First Friday Briefing for December 2004

Brig. Gen. Stewart Rodeheaver, 48th Brigade commander addresses statewide media during the announcement of the unit's mobilization.

48th Brigade Gets Call To Be
Part of Operation Iraqi Freedom
Nearly 3,500 members of the Georgia Guard’s 48th Infantry Brigade received word in November that they would mobilize in support of the Global War on Terror.
Training begins in earnest next week when nearly a third of the unit’s soldiers are scheduled to go on active duty for initial processing and training on Monday, December 6. Also next week, nearly 50 of the unit’s leaders will head to Kuwait and Iraq for a pre-deployment site visit.
The main body of the units will report shortly after the first of the year to Fort Stewart for three months of intensive training. In April the brigade will head for the National Training Center in California for a final mission rehearsal before deploying to Operation Iraqi Freedom. They are expected to remain in-theater for at least a year.

Read more about
48th Brigade Deployment:
Guard unit gets call to war zone
From Atlanta Journal-Constitution
GIs' battle training to include real Iraqis
From Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Father of Serviceman Killed in Iraq
Is activated
From Rome News-Tribune

SDF Conducts Medical FTX;
Handles Real Emergency
As medical personnel with the Georgia State Defense Force prepared to sharpen their skill at handling mass casualties outside the east Georgia town of Sylvania, its members got the opportunity to put those skills to the test when a vehicle accident occurred taking on real medical emergency. About 50 personnel from the SDF’s Atlanta headquarters, 1st Brigade Medical Team and 3rd Brigade Staff held the three-day training event.
Related Stories:
GSDF Holds Annual Training
SDF Chief of Staff Receives Legion of Merit

277th Maintenance Company
Changes Command
The 277th, which returned from a 14-month deployment in the Middle East in April, changed commanders in a ceremony held at the Kennesaw armory in November. Incoming commander is Capt. Greg Worden. “If you see a turtle on top of fence post, you know it didn’t get there by itself,” said Worden as he addressed 277th soldiers. “I didn’t get here standing in front you, without help from soldiers of the 277th, family, and friends.” Outgoing commander is Capt. Bobby Brookshire, now assigned to the Joint Task Force Headquarters in Ellenwood. The citizen-Soldiers of the 277th, including Worden and Brookshire, conducted force protection missions as well maintenance missions in support of coalition forces and Operation Iraqi Freedom during the company’s deployment to Iraq and Kuwait.
Support Your Local Guardsman
With American Hero Band
With close to 400 Georgia Guardsmen currently overseas and the 48th Infantry Brigade’s mobilization imminent, National Guardsmen and families can show their support by wearing an “American Hero Band” (AHB). The bracelet is available free of charge and Guardsmen can obtain one by logging onto the “Virtual Armory” website (www.VirtualArmory.com).

Moore Takes Command
At Savannah's 165th
Savannah's 165th Airlift Wing underwent a change of command November 6 when Col Thomas R. Moore assumed command of the 3,000-member Georgia Air National Guard.  The change of command occurred at the Headquarters of the 165th at the Savannah International Airport. Moore assumed command from Col. Steven Westgate who was recently appointed Chief of Staff of the Georgia Air Guard. Moore assumes command of the C-130 Georgia Air National Guard unit where more than 150 Georgia Air Guardsmen are currently deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Georgia’s 4th CST Receives
Health and Human Services Award
Georgia’s 4th Civil Support Team-WMD was recently awarded an Outstanding Unit Citation award from the Department of Health and Human Services for extensive efforts in the training of humanitarian assistance workers in the handling of hazardous substances during the War on Terrorism from 2001 through 2003.
Other CST Related Stories:
CST Respond to Simulated Columbine-type event in Calhoun
Eleven More CST Fielded Meeting National Goal

Georgia Guardsman is First Honor Grad
Of Combined Aviation Officer Course
Warrant Officer 1 Gerald A. Key II, a Georgia Guardsman, was named the Distinguished Honor Graduate from the first ever combined Aviation Officer Basic Course which included both Warrant Officers and Commissioned Officers. Course, at Fort Rucker.   The award was based on highest academic average, physical fitness tests and overall performance during the class.  WO1 Key will continue his training at Fort Rucker attending the Aircraft Qualification Course for the UH-60 Blackhawk and is scheduled to complete that course 17 February.  He is assigned to the 171^st Aviation Battalion located at Dobbins Air Force Reserve Base in Marietta.  WO1 Key is the son of Command Chief Warrant Officer Jerry Key, Joint Force Headquarters in Atlanta.

Col. Ed Wexler (center)

Wexler, Newsom Capture Honors
At AFA National Conference
Col Ed Wexler captured the Air Force Association Presidential Citation presented at the AFA's Air and Space Conference held recently in Washington.  Wexler was one of ten recipients of the Presidential Citation that recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to state and local AFA chapters.  Also capturing honors at the annual conference was Capt Will Newson of 165^th Airlift Wing and President of the Savannah AFA chapter who received the AFA Outstanding Medium Size Chapter of the Year Award.

124th MPAD Soldiers
Get Taste of Orient
Members of the Georgia Guard's 124th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment (MPAD) are taking part in a two-phase support of exercises in Japan. Two members of the unit returned in November from two weeks in Japan’s northern Iwate Prefecture where they assisted in coverage of Exercise Orient Shield 05. Staff Sgt. Anthony Florence and Sgt. Roy Henry augmented the Army Reserve’s 304th MPAD based in Seattle, Wash. Nine members of the unit are schedule to return in January for the second phase of support.