First
Friday Briefing for May 2004
Please
ensure widest distribution of this publication
In this issue:
2000 Guardsmen Remain Mobilized;
Families Welcome 4 Units Home
Poppell,
Erwin Award Goes to Two 116th Air Crewmen
Earth Day Carnival Celebrates Environment
Family Readiness Slates Annual Conference
New Commander Comes On-Board At 124th MPAD
Wearable Computers? 116th ACW Tests the Concept
Secretary of the Air Force Visits 116th In the 'A-O'
This Month in Georgia Guard History
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2,000 Guardsmen Remain on Duty; Four units Return
More than 2,000 Georgia
Army and Air National Guardsmen remained mobilized for operations Enduring
Freedom, Iraqi Freedom and Noble Eagle. Units mobilized include
aviation, engineer assets as well as military police and other units. In addition, four units
mobilized and deployed as part of the global war on terrorism have returned. 161st Returns In a low-key return to
families and friends after more that one-year in
Ten months after 277th Comes Home When the Soldiers of
Kennesaw’s 277th Maintenance Company passed through the gate of their
armory in February 2003, families, friends and supporters lined the main
drive waving “Old Glory” and shouting, “We’ll miss
you, and we love you, please come home safe.” A little more than a year
later, the scene was much the same. This time, however, the banners said
“Welcome Home!” the tears being shed by families were happy ones
and the shouts by friends and supporters resounded long and loud with
“Good to have you home, we’re so proud of you!” Full
Story and Pictures on the web 82nd Maintenance
Returns
About a 100 “You are what make this
country great,” said Columbus Mayor Bob Poydasheff himself a Col. Larry Ross thanked not only
the soldiers, but their family members as well. “Without your support these
Guardsmen couldn’t do their jobs so effectively,” he said. During the welcome home ceremony
several soldiers received medals, and all soldiers received the one of the
Army’s newest medals, War on Terrorism medal. |
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Poppell,
Lt Cols Ricky Poppell and Floyd
Harbin officially pinned on the rank of Colonel in April following Senate
confirmation in March. Poppell, a 27-year veteran of the Georgia Air
National Guard is the Executive Support Staff Officer for
Headquarters’, GA ANG.
Three civilian employees
of the Georgia National Guard's Youth Challenge program, one employee of the
Georgia Department of Defense Construction and Facilities Maintenance Office
and two employees working with the 165th Airlift Wing and Combat Readiness
and Training Center at the Savannah Airport captured five top categories of
the State Employee of Year Award presented in Atlanta on April 21, 2004. Pictures
and Full Story on the Web. Two 116th Air Crewmen Win 'Erwin' Award
Two air crewmen of the Robins based 116th Air Control Wing
have earned the prestigious Henry E. “Red” Erwin Outstanding
Enlisted Aircrew Members of the Year Award for the Air National Guard. Master Sgt. Merwick Black Jr., was
selected in the senior non-commissioned officer category, while Tech. Sgt.
William R. Humes IV was chosen in the non-commissioned officer category. They
now go on to compete with other major command award recipients for the Air
Force level award. Black deployed with the 116th and flew combat sorties over
Humes distinguished himself as the NCOIC, JSTARS
specialist flight and instructor airborne mission systems specialist. While
performing his duties, he saved the Air Force more than $500,000 through
attention to detail and critical evaluation of an interactive coursework
contract. Additionally, Humes spearheaded the development of the Wing’s
first Flight Instructor Course. The coursework Humes developed has become the
Wing standard for all first time flight instructors.
The Environmental
Stewardship Branch of the Georgia Army National Guard recognized Earth Day on
April 22 in a carnival atmosphere outside Bldg 21. Educational giveaways on
the environment and materials on the history of Earth Day and the National
Guard’s involvement in the program were distributed. A carnival dunking
machine set up at the environmental carnival gave attendees the opportunity
to dunk Lieutenant Colonels Postell, Berger and 1st Lt. David Hunter in bath
of ice cold water. Environmental officials are now planning to include
local schools in next year’s recognition. Click Here
for More Earth Day Celebration Photos Family Readiness Slates 2nd Annual
Conference The second annual Family
Readiness/Leadership Conference is set for Aug. 13 to 15 at the Renaissance
Concourse Hotel near Again this year, the conference and
workshop is combined to accomplish fiscal saving and to enable key leaders to
gather and discuss leadership issues, and to meet with family readiness
volunteers. The conference will have combined and
separate sessions. Events are planned from A reimbursable registration fee of
$30 is required from military members. Civilian attendees will not be
eligible for reimbursement. Attendees are encouraged to make reservations
directly with the Renaissance Hotel by calling 404-209-9999 or
1-800-391-8724. All reservations must be received by Thursday, July 22. After
the cut off date, reservations will be accepted based on availability at the
government per diem. For more information contact Lt. Col.
Rene Kuhn at 678-569-6454 or Altamese Finch at 678-569-6420. A detailed
agenda for the conference will be published in June. New Commander Takes On 124th MPAD
Georgia Army National guard Capt.
Chris Dockery assumed command of the 124th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment “I look forward to
commanding the 124th,” he told members of the unit. Adding that he was
looking forward to “the unique challenges of a public affairs unit.” Maj. Rob Thelen, the out-going
commander, ended his two-year command with the unit. He is now the operations
and training officer for the 48th Brigade. New Technology 'Hits The Streets':
'Wearable Computers'
The way maintenance is
performed is about to change due to a couple of new tools maintainers
will have at their disposals. Through a pilot program
being conducted at Robins AFB, The new wearable
computers, which were manufactured by Xybernaut, are small PCs that can be
worn either on the chest or hip of the person using the computer. The wearable
computers are being tested as a possible replacement to the Tough Books,
which are currently being used in the 116th. Air Force Secretary Roche Pays Visit to
116th ACW
LTC Robert Buscher, Dr Roche, Maj
Jan "Chewy" Baca and MG Elder view action from inside a JSTARS
aircraft
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