NCNGA Weekly Guardsman for September 13, 2018
September 13, 2018
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Hurricane Florence: Pentagon plans to fight back with Guard troops, rescue helicopters USA Today
WASHINGTON – The Pentagon deployed forces Wednesday night along the East Coast and at sea to respond to Hurricane Florence’s expected landfall in North Carolina.
Rescue personnel with helicopters and swift-water boats were staging to dash to people caught in floodwaters expected from Florence’s deluges. Trucks capable of maneuvering through deep water also being dispatched throughout the southeast.
At sea, the amphibious ships USS Kearsarge and USS Arlington along with Marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit were being positioned to provide aid from the sea if needed.
The Navy already has evacuated ships, submarines and aircraft from the world’s largest naval installation at Hampton Roads, Virginia, said Rear Adm. Charles Rock, commander of Navy Region Mid-Atlantic. Sailors and their families ashore were also ordered to head inland.
The ships fare better in rough seas than being battered at piers in port during storms, Rock said. Their commanders are setting course for portions of the Atlantic away from Florence’s fury.
Asheville National Guard unit wins major environmental award Mountain Xpress
Life in the armed forces has always been a matter of discipline — “willingly doing what is right,” in the words of the U.S. Army. But in the modern military, according to 1st Sgt. Todd Lingerfelt of the N.C. National Guard’s Field Maintenance Station No. 1 in Asheville, that commitment includes doing right by the planet.
“We promote environmental standards even for soldiers in basic training,” Lingerfelt says. “If, for instance, we go in and leave boot prints in the mud, we might have engineers come in after us and make sure that we leave no tracks behind.”
Lingerfelt’s station has drawn national praise for enthusiastically embracing the environmental ethos. On Aug. 3, Jordan Gillis, acting assistant secretary of the Army for installations, energy and environment, presented FMS No. 1 with the Secretary of the Army Environmental Award, given annually to just nine individuals, teams or installations from Army operations across the country.
Gillis commended the station, which maintains and rehabilitates over 900 vehicles, weapons systems and pieces of communications equipment for Guard members, for its work to prevent pollution and increase sustainability. Through its programs to “reduce, reuse and recycle,” he said, FMS No. 1 staff members had set a strong example for their comrades throughout the armed forces.
Hurricane Warnings Issued for Parts of Carolinas KAALTV
5:10 p.m.
Forecasters have issued a hurricane warning for parts of the Carolinas as Hurricane Florence barrels toward land.
The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Tuesday that a warning had been issued from South Santee River, South Carolina, to Duck, North Carolina, and the Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds.
A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued from north of the North Carolina-Virginia border to Cape Charles Light, Virginia, and for the Chesapeake Bay south of New Point Comfort.
As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, Florence was centered 785 miles (1,260 kms) southeast of Cape Fear, North Carolina, moving west-northwest at 17 mph (28 kph).
It is a potentially catastrophic Category 4 storm, with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 kph). It is expected to keep drawing energy from the warm water and intensify to near Category 5, with winds of 157 mph (253 kph) or higher.
North Carolina opens over 50 emergency shelters ahead of Florence FOX46 Charlotte
CHARLOTTE, NC (FOX 46 WJZY/AP) – North Carolina has opened more than 50 emergency shelters ahead of Hurricane Florence.
Jeff Byard of the Federal Emergency Management Agency said it was imperative locals heed the evacuation warnings.
He says the time to flee Hurricane Florence is now. Landfall was expected sometime late Thursday and FEMA officials said Wednesday was the last day for people to get out safely.
“Today’s the day,” he said. “It’s time for our citizens to be a part of the team. Heed those warnings and evacuate if you’re in one of the zones.”
Entry now open for the 11th Annual Len Adams Memorial Scholarship Golf Tournament NCNGA
Have your golf team enter an 18-Hole Tournament. All proceeds going to the NCNGA Educational Foundation! The first $1000 will be given to the NCNGA Educational Foundation to award the Len Adams Scholarship in 2019. Click on the link to learn more about prizes, entry, and more!
Become a Certified Medical Assistant (before Thanksgiving)! NCNGA
Have a great new career by the holidays and keep the laptop!
Wait…What? Career Pathways Institute has opened its Raleigh Campus, located with the North Carolina National Guard Association! We have spent years successfully providing education to employment training that gets our students into career-oriented jobs with high demand, high wage positions! Now, its available here in the RDU region conveniently at the NCNGA offices!
So… What are we talking about here? For a complete list of what we are offering this fall, check out website at https://www.cpi.institute. Programs are in classroom and online and include certifications business, healthcare, IT and our newest addition, the Roofing Academy!
PLUS, we can accept NC TAP Funds for tuition as well as help you find other funding sources!
Check out the information below for specific information on one of the Healthcare offerings, becoming a certified Medical Assistant!
September 13th — Today in Guard History National Guard
1847 Chapultepec, Mexico – The United States and Mexico had gone to war in 1846 over a boundary dispute concerning Texas. Early operations saw several important battles (all American victories) fought in northern Mexico. Then in March 1847 General Winfield Scott landed an American Army at Vera Cruz on the Mexican Gulf coast. Marching inland, winning several battles in the process, the last remaining outpost to block the American advance into the capital of Mexico City was (and still is) the Mexican Military Academy (akin to West Point) housed in Chapultepec Castle. Situated on a high bluff, it was defended by a combination of Mexican Army soldiers and cadets from the Academy. The main American assault consisted of two prongs. Attacking from the west, the first prong was composed mostly of Regular Army units. The second prong, hitting the castle from the south, was led by former militia Major General John A. Quitman from Mississippi. He commanded a brigade of regiments from Pennsylvania, New York and South Carolina. This latter unit, known as the “Palmetto Regiment” was selected to spearhead this attack. Moving across a meadow and several ditches of water, they reached a breach in the wall caused by American artillery fire. Once through the breech, they came under heavy enemy fire, forcing them to fight house-to-house as they approached a key position called the “Belen Gate.” They stormed the Gate and after some hand-to-hand fighting captured it, forcing the enemy to pull back. To better rally the troops Lieutenant Frederick Selleck placed the regimental flag on top of the ruins of the Gate only to be immediately shot and killed. Other American units passed through the remnants of the South Carolinians, continuing to push the Mexican defenders from their positions. The city surrendered the next day and the American Army soon peacefully entered Mexico City, effectively ending the war. Of historical note is the Palmetto flag carried during this campaign. The flag presented to the regiment when it left Charleston, having been exposed to the elements and battle damage since landing at Vera Cruz and nearly destroyed by the close of fighting for the Castle, was torn to shreds. After the regiment assumed garrison duties in Mexico City it acquired a new flag, which it carried home with pride. Apparently only briefly used in the Civil War, it survived that conflict with little wear. When the 2nd South Carolina Volunteer Infantry deployed to Cuba in 1898 during the Spanish-American War, it carried this aged Mexican War color, making it the first time an American regimental color ever flew victorious over two different foreign lands. Today it is framed and displayed in the South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Museum Collection in Columbia.
3rd NCNG Educational Foundation Cruise for Charity NCNGEF
The North Carolina National Guard Education Foundation is holding it’s 3rd Cruise for Charity! Royal Carribean will set sail on their Adventure Of the Seas cruise on January 19, from Ft. Lauderdale. Cabins start at $709, with a $250/person deposit. Some of the proceeds from each cabin will go to the NCNG Education Foundation.
Click below to register, or email rbliley@cruiseplanners.com for questions.
Prices are per person, double occupancy, based on availability and subject to change without notice.
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