Unbridled Service: The Kentucky National Guard

We're Moving!

2009-10-19T09:36:00.001-07:00

That's right, we're moving this blog to a new address. For future blog posts, please visit -- Unbridled Service.

Also, please follow us on Twitter - KYNGPAO. And for the "inside baseball" perspective, be watching the individual Twitter accounts of our Public Affairs Staff -- KYNGPAO_Kirk, KYNGPAO_David, KYNGPAO_Andi, KYNGPAO_Aaron, KYNGPAO_Gina, and KYNGPAO_Waters

KY Adjutant General Awards the KY Medal for Valor

2009-10-13T06:20:00.001-07:00

Kentucky Medal of Valor recipient Sgt. Michael Clary stands with Daviess County Sheriff Keith Cain and Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini, Kentucky adjutant general, after an award ceremony Oct. 9, at the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center. Clary received the Medal of Valor after assisting with the rescue of four Daviess County teenagers stranded on top of a vehicle in an icy water-filled ravine during the Ice Storm of 2009.

1163rd Medical Company Returns from Iraq

2009-09-24T12:55:00.000-07:00

MEDIA ADVISORY: Kentucky National Guard Medical company returns home from Iraq

WHO: 1163rd Area Support Medical Company, Kentucky Army National Guard
WHAT: Welcome home ceremony
WHEN: 4:30 p.m.
WHERE: Settle Gymnasium (behind the Shelby County Board of Education) 1155 West Main Street, Shelbyville, Ky.

Shelbyville, Ky. -- The Kentucky Army National Guard will host a welcome home ceremony for the Soldiers of the 1163rd Area Support Medical Company at 4:30 p.m. on September 25 at the Settle Gymnasium, 1155 West Main Street, Shelbyville, Ky.

Please note that arrival time is dependent on weather conditions.

The 1163rd Medical Company departed Shelbyville one year ago in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Soldiers provided medical support to coalition forces and detainees during their tour of duty in Bucca, Iraq.

This is the second deployment for in support of the Global War on Terror for the 1163rd Medical Company. The unit also served in Afghanistan in 2003-2004. More than 12,000 Kentucky National Guard troops have deployed to fight the Global War on Terror since September 11, 2001.

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KYNG and Panther Racing Recognize the Troops

2009-09-23T12:28:00.000-07:00

MEDIA ADVISORY: Kentucky National Guard teams up with Panther Racing to recognize troops

CONTACT: Lt. Col. Kirk Hilbrecht, 502-352-8008

WHO: Kentucky National Guard and Panther Racing
WHAT: IndyCar experience
WHEN: 12-4 p.m., Saturday, September 26, 2009
WHERE: Kentucky Air National Guard Base, 1101 Grade Lane, Louisville, Ky.

Louisville, Ky. -- The Kentucky National Guard and Panther Racing are teaming up to recognize Soldiers and Airmen for a job well done!

Known for its world class IndyCar racing exploits, Panther Racing will treat Kentucky Army and Air National Guard troops on a once in a lifetime experience in a tandem-seat ride in a full-fledged IndyCar down the runway at the Air National Guard Base in Louisville.

The privately-funded program is designed to recognize the sacrifices made by Kentucky's Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen. More than 12,000 Kentucky National Guard troops have been deployed since September 11, 2001 to fight the Global War on Terror.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for our Soldiers and Airmen to ride along with a world class team, Panther Racing," said Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini, adjutant general for Kentucky. "We share many of the same attributes as Panther Racing, the technology, the adrenaline in particular, so it was only natural that we pair up for this once in a lifetime experience."

The event will run from noon until 4 p.m. Interest media should arrive at least a half hour early to process through security at the gate. A photo ID is required.

Marines Conducting Exercise in KY

2009-09-22T08:27:00.000-07:00

MILITARY EXERCISE IN SOUTHERN INDIANA AND NORTHERN KENTUCKY

Notice to Residents

From Sept 24 to Oct 7, the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, the landing force for the Norfolk-based Nassau Expeditionary Strike Group, will conduct a military exercise in southern Indiana at Camp Atterbury and the surrounding communities, as well as parts of northern Kentucky in the vicinity of Frankfort and Peak Mills. The Realistic Urban Training exercise, or RUT, is a standard part of a MEU's pre-deployment training program.

The 24th MEU, based at Camp Lejeune, N.C., is scheduled to deploy in a few months and this exercise is essential in preparing the unit's Marines and Sailors to operate in an urban area.

What kind of training will the Marines be conducting?

The primary focus for the Marines will be to hone their skills in conducting patrols, operating vehicle checkpoints, reacting to ambushes, and countering the threat posed by improvised explosive devices, among a variety of other skill sets associated with operating in an urban environment. The Marines'

activity in the communities will center on what are called situational training exercises - a variety of mock missions aimed at replicating the types of missions they might face during their upcoming deployment. In much the same way they would while deployed, the Marines will plan the missions in detail, and then execute them in approved, pre-designated locations.

Where will the training take place?

The Marines will be operating in a number of cities and towns throughout southern Indiana and northern Kentucky including Camp Atterbury, Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, Hoosier National Forest, Columbus and Seymour, Indiana, and Frankfort and Peak Mills, Kentucky. Military vehicles and helicopters will transport personnel and equipment between these locations.

While most of the activity will take place aboard the military bases, residents in certain communities can expect to see military vehicles and helicopters moving from one location to another. Residents living in close proximity to a select few sites will be notified in advance that Marines will be conducting simulated raids nearby.

What impact will the training have on area residents?

Many residents will certainly notice more uniformed Marines than they're accustomed to seeing, and many will notice military vehicles and helicopters operating in the area. The Marines will be living aboard Camp Atterbury, and most of the activity off base will be concentrated in a relatively small number of designated areas. Where some raids take place, locals may notice role players dressed in Middle Eastern clothing carrying fake, rubber weapons. The impact of the training on most of the community will be minimal.

How much extra noise should residents expect during the exercise?

If residents notice an increase in noise, it will likely come from the helicopters. We have worked closely with the FAA to establish flight paths that minimize, to the greatest extent possible, the impact on area residents.

Still, we know the noise can be a nuisance, and we ask for your patience while we complete this critical training.

For more information, please visit the 24th MEU Web site at http://www.marines.mil/unit/24thmeu or call the RUT information hotline at 877-676-0396.

Gen. Casey visits Bagram and Ky. ADT

2009-09-02T05:15:00.000-07:00

Army Chief of Staff. Gen. George Casey visited Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan on Friday, August 28 to receive briefings on the situation in Afghanistan. During his visit he took time to meet with many soldiers, including the members of the Kentucky Agribusiness Development Team. Shown above, Gen. Casey greets Sgt. David Murley of the Ky. ADT. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Susan A. Wilt, CJTF-82 PAO)

38th Infantry Uncases Colors in Combat

2009-08-31T11:36:00.000-07:00

Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Lucas and Brig. Gen. Joseph "Lonnie" Culver uncase the colors of the 38th Infantry Division in Bagram, Afghanistan. This is the first time the 38th ID's colors have been uncased in combat since World War II. Brig. Gen. Culver commands Task Force Cyclone, an organization that will be influencing the expansion of governance, economic development, security, and to help improve the lives of the Afghan people. Brig. Gen. Culver is also the first Kentucky general officer to be mobilized for combat since the Civil War. (U.S. Army photo)

Gov. orders flags to half staff to honor Sen. Kennedy

2009-08-27T06:05:00.000-07:00

Driving in to Boone National Guard Center today you will notice the flags in front of the Emergency Operations Center have been lowered to half staff. Gov. Beshear has ordered the flags lowered to half staff in honor of U.S. Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) who passed away Wednesday morning after succumbing to terminal brain cancer.

“Our hearts go out to the Kennedy family today as we mourn the passing of legendary Senator Ted Kennedy,” Gov. Beshear said. “Sen. Kennedy will long be remembered for his role as a strong, vocal advocate for the improvement of healthcare, education and beyond. The passion, dedication and perseverance that truly made him the “Lion of the Senate” will be sorely missed.” (Governor's website)

Kentucky ADT visits several projects in Janqadam village

2009-08-26T08:48:00.000-07:00

PARWAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Kentucky Agri-business Development Team commander, Col. Mike Farley, talks with a village elder of Janqadam village outside Bagram Air Field in Parwan province, Afghanistan, during a routine check on the community’s greenhouse project, Aug. 24. A greenhouse and vineyard are focal projects with a goal to increase yields of produce for the villagers, earning them extra money by distributing the food at nearby markets. (Photo by Spc. William E. Henry, Task Force Cyclon Public Affairs)

PARWAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Children of Janqadam village outside Bagram Air Field in Parwan province, Afghanistan, flock to see the Soldiers and Airmen of the Kentucky Agri-business Development Team during a routine check on the community’s agricultural projects, Aug. 24. A greenhouse and vineyard are focal projects with a goal to increase yields of produce for the villagers, earning them extra money by distributing the food at nearby markets. (Photo by Spc. William E. Henry, Task Force Cyclon Public Affairs)

Ecuadoran Army Officers visit Kentucky

2009-08-25T06:25:00.001-07:00

Brig. Gen. Michael Dornbush welcomes a group of Ecuadoran Army officers who are visiting Kentucky through the National Guard's State Partnership Program to learn new methods of work together with law enforcement agencies in Ecuador, August 25. The National Guard State Partnership Program pairs up U.S. states with nations around the world to improve international relations and cooperation through familiarization visits, military training opportunities, and civil-military liaison events. This visit will focus on helping the Ecuadoran Army better integrate military working dogs into their civil, military and law enforcement operations. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Aaron Hiler, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

Maj. Gen. Tonini in Iraq

2009-08-21T07:32:00.000-07:00

Capt. Travis Huber, commander of the Maysville, Ky.-based 301st Chemical Company, reviews his operations with the Adjutant General of the Ky. National Guard, Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini, during his visit with the troops in Iraq, August 20. (U.S. Army photo)

The following article is from the Louisville Courier-Journal. The article is based on a live interview Maj. Gen. Tonini conducted yesterday while visiting the troops in Iraq.

Guard official visits Ky. soldiers in Iraq
By Derek Poore
August 20, 2009

Long-term and repeated deployments to Iraq have not hurt Kentuckians so far, the adjutant general of the Kentucky National Guard says.

Maj. Gen. Edward Tonini made the comments after meeting Thursday with the 301st Chemical Company from Morehead and the 299th Chemical Company based in Maysville during a trip to the Green Zone in Baghdad.

Tonini will meet the Shelbyville-based 1163rd Medical Company on Friday in southeastern Iraq.

Members of the 299th and 301st were previously deployed in Iraq in 2005 and the 1163rd was deployed in Afghanistan in 2003-04.

"I am concerned like a lot of people are concerned about wearing these soldiers out, but so far I haven't seen it," Tonini, of Louisville, said during a conference call with reporters. "We have a lot of people fired up
ready to go."

About 180 soldiers are deployed with the 301st and 299th and 82 are deployed with the 1163rd, said David Altom, spokesman for the Kentucky Department of Military Affairs.

The 1163rd was most recently deployed in fall 2008 and is scheduled to return in September. The 301st and 299th were deployed in May and are scheduled to return in May 2010. The companies are providing security support for U.S. bases.

Tonini had dinner with troops and said they were in high spirits.

Altom could not confirm if Tonini would next travel to meet Kentucky units in Afghanistan, citing security concerns.

There are 89 soldiers from the Kentucky Air and Army National Guard in Afghanistan as part of an agricultural development team.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, about 12,000 members of the Kentucky National Guard have been deployed worldwide, Altom said.

News Media Coverage of the KYNG Midway Terrorism Exercise

2009-08-06T11:10:00.000-07:00

Here is some of the news media coverage of the Kentucky National Guard's Midway Terrorism Exercise...
Terror Training at Midway College -- WKYT
Police vs. "terrorists" in Midway training -- Kentucky.com

Also, here is a story about the Ky. National Guard's assistance with flood recovery in Louisville...
Abramson seeks disaster assistance -- Business First

(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Michael Pfaff, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

Kentucky National Guard Host Campus Shooter Exercise

2009-08-06T08:15:00.000-07:00

Patrolman Kevin Estes, with the Versailles Police Department, provides rear security for his team after clearing and exiting a building during the Midway College 2009 Training Exercise in Midway, Ky., August 5. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Michael Pfaff, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

Three members of the Versailles Police Department’s Special Response Team (SRT) examine a blueprint of a building suspected shooters are firing in a pre-mission planning stage during the Midway College 2009 Training Exercise in Midway, Ky., August 5. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Michael Pfaff, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment).

During the Midway College 2009 Training Exercise, two role-players portray downed hostile gunman inside a boiler room on the roof of a building on campus. The Versailles Police Department’s Special Response Team waits to enter and secure the area. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Michael Pfaff, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

Blue Team from the Versailles Police Department’s Special Response Team clears a campus building’s foyer as part of a hostile shooter scenario during the Midway College 2009 Training Exercise in Midway, Ky., August 5. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Michael Pfaff, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

An unnamed Federal Bureau of Investigations agent, acting as an evaluator for the training scenario, provides a critique in an after-action review after the Versailles Police Department Special Response Team completed their portion of the hostile shooter training scenario. Each agency is evaluated based upon their internal standard operating procedures. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Michael Pfaff, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

Air Guard Base Supports Pandemic Response Efforts

2009-08-05T18:36:00.000-07:00

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Army and Air National Guard officials continued to support the state's response to the H5N1 pandemic here today as officials directed relief operations in 30 counties across the Commonwealth.

Those counties fall under the control of Joint Task Force Cardinal, which is headquartered at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base at Louisville International Airport. Task force assets include the full resources of the Louisville-based 123rd Airlift Wing and the 63rd Theater Aviation Brigade, said Brig. Gen. Mark Kraus, commander.

More than 3,000 Soldiers and Airmen are assigned to the task force. Right now, they are engaged in multiple relief activities across the state including direct support of local health departments and law enforcement agencies in Louisville and Covington, as well as crowd control and mortuary operations. Guardsmen also are providing support to civil authorities to maintain essential public services and critical commercial activities as directed by the Governor and government agencies.

Photo 1: Joint Task Force Cardinal officials receive a status update of current operations at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base today. (Kentucky National Guard photo by Maj. Dale Greer. Cleared for release.)

Photo 2: Brig. Gen. Mark Kraus, Joint Task Force Cardinal commander, analyzes the Guard's response to mortuary operations today as casualty rates approach 7,000. (Kentucky National Guard photo by Maj. Dale Greer. Cleared for release.)

Photo 3: Master Sgt. Ernie Cays, chief of public health, tracks infection rates across the task force's area of responsibility today. (Kentucky National Guard photo by Maj. Dale Greer. Cleared for release.)

Photo 4: Lt. Col. Alison Webber, staff judge advocate, reviews rules of engagement today for National Guard troops assigned to work with law enforcement agencies. (Kentucky National Guard photo by Maj. Dale Greer. Cleared for release.)

Photo 5: Master Sgt. Monte Goldring provides contracting support for deployed forces throughout Joint Task Force Cardinal. (Kentucky National Guard photo by Maj. Dale Greer. Cleared for release.)

Photo 6: Lt. Col. Kevin Morris coordinates an airlift sortie to deliver troops as needed across the Commonwealth today. (Kentucky National Guard photo by Maj. Dale Greer. Cleared for release.)

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National Guard Troops Establish Staging Facility in Midway

2009-08-04T12:03:00.000-07:00

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MIDWAY, Ky. — Dozens of Kentucky Army and Air National Guardsmen are deployed here today to set up a Joint Reception, Staging, Onward-movement and Integration facility as part of the Commonwealth's response to the H5N1 pandemic.

The facility is being used as a temporary operating base to stage equipment and supplies, including medical gear, food and water, as they arrive by truck and helicopter. Troops also will be housed in tents here for the duration of the mission.

Gov. Steve Beshear called up more than 1,300 members of the National Guard earlier this week as the pandemic began to spread across the state.

Top photo: Sgt. 1st Class Shaun A. Talbot, an intelligence NCO and Louisville, Ky. native, works inside the Emergency Management Mobile Command Vehicle in Midway, Ky., during the National Guard's pandemic respsonse Aug 4. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Michael Pfaff, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

Second photo: Sgt. 1st Class Leslie A. Duncan, the battalion supply sergeant with the 751st Troop Command and Central City, Ky. native, gives Soldiers instructions on setting up the Joint Reception, Staging, Onward-movement and Integration facility. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Michael Pfaff, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

Third photo: Sgt. Andrew J. Safie, a musician with the 202nd Army Band and Lexington, Ky., native, helps set up tents that will act as headquarters for the JSROI. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Michael Pfaff, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

Bottom photo: Sgt. Ronald J. Wamsley, a signal support system specialist with Joint Force Headquarters and a Louisville, Ky., native, installs a ground wire for a communications satellite to prevent lightning from damaging it. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Michael Pfaff, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

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National Guard Commanders Assess Current Operations

2009-08-04T09:54:00.000-07:00

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FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky National Guard leaders met at the state Emergency Operations Center at noon today to assess current operations in response to the H5N1 pandemic.

More 1,300 Kentucky Army and Air National Guardsmen currently are deployed across the Commonwealth. The troops are distributing medical supplies and vaccine to local health departments and assisting civil authorities as requested.

Gov. Steve Beshear called up the Guard forces earlier this week as the pandemic began to spread across the state.

Top Photo: Kentucky National Guard commanders receive a status briefing of current operations. (KyNG photo by Maj. Dale Greer. Cleared for release.)

Center photo: Brig. Gen. John Heltzel, director of the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management (center), and Brig.Gen. Michael Dornbush (left), Kentucky Joint Forces chief of staff, direct relief operations. (KyNG photo by Maj. Dale Greer. Cleared for release.)

Bottom photo: Col. Benjamin Adams, Kentucky National Guard human resources director, listens as troop accountability reports are detailed. (KyNG photo by Maj. Dale Greer. Cleared for release.)

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