ISFAC Minutes

Interservice Family Assistance Committee (ISFAC)

Minot Armed Forces Reserve Center (AFRC)

9 July 2009 (10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.)

 

MINUTES

 

10:00 – 10:15 /Welcome: Minot AFB Rep

10:15 – 10:45 / Intros/Admin/Remarks: All / Sizer

10:45 – 11:45 / D Roughrider WWII Honor Flight: Mr. J.B. Klug/Mr. Arnie Havelka

• Mr. Havelka introduced J.B. Klug, who informed the committee of Mr. Klug's (J.B.) all round wealth of knowledge through his community and military involvement. J.B. probed who would be his audience and felt right at home.
• J.B. wanted to express the true purpose of his talk was about his WWII Honor Flight trip to the WWII Memorial in D.C. He emphasized how the flight was different due to the history and emotions sparked with his service.
• His military service began when he joined the U.S. Navy Armed Guard in 1943, which ceased after WWII. He traveled all over to around 60 different places. He was mentored to ascend into leadership positions within the Navy to further advance his military career. He then became a Signalman which his duty was to transport supplies over to the troops. He was transferred to a leadership role in the LCL in which J.B. stated if not for President Truman's decision with the atomic bomb; he would not be alive today. He stressed the importance of documenting ones service with logging or journals for family and your own record. It took him 50 years to be able to do that for his family.
• J.B. was on Honor Flight #4 which began in Fargo, ND. It was the most emotional trip for him. While visiting the WWII Memorial, a class of 5-6^th graders saw J.B. and went over to shake his hand and thank him for his service. It was incredibly moving for him for he did not receive really any recognition when he was discharged from the service. A second emotional event was when they returned home to Fargo. J.B. was greeted by a packed-full airport full of friends, family, veteran's service organizations, a band and military personnel. After 68 years, receiving this welcome home was incredibly emotional for him. 
• WWII was a massive undertaking. There was a chance of losing the war if not for our veterans. We need to maintain appreciation of our WWII vets.
• Advice for young people serving today: There are a lot of incentives in the military that young people can truly benefit from. A lot of youth are lacking opportunity to feel they can do something in this day of age; the military provides that opportunity.
• Military outreach specialists can help veterans sign up for Honor flight.
• Grand Forks is having their 2^nd Honor Flight in September.

 

11:25 – 11:45: Break / Lunch

 

12:45 – 1:45: State of the Armed Forces in ND

• Army and Air National Guard / Maj. French
• Important to stress the National Guard is a joint service. Currently mobilized/expected to mobilize between June 2009 – June 2010: ARNG: 996, ANG: 191
• Last 10 years really has been a joint mission.
• Lost 12 soldiers in Guard, 21 military personnel across ND.
• Army National Guard
• Personnel concentration: Bismarck, Fargo
• Over 3500 soldiers deployed since 9/11
• Engineer-focused
• Hurricane Gustav: soldiers were out of ND within 24 hours in support
• 31 separate entities have deployed since 9/11
• Current/upcoming deployments:
• Detachment 42 Operation Support Airlift, Africa
• JFHQ KFOR 12, Kosovo
• 1-188 Air Defense Artillery, Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF)
• Co C, 2/285^th Assault Battalion, Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF)
• Air National Guard
• Security Forces 119 Wing detachment on Minot AFB, ~100 full time members
• JFHQ in Bismarck ~100 drill and work full time
• Fargo 119 Wing; missions include Predator and C-21
• ~1,000 member strength 92% assigned
• 343 full time personnel
• 315 mobilized since 2006 in support of Global War on Terrorism (GWOT)
• Joint Force State Partnership with Ghana
• Began in 2004
• Rob Keller, Director of Service Member and Family Support, traveled to Ghana in 2009
• Ghana's family program is what ND's was in 1970s
• High number of suicides and PTSD
• Gave Ghana officials briefings, information on homecomings and sendoffs
• Army Reserves / CW4 Sizer for Major Mathis
• 439^th US Army Reserve
• Unit will be deactivated as of 15Apr2010. Will hand off to other battalions. 439 have 157 personnel with HQ in Fargo and detachments in GF and Bismarck.
• Marines / CW4 Sizer for SSG Sanchez
• Military Police Company, HQ Battalions, 4^th Marine Division
• Located out of Wahpeton, ND
• 1Dec09 platoon size was activated in support of OIF
• Mission entails convoy security, battlefield circulation and control in Al Anbar Province
• Squad size still drills in Wahpeton

 

• Navy
• No information provided to report
• Air Force (Minot) / Cindy Whitesell
• Minot has the strongest military firepower in the world
• Recently, 256 airmen have deployed to 32 geographical locations
• In 2008, Minot's Airmen and Family Readiness Center had presence in Qatar where they helped over 16,000 personnel in 4 months with questions, concerns, issues.
• Soon to have standup of Emergency Family Assistance Center for the prevention of natural or manmade disasters.
• Air Force (Grand Forks) / Tom Slaughter
• Going through mission transition due to BRAC
• Base population: 4,900 as of May09
• Tasked in 2008 for UAV mission: Predator and Global Hawks
• Challenges: losing tankers, 50% aircrafts and 48% aircrew
• Opportunities: UND partnerships with Air Base, quality of life and improvement of future facilities, 18 Global Hawks off assembly line in Jan10
• Coast Guard
• No information provided to report

 

1:45 – 2:15 / Community Military Covenant: CW4 Sizer, CW3 Hersch, LT Masseth

• Conception for ND began when Big Army showcased their covenant. Brought idea to ISFAC to start in ND as a joint effort between army and air
• Goal for covenant is to sustain state and community relationships to improve quality of life in cities/communities within North Dakota.
• Phase I: conversation, planning of Covenant
• Phase II: 26Mar09 date for Bismarck to sign covenant as the lead for other cities/communities and to challenge the other cities to sign as well. Date was postponed due to flooding in ND.
• Phase III: Mar – Sep 2009: Packets were sent out to 357 cities/communities with the information and everything prepared for them to sign and adopt covenant. Parties involved: ND League of Cities, ND National Guard, ISFAC, Public Affairs
• Phase IV: Sep 2009: Goal is to have all cities sign their own city covenants for the ND League of Cities annual conference. As of date, 30 cities have signed. For more information, visit: www.ndlc.org
• Event at capital went very well. Kudos to LT Masseth and all parties who made the event a success.
• Grand Forks will be signing their covenant on July 21^st at 3:30pm.
• After signing, there needs to be follow up action for cities. 

 

2:30 – 3:30 / Informational Speakers

• Penny Dale, 4-H Military Project Director with NDSU Extension Service
• Partners with all branches of military, American Legion, NACCRA, and other youth and family organizations to form outreach effort for Operation: Military Kids (OMK)
• Goal is to bring awareness in communities, educate and provide opportunities for youth and youth that are geographical dispersed.
• OMK Program Components consist of: Read Set Go!, Speak Out for Military Kids (SOMK), Mobile Technology Lab (MTL) and Hero Packs.
• Rebecca Quinn, Project Coordinator - TBI for UND School of Medicine
• Kudos to everyone for their help getting ND bill for TBI passed
• 1^st time ND has state appropriate funds for TBI
• Working with the VA to provide assistance, support and information for increased awareness on TBI.
• Dr. Beal, UND, proposing research that will address the mental health needs of National Guard personnel during post-deployment transitions.
• Rob Keller, Director of Service Member and Family Support of the Military Service Center
• The Military Service Center comprises of many offices, information, new and existing initiatives, services and support for all service members and their families.
• 55,000 known veterans in North Dakota
• New programs and staff coming to the MSC: Child/Youth Specialist, Survivor Outreach Specialist, ANG Yellow Ribbon Staff, Outreach staff.

 

3:00 – 3:10 pm / Transition of ISFAC Chair/Facilitator: Maj. French, CW4 Sizer, Tom Slaughter, John Hanson, CW3 Hersch

• Transition from last 3 years. CW4 Shelly Sizer passing chair position for next year due to Shelly's upcoming deployment.
• Kudos to Ms. Kristi Fetch for facilitating at beginning of ISFAC and for her support.
• Shelly passed chair to Tom Slaughter and John Hanson.
• Maj. Davina French passed facilitator position to CW3 Theresia Hersch.

 

3:10 – 3:15 pm / Goals/Objectives for next ISFAC Meeting: Tom Slaughter, John Hanson, CW3 Hersch

• Tentative Date: Thursday, October 8 10 – 3pm, Fargo AFRC
• Possible speakers/topics:
• Dr. Alan Fehr, Psychological Health Consultant for NDNG and Reserve
• Substance abuse issues
• VA Outreach for future vets
• Military personnel and families in tribal communities
• Equine therapy (NDSU Equine Studies, Agallah, Minnesota group)
• Family whose son was killed in car accident suffered with PTSD after recent deployment. Tried to receive help and wasn't able to. Using as platform to help other parents who may have dealt with similar situation. (POC: Rob Keller)

 

Meeting adjoined 3:15pm

Signed: Jessica Clark, Family Readiness Specialist, NDNG Family Programs

 
 
 
Shelle Michaels
 
"May No Soldier Go Unloved"
 
Soldiers' Angels National Communication Officer
ShelleMichaels@SoldiersAngels.org
www.SoldiersAngels.org
 
Ladies of Liberty Team Director
LadiesofLiberty@SoldiersAngels.org
www.SoldiersAngelsLadiesOfLiberty.com
 
ACT NOW. GIVE MORE. SHOW SUPPORT.