National Guard prepares for Afghan training role

A team of 16 Virginia National Guard soldiers, including two from Hampton Roads, took part in a ceremony Thursday to mark their active-duty mobilization for service as a brigade-embedded training team for the Afghan National Army, the Guard announced.

The soldiers will travel to Fort Riley, Kan., to train until early November and will deploy to Afghanistan in late November.

In June, the Guard received orders to form two units with the mission of training the Afghan army and police. One unit will work with an Afghan brigade of about 1,500 soldiers; the other will work with a battalion of about 500 soldiers.

"We have selected soldiers with a great deal of military experience," Col. Mike Harris said in a news release. "But we were also looking for soldiers with the leadership and diplomatic skills to operate in this environment."

Yorktown dental officer to get national award

Cmdr. Mariapaz Smith, a dental officer stationed at Coast Guard Training Center Yorktown, will be honored in Washington as the Coast Guard's military recipient of the National Latina Distinguished Service Award.

Smith volunteered for a humanitarian mission aboard the amphibious assault ship Boxer to Peru, helping treat 120 patients in five days. She also organized Club De Hispano Parlantes to mentor in the Hispanic community and serves as preceptor for the Boston University School of Dentistry.

Tattoo production will trace history of the Air Force

The 21st annual Air Combat Command Air Tattoo will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday at Langley Air Force Base's Memorial Park.

The 75-minute production traces the history of the Air Force. It will feature fireworks, the ACC Heritage of America Band, the Fifes and Drums of Colonial Williamsburg and the 1st Fighter Wing's F-22A Raptor and F-15 Eagle.

Guests are asked to arrive 30 minutes before the start of the show to find a seat on the lawn.

Bring a blanket or lawn chair, but for security reasons, leave large coolers and bags at home.

Military ID card holders may enter through the Armistead or King Street gates; others should enter through the LaSalle Gate.

Oceanography strike group team gets new leader

Cmdr. William H. Nisley II was relieved by Cmdr. David McDowell as commanding officer of Strike Group Oceanography Team Norfolk in a ceremony Wednesday at Norfolk Naval Station.

The team provides weather forecasting and oceanographic services to deploying ships and other forces.

McDowell comes from Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk, where he served as the requirements and resource integration officer.

Nisley will become executive officer of the Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center in Monterey, Calif.

Events

USO fundraiser Raffles and 10 percent of restaurant sales will benefit the Operation Holiday Spirit Campaign, which assists military families in need during the holidays. Sept. 30 at Silver Diner restaurants in Chesapeake, Virginia Beach and Newport News.

Reunions

USS Richard M. Rowell DE-403 Sept. 18-20, Hilton Norfolk Airport Hilton. (757) 499-5006.

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