May 2011 Volume 1, Issue 3 Next Drill: May 14-15 Sgt.’s Time: 0600 First Formation: 0630 Inside this issue: Ceremony to honor veterans of the Bataan Death March on Page 2 The FRG has some tips for Summer fun on Page 3 How to keep the ―memorial‖ in Memorial Day on page 4 The leadership of the 122nd PAOC sounds off on page 5 Check your finances before they check you on Page 6 122nd Soldiers Train at BK-11 Army Staff Sgt. Jason Kriess and Marine Capt. Staci Reidinger joke with a local veterinarian before an interview during a humanitarian project in Tarlac City, Philippines April 4. By Pvt. Ryan Scott 122 PAOC CAMP MURRAY, Wash- ington -- Washington Army National Guard Soldiers from the 122nd Public Af- fairs Operations Center par- ticipated in Balikatan 2011 on the Philippine island of Luzon this month. The soldier-journalists played a large role in the media coverage of the exer- cise; not only in gathering and preparing news stories, photographs and media prod- ucts for public and internal consumption, but also in dealing directly with media outlets both local and inter- national. The Guardsmen worked closely with their Navy, Air Force, and Marine counter- parts during the exercise. ―It was great to work with fellow journalists from the other branches of the mili- tary,‖ said Staff Sgt. Jason Kriess, the noncommissioned officer in charge of the 122nd‘s broadcast section. ―I learned a lot about the speed at which journalists work and how important it is to get out timely and accurate informa- tion.‖ As the field and command post training exercises were going full speed at Camp Aquino in Tarlac and Fort Magsaysay to help improve the interoperability of the U.S. and Philippine militar- ies, military civil affairs teams were scattered across the countryside offering medical aid and humanitar- ian support to some of the country‘s poorest residents. The soldiers from the 122nd were there to cover the story. ―It was refreshing to see the humanitarian side of the military,‖ said Kriess. ―We're not just the men and women who fight our nation's wars.‖ Washington‘s soldier - journalists were on hand to provide media coverage for number of the medical, den- tal, veterinary and engineer- ing civil action projects that took place over the course of the two week exercise. The humanitarian projects were a joint effort by the U.S. and Philippine service- members, aimed at offering basic essential services to some of the poorest people in the Northern Philippines. U.S. military civil affairs teams from across the Pa- cific region gave out truck- loads of donated clothes and school and medical supplies to the residents of some of the Philippine‘s poorest barangay‘s, or villages. The soldier-journalists performed a number of other tasks during the exer- cise, including editing and producing the Balikatan 2011 magazine which was distributed to the U.S. and Philippine servicemembers who participated in the trainings. Photo by Pvt. Ryan Scott
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Transcript
May 2011 Volume 1, Issue 3
Next Drill:
May 14-15 Sgt.’s
Time:
0600
First
Formation:
0630
Inside this
issue:
Ceremony to honor
veterans of the
Bataan Death March
on Page 2
The FRG has some
tips for Summer fun
on Page 3
How to keep the
―memorial‖ in
Memorial Day
on page 4
The leadership of the
122nd PAOC sounds
off on page 5
Check your finances
before they check
you on Page 6
122nd Soldiers Train at BK-11
Army Staff Sgt. Jason Kriess and Marine Capt. Staci Reidinger joke with a local veterinarian before an interview during a humanitarian project in Tarlac
City, Philippines April 4.
By Pvt. Ryan Scott
122 PAOC
CAMP MURRAY, Wash-
ington -- Washington Army
National Guard Soldiers
from the 122nd Public Af-
fairs Operations Center par-
ticipated in Balikatan 2011
on the Philippine island of
Luzon this month.
The soldier-journalists
played a large role in the
media coverage of the exer-
cise; not only in gathering
and preparing news stories,
photographs and media prod-
ucts for public and internal
consumption, but also in
dealing directly with media
outlets both local and inter-
national.
The Guardsmen worked
closely with their Navy, Air
Force, and Marine counter-
parts during the exercise.
―It was great to work with
fellow journalists from the
other branches of the mili-
tary,‖ said Staff Sgt. Jason
Kriess, the noncommissioned
officer in charge of the
122nd‘s broadcast section. ―I
learned a lot about the speed
at which journalists work and
how important it is to get out
timely and accurate informa-
tion.‖
As the field and command
post training exercises were
going full speed at Camp
Aquino in Tarlac and Fort
Magsaysay to help improve
the interoperability of the
U.S. and Philippine militar-
ies, military civil affairs
teams were scattered across
the countryside offering
medical aid and humanitar-
ian support to some of the
country‘s poorest residents.
The soldiers from the
122nd were there to cover
the story.
―It was refreshing to see
the humanitarian side of the
military,‖ said Kriess. ―We're
not just the men and women
who fight our nation's wars.‖
Washington‘s soldier -
journalists were on hand to
provide media coverage for
number of the medical, den-
tal, veterinary and engineer-
ing civil action projects that
took place over the course of
the two week exercise.
The humanitarian projects
were a joint effort by the
U.S. and Philippine service-
members, aimed at offering
basic essential services to
some of the poorest people
in the Northern Philippines.
U.S. military civil affairs
teams from across the Pa-
cific region gave out truck-
loads of donated clothes and
school and medical supplies
to the residents of some of
the Philippine‘s poorest
barangay‘s, or villages.
The soldier-journalists
performed a number of
other tasks during the exer-
cise, including editing and
producing the Balikatan
2011 magazine which was
distributed to the U.S. and
Philippine servicemembers
who participated in the
trainings.
Photo by Pvt. Ryan Scott
Page 2 PAOC Journal April 2011
Ceremony Honors Bataan Death March Survivors
Photo by Maj. Angela Halvorson
Lt. Gen. Francis J. Wiercinski, commander of U.S. Army Pacific, speaks with Rosario S. Baclig, a survivor of the Bataan Death March. Wiercinski was among the distinguished visitors to place a wreath at the base of Capas National Shrine,
April 10, in remembrance of the Death March.
By Staff Sgt. Karen Person
122 PAOC
TARLAC, Philippines --
Distinguished visitors, ser-
vicemembers, veterans and
members of the community
attended a wreath-laying
ceremony April 10, to re-
member the Bataan Death
March and honor World
War II veterans from the
Philippines, United States,
and allied nations.
The brutal 60-mile Death
March ended here in 1942,
where Allied prisoners of
war were incarcerated at
Camp O'Donnell. Today, a
national monument pays
tribute to the thousands of
servicemembers who gave
their lives in defense of free-
dom.
"We should not forget the
10,000 lives that were lost,"
said Vice Governor of the
Tarlac Province Pearl
Pacada.
She said we can also learn
from the surviving veterans
who moved forward after
their appalling experience. Lt. Gen. Francis J.
Wiercinski, U.S. Army Pa-
cific commander, was among
the distinguished visitors to
place a wreath at the base of
the monument. He called the
experience, "humbling."
"This is hallowed ground,"
said Wiercinski. "It was an
honor to meet the family
members of World War II
veterans."
Several Filipino World
War II veterans received
plaques to commemorate
their service. The oldest vet-
eran in attendance was 101
years old.
Czech Republic Ambassa-
dor to the Philippines Josef
Rychtar also recognized
Czech servicemembers who
were among the Allied pris-
oners of war subjected to the
horrific march.
"They were fighting along-
side, shoulder-to-shoulder,"
Rychtar said.
U.S. forces are in the Phil-
ippines taking part in Balika-
tan 2011. Balikatan, meaning
"shoulder-to-shoulder" in
Tagalog, the official lan-
guage of the Philippines, is a
joint exercise between U.S.
and Philippine armed forces.
USARPAC directs Balika-
tan side-by-side with the
Armed Forces of the Philip-
pines to develop interopera-
bility, cooperation, and the
armed forces' ability to re-
spond quickly and work to-
gether effectively to provide
relief and assistance in the
event of natural disasters and
other crises that threaten
public safety and health.
Photo by Staff Sgt. Karen Person
Filipino participants wear U.S. and Filipino-style World War II uni-
forms as part of the Bataan Death
March ceremony at Capas National Shrine, Tarlac, Philippines, April 10.
Distinguished visitors placed
wreaths at the base of the national monument.
Filipino servicemembers carry a wreath during the Bataan Death
March ceremony April 10, at Ca-
pas National Shrine, Tarlac, Phil-ippines.
Photo by Staff Sgt. Karen Person
May 2011 PAOC Journal Page 3
The FRG needs volunteers!
Co-lead to help organize and plan FRG events and activi-
ties! You'll help come up with event ideas, ways to show
our appreciation towards our soldiers, and ways to boost
morale.
Treasurer to help us keep the money organized! Respon-
sibilities include managing the FRG bank account and
tracking expenses in and out.
Volunteers to assist on the day of an event, to help us
brainstorm ideas or to volunteer to run with a
particular idea... we would love your help as part of the
FRG team.
The time commitment is very minimal. We plan two ma-
jor events each year (Summer Picnic and Holiday Dinner)
and we will brainstorm morale boosters that we can do
throughout the year.
If interested contact Becky West at (206) 913-3543 or