VRIC Celebrates Veterans With RazorVets Scholarship Banquet

The fifth annual RazorVets Scholarship Banquet will take place this Veterans Day, at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11, in the Fayetteville Town Center at 15 W. Mountain Street.

The RazorVets Banquet is a time for students, staff, faculty, alumni and community members who have served to celebrate their shared sacrifices. The banquet recognizes student and local veterans and partners of the University of Arkansas Veterans Resource and Information Center, VRIC, creating awareness of the scholarship and mentoring needs of student veterans on campus.

In 2015, there were approximately 1,502 student veterans on campus. The Veterans Resource and Information Center supports student veterans with the admissions process, applying for educational benefits and scholarships, as well as maintaining a large referral network within the community to organizations specializing in veteran services.

The event will feature a three-course meal. Business formal or military dress uniform is encouraged.

For ticket and sponsorship information for this event, please contact Carolyn Collins at cdc008@uark.edu or call (479) 575-5007.

Adjutant General of the Arkansas National Guard, Major Gen. Mark H. Berry, will speak about his many years in service to the United States Air Force and National Guard.

Berry was appointed the adjutant general of the Arkansas National Guard on Jan. 13, 2015, by Gov. Asa Hutchinson. He is a member of the Governor's Cabinet and is responsible for commanding the Arkansas Air and Army National Guard, with nearly 10,000 airmen, soldiers and state employees.

As adjutant general, he is responsible for the day-to-day operation and management of the readiness, fiscal, personnel, equipment, and real property resources of the Military Department, and ensures the training readiness of all personnel to accomplish both state and federal missions.

Berry enlisted in the Air Force in August 1974 and completed Basic Military Training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. He subsequently began technical training as an Air Traffic Controller at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi. In April 1985, Berry attended Officer Training School at Medina Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, with follow-on training as an Air Traffic Control Officer.

He separated from active duty in September 1992 and joined the Arkansas Air National Guard as a Public Affairs Officer. While assigned to the 188th Fighter Wing, he served as communications flight commander, mission support group commander and maintenance group commander.

In May 2012, Berry was assigned as the chief of staff, Arkansas National Guard, Arkansas Joint Force Headquarters. He recently served at the Pentagon as an assistant to the director, Air National Guard. Berry also served on the Executive Board and President of the National Guard Association of Arkansas.

With more than 22 years' active duty and 20 years with the Air National Guard, Berry served in four combat deployments in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and New Dawn. He served in more than 10 foreign countries including Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Djibouti, Qatar, Kenya, Ethiopia, Kyrgyzstan and Korea. His military decorations include receiving the Legion of Merit, five Meritorious Service Medals, the Joint Services Commendation Medal, seven Air Force Commendation Medals and numerous other military awards and decorations.

Berry and his wife, Theresa, live in Ozark, and they have two sons.