Meet Your Military
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Chief Warrant Officer 4 Nelson "Gene" Blakey of Moweaqua, Ill., retired in June 2010 after 56 years of service with the Illinois Army National Guard. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Michael Camacho[/caption] SPRINGFIELD, Ill.,– A young man working on a farm in Illinois decided to enlist in the National Guard in March 1953 after he received a challenge from his friend and employer.
Chief Warrant Officer 4 Nelson "Gene" Blakey of Moweaqua, Ill., retired in June 2010 after 56 years of service with the Illinois Army National Guard. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Michael Camacho[/caption] SPRINGFIELD, Ill.,– A young man working on a farm in Illinois decided to enlist in the National Guard in March 1953 after he received a challenge from his friend and employer.The Korean War’s cease-fire was near, and President Dwight D. Eisenhower had just started his first term in office.Many things have changed since then, but one thing didn’t change: the young man’s commitment to serve his country. Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 Nelson "Gene" Blakey of Moweaqua, Ill., retired June 1 after 56 years in the Illinois National Guard. "I don't think we will ever find anyone to replace him," said Army Sgt. Maj. Donnie R. Parker of Lincoln, Ill. "I think we can find someone who can do the job -- we have personnel in the office who are covering down on the things that he was responsible for and are getting things done -- but as far as the person, I do not think you will ever find anyone who will compare with the person that Mr. Blakey is." Blakey started his military career working in a U.S. Property and Fiscal Office warehouse here. He progressed through the ranks to sergeant major, and then from chief warrant officer 2 to chief warrant officer 4. Blakey hung up his boots and retired as a traditional Illinois National Guardsman in 1994, but he continued to work for the military as a state employee for 16 more years. Although he has experienced many things throughout his career, Blakey said, his last position was his most enjoyable. "My most rewarding position was the last job I had working in the personnel department, because I was able to help enlisted people," he said. "If they had a problem and could not get it solved within their unit, I would try to help get it solved. I worked there from 1975 until I retired." Others attest to Blakey's passion and ability to help soldiers solve problems. "Mr. Blakey, in the time that I worked with him, was a person that was very interested and concerned with taking care of soldiers," Parker said. "He would go out of his way to do whatever needed to be done to see that the soldiers were being taken care of in a way they should be. He was a very humble, outgoing person who was willing to assist in any way possible, whether it was part of his job description or not." While Blakey's career nearly spanned the length of three 20-year military careers, he said he continued to serve in the Illinois National Guard because of his friends and family. His wife, Bonnie Blakey, also is retired from the Illinois National Guard."My family has been supportive of me," Blakey said. "My wife retired in 1999, and her support and involvement has been very important. If your family knows what you are doing, they stay with you and help you through everything." Most people working at Camp Lincoln here knew Blakey, and many others throughout the state connected with him during their careers as well. "He definitely had the ability to mix his professional career with friendships," said Ray Perry of Springfield, personnel support officer for the Illinois National Guard and a retired colonel with the Illinois Army National Guard. "I always enjoyed making my morning rounds and getting the latest news or thought for the day from him,â€Â Perry said. “He always had the ability to put a smile on your face." Although Blakey has retired, he does not look to take it easy. Instead, he is focusing his attention on things that need to be improved around his house. "I will have horses to take care of, along with house and barn work to do," he said. "I will not slow down. I will keep going as long as I can." July 14, 2010: By Army Sgt. Jesse Houk- 139th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
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Navy Vice Adm. Robert S. Harward, Joint Task Force 435 commander, administers the oath of commissioning to his nephew, Navy Ensign Ian Kriegish, via video teleconference in Kabul, Afghanistan, July 9, 2010. Kriegish is a third-generation sailor in the family to serve as an officer. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman William A. O’Brien[/caption] KABUL, Afghanistan– One of the Navy’s newest officers joined the ranks in a unique way July 9 when he received his commissioning oath via video teleconference from his uncle, a Navy vice admiral who commands a joint task force in Afghanistan.
Navy Vice Adm. Robert S. Harward, Joint Task Force 435 commander, administers the oath of commissioning to his nephew, Navy Ensign Ian Kriegish, via video teleconference in Kabul, Afghanistan, July 9, 2010. Kriegish is a third-generation sailor in the family to serve as an officer. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman William A. O’Brien[/caption] KABUL, Afghanistan– One of the Navy’s newest officers joined the ranks in a unique way July 9 when he received his commissioning oath via video teleconference from his uncle, a Navy vice admiral who commands a joint task force in Afghanistan.The commissioning of Ensign Ian Kriegish by Vice Adm. Robert S. Harward, Joint Task Force 435 commander, marked the beginning of the third generation of his family to serve as an officer in the Navy. “We are all very proud of you -- proud of you for what you’re doing,â€Â Harward told his nephew. “You’re taking on this obligation when we’re at war, and you’ll serve while we’re at war. There’s no greater purpose that you could have in life, so go out and serve the fleet well.â€Â Harward introduced Kriegish to the Navy. As a recent honors graduate from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., Kriegish was undecided about his future. But a visit to his uncle’s home in Norfolk, Va., changed that. “When he was visiting me in Norfolk, he didn’t know what he wanted to do,â€Â Harward said. “I live near the [aircraft] carrier, so we just walked over and walked on some of the ships. We talked to some young kids who were just junior officers. He decided that joining seemed interesting, so he applied.â€Â After finding out that he had aced the entry test and had been accepted to become an intelligence officer, Kriegish began Officer Candidate School. “When he applied, he wanted intel, so he was excited to be accepted by them and to have that be what he’s going to do for the next few years,â€Â Harward said. After receiving his commission, Kriegish was congratulated by his attending family and his video-teleconferencing uncle. “Congratulations, Ensign Kriegish,â€Â the admiral said. “I just wish I could be there to be your first salute.â€Â After a small talk with the family, Harward offered a parting, “Go get ’em, Ensign Kriegish,â€Â as he sent his nephew to join the fleet. Joint Task Force 435 assumed responsibility for U.S. detention operations -- including the care and custody of detainees at the detention facility in Parwan -- oversight of detainee review processes, programs for the peaceful reintegration of detainees into society, and coordination with other agencies and partners for the promotion of the rule of law in Afghanistan. July 13, 2010: By Air Force Senior Airman William A. O’Brien- Joint Task Force 435
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Air Force Tech. Sgt. David Butler served 12 years in the Marine Corps before becoming an instructor for the Texas Air National Guard's Desert Defender Air Force Regional Training Center in El Paso, Texas. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Mike R. Smith[/caption] EL PASO, Texas – Air Force Tech. Sgt. David Butler is a former Marine who’s now serving here as an instructor with the Texas Air National Guard.
Air Force Tech. Sgt. David Butler served 12 years in the Marine Corps before becoming an instructor for the Texas Air National Guard's Desert Defender Air Force Regional Training Center in El Paso, Texas. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Mike R. Smith[/caption] EL PASO, Texas – Air Force Tech. Sgt. David Butler is a former Marine who’s now serving here as an instructor with the Texas Air National Guard."I absolutely love my job down here and the guys I work with," Butler said about serving with the 204th Security Forces Squadron, which operates the Desert Defender Air Force Regional Training Center.Butler is putting the combat knowledge he gained through his Marine Corps service to use by preparing active duty, Air Guard, and Air Force Reserve Command security forces airmen for area security operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Their training includes mounted operations on armored vehicles, dismounted patrols, counterinsurgency operations, and sniper and countersniper operations. Butler provides his students with some Marine Corps-style confidence-building during their nearly 50 days of intense training. "I tell them up front, 'I'm going to push you to your limits, as far as I can possibly push you,' and that's what we do," he said. "Coming out of here, they learn a valuable lesson, whether it's how much they can stand, or who can stand the heat and who needs to be trained a little bit more." The Guard is well known for its soldiers and airmen who bring civilian expertise as well as prior service knowledge to a mission. Butler said the real-life experiences of all the Guard instructors help in developing scenarios that show students what they will encounter when they’re deployed. Butler joined the Air Guard after serving 12 years in the Marine Corps and two years with Air Force Reserve Command, which brought him to the Texas Guard on a temporary duty assignment. "I had no intentions when I came to this unit of joining the Guard until I came down here," he said. Since he joined, the schoolhouse has grown to become an Air Force-certified, regional facility with new buildings, classrooms and the latest military equipment. "We put our heads together and based off of that and what the [Air Force] Security Forces Center requires us to teach, [we] roll that all into one training package," he said. Butler works with 39 other instructors, including other Marine Corps and Army combat veterans, former police officers and other experienced Guardsmen. "The drive, the desire to do good and teach these deploying defenders is in every single one of the cadre,â€Â said Air Force Lt. Col. Carl Alvarez, the squadron and training center commander. “We all give a 110 percent every day to these students." Alverez said experience "outside the wire" in the combat theater is an important element the instructors bring to the table. "The cadre has fired their weapons in theater,â€Â he said. “They have seen it, they have done it, and that is what we are best suited to [teach]." July 9, 2010: By Air Force Master Sgt. Mike R. Smith-National Guard Bureau
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Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Kevin Clark, left, gives documents to Navy Rear Adm. John Jolliffe, vice commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, at Naval Support Activity Bahrain. Clark handles all correspondence for the command's chief of staff, flag secretary, deputy commander, and commander. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason T. Poplin[/caption] MANAMA, Bahrain– Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Kevin Clark says his flag staff office job at U.S. Naval Forces Central Command here is comparable to "working in the stock market on Wall Street."
Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Kevin Clark, left, gives documents to Navy Rear Adm. John Jolliffe, vice commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, at Naval Support Activity Bahrain. Clark handles all correspondence for the command's chief of staff, flag secretary, deputy commander, and commander. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason T. Poplin[/caption] MANAMA, Bahrain– Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Kevin Clark says his flag staff office job at U.S. Naval Forces Central Command here is comparable to "working in the stock market on Wall Street."His fast-paced duties as a yeoman include military correspondence, clerical work, office management, travel coordination, supply work and career counseling."I like doing what I do," Clark said. "I like making sure every sailor and military member is taken care of."Clark's primary responsibilities include tracking correspondence for the chief of staff, flag secretary, deputy commander and commander, and taking care of the travel needs of personnel from seamen to admirals. Petty Officer 1st Class Shawn Croon said Clark is an invaluable part of the team. "I call him the work horse," said Croon, the flag office's leading petty officer. "He's a hard worker. When he gets a task, he's on it until he's finished, and then he's on to the next one." Clark, a native of Clearwater, Fla., reported to the command in October 2009. He originally was assigned to work in Naval Forces Central Command's administration office, but his chain of command recognized his outstanding work ethic and transferred him to the flag office. "When he left the regular administration office, he had to turn over his job to three people," Croon said. "He has a lot of impact at the command for a second class petty officer." Clark is scheduled to transfer to San Diego in November, where he will serve at his fifth command, aboard the USS Decatur. "I'd like to pick up my surface warfare pin and be a leading petty officer at sea," he said. "I also want to pursue a college degree." Clark attributed his success here to a love of customer service. "Positive attitude gets the job done," he said. May 25, 2010: By Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason T. Poplin- U.S. Naval Forces Central Command
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Crystal Hempstead pose for a photo during their pre-mobilization training at Muscatatuck Urban Training Center. Crystal Hempstead since has been promoted to sergeant. The soldiers serve with the Indiana National Guard's 1313th Engineer Company. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Elizabeth Gorenc[/caption] CAMP ATTERBURY JOINT MANEUVER TRAINING CENTER, Ind., – It's difficult for any leader to send someone into harm's way, but it's especially hard when that someone is your daughter.Army 1st Sgt. Robert Hempstead, first sergeant for the Indiana National Guard's 1313th Engineer Company, knows what that's like. The company, based in Columbus, Ind., recently returned from a tour in Iraq, and Hempstead's daughter, Crystal, is one of the unit's soldiers."This sort of thing is unusual and caused some initial concern among the command group," Hempstead said. "She was part of 1413th Engineer Company as a mechanic. When she heard of the deployment, she came to me and asked to go. We were short mechanics, so we took her."Sgt. Crystal Hempstead said it didn't seem to her to be a big issue. "Because there was such a rank difference, it wasn't like I was going to be working directly with him," she explained. "I think he handled it very well. It was frustrating, because it was almost like he was harder on me than everybody else. There was definitely no favoritism anywhere." Crystal said that although people often told her she was fortunate to deploy with family, she doesn't necessarily agree. "We're in a combat zone," she said. "Do you really want your parents to go to a combat zone? Just as much as it tore him up for me to be there, it was upsetting to me that he was there. Honestly, I didn't like seeing him there." Handling the desire to be protective of his daughter wasn't easy for Hempstead, he said, but his experience as a senior noncommissioned officer gave him the perspective to manage the situation. "I had to flip the switch with her, but I did that with all of [the company's soldiers]," he said. "To say that I wasn't concerned about her would be a lie, but to say I wasn't concerned about all of them would also be a lie." Hempstead said he is proud of his daughter's ambition and looks forward to her future as a soldier and as a young woman. "She's an E-5 now, and she's 22 years old," he said. "She has a very good opportunity to work at the Patriot Academy. She's finishing her degree. She doesn't need me as much as she thinks she does." The young NCO said she would deploy with her father again. "He is a good first sergeant, and he definitely knows what he is doing," she said. "In that aspect, I would serve with him again, but it would always be in the back of my mind that my dad is overseas again, and I would rather he not be. But it is his career as much as it is mine, and that is just part of it." May 21, 2010: By Army Sgt. David Bruce- Camp Atterbury Public Affairs