Jack McGreevey
C/O
Senator Joseph Vitale
569 Rahway Ave.
Woodbridge, NJ 07095

Dear Jack,

I hope that you will take the time to consider what I will be mentioning in this letter, as I need your help.

‘scuttlebutt’ has it that the same people that may have given you a hard time in the NJ Naval Militia Joint Command were the same ones that gave me a hard time—They are gone Now.

I wanted to enlist previous to 2001. My first application was ignored.  I then asked someone from DMAVA’s Public Affairs Office to brief Admiral Beard on what I wanted to do for the Naval Militia Joint Command as they were flying to Panama to bring the battleship back.  I got no response (I assume the briefing never happened.) I then contacted Captain Gierdet (then XO of the unit) and asked him about joining.  He later got back to me and said that I could be an ‘Honorary Member’ I then asked if I would be covered by workman’s comp if a wall fell in on me and he said ,”no” and that I should re-apply.  I sent in another application- heard nothing until I spoke with the 3rd Battalion on an unrelated matter: I asked him to look into the status of my application.  Shortly after I was told to report to Fort Dix.  One of the officers who were involved in the interview was discouraging, yet I accepted an appointment and have excelled ever since. My initial training was in Emergency Response to Terrorism and then I took the Train-the-Trainer courses. Once I enlisted I found that the majority of officers and NCO’s were professional and that they were constantly willing to learn skills to adapt to the new policies that were being developed in response to changing geo-political situations.

During the formation of the NJNM-JC many mistakes were made, but when crisis struck the unit was ready and performed with distinction.

On 9-11-01 I left my office and responded to the Mercer County Office of Emergency Management where I stayed for over 10 hours. (My enlistment went through after 9-11-01)
My shipmates -Ferried people between NJ and ‘ground zero’
-The Disaster Medical Assistance Team was deployed
-Our Chaplains responded, and provided assistance in Fishkill NY (where all of the evidence was sent)
-Our officers (with decades of experience) manned the Joint Operations Center –thereby freeing up young officers to do whatever young officers do.
-My unit guarded Earl Naval Base and I think they assisted in protecting the Nuclear power plants.

I wrote and e-mailed to Senator Turner asking her to re-introduce Senate Bill S1441 (which would help the Naval Militia Joint Command -the text of which is highlighted below)  I have gotten no response, other than the staff not knowing what the senator was going to do or not do, even after multiple visits to her office.

Dear Senator Turner,
Last October Ed Griffin and myself wrote to you about re-introducing S1441 and we have not heard back from your office as to weather you will me. Rather than try and figure what went wrong I will re-word and update my request to reflect current legislative actions. I certainly hope in this new era of change I can count on you to help me continue to serve to protect the state we live in. (As other states might not be so liberal to allow my minority group to serve in a military capacity.)
Thank you for your letter of September 26, 2008. I had forgotten that Senate Bill S 1441 from the 2006-2007 legislative session had to be re introduced. As you know I tried to work hard with Senator Inverso’s office to try and get the bill passed. I did my best to work with him because he introduced the bill; however, you are the Senator for my district and; as you know, Senator Inverso has retired. Please introduce another version of S1441 with the same language as the bill that made it out of committee. With the addition of provisions of a third ’state’ star to any NJ Adjutant General with an active State guard. Texas and Georgia have already done this in their respective states.
And under current law there is a possibility of draft in NJ: Any able bodied Male OR Female [the law was changed from referring to specifically males to citizens] between the ages of 18 and 45 may be drafted and required to perform service to the state with or without pay in the unorganized militia. There needs to be a codicil in the law that requires that the governor exhausts the assets of the state guard [organized militia] before drafting a citizen into the unorganized militia.
From what I have gleaned from several sources, in order for the state guard to be re-stood up, more state legislation needs to be passed, federal assets need to be made available and more regulations need to be promulgated. I need your help in getting the legislation introduced and passed into law. I am going to ask my federal representatives to co-sponcor The State Defense force Improvement Act “The section would amend section 109 of title 32, United States Code, to make federal assets available to State Guard units which would also make federal assets available. As far as the ability to develop and implement regulations the NJ Naval Militia Foundation and the NJ Naval Militia Joint Command have enough attorneys (private practice, retired judges, government litigators that could generate enough regulations to satisfy the most stringent of mandarin’s.
The NJ Naval Militia Joint Command is the only military organization in NJ with a state mission that I can belong to, it ‘levels the playing field’ for me. I hope I can count on your support to help make sure New Jersey residents get the best protection possible. (other states have also brought in millions of FEDERAL HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT MONIES INTO THEIR RESPECTIVE STATES VIA THEIR STATE GUARDS)
–Paul

I am extremely disappointed in the inaction of my legislator I am hoping that you can help get the legislation written and passed.  If you still have reservations about the viability of my unit I am sure Col. (Ret) Conner (President of the NJ-Chapter USMC Reserve Association) and myself could come up and answer any additional concerns.

Also the unit does not need any funding; it is why we have the Naval Militia Foundation.

During the last legislative session Senator Turner told me that she would co-prime- sponsor the previous bill if the appropriation was removed: I contacted Senator Inverso’s office and he agreed to remove the appropriation. The bill made it out of the Military and Veterans Affairs Committee but was not voted on. I have found that if I need something done right and quickly I usually have to ask a Marine; hence this letter to you.

Semper Vigilance (3rd Battalion Moto)
Semper Fidelis

Paul S. Kale

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