DVIDS

ORISKANY, N.Y. — More than 700 National Guard soldiers and airmen from New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands come together next week at the New York State Preparedness Center here to prepare for certification as a regional disaster response force.

Residents may notice increased military traffic in the Oriskany, Rome and Utica areas as the HRF arrives and conducts its final training preparations and validation exercise.

The organization, known as a National Guard Homeland Response Force, will train both at the New York National Guard Armory in Utica and Oriskany at the New York State Preparedness Center to certify their readiness to assist responders following a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or high explosive incident.

Command Sgt. Maj. Frank Grippe, Multi-National Corps-Iraq command sergeant major, talks to Spc. Heather Lemanski, an aviation specialist with Company E, 3-142 Assault Helicopter Battalion, N.Y. National Guard, during a trip to Forward Operating Base Delta May 15. Grippe took time out to recognize Lemanski for her actions months earlier when she was able to detain a fellow male Soldier who had planned to sexually assault her in the female shower trailer; the male Soldier was responsible for another attack on a woman in the area, according to the Army's Criminal Investigation Command. Photo by Sgt. Lindsey Bradford

Spc. Heather Lemanski, Company E, 3-142 Assault Helicopter Battalion, New York National Guard, had just returned from block leave when she was informed of a recent attack on a female Ugandan guard while in the shower.

Concerned for her safety, Lemanski’s husband suggested she carry a knife and pepper spray with her when she went to shower.

Taking his advice, the Fredonia, N.Y., native made it a point to have both items with her; a decision that may have possibly saved her life and earned her recognition from Command Sgt. Maj. Frank Grippe, Multi-National Corps-Iraq, during his battlefield circulation May 15.

Upon entering the shower, Lemanski heard someone come into the trailer after her.

“I didn’t hear another shower start, so I called out to see if anyone was in there,” she said. “No one answered.”

With a knife in one hand and a can of pepper spray in the other, Lemanski began checking each shower. Soon she found herself face-to-face with a male Soldier, dressed in his army combat uniform, crouched in another stall.

“I managed to restrain him, and I called out to a sergeant passing by to notify the [military police],” she said.

Once in custody, the Criminal Investigation Command interrogated the Soldier and discovered that he was responsible for other assaults, including the incident involving the female Ugandan guard, and had planned to overtake and assault Lemanski after she exited the shower.

“I did what I had to do, and didn’t think twice about it,” she said.

Captivated by her story of courage, Grippe made it a point to find Lemanski during his visit.
“When I heard her story, I knew that I had to meet this woman,” he explained. “She is a true American… and because of her situational awareness she was able to avoid a very dangerous situation.”

As Lemanski recalled the incident to Grippe and various Soldiers from the 41st Fires Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas, shock spread across their faces and gasps were heard all around.

Grippe told the Soldiers that part of his intent during the trip was to make Soldiers aware of the dangerous they may face on a daily basis. With male-on-male sexual assault up 12 percent, he put emphasis on battle buddy teams and maintaining situational awareness at all times.

Lemanski’s encounter is just one example that could be used to highlight the importance of the Army combatives program, Grippe said.

“There is no reason to have blue-on-blue sexual assault,” Grippe said. “It needs to stop—bottom line up front.”

DVIDS
Story by Sgt. Lindsey Bradford

Afghan boys approach Spc. Cristyan Valentine from the Bronx, during the Humanitarian Assistance mission.

Northeast of Kabul in the small village of Khata Kheyl children scrambled and screamed, not in terror, but in joy as Afghan national army soldiers threw out handfuls of candy and crayons.

Members of Company C, 2nd Squadron 101st Cavalry of the New York Army National Guard from Camp Blackhorse, were teamed with ANA soldiers from 4th Kandak, 2nd Brigade 201st Corp for a Humanitarian Assistance mission.

The unit is serving as part of Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix’s Security Forces which covers the teams that mentor and train the ANA. Members of Company C don’t often get to work directly with Afghan soldiers. “That was our second personal experience working with the ANA,” said 1st Sgt. Ron Patterson, from Gloversville, NY.

The soldiers normally stay very busy providing base and convoy security to coalition forces in the Central Area of Operations, which includes the capital City of Kabul. Camp Blackhorse is co-located with Pol-e-charky — home of the ANA 201st Corps. C Company soldiers were able to make some friends among the ANA prior to the mission. Building relationships helped ensure teamwork would result for the HA mission.

“The soldiers have been wanting something like this because their hometowns have been sending them things to give away,” said Patterson. The unit had already selected the village for its humanitarian effort. Participation by ANA personnel was vital to the overall mission as well as means to efficiently distribute supplies to the residents through the elders.

Capt. Boz Mahamat and 1st Sgt. Bakh Tiar of the 4th Kandak Headquarters led the participating ANA soldiers on the mission. After meeting and coordinating with the village elders, Mahamat was able to establish the location in the village and conditions for the event.

Spc. Cristyan Valentine from the Bronx was impressed. “The ANA took charge of the mission. It wasn’t an American thing. They took care of their countrymen,” he said.

When asked about the needs of the villagers Mahamat said, “These people have nothing but the land they live on. If we give them only a pen it is something they need.” In addition to providing pens, pencils, crayons, and notebooks to the children, the ANA handed out cooking oil, rice, and tea to the adults of Khata Kheyl.

“It felt pretty good because we haven’t done a real HA drop yet. The adults receiving rice, oil, and food was great, it brought a smile to their faces,” Valentine reflected.

While the ANA were preparing to hand out supplies to the villagers, one resident brought his young son to the Americans, asking to see the doctor. Medic Daniel Covel from Marion, N.Y. had come prepared for any contingency and this was certainly not unexpected.

The child had severely burned his leg when he knocked over a pot of scalding hot Chai Tea. Covel quickly assessed the condition of the child and redressed the burn using the proper antibiotics and bandages.

“Xeroform bandages are widely used in hospitals.” The father was clearly very grateful for the treatment of his son,” he said. “He was emotional…I felt like I could have changed that kid’s life.”

When it was over, 1st Sgt. Patterson and SECFOR commander 1st Lt. Peter Fluker from Poughkeepsie, NY met with their 4th Kandak comrades to talk over the mission and drank Chai together. They made plans to combine forces and do it again in the future. “It’s good to see that they are much like us, just in a different uniform,” said Patterson.

DVIDS
By Capt. Bruce Roberts
New York National Guard