Quarterly Magazine of the Nevada National Guard - Summer 2020

COVID-19

Response
2 / BATTLE BORN / Autumn 2019

Local Contact Information

https://zoom.us/j/516155069
Summer 2020 / BATTLE BORN / 3

Gov. Steve Sisolak

Commander in Chief

Nevada National Guard

Maj. Gen. Ondra Berry

The Adjutant General

Nevada National Guard

United States Government Printing Office 

Washington, D.C.

In accordance with Department of Defense Instruction 5120.4, 

Battle Born is an authorized, unofficial publication of the Nevada National 

Guard. Content is not necessarily the official view or endorsed by the U.S. 

Government , the Department of Defense, the Nevada National Guard or the 

state of Nevada.

Battle Born is published quarterly for all current Nevada Guard 

military members, Nevada Guard retirees, government leaders and 

Department of Defense civilian employees. Battle Born is distributed free of 

charge via mail.

Submissions and Letters to the Editor

Submission and letters to the editor are welcome. They must be signed and 

include the writer’s full name and mailing address. Letters should be brief and 

are subject to editing. Other print and photographic submissions of interest to 

our diverse readership is encouraged and welcome.

Summer 2020

Features:

Departments:

West Point graduate becomes Nevada Guard’s lead attorney...................................Page 6

Letter from the TAG: Civil unrest ................................................................................Page 7

Cav welcomes 1st full-fledged female armor officer.................................................Page 10

Female Soldiers skirted cav regulations for decades...............................................Page 11

‘In this together:’ Nevada Soldiers, Airmen respond to COVID-19 ...........................Page 12

Youth ChallenNGe director anticipates top-notch facility..........................................Page 18

Adjutant General receives 2nd star, new Army state Sgt. Maj. revealed..................Page 20

Couple enjoys overdue inclusive promotion ceremony ............................................Page 21

Young ‘Wizard’ is Nevada Guard’s 1st pilot for a day...............................................Page 22

Air Guard ‘Silver State Spark’ cell calls for innovation from all ranks ......................Page 23

Army nurse scores 4 medals during biathlon season...............................................Page 24

Top Airmen recognized at annual award ceremony..................................................Page 26

Child and Youth Program a great place for new opportunities .................................Page 27

Governor

Steve Sisolak

The Adjutant General

Maj. Gen. Ondra Berry

State Public Affairs Officer

Lt. Col. Mickey Kirschenbaum

Joint Force Headquarters

Battle Born Staff

Sgt. 1st Class Erick Studenicka

Joint Force Headquarters

Sgt. Walter H. Lowell

Joint Force Headquarters

Nevada Guard Historian

Emerson Marcus

Joint Force Headquarters

Contributors

Brad Horn

Nevada State Photographer

Senior Master Sgt. Paula Macomber

152nd Airlift Wing

Staff Sgt. Ryan Getsie

17th Sustainment Brigade

Sgt. Zandra Duran

Joint Force Headquarters

Staff Sgt. Matthew Greiner 

152nd Airlift Wing

Deployment Roundup.................................................................................................Page 4 

Drop Zone...................................................................................................................Page 8 

Historian’s Notebook ................................................................................................Page 19

Got Your 6.................................................................................................................Page 25

Awards, Promotions, Retirements ............................................................................Page 28

ON THE COVER: A mosaic of photos submitted by Nevada Guard Soldiers and Airmen who 

answered the call to support the COVID-19 mission this spring symbolically combine to form 

the shape of the Silver State. More than 1,100 Soldiers and Airmen were activated to battle the 

coronavirus, the largest state activation in history.

Photo mosaic assembled by Sgt. Walter H. Lowell

Photos courtesy Nevada Guard Soldiers and Airmen

Please send letters, articles and photos to:

Battle Born Magazine

State Public Affairs Office

Nevada National Guard

2460 Fairview Drive

Carson City, NV 89701

Or e-mail walter.h.lowell.mil@mail.mil.

Publication of material is determined by available space 

and reader interest. The staff reserves the right to edit all 

material.

Summer 2020 / BATTLE BORN / 3
4 / BATTLE BORN / Summer 2020

Deployment Roundup

By Sgt. 1st Class Erick Studenicka

Joint Force Headquarters

CARSON CITY – The effects of COVID-19 on the Nevada 

National Guard did not remain within the state’s boundaries, as 

all five Army Guard units on international deployments were 

impacted by the worldwide scourge.

With the deployment of Det. 3, Company B, 2/641st in early 

January, the Nevada Army Guard found itself with five units 

deployed simultaneously for the first time since 2011. A total of 

nearly 210 Soldiers are on missions in three continents.

3665th Explosive Ordnance Company: While the pandemic 

slowed the majority of the deployed units, the responsibility of 

the 3665th actually expanded. About 30 of the unit’s Soldiers are 

supporting Operation Freedom’s Sentinel in the Central Command 

area of responsibility.

“Some large changes out here have resulted in our company 

shifting to take over the entire explosive ordnance footprint of 

the theater,” wrote 1st Sgt. Benjamin Hopper from the unit’s 

CENTCOM base. “The virus has shaken things up, but we 

maintain our 24/7 emergency responses – now at locations all over 

the theater.”

Hopper wrote 3665th Soldiers are becoming familiar with their 

new bases and areas of responsibility.

The 3665th left southern Nevada last August and is set to return 

to its home in Henderson this summer – if usual Department of 

Defense travel resumes.

“We look forward to getting back,” Hopper wrote.

G Co., 2/238th Aviation: The first 30 Soldiers who deployed 

with G Company to Central Command last autumn and were 

expected to return in April are still abroad after being delayed by 

travel restrictions.

The thirty Soldiers from the unit who were set to rotate into 

CENTCOM to replace the unit’s original iteration of Soldiers did 

leave Nevada in May for pre-deployment training in Texas but 

they will remain stateside until travel restrictions are relaxed.

“The virus has taken over most things here,” wrote company 

commander Capt. Nigel Harrison. “Everything is closed and we 

are wearing face covering when we are in public.”

Harrison said the company was emphasizing training as well as 

knocking out college classes and spending lots of time at the gym 

while awaiting its return trip to the Silver State. The unit has been 

performing medical evacuation and personnel recovery missions 

since last autumn.

757th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion: The 

headquarters element of the 757th left for Poland in early January 

to support European Command’s Operation Assured Response 

Photo courtesy 757th CSSB

The 757th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, now deployed in Poland, 

is set to oversee the placement of more than 875 vehicles throughout European

Command in the next few months. The battalion left for Poland in January 

and is set to support the upcoming Defender 2020 military exercise.

Photo courtesy 3665th EOD

Soldiers in the 3665th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company train for 

a variety of ordnance disposal scenarios while deployed in the Central 

Command Area of Responsibility. The responsibilities of the 3665th actually 

expanded in the wake of the worldwide pandemic. The unit left Henderson last 

August and should be home this summer once Department of Defense travel 

restrictions are eased.

Deployments undeterred 

by worldwide pandemic
Summer 2020 / BATTLE BORN / 5

and ostensibly the huge Defender 2020 exercise. That exercise has 

been scaled back, but the battalion still has Soldiers busy at seven 

sites supporting missions across Eastern Europe.

Although there have been no cases among the 757th Soldiers, 

COVID-19 remains a serious concern in Poland, Command Sgt. 

Maj. Shauna Reese wrote via email in April. 

Soldiers can only travel in groups of five or less and all training 

is limited to five Soldiers or less or conducted via the Global Video 

System. The base gym is closed but the post exchange remains 

open.

Reese wrote the unit is finding bright spots during its less-thananticipated activity. 

“Overall, the team has been amazing,” Reese wrote. “The 

time we took in selecting the team for this deployment has paid 

dividends. We have had several wins over the past few weeks 

including: Soldier and noncommissioned officer promotions, 

success on the Army Physical Fitness Test and a Virtual 5- and 

10-kilometer run that reinvigorated running and competiveness on 

post.”

Bravo Company, 1/189th Aviation: About 60 Soldiers in 

B Company are steadily progressing toward the conclusion 

of its deployment to Kuwait and surrounding countries while 

supporting Central Command’s Spartan Shield. The unit operates 

and maintains the Nevada Army Guard’s six CH-47 Chinook 

helicopters.

“We’re chugging along,” wrote unit commander Zack TaylorWarren in April. “There has been a slight downturn in the operations 

tempo due to COVID-19, but we are still moving people and cargo 

around the region. We are practicing social distancing and face 

coverings are mandatory.”

Taylor-Warren said the Soldiers can smell the finish line. The 

unit should be home by early autumn.

“The end is in sight and we have started planning for redeployment,” Taylor-Warren wrote. “We are being told we can 

expect to be back in Nevada on schedule.

“Everyone is definitely missing their families and is ready to 

get back home.”

Bravo Company has fallen under the 34th Expeditionary 

Combat Aviation Brigade for the duration of its deployment. 

That brigade supports the 34th Red Bull Infantry. 

Det. 3, Company B, 2/641st Aviation: The small unit (often 

referred to as Detachment 45) that maintains and operates the 

Nevada Army Guard’s lone C-12 Huron fixed-wing aircraft 

left for Africa in January. The COVID-19 pandemic has 

dramatically impacted the unit’s number of flights.

“We are not grounded but are limited to transportation 

on general officer-approval only,” wrote commander Chief 

Warrant Officer 5 James Anderson. “Because of that, every 

flight has been cancelled. Our base is closed to commercial 

and civilian traffic.”

Photo courtesy CENTCOM

Black Hawk helicopter crews from the 2/238th Aviation approach the landing zone during a medical evacuation mission in Central Command in December. 

About 60 2/238th Soldiers are participating in two rotations of a roughly one year deployment. A ground Soldier took this photo and forwarded it to the unit.
6 / BATTLE BORN / Summer 2020

General counsel: West Point alum 

heads judge advocate general staff

By Sgt. 1st Class Erick Studenicka

Joint Force Headquarters

CARSON CITY — Newly appointed 

staff judge advocate Lt. Col. Kevin Remus 

says that passing the bar exam in Nevada 

and California was a breeze in comparison 

to his four challenging years at the U.S. 

Military Academy at West Point, New 

York. Remus, Class of 1998, succeeded 

Col. Melissa Hagen as the Nevada Guard’s 

top attorney last December.

In his position, Remus, 44, of Las 

Vegas, advises and provides guidance to 

Adjutant General Brig. Gen. Ondra Berry 

and other commanders on myriad subjects, 

including ethics and personnel actions. He 

also oversees joint judge advocate general 

staff comprised of nine Army and four 

Air Force attorneys and clerks. The Judge 

Advocate General’s corps is the branch 

of the military that specializes in military 

justice and military law.

Remus is one of three West Point 

graduates in the Nevada Army Guard. The 

others are Brig. Gen. Michael Hanifan, 

Class of 1986, and Maj. Layne Christopher, 

Class of 2006. Hanifan is the assistant 

adjutant general and Christopher is the 

state partnership program coordinator.

“I aim to make our state’s JAG staff 

an accessible, visible team across the 

state to both Soldiers and Airmen,” 

Remus said.

Remus has been a familiar face to 

Guardsmen in southern Nevada since 

joining the Nevada Army Guard in 2012. 

He was the brigade JAG for the 17th 

Sustainment Brigade during its 2016 

deployment to Kuwait.

A native of Madison, New Jersey, 

Remus completed his bachelor’s degree 

in civil engineering at West Point in 

1998 and was an active-duty officer 

in the engineer branch of the Army. 

From 2004-2008, he was a ROTC 

instructor at the University of Nevada, 

Las Vegas. That stint was interrupted 

by a deployment to Afghanistan with 

the Oregon National Guard’s embedded 

training team in 2006.

For assistance with military legal 

matters, call 775-887-7387.

Photo courtesy 17th Sustainment Brigade

One of just three West Point graduates in the 

Nevada Army Guard, Lt. Col. Kevin Remus, left, 

now heads the judge advocate general staff.

Photo courtesy 3665th EOD

DISARM THE SITUATION: Staff Sgt. Michael Pacheco, of the 3665th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company trains for ordnance disposal 

scenarios while deployed in the Central Command Area of Responsibility. The unit should be home this summer once DOD travel restrictions end.
Summer 2020 / BATTLE BORN / 7

“For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much 

required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they 

will ask the more.” Luke 12:48, King James Version of the Bible

As a former law enforcement veteran with 25 years on the 

Reno Police Department, and as a black man, I am filled with 

a variety of emotions stirred by the killing of George Floyd. 

While I and many Americans struggle with these feelings, 

I encourage all of us to be constructive in our response, not 

destructive.

What we are witnessing is a defining moment in American 

history, and how we choose to react in this time of struggle will 

shape the future of our democracy.

Yes, our nation is a symbol of greatness, but even that 

distinction comes with flaws. One of our most critical sins is the 

systemic racism born from the sin of slavery.

Now is not the time to be tone-deaf, but listen to what 

this moment in history is saying to all of us. We can’t define 

anyone’s emotions or feelings of what is going on in our nation, 

but we can be a force for good.

In these chaotic times, we are reminded that democracies 

are not perfect. Our Founding Fathers alluded to America’s 

imperfections in the opening sentence of the U.S. Constitution: 

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more 

perfect Union...” This document afforded us many freedoms, 

yet for some Americans, the promise of equality seems like an 

ongoing battle. Yet, today we continue to fight for America’s 

pledge of liberty and justice for all. And we must remember, 

the right to free speech is in the Constitution and protesting has 

been a part of this country since the Boston Massacre.

As members of the Nevada National Guard, we swear 

to defend the Constitution. We stand ready to protect 

life, property and ensure peaceful protest under the 

First Amendment. We are expected to be role models of 

America’s promise.

We invoke the American spirit of hope, freedom, and 

courage, especially when we put on the uniform. And 

because we represent the values of this nation, we are 

required to serve it with integrity, not only in our words 

but our actions.

We must hold each other accountable when we witness 

injustice. As the Irish philosopher Edmond Burke once 

said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is 

for good men to do nothing.”

We must also strive for unity. We are a country 

founded on individualism, but this is a moment requiring 

us to think more about the collective “We the people.” 

As Americans, we must come together, with our laws, 

philosophies, and traditions, to persevere through the 

turmoil and continue to form a more perfect union.

We can no longer tolerate a United States that is not 

united. Whether as members of law enforcement, the 

Nevada National Guard, or civilian organizations, we must 

work together to do what is right.

I believe all Americans have a responsibility to lead 

the change we desire in this country. The Bible tells us, 

“to whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much 

required,” and as Americans, we have been afforded great 

freedoms. Therefore, we are required to ensure those 

freedoms are achievable for all citizens of our country.

I also believe that connection through civil discourse 

will be key to healing our nation’s wounds. I challenge all 

of us to listen to the voices who are pleading to be heard 

with open hearts and minds.

Also, be willing to engage in courageous conversations 

to better understand the humanness in all of us. Everyone, 

regardless of military or civilian affiliation, has an 

obligation to dispense hope – not hate – and to uphold our 

name as the United States of America.

Adjutant General, Nevada National Guard

Maj. Gen. Ondra Berry

In wake of emotional killing, strive for 

constructive – not destructive – response

Photo by Staff Sgt. Ryan Getsie 

Sgt. Anthony Thomas of the 72nd Military Police Company loads a riot shield 

into a unit vehicle in preparation for any potential extreme civil disturbances 

in Las Vegas in early June. For more than a week in late spring, more than 100 

Nevada Army Guard Soldiers were on duty ready to assist law enforcement 

agencies if periods of uncontrolled civil unrest occurred. The Soldiers ended 

their duty on June 8 with no serious altercations or incidents reported
DROP ZONE

Photo by Brad Horn 

CARSON CITY — A 152nd Airlift Wing C-130 

aircraft flies over Carson-Tahoe Hospital in late 

April in support of Operation American Resolve. 

The morale flyover was part of the High Rollers’ 

salute to medical professionals who battled 

COVID-19 throughout the spring. The threeship formation took off from the Nevada Air 

Guard base in Reno and first flew over Renown 

South Medical Center. During the course of the 

lunch hour, the formation then flew hundreds 

of miles over other medical facilities in Carson 

City, Gardnerville, South Lake Tahoe, Truckee, 

Fernley, Fallon, Silver Springs before returning 

to Reno.

8 / BATTLE BORN / Summer 2020

Photo by Sgt 1st Class Christina Repetto

SUVA, Fiji — Master Sgt. Cameron Anderson, 

right, of the State Partnership Program, conducts 

range operations in support of Soldiers in the 

Republic of Fiji Military Forces last winter. The 

Fijian Soldiers were set to join Kingdom of Tonga 

and Nevada Guard Soldiers during the 2020 Best 

Warrior Competition in March, but that contest 

was postponed to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fiji 

and Tonga are the two partner countries for the 

Nevada Guard under the auspice of the SPP.

Photo courtesy Nevada Air Guard Task Force 152

WINNEMUCCA — Senior Airman Nick Taylor of 

the Nevada Air Guard delivers food to a Native 

American community in Humboldt County in 

May. Four Airmen from Task Force 152, based in 

Reno, traveled to nine separate Native American 

communities as far east as Ibapah, Utah, in two 

days to deliver food and alleviate any shortages 

caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Other rural 

deliveries were made to sites near Wells, Goshute, 

Ely, Duckwater and Elko.
Photo by Sgt. Walter H. Lowell

LAS VEGAS — Nevada Army Guard Soldiers 

from various units and police officers with the 

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department 

receive a briefing at dusk at the Las Vegas 

Readiness Center prior to the 2020 New Year’s 

Eve celebration. More than 100,000 people 

annually descend on the Las Vegas Strip to 

ring in the New Year in “America’s Party.” At the 

request of the governor, the Nevada Guard has 

supported the party for nearly 20 years, ensuring 

safety for both Nevada residents and visitors.

Photo courtesy 7th Infantry Division 

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. — Sgt. 

Ernest Lopez, 30, of Las Vegas and the 72nd 

Military Police Company, with arm raised, 

emerged as the champion in the 125-pound class 

at the 7th Infantry Division Bayonet Combatives 

Tournament this spring at Joint Base LewisMcChord in Washington. Sgt. Lincoln Delgado, 

32, of Las Vegas, also represented the 72nd 

MPs in the 205-pound division. Lopez easily 

won his first two matches on the opening day. 

In the semifinal, Lopez won by submission 90 

seconds into the match with an unrelenting 

armbar. On the ultimate day of the contest, 

Lopez won his class with a technical knockout 

in Round 2. Maj. Gen. Xavier Brunson of the 7th 

Infantry recognized Lopez’s accomplishment 

with an Army Achievement Medal and a 7th ID 

Champion’s medal. Delgado won one of his 

first three matches but did not advance to the 

semifinals.

Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Curtis Ray

ELK, Poland — Nevada Army Guard Command 

Sgt. Maj. Shauna Reese, right, of the 757th 

Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, fields 

questions from Polish ROTC students during a 

celebration at the Military Education Center that 

marked International Women’s Day in March. The 

757th deployed to Poland in January to support 

European Command. Also addressing the 

students were linguist Martyna Kedzierska, left, 

and public affairs officer Maj. Olha Vandergriff.

Summer 2020 / BATTLE BORN / 9
10 / BATTLE BORN / Summer 2020

1st Nev. Guard female Armor officer another 

sign of combat arms integration progress

By Sgt. 1st Class Erick Studenicka

Joint Force Headquarters

ORCHARD TRAINING SITE, Idaho 

— Zero.

That’s how many females were among 

the 700 Nevada Army Guard Soldiers who 

deployed to Afghanistan with the 1-221st 

Cavalry squadron during its 2009-2010 

combat mission. The few females in the 

squadron at the time were precluded from 

deploying with the unit due to the Army’s 

antiquated rules excluding female Soldiers 

from serving with combat arms units while 

in a combat zone.

But the Army and the 1-221st 

Cavalry – the Nevada Guard’s largest 

combat arms unit – have come a 

long way. Bolstered by the Defense 

Department’s 2015 announcement that 

all-gender based military restrictions 

were lifted, female Soldiers are, ho hum, 

commonplace in the 1-221st. There are 

currently 94 females out of 625 total 

Soldiers in the 1-221st, or 15 percent 

of its ranks, and they’ll be in the midst 

of the fray during the squadron’s next 

combat deployment.

It’s true that many of the squadron’s 

female Soldiers work for the combat arms 

unit in non-combat arms occupations 

including medical, supply and maintenance 

positions. But with the squadron’s current 

corps of female officers in leadership 

positions (See article next page), it’s 

inevitable that within a few years, a high 

percentage of the combat arms positions 

within 1-221st will be filled by female 

Soldiers.

Photo by Sgt. Walter H. Lowell; Inset photo by Sgt. 1st Class Erick Studenicka

Second Lt. Katarina Schumacher of the 1-221st Cavalry squadron takes 

time out for a photo in front of the display tank at the Floyd Edsall 

Readiness Center in January. INSET: Schumacher walks to work at 

the University of Nevada, Reno. She’s the intake coordinator for the 

Veterans Services Office.
Summer 2020 / BATTLE BORN / 11

Schumacher provides foothold in Armor

The first female Armor officer in the 

Nevada Army Guard, 2nd Lt. Katarina 

Schumacher, 24, of Reno, has opened a new 

realm for women seeking Army combat 

arms opportunities. A platoon leader, she 

is in charge of four M1A1 tanks and 16 

Soldiers in D Company, the lone unit in the 

Nevada Army Guard equipped with tanks.

Her leadership position in Delta 

Company also makes her a key figure in 

the squadron’s drive to meet the Army’s 

“Leaders First” requirements. The Leaders 

First concept requires two leaders (an 

officer or noncommissioned officer) in 

the same combat arms company before 

the assignment of female junior enlisted 

Soldiers. With one more leader in Delta 

Company, dozens of combat arms positions 

in the unit will open to female recruits. 

(There is one other female Soldier in Delta 

Company, Spc. Mikaela Figueroa, but she 

does not yet qualify due to her rank and 

supply job.)

‘I just clicked with the atmosphere’

There are countless female officers, 

cadets, candidates and noncommissioned 

officers in the Army capable of filling a 

leadership position in Delta Company in 

the near future, but it may be awhile before 

the Army Guard finds another female 

Soldier like Schumacher who’s nonplussed 

by the rough-and-tumble atmosphere of the 

armored cavalry and unperturbed by some 

of the realities of the job, not the least of 

which is going weeks without a shower.

Indeed, all of Schumacher’s life 

experiences seem to combine to give her 

the perfect blend of traits needed for an 

Armor officer. As Katarina grew up, the 

Schumacher family spent time in Fallon, 

Spring Creek, Sparks and finally Las Vegas 

as Katarina’s mom, Erika, accepted various 

Bureau of Land Management positions 

across the state.

“It was a very outdoorsy childhood,” 

Katarina said. “All of the time on our 

family vacations was spent camping and 

hiking.”

After graduating from Arbor View High 

in Las Vegas in 2014, she started college 

at the University of Nevada, Reno, and 

began taking ROTC classes her freshman 

year.

As she neared her commissioning, 

then-Maj. Nick Chavez, now a lieutenant 

colonel and the 1-221st Cavalry squadron 

commander, questioned Schumacher on 

which branch of the Army she planned to

(See CAV OFFICER, Page 27)

By Sgt. 1st Class Erick Studenicka

Joint Force Headquarters

CARSON CITY — Although it’s been 

a scant few years since the Department 

of Defense removed its gender-based 

restrictions for combat, female Soldiers 

have been contributing to the 1-221st 

Cavalry Squadron – the largest combat 

arms unit in the Nevada Army Guard – for 

decades. 

Command Sgt. Maj. Paul Kinsey, 

who was in the 1-221st from 1985-2018, 

remembers female medics assisting the 

squadron in the mid-1990s at Fort Irwin, 

Calif., when it was serving in its role as 

opposition forces for the 11th Armored 

Cavalry Regiment. The medics were 

attached to the 1-221st and not full-fledged 

troopers.

“Regardless of what unit they were 

officially in, they were out there with us and 

we were glad to have their support,” said 

Kinsey, who is now the joint operations (J3) sergeant major.

Retired Command Sgt. Maj. James 

Richardson recalls that the 1-221st skirted 

the gender rules in the late 1990s when it 

took now-retired Sgt. 1st Class Pat Rucker 

under its wing after Rucker’s previous unit 

disbanded. She drilled with the 1-221st 

for several years and actually appeared in 

the unit’s manning roster in the personnel 

section. With her ubiquitous first name, 

the headquarters brass in Carson City was 

never the wiser.

From 2004-2006, more than 500 

cavalry Soldiers participated in a domestic 

deployment at Fort Irwin and backfilled the 

11th ACR when the Blackhorse Regiment 

deployed to Iraq. Unable to deploy due to 

the combat arms restrictions of the time, 

the 1-221st welcomed the non-deployable 

female Soldiers from the 11th ACR’s 

support company – dozens of fuel drivers, 

medics and mechanics.

After the Fort Irwin deployment 

concluded, female Nevada Soldiers 

attached to cav staffed positions in the 

1-221st, albeit they were unable to deploy.

One of those Soldiers was retired Sgt. 

1st Class Jeannie Morgan, who was the 

platoon sergeant for the Headquarters and 

Headquarters Troop’s medical platoon 

from 2007-2010. She remembers working 

for three memorable first sergeants: Don 

Sanders, Glenn Roberts and current 

state Command Sergeant Maj. Michael 

Spaulding.

“It was my best experience in the 

Nevada Guard along with working on the 

Honor Guard team,” Morgan said.

But Morgan and her would-be sisters-inarms were left at home once again during 

the cavalry’s 2009-2010 deployment to 

(See CAV WOMEN, page 27) 

Female cav Soldiers skirted 

gender inequality for decades

Courtesy photo

First Lt. Amanda Kemberling, left, and Capt. Michelle Tucay are two familiar female officers in the 

1-221st Cavalry in recent years whose leadership positions signified the progress of gender integration in 

the Nevada Army Guard’s largest combat arms unit. Kemberling, who is now in the Texas Army Guard, 

was the Nevada Army Guard’s first female combat arms officer and Tucay is the squadron’s forward 

support company’s first female commander.
12 / BATTLE BORN / Summer 2020

In This T

Nevada Guard b

Coronavirus health response proves to 

be largest activation in state history

More than 1,100 Soldiers, Airmen battle invisible invader

By Staff Sgt. Ryan Getsie, 

Senior Master Sgt. Paula Macomber 

and Sgt. 1st Class Erick Studenicka

CARSON CITY — The most unlikely 

of invaders into the state – the microscopic 

coronavirus that caused thousands of 

respiratory tract infections and hundreds of 

deaths this Spring – set the Nevada Guard 

into motion for its largest domestic response 

effort in state history. About 25 percent of all 

of the state’s Guardsmen were activated to 

battle the invisible but deadly invader on a 

broad-spectrum of fronts.

At the height of the action in late April, 

the Nevada Guard had about 1,150 Soldiers 

and Airmen on state active duty supporting 

more than 25 different COVID-19 response 

missions. The missions ran the gamut from 

two Airmen driving 57 boxes of personal 

protective equipment from Reno to Elko 

in a day to long-term logistical support at 

Cashman Field by 150 Soldiers.

As of May 5, 5,594 Nevadans had tested 

positive for COVID-19 and 267 had died 

from coronavirus. About a half dozen Nevada 

Guardsmen had tested positive (see related 

article); none had died.

“Nevadans took unprecedented and 

historic steps these past months to ensure we 

could combat the spread of COVID-19 and 

flatten the curve,” said Adjutant General Maj. 

Gen. Ondra Berry. “We’ve asked a lot out of 

our citizens and we’ve asked a lot out of our 

Nevada National Guardsmen.

“This is what we train for. This is what we 

prepare for. This is what we do. Now we are 

showing the world how to fight this pandemic 

right here in the homeland.”

The story was the same across the nation, 

as more than 46,000 Guardsmen were 

activated to support the COVID-19 battle. 

That number was just short of the 51,000 

called to duty in the wake of Hurricane 

Katrina in 2005.

As February began, coronavirus was 

just an odd sounding ailment causing havoc 

in distant China. The first inkling that the 

National Guard would be involved in the 

health response came on Feb. 6 when 70 

Americans who had been living in Wuhan, 

China, were placed into quarantine at the 

Nebraska National Guard’s Camp Ashland 

training site.

The situation simmered into March with 

some global travel restrictions, but boiled over 

on March 11 when a professional basketball 

player, Rudy Gobert, tested positive for 

COVID-19 and the entire National Basketball 

Association season was postponed.

The domino effect quickly struck the 

Nevada Guard as events scheduled for midMarch, including the Best Warrior contest 

and the Adjutant General’s Marksmanship 

Match, were canceled. The majority of 

Nevada Military Department employees 

began tele-working from home and, on 

March 16, the Department of Defense halted 

all domestic travel including temporary duty 

travel.

The inevitable then occurred April 6 

when Gov. Steve Sisolak called up 106 initial 

Guardsmen to join the fray and support 

federal and state agencies trying to quell the 

pandemic.

Seven hundred more were called up on 

April 14, bringing the total number to more 

than 800 and making the response the largest 

in state history, surpassing the previous 

Photo by Brad Horn

Senior Airman Dawn Harris takes a swab sample from a civilian at a Community Based Collection Site 

at Carson High School in early May.
Summer 2020 / BATTLE BORN / 13

Together:

battles COVID-19

record of 400 for the post-Rodney King race 

riots of 1992.

Although it had committed about 800 

Guardsmen for support, the Nevada Guard 

actually had more than 1,100 Soldiers and 

Airmen on various missions daily in April 

and May (including about 140 Active Guard 

and Reserve members.) April 24 was the 

high-water mark for support with 1,151 

Soldiers and Airmen on duty. 

On most days, there were about 650 

Guardsmen supporting operations in southern 

Nevada and about 450 based in northern 

Nevada.

Unified effort

Throughout the state, Guardsmen traded 

in their Kevlar helmets and small arms 

weapons for personal protective equipment 

as they helped test citizens and ostensibly 

curb the spread of the disease.

The largest and lengthiest individual 

mission was carried out by Task Force-17, 

composed mainly of Soldiers in the 17th 

Sustainment Brigade. They ran support 

operations at Cashman Field in Las Vegas 

for several weeks beginning in mid-April. 

Space at Cashman Field was used during the 

pandemic to shelter displaced persons after 

other shelters were closed due to the spread 

of coronavirus. About 150 Soldiers worked at 

Cashman Field.

“We are extremely pleased to have the 

Guard here,” said Cashman Field incident 

commander Lisa Hibbler. “This is a 24/7 

operation and we really needed the individuals 

who are trained and have technical skills.”

Rick Rosen of Team Rubicon assisted 

with the training of the Soldiers and – as a 

retired sergeant major – was pleased seeing 

Guardsmen support a non-traditional 

contingency.

“(This pandemic) has exposed Guardsmen 

to a different type of mission that they’re 

normally not accustomed to,” Rosen said. 

“Most of the time during an emergency, 

they’re filling sand bags, moving people, or 

helping feed them.

“In this case, we have a pandemic. They’re 

going to learn about what that is and how all 

of us work together to handle it.”

On smaller scales, the scenes of support 

were repeated daily across the state as about 

20-25 missions were ongoing.

As the curve flattened and the spread 

appeared to stabilize, community based 

collection sites for coronavirus testing moved 

to the forefront.

Testing for those with no symptoms 

(asymptomatic) became available in Carson 

City and Las Vegas on May 5. Three hundred 

people drove into the Community Based 

Collection Site at The Orleans that day with 

Nevada Guard guiding citizens through the 

testing process.

Morale mission

One of the Nevada Guard’s most visible 

missions couldn’t be measured in terms of 

boxes delivered or masks distributed.

On April 28, the 152nd Airlift Wing 

conducted Operation American Resolve, a 

COVID-19 morale flyover to salute northern 

Nevada’s health workers.

Three of the wing’s C-130 Hercules cargo 

aircraft took off in Reno and passed over 

the Renown South Medical Center at noon 

and subsequently flew over Carson Tahoe 

Hospital in the capital city; Carson Valley 

Medical Center in Gardnerville; Barton 

Memorial Hospital in South Lake Tahoe, 

Calif.; Tahoe Forest Hospital in Truckee, 

Calif.; St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center 

in Reno; Renown Regional Medical Center; 

VA Sierra Nevada Health Care Center, 

the University of Nevada, Reno School of 

Medicine, and Northern Nevada Medical 

Center in Sparks.

The aircraft then went east to the Banner 

Health Center in Fernley; Lahontan Valley 

VA Clinic and Banner Churchill Community 

Hospital in Fallon; and finally Silver Springs 

Rural Health Centers.

End of the tunnel?

One sign that the Army was not going 

to kowtow to the virus came on May 7 as 

family and friends – and Sisolak – bade 

farewell to the aviation Soldiers in the 2/238th 

Aviation unit before they traveled to Texas 

for pre-deployment training before heading 

to the CENTCOM region for their medical 

evacuation mission. They were set to replace 

an earlier set of 238th Soldiers who departed 

in September; as of mid-May, those Soldiers 

were in Department of Defense limbo, 

awaiting their return transportation back to 

Nevada.

Their departure event was the first in 

Nevada Guard history to be held with all of the 

participants wearing face coverings and with 

everyone maintaining 6 feet of social distance.

“I wish you the best on this upcoming 

most-unique of deployments and look forward 

to welcoming you home in a few months – 

perhaps even without a face covering and 

with a hearty handshake. Or at least an elbow 

bump,” Sisolak said.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Ryan Getsie 

Gov. Steve Sisolak, left, and Maj. Gen. Ondra Berry get a briefing at a Community Based Collection Site 

in The Orleans Casino parking garage in early May.
14 / BATTLE BORN / Summer 2020

Critical civilian health care workers 

maintain frontline posts vs. pandemic 

By 1st Lt. Emerson Marcus

152nd Airlift Wing

RENO — During the largest state 

activation in Nevada Guard history, 

many Soldiers and Airmen remained at 

their critical civilian medical posts rather 

than report for military duty. Adjutant 

General Maj. Gen. Ondra Berry fully 

backed the decision for those in civilian 

health care to prioritize their crucial 

positions instead of joining a Nevada 

Guard task force.

The Nevada Guard compiled a list at 

the start of the pandemic to determine 

how many Guardsmen work as civilian 

medical professionals. According to 

the list, more than 240 Nevada Guard 

Soldiers and Airmen work as medical 

professionals as nurses, doctors, dental 

technicians or in other medical fields. 

One of the vital civilian medical 

workers was 1st Lt. Sparkle Mccuiston 

of the 152nd Medical Group. She came 

into contact with countless confirmed 

cases while working her civilian job as 

an infectious disease nurse practitioner 

in Las Vegas.

“In my opinion, it may not be nearly 

as deadly as some diseases I come in 

contact with, such as tuberculosis, which 

killed 1.5 million people in 2018,” 

Mccuiston said in April. “(COVID-19) 

hasn’t reached those mortality levels. 

The part that is concerning is the 

supplies and ability to keep seeing the 

patients along with the availability of 

beds. It’s hit fast. It’s hit very quickly.”

She drills one weekend a month and 

two weeks each year as clinical nurse 

specialist at the Nevada Air National 

Guard’s C-130 airlift wing unit in Reno. 

The first confirmed case in Nevada 

occurred in late March. There were 

more than 8,000 confirmed cases in the 

state as of late May, including more than 

400 deaths, according to the Nevada 

Department of Health and Human 

Services. Most of those confirmed cases 

are in Las Vegas. Nationwide, there have 

been more than 5.6 million confirmed 

cases with more than 100,000 deaths, 

said the Center for Disease Control and 

Prevention in late May.

Mccuiston, 30, said she’s worked at 

several hospitals during the pandemic, 

including Desert Springs, Southern 

Hills, Spring Valley and the Kindred 

long-term care facility. She regularly 

works at multiple hospitals each day. 

Given her close contact with the 

virus, Mccuiston said one of her biggest 

fears is passing COVID-19 to other 

people, especially the elderly. She has 

quarantined herself at home when not at 

work and avoids shopping for groceries. 

Her boyfriend leaves the house to 

purchase essential items.

“I try to limit my exposure to 

everybody,” Mccuiston said. “I have not 

exposed myself to anybody outside our 

home and only come into contact with 

people outside when I’m at work. Nurses 

are getting (COVID-19). It’s definitely 

spreading in the community faster than 

many expected.” 

“Medical providers are essential to 

the hospitals where they work,” said 

Col. Martin Bain, the Nevada Guard’s 

State Air Surgeon who works full-time 

as a civilian trauma surgeon in the 

surgical intensive care unit at Renown 

Regional Medical Center in Reno. “We 

do everything we can to keep (Guard 

health workers) functional in their 

civilian jobs where we think they have 

the most impact.”

About 75 percent of the Nevada 

National Guard’s 4,300 Soldiers and 

Airmen train one weekend each month 

and two weeks each year to stay 

proficient in their military occupations. 

For Mccuiston, the Guard helped pay 

for much of her associate and bachelor 

degrees, putting her on a path to 

complete her masters in 2018.

Mccuiston, who initially joined the 

Army Guard’s Medical Detachment in 

2009 before transferring to the Air Guard 

in 2015, said she’s taken countless calls 

from family and friends asking questions 

about COVID-19. Since the outbreak in 

Las Vegas, she’s also seen an alarming 

spike in patients frustrated with medical 

professionals, a situation that concerns 

her. 

“The biggest misconception is some 

people think we are not doing anything 

for them,” Mccuiston said, “This is a 

virus. If you are healthy and have minor 

symptoms, please don’t go to urgent 

care. Please self quarantine. 

“I’ve also gotten many calls from 

friends and family who are scared. I’ve 

tried to calm them down and tell them 

we need to get through this.”

Courtesy photos

1st Lt. Sparkle Mccuiston of the 152nd Medical Group is seen in her Air Force service dress uniform 

and in her scrubs that serve as her uniform in her civilian occupation as an infectious-disease nurse 

practitioner in Las Vegas.
Summer 2020 / BATTLE BORN / 15

By Sgt. 1st Class Erick Studenicka

Joint Force Headquarters

RENO — During the last few months 

while working as an emergency room 

nurse at the VA Sierra Nevada Health 

Care System’s 174-bed main facility, Sgt. 

Matt Hoover had a front row view to the 

state’s battle against the COVID-19.

Hoover, 39, of Reno, is also a health 

care specialist in the Nevada Army 

Guard’s Northern Medical Detachment. 

Because he was deemed a critically 

important civilian medical professional, 

he was not among the 1,150 Guardsmen 

called up on the COVID-19 mission. 

Instead, he remained at his civilian post 

treating patients – mainly Veterans – 

displaying coronavirus symptoms.

A Washington Post article from midApril stated that more than 9,000 health 

care workers were infected with the virus 

because of their occupation. The VA 

Sierra Nevada Health Care System has 

reported three of its staff have died from 

COVID-19.

“It’s definitely a serious illness,” 

Hoover said. “One of my co-workers 

from the emergency room died and that 

really brought the seriousness of the 

entire matter home to me.”

A spokeswoman for the VA Sierra 

Nevada Health Care System said she 

could not disclose how many total 

coronavirus patients the facility had 

treated since pandemic began, but she did 

note the number of COVID-19 patients 

was encouragingly low by late-April.

In his position, Hoover triages 

incoming patients and helps stabilize their 

condition. The staff then assesses and 

monitors the patients and performs any 

needed procedures including intravenous 

injections and electrocardiogram tests.

Hoover said incoming patients with 

a cough or fever were quickly isolated 

and tested. Subsequent treatment was 

based on the severity of the virus on the 

individual’s respiratory system. Some 

people were released to go home and 

recover in isolation while others would 

have to be intubated.

“It just all depends on the individual,” 

Hoover said. “Some people have no 

serious issues or very slight symptoms.

“Others can’t breathe at all and die.”

Hoover, who recorded a stint as an 

Active Guard and Reserve Soldier for the 

Medical Detachment before becoming a 

registered nurse, said personal protective 

equipment was never a major issue.

“There were measures put in place 

early on to ensure we would have enough 

and we were reminded to not be wasteful,” 

Hoover said.

Despite his close up view of 

the situation, Hoover said he is no 

clairvoyant and has no answer for how 

long coronavirus will hamper society. He 

said it’s within the realm of possibility 

that Airmen and Soldiers will one day 

line up for annual coronavirus shots just 

like they do nowadays for their flu shots.

“Researchers can hopefully figure out 

a vaccine soon and we can just get shots 

for it and solve everything,” Hoover said. 

Med Det sergeant a forward observer 

to the COVID-19 fight at VA hospital

Photo courtesy of VA public affairs

Sgt. Matt Hoover, an emergency room nurse at the VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System, reviews a 

record at his nursing station.

Photo by Sgt. Walter H. Lowell

BREAK IN SERVICE: Nevada Guard Soldiers, including Brig. Gen. Mike Hanifan, take a break for a photo at a food bank in Gardnerville in early May. The 

Soldiers assisted the food bank by packing and then distributing donated goods to Douglas County households affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.
16 / BATTLE BORN / Summer 2020

Community based collection support

familiar mission for Nev. task forces

By Staff Sgt. Ryan Getsie

17th Sustainment Brigade

LAS VEGAS — From Stateline in the 

West to Baker in the East, Nevada Guard 

support at COVID-19 community-based 

collection and testing sites became a 

familiar sight across the entire state this 

spring as officials tried to gain information 

on the widespread coronavirus pandemic 

and its impact on the state’s citizens.

Whether they were collecting 

specimens or directing traffic through a 

collection site, the majority of Soldiers 

and Airmen on the five COVID-19 task 

forces established by the Nevada Guard 

assisted in some manner at a testing 

collection sites at some time. While the 

testing collection process looked familiar 

across the state, the town’s populations 

ranged from tiny Pananca, population 

963, to metropolitan Las Vegas, 

population 2.7 million.

Soldiers and Airman with Task Force 

Medical, Task Force 221 and Task Force 

17 began their collaboration with civilian 

medical professionals at the University 

of Nevada School of Medicine – Las 

Vegas Patient Care Center in April. The 

task force later tested citizens at the 

The Orleans hotel before the site finally 

moved to the UNLV Tropicana parking 

garage in late May. As of early June, the 

site was in operation and anyone was 

welcome to receive a test for free.

The UNLV Tropicana site can test 

children of any age with parental consent.

1st Lt. Caleena Longworth, the officer 

in charge of Nevada Guard troops at the 

collection site, explained the specimen 

collection process.

“When citizens pull up, they meet with 

the specimen collection team. It consists 

of one civilian medical assistant who 

takes the patient’s vital signs and does the 

swabbing and a National Guard medic,” 

Longworth said. “The medic then checks 

the ID to make sure it matches and relays 

the vital signs to the administration tent.

The military medic doesn’t have direct 

contact with the patient.”

Longworth said the Nevada Guard 

troops quickly refined the testing process 

in cooperation with the UNLV medical 

staff.

“They know what they’re doing. 

They’ve been doing this for five weeks 

and make our job easy,” Longworth said. 

“We basically augment and help them 

with the mission. They already worked 

out the kinks long ago.”

Dr. Elissa Palmer, the Chairwoman of 

Family Medicine at the UNLV School of 

Medicine, said the team of her staff, Clark 

County and the Nevada Guard combined 

to create an effective testing site.

“I think it’s an amazing collaboration 

with the Guard. We refine more efficient 

ways of doing things together,” Palmer 

said. “We were testing about 250 patients 

per day, but with the National Guard 

here, we’ve been able to increase our 

numbers.”

In the first three weeks of cooperative 

testing in Las Vegas, the team tested 

13,605 people.

Although the Nevada Guard medics did 

not swab patients in Las Vegas, they took 

over that duty at several rural locations 

across the Silver State as Nevada officials 

scoured every community in search of 

coronavirus hotspots and outbreaks.

In Winnemucca in May, Task Force 

422 and Task Force 152 cooperatively 

tested more than 700 Humboldt County 

citizens.

In Lincoln County in June, Task Force 

17 assisted at two community based 

collection sites, one in Alamo and one 

at Lincoln County High School. Fifteen 

Soldiers with Task Force 17 and five 

from Task Force Med traveled to distant 

Lincoln County from Las Vegas in early 

June. After testing 20 patients in Alamo 

on June 2, the contingent tested 60 

citizens at the high school on June 3.

Pvt. Cheyann Harley of Task Force 

Med said she enjoyed the mild weather 

in eastern Nevada and her opportunity to 

help citizens in rural communities.

“It’s good to be able to get out and 

help the smaller towns that may not have 

the support that’s available in a big city 

like Las Vegas,” Harley said.

For information on a free coronavirus 

test in southern Nevada, call 702-795-

4932 or visit: www.umcsn.com. 

Photo by Staff Sgt. Ryan Getsie

A Soldier with Task Force 17 directs traffic at The Orleans community based collection site in early May 

in Las Vegas.
Summer 2020 / BATTLE BORN / 17

What an incredible time to be in 

the National Guard. While we 

unceasingly trained to fight our 

nation’s wars, we also prepared to protect 

our homeland — and this spring has been 

our time to shine. With COVID-19 in our 

midst, we have more than 1,100 Nevada 

Guardsmen protecting, supporting, and 

helping our fellow Nevadans.

Even though we are in homeland 

response mode, we can’t forget we need 

to continue to build and train our military.

Many of our Soldiers and Airmen have 

asked questions concerning recruiting and 

whether people can still join. 

The answer is “yes.” All of our 

recruiters are equipped with the 

proper protective equipment to protect 

themselves and a potential recruit. 

We must remain fit, both mentally 

and physically. We have some incredible 

support for mental health, but in many 

cases, it is up to each of us to maintain 

our physical health.

I am sure you all have seen the many 

websites and apps dedicated to helping 

you stay physically fit while at home.

Physical fitness is one of the many ways 

to maintain your mental fitness as well. 

We will not be relaxing standards because 

you cannot go to the gym. 

If you need help formulating a 

workout you can do at home; please 

reach out to your leadership. We have 

our Master Fitness Trainers who can help 

both Soldiers and Airmen generate fitness 

plans.

Soldiers, the Army Combat Fitness 

Test is coming! No later than October 

2020, the ACFT will be the Army test of 

record. You can check it out at https://

www.army.mil/acft/

There are many resources to show you 

how to prepare for the test and pass the 

event. If you have not done the test, it is 

a fun test. There is nothing hard to get 

through if you spend some time preparing 

for it.

We have also fielded many 

questions regarding whether or not 

promotions will continue. I assure all 

of our Soldiers and Airmen that our 

promotions will continue. We have 

made some changes to ensure that every 

Soldier and Airman who is promotion 

eligible has the opportunity. Please get 

with your leadership and they can give 

you the latest updates. If you are not 

receiving answers in a timely manner, 

email me and I will ensure they get 

to you. The Army’s board will be in 

September.

As I have visited our Soldiers and 

Airmen serving in the north and south, I 

am overwhelmed with a sense of pride. 

I welcome the opportunity to put on the 

uniform daily and serve with 4,200 of 

the state’s top men and women.

I also want to underscore the fact we 

make a difference.

Some of you have said to me it 

doesn’t feel like you make a difference. 

Ask yourself this though: How many 

people thank you for your presence? 

Do not belittle your seemingly small 

missions like delivering supplies or 

assisting with manual labor tasks: You 

are the true enablers of this COVID-19 

Warfight and are the unsung heroes 

who make a difference.

I thank every Guardsman 

who serves our country and our 

communities. Thank you for being 

great Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen.

 that our commanders-in-chief have 

come to rely on.

FIGHT ON! BATTLE BORN!

Senior Enlisted Leader, Nevada National Guard

Photo by Staff Sgt. Ryan Getsie

A Nevada Guardsman, right, with Task Force Medical works alongside a UNLV medical 

assistant at a voluntary COVID-19 testing site in April in Clark County.

Command Sgt. Maj Michael Spaulding

Photo by Sgt. Walter H. Lowell

Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Spaulding gives a Facebook Live briefing to Nevada Guardsmen and their 

family members in April from the Division of Emergency Management building in Carson City
18 / BATTLE BORN / Summer 2020

By 1st Lt. Emerson Marcus

152 Airlift Wing

CARLIN — Lauren Schulman hit the 

ground running in January as the first Nevada 

Youth ChalleNGe director in state history. 

There’s good reason for her non-stop 

activity — she has a lot of work to do in a short 

amount of time. 

Her goal is to quickly turn the Elko County 

Readiness Center in Carlin, formerly the 

University of Nevada, Reno, Fire Science 

Academy, into a “top-performing Youth 

ChalleNGe program” with classes set to begin 

in June 2021. 

“We’re fortunate to have the gold standard 

campus,” said Schulman, who has worked in 

the Texas National Guard’s Youth ChalleNGe 

since 1994, most recently as the program 

director at the campus in Eagle Lake, Texas. 

“I’m really excited about being in Carlin and 

being able to train cadets in an environment 

that is not only safe but palatable to learn in.”

Nevada’s program will be called the Battle 

Born Youth ChalleNGe Academy.

Youth ChalleNGe is a voluntary, 17-month 

(five-month residential) coed program 

designed to assist 16-18 year old high school 

dropouts and at-risk students graduate high 

school on time. It includes educational and life 

skill components and is funded 75 percent with 

federal money if the state covers 25 percent of 

the costs. 

During the 2019 Legislative Session in 

Carson City, lawmakers, including Gov. Steve 

Sisolak, approved state funding of $500,000 

annually for the program in conjunction with 

the $1.5 million in anticipated federal funds. 

Initial funds will go toward renovation of the 

Elko County Readiness Center and hiring of 

staff, which begins this summer, Schulman 

said.

Schulman anticipates a 

staff of about 50, including 

an operations staff of 22 team 

leaders, four shift supervisors, 

one commandant and one 

deputy commandant. The 

program’s staff will also 

include a coordinator, chow 

hall staff, recruiters and the 

post-residential team who 

tracks cadet progress after 

students enter the year-long, 

post-residence portion of the 

course. 

Schulman received the 

proverbial Youth ChalleNGe 

torch from Grace Nichols and Heather 

Goulding, affectionately described as the 

“Tsunami Sisters” by former Adjutant General 

Brig. Gen. William Burks. Nichols and 

Goulding diligently worked with Nevada 

military officials to convince state lawmakers 

to approve the program in 2019. For their 

efforts, they were named one of six finalists 

for the Reno Gazette Journal “Citizen of the 

Year.” award. 

While Nichols and Goulding successfully 

pushed the program through the legislative 

process, it’s up to Schulman to stand up the 

program in Nevada, the first of its kind in the 

state. 

With the in-state program, Schulman said 

each class cycle will set an annual goal of about 

100 male students and 50 female students. 

“We want to makes sure we are meeting the 

needs of the state in a coed environment,” she 

said. “This is a great target to start with and 

within the first 3-5 years we can look to grow, 

but as we get started and train new staff, it’s 

important to stay focused and make sure we 

are bringing in the right students.”

Schulman described the program as 

a “scholarship.” Because 

state funds are used for the 

program, it’s important to 

accept applicants who will 

take the program seriously, 

she said. The program will fall 

under the directive of the Elko 

County School District, but 

applications will be accepted 

statewide. 

“We want to be good 

stewards of state money and 

accept those who have the grit 

to stay committed throughout 

the program,” she said. 

When asked if she is 

worried about the remoteness of the campus 

in Elko County — one of the reasons the UNR 

Fire Science Academy did not succeed in the 

same location — Schulman was emphatic. 

“There are absolutely advantages from the 

remoteness of the campus — no distractions,” 

she said. “Most of these kids haven’t climbed 

a tree in their lives. Having the opportunity to 

go on a hike or enjoy the fresh air is new and 

foreign to many of them. It’s a huge benefit for 

our program, and it’s the perfect place for us to 

make all kinds of noise at 5 a.m.” 

Schulman, an Air Force brat who studied 

Marine Biology at Texas A&M at Galveston, 

changed her career path as she began working 

at Youth ChalleNGe in Texas in the mid-1990s 

and “fell in love with the program and less in 

love with the degree plan.”

After two decades working in Texas and 

Washington, she’s ready for a new location 

and a new challenge, she said.

“I’m hungry. I’m ready for the opportunity 

to help a different state. The level of support has 

been amazing, but we need that to continue. 

Nevada not only needs this, it deserves this,” 

Schulman said.

New director anticipates ‘top-performing 

Youth ChalleNGe program’ in Nevada

Photo by 1st Lt. Emerson Marcus 

The Elko County Readiness Center in Carlin, 

formerly the University of Nevada, Reno Fire 

Science Academy, is set to become the home 

of Nevada’s Youth ChalleNGe Academy

Lauren Schulman:

Youth ChalleNGe 

program director
Summer 2020 / BATTLE BORN / 19

Historian’s Notebook

By Emerson Marcus

State Historian

The COVID-19 outbreak doesn’t 

represent the first quarantine order 

implemented in Nevada to combat an 

infectious disease.

Similar to COVID-19, the 1918 

Influenza Epidemic spread around the 

world. The epidemic arrived in Nevada 

in the spring of 1918 and returned even 

deadlier in October and November that 

year before tapering off in the spring of 

1919.

After several confirmed cases 

became public in Washoe County in 

October 1918, government ordered the 

closure of Reno’s high school, theaters, 

churches, saloons and other locations of 

large gatherings. Dr. M. A. Robinson, 

a member of the city’s board of health, 

was quoted in the Reno Evening Gazette 

saying, “Precautions must be taken and 

everyone is asked to cooperate with the 

health authorities in keeping the disease 

from spreading.”

The Western Shoshone Agency 

instructed members of the tribe to “not 

go to the store unless it is necessary,” 

adding, “if you have to go to the store or 

office your wants will be attended to on 

the porches.”

Children were “not allowed to mingle 

on the play grounds” and the University 

of Nevada, Reno implemented a campuswide quarantine, according to newspaper 

reports. Initially, grade schools remained 

open with students leaving every other 

seat open — an early-20th century 

form of social distancing — but they 

eventually closed. Hotels, schools and 

fraternal lodges around the state were 

converted into temporary hospitals.

University of Nevada President Walter 

Ernest Clark issued the following order: 

“Beginning (Oct. 11)...a military guard 

will be set about campus and no one will 

be allowed to go from the campus or to 

come on the campus except by express 

permission.”

At the time of UNR’s quarantine, 

Reno had a handful of confirmed cases, 

and no confirmed cases on campus, 

but university officials felt the threat of 

the flu demanded a serious response to 

“check the spread.” 

The epidemic also reached Tonopah 

where nine people died in the second 

weekend of November, the same week 

Germany signed an armistice agreement 

with the Allies to end World War I.

In all, Nevada had 4,000 confirmed 

cases, according to the Nevada health 

board, in a state with a total population 

of about 80,000 people. The 1918 flu 

killed about 675,000 nationwide. Most 

estimates put the total death count 

worldwide at between 20 to 50 million.

In 2018, the Nevada State Museum 

in Las Vegas created an exhibit for the 

centennial of the 1918 Influenza. The 

exhibit noted that the 1918 flu killed 40 

of Las Vegas’ 2,000 residents, but those 

numbers are believed to be low because 

many who died with pneumonia during 

that time were not included in the total 

count.

While COVID-19 has proved most 

deadly for the elderly and people with 

underlying health conditions, the 1918 flu 

was deadliest for people between the ages 

of 15 and 45, according to the exhibit. 

The number of COVID-19 confirmed 

cases in Nevada reached 8,000, as of 

May 27, with 402 deaths, according to 

the Nevada Department of Health and 

Human Services.

“We will undoubtedly face hardship,” 

Gov. Steve Sisolak said in reference 

to COVID-19. “There will be a loss of 

income. Families and individuals will 

be inconvenienced. I ask every Nevadan 

to call your neighbors, call and check 

on the elderly who may be alone and in 

need. Together, we will get through this 

challenging time.”
20 / BATTLE BORN / Summer 2020

Adjutant General receives second 

star during rare COVID-19 respite 

Staff reports

CARSON CITY — In a rare respite during 

the duo’s combined coronavirus response effort, 

Gov. Steve Sisolak promoted Nevada National 

Guard Adjutant General Ondra Berry to the 

rank of major general in April during a subdued, 

private ceremony in the capital city. 

Abiding by social distancing guidelines, only 

a handful of attendees saw Berry receive his 

second star from Sisolak, who is the commander 

in chief of the Nevada National Guard. Berry is 

the top officer in the Nevada National Guard 

and manages the Nevada Department of the 

Military, which includes the state’s 4,300 

Guardsmen. The Nevada Department of the 

Military is providing oversight of the Nevada 

Division of Emergency Management and the 

Department of Health and Human Services 

during the COVID-19 public health crisis.

With the recent retirement of Maj. Gen. 

Robert Herbert, Berry, 61, of Sparks, is the now 

the lone major general in the Nevada National 

Guard. Berry became a brigadier general in 

2013 and succeeded Brig. Gen. Bill Burks as 

the state’s Adjutant General on Sept. 1, 2019.

He is the first Adjutant General to attain the 

rank of major general since Maj. Gen. Cindy 

Kirkland, who retired in 2009. In his civilian 

occupation, Berry retired from the Reno Police 

Department after 25 years of service after 

reaching the positon of deputy police chief. 

He was subsequently a senior vice president at 

MGM Resorts where he worked on diversity 

initiatives.

ENLISTED LEADERSHIP NEWS

Command Sgt. Maj. Dennis Basilio will 

become the Nevada Army Guard’s next state 

command sergeant major, said Adjutant General 

Maj. Gen. Ondra Berry in a recent message. 

Basilio, 54, of North Las Vegas, was previously 

the 17th Sustainment Brigade command 

sergeant major. He will succeed Command 

Sgt. Maj. Michael Spaulding, who will remain 

the state’s senior enlisted leader. Basilio will 

advise the adjutant general, the Army Guard 

commander and the senior enlisted leader 

on all matters concerning enlisted Soldiers 

in the Nevada Army Guard. Basilio was the 

command sergeant major for the 17th Special 

Troops Battalion when it deployed to Kuwait 

and surrounding countries in 2015-2016.

In the same message, Berry said Sgt. Maj. 

Gary Giddens will become the command 

sergeant major for the 757th Combat 

Sustainment Support Battalion. Giddens, 44, of 

Henderson, was the support operations sergeant 

major for the 17th Sustainment Brigade since 

2017. Giddens also deployed to Kuwait and 

he has also served as the first sergeant for both 

Kilo Troop and the 777th Forward Support 

Company in the 1-221st Cavalry..

KRUEGER NOW FULL BIRD COL.

Three general officers – Maj. Gen. Ondra 

Berry, Brig. Gen. Zach Doser and Brig. 

Gen. Mike Hanifan – took time out from the 

COVID-19 response to attend the promotion 

ceremony of John Krueger to colonel in early 

April.

During the ceremony, Krueger, 44, of Reno, 

also received a Meritorious Service Medal for 

his work as the Director of the Nevada Guard’s 

Human Resources Office from May 2017 

through Sept. 2019.

It was also announced Krueger is the Chief 

of the Joint Staff and he is set to assist director 

Col. John Week during the state’s COVID-19 

health response.

Krueger is a signal corps branch officer 

and he quickly rose through the ranks of the 

Photo by Sgt. Walter H. Lowell

Gov. Steve Sisolak, left, and newly-promoted Nevada Guard Adjutant General Maj. Gen Ondra Berry 

display Berry’s new command flag in April. The flag serves as an identifying marker of the Adjutant 

General’s location as Berry performs his duties.

Command Sgt. Maj. Dennis Basilio Command Sgt. Maj. Gary Giddens
Summer 2020 / BATTLE BORN / 21

By Staff Sgt. Ryan Getsie

17th Sustainment Brigade

LAS VEGAS – During the course of his more than two decades in the Army 

as both an enlisted Soldier and commissioned officer, Charles Dickinson of the 

17th Sustainment Brigade enjoyed several memorable promotion ceremonies.

But his promotion to lieutenant colonel this spring surpassed all of his previous 

ceremonies because, for the first time since their relationship began, Dickinson’s 

husband, John Harris, felt welcome to celebrate his achievement alongside him.

“To John, who’s had to put up with a lot of bull throughout the years – perhaps 

more than anyone else – I love you and sincerely appreciate you,” Dickinson 

said during his promotion speech. “This is the first time out of all my promotion 

ceremonies that my family has been here due to either deployments, locations or 

other circumstances.”

Dickinson, 41, of North Las Vegas, met Harris in the spring of 2008. They 

were both students at UNLV and one day while both were studying at the library, 

they met and later shared lunch together. After spending more and more time 

with each other, they made a decision to live together in the fall of 2008.

Prior to his 2009 deployment to Kuwait, Dickinson and Harris held a private 

commitment ceremony at their house on March 29, 2009, to exchange their 

vows to each other before Dickinson embarked on a distant foreign mission.

At the time, the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell directive and the Defense of Marriage 

Act were the prevailing military policies. Harris was not welcome to interact 

with family support groups or acquire federal health coverage and other benefits 

afforded traditional married couples. They were also denied basic separation 

compensation.

Dickinson explained that even after he returned home and adjusted back to 

normal life, there were still many challenges for the couple.

“We continued to live the good life at home while always dealing with the 

fear that my career could end or be hindered by our relationship,” Dickinson said.

Even after the DADT policy was repealed and the Defense of Marriage 

Act was overturned, the couple feared the organization might be hesitant to 

accept their relationship. The two had many discussions about the topic and, 

when the Department of Defense finally included sexual orientation in its antidiscrimination policy in 2015, they ultimately did become legally married the 

same year.

Dickinson thanked Harris for sticking by his side during his military career.

“You’ve stuck with me through years and years of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, 

the Defense of Marriage Act when you didn’t get any of the same (spousal) 

benefits, and in 2015 when the DOD finally provided some protections against 

anti-discrimination based on sexual orientation,” Dickinson said.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Ryan Getsie 

With husband John Harris, center, looking on, Lt. Col. Charles Dickinson, renders a 

salute to during his promotion ceremony this spring.

422nd Expeditionary Signal Battalion to attain the rank of 

lieutenant colonel at age 38.

 991ST WELCOMES NEW CSM

Command Sgt. Major Elbie Doege is the new command 

sergeant major of the 991st Aviation Troop Command after 

succeeding Command Sgt. Maj. Paul Kinsey following 

a change of responsibility ceremony on May 7. The 

ceremony occurred in the Army Aviation Support Facility 

in Stead following the departure of G Company, 2/238th 

Aviation for their CENTCOM mission. The 991st Aviation 

Troop command battalion includes four aviation units in 

the Nevada Army Guard. Doege was previously the State 

Partnership Program command sergeant major. Kinsey will 

remain the J3 Joint Operations command sergeant major. 

In his civilian occupation, Doege, of Red Bluff, Calif., is a 

marshal for the Supreme Court of Nevada.

“I am looking forward to this next step in my career 

and learning as much as I can about aviation,” said Doege 

following perhaps the first change of responsibility 

ceremony that saw all of the participants wearing face 

coverings.

“In just a short time, my eyes have really been opened 

to how important each aviation Soldiers is to the success of 

the 991st units.”

Command Sgt. Maj. Elbie Doege 

Col. John Krueger Couple enjoys long overdue 

inclusive promotion ceremony
22 / BATTLE BORN / Summer 2020

By 1st Lt. Emerson Marcus

152nd Airlift Wing

RENO — Every Air Force pilot gets a 

call sign, but the aviator never gets to pick 

it. 

Within hours of his commission, Capt. 

Tennyson William Hunter, 13, received 

four final nominations for his call sign: 

He would either be known as “Kittens 

Mittens,” “Chef,” “Lotto,” or “Wizard.” 

The first nominee was due to his love 

of cats. The second, because he enjoys 

baking. The third possibility was because 

the 152nd Airlift Wing “hit the jackpot” 

by recruiting him into its ranks. The fourth 

option stemmed from the fact Hunter is a 

fan of the J.K. Rowling book and movie 

series “Harry Potter.”

It was a tough choice, but in the end, the 

Airmen of the 152nd Airlift Wing decided 

that “Wizard” should take flight. 

The awarding of Hunter’s call sign — 

announced during a ceremony in front 

of more than 150 Nevada Airmen in the 

Wing’s auditorium — was one of several 

events on Hunter’s schedule during the 

152nd Airlift Wing’s inaugural Pilot for a 

Day program held last winter at the Nevada 

Air National Guard Base in Reno. Pilot for 

a Day is an Air Force-wide program that 

provides chronically-ill children a chance 

to experience Air Force life. 

Hunter, or “Tenny” as many call him, 

has Kabuki Syndrome, a congenital 

disorder triggered by a genetic mutation 

that affects multiple organ systems and 

causes developmental delays. He has had 

over a dozen surgeries throughout his life. 

“This is a tremendous opportunity to 

have him out at the base because it showed 

all of our members the resiliency someone 

can have,” said Tech. Sgt. Sean Bird, a 

life support specialist with the 152nd 

Airlift Wing. “It definitely put things in 

perspective.” 

Bird outfitted Hunter with his own flight 

suit complete with nameplate and patches 

that were provided by members of the base 

at no cost to the government. 

Renown Children’s Hospital nominated 

Hunter to be a Nevada Air National Guard 

Pilot for a Day.

“This event brought the base together 

and added perspective for each and every 

member of the High Rollers,” said Senior 

Master Sgt. Paula Macomber, the 152nd 

Airlift Wing public affairs manager who 

oversaw the organization of the unit’s 

first-ever Pilot for a Day program. “I was 

shocked and humbled that so many of my 

co-workers put so much care and energy 

into making this an unforgettable event.”

The day started with Hunter swearing 

in for a one-day oath of commission. Pilots 

briefed him on his “classified” mission 

before he received a tour of the 152nd 

Airlift Wing’s C-130 aircraft. Hunter also 

visited the base firehouse, security forces 

and the Federal Aviation Administration’s 

air traffic control tower before the day 

concluded with his retirement ceremony in 

the Wing headquarters’ auditorium.

“Special things like this transcend 

many of our day-to-day tasks,” said Maj. 

Joseph Jaquish, who briefed Hunter’s 

mission and organized his call-sign 

ceremony. “The Air Force focuses a lot 

on metrics, data and other numbers, but 

some projects go beyond numbers. You 

can’t quantify this.”

Jaquish added: “What made the day 

so enjoyable was that Capt. Hunter 

was such a wonderful kid. I don’t want 

people to lose sight of that.”

Macomber said the 152nd Airlift 

Wing plans to organize a Pilot for a Day 

event annually at the base. To nominate 

a pilot, call 775-788-4515 or write to: 

paula.s.macomber.mil@mail.mil.

Young ‘Wizard’ takes to the skies as 

High Rollers’ inagural Pilot for a Day

Photo by Senior Airman Matthew Greiner

Capt. Tennyson Hunter (call sign ‘Wizard’) takes the controls of a Nevada Air Guard C-130 aircraft during his Pilot for a Day event in December. The 152nd 

Airlift Wing recognized ‘Wizard’ for his resiliency and indefatigable attitude while battling Kabuki Syndrome.
Summer 2020 / BATTLE BORN / 23

By 1st Lt. Emerson Marcus

152nd Airlift Wing

LAS VEGAS — The active duty Air Force has established about 70 

spark cells since the debut of AFWERX in 2017. But the active 

duty’s monopoly on the program is decreasing as the National 

Guard becomes more involved in the innovative concept.

In February, the Nevada Air Guard’s 152nd Airlift Wing, 

became the one of the latest units in the Air Force to establish a 

spark cell with the creation of its “Silver State Spark.”

AFWERX — an Air Force buzzword and not an acronym — is 

a community of Air Force innovators who encourage and facilitate 

connections across industry, academia and the military to create 

transformative opportunities and foster a culture of innovation. It’s 

mission is to solve problems and enhance the effectiveness of the service 

by enabling thoughtful, ground-up innovation.

The Silver State Spark promises to leverage the ingenuity of local 

Air Force intrapreneurs with non-traditional partners to create unique 

opportunities for the military’s operational experts to collaborate with the 

top regional problem solvers in industry, academia and the government.

Intrapreneurs are widely defined as individuals working in either 

the private or public sector who take an initiative to create new ideas, 

products or processes.

“For more than a decade, we’ve seen the private sector, 

particularly the tech sector, move in this direction toward promoting 

new ideas and entrepreneurship as a bottom-up approach,” said 

Col. Jacob Hammons, the 152nd Airlift Wing commander who 

began planning for the creation of a spark cell shortly after he took 

command last November. “A spark cell gives Airmen of all ranks 

the opportunity to think creatively toward new and innovative 

solutions to the challenges they face in the daily conduct of flying, 

fighting and winning our nation’s wars.”

Maj. Greg Green, the 152nd Airlift Wing’s spark team 

facilitator, attended three days of spark cell training in February at 

the AFWERX hub in Las Vegas. About 100 military and civilian 

Department of Defense employees attended the training.

“A spark cell is a grassroots innovation program that empowers 

Airmen to bring tomorrow’s tools to the warfighter today,” said 

Maj. Tony Perez, the AFWERX spark director who organized the 

training in Las Vegas.

Each spark cell in the Air Force is different because each unit is 

autonomous in the development of its own program.

Green’s Silver State Spark program will give Airmen — with 

their commander’s approval — the ability to spend up to five 

days during technician work hours or annual training days to 

research and plan an innovative proposal. At the conclusion of 

their research and finalization of the plan, an Airman will have 

the opportunity to present the proposal to their commander for 

potential implementation.

“Airmen are already approaching us with interesting ideas,” 

Green said. “Undoubtedly, there’s a demand for improving the 

way we do business.”

For information or submissions, write to Green at 

gregory.c.green6.mil@mail.mil.

High Rollers among 1st National Guard 

units to launch AFWERX spark cell

Summer 2020 / BATTLE BORN / 23

Photo by 1st Lt. Emerson Marcus

The Nevada Air Guard’s 152nd Airlift Wing boasts one of the newest AFWERX spark cells in the 

Air Force with the creation of the ‘Silver State Spark.’ About 70 spark cells have launched around 

the world since the Air Force debuted AFWERX in 2017 -- with the majority in the active duty.
24 / BATTLE BORN / Summer 2020

By Sgt. 1st Class Erick Studenicka

Joint Force Headquarters

SOLDIER HOLLOW, Utah — Rad! Gnarly! Epic!

All of those overused slope-side slang terms perfectly described 

1st Lt. Jessica Miller’s winter biathlon season, as the nurse in 

the Army Guard’s Medical Detachment based in Reno scored a 

total of four medals at the National Guard Bureau’s regional and 

national championships. Miller won the bronze medal in both the 

novice sprint and pursuit races at each competition.

All of the races took place at the Soldier Hollow biathlon 

facility in Utah, the site of the 2002 Olympic biathlon races. 

Biathlon is the winter sport that combines cross country skiing 

and rifle marksmanship and is one of the four sports the National 

Guard Bureau annually sponsors.

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Paul Santilena of Joint Force 

Headquarters also captured a medal for the Nevada Guard with 

his third place in the men’s novice sprint at the regional race.

The five total medals were the first won by Nevada skiers 

since then-Sgt. Craig Kenison won two novice medals in the 

2010 national championships.

“I was excited to help end a long drought for the Nevada 

biathlon team,” Miller said. “Judging from our results in the 

novice races this year, the future of the team is promising. We 

have a strong core of young athletes who are committed to the 

sport.”

The top team result for the Nevada Guard came in the national 

patrol race, as the Silver State skiers finished eighth.

Miller recorded her first national medal with her third place on 

the opening day of the meet when she finished the 7.5-kilometer 

course in 59 minutes, 9 seconds. Miller’s teammate, Spc. Jonnie 

Miller of the 106th Public Affairs Detachment, was just 6 seconds 

behind in fourth place.

On the next day, Miller maintained her third place standing in 

the women’s novice race by covering the 8.5-kilometer course in 

1:21:43. She was helped by her prone shooting, hitting eight of 

her 10 targets.

Miller began her memorable season in January at the regional 

race with excellent shooting. Miller was the lone woman in the 7.5 

kilometer novice sprint to hit all 10 of her targets. She continued 

her sharp shooting during the 10-kilometer pursuit race and hit 

15 of 20 targets, including all 10 of her standing targets.

Blake was also fourth in both the sprint and pursuit at the 

regional races.

In the men’s competition at regionals, Santilena proved to be 

the top marksman in the entire field that included teams from 

Oregon, Utah, Idaho, Colorado, California, Montana and Alaska 

as well as the Silver State. Santilena, who won a Governors 

Twenty tab in the state marksmanship contest last August, 

knocked down all 30 targets he faced during the competition 

and earned third place in the novice sprint and fifth place in the 

novice pursuit.

For information on representing the Nevada Guard in biathlon 

during the 2020-2021 season, call 775-887-7250.

4 medals: Army Guard nurse enjoys 

best biathlon season in team history

Photo courtesy Utah National Guard 

Inset by Sgt. 1st Class Erick Studenicka

First Lt. Jessica Miller skis at the National Guard 

Bureau’s Western Regional Championship in Utah 

in January. She won a total four medals in two 

National Guard biathlon meets during the winter.
Summer 2020 / BATTLE BORN / 25

Got your six

Exploring services for service members

Lights! Camera! Paycheck!:

Vets2Set opens door to showbiz for Guardsmen, veterans

By Sgt. Walter H. Lowell

TRUCKEE, Calif. — When I finally 

win my Academy Award, one of the first 

organizations I’ll thank will be Vets2Set. 

Vets2Set is the non-profit organization that 

helps veterans jumpstart a career in the 

commercial production business. Guard 

Soldiers and Airmen not on military duty are 

also eligible to work for Vets2Set.

My first assignment with Vets2Set was 

not a glamorous job in Hollywood. Instead, I 

served as a production assistant on a frigid day 

in the mountains near Truckee. 

I never got the opportunity to yell “action” 

however. My job was to ensure road safety as 

a car commercial was recorded on Highway 

40 with the winter wonderland of the Sierra 

Nevada as the backdrop. Southern California 

weather was only a pleasant thought as I was 

stationed in a snow-filled gully just off the 

highway with Donner Lake over my shoulder.

“All right, PAs, let’s lock up the road for a 

run,” warned the director on my radio.

Not even a snowshoe hare ventured onto 

my section of the highway.

“This is station three, my corner is all clear,” 

I said, as I ducked behind a snowbank to watch 

out for any people or wildlife that may have 

wandered onto the closed course.

“Okay, roll the camera,” the director 

declared. “Action on the car, action on the car!”

A moment later, two vehicles sped by. 

One was the specialized photography vehicle, 

complete with a crane loaded with a cluster 

of cameras with lenses affixed on the second 

late model vehicle (available for purchase in 

2020.) The whining buzz of a drone flying over 

followed, and the shot was quickly completed.

Just two days prior to my stint as production 

assistant on the commercial, I had never heard 

of Vets2Set.

Two days before finding myself as an 

unlikely, first-time production assistant helping 

film a major car commercial, I was informed 

by a Soldier in the Recruiting and Retention 

office that an organization was seeking about 

six people interested in receiving compensation 

for working on a commercial.

The organization turned out to be Vets2Set. 

They were seeking veterans in northern 

Nevada who wanted to acquire experience 

working in commercial production or were 

seeking a short-term lucrative job for about 

$250 per day.

After reading about Vets2Set on vets2set.

org, I spoke with retired Col. Maureen 

Weigl, the former director of personnel for 

the Pennsylvania Army National Guard and 

the co-founder/executive director of V2S for 

information.

According to Weigl, commercial 

production crews use V2S as a data base 

for potential production assistants as they 

go from location to location. Production 

assistants are hired to take care of myriad 

tasks on a shoot, ranging from safety to 

equipment movement to administrative 

chores.

Several of the experienced PAs I spoke 

with in Truckee recalled their previous 

assignments. Some assisted with make up 

and others worked with sound and camera 

crews. A few even ended up as “extras” in 

productions. Most of the full-time employees 

started their careers as production assistants.

Before arriving at their filming location, 

production companies contact local previous 

employees. If they can’t find enough 

experienced PAs at a certain location, they 

contact companies such as V2S.

The company builds rosters of interested 

veterans across the nation. They forward 

contact information to the production team and 

the production team then contacts the veterans 

directly. V2S does not contact the veterans 

nor does it receive any compensation from the 

production companies. All of the services V2S 

provides are completely free to Guardsmen 

and veterans.

After researching V2S, I contacted several 

Soldiers whom I knew were interested In 

commercial production. All of us took leave 

from National Guard duty and several of us 

were put to work for four days.

As the new guy, my top priority was to 

stay out of everyone’s way. The seasoned PAs 

were extremely friendly and quick to show 

me the ropes. Like me, they were interested in 

the different aspects of film and commercial 

production. One coworker was a photographer 

who like to edit video. Another was a disc 

jockey who dabbled in production audio. A 

third was an actor who was working as a PA 

just to get his foot in the door.

I might have worked on the commercial 

solely for the amazing meals provided to the 

production assistants. I thought the lunch on 

our first day of work may have been a special, 

one-time meal to welcome the new employees. 

The lunch included grilled chicken on pasta 

with fresh vegetables, salad and assorted meats. 

I took advantage of the “all you could eat” 

offer. I asked one of the experienced PAs on 

the third day of the shoot if the extraordinary 

meals were commonplace and he confirmed 

it’s normal to have great eats on set. He 

explained some directors realize they are 

demanding during stressful shots, but believe a 

great meal will make employees quickly forget 

any slights.

After my four-day stint, I bid my cohorts 

a show biz farewell. I did not stick around 

for the traditional “wrap party” due to my 

hour-long drive home through the elements. 

All of us who signed up with V2S had a 

great experience. I made some contacts 

within commercial production, experienced 

something new, had fun and got paid. I hope 

the commercial production team calls me again 

next winter.

For information on getting your own foot 

into the door of commercial production, visit 

the V2S web page at https://vets2set.org/.

My selfie next to the crew between shoots on the 

set of a commercial near the Sand Mountain 

Recreation Area, 30 miles southeast of Fallon.
26 / BATTLE BORN / Summer 2020

By 1st Lt. Emerson Marcus

152 Airlift Wing

RENO — Airman Jessica Santella 

emerged as the winner from a field of 

deserving nominees to capture the title 

of 2019 Airman of the Year when the top 

award winners in the Nevada Air Guard 

were recognized during a ceremony at the 

Atlantis Resort Casino in February.

The Non-commissioned Officer of the 

Year award went to Sgt. Brian Skach and 

Master Sgt. Lyle Smith was named the 

Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the 

Year.

Capt. Lewis Roberts received the 

Company Grade Officer of the Year award.

Earlier in the winter, the Nevada Air 

Guard recognized its top performing Airmen 

during its annual award ceremony at the 

Nevada Air National Guard Base in Reno.

The award ceremony provides an 

opportunity for the Nevada Air Guard to 

recognize its top performers in the categories 

of duty performance, safety, diversity and 

inclusion, and exemplary service. It also 

allows the Nevada Air Guard to recognize 

its community partners and thank them for 

their support. 

The following were the categories and 

and award winners in the order they were 

presented during the early-winter ceremony 

on the base: 

• ‘Top Shot’ from the Adjutant General’s 

Marksmanship Match: 

Master Sgt. Michael Moore

• Recruiter of the Year: 

Tech. Sgt. Chelsea Canaday

• Diversity Award: 

Chief Master Sgt. Angela Ash 

• NGB Excellence in Diversity, 

Best Air National Guard Unit:

152nd Maintenance Group

• Safety Awards: 

Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Sarkis, Tech. Sgt. 

Christopher Crossley and Senior Airman 

Victoria Stapledon

• Chiefs Council Award: 

Key Volunteer Team 

(Angie Solberg, Erin Dorsett, Brooke 

Morrison, Jeanette Brun, Sandelle 

Mancilla, Sara Schweppe, Tim Schweppe, 

Caroline Cousineau, Michon BakerFaenza, Kasia Jorgensen, Kelli Tanzi, 

Sjana Wagner, Joseph Puertos, Lena 

Martini, Hannah Martini and Lauren 

Henry)

• Chief’s Award: 

Resiliency Tactical Pause Team 

(Col. Thomas Funk, Maj. Donny 

Crandell, Allison Pratt, Jason Stoner, Dr. 

Carl Starr, Amanda Turner, Harrison Hayes, 

Lisa Ruggerio, Kim Donohue, Shannon 

Morrow, Brandon Cassinelli, Danica Pierce, 

Rachel Mormon, Keith Pleich, Scott Johnson, 

Christy Butler, Sparks Mayor Ron Smith and 

Sparks Councilman Paul Anderson)

The Commander’s Excellence Awards 

is presented annually by each respective 

commander in the Nevada Air Guard 

to deserving Airmen: Here are the 2019 

recipients:

• State Headquarters: 

Senior Master Sgt. Laura Magee

• 152nd Airlift Wing: 

Staff Sgt. Matthew Greiner 

• 152nd Maintenance Group: 

Aircraft No. 93-7314 Maintenance 

Recovery Team 

(Lt. Shawn Zielinski, Senior Master 

Sgt. Michael Hignite, Master Sgt. Joel 

Garza, Master Sgt. Linden Maples, Tech 

Sgt Mathew Chanez, Staff Sgt. Jeffrey 

McLemore, Staff Sgt. Phillip Lee and 

Staff Sgt. Jake Garfinkle)

• 152nd Mission Support Group: 

The 10 152nd Logistic Readiness 

Squadron NCOs who stepped up in the 

absence of a commander in 2019

(Chief Master Sgt. James Ross, 

Chief Master Sgt. Jeffrey Linton, Senior 

Master Sgt. Jeanie Beck, Senior Master 

Sgt. Jonathan Baker, Senior Master 

Sgt. Rommie Brown, Senior Master 

Sgt. Jeffrey McCusker, Senior Master 

Sgt. Jordan Clark, Master Sgt. Anthony 

Henry, Master Sgt. Gary Mireles and 

Master Sgt. Michelle Rauch)

• 152nd Medical Group: 

1st Lt. Ian McEwen, 2nd Lt. Brandon 

Encallado, Tech. Sgt. Alex Howe, Tech. 

Sgt. Jay Pascua, Tech Sgt. Janalee 

Morris, Staff Sgt. Giovanna Libby, Staff 

Sgt. Breanna Zulz and Senior Airman 

Mayra Rodriguez

• 152nd Operations Group:

Intel Tactics Team 

(Capt. Lewis Roberts, Capt. Jessica 

Sarradet, 1st Lt. Alexander Millar, Master 

Sgt. Christopher Bernard, Staff Sgt. Kathryn 

Hernandez, Staff Sgt. Kayla Hudson, Staff 

Sgt. Ryan Ross, Senior Airman Olivia 

Kennedy, Senior Airman Nico Ambata, Maj. 

Kyle Carraher, Capt. Megan Curry and 

Staff Sgt. Matthew Fickus).

The quarterly nominees and finalists for 

the Airman of the Year, NCO of the Year, 

Senior NCO of the Year and Company 

Grade Officer of the Year were announced 

during the January ceremony on the base 

before the winners were named in February.

Senior Airman Shalee Meier, Senior 

Airman Joshua Adams and Staff Sgt. 

Matthew Greiner were Airmen of the Year 

nominees; Tech Sgt. Joshua Noles and 

Tech Sgt. Sean Bird were NCO of the Year 

finalists; Master Sgt. Wayne Bejosano, 

Master Sgt. Chris Bernard and Master Sgt. 

Kraig Kimball were Senior NCO of the Year 

nominees; and Maj. Kyle Carraher, Capt. 

Joshua Rogers and Capt. Megan Curry were 

finalists in the officer category. 

Nevada Air Guard highlights exemplary 

service in annual award ceremonies

Photo by Tech. Sgt. Garrett Wake 

Lt. Col. Todd Hudson, far left, presents the 2019 

Safety Award to, l to r, Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Sarkis, Senior 

Airman Victoria Stapledon and Tech. Sgt. Christopher 

Crossley of the 152nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron 

during the 2019 awards ceremony in January in 

Reno. The three Airmen exemplified the ‘knock-it-off’ 

concept last autumn when they halted the launching of 

a C-130 showing signs of a hydraulic leak.
Summer 2020 / BATTLE BORN / 27

Child & Youth Program: Unlimited opportunities 

(CAV OFFICER, from page 10)

enter. When she said military intelligence, 

he planted the idea of joining the Armor 

branch in her mind.

“When Major Chavez started asking 

questions, a lot of my answers began guiding 

me toward ‘cav,” Schumacher said. “I hadn’t 

really thought about going into Armor 

because it was based in Las Vegas, but the 

more he talked about it, the more I realized it 

was the best career path I could take.

“And tanks are super cool. Why would 

anyone not choose Armor?”

In order to confirm Schumacher’s 

preliminary decision to join the Armor ranks, 

Officer Strength Manager Maj. David Connelly 

and Chavez arranged for Schumacher to drill 

for a weekend with D Company.

“Everyone wanted to make sure it was a 

good fit,” Schumacher said. “A new female 

Soldier in a traditionally male military 

occupation is a delicate situation.

“I was drawn to armor from the 

beginning. I just clicked with the whole 

atmosphere. The Soldiers in the unit have 

been amazing.”

Schumacher said there was no time to 

ease into her position as platoon leader. After 

completing her five-month long Basic Officer 

Leadership Course at Fort Benning, she 

returned to Delta Company just in time for its 

annual training in June 2019 at the National 

Training Center at Fort Irwin, California. It 

was a trying training period, as Sgt. 1st Class 

David Gallagher, a tank commander in another 

platoon, died in a tank rollover accident.

“I think I proved I was more than a female 

Soldier, but rather a competent officer,” 

Schumacher said.

Connelly and Chavez agree Schumacher 

has the makings for a fine Armor officer, 

regardless of gender.

“Schumacher is a quality officer who was 

going to be successful in any position,” said 

Connelly. “It just so happens that she’s blazing 

trails in Armor in today’s gender-neutral 

military.”

“She made the right choice choosing 

Armor,” Chavez said.

For information on joining the 1-221st 

Cavalry or acquiring a combat arms

job, call 775-720-8940.

(CAV WOMEN, from page 11)

Afghanistan.

When the squadron’s Forward Support 

Company was established in 2011, dozens 

of support jobs opened to female Soldiers. 

The positions in combat arms occupations, 

such as scout and armor crewman, remained 

closed however.

Following Defense Secretary Ash 

Carter’s 2015 declaration that women 

would be integrated into combat roles, 1st 

Lt. Amanda Kemberling made Nevada 

Army Guard history by becoming the 

state’s first female combat arms officer. 

Kemberling, who transferred to the Texas 

Army Guard earlier this year, is a field 

artillery officer and she served as the 

squadron’s fire support officer in recent 

years.

Today, with female Soldiers in key 

leadership positions, including Forward 

Support Company commander Capt. 

Michelle Tucay and squadron maintenance 

officer Capt. Tana Gurule, it’s certain 

that the next 1-221st Cavalry combat 

deployment will feature – and be led by – 

female Soldiers.

By Sgt. Zandra Duran 

Joint Force Headquarters 

RENO — “The Child and Youth Program is an awesome place for 

youth to discover and explore new opportunities,” says Delana Cardenas, 

the Nevada Guard’s lead Child & Youth Program coordinator.

The mission of the National Guard Child & Youth Program is to promote 

and sustain the quality of life and improve resiliency among National Guard 

member’s dependent children and youth by providing secure, timely, 

flexible, high-quality support services and enrichment programs.

The CYP supports all Nevada National Guard service members and 

their families. Soldiers and Airmen must balance the competing demands 

of parenting and military service, particularly challenging in today’s 

environment of high operations tempo, increased numbers of deployments, 

and longer periods of time away from home. The National Guard is 

committed to serving the Soldiers’ and Airmen’s families by reaching out 

and assisting them through robust child youth programs. 

CYP provides developmentally appropriate life skills education 

to National Guard youth and creates partnerships for opportunities to 

participate in programs, events, and activities geared toward the behavioral 

and physical health and welfare of periods. 

CYP infuses resiliency and leadership skills and techniques into all 

National Guard child and youth programming.

CYP also builds outreach and sustains contact with parents/legal 

guardians and children of the National Guard to create awareness of 

available support services and programs.

The CYP hosts the state youth council that consists of teenage children, 

ages 13-17, of Nevada Army and Air members. These youth are the voice 

of all military kids in Nevada.

CYP hosts Youth Leadership Camps that are week-long summer camps 

specifically designed for Air and Army National Guard kids between the 

ages of 9-12 years old. Youth learn leadership skills and have a chance to 

build relationships with other military kids.

The CYP staff team is an experienced team with diverse backgrounds, 

experiences and knowledge. Delana Cardenas, the lead Child & Youth 

Program coordinator, is deeply passionate about her position and loves 

youth. Ryan Wickes, the northern coordinator, has three young boys and 

they keep him on his toes. Cate Summers, the state family programs director, 

is an avid outdoor enthusiast. The three have two things in common: They 

are all passionate about their work and agree all military youth are heroes. 

For information in southern Nevada, call 702-235-8803. For information 

in northern Nevada, call 775-291-7853.

Courtesy Child & Youth Program

Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Ondra Berry, far right, takes time out for a photo 

with Nevada Guard dependents during a recent Child & Youth event.
28 / BATTLE BORN / Summer 2020

AWARDS • PROMOTIONS • RETIREMENTS

MOVING UP AND MOVING ON • August 2019 though January 2020

Maj Melissa Beauchamp ............... 152nd Force Support Sqd

Maj Barton Boma ....................................... 192nd Airlift Sqd

SFC Nathaniel Borja .............................................. 421st RTI

SSG Brian Bradley ............................Recruiting & Retention

MSgt Jason Cambell .............................. 152nd Coms Flight

MSgt Sherri Clark ..................................152nd Airlift Wing

MAJ David Connolly ........................Recruiting & Retention

CPT Brian Crouse ................................................422nd ESB

SGT Conor Czyzniejewski ...................................422nd ESB

SPC Tyler Davis .......................... 145th Forward Support Co

SGT Paul Duncan JR .........................Recruiting & Retention

MSgt Matthew Farley ................152nd Security Forces Sqd

SFC Ilda Grimmett .......................991st Aviation Troop Com

SMSgt Jason Huth ................ 152nd Mission Support Group

SSG Joseph Palomino ............................................ 421st RTI

MSG Elias Perez ...............................Recruiting & Retention

SFC Ronald Portillo JR......................Recruiting & Retention

SFC Philip Risi ....................................................422nd ESB

MSgt Daphne Ross ........................................ Air Guard HQ

SFC Cristian Strong .................................................. 17th SB

CPT David Tole .............................................................JFHQ

COL Eric Wishart ..........................................................JFHQ

SPC Karim Arafa .........................................1864th Trans Co

CW2 David Aukeman ...........................3/140th Aviation Det

LTC Laura Boldry .........................................................JFHQ

SGT Quinton Bulloch ...........................3/140th Aviation Det

SPC Nathaniel Clark .............................1-221st Cav C Troop

SSG John Cooley ..................................2/238th Aviation Det

SPC Ivan Coronalozoya .............. 145th Forward Support Co

CPT Benjamin Delapaz ..............................1-221st Cav HHT

SPC Aldo Delatorre ................................1/189th Aviation Co

SFC Alejandro Delpozo .............................1-221st Cav HHT

SFC Nicholas Hammond ......................2/238th Aviation Det

SFC Heather Harris ...........................Recruiting & Retention

SGT Michael Knight .............................3/140th Aviation Det

SFC Christopher Laduca ............................1-221st Cav HHT

SFC Chad Lewis ......................... 145th Forward Support Co

SGT Andrew Lynch ..............................3/140th Aviation Det

CW2 Steven Minifie .............................2/238th Aviation Det

SFC Bradley Nelson .............................3665th Ordnance Co

SFC Mike Nguyen ............................Recruiting & Retention

WO1 Benjamin Schinzing ............................................JFHQ

SSG Race Shelton .................................3/140th Aviation Det

SGT Andrew Silvaroli ...........................2/238th Aviation Det

SPC Paris Smith ....................................3/140th Aviation Det

SSG Mercedes Taimanglo ........... 145th Forward Support Co

CPT Derrick Tang ......................................1-221st Cav HHT

CPL Rudolf Wosic .....................................1-221st Cav HHT

SGT Jonah Younghaines .......................2/238th Aviation Det

1SG Joshua Zamzow .............................1-221st Cav A Troop

TSgt Anthony Haley ...................152nd Security Forces Sqd

TSgt Patrick Hall .........................152nd Security Forces Sqd

SSgt Michael Moore ...................152nd Security Forces Sqd

PV2 Kvon Anderson ................................................. 17th SB

2LT Elijah Armstrong ...........................1-221st Cav B Troop

SPC Jazmin Arteagaibanez ...............Recruiting & Retention

SPC Joshua Bales .........................991st Aviation Troop Com

SFC Stephen Belcher ........................Recruiting & Retention

SPC Curtis Bender ...................... 145th Forward Support Co

SGT Joshua Bigham ...................................1-221st Cav HHT

SPC Ernie Calderon ..............................1-221st Cav B Troop

SPC Erik Chan ............................1-148th Field Artillery Reg

SSG Brad Clodfelter .............................1-221st Cav C Troop

SPC Christopher Connors .....................1-221st Cav A Troop

SGT Michael Consul .............................3/140th Aviation Det

SFC Brandon Copley ........................... 1-221st Cav D Troop

SGT Christopher Cordoba ....................1-221st Cav B Troop

SPC Erik Delmar JR ..............................1-221st Cav A Troop

SPC Ashton Dessert ......................................150th Maint Co

SPC Bailey Dibenedetto .......................1-221st Cav C Troop

SGT Paul Duncan JR .........................Recruiting & Retention

SGT Mark Dunn .......................................240th Engineer Co

PFC Louis Durano ...................................609th Engineer Co

SSG James Eddings .....................................1864th Trans Co

SPC Joseph Edwards ................... 145th Forward Support Co

SSG David Ellis .........................................1-221st Cav HHT

SGT Neil Espinoza ................................3/140th Aviation Det

SGT Edwin Fabela ................................1-221st Cav B Troop

SGT Erick Fabela ................................. 1-221st Cav D Troop

SPC William Famini IV..............................1-221st Cav HHT

SPC Adam Flores ..................................3/140th Aviation Det

SFC John Foley JR.............................Recruiting & Retention

2LT Gary Furney .........................1-148th Field Artillery Reg

PFC Nicolos Gilbert SR.........................1-221st Cav A Troop

SPC Ivan Gomez ...................................1-221st Cav A Troop

1LT Kelly Gonzales ........................................... 757th CSSB

CPT Kandace Gonzales ................................................JFHQ

SGT Jose Gonzalez II .................. 145th Forward Support Co

SGT Keahi Granstrom .................................1864th Trans Co

SPC Nichole Gunther .......................100th Quartermaster Co

SGT Zachary Hair .................................1-221st Cav A Troop

SSG Jessica Hana ..........................................150th Maint Co

SGT Daniel Hancock ........................... 1-221st Cav D Troop

PFC Michael Hanson ...................................1859th Trans Co

SGT Todd Hensley ................................1-221st Cav C Troop

SSG Nicholas Humphrey ......................1-221st Cav B Troop

CPL Anthony Jenner ....................................1864th Trans Co

SGT David Jensen .................................2/238th Aviation Det

SPC Anthony Johnson .......................... 1-221st Cav D Troop

CPL Tyler Jones ................................... 1-221st Cav D Troop

SPC Brandon Justice .............................1-221st Cav B Troop

SSG Michael Kostak .....................................................JFHQ

SGT Matthew Lagrone ......................Recruiting & Retention

1LT Daniel Lane ...................................1-221st Cav C Troop

SFC Rutilio Lara ......................................609th Engineer Co

PFC Thairras Laxton .............................3/140th Aviation Det

SSG Scott Leavitt ..................................1-221st Cav A Troop

SGT Saxton Lee ....................................1-221st Cav B Troop

CW2 Stephen Lee .................................3/140th Aviation Det

PV2 Sydney Libbyhahn ................................ 593rd Trans Co

CPL Chris Linares .................................1-221st Cav A Troop

PFC Dakotah Macdonald ......................1-221st Cav C Troop

SPC Andrea Maria ...................... 145th Forward Support Co

SSG William Mariona .......................Recruiting & Retention

SGT Kerry Marriott .................... 145th Forward Support Co

SPC Jason Martinez ...................................1-221st Cav HHT

PV2 Alfonso Martinez ..................................150th Maint Co

SSG Adalberto Martinez .......................3/140th Aviation Det

PFC Josiah Medina .........................................777th Eng Det

SPC Juan Mendoza ....................................1-221st Cav HHT

SPC Chandler Mesinar ..........................1-221st Cav C Troop

SGT Richard Mirabelli .............................................72nd MP

SPC Andres Miranda ....................................1864th Trans Co

SPC Manuel Monroy ............................1-221st Cav A Troop

SPC Cesar Montalvo-Guerra ................1-221st Cav C Troop

SSG Kyle Morse .................................. 1-221st Cav D Troop

SGT David Mosse JR..................................1-221st Cav HHT

SGT Dezirae Narvaez ................. 145th Forward Support Co

PFC Jarrett Nilsen .................................1-221st Cav B Troop

SGT Ricardo Nungaray ................................1864th Trans Co

SSG James Oconnor .............................1-221st Cav A Troop

PFC Christian Oh ................................. 1-221st Cav D Troop

SPC Gildardo Pena JR.......................... 1-221st Cav D Troop

SPC Rafael Perea JR..............................1-221st Cav A Troop

SPC Marlon Portillolinares ......... 145th Forward Support Co

SPC Justin Ramirez ...............................1-221st Cav B Troop

1LT Thomas Robb ................................ 1-221st Cav D Troop

SPC Johan Rosales ................................1-221st Cav A Troop

SPC Alexandra Ruizrivera ....................3/140th Aviation Det

SGT Steve Sanson JR .................................1-221st Cav HHT

SPC Hector Santana JR..........................1-221st Cav B Troop

SPC Hunter Schultz ..............................3/140th Aviation Det

SFC Nicholas Scobert ...........................3/140th Aviation Det

SGT Lindsey Scott ................................................... Med Det

PFC Christopher Shapiro ......................1-221st Cav A Troop

SPC Xavier Shuberda ...........................1-221st Cav C Troop

SPC Alejandro Silva ................... 145th Forward Support Co

SGT Landon Smiley ..............................1-221st Cav A Troop

SPC Paris Smith ....................................3/140th Aviation Det

SPC Octavio Solorzano ................................. 593rd Trans Co

SPC Joseph Stelletello .................................. 593rd Trans Co

PFC Manuel Suaybaguio ..................... 1-221st Cav D Troop

SGT Christian Tijerina ......................... 1-221st Cav D Troop

SPC Clifton Valentine ..................................1864th Trans Co

SPC Jerome Versola ..............................1-221st Cav B Troop

SPC Marycarmen Villalpandoortiz ....145th Fwd Support Co

SPC Benjamin Visser ............................3/140th Aviation Det

SPC Shane Webber ...............................1-221st Cav B Troop

SSG William Wills III.................................1-221st Cav HHT

PFC Gilberto Yorba JR .................................1864th Trans Co

SPC Cyrus Zacarias ..............................1-221st Cav A Troop

SGT Robert Zamzow ............................3/140th Aviation Det

SPC Luis Zarate ....................................1-221st Cav A Troop

MSG Cameron Anderson ..............................................JFHQ

SSG Brian Bradley ............................Recruiting & Retention

SGT Francis Champa ............................1-221st Cav C Troop

SrA Mathew Doyle ....................152nd Security Forces Sqd

SMSgt Paul Hinen .......................152nd Security Forces Sqd 

COL/Col

Joyce Anacker .......................................................... Med Det

LTC/Lt Col

Joseph Claros .........................Headquarters & Special Troop

Curtis Kolvet .................................................................JFHQ

Flora Phipps ............................................................. Med Det

MAJ/Maj

Shay Gilliam ............................................152nd Airlift Wing

Carly Schlottmann ........................................152nd Intel Sqd

Johannes Lamprecht ...............................................92nd CST

Brian Crouse .....................................................Headquarters

Phillip Gingrich .............................................................JFHQ

Army Commendation Medal 

Air Force Commendation Medal 

Meritorious Service Medal Army Achievement Medal

Note: Some familiar Nevada Army Guard unit nomenclature may appear as an unfamiliar unit 

due to new Army Guard software nomenclature.

PROMOTIONS

Air Force Achievement Medal

28 / BATTLE BORN / Summer 2020
Summer 2020 / BATTLE BORN / 29

CPT/Capt

Jamee Finley .....................................................Headquarters

Micah Gill .........................................................Headquarters

Tana Gurule .......................................................Headquarters

John Lorman .................................................................JFHQ

Jose Madrid ...........................................Joint/Area Signal Co

John Quigley ............................................................ Med Det

1LT/1st LT

Amanda Kemberling ...................1-148th Field Artillery Reg

Michael Flury .................................................. 1-221 Cavalry

Milan Lincoln .................................................. 1-221 Cavalry

Daneil Correa ...............................................1859th Trans Co

Francisca Vega .....................................................422nd ESB

Anya Rigoni .................................................. 593rd Trans Co

Lynne Mcchrystal ...................Headquarters & Special Troop

Brian Grevenkamp ................................Joint/Area Signal Co

Ryanchristian Castano .............................................. Med Det

2LT/2nd LT

Kellan Jenkins ................................................. 1-221 Cavalry

Davis Legaspidavid ......................................1859th Trans Co

Wesley Roberts ............................................1859th Trans Co

Cory Sharp ...................................................1859th Trans Co

Montoya Scott ......................................................422nd ESB

Austin Makowski .....................................609th Engineer Co

Chaz Fernandez .................................................Headquarters

Samirah Jooma ..................................................Headquarters

Travis Roberts ...................................................Headquarters

Allison Ward .....................................................Headquarters

Patricia Carney ......................................................... Med Det

Haley Peterson ......................................................... Med Det

Jada Wilson .............................................................. Med Det

CW4

Casey Akins ........................641st Aviation Reg Bat 02 Rear

Kevin Keeler .............................................. Det 1 D Co Bat 3

Karen Harris ..................................................................JFHQ

Zachary Mcpherson ......................................................JFHQ

CW3

Patrick Quinn ..........................................150th Ordnance Co

Nicholas Graf ...............................................1859th Trans Co

Scott Taylor ...........................................2/238th Aviation Det

Cassidy Hollowell ...................B Company, 1/189th Aviation

CW2

Allison Mangosing ............................................Headquarters

Don Small JR.....................................................Headquarters

Kimberly Delaune ..................Headquarters & Special Troop

CW1

Nathan Capps ........................................2/238th Aviation Det

Grant Muzzio ........................ AUGOE Heavy Helicopter Co

Sean Phelps .................................................Det 1 B Co Bat 3

CSM/SGM/CMSgt

Michael Spaulding ........................................................JFHQ

1SG/MSG/SMSgt

Steven Grossman ............................................ 1-221 Cavalry

Timothy Schweppe ..................................152nd Airlift Wing

Michael Hignite ................................ 152nd Avn. Maint. Sqd

Jordan Clark ......................... 152nd Logistics Readiness Sqd

Shawn Fidler ................................................1859th Trans Co

Charles Davis ............................................. 192nd Airlift Sqd

Robert Jester ........................................................... 421st RTI

Donald Welch JR..................................................... 421st RTI

Philip Risi ..........................................................Headquarters

Ricky Ard ...............................Headquarters & Special Troop

Joseph Rourke ........................Headquarters & Special Troop

Richard Jerrell ...............................................................JFHQ

Roseanne Kemp ............................................................JFHQ

Eric Hintermeyer ...................................Joint/Area Signal Co

Michellejoy Ochoa ............................Recruiting & Retention

SFC/MSgt

Talia Whittle ............................................................137th MP

Ana Vega .................................................150th Ordnance Co

William Boekenoogen ...................................152nd Intel Sqd

Eric Mckenzie ............................................ 152nd Maint Sqd

Terry Wise .................................................. 152nd Maint Sqd

Alex Norris ............................ 152nd Mission Support Group

Christopher Hessler ..........................152nd Ops Support Sqd

Jonathan Turner ................................152nd Ops Support Sqd

William Suminski .................................................. 421st RTI

Frank Nash ...............................................609th Engineer Co

Christopher Breuer ............................................Headquarters

Paul Jones ..........................................................Headquarters

Nicholas Mapes ......................Headquarters & Special Troop

Robyn Connolly ............................................................JFHQ

Cassandra Holmes .........................................................JFHQ

Danielle Meadows ........................................................JFHQ

Vera Salazar ..................................................................JFHQ

Linda Nelson .........................................Joint/Area Signal Co

Teresa Dennington ................................................... Med Det

Brian Bradley ....................................Recruiting & Retention

SSG/TSgt

Joshua Giordano ...............................100th Quartermaster Co

Frank Duran .................................................... 1-221 Cavalry

Kerry Marriott ................................................. 1-221 Cavalry

Adam Preston .................................................. 1-221 Cavalry

Hector Ruiz JR................................................. 1-221 Cavalry

Willie Sosa JR.................................................. 1-221 Cavalry

Jhian Tinoco .................................................... 1-221 Cavalry

Dustin Andersoncontenti .........................................137th MP

Jesse Mainzer ................................................152nd Intel Sqd

Eric Cawthern ..............................................1859th Trans Co

Nicole Shepherd ...........................................1859th Trans Co

Joel Fields ......................................................232nd Ops Sqd

Michael Williams ..........................................232nd Ops Sqd

Joshua Bowen ..........................................240th Engineer Co

Marie Bole ............................................................. 421st RTI

Eliseo Barreras JR.......................................... 593rd Trans Co

Michael Swaney JR..................................... Det 1 D Co Bat 1

George Downey ................................................Headquarters

Jeffrey Flores .....................................................Headquarters

Charron Hernandez ...........................................Headquarters

Jessica Weaver ..................................................Headquarters

Stephen Kopylcheck ..............Headquarters & Special Troop

Jake Boholst V ...............................................................JFHQ

Nathanial Poulopoulos ..................................................JFHQ

Benjamin Alves ...................................Joint/Area Singnal Co

Jessica Orison ......................................Joint/Area Singnal Co

Ty Shelton ...........................................Joint/Area Singnal Co

Melissa Walker ......................................................... Med Det

Matthew Lagrone ..............................Recruiting & Retention

Damjan Ristoski ................................Recruiting & Retention

Garry Willis II....................................Recruiting & Retention

SGT/SSgt

April Diliberto ..................................100th Quartermaster Co

Teyona Watt .....................................100th Quartermaster Co

Chansen Bonifacio .......................................... 1-221 Cavalry

Christopher Connors ....................................... 1-221 Cavalry

Gino Delgado .................................................. 1-221 Cavalry

Brennen Jackson ............................................. 1-221 Cavalry

Edgar Jordan ................................................... 1-221 Cavalry

Samantha Jovellanos ....................................... 1-221 Cavalry

Chris Linares ................................................... 1-221 Cavalry

Manuel Monroy .............................................. 1-221 Cavalry

Daniel Sheahan ............................................... 1-221 Cavalry

Timothy Spaur ................................................. 1-221 Cavalry

Evelyn Rosasflores ..................................150th Ordnance Co

Joshua Cash ...................................................152nd Intel Sqd

Russell Maddock ...........................................152nd Intel Sqd

Jessica Struckman .........................................152nd Intel Sqd

Vanessa Carter ..............................................1859th Trans Co

Allison Curtis ...............................................1859th Trans Co

James Eddings ..............................................1859th Trans Co

Jackson Esparza ...........................................1859th Trans Co

Jeremiah Reyes ............................................1859th Trans Co

Joseph Protexter ...........................................232nd Ops Sqd

Byronjames Crisostomo ...........................240th Engineer Co

Gregory Emerson .....................................240th Engineer Co

Manuel Montes III ....................................240th Engineer Co

Alexander Benhase ..............................................422nd ESB

Sean Harasti .........................................................422nd ESB

Michael Stanko ....................................................422nd ESB

Ruben Lozano ............................................... 593rd Trans Co

Matthew Morales .......................................... 593rd Trans Co

Jorge Robles .................................................. 593rd Trans Co

Joshua Tuando ............................................... 593rd Trans Co

Joseph Weber ................................................ 593rd Trans Co

Cindy Roblestrejo ....................................609th Engineer Co

Jose Saenzcazares ....................................609th Engineer Co

Daniel Sevilla ...........................................609th Engineer Co

Humberto Amezcua .................................................72nd MP

Jose Vargas ...............................................................72nd MP

Rjhun Rimon ..........................................................92nd CST

Alyssa Grew ............................................... Det 6 D Co Bat 2

Samuel Hunt ................................................Det 6 E Co Bat 2

Joshua Bales ......................................................Headquarters

Shayne Fulmer ..................................................Headquarters

Camron Hansen .................................................Headquarters

Larry Jones III....................................................Headquarters

Alison Martindale .............................................Headquarters

Chay Rhodes .....................................................Headquarters

Anna Sahagunsotres ..........................................Headquarters

Haylee Miller .........................Headquarters & Special Troop

Amar Radden .........................Headquarters & Special Troop

Keith Whelan .........................Headquarters & Special Troop

William Wills III.....................Headquarters & Special Troop

Jason Davis ...................................................................JFHQ

Deborah Hurtado ...........................................................JFHQ

Joshua Mauldin .....................................Joint/Area Signal Co

Sean Rawlins .........................................Joint/Area Signal Co

Joey Lopez ............................................................... Med Det

Rosa Anayarodrigues ........................Recruiting & Retention

Benjamin Visser ................................Recruiting & Retention

Kristina Bloodgood ...........................Squadron Headquarters 

Includes: New enlistments, transfers from other states/active

duty and newly commissioned officers.

Erik Martinez .........................................1/189th Aviation Co

Katherine Tubiello .................................1/189th Aviation Co

Megan Velez ...........................................1/189th Aviation Co

Grecia Barahona-Mendoza ..............100th Quartermaster Co

Kobe Bongxay .................................100th Quartermaster Co

Jason Collinbourne ...........................100th Quartermaster Co

Mcleavens Eugene ...........................100th Quartermaster Co

Bethania Gonzalez ...........................100th Quartermaster Co

Donevan Holley ...............................100th Quartermaster Co

Xzayvier Kelley ...............................100th Quartermaster Co

Tiauna Krieger .................................100th Quartermaster Co

Ludwig Kuhulgan ............................100th Quartermaster Co

Ladasha Minorlia .............................100th Quartermaster Co

Seth Monterde ..................................100th Quartermaster Co

Tywayne Richardson ........................100th Quartermaster Co

Esmeralda Rodriguez .......................100th Quartermaster Co

Mariam Savage ................................100th Quartermaster Co

Ricci Tamariz ...................................100th Quartermaster Co

Brian Trinidad ..................................100th Quartermaster Co

Luis Valdez .......................................100th Quartermaster Co

Tiya Wang ........................................100th Quartermaster Co

Jackie Zhang ....................................100th Quartermaster Co

Tracie Davis ..........................................................106th PAD

Nathan Castro ........................................1-221st Cav A Troop

Clyde Gutierrez .....................................1-221st Cav A Troop

Lozano Guzman ....................................1-221st Cav A Troop

Kyle Hayes ............................................1-221st Cav A Troop

Shawn Paul ............................................1-221st Cav A Troop

Carlos Reginaldo ...................................1-221st Cav A Troop

Nicholas Rivera .....................................1-221st Cav A Troop

Jake Vanderheiden .................................1-221st Cav A Troop

Isaiah Elizarraraz II................................1-221st Cav B Troop

Kenry Esparza .......................................1-221st Cav B Troop

Elijah Godronwood ...............................1-221st Cav B Troop

Taevian Jacobs ......................................1-221st Cav B Troop

Kellan Jenkins .......................................1-221st Cav B Troop

Sam King ..............................................1-221st Cav B Troop

Chrisjon Obtina .....................................1-221st Cav B Troop

Alexandar Waddle .................................1-221st Cav B Troop

Enrique Carrillo ....................................1-221st Cav C Troop

Ramiro Feria JR.....................................1-221st Cav C Troop

Dylan Kirkendall ...................................1-221st Cav C Troop

Mark Montoya ......................................1-221st Cav C Troop

Adam Smedley ......................................1-221st Cav C Troop

John Todaro ...........................................1-221st Cav C Troop

Shay Warren ..........................................1-221st Cav C Troop

Zachary Weight .....................................1-221st Cav C Troop

Georgea Connors .................................. 1-221st Cav D Troop

Jesse Corona ......................................... 1-221st Cav D Troop

Chaz Fernandez .................................... 1-221st Cav D Troop

Donald Furman .................................... 1-221st Cav D Troop

Shyanne Godronwood .......................... 1-221st Cav D Troop

Camron Hansen .................................... 1-221st Cav D Troop

Kaila Harvey ........................................ 1-221st Cav D Troop

Larry Jones III....................................... 1-221st Cav D Troop

Mason Keeling ..................................... 1-221st Cav D Troop

Gabrielle Kubina .................................. 1-221st Cav D Troop

Hayden Lienau ..................................... 1-221st Cav D Troop

Faith Madison ...................................... 1-221st Cav D Troop

Luisalejandro Padro ............................. 1-221st Cav D Troop

Jordan Shaw ......................................... 1-221st Cav D Troop

Javier Villalobos ................................... 1-221st Cav D Troop

Jennifer Aguilar ........................... 145th Forward Support Co

Martin Altamirano ....................... 145th Forward Support Co

ACCESSIONS

Summer 2020 / BATTLE BORN / 29
30 / BATTLE BORN / Summer 2020

Mariah Anthony .......................... 145th Forward Support Co

Aleah Baldonado ......................... 145th Forward Support Co

Marcus Basped ............................ 145th Forward Support Co

Glenn Cabillo .............................. 145th Forward Support Co

Jeremiegemboy Calma ................ 145th Forward Support Co

Benjamin Chancharoenroj .......... 145th Forward Support Co

Ricky Chen .................................. 145th Forward Support Co

Bryansamuel Delacruz ................ 145th Forward Support Co

Justin Grimes .............................. 145th Forward Support Co

Destiny Hasandavis ..................... 145th Forward Support Co

Amber Hay .................................. 145th Forward Support Co

Brennen Jackson ......................... 145th Forward Support Co

Joselyn Medina ........................... 145th Forward Support Co

Justinejoy Nicolas ....................... 145th Forward Support Co

Sire Prince ................................... 145th Forward Support Co

Jacob Rowe ................................. 145th Forward Support Co

Oscar Saucedo ............................. 145th Forward Support Co

Lucerobercely Sosa ..................... 145th Forward Support Co

Olga Teague ................................ 145th Forward Support Co

Melvanah Eddy .............................................150th Maint Co

Kieren Fordabbott .........................................150th Maint Co

Pallares Herrera .............................................150th Maint Co

Claire Holloway ............................................150th Maint Co

Cheyanna Howard .........................................150th Maint Co

Luke Klein ....................................................150th Maint Co

Jacob Livengood ...........................................150th Maint Co

Candice Triplett .............................................150th Maint Co

Desiree Broussard ....................................152nd Airlift Wing

Bryan Art .......................................................152nd Intel Sqd

Taylor Paxton ................................................152nd Intel Sqd

Francisco Cancino ..................................................... 17th SB

Jackie Chen ............................................................... 17th SB

Sarah Jimenez ........................................................... 17th SB

Esther Kariuki ........................................................... 17th SB

Stephen Kopylcheck ................................................. 17th SB

Jazz Marin ................................................................. 17th SB

Daniela Martin-Valdivia ............................................ 17th SB

Lynne Mcchrystal ...................................................... 17th SB

Karla Mejia ............................................................... 17th SB

Veronica Menchaca-Enriquez ................................... 17th SB

Shyla Molano ............................................................ 17th SB

Lorena Palosgaeta ..................................................... 17th SB

Jeremy Schor ............................................................. 17th SB

Janely Vacaavalos ..................................................... 17th SB

Dillon Wheeler .......................................................... 17th SB

Keith Whelan ............................................................ 17th SB

Hakeem Williams ...................................................... 17th SB

Myrella Angrisaniramos ...............................1859th Trans Co

Serobie Bruce ...............................................1859th Trans Co

Allison Curtis ...............................................1859th Trans Co

Cade Davidson .............................................1859th Trans Co

Seth Fens ......................................................1859th Trans Co

Evelyn Garcia-Barragan ...............................1859th Trans Co

Marianna Grayer ..........................................1859th Trans Co

William Iaeger ..............................................1859th Trans Co

Ezekiel Lawrencebilyeu ...............................1859th Trans Co

Alondra Lopez .............................................1859th Trans Co

Dakota Lorber ..............................................1859th Trans Co

Bernardo Macias ..........................................1859th Trans Co

Antonio Muro ...............................................1859th Trans Co

John Padua ...................................................1859th Trans Co

Nicholas Poalillo ..........................................1859th Trans Co

Wesley Roberts ............................................1859th Trans Co

Grason Rosa .................................................1859th Trans Co

Cory Sharp ...................................................1859th Trans Co

Parker Spencer .............................................1859th Trans Co

Eric Tate JR...................................................1859th Trans Co

Adriana Valenzuela ......................................1859th Trans Co

Rylie Wheeler ...............................................1859th Trans Co

Kenia Zelaya-Callejas ..................................1859th Trans Co

Pasha Bryant-Weaver ...................................1864th Trans Co

Peter Cytanovic VI........................................1864th Trans Co

Shawn Gallagher ..........................................1864th Trans Co

Jordi Garibay ................................................1864th Trans Co

Jose Guerrero ...............................................1864th Trans Co

Jeremiah Hebert ...........................................1864th Trans Co

Davis Legaspidavid ......................................1864th Trans Co

Raymond Marquez IV...................................1864th Trans Co

Ray Punohu ..................................................1864th Trans Co

Bailey Vermillion .........................................1864th Trans Co

Deun Villanueva ...........................................1864th Trans Co

Keun Villanueva ...........................................1864th Trans Co

Weiwen Wu ..................................................1864th Trans Co

Boyan Alexandrov ..................................... 192nd Airlift Sqd

David Anderson ......................................... 192nd Airlift Sqd

Timothy Parker .......................................... 192nd Airlift Sqd

Kimo Awaseann ....................................2/238th Aviation Det

Nathan Capps ........................................2/238th Aviation Det

Kendall Goldsworthy ............................2/238th Aviation Det

Adam Mastrantonio ..............................2/238th Aviation Det

Mackenzie Miller ..................................2/238th Aviation Det

Jacob Prince ..........................................2/238th Aviation Det

Baylee Robinson ...................................2/238th Aviation Det

Luis Cesena ..............................................240th Engineer Co

Skylar Copp .............................................240th Engineer Co

Gregory Emerson .....................................240th Engineer Co

Richard Holt .............................................240th Engineer Co

Manuel Montes III ....................................240th Engineer Co

Jerry Orellana ...........................................240th Engineer Co

Santiago Rodriguez ..................................240th Engineer Co

Marcus Valdez .......................................... 240th Engineer Co

Jesse Luna .............................................3/140th Aviation Det

Juan Mayorga ........................................3/140th Aviation Det

Sean Phelps ...........................................3/140th Aviation Det

Wesley Robb .........................................3/140th Aviation Det

Yinchu Jiang .............................. 3665th Ordnance Co (EOD)

Anthony Kamminga .................. 3665th Ordnance Co (EOD)

Nattaly Acevedo ...................................................422nd ESB

Mitzy Bello ..........................................................422nd ESB

Christina Brase .....................................................422nd ESB

Nimsi Bustos-Ramirez .........................................422nd ESB

Chasen Carter .......................................................422nd ESB

Kywren Chase ......................................................422nd ESB

Zavala Delgado ....................................................422nd ESB

Morgan Ebbers .....................................................422nd ESB

Fuentes Farias ......................................................422nd ESB

Michael Felgar .....................................................422nd ESB

Adam Graft ..........................................................422nd ESB

Mark Jimenez .......................................................422nd ESB

Edward Larue JR...................................................422nd ESB

Gioan Le ...............................................................422nd ESB

Jay Lobederioronin ..............................................422nd ESB

Valeria Miranda ....................................................422nd ESB

Andres Perez ........................................................422nd ESB

Chandler Pong ......................................................422nd ESB

Karley Proctor ......................................................422nd ESB

Christian Rivera ...................................................422nd ESB

Canales Rodarte ...................................................422nd ESB

Franz Rodriguez ...................................................422nd ESB

Jason Roloson ......................................................422nd ESB

Toby Salas ............................................................422nd ESB

Fatima Sanchez ....................................................422nd ESB

Montoya Scott ......................................................422nd ESB

Michelle Troncoso ...............................................422nd ESB

Tyler Twohig ........................................................422nd ESB

Adan Ugalde ........................................................422nd ESB

Nancy Valdivia .....................................................422nd ESB

Allison Ward ........................................................422nd ESB

Stephanie Arredondo ..................................... 593rd Trans Co

Hooks Artis ................................................... 593rd Trans Co

Carmen Castillo-Zarate ................................. 593rd Trans Co

Mejia Chavez ................................................ 593rd Trans Co

Martinez Crisanto .......................................... 593rd Trans Co

Xavier Fuamatu ............................................. 593rd Trans Co

Phoebekate Insong ........................................ 593rd Trans Co

Jorge Robles .................................................. 593rd Trans Co

Braden Zora .................................................. 593rd Trans Co

Dylan Fisher .............................................609th Engineer Co

Cody Graham ...........................................609th Engineer Co

Roberto Hernandez ..................................609th Engineer Co

Brandon Lemus ........................................609th Engineer Co

Austin Makowski .....................................609th Engineer Co

Garcia Martinez .......................................609th Engineer Co

Christopher Pitts .......................................609th Engineer Co

Jose Saenzcazares ....................................609th Engineer Co

Austin Smith ............................................609th Engineer Co

Fernandez Villarroel E ..............................609th Engineer Co

Hailey Wilson ...........................................609th Engineer Co

Jenifer Zecena ..........................................609th Engineer Co

Jonathan Ayres .........................................................72nd MP

Victor Baena .............................................................72nd MP

Sergio Ballesteros ....................................................72nd MP

Jaime Chavez JR.......................................................72nd MP

Evan Cook ................................................................72nd MP

Zachary Cutting .......................................................72nd MP

Joshua Deguzman ....................................................72nd MP

Javier Flores .............................................................72nd MP

Perez Hernandez ......................................................72nd MP

Ginielle Leonen ........................................................72nd MP

Masani Lisberg .........................................................72nd MP

Michaeldominque Mota ...........................................72nd MP

Joshue Narvaez ........................................................72nd MP

Alyssa Padilla ...........................................................72nd MP

Edwar Perezcruz ......................................................72nd MP

Diego Pineda ............................................................72nd MP

Angel Salasramirez ..................................................72nd MP

Damian Strom ..........................................................72nd MP

John Tobin III............................................................72nd MP

Sierra White .............................................................72nd MP

David Lacerda JR................................................ 757th CSSB

Katrin Lamprecht .........................991st Aviation Troop Com

Christopher Agueromejia ..............................................JFHQ

Phillip Gingrich .............................................................JFHQ

Cassandra Holmes .........................................................JFHQ

Candious Ballard ...................................................... Med Det

Patricia Carney ......................................................... Med Det

Ryanchristian Castano .............................................. Med Det

Teresa Dennington ................................................... Med Det

Lewis Duchene ......................................................... Med Det

Hannah Gray ............................................................ Med Det

Ramirez Palomino .................................................... Med Det

Haley Peterson ......................................................... Med Det

John Quigley ............................................................ Med Det

Jada Wilson .............................................................. Med Det

Garry Willis II....................................Recruiting & Retention

BG William Burks .........................................................JFHQ

COL Michael Glynn ......................................................JFHQ

COL Eric Wishart ..........................................................JFHQ

Lt Col Shelly Assiff ..................................152nd Airlift Wing

Lt Col April Conway .....................................................JFHQ

Lt Col Robert Hoadley ..................................................JFHQ

CMSgt Michael Drisdale ..............................................JFHQ

SMSgt Timothy Mader ..................................232nd Ops Sqd

1SG Brian Dyer ........................................609th Engineer Co

MSgt Jeffrey Mello ..............................152nd Civil Eng. Sqd

MSgt Anthony Midmore ................ 152nd Comptroller flight

MSgt Kenneth Dupree .................. 152nd Force Support Sqd

MSgt Mark Oliver ................ 152nd Logistics Readiness Sqd

MSgt Thomas Quaranta ....... 152nd Logistics Readiness Sqd

MSgt Michael Martin .......................152nd Ops Support Sqd

MSgt David Mcneely ..................152nd Security Forces Sqd

MSgt David Woginrich ...............152nd Security Forces Sqd

SFC Christopher Wing .............................................. 17th SB

SFC Preston Crossman ................................1859th Trans Co

SFC Teresa Dennington ...............991st Aviation Troop Com

SFC Carmen Montes .....................................................JFHQ

SSG Gary Schlauch ................................1/189th Aviation Co

TSgt Bryan Millmine ..................152nd Security Forces Sqd

SSG Patrick Jenkinson .............................................. 17th SB

SSG William Moore .................................................. 17th SB

SSG Tyrone Baird ...............................................Camp Stead

SSG Jason Lashley ..............................................Camp Stead

SSgt Larry Vaughn ........................................152nd Intel Sqd

SSgt Scott Butler .................. 152nd Logistics Readiness Sqd

SGT Matthew Schumann ................................... 757th CSSB 

RETIREMENTS

Like and follow our 

Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/

NevadaNationalGuard/

Check out our new website

for more articles, 

information and news:

http://nvng.nv.gov/
Summer 2020 / BATTLE BORN / 31

CALENDAR Federal Holiday Nevada Holiday and History Other Events and Functions 

July 2020

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

1 1851 - Gold is discovered in Gold Canyon, 

near Dayton.

2 3 Independence Day 

(Observed)

1909 - First marriage 

certificate is filed in Clark 

County.

4 Independence Day

5 6 7 8 1878 - The Sutro Tunnel 

is completed, reaching 

the Comstock mines

9 10 11 1861 - Gov. James 

Nye proclaims the

establishment of the Nev.

territorial government.

12 13 14 Bastille Day: 

French National Day

15 16 17 18 1859 - A 

Utah Territory constitutional 

convention is held in Genoa

19 20 21 1922 - The first radio 

station in the state, KDZK, 

begins broadcasting in Reno

22 23 24 25

26 Parents’ Day 27 National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day

28 29 Tisha B’Av: Jewish day of communal mourning; 

An annual fast day in 

Judaism.

30 31Eid al-Adha: Islamic festival to commemorate 

Ibrahim’s willingness to 

sacrifice his son for Allah.

August 2020

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

1 1906 - Work begins on 

V&T train track extension 

to Minden

2 3 4 Coast Guard Birthday 5 6 7 Purple Heart Day 8 1876 - Nev. Sen. Pat McCarran born in Reno.

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 National Aviation Day 20 Muharram begins: The 

beginning of the Islamic 

New Year

21 22

23/30 24/31 25 26 Women’s Equality Day 27 28 29

September 2020

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

1 2 3 1906 - Gans-Nelson fight in Goldfield. Gans won 

the 42-round bout.

4 5

6 7 Labor Day 8 9 10 11 Patriot Day 12 1885 - Cornerstone 

laid for Morrill Hall, the 

first building at University 

of Nevada

13 14 15 16 17 Constitution Day and 

Citizenship Day

1930 - Construction begins 

on the Boulder Dam.

18 Air Force Birthday

National POW/MIA 

Recognition Day

19 Rosh Hashana: The Jewish New Year

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 Gold Star 

Mother’s Day

28 29 1888 - Gov. Charles 

Clark Stevenson becomes 

first Nev. Gov. to die in 

office

30

Summer 2020 / BATTLE BORN / 31
3665th courtesy photo

Soldiers with the Nevada Army Guard’s 3665th 

Explosive Ordnance Company take time out for a 

unique unit photo while deployed in Asia.