Salem-News.com National Guard articles Page 2

Oregon Soldiers Will Deploy to Iraq in 2009

The National Guard says the early announcement provides a greater measure of predictability for family members and flexibility for employers to plan for military service of their employees.

(SALEM, Ore.) - The Oregon National Guard's 41st Brigade Combat Team has officially been alerted for service in Iraq that is set for 2009. Oregon's 41st is among five National Guard brigades scheduled for deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan in the summer of 2009.

The Oregon Guard soldiers receiving this notice about the upcoming deployment to Iraq recently completed a tour of duty in Afghanistan.

TriWest Contributes $30,000 to Oregon National Guard Fund

Gift supports home front needs of families with deployed service members.

(SALEM, Ore. ) - TriWest Healthcare Alliance will present $30,000 to the Oregon National Guard's Emergency Relief fund, which will support the needs of Guard members and their families in emergency situations, especially during periods of deployment.

Scott Celley, vice president of External Affairs at TriWest, will present the check to Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski and Maj. Gen. Raymond F. Rees, adjutant general of the Oregon National Guard, at the opening of the State Reintegration Summit at 9:15 AM today.

Blackhawk Joins Search for Missing Oregon Professor

Oregon Army National Guard assisting in Search mission for missing U of O professor.‏

(BEND, Ore.) - An aircraft from the Oregon Army National Guard has joined the search in Central Oregon for U of O Professor Daming Xu. The military helicopter was sent to the scene after a request from the Office of Emergency Management and Lane and Deschutes County Sheriff's Office.

They departed the Redmond Airport at 8:00 AM this morning and assisted with transporting ground crews to different search areas prior to beginning their aerial search.

Wildfire Evacuees Take Refuge in Red Cross Shelters

ALL individuals who are evacuating or have been evacuated are encouraged to register themselves on the Safe and Well website at www.redcross.org.

(SAN DIEGO) - Approximately 3,500 people were registered overnight Monday in Red Cross shelters, with more people outside accessing Red Cross services.

These facilities will remain open as long as there is a need. Residents will be provided a safe place to stay, drinks and meals, and basic health services at these locations. Additional shelters are being opened and operated by municipal and partner organizations.

Oregon Guard on Standby to Assist California Firefighters

They will assist 1,500 California Guard soldiers already deployed.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Oregon National Guard aviation personnel are going on stand-by status to aid the 6,000 firefighters battling a Santa Ana wind-driven wildfire that has been burning out of control for three days.

Senate President Peter Courtney says he asked the Governor to make Oregon National Guard resources available to assist emergency management and recovery efforts in Southern California.

California National Guardsmen Reinforce Firefighters

The Governor has proclaimed a State of Emergency in the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara and Ventura.

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) - Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today directed the California National Guard (CNG) to make 1500 guardsmen available to support the firefighting efforts in Southern California.

The 1500 guardsmen, including 200 troops currently patrolling the California/Mexico border, will be deployed at the direction of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) to areas where they can have the greatest impact.

Oregon Military Job and Benefit Fair‏ Set in Clackamas

Hundreds of Oregon service members are expected to turn out.

(CLACKAMAS, Ore.) - More than 800 veterans are expected to take part in the Military Job and Benefit Fair at Clackamas Community College on November 3rd from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Guard officials say that with the ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, many veterans have recently returned from deployments and need help finding jobs, accessing their veteran benefits, and furthering their education

"The soldiers returning know they have benefits but don't know where to get them," said Sgt. 1st Class Phillip Maas, who leads the Oregon National Guard's Career Transition Assistance Program in Salem. "We're trying to be that one-stop shop for service members and their families."

Guard and Reserve Must Take Action to Keep Health Benefits

As of early September only 15 percent of the approximately 11,000 current members had completed the new TRS request forms.

(FALLS CHURCH, Va.) - National Guard and Reserve members currently in the TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) health care plan must sign up for the restructured TRS by September 30th, 2007, in order to continue their coverage. The "old" TRS ceases to exist on that day. A restructured TRS begins October 1st, 2007.

"Don't forget to make the switch" should be the motto of the day as current TRS participants are automatically disenrolled on September 30th, 2007. Continued coverage under TRS is not automatic.

Disabled Vet Riders Visit Oregon Guard in Salem

Hollywood actor is among the Disabled Veteran Foundation riders who visited the Oregon National Guard Headquarters in Salem.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Emmy-nominated actor Jack Scalia visited Soldiers at the Oregon National Guard's Anderson Readiness Center in Salem, Oregon Monday. But instead of arriving in a limousine, as is customary for most actors, he arrived on a road racing bicycle.

The visit came during the Oregon leg of Scalia's Seattle-to-San Diego bicycle trek aimed at raising awareness and funds for injured military veterans and their families.

Oregon Soldiers Participate in Aviation Accident Exercise‏

In the scenario, the planes collided while on approach for landing. During the two hour exercise, the first responders faced numerous simulated fatalities and victims with different injuries.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Oregon National Guard soldiers participated in a large-scale aviation accident exercise with the Salem Fire Department Friday at the Salem Regional Airport.

Major Mike Braibish with the Oregon Guard says a total of eleven agencies participated in the exercise. Sixty local students from McKay and North Salem High Schools, as well as Soldiers from the Oregon National Guard's A Company, 641 Aviation unit played injured victims.