Rhode Island Chapter Newsletter
www.ausari.org
.org
THE PATRIOT
Supporting a Relevant and Ready Army at War
“Voice of the Army, Support for the Soldier”
Our Voice Speaks on Behalf
of RI’s Soldiers and
Their Family Members
Vol. 3, Mar 2013 - Jun 2013
President's Message
LTC (R) Robert Galvanin
By the time you receive this newsletter, our 2012-2013 RIAUSA operational
year will have ended. With your support and the dedication of your
Executive Committee, it has been another successful one.
Important Dates
17 Jul 2013
ExCom Mtg., 6:30 PM
21 Aug 2013
ExCom Mtg., 6:30 PM
18 Sep 2013
ExCom Mtg., 6:30 PM
16 Oct 2013
R/JROTC Recognition
(1st Gen. Mbrshp. Mtg.)
20-24 Oct 13
AUSA Annual Mtg., DC
From recognizing RI ROTC and JROTC units for their work in developing
future leaders and providing them with supplemental funds for their
programs to honoring Soldiers/NCOs/Recruiters of the Year from RI
Army/Army Reserve/Army Guard to providing scholarships, we have
accomplished the mission of support for our Army and its Soldiers in RI.
In addition, we were able to send a delegation to the Annual First Region
Meeting in Worcester, MA. By all accounts the event was a great success.
Your Chapter was recognized as a leader in meeting AUSA objectives.
Finally, just this month the Chapter awarded SFC Curtis Mancini Memorial
Scholarships to three deserving students at the Joint Annual Scholarship
Awards dinner.
Throughout the year the Chapter also made numerous donations in support
of many military related events and causes. We look forward to your
continued support as we move into the 2013-2014 operational year.
Your website - www.ausari.org, is where you need to go to find out what is
happening regarding our local meetings, scholarship application info, links
to relevant areas of interest, copy of this newsletter and other important
information.
Be sure to visit often!
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Vol. 3, Mar 13 - Jun 13
RI Chapter Members Attend Retiree Appreciation Day
On 27 April thirty eight RI Chapter members and guests attended the Annual Military Retirees Appreciation
Day at the West Point Military Academy. Boarding a chartered bus at 4:30 AM, they arrived in time to enjoy
the ceremonies and receive up-to-date information on retired military benefits and health care from guest
speakers as well as to collect material from companies that provide services to this audience.
Attendees were treated to a Cadet "pass and Review" at the parade field followed by a luncheon with the
Cadets who were dispersed among the guest tables to answer any questions and share their experiences.
The visit ended with a visit to the Academy Military Museum and the gift shop before boarding the bus for
home. All agreed it was a great experience with a "salute" to COL Mike Patalano for putting it all together.
HOOAH!
RI Chapter Delegates Attend First Region
Annual Business Meeting
Chapter President LTC (R) Bob and Mrs. Galvanin, Vice
President CSM (R) Len Maglione and Vice President for
Reserve Affairs LTC (R) Joe Hoey attended the AUSA First
Region Business Meeting on 2-3 May in Worcester, MA hosted
by the MA Minuteman Chapter.
AUSA President GEN (R) Gordon Sullivan gave a presentation
on important issues facing AUSA and how current members can
help. This was followed by a brainstorming session designed to
identify and find solutions to issues from fund raising to
membership recruiting and retention.
"The willingness with which our young people
are likely to serve in any war, no matter how
justified, shall be dire4ctly proportional to how
they perceive the veterans of earlier wars were
treated and appreciated by their nation."
- George Washington
The meeting concluded with the annual Roebling Dinner
conducted by First Region President Hank Zolla. The recipient
of the Roebling Award this year went not to an individual, but
to the Soldiers of Readiness Group Devens.
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Vol. 3, Mar 13 - Jun 13
RI U.S. ARMY RECRUITING
COMPANY VISITED
Captain David Flores New Commander in Rhode Island
CPT Flores recently assumed command of the U.S. Army Recruiting Company in RI following the end of tour of CPT
Torran Goings and will serve on our RI Chapter ExCom as Vice President Active Component. In order to welcome him to
RI and take an opportunity to meet with his Soldiers, State President LTC(R) Dennis Morgan and Secretary CSM(R) Tony
Ferri recently visited the unit.
After being introduced by CPT Flores, Morgan provided a brief overview of who he and CSM Ferri were and how they had
served, etc. Morgan then explained what the Association of the U.S. Army was all about, how it works with Congress for
the benefit of the Army and some information on what goes on at the Annual Meeting regarding professional development
programs and other points of interest. He then moved into the Region and Chapter structure and specifically the mission of
the RI Chapter.
CSM Ferri announced that in honor of their service and also because we had "adopted" the RI Recruiting Company as our
special unit, all Soldiers of the unit would receive a membership in AUSA sponsored by the RI Chapter. Every Soldier
present filled out an application with guidance from Tony along the way. Eleven new members were signed up with more to
come compliments of the Chapter!
Chapter Honors RI Soldiers of Excellence
Your RI Chapter, AUSA recognized Soldiers of Excellence from various Army, Army Reserve and Army National
Guard units on 15 May at the Quonset O Club. NCOs/Soldiers/Recruiters of the Year were invited with their
families to a reception with a buffet dinner and refreshments provided by Corporate member Banneker Industries.
Chapter President LTC Bob Galvanin welcomed all to our RI Soldiers of Excellence Recognition Event sponsored
by Banneker Industries. Pres. Galvanin recognized guests, spouses, parents, family members of Soldiers to be
honored and then spoke about AUSA's mission and how the RI Chapter takes every opportunity to support it
through conducting events like this.. He invited all in the audience who were not members to join AUSA.
Corporate Sponsor Banneker Industries representative Mr. Junior Jabbie was introduced and spoke about how
Banneker is appreciative of what our Soldiers do and the sacrifices they endure, and how pleased Banneker is to
support them. This was followed by remarks of CSM Russell Pion, CSM of the 1st Battalion, 126th Aviation,
RING.
Chapter VP for Awards 1SG Richard Enos assisted by CSM Maglione and CSM Pion presented each Soldier to be
recognized with an AUSA Cross pen and a complementary membership in RIAUSA. The night concluded with a
raffle of various military related and AUSA prizes. A benediction was followed by the playing of the Army Song.
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Vol. 3, Mar 13 - Jun 13
Membership Matters
As of June 2013 your Chapter
membership total stands at 312
members. This is way down from
a high of 361 members just two
years ago! Let's get to work to gain
new members this operational
year.
LISTEN UP - We need your help
to keep AUSA's voice strong for
our Soldiers. Each of us can and
should reach out to someone
(anyone can be an AUSA
member) and ask them to join
AUSA and our Chapter. They can
sign up on line at www.ausa.org
or
simply
forward
your
prospective member's name and
contact
info
to
our
VP
Membership, MSG (R) Everett
Federici at 401-294-3557 or
[email protected] and we will do
all the work.
Chapter Meetings
New Chapter Members
CPT DAVID FLORES
CSM RUSSELL PION
1SG MARTIN CONTRERAS
The Club provides delicious meals
and the bar is open for
refreshments!
SFC SETH RATHBUN
SSG ALBERT NORMANDIN
SSG CHASE BOLTZ
SSG TRACI COLSTON
SGT BRANDON HOWLAND
SGT MATTHEW WITCHER
Please join in this serious effort
to recruit members!
Your Chapter hard working
Executive Committee meets on
the third Wednesday of the month
from 6:30 PM to 8 PM at the Italo
American Club, 477 Broadway,
Providence. All members are
welcome to attend these meetings.
Simply contact your Chapter
Secretary, CSM Ferri, to notify
"Show me your membership
card or give 20"
SPC BRIAN MCGUIRE
PFC JOSHUA JENSEN
RI Corporate Members Appreciated
American Cord & Webbing - Arden Engineering Constructors, LLC
Banneker Industries - Flynn Financial Grp. - Greytstone Corp.
Murdock Webbing - Navajo Fabrics
Navajo Fabrics has been providing expertise in dyed and camouflage printed
fabric products for military, uniform, and hunting use for more than 35 years.
RIAUSA is proud to have Navajo Fabrics as a Corporate Member!
(Each issue highlights a RIAUSA Corporate Member)
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RIAUSA Chapter Officers
2011 - 2012
PRESIDENT
LTC Robert Galvanin
PRESIDENT
[email protected]
508-339-5301
LTC Robert Galvanin
VICE
PRESIDENT
[email protected]
CSM (R) Leonard Maglione
[email protected]
SECRETARY
CSM (R) Anthony Ferri
[email protected]
TREASURER
COL (R) Michael Patalano
[email protected]
VICE PRES. MEMBERSHIP
MSG (R) Everett Federici
[email protected]
VICE PRES. ACTIVE ARMY
Vacant
VICE PRES. ARMY RESERVE
LTC (R) Joseph Hoey
[email protected]
VICE PRES. ARMY GUARD
Vol. 3, Mar 13 - Jun 13
Annual Scholarship Awards Dinner
A great benefit for our Chapter members comes in the form of scholarships awarded
each year to RIAUSA members or their family members as well as seniors at Lincoln
High School. The awards are based solely on academic and individual achievements.
The scholarships are named in honor of the service of SFC Curtis Mancini USA who
was killed while serving in Afghanistan. He is the son of CSM and the late Mrs. John
Mancini. This membership benefit is now funded through the efforts of the RI
Commandery, MOFW which had incorporated the former RIAUSA golf tournament
into its own.
It has become a tradition to present these awards during an annual dinner where the
recipients and their families are guests of the RI Chapter. This year both RIROA and
RIMOFW joined with RIAUSA in a joint scholarship awards event on 20 Jun at the
Quonset O Club.
This year's deserving SFC Curtis Mancini Memorial Scholarship recipients included
the son of RIAUSA Member LTC Tony Gagliardi - Tony Gagliardi, Jr. ($1,000); son
of member LTC James Kenny II - James Kenney III ($500) and Jordan Scott
($1,000), graduating from Lincoln High (SFC Mancini's High School). The Chapter
was also proud to present the RI U.S. Army Recruiting Company, under the
command of CPT David Flores, with a donation for its Family Readiness Program.
The evening concluded with an observance of the Army's 238th Birthday.
Our mission - support and
recognition of RI Soldiers
and their families!
Vacant
AST. VICE PRES. AWARDS
1SGT Richard Enos
[email protected]
CHAPLAIN
CPT Charles Reade
[email protected]
STATE PRESIDENT
LTC Dennis Morgan
[email protected]
America's Civil War - 150 Years
The battle of Gettysburg began on July1 1863 as a meeting engagement when
Confederate infantry from LTG Ambrose Hill's corps encountered Union
cavalry under command of BG John Buford on the ridges northwest of
Gettysburg. It would become GEN Robert E. Lee's all-out effort to destroy
the Union Army of the Potomac on Northern soil.
By the third day, 3 July, the commander of the Army of the Potomac, MG
George G. Meade, had achieved what none of his five predecessors could: an
unequivocal defeat of GEN Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia.
Had Meade chosen to counterattack Lee, he may have crushed his army
there and then which may have ended the war that year. Meade did not and,
although President Lincoln did not relieve him of command, he appointed
LTG Ulysses Grant as Meade's direct superior for the duration of the war.
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Retiree Corner - Still Proud, Still Serving, Still Saluting!
TRICARE for "gray area' retirees - this is now a benefit and you can find info at
website below.
TRICARE Wizard to help you understand which options you may be eligible for:
www.tricare.mil/mybenefit/home/overview/PlanWizard
Post 9/11 GI Bill - individuals who served at least 90 days of aggregate service after
Sep 10, 2001 are eligible. Details at www.gibill.va.gov
From WW II to GWOT, Mr.
RIAUSA CSM(R) Tony Ferri
takes care of Soldiers.
Do you have questions on benefits, SBP, Retiree Appreciation Days, or anything else
retirement related? Then go to Army Retirement Services website
http:www.armyg1.army.mil/retire
Guard/Reserve Retirement Services Officers - Human Resources Command, St.
Louis, MO. 1-800-318-5298 ext 4.
Rhode Island Chapter
CSM Anthony Ferri
47 Spokane Street
Providence, RI 02904
Voice for the Army - Support for the Soldier