By Maj. Joe Trovato
Wis. National Guard
MADISON — Today marks the 385th birthday for the National Guard, the oldest component of America’s armed forces.
While much has changed since the Dec. 14, 1636, when militiamen from the Massachusetts Bay Colony gathered for the first muster, the National Guard has evolved into one of the most flexible and adaptable forces in the military’s inventory ready to answer the call to support responses here at home and overseas in combat environments.
From those early days of securing colonial settlements, to fighting off the British during the War for Independence, and forming the backbone of the Army that ultimately preserved the Union in the Civil War, to two world wars, and combat operations since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the National Guard has answered the call as the nation’s primary combat reserve.
It simultaneously has been there as the nation’s first military responder when emergency strikes here at home. In the wake of floods, blizzards, tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires, civil unrest, pandemics, and more, National Guard troops throughout history have rallied to serve in their own communities to keep them safe.
The Wisconsin National Guard is proud to be a part of this noble legacy of service to our states and nation, and today on the Guard’s 385th birthday, Badger State troops continue their service both here in Wisconsin and overseas.
Today, approximately 500 Wisconsin National Guard troops are actively serving the state as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Those troops, many of whom first mobilized to support the state in the spring of 2020, are actively assisting communities with COVID-19 testing, administering vaccines, and serving as temporary nursing assistants at several mental health facilities. Wisconsin National Guard troops have helped administer approximately 1.2 million COVID-19 tests and nearly 230,000 vaccines in Wisconsin since the pandemic began.
The 176th Cyber Protection Team recently completed a mobilization to Fort Meade, Maryland, where the unit supported U.S. Cyber Command, while others have helped secure the nation’s southern border, and hundreds more are currently mobilized overseas
Hundreds of Airmen from the Wisconsin Air National Guard’s 115th Fighter Wing in Madison, Wisconsin deployed to the Middle East this fall, and approximately 65 Soldiers from the Waukesha, Wisconsin-based 135th Medical Company remain deployed to Kuwait and Iraq. Another 150 Soldiers serving with the Sparta and Viroqua, Wisconsin-based 107th Maintenance Company are also deployed to Eastern Europe.
Since the National Guard’s 384th birthday last year, troops from the 2nd Battalion, 104th Aviation returned from a deployment to the Middle East, and Airmen from the 128th Air Refueling Wing continued worldwide deployments. Hundreds of other Wisconsin National Guard troops helped secure the U.S. Capitol, deployed to California and Washington to battle wildfires, and helped ensure public safety in communities like Kenosha during periods of tension.
Like their brothers and sisters in arms across the 54 states and territories, the Citizen Soldiers and Airmen of the Wisconsin National Guard continue to answer the call when needed. As Guard members, most hold civilian jobs or attend school full-time, but they remain true to their motto, “Always Ready, Always There” to mobilize at a moment’s notice when the state or nation needs them — just as those earliest minutemen did in 1636.
115th Fighter Wing receives 11th Outstanding Unit Award
By Staff Sgt. Cameron Lewis
Wis. National Guard
MADISON — The Wisconsin Air National Guard’s 115th Fighter Wing received its 11th Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for exceptional service performed throughout 2020.
“Congratulations to the members of the 115th Fighter Wing and our Total Force Integration partners in the 378th Fighter Squadron,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Bart Van Roo, 115th Fighter Wing commander. “2020 was an outstanding year as we met the challenges of COVID, a huge Reserve Component Period, medical detachment evaluations and a variety of state and federal homeland missions.”
The reserve component period refers to the time required for a significant portion of the 115th Fighter Wing deploying to the Middle East earlier this year.
The Secretary of the Air Force awards the Outstanding Unit Award to active duty, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve units that have distinguished themselves by meritorious service our outstanding achievement that clearly sets the unit above and apart from others.
The unit will officially acknowledge the award in January during its annual awards ceremony. As part of the ceremony, an 11th streamer will be attached to the unit flag, signifying the number of times the 115th Fighter Wing has received the award. Members will receive a ribbon to be worn on their formal military uniform.
“Thank you again for all you do,” Van Roo said. “Our dedication to excellence is greatly appreciated.”
176th Cyber Protection Team completes mobilization in support of U.S. Cyber Command
By Sgt. Amber Peck
Wis. National Guard
FORT MEADE, Md. — Wisconsin Army National Guard Soldiers from Detachment 1, 176th Cyber Protection Team have all safely returned home following a mobilization to Fort Meade.
This mobilization was the first for the unit since its creation in 2017, and it lasted just over a year, after mobilizing in late October of 2020 and returning over the course of last week.
While there, the 176th worked under Task Force Echo and conducted cyberspace operations in support of U.S. Cyber Command and Cyber National Mission Force requirements.
“Our mobilization has significantly increased the ability of Wisconsin cyber defenders to quickly identify, respond and restore critical infrastructure and key resources in the event of a cyber attack,” Maj. Jamison Clark, commander of the detachment, said.
When reflecting on the after-hours aspects of their mobilization, the Soldiers had many different activities and hobbies that helped pass the time. Some took up CrossFit, some ran multiple marathons, a couple brought their motorcycles and went for rides up and down the coast, and others went sight-seeing.
“It’s been interesting to learn different things and also to be able to visit D.C. and see everything that’s there,” one Soldier said. “It was never on my bucket list before but seeing it now, I’m happy I went. I walked 16 miles over there in one day.”
Although the 20-person team didn’t receive the typical Wisconsin welcome home from senior leadership at the airport due to alternate travel arrangements, senior Wisconsin National Guard leaders traveled to Maryland instead to congratulate them personally an informal gathering that marked the end of their mobilization.
On Nov. 23, Brig. Gen. Joane Mathews, Wisconsin’s deputy adjutant general for Army, Brig. Gen. Tim Covington, Wisconsin’s deputy adjutant general for civil support, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Troy Bittner, the state command chief warrant officer, Command Sgt. Maj. Curtis Patrouille, the state command sergeant major, Lt. Col. Jon Wymer, the state chaplain, and Col. John Morgen, commander of 64th Troop Command visited the troops and talked through how the deployment went and their plans upon returning home. From there, the Soldiers drove their personal vehicles to demobilization stations and then finally back to their homes and families.
These Soldiers will now bring their experience from Task Force Echo back to the Wisconsin National Guard, their civilian jobs, and their communities.
Hundreds of other Wisconsin National Guard troops remain mobilized overseas and here in Wisconsin this holiday season.
Hundreds of Airmen from the Wisconsin Air National Guard’s 115th Fighter Wing in Madison, Wisconsin deployed to the Middle East this fall, and approximately 65 Soldiers from the Waukesha, Wisconsin-based 135th Medical Company remain deployed to Kuwait and Iraq. Another 150 Soldiers serving with the Sparta and Viroqua, Wisconsin-based 107th Maintenance Company are also deployed to Eastern Europe.
Meanwhile in Wisconsin, more than 500 troops continue serving in the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic helping communities conduct COVID testing, administering COVID vaccines, managing vaccine stockpiles, and serving as temporary nursing assistants at several mental health facilities.
