the wisconsin reservist

Welcome to the 2019 Spring Edition of the Wisconsin Reservist.

ROA has made some ma-jor changes as a result of Constitution and Bylaw (C&B) amendments pro-posed and approved at the ROA 2018 National Con-vention held at Omaha, this past Sep-tember.

The most impactful amendment change is that “Reserve Officers As-sociation of the United States,” ROA, is now able to do-business-as (DBA) “Reserve Organization of America”. This change was made to emphasize the importance of a separate amend-ment that extends membership in the organization to all ranks from E-1 through O-10.

ROA has always represented re-servists of every rank and service. However, it has been criticized in the past by some people including some members of Congress, for what they believed was only representing offic-ers or senior enlisted personnel. Those individuals felt that if we really represented all ranks, our member-ship and name would reflect such.

Those two C&B amendments should not only change that misconception, but will allow ROA to conduct busi-ness under either the “Reserve Offic-ers Association” or the “Reserve Or-ganization of America” name. Since members chose to use a DBA instead of changing ROA’s traditional, char-

tered name, it avoided possible problems in-volved with changing our congressional char-ter and similar possible problems with the Inter-nal Revenue Service. The amendments also permit the organization

to continue to operate under the “ROA” acronym by which it has been known and recognized for so many years.

Other amendments approved in-volved the possible changing of ROA’s fiscal year to assist budget planners, elimination of the War-rant Officer Committee per their request, the expansion of the pur-pose of the H.J. Reilly Scholarship Award Program, and additional restrictions on departments before becoming eligible for rebates. Each of these amendments was proposed as a step to improving the operation and hopefully the efficiency of the organization as it evolves in the future.

The renovation of ROA’s national headquarters in Washington, the Minuteman Building (MMB), ap-

pears to be paying off. Gross rent-al revenues for this past year have exceed $900,000. However, ongo-

ing maintenance is required to get top dollars. Contractors are cur-rently in the process of obtaining

city permits to replace the roof of the MMB.

From Your President

ATTENTION:

The eReservist

For those who would rather receive the Reservist elec-tronically you have a couple of options, either a pdf file to your e-mail address or a link to the copy posted on the WI Department web site. To change the delivery of your copy of The Reservist just contact the webmaster at [email protected] with your preference.

Volume 19 , I ssue 1

April 2019 The Wisconsin Reservist

EDITOR & PUBLISHER

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

2019 State

Convention

3

Chapter News 5

Legislation 5

Letters to the

Editor

6

ROTC Awards 9

Buck-A-Year 11

Disclaimer Statement

Opinions expressed herein are those of the editor or columnists, and are not necessarily those of the Department of Wisconsin or the Reserve Officers Association of the United States. Publication of ad-vertisements does not im-ply endorsement by the Reserve Officers Associa-tion or the Department of Wisconsin.

LTC Jack Darland

mailto:[email protected]

The Wisconsin Reservist

President’s message (continued)

This past November’s election not only changed the balance of power in Congress, but also changed the military’s influence. While there were about 10% with military experience only a few years ago, there are now 95 members of the House and Senate who are either currently serv-ing in a Reserve Component or are a military veteran. After drafting the ROA legislative agenda for the 116th Session, ROA sent welcome letters to each of those members.

The following are some of the legislative proposals ROA is supporting and encourage each of us to support by contacting our local Senators or Representatives, as appropriate.

H.R.-299 The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 This bill will help our Vietnam Navy Veterans get the health care they need for exposure to Agent Orange. (I am unaware of a companion bill in the Senate as of this writing.)

S-21 and H.R.-350 Pay Our Coast Guard Act These bills will provide pay to the Coast Guard during a continuing appropriation or shutdown, unlike our recent government shutdown.

S-164 and H.R.-613 TRICARE Reserve Improvement Act These are companion bipartisan bills that will allow Reserve and National Guard federal employees to purchase TRICARE Re-serve Select for health care coverage.

H.R.-801 Reserve Component Employer Incentive, Compensation, and Relief Act of 2019 This bipartisan bill allows a tax credit for employers equal to $1,000 for each reservist employed during the year, plus an additional amount that ranges from $3,000 to $10,000, depending on the number of days the reservist serves in the uniformed services during the year.

H.R.-905 Servicemember Retirement Improvement Act This bill will amend the IRS Tax code for Reserve and National Guard members to make elective deferrals on the basis to their service to the Ready Reserve and on the basis of their other employment to reverse adverse effects of a new retirement program implemented by DoD.

As is usual at this time of the year, we are in the middle of our ROA Award presentations. These awards are given to outstanding ROTC and JROTC cadets and midshipmen attending universities and colleges, or high schools and academies, respectively, throughout the state. This year awards are being presented to 35 students representing 34 post-secondary school and 5 secondary school campuses. Later in this newsletter is a list of recipients, presenters, and the locations of the 2018 presentations.

Also, later in this newsletter is complete information on the 2019 Department Convention. We encourage each of you to join us for a very entertaining time together. Those who attended last year’s gathering had a great time at Wisconsin’s own Veteran’s Memorial Park, “The High Ground”, at Neillsville. Although I had been there before, that was an experience I will not for-get!

Remember ROA is: The Nation’s Only Advocate for Reservists of Every Rank and Service.

Regards,

Jack


2019 Wisconsin Department Convention Site

St. John's Northwestern Military Academy has been shaping the minds and developing the character of stu-dents since 1884.

Academy alumni have attended notable colleges and universities. As a college preparatory and leadership development boarding and day school for boys and girls in grades 6 through 12, St. John's Northwestern pro-vides a distinctive educational experience for its cadets that focuses on academic success, athletics, leader-ship development and values.

Surrounded by English gothic-style architecture, broad lawns and towering trees, cadets living within the 110-acre campus are immersed in a safe and secure environment in which they build self-esteem, self-discipline, academic focus and intellectual curiosity that allows them to "work hard, play hard, pray hard.".

Source: https://www.privateschoolreview.com/st-john-s-northwestern-military-academy-profile

https://www.privateschoolreview.com/st-john-s-northwestern-military-academy-profile


Held in conjunction with the Armed Forces Day parade hosted by Saint John’s

Northwestern Military Academy in Delafield.

Friday Afternoon– May 17, 2019 – 1:45 pm

Salute to our Armed Forces Parade hosted by the 135th Corps of Cadets

Location: Parade Grounds, St. John’s Northwestern Military Academy

1101 Genesee Street, Delafield, WI 53018

Friday Evening – May 17, 2019 – 6:30 pm

Convention dinner hosted by and courtesy of Chapter 23

Location: Seven Seas Restaurant

1807 Nagawicka Road, Hartland, WI 53029

Saturday Morning – May 18, 2019 – 9:00 am

Convention business session

Time: 9:00 am

Location: Holiday Inn Express and Suites Meeting Room

(see below for address)

Lodging

Holiday Inn Express and Suites, 3030 Golf Road, Delafield, WI 53018

(262) 646-7077 – Request the “ROA” group rate of $107 (pre tax)

Please join your ROA colleagues for a wonderfully patriotic weekend!

REGISTRATION FORM: Please mail payment and this completed form to:

Cost: $20 per attendee

NAME ________________________________________________RANK ________ BRANCH OF SERVICE _________ CHAPTER ________ SPOUSE/GUEST NAME(S) ________________________________________________________ ADDRESS______________________________________________________________________________________ CITY _____________________________________________________ STATE _____________ ZIP _______________ TELEPHONE ___________________________ E-MAIL__________________________________________________

Major Michael Schmitz 1104 E. Waterford Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53207 Or send via e-mail to: [email protected]


Chapter News

Chapter 23 Chapter #23 encompasses the metropolitan Milwaukee area.

The next meeting for Chapter #23, Greater Milwaukee area, will be at Noon on Monday, May 6, 2019 at:

The Old Country Buffett

4902 S. 74th Street

Milwaukee, WI 53220

The Old Country Buffett offers a dis-count to military veterans. Chapter 23 will buy lunch for any new attendees!

For additional information contact:

LTC Walt Wochos, Chapter President

Phone: (414) 961-0448

Email: [email protected]

Chapter 7 Chapter #007 encompasses Northeastern Wis-consin from Waupun, Beaver Dam, Fond du Lac, Oshkosh, Neenah, Menasha, Appleton, Green Bay, Manitowoc, Sheboygan & sur-rounding areas.

Chapter #007 normally holds its lunch-

eon/business meetings at 11:30 AM the

first Thursday of January, April, and Oc-tober. The July meeting is usually a pic-nic with a date and location to be deter-mined. All but the July meetings are held at:

Farro’s Family Restaurant

131 N. Pioneer Road

Fond du Lac, WI. 54935

920-922-3600

(On the East frontage road, south of the

junction of I41 & State Hwy 23)

Those interested in attending the meet-ings should contact:

COL Ralph C. Leisten

PH: 920-921-6983 (Land Line)

920-979-6759 (Cell)

Email: [email protected]

Chapter Affiliation Chapter 7 and Chapter 23 are the only two remaining Chapters within the Wisconsin

Department. Many of you are currently unaffiliated! We urge you to check your Chapter affiliation under “Groups” in your ROA profile.

You can then change your affiliation to an existing chapter of your choice.

See “Don’t Miss Out” on page 6 for more instructions.

Anyone who may be interested in starting (or restarting) a chapter in their region should contact the Executive Secretary, Major Michael Schmitz at:

[email protected] or (414) 483-2629



ROA’s Legislative Agenda is based on resolutions developed by Departments or Chapters and adopted at it’s national conventions. At the 2019 Leader’s Conference in Washington DC, the Legislative Agenda for the 116th Congress was briefed to the Department National Councilmen. Top priorities for this year are; 1) Improving Vet-eran Status for Hiring Preferences, 2) Enacting legislation to direct DOD to update the DD-214 process to include all retired Reservists, 3) Urge Congress to enact legis-lation to recognize exposure to toxins as a service-connected disability. Each Depart-ment’s National Councilman supported the efforts of Susan Lukas, ROA’s Director of Legislation & Military Policy, by meeting with Congressional staffers and educat-ing them on Reserve and National Guard issues. For Wisconsin, meetings were held with the legislative staff for Rep Michael Gallagher (8th Dist), Rep Jim Sensenbren-ner (5th Dist), and Senator Tammy Baldwin. Pictured above is LTC Jim Surfus pre-senting ROA’s Legislative Agenda to Senator Baldwin’s Legislative Correspondent, Ibrahim Hashi (a former Active Duty Marine).

Legislation


I am LTC (Ret.) Conrad Barrows and Life Member of the Reserve Officers Association. Following Active Duty at Fort Holabird, I en-joyed assignments with Co. B, 826 MI Bn (FA) in Baltimore, MD, the 84th Division and the 86th ARCOM. My final assignment was Comman-dant, 4th Army Reserve Forces Intelligence School (4th RFI), Ft. McCoy, Wisconsin. After more than two decades of retirement, I discov-ered an opportunity to “give back” to the Mili-tary and raise money for the Wisconsin Military Network, a notable 501(c)(3) Charitable Organi-zation in Sheboygan, WI. Lakeland University conducts a Fundraiser known as “Movers and Shakers of Sheboygan County,” modeled after the TV show, Dancing with the Stars. Along with my Professional Dancer, Susan Alby, we won the 2017 Gala event, performing the Lindy Hop and dancing to the song Boogie-Woogie Bugle Boy. Our prize was $10,000 which we awarded to the Wiscon-sin Military Network. I am currently a Board of Directors member and we are working to spread our influence throughout Southeastern Wiscon-sin. The gift helped to increase the organiza-tions’ valuable assistance to area Veterans. The mission statement is; “To provide support to past and present service members and their families to

ensure they are honored and to enhance their lives with resources and assistance.”

In February of 2018 I attended a Veter-

ans concert in Sarasota, FL performed by Gary Racan and the Studio-e Band – Warriors in Con-cert. It was fantastic, very patriotic and a great tribute to our Military Service Personnel. I con-tacted the band managers and asked if they would perform their routine on stage at the Stefanie H. Weill Center for the Performing Arts in Sheboygan, WI. After they saw pictures of this beautifully restored theatre and learned about their new, state-of-the-art sound system, the group agreed to bring their program to town on June 22, 2019.

A little information about the theatre.

The Sheboygan Theatre was constructed in 1928 and is now a fine and intact example of the “atmospheric” type theatre developed during the depression era. It was purchased in the late 1930s by Werner Brothers to “serve the entire community.” The theatre retained its promi-nence and success until the introduction of the television and smaller movie theatres. Marcus Management Company purchased the operation in 1980 and it remained viable until 1992. Sixty-four years after it opened, the theatre closed its doors and it stood vacant for the next five years. In 1996 the newly formed Sheboygan Commu-nity Theatre Foundation, Inc. purchased the building for the purpose of preserving, restoring and overseeing the future operation of the his-toric theatre. The property was placed on the US National Register of Historic Places and the Wisconsin Register of Historic Places on De-cember 22, 1999.

Letters to the Editor

2017 Movers and Shakers champions.


(continued from page 3) A significant gift was received from the

Stefanie H. Weill Charitable Fund in 1997 in return for the naming opportunity. In 2006, the Sheboygan Community Theatre Foundation changed its name to the Weill Center Founda-tion, Inc. Following the complete restoration, the theatre now seats 1140 guests and we hope to sell out the “Warrior Weekend” performance. I was fortunate to serve on the board for nine years and President from 2010 to 2013.

Mid-July 2018 we assembled a Commit-

tee and initiated a Fundraising Campaign. As we talked about the event, our concert continued to expand. Now it is called the “Warrior Weekend at the Weill” and begins on Friday afternoon June 21st with the Milwaukee Vet Center Mobile Operations Unit offering counselors on site. Fri-day concludes with the movie Almost Sunrise and a talk-back. The series finishes with the Warriors Concert on Saturday evening June 22, 2019. The entire weekend program is as follows;

Friday June 21st – Vet Center Mobile Opera-

tions Unit Friday June 21st - Showing of the movie Al-

most Sunrise at the Weill Center Friday June 21st - Discussion of the film with

the Director, Mr. Michael Collins Saturday June 22nd - Tour of Sheboygan Veter-

ans Memorial on Erie Avenue Saturday June 22nd - Tour of Hmong Veterans

Sheboygan Memorial Saturday June 22nd - Doors to the Weill Center

open at noon Saturday June 22nd - Veterans Art Show at the

Weill Center Saturday June 22nd - Gary Racan & the Studio-

e Band, Warriors in Concert, 7:30 pm

The concert will feature veterans and their fa-vorite music from World War II and the “Big Band” sound, through Korea, the Viet Nam era and the present-day warriors from Iraq and Af-ghanistan. This is a weekend event hosted by veterans and friends, about veterans for the peo-ple of Sheboygan and the surrounding communi-ties. The music is patriotic and memorable. The concert provides great entertainment for all ages celebrating local personnel of the Armed Forces in our beautiful Stefanie H. Weill Center for the Performing Arts. The weekend provides comfort for veterans in many ways. I hope you will save the weekend date of June 21st and 22nd, 2019. In addition to the Wisconsin Military Network, there are three other veterans’ organizations that benefit from the concert. They are; Vet’s Jour-ney Home, Salute the Troops and Sheboygan Area Veterans Treatment Court. We are a 501(c)(3) Charitable Organization and for more information about us, visit our website, www.Wisconsinmilitarynetwork.org and click on Warrior Weekend 2019. Please use [email protected] to communicate with us regarding our “Warrior Weekend at the Weill.” The Wisconsin Military Network could use your volunteer help, your financial assis-tance and, by all means, your presence at the event. If you have a question or want more in-formation, send us an email. We look forward to your favorable reply! Conrad A. Barrows - Treasurer Wisconsin Military Network LTC (Ret.) USAR

OPINIONS

Letters to the editor may be submitted via mail or e-mail to the addresses as listed on the back page of this publication. The submission of any letter constitutes consent to the publishing of the letter in any future edition of this publication or the publishing of the letter on the Wisconsin De-

partment website. The decision to publish is the sole responsibility of the editor.



The ROA awards program for ROTC/JROTC is designed to provide incentives for and recogni-tion to meritorious cadets and midshipmen, to encourage continuous dedication to the endur-ing principles of our nation, and to promote an understanding of the statutory obligation of ROA to those principles. Awards are presented annually for military and academic achieve-ments and meritorious performance in officer candidate training programs in any of the three services. ROA’s ROTC kit consists of a medal (gold, silver or bronze), ribbon and certificate. ROA’s JROTC kit consists of a gold medal and certificate. Departments and Chapters are charged with the responsibility for conducting the awards program to include purchasing the medals, ribbons and for locally printing the certificates presented to ROTC/JROTC awardees. The 2018 recipients are as follows:


Department of Wisconsin

2018 Reserve Officer Association

ROTC/JROTC Awards Program

UW La Crosse:

Presenter: LTC Jack L. Darland, USA (Ret)

Conner McDonnell/Gold (Army) Burlington, WI

Justin Jorstad/Silver (Army) LaCrosse, WI

Madison Janicek/Bronze (army-Viterbo Univ) Columbia, MO

UW MADISON

Presenter: LtCol James Surfus, USAFR (Ret)

Benjamin P. Marinin/Gold (Army) Hubertus, WI

Thomas W. Graham III/Silver (Army) Poplar Bluff, MO

Bryce E. DuCharme/Bronze (Army) Hudson, WI

Christopher Six/Gold (Navy) Surprise, AZ

*John Tilstra/Silver (Navy) (USMC) Brandon, WI

Abraham Hernandez/Bronze (Navy) San Jacinto, CA

Michael Duwe/Gold (AF) River Forest, IL

Timothy Campbell/Silver (AF) Hudson, NH

Makayla Hansen/Bronze (AF) Green Bay, WI.

UW OSHKOSH

Presenter: LTC Timothy W. Lubinsky, USA (Ret)

Taylor Gilmet/Gold (Army-UW Oshkosh) Green, Bay, WI

Justin LaFleur/Silver (Army-Ripon College) Belvidere, IL

Austin Heiselmann/Bronze (Army-Ripon College) Burlington, WI

UW STEVENS POINT

Presenter: LTC Jack L. Darland, USA (Ret)

Luke Zasada/Gold (Army) Plover, WI

Austin P. Krien/Silver (Army) Franksville, WI

Alyssa M. Gruender/Bronze (Army) Appleton, WI

UW STOUT

Presenter: Maj Michael T. Schmitz, USAFR (Ret)

*Alex Beyer/Gold (Army-UWEC) Hudson, WI

Chester Rihn/Silver (Army-UWEC) Eau Claire, WI

Austin Smith/Bronze (Army-UWRF) Deforest, WI

MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY

Presenter: MAJ James D. Pelkey, USMCR (Ret)

Sean Halverson/Gold (Army)

Timothy Bobeck/Silver, (Army)

Liam Kilpatrick/Bronze (Army)

Bryan Luke/Gold (Navy)

Steven Lewis/Silver (Navy)

Maria Alberico/Bronze (Navy)

Alexander Williamson/Gold (AF)

Troy Kiel/Silver (AF)

Heather Warskow/Bronze (AF)

JROTC

Presenter: LtCol James Surfus, USAFR (Ret)

Presenter: MAJ James D. Pelkey, USMCR (Ret)

Presenter: High School Cadre member

1 Logan Howe – WI-951 AFJROTC at Greenfield HS

2 Cayden Burns – Kenosha Military Academy-Indian Trails HS

3 Timothy Prevo – St. Johns Northwestern Military Academy

4 Gracie Henthorn – Beloit Memorial HS

* SPECIAL NOTATION:

*Alex Beyer is a previous recipient of the ROA Bronze Medal (2016)

*John Tilstra is a previous recipient of the ROA Bronze Medal (2016 & 2017)

ROTC PARTNERSHIP SCHOOLS

MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY:

AROTC – Marquette University, Concordia University, Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE)

NROTC – Marquette University, MSOE, UW Milwaukee

AFROTC – Marquette University, Alverno College, Carroll University, Carthage College, Concordia University-Mequon, Milw. Area Tech Col-lege (MATC), Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE), Mount Mary College, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, University of Wisconsin Parkside, University of Wisconsin Waukesha, Upper Iowa University – Milwaukee Center, Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC), Wis-consin Lutheran College (WLC)

UW LACROSSE – Eagle Battalion:

UW LaCrosse, Viterbo University, Winona State University, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota

UW MADISON:

AROTC BADGER BATTALION – UW Madison, UW Whitewater, Edgewood College, Maranatha Baptist University

NROTC Battalion - UW Madison

AFROTC Detachment 925 – UW Madison, UW Whitewater, Edgewood College, Madison Area Technical College (MATC) Maranatha Baptist College

UW OSHKOSH Fox Valley Battalion:

UW Oshkosh (which incorporates Fond du Lac and Menasha), St Norbert College, Ripon College, UW Green Bay, Marion University

UW STEVENS POINT Northwoods Battalion:

UW Stevens Point, UW Eau Claire, UW River Falls, UW Stout

UW STOUT Northwoods Battalion:

UW Stout, UW Eau Claire, UW River Falls, UW Stevens Point



2018 Reserve Officer Association

ROTC/JROTC Awards Program


LTC David W. Alderfer

LTC Peter M. Allen

LtCOL Edward Brown

LTC Jack L. Darland

MAJ James Grant

CPT Robert J. Herman

LTC Mack E. Hughes

MAJ Kenneth Kresheck

COL David L. LaFontaine

CWO4 Ruth C. Leichtnam

LTC Timothy W. Lubinsky

LtCOL Allan D. Manteuffel

LtCOL Henry T. Ratenski

LTC William L. Robbins

MAJ Michael T. Schmitz

CAPT James D. Snyder

LtCOL Harry G. Snyder

LtCOL Rose M. Snyder

LtCOL James J. Surfus

LTC Dennis E. Tallant

LTC Walter G. Wartolec

LTC Walter A. Wochos

COL Alfred E. Zehnder

Buck a Year Donor List Thank you to the following for donating to the Buck a Year—Your donations offset the cost of publishing this newsletter

DEPARTMENT OF WISCONSIN

By submitting your donation to Buck a Year, you are assisting in the publication

of your department newsletter, The Wisconsin Reservist

Make check payable to: DEPARTMENT OF WISCONSIN ROA

Send your donation to: LTC Tim Lubinsky, 728 Newbury St., Ripon, WI 54971-1727

Benefactor…$25.00 Patron…$20.00 Sponsor…$10.00 Donor…$5.00 Other….$__________

(Please Print)

RANK: _______ NAME: ____________________________________________ Chapter: _______ Amount: ______________ Email: ____________________________________

Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage

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Fond Du Lac, WI

Permit No. 433

Moving? Have Moved? Don’t forget to send your new address to the Editor/Publisher, or Depart-ment Executive Secretary. Don’t miss out on the chance to know what’s going on in YOUR DE-PARTMENT!

EDITOR & PUBLISHER

“The object and purpose of the Reserve Officers Association shall be to support a military policy for the United States that will pro-vide adequate national security and to promote the development and execution thereof.”

From Public Law 595, 81st Congress, Approved 30 June 1950

We’re on the web! Visit: www.roa.org

Click on “Departments and Chapters” under the “About”

tab and then find the Wisconsin Department link

“A WISCONSIN PUBLICATION DEVOTED

TO THE INTERESTS OF NATIONAL DEFENSE"

Major Michael Schmitz

USAFR (Retired)

1104 E. Waterford Avenue

MILWAUKEE, WI 53207-4581

Phone (414)483-2629

[email protected]

Sword & Pen Award

34th Award


Reserve Officers Association

1104 E. Waterford Avenue

Milwaukee, WI 53207-4581

Address Service Requested

the wisconsin reservist

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