Posted By Administration,
Tuesday, September 17, 2024
Don't Miss Out on ROA's 22 Days of Service!
The countdown is on! Join us for 22 Days of Service from October 1-22, 2024, and make a difference in your community. This is your opportunity to pledge your commitment to impactful service and be part of a nationwide initiative.
Be part of this exciting initiative and help us make a significant impact!
Posted By Annie Charnley Eveland,
Tuesday, September 17, 2024
An obelisk monument marks a burial site in Mountain View Cemetery in honor of Union soldiers who fought for reunification and the abolition of slavery during the American Civil War from April 12, 1861-April 9, 1865. Courtesy Reserve Organization of America NW021 Chapter.
Posted By Dept. of Tennessee,
Tuesday, September 17, 2024
ROA's Department of Tennessee hosted their annual meeting in Franklin on August 24, led by Doug Gilbert, president of the department.
Judi Davenport, former ROA national president, provided an update on ROA’s international programs, highlighting upcoming events, including the United Partnership of Reserve Officers Associations (UPFORA) meeting scheduled for October in Lima, Peru.
ROA's National Director of Operations Trey Criner, presented a brief emphasizing key chapter and department initiatives such as the 22 Days of Service campaign, enhancements to the ROA Academy Toolkit, efforts to promote the organization via social media, and the introduction of newly designed term and life member lapel pins.
The meeting featured several guest speakers from various military and veteran organizations: Mike Ware represented Veteran’s Last Patrol, shared insights on their mission to befriend, honor, and support veterans receiving hospice care.
This gathering underscored ROA Department of Tennessee's commitment to serving both its members and the broader veteran community, while fostering collaboration with other organizations dedicated to supporting military personnel and veterans.
The Department of Tennessee held their annual meeting in Franklin, Tenn on August 24. Guest speaker Alecia Grady (above left) shared her presentation on the Army Reserve's Public Private Partnership program, and Mike Ware (above right) presented information on the Veteran’s Last Patrol organization. ROA's Director of Operations Trey Criner (bottom right), was also in attendance to present the new life member lapel pin to Tennessee President Doug Gilber (bottom left).
Posted By Administration,
Monday, September 16, 2024
Col. David Borden, USAFR, led the revitalization efforts in May and June, with a successful icebreaker event on June 6. This was the first attempt at revitalizing Chapter 63 after the pandemic. Bolden said the success of the event was due to the preparation done by Maj. Chad Nickson, Master Sgt. Elizabeth Majors, and Master Sgt. Ben Mota. Tom Jennings, director of the Grissom Air Museum graciously allowed the chapter to host the event at their facility. Capt. Shannon Tribley (Treasurer) and Milan Tesanovich did a great job explaining the history of ROA and its benefits. Chapter 63 has regular meetings at Grissom Air Reserve Base, with base leadership participation.
The successful revitalization of both the Grissom Chapter (Indiana Chapter 63) and the Flying Viking Chapter in Minnesota can be directly attributed to activity on the bases during drill weekend.
“Both chapters are active and hold regular meetings,” said Scott Russell, chairman of ROA’s Department Chapter Development Committee (DCDC). “In both cases, they are busy on base and have the support of base leadership.”
Russell and the DCDC committee continue to help breathe new life into chapters and departments. ROA Director of Operations Trey Criner continues to provide support by going on the road engaging members and lending support.
Many departments and chapters have successfully supported Air Force Reserve Family Days, Army Reserve Resource Days, and DoD Yellow Ribbon events.
“Today, drilling reservists are about giving back to the community and providing service,” said Russell. “They are reaching out to Military Service Organizations (MSOs) and Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs) to give back to the community they live and work in. This is why we came up with our ROA '22 Days of Service' campaign, and many drilling reservists are excited about it.”
For any chapters or departments that would like to participate in these events on a base nearby, contact the installation public affairs office. There are also tools available on the ROA Academy webpage to help make your event successful. Click here to access: ROA ACADEMY TOOLKIT.
Col. Gia Wilson-Mackey, USAF Flying Viking ROA Chapter President, manning a table at a recent Family Day at Grissom Air Reserve Base. She has been busy with the Flying Viking Chapter and her fellow ROA members were able to get to all the reserve squadrons on base and brief on ROA during the drill weekend. She is about to start the second round of this and is well on the way to revitalizing the chapter. Above photo, front row from left: Marilyn Chambers, and Col. Gia Wilson-McKay, Flying Viking ROA Chapter President; back row from left are Ann Jones, Paul and Anne Groskreutz.
Posted By Director of Operations Trey Criner,
Monday, September 16, 2024
ROA Chapter 39 President, retired Lt. Col. Hugh Shown along with retired Col. John Raschke at the Illinois Springfield State Fair sharing the mission of ROA and its benefits. Visiting their booth is a state fair walk-around, the reflective tin man who “made a good reflection” for everyone!
Posted By ROA Executive Director Jeffrey E. Phillips,
Monday, September 16, 2024
Given the well-intended messaging we read and hear about “one Army,” the inequities between the active and reserve components persist.
Recently, we learned from an Army Reserve official about one such inequity, likely dating – as many of these outrages do – from the old “Strategic Reserve” days when the RC was an afterthought in the minds of policymakers and pentagon leaders.
The Army Emergency Relief program provides loans and grants to soldiers who can prove a need. While applications go through the chain of command, AER is a non-DoD not-for-profit organization. AER describes itself as the “official nonprofit of the U.S. Army.”
ROA is working to improve the policies and regulations addressing AER loans to members of the Reserve Components:
Point of outrage: a soldier must be on continuous Title 10 orders for 30 or more days to qualify for a loan. The Army Reserve official described the tragedy of an Army Reserve soldier on shorter duty who needed just $400 to help with an emergency; despite the Army Reserve’s entreaties for an exception to policy, AER refused.
One less outrage: In May, ROA Executive Director Jeffrey E. Phillips wrote the Army Vice Chief of Staff describing the problem and asked for his help. Phillips also engaged a member of the AER board of advisors on the issue.
In early September, ROA learned that in connection with the reported concern, AER established a working group to explore changes to its regulations and policies as they apply to soldiers in the Army Reserve.
In a follow up, Phillips requested from the Army Vice Chief of Staff that the Army Reserve have representation in the working group, which is now being coordinated.
Posted By ROA Executive Director Jeffrey E. Phillips,
Thursday, August 15, 2024
ROA expresses its appreciation to the late Maj. Gen. John D. Jones, U.S. Army Reserve, and his beloved wife of nearly thirty years, Dolphine, who in their 1998 trust bequeathed to ROA $50,000.
“On behalf of the members of ROA, in whose ranks General Jones stood tall, we express our thanks to General and Mrs. Jones for this gift, which has appreciated to over $70,000,” said ROA’s executive director, retired Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Phillips. “ROA will put this gift to good use supporting the men and women in the Reserve Components, their families, and veterans of Reserve service, as we have done for over a century.”
Jones, who died in 1999, served in the Army Reserve, ultimately commanding the 87th Maneuver Area Command, established in 1957. The 87th MAC was deactivated in 1993, with the activation of the 87th Division (Exercise). The 87th was redesignated in 1999 the 87th Division (Training Support) and is now known as the 87th Training Division.
Jones grew up in Natural Bridge, Littleville, and Haleyville, Alabama; he earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Auburn University and worked at Alabama Power, where he met Dolphine (“Dollie”), who also worked there. They were married in 1971. John retired in 1985 as senior vice president in charge of generating plant construction.
When asked what his fondest memories were at Alabama Power, he pointed at Dollie and replied “I met her.” His beloved Dollie died on June 4, 2023.
The general’s college education at Auburn was interrupted by World War II. He enlisted in the Army in 1942 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1943; he saw combat in Europe and received the Purple Heart, Bronze Star with oak leaf cluster and V device for valor, and the European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two battle stars. A field artillery battery commander at 22, he was released from active duty as a captain and returned to Auburn to complete his studies.
The young officer was recalled to active duty during the Korean War, afterwards continuing to serve in the Army Reserve. At his 1979 retirement, having served 37 years in both the active and reserve components, he wore a newly awarded Legion of Merit and held a saber presented by his soldiers.
“Major General John David Jones was my mentor even when he was a lieutenant colonel,” recalled retired Maj. Gen. Tom Merrill, who succeeded Jones in command of the 87th. “My most vivid memory involves observing and learning from John’s leadership style. He set an example for no nonsense, no smoke and mirrors, get the job done as planned and on time. Consequently, receiving a good efficiency report from John was very motivational. Serving with Major General Jones was always a stimulating and challenging experience.”
The estate gift notification reached ROA in a letter from their niece and trustee, Christal Brannon, who typed it symbolically on the IBM Selectric typewriter used by Dollie at Alabama Power. Christal revealed to me that “the typed letter was my 4th draft; how to type a letter all came back to me . . . very slowly!”
“When she retired,” Christal wrote us of Dollie, “she refused a party and instead requested her typewriter which she used quite frequently for the rest of her life.”
Christal reports that the only place able to service the Selectric is in Montgomery – and there it periodically goes, to ensure the operation that endeared it to its former owner.
Posted By Air Force Reserve Command,
Thursday, August 15, 2024
Air Force Reserve Command
Air Education and Training Command: The US Air Force’s T-1A Jayhawk made its final flight with the 99th Flying Training Squadron, soaring from Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.
The journey marks the end of an era for the trainer aircraft, which has been a cornerstone in the training of air mobility and combat systems officers for three decades. The T-1A played a crucial role in preparing thousands of pilots for service in various airframes, including the C-17 Globemaster III, KC-135 Stratotanker and C-130 Hercules.
“It was an honor to be a part of the final Red Tail T-1 flight,” said Lt. Col. Dominique Haig (99 FTS/CC), who piloted the final flight alongside Lt Col Megan Pasierb (39 FTS/PIT program manager) and Lt. Col. Christopher Puccia (39 FTS/DO). “They’ve been a workhorse for the past 31 years preparing the instructor pilots and combat systems operators for the Mobility Air Force, Air Force Special Operations Command and Air Combat Command.”
Several aviation-related organizations were onsite at Barksdale Air Force Base to demonstrate multiple technologies of the B-52 Stratofortress. These demonstrations included maintenance capabilities using unmanned aerial systems, AI software, stand-alone networks and augmented reality devices. “Our maintainers do physical scans of the aircraft every 180 days and again every 450 flight hours, but there are areas that are difficult and time-consuming to inspect due to access,” said Master Sgt. Brett Jordan (307th AMXS/MXA). The upgraded software has the ability to instantly provide feedback on the aircraft’s surface.
Air Force Reserve Maj. Michael Medrano (A3/C-5/DM4 FAM) received the Airman’s Medal for his act of heroism last summer when he saved two children. While vacationing in Port Aransas, Medrano noticed that two children were standing on an elevated rock jetty that had been consumed by a wave and then they fell into the water. The stormy day heightened fears in the children during the rescue, but Medrano assured them of their safety and return to shore. Medrano said he was grateful that the children did not drown or become permanently injured and that they are able to continue living a happy life.
Air Force Special Operations Command / AFRC: In a historic first, Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) successfully landed an AC-130J Ghostrider gunship on Highway 63 in Bono, Ark. This operation was part of a broader exercise, Emerald Warrior Field Training Exercise II, designed to showcase AFSOC’s Agile Combat Employment capabilities. The exercise provided an opportunity for participating units to refine their skills and advance ongoing pathfinding and experimentation efforts within AFSOC.
“This exercise serves as a significant milestone for AFSOC, demonstrating our ability to operate in diverse and austere environments,” said Tech Sgt. Robert Gallagher (370 SOCTS/CTOIP lead planner for the highway landings). “By leveraging ACE concepts, we enhance our operational flexibility and resilience.” Shortly after the AC-130J landing, a C-146A Wolfhound and an MC-130J Commando II from the 492nd Special Operations Wing landed on the five-lane highway.
Posted By Anne M. Groskreutz,
Thursday, August 15, 2024
Members of the Minnesota Flying Viking chapter attended a local family day August 3, of the 934th Airlift Wing in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Pictured in front from left to right are Marilyn Chambers, Col. Gia Wilson-McKay, Flying Viking ROA chapter president; and pictured in back from left to right are Ann Jones; and Paul and Anne Groskreutz.
The use of the Event Organizer is shown on the table.
"We spoke to families, and handed out numerous information sheets about ROA, USERRA, the Law Library and almost 100 STARS in Schools kits," said Anne Groskreutz.
Posted By ROA Director of Operations Trey Criner,
Thursday, August 15, 2024
Dean Hewitt is the first recipient of the brand new, re-designed ROA Life Member pin. He is pictured with ROA Director of Operations Trey Criner, the designer of the pin, at the South Carolina Department Annual Meeting.
Dean is a retired U.S. Navy Captain and has been a life member since December of 1959 when he was a young 30-year-old. Dean has actively supported ROA continuously since he joined.
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Given the well-intended messaging we read and hear about “one Army,” the inequities between the active and reserve components persist.
