The Ripley Reporter Vol. 6, Issue 12 Holiday Safety Message from the Post Commander For many of us, the holidays will center on gatherings with family and friends, gift exchanges, and evenings by the fire. Command Sergeant Major Worden and I would like to say thank you to all the employees at Camp Ripley for your hard work and dedication this year. We have much to be grateful for in this country, but I would especially like to thank those who are serving in our Armed Forces and those who are supporting our warriors. Holidays are often filled with travel plans, but at this time of year those plans can be fraught with danger. Snow covered roads, icy conditions, and freezing rain can all contribute to a holiday tragedy. drive the weather conditions. Also, please ensure you are well rested before you drive long distances. Fatigue is often a risk factor contributing to serious accidents. Don t rush to your destination and don t over In This Issue Local Eagle Scout Project PAGE 2 The Army Winter Safety campaign is designed to heighten awareness of seasonal risk factors like the use of alcohol. Under no circumstances should you drink and drive and if you are planning to have an adult holiday beverage, please ensure you have a designated driver. In reflecting on this past year, I am most thankful to be part of the great team at Camp Ripley. You have exceeded my expectations for service and excellence. I am grateful for each of you and the contributions you provide in caring for our Soldiers and their Families. Command Sgt. Maj. Worden and his wife Lisa along with my wife Deb and I extend our best wishes for a safe and joyous holiday season. Education & Employment PAGE 3 Around Camp Ripley PAGE 4 Fire Fighters Stay Sharp PAGE 5 Updates for the M2.50 cal PAGE 6 Recruiting & Retention PAGE 7 Infra-structure Sustainability PAGE 8 SCOTT ST. SAUVER COL, FA, MN ARNG Post Commander MICHAEL WORDEN CSM, MN ARNG Post Command Sgt. Maj. Camp Ripley Holiday Messages PAGE 9 Safety & Awareness PAGE 10
The Ripley Reporter Page 2 Local Eagle Scout Project Maintains Community History Photos and story by: Patrick Neumann Camp Ripley Enviornmental Office CAMP RIPLEY, Minn. The Early morning frost gave way to autumn sunshine at the Green Prairie Cemetery near the north end of the Camp Ripley cantonment area. Volunteers assisting Matt Osvold s Eagle Scout project gathered to clean and maintain a historic cemetery Saturday Nov 2, 2013. Every Scout has to make an effort to help the community he is a part of, said Matt. Matt s project included the planning, organization, and implementation of an event to rake leaves, pick up debris and improve the look of the Green Prairie Cemetery at Camp Ripley. The cemetery pre-dates the installation with headstones dates reaching back to the 1800 s. Matt coordinated with the Camp Ripley Environmental Office for guidance as well as some of the tools used for the clean-up effort. Three members of the Environmental office as well as nine family members, friends, and other scouts assisted with the effort. Events like this help strengthen our ties with community members, some of which are the descendents of the people buried in this cemetery, said Patrick Neumann, Cultural Resources Manager for the Camp Ripley Environmental Team. The group raked the entire cemetery and hauled the leaves to a disposal area on base where they will be composted. Trees along the edges of the cemetery were also trimmed of their dead branches and the branches were removed from the cemetery. An interesting feature of Green Prairie cemetery is the stone wall which surrounds it. The wall is a dry laid, granite stone wall constructed in the same style as the Camp Ripley wall, familiar to anyone who has driven past or entered the front gates of Camp Ripley. Both of the walls were constructed by WPA relief workers during the depression in the 1930 s. (Continued on Pg. 3) ESGR NOW ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS FOR 2014 SECRETARY OF DEFENSE EMPLOYER SUPPORT FREEDOM AWARD National Guard and Reserve Members Encouraged to Nominate Supportive Employers for Nation s Top Honor. Submit nominations at www.freedomaward.mil by January 20, 2014.
The Ripley Reporter Page 3 (Continued from Pg. 2) Unit Commanders! To schedule an informational visit during drill contact: Eric Rolstad Administrative Support Technician DoD Contractor, IIF Data Minnesota Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve eric.t.rolstad.ctr@mail.mil Office: 320-616-3198 This wall received special attention during the clean-up to remove many years worth of leafy debris and pine needles that had settled in the cracks and crevices. This accumulation was removed to prevent water from settling in the walls and spreading the stones apart, causing costly damage. This action as well as cleaning the debris from around the edges of the wall will help to preserve it for years to come. This lets community members know that we are a part of this community as well and we are every bit as interested in being good stewards of its history as those that volunteered to come out to help with the project," said Neumann. Matt demonstrated his dedication to scouting and his community with his ability to lead and plan the event. His values, learned through scouting, were evident throughout the event. He has also proved to be a great help to Camp Ripley and the Minnesota National Guard through his efforts to preserve and protect the cemetery, a historic property here in Central Minnesota. Minnesota Army National Guard J1 Education Tuition Assistance Staff: Education Services NCOIC - SGM Jody Courts Federal Tuition Assistance Manager - SFC Robyn Major Education Services Specialist - Amber Manke Contact Info: Email: ng.mn.mnarng.mbx.assets-education@mail.mil Website: www.minnesotanationalguard.org/education/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/educationandincentives Education General Help Desk Line: 651.282.4589
The Ripley Reporter Page 4 Around Camp Ripley Minnesota Military Museum Winter Hours October - April Open Thursdays & Fridays 9-4 except national holidays Visit History at www.mnmilitarymuseum. See our Volunteer Handbook to learn more about the museum and about volunteer opportunities. If interested, contact us at: connect@mnmilitarymuseum.org or call 320-616-6050. Also see our list of dedicated volunteers. Reserve the Camp Ripley Memorial Chapel Contact James Krousey at 320-616-2708 CAMP RIPLEY PX - AAFES Hours of Operation Sunday & Monday - CLOSED Tuesday - Friday 1000 to 1700 Saturday - 1000 to 1500 Weekly Sales and Promotions SPREAD THE NEWS Would you like to contribute to The Ripley Reporter? Units are encouraged to contact SSG. Anthony Housey at Anthony.A.Housey. mil@mail.mil to pass on ideas for future
The Ripley Reporter Page 5 Military Fire Fighters Stay Sharp on Recovery Equipment Story and photos by: Staff Sgt. Anthony Housey Camp Ripley Public Affairs Office CAMP RIPLEY, Minn. Soldiers of the 434th Engineers, attached to the Training and Support Unit at Camp Ripley, conducted extraction and victim recovery training during their monthly drill Nov. 2-3, 2013. Every chance we get to train on different equipment or work through new methods of rescue is another life saved when it s time to do the job for real, said Staff Sgt. Jim Olson, Fire Chief for the 434th. The Fire Fighters of the 434th are organized as emergency response personnel performing rescue and firefighting operations during structural fires, aircraft crashes, vehicle emergencies and natural disasters. Their service to the protection of personnel, equipment and buildings on Camp Ripley is essential to safe operations. We all have fire fighting experience being Fire Fighters within our own communities, said Spc. Kevin Dennison of Isanti, Minn. Techniques for responding to emergency situations depend on the agency and the equipment available. That is why the members of the seven-man team train using several versions of rescue tools and methods learned from various experiences. Being one of the two remaining military fire fighting teams in the State of Minnesota; the 434th has maintained their skills by conducting intense training events to challenge the team. This training is designed to meet individual and collective readiness while providing continuous support for their facility and community. Spc. Jesse Nelson, traditionally of the Cloquet Fire Department, removes parts of the vehicle frame clearing any obstructions for recovering the victim who is being cared for by Spc. Tom Svihel. Svihel works for the Fridley Fire Department, and both are a part of the seven-man Fire Fighter Team attached to the 434th Engineers. http://www.minnesotanationalguard.org/camp_ripley/ MINNESOTA ZOO SALUTES OUR TROOPS DURING MILITARY APPRECIATION MONTH Free admission for military personnel December 1-31, 2013
The Ripley Reporter Page 6 Do You need a DA Photo? DA photos can be scheduled with SSG. Anthony Housey Camp Ripley Public Affiars Anthony.a.housey.mil@mail.mil or 320-616-3122 da and command photos taken in bldg. 11-1 inquire with room 1170 DA/Command Photo Studio Across from the ID Card Office in bldg. 11-1. Mondays Closed, Tuesday-Thursday by Appointment Friday Walk-In (CAC Card required) Traditional Military Weapon Gets a New Twist Story and photos by: Staff Sgt. Anthony Housey Camp Ripley Public Affairs CAMP RIPLEY, Minn. Soldiers from the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division attended classes on current operations of the M2.50 caliber machine gun Nov. 19, 2013. The class is aimed to inform soldiers and leaders about the new features to the weapon, said Mr. Brett Little, small arms instructor. The Fifty Cal has been around for a long time, but new innovations allow soldiers to operate the weapon safer and more effectively, added Little. The M2.50 caliber, heavy barreled machine gun was designed by John M. Browning at the request of Gen. John Pershing towards the end of World War One for use in engaging aircraft and armored vehicles. The official adoption of the weapon by the U.S. Military was in 1923 with a slight modification for fixing the weapon to vehicles. The M2 and its variants are used by every element of our military, said Staff Sgt. Matthew Carkhuff, Tank Commander with 2nd CAB 136th Infantry. Mounted on vehicles, carried by Infantry, fixed in aircraft or defending Naval Ships it s a simple, effective weapon, he added. (Continued on Pg. 7)
The Ripley Reporter Page 7 (Continued from Pg. 6) The new feature for the M2 is a quick change barrel kit for rapid, easy replacement of a barrel during combat. The first versions of the barrel were developed during the 1970s and 1980s for changing out hot barrels to continue firing. Hot barrels can lead to misfires, cooked off rounds and inaccurate fire. Every M2 weapon can be converted to a quick change barrel version with the replacement of only a few part. Barrel changes will allow the operator to continue engaging target while the other barrel cool. http://www.facebook.com/campripley Smaller caliber weapons, used by the U.S. Military, are fixed with a quick change barrel option both mounted and dismounted for the same purpose. Machine Gun Teams operating on the ground, away from a vehicle, rely on the quick change barrel feature to minimize damage to the weapon while on the move. This is where our mission success starts, in the classroom, said Master Sgt. Todd Martin, Operations NCO for Camp Ripley. Wishing you all a wonderful Holiday Season! Don t forget to bring in you enlistment leads Staff Sgt. Joshua T. Derheimer Recruiting & Retention NCO Camp Ripley Office Minnesota Army National Guard Service Members Are Encouraged to Utilize the Battle Buddy System On and Off Post!
The Ripley Reporter Page 8 Sustainability a key priority for the Minnesota National Guard Story Provided By: Camp Ripley Environmental Team Camp Ripley Public Affairs CAMP RIPLEY, Minn.- Ten years ago the word sustainability was hardly mentioned in the armories and offices of the Minnesota National Guard. Today it is a watchword which drives the building, maintenance and force structure of the organization. Recently a team from the Facilities Management Office on Camp Ripley participated in a series of site tours and conferences to better understand different technologies utilized in sustainability efforts. The team toured the campus of the University of Minnesota Morris and was hosted by the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Facilities Mr. Lowell Rasmussen, and Campus Sustainability Coordinator Troy Goodnough. While on campus the team learned that the University of Minnesota Morris is an industry leader in the use and development of alternative energy sources such as: wind energy, solar energy, biomass energy, composting, or enhancement in building design. (Continued on Pg. 9) Operation Homefront and the Camp Ripley Family Assistance Center will be co-hosting a Holiday event on Sunday, December 15th from 1-4pm. It will be an open house for those wanting to pick up stocking-stuffer items. For those families experiencing difficult financial times, you can also register according to the link listed below in order to pick up one large toy per child (for military dependants). http://events.operationhomefront.net/ Member/MyRegistrations http://www.btyr.org/ family-assistancecenters Camp Ripley Family Assistance Center 15000 Hwy 115 Little Falls, MN 56435 320-616-3117 tami.l.klucas.ctr@mail. Military Spouse Scholarships The mission of this scholarship program is to help prepare military spouses for meaningful employment and to better contribute to their family s financial security. http://www.militaryfamily.org/our-programs/military-spouse-scholarships/
The Ripley Reporter Page 9 (Continued from Pg. 8) The University of Minnesota Morris is leading the country in devising better ways of harnessing renewable energy and they are the perfect organization to study since their building square footage is comparable to that of Camp Ripley s, said Marty Skoglund environmental program manager at Camp Ripley. In an era of dwindling natural resources as well as financial resources it makes economic sense for the Minnesota National Guard to explore alternative energy sources. Site visits like the one conducted at the University of Minnesota Morris allows the Guard to learn from the trials and errors of others. We should learn from others and avoid reinventing the wheel, said Skoglund.
The Ripley Reporter Page 10 Safety is our number one priority! Suicide Prevention It Takes Strength to Ask for Help Life is full of challenges and sometimes Service members or their families can find the challenges overwhelming. If you or someone you know is experiencing any of the following symptoms, PLEASE CALL THE VETERANS CRISIS LINE at 800-273-8255 (TALK). The Ripley Reporter is a publication of the Camp Ripley Public Affairs Office. The views and opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily express or reflect the views and opinions of The Department of Defense, the State of Minnesota, the Minnesota National Guard, The Adjutant General or the Camp Ripley Post Commander.