SEND US YOUR 4TH OF JULY PHOTOS

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1 NGAT NEWS NUGGETS July Crawford Ave Austin, Texas SEND US YOUR 4TH OF JULY PHOTOS That s right send us your photos on how you celebrated the 4th of July and you could win a Texas Flag Polo Shirt if your photo is used in the NGAT Magazine. Photos should be ed to ngatnews@ngat.org no later than 10 July Photos should be in jpg or bmp format and 250kb or larger. It s you re NGAT News Magazine and NGAT News Nuggets. We are only as good as the information you provide us. So send us your stories and photos today. We are still looking for photos of your Annual Training, Unit Training Events, Deployment Photos, Deployment/Homecoming Ceremonies and Retiree Activities. NGAT members always get priority in the magazine. Help Soldiers In Afghanistan Show Their Texas Pride The Texas National Guard Troops stationed at Forward Operating Base Ghazni in Afghanistan have requested 65 TEXAS FLAGS so that one can be flown over the base for each soldier posted there to take home as a souvenir of their service overseas. Will you help the Texas Military Forces Museum meet this humble request from our troops in the war zone? Bring or mail a 4x6 or 3x5 nylon flag to the museum by July 20 and the Museum will ship them to Afghanistan at the museum s expense. Feel free to include a personal note to the troops if you like! If you prefer, the museum will purchase and send a flag in your name for $ Please make checks out to the Texas Military Forces Historical Foundation. Flags or checks can be mailed to Texas Military Forces Museum, 2200 West 35th Street #6, Austin, Texas Call for more information. THANKS FOR SUPPORTING OUR TROOPS!

2 NGAT NEWS NUGGETS LEGISLATIVE ALERT 2 July 2009 The Issue: Reduced age for receipt of retired pay for members of the Reserve Component Immediate Action Required: Contact your Senators and urge them to support the provisions of S.831 on the Senate floor while considering the FY2010 NDAA, which would allow qualifying active duty service by Reserve Component members to be retroactive to September 11, 2001 for the purpose of reducing the eligibility age to collect reserve retirement pay. SHOW YOUR SUPPORT WRITE TO CONGRESS TODAY! Join us for the 131 st NGAUS General Conference Sep 09 (Including travel days) Nashville, TN For more information and registration forms visit our web site at Conference registration is $165. This covers ground transportation to and from airport and admission to all business sessions, the exhibition, coffee breaks, the opening reception in the exhibition hall, the Company Grade/Warrant Officer Mixer, brunch in the exhibit hall Sept. 12, the Governor s Reception, lunch in exhibit hall Sept. 13, the States Dinner and the Grand Ole Opry performance following the dinner. Most other activities are extra. The States Dinner will be Cowboy Casual. Diamond Gusset Jeans of Tennessee is offering a special discount on their jeans. For more information see the NGAT web site. Registration forms are due to the NGAT office no later than 13 July Page 2 Everyone will be staying at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center

3 NGAT NEWS NUGGETS FREE DRAG RACING TICKETS HOUSTON, TX 'Tickets for Troops,' a free ticket program aimed at showing appreciation and support to local military members is gearing up for a day of racing at Houston Raceway Park. Four lady drag racers are combining resources to host the troops and their families. Partnering with track owners, sponsors and charities, troops are able to experience drag racing from the driver's perspective. This season, Tina Stull is joined by fellow racers Kate and Diana Harker, both accomplished Alcohol Dragster Drivers, as well as Peggy Llewellyn, representing Pro Stock Motorcycle at its best. The event will be held on July at the Houston Raceway Park in Baytown, Texas. Military members are welcome to request tickets for themselves and their families. Families need not have Troops present to use tickets. Tickets are distributed first come first serve basis. Veterans are welcome to request tickets but are asked to indicate their status so that active duty requests can be filled first. To request tickets go to tinastullracing.com/giveaway River Sports Tubes Tubing on the Guadalupe River at it's best! We're located 12 miles west of New Braunfels, exit 191 off Hwy 35. River Sports is uniquely located on the Guadalupe River because it sits right in the middle of the famous "Horseshoe Loop", making "entry to" and "exit from" the river simple and quick! Choose from Short, Medium, and long floats. At the end of your float, we will pick you up with our Shuttle. Tube all day for one low price! Experience the best river tubing in Texas! MILITARY DISCOUNTS/GROUP RATES. Valid for 6 or more people. MUST SHOW MILITARY ID. Active, Reserve, Retired, Veteran. WEEKDAY GROUP RATE: (Monday through Friday) $4 OFF each Tube Rental. WEEKEND GROUP RATE: (Saturday & Sunday) $3 OFF each Tube Rental. Group Rates are by request & include all day tube rental and one 4th Crossing shuttle bus service. Attention: Group rate must be requested at time of payment. SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR SERVICEMEMBERS AND SPOUSE The Council of College and Military Educators (CCME) is offering scholarships to U.S. service members or their spouses who are working towards the completion of higher education degrees. Each award is in the amount of $500 and may be used for tuition, fees, books and other expenses encountered by the student pursuing educational goals. ALL National Guard members are eligible, no matter what duty status they are in. The same goes for their spouses. All applicants must submit their application (a link for online submission is below), and an essay. The deadline for applications is 1 September Interested applicants can find the information at session=scholarships Here is the link to the CCME scholarship information -

4 Join Us for the 2009 EANGUS Conference to be held in Rochester, Minnesota 8-13 Aug 2009 (including travel days) Registration fees are $ Register for the conference at Once registered for the conference, complete the hotel reservation form at the same site listed above and reserve your hotel room. NGAT will be staying at the following hotel La Quinta Inns & Suites 1625 South Broadway, Rochester, MN ONLY 2 ROOMS LEFT AT THE HOTEL!! H 2 O Is a Pet s Best Friend Unlike humans, dogs and cats don t cool off by sweating. Instead, they lose heat and moisture from their tongues by panting. This water loss needs to be replaced, so it s important to keep fresh drinking water available at all times. This is especially important when you take pets out for long summer walks or car rides. Never leave your pet alone in a parked car, not even for a few minutes. The air in a parked car doesn t circulate and, even in the shade, the temperature in a vehicle will start to rise and can become life threatening in just a few minutes. If you re used to taking your dog for a walk mid-day, consider changing to early morning or late afternoon walks during the summer. Hot pavement can burn a dog s paw pads, and walking outdoors during the hottest time of the day can lead to heat stress. After the summer is over, feel free to return to your usual schedule. FREE WEDDING GOWNS FOR MILITARY BRIDES Attention all military brides. Replace your camouflage with a free designer wedding gown from Brides Across America. This is their Second Annual Nationwide Wedding Gown Giveaway campaign. To qualify, brides must be engaged, be on active duty in the military, or have a fiancé on active duty in either Iraq or Afghanistan. All military brides must show ID, copy of deployment papers, orders or other qualifying proof. Brides do not have to reside in the area where the giveaway is taking place. The event will be held 7-12th of July. Dates vary per state. Visit for dates. Texas July 7th Brick House Bridal 200 Valley Wood Dr. Spring, Texas KEEP YOUR UP TO DATE SO YOU CAN CONTINUE TO RECEIVE THE NGAT NEWS NUGGETS. SEND CHANGES TO MEMBERSHIP@NGAT.ORG. ASK A FRIEND TO JOIN NGAT TODAY. EVERY VOICE COUNTS. Page 4 NGAT News Nuggets

5 YOU ARE INVITED to join the Texas Military Forces Museum and the Texas Military Forces Historical Foundation for a Symposium examining the History of 36 th Infantry Division in World War II. What: From Texas to Berlin: The 36 th Infantry Division in World War II, a symposium. Join distinguished historians and veterans of the Fighting 36 th as they recount the history of the division during the Second World War. When: July 18-19, 2009 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day Where: The Texas Military Forces Museum, located on Historic Camp Mabry in Austin, Texas Registration Fee: None; Admission Fee: None; Parking Fee: None Meals: Free snacks, coffee, water and soda will be available during breaks and lunch can be purchased at the post cafeteria for $7 each day. Speakers Colonel Fred Walker, Jr., son of Major General Fred Walker, commander of the 36 th Division from November 1940 until July Colonel Walker served in the 143 rd Infantry and as G3 of the division. Ray Wells, Sergeant, Co. H, 141 st Infantry, who served with the division from 1940 through the end of the war. Alfred Dietrick, Platoon Sergeant Co. B, 141 st Infantry, who landed at Salerno and fought at San Pietro. Jack Scott, 1 st Lieutenant Co. B, 111 th Engineers and author of Combat Engineer. George Necer, Museum Volunteer who as a child endured the Nazi occupation of France and was liberated by U.S. forces. Dr. Thomas M. Hatfield, Ph.D.; Senior Research Fellow and Director Studies in American Military History Dolph Briscoe Center for American History The University of Texas at Austin, will provide an overview on the 36 th Division in the Italian Campaign. David P. Colley, author of the acclaimed book Decision at Strasbourg, which examines the advance of the 6 th Army Group from the beaches of Southern France to the end of the war. Additional Speakers are in the process of committing to the program. Check our web site for an up to date list. Additional Special events include: The induction of Major General Fred Walker into the Texas Military Forces Hall of Honor on Friday July 17 and a special exhibition of original paintings done during the 36 th Infantry Division s time in North Africa by Corporal Frank Duncan, Battery B, 155 th Field Artillery. These remarkable paintings have not been seen since 1946 and will be on display for the first time in more than 60 years.

6 Sage Hospitality says Thank You to US Military personnel and First Responders with the Half Price for Heroes offer at their 50 hotels across the country Active and retired members of the US military and first responders are invited to participate in a thank you program from Sage Hospitality called Half Price for Heroes where they qualify for 50% off of their nightly room rate at Sage hotels across the country. These Americans put their lives on the line for us every day, said Walter Isenberg, president & CEO of Sage Hospitality. We are honored to be able to provide an opportunity for our service men and women to enjoy some vacation time with their families at a real discount. This is our way to say thank you to the troops returning home from overseas and for those who keep us safe here at home. The offer applies to active and retired members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and US Coast Guard, activated members of the National Guard and Reservists, divisions within the Department of Defense (FBI, CIA, Secret Service and NASA) as well as those in first responders jobs firefighters, police and paramedics. Sage encourages military personnel to take advantage of this Half Price for Heroes offer for a family vacation or a family reunion, to celebrate a special birthday or anniversary, or any other special occasion. From San Diego, Portland and Ogden to Pittsburgh, Charlotte and Orlando, Sage offers a variety of hotels from coast to coast. A complete list of Sage hotels can be found at Reservations can be made by contacting any of the 50 Sage hotels and talking with the reservationist about the Half Price for Heroes rate. You can also book through the individual hotel websites; using the booking code LPR where the form asks for a promotional/ group code. Based on availability, the Half Price for Heroes discount is taken off the normal, published room rate and applicable taxes apply. Guests will be asked to share valid military or first responder identification at check in. The Half Price for Heroes program will be available through December 31, Book your reservations by Labor Day to take advantage of this special offer. New Paternity Leave Policy The Army now entitles active duty and Active Guard and Reserve soldiers who father a child up to 10 consecutive nonchargeable administrative days of paternity leave which must be taken within 45 days of the birth of the child. Soldiers who are deployed when the child is born can take paternity leave within 60 days. The policy would retroactively apply to soldiers who were charged annual leave in conjunction with the birth of a child on or after October 13 and before the Army issued instructions on March 10. This entitlement does not apply to single solders who have fathered a child out of wedlock. NGAT NEWS NUGGETS PG 6