Ross pins on second star,
moves to new Defense Support office
Brigadier Gen. Larry H. Ross not only moved out of his job as commander, 78th Troop Command recently, but he’s moved up in rank becoming Georgia's newest major general.  Ross turned over Troop Command to Brig. Gen. Larry E. Dudney Jr., and now serves with the Guard’s Defense Support of Civil Authorities office.  Full Story

Fallen Georgia Guardsmen honored with Forsyth unit memorial
Members of the Georgia Army National Guard’s 148th Brigade Support Battalion honored three of its fallen soldiers in December with the dedication of a commemorative statue and plaque. Soldiers, former unit members and community leaders gathered at the Forsyth Armory to unveil and dedicate the statue depicting the boots, rifle and helmet of the fallen Guardsmen. Full Story

ORE at Combat Readiness Training Center prepares 116th Airmen
The war at the CRTC in Savannah began around 4 a.m. last month. Of course, it wasn't a real war. It was a simulated ORE (operational readiness exercise) - marking the first of many that members of the Georgia Air Guard's 116th Air Control Wing will participate in before facing an operational readiness inspection in December 2010. The purpose of the exercise was to refresh memories of how an ORI is performed as various attacks were executed to all areas of the wing, from the maintenance shop to finance, and even to a JSTARS crew while in-flight..   Full Story

Georgia Army, Air Guard
exceed recruiting goals
The end of 2007 was another record setting year for Georgia Army and Air Guard recruiters. "We are at 147 percent of our goal," said Lt. Col. Thomas Carden, commander of the Army Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion as the November results were announced. Army Guard recruiters in Georgia have continuously recruited above and beyond the number of Soldiers set as a goal by the National Guard Bureau. Full Story

116th ACW passes 33,000 combat hours
Hitting historical landmarks is an ongoing occurrence for the Georgia Air Guard's 116th Air Control Wing. A year after hitting the 20,000-combat-hour milestone, the Joint STARS mission has reached 33,000 -- the most flown by any platform supporting Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.  At any given time since 2003, more than 200 116th members are continuously deployed in support of OIF and OEF, and over 2,975 combat sorties have been flown.  Full Story

Ceremony marks change in leadership at 78th Troop Command        
Brigadier Gen. Larry E. Dudney Jr. assumed command of Decatur’s 78th Troop Command of the Georgia Army National Guard at change of command ceremonies held at the Decatur National Guard armory in early January. "I am genuinely humbled to be standing here today," Dudney said in his address to Soldiers, families and friends attending the ceremony. "It is truly an honor to be your commander, and I look forward to the days ahead as we begin our service together." Full Story

Airman is winner of NGB's
Red Erwin Award
A combat training squadron communications specialist technician instructor from the 116th Air Control Wing was recently selected as the National Guard Bureau’s Red Erwin Outstanding Enlisted Aircrew Member of the year for 2006. Technical Sgt. James Yancey, of  the 330th Combat Training Squadron, has won the prestigious award that recognizes career enlisted aviators for outstanding job accomplishments, demonstration of leadership and sustained self-improvements in support of the enlisted aircrew operations career field. Full Story

Youth Challenge Ft. Stewart campus
Holds graduation for 150
More than 150 former “at risk” teens from across the state walked across the arena floor and onto the stage where they happily received diplomas for making it through six-months of intense life-skill and military-style training to better themselves as up and coming Georgia citizens. “Congratulations on being here today and for what you have achieved,” said Col. Frank Williams, who oversees the YCA at Fort Stewart and Fort Gordon. You are no longer children, but drug-free, alcohol free young adults." Full story

Army Guard's LRS company
changes commanders
Captain William Parker assumed command in early January of Company H, Long Range Surveillance, from Maj. Kenneth Hutnik. The LRS Company, which recently returned from Iraq, gained more than just a new commander, but also a new first sergeant as 1st Sgt. Matthew Marks handed the guidon over to 1st Sgt. John Gunning. Full Story

Sandi Lightman retires after
22 years with state
Family, friends and coworkers gathered to congratulate Sandi Lightman for her 22 years service with the National Guard and Georgia Department of Defense in early December. The mid-day ceremony was held at the Oglethorpe Armory in Ellenwood. She was presented The Oglethorpe Distinguished Service Medal by Brig. Gen. Maria Britt. Ms. Lightman served as an administrative assistant for the Commanding General's office and the office of the Adjutant General.