, 119th Civil Engineer Squadron emergency

management superintendent.

Among the facilities the emergency

management and Civil Engineering personnel

training in Fargo can expect to utilize are: several

classrooms, mock clandestine weapons lab,

equipped emergency operations center, a mock

aircraft burn pit and fire tower training structure,

and an aircraft runway used for rapid runway

repairs, along with all of the sleeping and eating

facilities that would be expected in a self-contained

training site.

“The goal for our regional training site in

Fargo is to be able to provide training for all Civil

Engineer U.S. Air Force specialties on equipment

that personnel will encounter in the area of

responsibility when deployed,” according to

Senior Master Sgt. Scott D. Terry, who is the North

Dakota Air National Guard Regional Training Site

manager.
10 JET LETTER/Nov.-Dec. 2007

There are two types of people: those who learn from their

mistakes and those who don’t. But what about the person who

not only understands what they did was wrong, but also has

the courage to tell their story to help others from making the

same regrettable mistake?

Some call these people brave or courageous, some call

them responsible. Regardless of the label, Staff Sgt. Sam A.

Ruiz is one of those people.

Ruiz, a member of the 119th Wing Security Forces

Squadron, shares his personal experience about receiving a

DUI earlier this year and the devastating consequences it had

on his life and career.

“I always believed that something like this would never

happen to me,” recalls Ruiz.

A stand-up troop, Ruiz joined the N.D. Air National Guard

in 2000. By 2001 he was awarded Airman of the Year for the

119th Wing Security Forces Squadron. He also received two Air

Force Achievement medals and deployed overseas three times,

including Iraq.

In 2004 he graduated from Minnesota State University

Moorhead with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He then

completed the Police Academy in Alexandria, Minn.

“I did all of this without getting into any trouble with the

law,” Ruiz explained. “I did all of this knowing that I would

soon reach my ultimate dream of becoming a police officer.”

The hiring process began, after six months of countless

interviews and intense screenings, Ruiz received the news of

his dreams in March: He had been selected to begin the Field

Training Officer Program with the Fargo Police Department.

That night, he decided to celebrate his success.

"I thought, ‘It won’t happen to me; I’m weeks from

becoming a police officer myself,"' Ruiz said.

A common and unfortunate mistake, Ruiz had more than he

intended to drink. The next thing he remembers is being back

in his truck and seeing the red lights and hearing the sirens

behind him. His blood alcohol content came back at .19, twice

the legal limit.

“In one night of celebrations and six hours later,

everything I worked so hard for slipped right through my

hands,” Ruiz said. “I immediately lost my job offer with the

Fargo Police Department. Twenty-seven years of walking a fine

line and staying out of trouble means little now.”

Ruiz lost his driver's license for six months with the

Department of Transportation, making it almost impossible to

get a future job in law enforcement. He also was suspended

from driving on a military installation for a year.

“Every time I have to call for a ride to get to work, I am

reminded of my mistake,” Ruiz said. The driving privileges are

just a part of the punishment that Ruiz has endured.

“My once-clean criminal record is now gone. My

longstanding honorable reputation and respect from my peers,

supervisors and professors, weakened. I have let down the Air

Force. I have let down many friends, family and, most

importantly, myself,” Ruiz said.

Over time Ruiz has tried to come to grips with his

situation to understand what his new purpose in life may be.

He explains that it was difficult for him to find a positive light

after losing his dream of becoming a police officer, but one

goal has emerged.

“I want for all of us to go the rest of our lives without

getting a DUI. If that happens, than maybe there’s a reason

why this happened to me,” Ruiz said.

Ruiz tells his story in hopes that others will learn from his

mistake. He has briefed Airmen at Grand Forks AFB. He also

will tell his incredible story at the 119th Wing during the

commander’s video broadcast Nov. and Dec. drill.

“It can’t happen to me.’ I know some people feel this

way,” Ruiz said. “I have been in those shoes and now I stand

in the other guy’s shoes that it happened to. It did happen to

me. Your career and ultimately your life are worth too much.”

Ruiz continues to encourage others to drink responsibly

and arrange for a designated driver when they drink. Most

importantly, he wants others to not make the same mistake he

made on that fateful day in March.

Could Ruiz’s story have a hidden purpose? If his

testament makes you think twice about getting into your

vehicle after a few drinks this holiday season...well, maybe it

does.

One mistake can have lasting affects

By Staff Sgt. Sam A. Ruiz

119th Security Forces Squadron

Staff Sgt. Sam A. Ruiz, 119th Security Forces Squadron,

inspects a vehicle entering the gate at the North Dakota Air

National Guard Oct. 5.

Photo by Senior Master Sgt. David H.Lipp, 119th Wing
JET LETTER/Nov.-Dec. 2007 11

According to the N.D. Department of

Transportation, any driver 21 or older with a

blood alcohol count (BAC) of .08 percent or

higher is legally drunk. Penalties also apply to

drivers younger than 21 years old caught with a

BAC of .02 percent or higher.

First DUI Offense

* License will be suspended for 91 days

 (BAC .08 percent -.17 percent), 180

days (BAC .18 percent or higher)

* Mandatory alcohol evaluation referral to

 an addiction facility

* Minimum $250 fine

* Higher automotive insurance

Second DUI Offense

* If the second offense is within five years

of the first offense, license will be

suspended for one year (two years if

BAC registers higher than .18%)

* Minimum $500 fine.

* Five days in jail or 30 days of community

 service

* Required to attend an addiction facility

 for alcohol programs

Third DUI Offense

* If the third offense is within five years of

the second offense, license will be

suspended for two years (three years if

 your BAC registers .18% or higher).

* Minimum $1,000 fine

* 60 days in jail

* Required to attend an addiction facility

 for alcohol counseling

Fourth DUI Offense

* If the fourth offense is within seven

years of the third offense, license will

be suspended for two years (three

years if your BAC registers .18% or

higher).

* Minimum fine of $1,000

* 180 days in jail

* Driving privileges will only be returned

after being treated for alcohol addiction

 and not committing any alcohol-related

offenses for at least two years

 after treatment

Fifth DUI Offense

* A fifth DUI offense is a Class C felony

 in North Dakota.

* $5,000 fine and as much as five years in

 jail

Civilian DUI penalties

By Senior Master Sgt. Paul E. Tangen

119th Wing 1st Sgt.

If a 119th Wing member received a bonus upon enlistment or if they

are using tuition benefits, testing positive for illegal drugs can have

very expensive consequences.

For example, members within their first six years of enlistment who

received a $15,000 bonus would have to pay back any portion of the

money they have received but not actually earned at the time of

discharge. Clarification: $7,500 is paid to the member up front with

annual installments of $1,500; however, bonus money is only earned at

a rate of $208.33 for each satisfactory month of service over a 72-month

period. Members are responsible to repay any unearned benefit when

discharged.

 ** Note: Bonus money is taxed before member receives funds,

but when required to pay back unearned benefits, taxes are not

deducted. Therefore, the member is required to repay the GROSS

amount of the incentive received.

Example: Member receives first $7,500 (approximately $5,200 after

taxes) and 1 annual installment of $1,500 (approximately $1,000 after

taxes), but is discharged after 15 months of service under the six-year

contract for drug use:

 $208.33 x 15 months = $3,124.95 (GROSS) earned vs: $9,000

 (GROSS) received.

$9,000 received - $3,124.95 earned = $5,875.05 OWED TO

 Government

In addition, the following penalties apply to military members

using education benefits:

• Stop GI Bill benefits immediately- (terminated irrevocably)

• Stop tuition reimbursement immediately

• Stop loan repayment immediately

• Initiate immediate repayment to day one, to include the

 monthly $317 GI Bill and $350 Kicker ($667/month

 pay back).

The overall potential cost summary:

• GI Bill and Kicker (18 months) =$12,006

• Bonus repayment=$5,875.05

Total Immediate repayment=$17,881.05

• Lost Future Drill Pay (34 drills)=$7,670.40

• Lost Future AT three years(45 days)=$2,538

Grand Total lost=$28,089.45

Facts:

• If a member tests positive for illegal drugs they will be

 immediately discharged.

• Over the past five years, an average of two members per

year has been discharged for drug use.

• There are no false-positive tests.

• Each fiscal year, 100% of the 119th Wing personnel are tested.

• Urine samples are collected under observation.

• Masking drugs do not hide the use of illegal drug use. The

military testing system tests urine to the molecular level.

Drug use can have

costly consequences
12 JET LETTER/Nov.-Dec. 2007

National Guard volunteers thank community

while building homes for Iraqi families

By Sgt. Amy Wieser Willson

NDARNG Public Affairs

 As Soldiers and Airmen work in Iraq to give

its citizens hope for a brighter future, their

counterparts here in North Dakota are doing the

same. Members from the North Dakota Army

National Guard and Air National Guard have

volunteered to “adopt” two Iraqi families who

have relocated to the Fargo-Moorhead area after

fearing for their lives in their homeland. Through

Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity, Guard

members joined together to build a twinhome,

giving an Iraqi widow with seven children and

another family hope, peace and security.

“These Soldiers and Airmen have chosen to

volunteer their own time as a way to help these

families, as well as the greater community,” said

Army Maj. Grant Wilz, lead volunteer

coordinator. Wilz has served on a fundraising

committee for the Habitat project for the past 18

months.

Soldiers, Airmen and community volunteers

worked together through October to get the

home closed up before winter. On Oct. 22,

Soldiers and Airmen alone partnered for a

daylong military blitz build. Many consider it a

way of giving back to the community.

“Many of us have deployed to Iraq, and

those across North Dakota gave us an

incredible amount of support,” Wilz said.

“Habitat for Humanity gives to the community,

not just a family. This is a way for (Guard

members) to say thank you to the community for

their phenomenal support of us.”

Besides benefiting the Iraqi families, the

build will benefit Habitat for Humanity, as well

as the greater Fargo-Moorhead area. Funds

raised at the start of each build cover material

costs. Families then make mortgage payments,

based on their income, to Habitat. Those funds

go directly into subsequent building projects.

“This project says something about the

integrity of our Soldiers and Airmen,” said Maj.

Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, North Dakota

National Guard Adjutant General. “Many join

the National Guard because they feel called to

serve a greater cause. They have performed

humanitarian missions across the globe and

across the state as part of their military duties.

Joining with Habitat for Humanity to build this

home is a natural extension of the work they do

in uniform.”

Above, a retired col. of the 119th Wing, works on the N.D. National Guard

Habitat for Humanity home.

Below, a lt. col. of the 119th Civil Engineer Squadron commander,

contributes to the N.D. National Guard home building effort for the Lake

Agassiz Habitat for Humanity.

Photo by Senior Master Sgt. David H. Lipp, 119th Wing

Photo by Senior Master Sgt. David H. Lipp, 119th Wing
JET LETTER/Nov.-Dec. 2007 13

Below, the North Dakota Air National Guard Family

Program coordinator carries water donated by local

businesses for volunteers working at the N.D.

National Guard home building Oct. 20.

Below, a staff sgt, left, and an sgt., both of the 188th Engineer

Company, shovel sand prior to pouring concrete for a sidewalk at the

North Dakota National Guard Habitat for Humanity house Oct. 22.

Above, a maj. from the 119th Civil Engineer Squadron, right, and a

retired Civil Engineer Squadron senior master sgt. volunteer their

personal time to help build the N.D. National Guard house.

Photo by Senior Master Sgt. David H. Lipp, 119th Wing

Photo by Senior Master Sgt. David H. Lipp, 119th Wing

Photo by Senior Master Sgt. David H. Lipp, 119th Wing
14 JET LETTER/Nov.-Dec. 2007

By Master Sgt. John W. Noone (ret.)

North Dakota Air National Guard

Store and Store Alike

In this installment, some information about the

confusing arena of personal storage space on our hard drive

farm resource. Hard drive capacity just keeps getting cheaper

and cheaper. I recently saw on sale in a Best Buy Sunday

paper insert an external USB drive from Western Digital with

a full TERABYTE of capacity for less than $350. Its getting

ridiculous. So why is there a limit to how much we can store

on our network? Can’t we just buy more capacity? There’s

even an old Dilbert cartoon where the System Administrator

complains to one of the workers that they have exceeded

their storage limits on the network. The worker flips the Sys

Admin a quarter and tells them to buy more space. If only it

Iraq Campaign Medal

By Master Sgt. Danielle Scheffler

119th Mission Support Flight

Established on Nov. 29, 2004, the Iraq Campaign Medal recognizes servicemembers who have served in Iraq.

Eligibility for the ICM requires servicemembers to have served in direct support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The period of

eligibility is on or after March 19, 2003, to a future date to be determined by the Secretary of Defense or the cessation of Operation

Iraqi Freedom. Servicemembers must have been assigned, attached or mobilized to units operating in the area of eligibility for 30

consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days. Only one award of the ICM is authorized for any individual.

Reference: AFPC website

Wondering if you have the ICM? Log on to the vMPF to view your awards and decorations.

If you qualify for the ICM and have not been awarded it, send a copy of your CED order and travel voucher to me at office

symbol DPMAP.

were that easy. The real problem isn’t capacity. The real

problem is backing it up. See, nobody has really come up with a

good cheap way to replace magnetic tape backup systems.

And magnetic tape backup systems are slow, once you get too

much data to backup your information over night, you have a

problem. That’s the primary reason we have storage limit

policies on our network. But wait, there’s more! Not only is

there a limit on what you can store as a user in your home

directory, but there also is a limit on how large your “.pst” file

can be. Your .pst file is a special file that contains all your

personal Microsoft Outlook folders. Got hundreds of e-mails

squirreled away in your Outlook personal folders? That’s

where they are sitting. I won’t go into the exact limits here, but

suffice it to say that just because you go through the process

of whittling down your .pst below the warning limit, you may

not be out of the woods because your home directory might

still be too large and past limits. That’s right. Your home

directory has a limit and your .pst file has a limit (two different

limits) and your .pst file is kept within your home directory. But

wait! There’s still more! At some point we will be migrating to

Vista and it has been rumored sometime after that migration the

Air Force is going to move away from allowing users to store

any non-work related information on government systems, and

they will enforce this with content audits. The truth is that

many Air Force and Air Guard bases don’t support the end

user home directory system we have in place for Hooligan

users. All the data you have stored that is work-related can be

stored in an organizational file structure. The reality is that

there is no real requirement to store anything on the network

that is not work. Now, I am not saying that this is going to

happen, but it is in the wind. But if it is coming, look at it this

way, you won’t have to worry about having your “H:” drive

being too big because its filled up with personal junk, because

personal junk simply won’t be allowed.

Spotlight on Awards & Decorations
JET LETTER/Nov.-Dec. 2007 15

Retirees' corner

By Chief Master Sgt. Jack Tietgens (ret.)

North Dakota Air National Guard

 Retirements, Promotions, New Members 2007 UTA Schedule

November 17-18

December 1-2

Family program

Military One Source can now be

found on the Internet at

www.militaryonesource.com.

Military One Source is free for all

and has been created for a variety of

Department of Defense and family

issues. It is available 24-hours-aday, seven-days-a-week by telephone

at 800-342-9647.

 2007 Auger Inn Events

November 16 - Officer Christmas Party

December 8 - Children's Christmas Party

There was a good showing of retirees at the 9th Annual Hooligan

Memorial Golf Tournament on Sept. 10. Those sharing in prize money were

Craig Cain, Steve Malakowsky and Dwight Murphy.

Retirees were well represented at the Auger Inn’s Pork-Alo Feed on Sep.

14. Lucky winners of prizes were Gordie Brekken, Brenda Carlson (wife of E.

John Carlson), Duane Fontaine, Tom Larson, Randy Lekander, Wayne Mercil,

and Jack Tietgens.

The 119th Wing Public Affairs Office has invited retirees to assist in

identifying numerous historical photos that have collected over the years. On

Wed., Nov. 14, there will be a “Picture Party” at the 119th Wing Dining Facility,

9 a.m. to noon, and coffee and donuts will be provided. You’re welcome to

participate and share your good memory, which will be genuinely appreciated

by the Wing staff.

The next Fargo-Moorhead area Hooligans breakfast will be 7 a.m. Wed.,

Dec. 5, at the Valley Kitchen.

The Detroit Lakes area Hooligans will have their bimonthly breakfast at 8

a.m., Sat., Dec. 15, at the Detroit Lakes Holiday Inn.

119 MXG

Retirements

SMSgt. Schlafmann, Brian D.

119 MXS

New Members

AB McDowell, Trevor J.

119 OSF

Promotions

SSgt Dekrey, Michael T.

SrA Conant, Justin A.

SrA Wobbema, Jordan M.

119 SFS

Promotions

Maj. McDonough, Teresa L.

New Members

AB Bolstad, Ashley M.

AB Schroeder, Casey D.

119 SFS- Det 2

Promotions

LtCol Schauer, Tad J.

178 FS

Promotions

LtCol Lysford, Scott P.

New Members

Capt. Brancato, Micaela R.

Capt. Dupont, Treyvr C.

119 AMS

Promotions

SrA Jones, Andrew J.

119 CES

Promotions

1Lt. Tronnes, Matthew W.

119 FM

Promotions

1Lt. Bengs, Bobbette L.

119 LRS

Promotions

Capt. Jernberg, Bradley J.

CMSgt. Robert C. Olson

SSgt Hill, Bridget D.

SSgt Pollard, James C.

New Members

TSgt. Strom, Todd A.

Retirements

SSgt Byron, Sharon A.

119 SVF

Promotions

SMSgt Knutson, Curtis

SSgt Knier, Alexandra G.

119 MDG

Promotions

Maj. Elstad, Scott A.

The holiday meal menu for Dec. UTA

(Holiday meal cost is $5.90)

December 1

Prime Rib

Au Jus

Baked Potato

Fried Shrimp

Fried Rice

Green Beans Parisienne

Clam Chowder

Dinner Rolls

December 2

Main Line

Steak Ranchero

Baked Pork Chop w/ mushroom gravy

Mashed Potatoes

Gravy

Glazed Carrots

Speed Line

Super Chicken Nachos

Potato Rounds

Refried Beans

Glazed Carrots
16 JET LETTER/Nov.-Dec. 2007

TO THE FAMILY OF:

JET LETTER

119th WING

North Dakota Air National Guard

1400 28th Ave N

Fargo ND 58102-1051

Bulk Rate

U.S. Postage

PAID

Permit No. 103

Bismarck, ND 58501

Afterburner

Family members of deployed North Dakota Air National Guard members inspect a Red River Zoo Bearded Dragon Sept. 23

during a family program picnic. The Bearded Dragon is sitting on the arm of zoo volunteer Erin Cuomo as children get the

opportunity to view and touch a variety of zoo animals. The picnic was organized by the N.D. Air National Guard Family Program

to recognize unit members and their families for the sacrifices that they make during military deployments.

The family program invites NDANG members and their families to attend the annual children's Christmas party, which will be

2 p.m. Dec. 8 at the North Dakota Air National Guard Aerospace Dining Facility.

Photo by Senior Master Sgt. David H. Lipp, 119th Communications Flight