Savannah's 117th Air Control Party Squadron has recently been named as the recipient of the 1999 Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for activities between September 1995 and September 1997. The unit under the command of Lt Col Kerry Downing was sited for its design and planning of the EXERCISE BREEZING PALMENTO II, a unique air defense exercise which tested the joint capabilities of the Army and Air National Guard in working together in the area of air defense. During Operation CENTENNIAL GUARD, 117th Air Guardsmen were recognized for providing communications capability and security for the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta. The combat readiness of the 117th was fully tested during COMBAT CHALLENGE '96, an event at which the unit won the Air Control event trophy. Members of the Savannah Air Guard squadron deployed essential equipment in support of the projected landfall of Hurricane Fran. Within one week of this deployment, the unit became a lead participant in JOINT SYSTEM TRAINING EXERCISE 96-3, a joint service test of wartime capabilities.
Two Georgia Army National Guardsmen from the 78th Troop Command and 48th Infantry Brigade have garnered Georgia's highest honor as Soldier and NCO of the Year. SPC Mary Hartmann, of the 221st Military Intelligence Battalion, was selected as Solider of the Year and Sgt Joel L. Pifer, 118th Field Artillery, was named .NCO of the Year in Georgia.
Seven of the state’s top Army National Guard members competed for the distinctive honors which highlighted leadership, job knowledge, and military bearing and appearance. In addition to the two honorees, those competing included:
SSG Michael Holloway 78th Troop Command
SPC Christian Kirby 48th Infantry Brigade
SSG Lynn A. Goodrich 1st Aviation Prov Group
SPC Andrew Banister 1st Aviation Prov Group
SGT William Clemons WMD 4th CDS
"All seven are top-notch soldiers and I consider them all as winners," said Command Sergeant Major John Lane, who served on the board of senior NCOs and officers making the selections. He added that when the results of the board were compiled, only one point different separated the recipients for the Solider and the NCO of the Year.
Within a week, members of the Georgia General Assembly, their families and legislative staffs will be given a look at the Georgia National Guard that few have seen.
High tech warfighting equipment from all over Georgia will be together at Dobbins Air Reserve Base for the first National Guard Day Open House for General Assembly Members scheduled for Wednesday, February 9. From the B-1B supersonic bomber and C-130 Hercules, to the M1A1 main battle tank, the M2 Bradley and the Paladin armored artillery piece, and a variety of other equipment, a cross section of some of the National Guard's equipment will be on display at this exciting, first-ever event.
Legislators will
have the opportunity to board chartered buses traveling every
20-minutes from the State Capitol to DARB from noon through 6:00.
Once at Dobbins, the lawmakers will have the opportunity to explore
the equipment on display and view the many exhibits including
the Counterdrug Task Force, the Mass Destruction Civil Support
Team, and Youth Challenge Academy
For information, call the Directorate of Communications at (404)
624-6060, or the Project Officer, MAJ John Wakefield, of the Directorate
of Joint Operations at (770) 919-4056.
1/78th Troop Command, 648th Engineers
The First Battalion, 78th Troop Command will get a new commander when LTC Greg Edwards takes command of the Kennesaw-based unit this weekend. He replaces LTC Bruce Wood who will transfer to State Headquarters. LTC Edwards has more than 24 years of service including nearly 20 with the Georgia Army National Guard. He served four years on active duty as a Military Police officer. His Georgia Guard service has included assignments with the 178th MP Company, 190th MP Company, 170th MP Battalion, 122nd RAOC, Troop Command Headquarters and State Headquarters. He is a full-time technician currently assigned as Deputy Director of Training at for the Georgia Army National Guard. LTC Edwards and his family reside in Jonesboro.
An other Army National Guard Battalion recently had a change of command. Major William Hardy took the reins of leadership of the 648th Engineer Battalion. He became the Statesboro-based unit’s third commander, taking over from LTC Bruce Beck, who took command of the 265th Engineer Group. MAJ Hardy was commissioned through the OCS program at Georgia Military Institute following active duty with the U.S. Air Force. He has served numerous assignments with the 560th and 648th Engineer Battalions and most recently was the unit’s executive officer. A native of Perry, MAJ Hardy is employed at Robins Airforce Base where he is a project officer for the F-16 fighter program. He is also a small business owner and farmer in Warner Robins where he lives with his family.
Joint Annual Commanders Conference
Scheduled for 18-20 February
Final touches are being put on the Joint Annual Commanders’ Conference scheduled for 18-20 February at the Sea Palms Hotel and Conference Center on St. Simons Island. An exciting and full-program is planned, including the following guest speakers:
Major General Roger Schultz, director of the Army National Guard, who will present the NGB perspective.James Belasco, PhD., noted speaker and author of eight books including the acclaimed Teaching the Elephant to Dance and his newest Soaring with the Phoenix.
Chris Small, legislative director for the National Guard Association of the United States.
The Adjutant General’s address will kick-off the conference at 1300 on Friday. Participants will also have an opportunity to hear updates on the state legislation affecting the Department of Defense; the 48th Brigade’s deployment to Bosnia; the Georgia Air Guard’s role in the AEF; and more.
Attendance at the annual conference is by invitation and will include all commanders (battalion/GSU and higher) administrative officers (battalion and higher), primary staff officers at the Army, Air and SDF state headquarters, Georgia DOD directors, and other senior leaders. All Sergeants Major (Army and SDF) and Chief Master Sergeants (Air) are also invited and will attend a joint E-9 conference in conjunction with the JACC.
As of publication of this newsletter, all of the blocked-rooms at the Sea Palms have been filled. If you’ve not yet made reservations, contact the nearby Days Inn, which is honoring our $50 per diem rate, at (912) 634-0660. For information, contact 2LT Thomas Meeks at (404) 624-6066.
New Name for Weapons of Mass Destruction Unit,
Seventeen More Teams to be Added Nationwide
The Georgia Guard’s weapons of mass destruction unit is getting a new name. The Dobbins-based unit, formerly known as a Rapid Assessment and Detection team, have been renamed as the WMD 4th Civil Support Team.
In addition, Georgia’s team, one of only ten originally established by the DOD, is being joined by seventeen additional WMD units located across the nation. This brings the total to 27 teams specifically designed to respond to incidents involving chemical, biological or nuclear threats in the United States.
The new teams will be based in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Virginia. They are scheduled to become operational in 2001. Ultimately, the DOD plans to locate Mass Destruction Civil Support Team in very state.
The first 10 designated teams including Georgia’s were established in 1998. Other states with WMD units include Colorado, Illinois, California, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington.
First Friday Briefing is published monthly for the soldiers, airmen and employees of the Georgia Department of Defense, Georgia Army National Guard, Georgia Air National Guard and Georgia State Defense Force. If you’d like to be added to our subscription list and have the First Friday Briefing faxed or emailed, or you have comments or story submission, call the Directorate of Communications at (404) 624-6060 or DSN 338-6060. Or email burchfieldlee@dod.state.ga.us.
| Back | Home | GaDOD Home |