First Friday Briefing for November  2006

Georgia Guard to Acquire
Naval Air Station Property
The Georgia National Guard will take possession of the Naval Air Station (NAS) Atlanta property following the facility’s closure as a result of the Base Realignment and Closure Committee (BRAC) decision. Governor Sonny Perdue, Senator Saxby Chambliss, Senator Johnny Isakson, Congressman Phil Gingrey and Congressman Tom Price made the announcement in October. The 107-acre property is adjacent to Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Cobb County. “This development comes at an excellent time for the Georgia National Guard, when we are asking our citizen soldiers to perform at a higher level than ever before in Georgia history,” said Governor Perdue. Full Story

165th ASOS Evaluated “Excellent”
By  9th Air Force
Brunswick’s 165th Air Support Operations Squadron (ASOS) of the Georgia Air National Guard has once again proven that it’s at the top of its game as one of the best ASOS units in the Air Force. A 9th Air Force inspection team scored the overall unit as “Excellent” in a Standardization and Evaluation Inspection conducted in September. Results were announced in late October. The ASOS deployed to Grayling Range in Michigan for the five-day inspection. Utilizing state-of-the-art radios and targeting equipment, the unit planned, controlled and executed numerous Close Air Support (CAS) missions under the critical view of AF inspectors. Full Story

Statesboro Armory Dedicated
To BG Terrell Reddick
The Georgia Department of Defense dedicated the National Guard armory in Statesboro to the memory of Brig. Gen. Terrell T. Reddick during a ceremony attended by the late general’s family and friends, and many of the state’s top officials. “The kind of inspirational leadership that he brought to the Guard helped everyone see the good that was in them, and how to be the best they could be,” remarked Lt. Gen. David Poythress, Georgia’s Adjutant General. “General Reddick represented everything that we as members of the Georgia Guard would like to be.” Reddick, who passed away in September 2005, served in the Georgia Army Guard for more than 37 years. Full Story

Counterdrug Teaches
Woodland Operations
Members of the Georgia National Guard’s Counterdrug Task Force have been passing on their know-how in recent months to civilian law enforcement officers in a one-week Woodland Operations Course. Many of the law enforcement officers who took part are members of the Georgia Counter-Terrorism Task Force (CTTF) and although well versed in traditional law enforcement tactics, these officers are trained through the Woodland Operations Course to conduct operational planning, camouflage, “fieldcraft,” reconnaissance and surveillance.  Full Story

Georgia Guardsmen
Attend Black Sea Conference
Two Georgia Army Guardsmen recently were among a group of delegates who met in the Republic of Georgia to help the Georgians developed the scenario, timeline and plans for an upcoming training exercise in the former Soviet Bloc nation. Major Matthew Saxton and Command Sgt. Maj. Lance Rygmyr attended the Black Sea Initiative (BSI) along with 75 officials from six of the nations surrounding the Black Sea and nearly two-dozen Georgian governmental officials. Full Story
 

Attachés from Around the World
Visit Georgia Guard
More than 30 military officers from around the world visited the Georgia National Guard this week as part of a familiarization visit to the Southeast. The officers are part of the military attaché corps based in Washington, D.C. The visitors received briefings on the organization and missions of the Georgia Guard as well as the state's homeland security plans. They also heard a special overview of the 48th Brigade's Iraqi deployment from  Cpt. Tony Poole. Pictured above, Lt. Gen. David B. Poythress (right), Georgia’s Adjutant General, discusses the makeup and mission of the Georgia Guard with military attachés Lt. Col. Peter Knanik of the Slovak Republic (left) and Maj. Gyozo Palicz of Hungary.

Dudney Takes Command
Of 48th Infantry Brigade
Georgia’s 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team welcomed Col. (Promotable) Lawrence Dudney as its new commander while recognizing the accomplishments of its outgoing commander Brig. Gen. Stewart Rodeheaver during a change of command ceremony at the Regional Training Institute in October. Rodeheaver, who led the 48th during its recent yearlong deployment to Iraq, is leaving the brigade to become deputy commander 1st U.S. Army at Fort Gillem. "This is a very humbling experience for me,” said Dudney, who’s been serving as brigade deputy commander since 2003. “It’s been a privilege and an honor to serve this brigade. In order to be a leader you have to serve. You have to serve the Soldiers, and I will continue to do that which I know best.” Full Story

116th Security Forces Honored
Seventeen 116th Air Control Wing Security Forces members were honored in October at a ceremony at Robins Air Force Base. The members were recognized for their continued and outstanding support to the Department of Defense and the State of Georgia. “The purpose of today’s ceremony is to recognize and welcome home those members of the 116th SFS, who deployed to Iraq for eight months in support of operation Iraqi Freedom,” said Senior Master Sgt. William Cutshaw, 116th Security Forces First Sergeant. “We will also recognize Governor Sonny Perdue and the State of Georgia for the encouragement our unit and its members received from them during this deployment.” Full Story

Dobbins Chapel Celebrates
56 Years of History
For 56 years the old wooden chapel has been a landmark at the entrance to Dobbins Air Reserve Base. Located only a few hundred yards from the base’s active tarmac, the chapel has provided servicemen of every military branch -- active, Guard and Reserve -- with quiet solitude and a place of spiritual reflection. On Sunday, Oct 22, a small gathering of former 116th Air Guardsmen, current Guardsmen of Headquarters GA Air National Guard, and friends gathered at the historic chapel for a service to commemorate over half century of service to the men and women who have worked and served at Dobbins. Full Story

VIPs View ‘Day in the Life'
Of YCA Cadets
More than 80 civic leaders from metro Atlanta and the north Georgia learned about the Georgia Guard's Youth Challenge Academy during a visit to the YCA's Fort Stewart campus in October. The visit, one of two trips conducted each year by Georgia National Guard officials, is designed to acquaint business leaders, high school officials, juvenile counselors, law enforcement officers, corrections officers, judges and attorneys and appointed and elected government officials with a “day in the life” of more than 150 cadets of the 13-year old National Guard-sponsored youth program. Full Story

For more, read the observations of one of the guests on the YCA trip. Benita M. Dodd is vice president of the Georgia Public Policy Foundation and her commentary can be found at www.gppf.org.

Recruiting Bonuses
Now Available For Retirees
Georgia Army Guard retirees looking for a way to continue serving the Guard, and have a hand keeping the force strong while supplementing their monthly check, now have the opportunity to do that. The National Guard Recruiting Assistance Program (G-RAP), announced recently that eligible retirees may become recruiting assistants for the Army Guard. Once hired and trained, G-RAP recruiting assistants may receive free recruiting incentive items and up to $2,000 for each Soldier they help enlist. Some participants also may receive additional incentives, such as health care insurance coverage. Full Story

Historical Society Conference
To Feature Deployment Panel
The annual conference of the Historical Society of the Georgia National Guard presents “The Georgia Guard Goes to War --- A Discussion on Georgia National Guardsmen Deployed for Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.” The Conference, scheduled for November 4, 2006, will take place at the Macon Conference Center, adjacent to the Holiday Hotel at 3590 Riverside Drive and I-75 in Macon. Cost of the conference is $20. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. with the program beginning at 9 am. and concluding at noon followed by a catered lunch. Panelists will represent the 48th Brigade Combat Team, 265th Engineer Group, 116th Air Control Wing, the 202nd Electronics Installation Squadron, the Chaplain’s Office, Family Readiness and Joint Force Headquarters. Panelists will explore their experiences on deployment issues from mobilization to homecoming.  Emmy winning “Fox 5” investigative reporter Dale Russell will moderate the discussion.  For more information contact: John Hardwick or B. I. Diamond.