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Above, from the left Sgt. Allen Mincey of Company B, 348th Brigade Support Battalion; Sgt. Maj. Charles Christenbury, the battalion sergeant major; Lt Col. Charles Lewis, battalion commander; and Chief Warrant Officer 4 James Weitman, Company B’s acting commander, show the colors of the 348th’s first element to be stood up. (Photo by Sgt. Marlene Raymond, Company B, 348th BSB)
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Georgia National Guard
Public Affairs Office
Hinesville – Ceremonies at this city’s National Guard armory marked the addition of Company B, 348th Brigade Support Battalion in mid January. The unit is the first to be activated for the 348th, one of the Georgia Army Guard’s newest battalions and soon to be headquartered in Cumming.
Company B was formerly Detachment 1, Company B, of the 148th Brigade Support Battalion. Headquartered in Macon, the 148th is part of Georgia’s 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. Acting commander for the new unit is Chief Warrant Officer 4 James Weitman.
Captain Alexander McLemore remains as commander of the 148th’s Company B. That unit is still home stationed in Jackson.
Although the former detachment’s designation has changed, its mission has not, and that is to repair and get equipment back into Soldier’s hands quick enough to influence the outcome of any given peace-time or war-time mission.
"Every Soldier in our ranks is committed to that end," said Sgt. 1st Class Navey Johnson, Company B’s acting first sergeant. "From the most junior person to the most senior, we’re ready for whatever challenges face us in helping others succeed in their mission."
More than 200 family members, friends and fellow Soldiers attended the ceremony marking Company B’s activation. Hinesville and other area civic leaders, and former unit members spent the day congratulating Company B Soldiers on their new designation and welcoming the unit’s command staff into the community.
"Having those folks welcome us the way they have gives our Soldiers a sense of being ‘family,’ that they’re part of the community from the very beginning," said Sgt. 1st Class Mark Kicklighter. Kicklighter, Company B’s readiness NCO received the Georgia Meritorious Service Medal during the activation ceremony for playing such a decisive role in the unit’s transition from the 148th BSB to its new place within the 348th.
"The honor of being recognized isn’t just mine," he said. "That medal belongs to everyone involved in the process; we all did the job."
Detachment 1, now Company B, 384th BSB, is part of the Georgia Army Guard’s 648th Combat Support Brigade. Designated as a "maneuver enhancement brigade," the 648th is headquartered in Columbus and commanded by Col. Keith Knowlton. The company’s history goes dates back to 1777 when the Georgia Militia was authorized, and the Liberty Independent Troop was formed in Liberty County. This also is the fifth renaming of this maintenance company since 1968.
More elements of the 348th and the 648th will stand up as the Georgia Army Guard’s transformation moves forward. These include the headquarters companies for both units –one in Cumming, the other in Columbus. At some point the 348th also will stand up its distribution unit, Company A, in Dahlonega and in Cumming.
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