Wisconsin
Wisconsin National Guard unit nears end of Baltic deployment
This past May, eight 112th MPAD Soldiers mobilized to various locations across the Baltics, dividing the unit into three teams to provide public affairs coverage of U.S. Forces and Allies throughout Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia.
The mission of the 112th is to effectively communicate and showcase the multinational partnerships between U.S. Forces and NATO Allies and security partners. This is achieved through the creation of compelling imagery, interviews, informative products about various training and exercises, and community events.
“This is a tight-knit group made up of special Soldiers, and I couldn’t be prouder of what the 112th MPAD has already accomplished during this deployment,” said Maj. Joseph Trovato, 112th MPAD commander. “The unit has earned accolades at every level, and the Soldiers are making a major impact at the strategic level in the European theater. We’ve entrusted our junior leaders to go out and execute their mission on their own, and they’ve really stepped up and continued to display their professionalism at every turn while churning out fantastic products that tell the story of both task forces that we’ve supported since we arrived.”
The 112th initially provided public affairs support to Task Force Ivy, led by the 4th Infantry Division, and now supports the 3rd Infantry Division-led Task Force Marne.
Responsibilities span mission planning and coordination, creating video productions, photographing events, facilitating media engagements, managing social media, and training unit public affairs representatives to augment the teams. The 112th has published approximately 900 photographs and 200 video products during more than 150 missions.
The division of the 112th into geographically separate teams has allowed junior noncommissioned officers to branch out from their normal content collection duties and assume roles that are not commonly available at home.
“[A] great positive that I have come across since being here is understanding my boundaries and what I’m capable of,” said Sgt. Alex Soliday, a public affairs mass communication noncommissioned officer. “I’ve learned I can take on leadership roles and maintain them at a high-functioning level.”
Soliday said that an example of this was when he set up a Christmas event from beginning to end for the USO using his spare time.
Additionally, with teams spread throughout the region, team leads had a unique opportunity to develop and use their content collection skills alongside their noncommissioned officer counterparts as well as perform in their regular officer role.
“As a captain, I felt the obligation to network with every key leader in the battle group and establish a [point of contact] with the public affairs representative of every participating country,” said Capt. Daniel Yarnall, a public affairs officer. “Additionally, I felt as though I had to establish contact with higher NATO command, which I did. Then I felt I had to lead by example when it came to content collecting.”
Outside of their public affairs mission, 112th Soldiers have also been able to take advantage of personal and professional development opportunities, and experience different cultures in the region.
Soliday has enjoyed getting to know new people, eating the local food, and exploring different countries.
“My favorite experience in Poland has been being able to find my footing in something I enjoy and that is working with the USO,” said Soliday. “I have volunteered over 125 hours within the last three months and will continue until the end of my tour. Once we get back from deployment, I will hopefully pursue a career with the USO.”
Yarnall also spent part of his time supporting the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force – Africa in Italy. While a few things stood out as great experiences, according to Yarnall, the best part was getting to spend time with a group of public affairs soldiers.
“I feel like they grew to like having me around.” said Yarnall. “Additionally, I seem to have inspired their creative side with my Photoshop work.”
The unit’s commander took pride in the development of the Soldiers during the deployment.
“The most rewarding part of this deployment has been seeing these junior Soldiers develop their skills and knowledge while growing into bonafide leaders and subject-matter experts,” Trovato said. “Their confidence in themselves has grown exponentially, and it will set them up as public affairs leaders in our force for years to come. This theater is dynamic and critical to our nation’s security, and our Soldiers can return home knowing they’ve made a big impact here.”
The 112th is set to return to Wisconsin in the spring.
| Date Taken: | 01.09.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 01.25.2024 05:44 |
| Story ID: | 462393 |
| Location: | BOLESLAWIEC, PL |
| Web Views: | 3 |
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Wisconsin
Rubber bullet carnage as 1,000 animal welfare activists storm beagle breeding lab in Wisconsin | Fortune
About 1,000 animal welfare activists who tried to gain entry Saturday to a beagle breeding and research facility in Wisconsin were turned back by police who fired rubber bullets and pepper spray into the crowd and arrested the group’s leader.
It was the second attempt in as many months by protesters to take beagles from the Ridglan Farms facility in Blue Mounds, a small town about 25 miles (about 40 kilometers) southwest of the capital, Madison.
Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett, said in a video statement that 300 to 400 protesters were “violently trying to break into the property” and assault officers. He said protesters have ignored designated areas for peaceful protest and blocked roads to prevent emergency vehicles from entering.
“This is not a peaceful protest,” Barrett said.
The sheriff’s department said a “significant” number of people were arrested out of about 1,000 protesters at the site but did not give an exact total as they were still being processed as of the afternoon.
Protesters tried to overcome barricades that included a manure-filled trench, hay bales and a barbed-wire fence. Some protesters did get through the fence but were unable to enter the facility, where an estimated 2,000 beagles are kept, the Wisconsin State Journal reported.
“I just feel defeated,” activist Julie Vrzeski told the newspaper about three hours into the operation after no dogs had been successfully seized.
Activists later moved from the Ridglan facility to protest outside the jail in downtown Madison.
The group Coalition to Save the Ridglan Dogs had publicized plans to seize the dogs Sunday but launched its operation a day earlier. The X account of the group’s leader, Wayne Hsiung, posted a picture of him being arrested.
The sheriff’s department said a person who “recklessly” drove a pickup through the front gate of the property was arrested, “preventing a potentially deadly outcome.”
Protesters broke into the facility in March and took 30 dogs. Twenty-seven people were arrested on trespassing and other charges.
Ridglan has denied mistreating animals but agreed in October to give up its state breeding license as of July 1 as part of a deal to avoid prosecution on animal mistreatment charges.
On its website it says “no credible evidence of animal abuse, cruelty, mistreatment or neglect at Ridglan Farms has ever been presented or substantiated.”
Wisconsin
Wisconsin authorities put total arrests from clashes at beagle breeding facility at about 25
MADISON (AP) — Around 25 protesters were arrested as around 1,000 animal welfare activists tried to gain entry to a beagle breeding and research facility in Wisconsin and were met by officers firing pepper spray and rubber bullets, authorities said Sunday.
Saturday’s protest was the second attempt in as many months by demonstrators to take beagles from Ridglan Farms in Blue Mounds, about 25 miles (about 40 kilometers) southwest of the capital, Madison. They were turned back by officers who arrested the group’s leader.
Owen Ziliak/Wisconsin State Journal via AP
The Dane County Sheriff’s Office said the situation was “significantly calmer and more peaceful” on Sunday, when around 200 people assembled outside the farm. They dispersed after around two hours, it said.
“We’re pleased with the group’s cooperation today, and their willingness to remain peaceful, while still sending their message of concern for the dogs at Ridglan Farms,” Sheriff Kalvin Barrett said in a statement. “We are happy to support anyone who wants to exercise the right to protest, as long as they do so lawfully.”
Owen Ziliak/The Wisconsin State Journal via AP
The sheriff had said in a video statement Saturday that 300 to 400 protesters were “violently trying to break into the property.” They tried to overcome barricades that included a manure-filled trench, hay bales and a barbed-wire fence.
Owen Ziliak/Wisconsin State Journal via AP
Some got through the fence but were unable to enter the facility, where an estimated 2,000 beagles are kept, the Wisconsin State Journal reported.
Amber Arnold/Wisconsin State Journal via AP
Those arrested included the leader of the Coalition to Save the Ridglan Dogs, Wayne Hsiung, 44, of New York, who was being held on a tentative felony charge of conspiracy to commit burglary. But most arrestees were just booked and released, the sheriff’s office said Sunday.
“No one should be assaulted for giving aid to a dog, even if damage to property is part of that rescue effort,” Hsuing said in a statement from jail Sunday that also accused authorities of using excessive force. “The animals of this Earth are not “things.” They’re sentient beings. And we have the right to rescue them from abuse,” he concluded.
Protesters took 30 dogs when they broke into the facility in March, when authorities arrested 27 people.
Ridglan denies mistreating animals but agreed in October to give up its state breeding license as of July 1 in a deal to avoid prosecution on animal mistreatment charges.
On its website, the company says “no credible evidence of animal abuse, cruelty, mistreatment or neglect at Ridglan Farms has ever been presented or substantiated.”
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About 1,000 animal welfare activists who tried to gain entry on Saturday to a beagle breeding and research facility in Wisconsin were turned back by police who fired rubber bullets and pepper spray into the crowd and arrested the group’s leader.
It was the second attempt in as many months by protesters to take beagles from the Ridglan Farms facility in Blue Mounds, a small town about 25 miles (about 40 kilometres) southwest of Wisconsin’s capital, Madison.
Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett said in a video statement that 300 to 400 protesters were “violently trying to break into the property” and assault officers. He said protesters have ignored designated areas for peaceful protest and blocked roads to prevent emergency vehicles from entering.
“This is not a peaceful protest,” Barrett said.
The sheriff’s department said a “significant” number of people were arrested out of about 1,000 protesters at the site but did not give an exact total as they were still being processed as of the afternoon.
Protesters tried to overcome barricades that included a manure-filled trench, hay bales and a barbed-wire fence. Some protesters did get through the fence but were unable to enter the facility, where an estimated 2,000 beagles are kept, the Wisconsin State Journal reported.
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