Community Service

One of the Guard's missions is to provide support for communities around the state.  You may remember their involvement in the ice storm last year.  That effort took these soldiers away from their families and work for an extended period of time as they assisted utility companies and townships in any way that they could truly bringing meaning to their motto, "Always Ready.  Always There."

My daughter was involved in that community service effort.  She traveled from our home town in Northern New Hampshire to Manchester and found herself being added to the crew of a Connecticut based group from Public Service.  She primarily performed traffic control and assisted in residential areas where people were left without power for a number of days.  In the Guard, she was qualified as a supply sergeant, but when duty calls and the mission is defined, the Guard uses their resources in whatever capacity is in demand.  The skills and capabilities of the soldiers are taken in consideration when the duty assignments are made so as to be the best asset possible to the community efforts.

Proud of my soldier and all she did with the Guard and our communities while she served with the New Hamsphire Guard!

Newest Guard family member

My niece recently joined the NH Guard.  She is a senior at St. Johnsbury Academy and looking to be a lawyer someday.  It didn't take long through the college search to find out that she needed a good way to pay for her education.  With the benefits of the Guard, she'll be able to train with the Guard one weekend each month, take a series of ROTC (Reserve Officers Training Corps) classes for college credit and get paid while she goes to college; that includes book money, tuition money, a stipend and her drill pay.

Congratulations Dhaniele!

Citizens and Soldiers - A little history

The National Guard is the oldest branch of military in this country, formed in Salem, Massachusetts by the Massachusetts Bay General Court on December 13, 1636.  My soldier and I took a ride through Lexington and Concord (MA) this past July and were truly amazed by the information that we amassed along the way.

These soldiers of the past, like today's National Guard Soldiers, were ordinary citizens like you and I.  They felt a call to duty and served selflessly in the defense of this country.  Often times, people have the misconception that because this organization is now called the National Guard rather than the Militia, as it was referred to then, its purpose is to defend only on this nation's soil.  In fact, the mission of the Guard requires its soldiers to serve wherever they are needed.  Don't let the fact that they train one weekend each month and two weeks per year lead you to believe that they are less than professional, less than capable or less than ready.  With regard to recent deployments, Guard soldiers, who by the way make up more than half of the total military, were ranked amongst the best prepared!!!

NH Patriots Citizens and Soldiers Creative Brief

Blog Creative Brief

Project Description:  This blog is designed to promote awareness of the New Hampshire Army National Guard as well as dispel any misconceptions that people may have concerning the Guard, its dual mission (national and state) and the basic functions of the localized units and recruiters.   

Prepared By:  Monique Lavertu, former Education Liaison Program Representative working with the Guard, D/W (dependent/wife) of a retired Army/NH Army National Guard soldier and mother of a current MA National Guard Soldier.

Statement of Purpose:  The purpose of this blog is to raise awareness of the New Hampshire Army National Guard (NHARNG) and to build relationships with bloggers who have a sincere desire to keep abreast of current practices with regard to the Guard’s purpose, mission, recruitment goals and enlistment benefits.  This blog will maintain a visible presence and engage in conversations via a non-obligatory, unobtrusive venue whereby information can both be acquired and shared.  Bloggers will be invited to share their experiences with and in the NH Guard.   Showing appreciation for a soldier’s service is always welcome.

Target Audience:  The target audience for this blog has the potential to encompass residents of many communities from within and outside of the state of New Hampshire as each of the 50 states and four US territories have National Guard Units.  Guidelines, missions and benefits vary from state to state so the blog will target those residents who reside in or in close proximity to New Hampshire.  Having a combination of Guard members, family support and non-military participants would be beneficial to the credibility of this blog. 

SPECIAL NOTE:  The contents of this blog represent personal opinions and not those of the NH Army National Guard.  This is NOT an official Guard blog.  It is further requested that any and all information shared on this blog take our soldiers’ safety into consideration.  Information considered potential detrimental to our soldiers and their mission should be kept off of this public forum.  Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Brand Identity:  Brand Identity revolves around the citizen soldier as a member of the service organization and the community.  Support for all military branches is important; particularly important is support for your local troops who serve when called upon in their individual states as well as nationally.  They need to know that their families and communities are behind them and they must learn to balance their professional careers with their military career as well as with their personal lives.  The positive image that the Guard has throughout the state is a result of soldiers serving in their home towns and giving back to their local communities whenever possible.  They serve because the benefits suit them, yes; however, they also serve out of a sense of pride and duty for this state and our nation.  Their skills and commitment contribute to the overall effectiveness and strength of the NHARNG.  Hopefully, visitors to this blog will find it informational, uplifting and Guard positive.  It should be noted that this blog represents the opinion and point of view of the author and is not an official site of the Army National Guard. 

Creative Development Assistance and Support:  NH Patriots Citizens and Soldiers.  Proudly serving at home and abroad.  Red, White and Blue will be the colors of choice.  Support will be solicited from active, retired and family members of the Guard as well as the NHARNG’s public information websites.

Schedule for Completion:  This post will be up and running by the end of the day on Sunday, December 12, 2011. 

Resources: 

About Minnesota National Guard Blogs. Retrieved December 8, 2010 from http://www.minnesotanationalguard.org/press_room/blogs/family_blogs.php

About Minnesota National Guard Blogs.  Minnesota Patriot Guard News & Notes.  Retrieved December 8, 2010 from http://mnpatriotguard.blogspot.com/

About New Hampshire National Guard.  Retrieved December 8, 2010 from https://www.nh.ngb.army.mil/

Brand Identity Traps.  Reprinted from Aaker, David A.  (1996) Building Strong Brands. New York: The Free Press.  Retrieved December 8, 2010 from http://groups.haas.berkeley.edu/marketing/PAPERS/AAKER/BOOKS/BUILDING/brand_traps.html

Blog Introduction

It is with a sincere appreciative spirit that I begin this blog.  So many in my family have served in varying capacities in the United States military.  My father was a World War II Army Veteran, my father-in-law a Korean War Navy veteran.  I have nieces and nephews in the Navy, the Air Force and the Army National Guard.  My husband served 25+ years in the Army and in the NH Army National Guard and our daughter is concurrently serving in the National Guard and pursuing a Doctoral Degree in Physical Therapy.

Let's start this blog with a big thank you for all soldiers who have served and who are still serving in the military.  Thank you for your service and thanks also should go to their families who love and support their choices, their missions, their successes and their shortcomings.

In an effort to keep this first post short, I would like only to add how important the safety of our soldiers and their families is.   Any and all information shared on this blog should take this into consideration.  Information considered potentially detrimental to our soldiers, their mission and their families should be kept off of this public forum.  Thank you, fellow bloggers, for your cooperation in this matter.

I would like to invite each visitor to share a story, engage with others and help me to keep the information flowing as to the great contributions and sacrifices that each of our service members make as part of their call to duty.