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117th Air Control Squadron Deploys
The Georgia Air National Guard’s 117th Air Control Squadron deploys to
Iraq in January as an integral component of AEF 9&10. The deployment marks
the second time the Hunter AAF-based Air Guard unit has deployed to the
region in the past five years.
The deploying air control package includes more than
180 Georgia Air Guardsmen joined by approximately 100 Puerto Rico Air
Guardsman from the 141st Air Control Squadron.
During the six-month deployment, the Guardsman will
have responsibility for complete airspace management of the area, marking
this deployment as the first time that an Air Guard Air Control Squadron
assumes complete control of all air resources in the area – fighter,
tankers and airlift.
More
Dixon
Takes Command of 283rd
Lt. Col. Tom Dixon has been appointed as the
 Commander
of the 283rd Combat Communications Squadron replacing Lt. Col. Bill Day.
Dixon moves into the position of commander following
more than a year as Deputy Commander of Dobbins 283rd. The official change
of command ceremonies are scheduled for January 21, 2006.
According to Maj. Gen. Hammond, "Lt. Col. Dixon is
one of Georgia's foremost experts when it comes to communications
requirements and capabilities on the battlefield. This combined with his
extensive knowledge of the 283rd's various strengths and weaknesses makes
him the hands down choice to lead the unit."
More
124th MPAD Coordinates
Governor’s News Conference from Iraq
When Governor Sonny Perdue visited Georgia Guardsmen in Iraq in November,
one of the first groups of Soldiers he unexpectedly saw was the 124th
Mobile Public Affairs Detachment from Atlanta.
The public affairs unit, which mobilized in
September, coordinated the televised press conference featuring Perdue and
the other Governors he travel with.
The 124th MPAD is assigned to the Coalition
Press Information Center (CPIC) in the International Green Zone in
Baghdad. More
122nd
Rear
Operations
Center
Plays Key Role in Rebuilding
Iraq
The Georgia Army Guard’s 122nd Rear Operations Center, stationed in Mosul,
Iraq, has played a high-profile role in recruiting former Iraqi Army
officers and NCOs. The unit’s Iraqi Security Force (ISF) cell organized a
recruiting seminar in a high security area with over 180 former officers
attend along with local sheiks and mayors. More |
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6-year-old David
Butler helps his grandfather with a two-star epaulet. |
Nesbitt Pins On Second Star
In a packed-to-capacity auditorium filled with friends, family and fellow
Guardsman, Georgia Army National Guard Commander Brigadier General Terry
Nesbitt pinned on the second star of a Major General at promotion
ceremonies held at the Finch Auditorium at Dobbins on December 16.
This is the first time in Georgia National
Guard history that the TAG and the two senior command positions in the
Georgia Army and Air National Guard were occupied by Major Generals.
More
In November, the Georgia Chamber of
Commerce announced a major fund raising campaign with an overall goal to
raise $1 million to benefit National Guardsmen and other service members,
and families.
More
Exciting New G-RAP Program Will Pay
Soldiers to be ‘Recruiting Assistants’
In a few weeks, Wesley Buford of Jackson will attend his first drill with
the Georgia Army National Guard, thanks to a unique recruiter: Pvt.
Matthew Eubanks. Buford is the first enlistee under a new program in
Georgia titled the Guard Recruiting Assistance Program, or G-RAP. And for
his efforts in identifying and helping recruit him, Pvt. Eubanks could
eventually earn $2,000.
More
Garrett (right) Being Interviewed
during
an SDF exercise
Grarrett Succeeds
Bardoul
As SDF Command Sgt. Major
Change is clearly the 2006
byword for Georgia's State Defense Force. Not only is there a new
commander, but its top NCO is stepping aside after 8-years to take on a
new mission, and a new Command Sergeant Major is on the job.
Replacing the venerable Peter Bardoul as Command Sgt.
Major is Randy Garrett, a former Georgia Army Guardsman, who before
retiring from the Guard and joining the SDF, was the top NCO for the
265th Engineer Group.
Bardoul will now become Command Sergeant Major for
the Ready Reserve and will also "spearhead the formation of a Field Band
along with a Drum-Bugle and Bagpipe Band, and help the Recruiting
Branch," he noted.
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Deployment Update |
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(Photo courtesy Atlanta Journal
Constitution)
'Baby Noor' Story Paints
Compassionate Story of War in Iraq
Amidst the many headlines of war has come a
story that has touched the hearts of many as a three month old Iraqi
infant has been rescued from certain death by the concern and
compassion of Georgia Guardsmen serving in war-torn Iraq.
Known as “Baby Noor”, the Iraqi child was
discovered by members of Charlie Company, 121st
Infantry during a raid near Abu Ghraib in search for insurgents. The
child was born with spina bifia, a debilitating condition that if not
treated would have certainly have killed the child within weeks. Baby
Noor has survived the odds by living for almost three months.
More
Other stories about the
48th Brigade
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A look at
what happened this month in Georgia National Guard history
A Glimpse During War At Three Georgia National
Guard Organizations In Federal Service:
1918- The 151st
Machine Gun Battalion, Georgia National Guard, federalized for WWI and
assigned to the 42nd Division, was assembled at Villers sur Suize
(Haute Marne), France. They spent the month there for training
purposes before going forward to the front lines and received
equipment such as Hotchkiss machine guns, helmets and gas masks.
1943- The 128th Observation Squadron, the Georgia
National Guard’s first air squadron, federalized for WWII, was
stationed at the Army Air Training Depot at New Orleans. There they
conducted anti-submarine missions in the hunt for Germany’s deadly U
boats and trained in low altitude bombing and aerial gunnery. The
squadron would soon change designations to the 21st Antisubmarine
Squadron.
1991- The 265th Engineer Group, Georgia National
Guard, federalized for Desert Shield/Storm, was at King Khalid
Military City, Saudi Arabia. On January 16th (the war began on the
17th), the unit closed its compound, instituting more stringent security
and members began to take Nerve Agent Antidote pills.
During the evening the area was blacked-out and all
were required to sleep in their chemical clothing.
Complied by Mrs. Gail
Parnelle, GaARNG Historical Section |
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