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Nearly 3,000 Georgia
Guardsmen remain mobilized Georgia
Guardsmen are beginning to return home after deployments in
support of the War on Terrorism. Many still remain
deployed. Nearly 3,000 Georgia Army and Air
Guardsmen remain mobilized with more than half of them
deployed to the Persian Gulf.
List
of Mobilized
Georgia Guard Units
 Some
110 members of Company H, 121st Infantry (Airborne) Long Range
Surveillance unit, Georgia Army National
Guard were greeted by shouts and tears from waiting families as
they officially returned home September 24, 2003 following a
seven month deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The Fort Gillem, Ga., -based unit
was mobilized in early February 2003 and in early May moved from
Kuwait into Iraq. By June 2003, the entire company was located
in Baghdad supporting the Joint Captured Material Exploitation
Center (JCMEC) mission.
Company H conducted more than 350
tactical missions into all parts of the country of Iraq engaging
the enemy on numerous occasions. By the end of Company H's
mission in Iraq, it had supported over 15 different military and
civilian agencies from every branch of the US Armed forces and
the British and Australian Army and Air Forces.
Full
Story on the Web
224th
JCCS demobilizes
Longest
Serving Air Guard Unit Completes its Mission
In the two-year war on terror, no Georgia
National Guard unit has been on the front lines longer than
Brunswick's 224th Joint Communications Support Squadron. That
mission came to an end earlier this month when the 235-member
unit was demobilized and removed from active-duty status.
The 224th JCSS was called to duty in the
aftermath of the Sept, 11, 2001, terrorists attack . It has
remained on active duty for more than two years. The unit’s
demobilization ends one of the longest mobilizations of any
National Guard unit in America's armed forces since September
2001. Full Story
Army
Guard reaches recruiting goals
The Georgia Army National Guard announced this
week that it met recruiting and retention goals for FY 2003 with
room to spare. Georgia finished the year with an end strength of
8,925 soldiers, which is 225 more than the goal set by the
National Guard Bureau.
"This
is great news" said Brig. Gen Terry Nesbitt, commander of
the Georgia Army National Guard when announcing the successes.
"Congratulations to everyone. This is proof positive that
our personnel readiness policies are working."
Nationally there is good
news as well. The Army and Air National Guard met their
end strength goals for fiscal year (FY) 2003. Full
Story
Army Guard's 201st S&S Battalion
Stands-up in Newnan
Newnan’s 201st Supply & Service Battalion, the Georgia Army National Guard’s newest unit stood up earlier this month and took its place on the Guard’s unit roster.
Commanding the 201st is Lt. Col. Kelvin Newsome. It’s command sergeant major is Command Sgt. Maj. Ralph
Allen.
The 201st is a quartermaster unit, which provides services such as laundry and bath facilities to soldiers in the field and support services such as petroleum, oil and lubricants, transportation and vehicle maintenance to units operating in the field.
Full Story
Airman
honored for heroism
Georgia Air National Guard Tech. Sgt. Thomas Futch of Savannah’s 165th Maintenance Squadron received the National Guard Association Valley Forge Cross for Heroism in September for risking his life to save another.
Georgia’s Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. David B. Poythress, and Marshall
Kennemer, executive director of the National Guard Association of Georgia presented Futch with the medal during a special ceremony at the capitol building in
Atlanta. Full
Story
116th
Comm Flight earns two top ANG awards
Members of the 116th
Communications Flight had a challenging year, but their
efforts were rewarded at the National Guard Association of the
United States conference in Biloxi, Miss., Sept 17 for their
outstanding achievements during 2002. The
flight was awarded the 2003 Air National Guard Outstanding
Communications Unit Award, a functional area award given to
the best communications flight in the Air National Guard. Full
Story
More
than 500 attend 'Hotwash' to help
48th eSIB, Task Force Oglethorpe prepare for NTC
More than 500 Army
Guardsmen from across the country came to Atlanta in September
to hear lessons learned from North Carolina's 30th Infantry
Brigade and their recent experience at the National Training
Center (NTC). The event was hosted by the Georgia Guard in an
effort to learn as much as possible about the NTC rotation in
preparation for the 48th Brigade's training in the California
desert in 2005. Full Story
Georgia
legislators receive awards
From National Guard Association
 Senator
Jack Hill of Reidsville, Representative Ken Birdsong of Gray and
Representative Ann Purcell of Rincon have received three top
honors given annually by the National Guard Association of the
United States (NGAUS).
Senator Jack Hill, Chairman of the
Senate Appropriations Committee was selected to receive the NGAUS
Meritorious Service Award recognizing his significant
contributions to the National Guard over many years as a member of
the armed forces. Senator Hill spent more than thirty-three years
as a member of the Georgia Air National Guard and is currently
assigned as an Area Office Coordinator for the Selective Service
System. Full
Story on the Web
Macon’s 202nd EIS
gets first female commander
Georgia Air National Guard Lt. Col. Deborah J. Nazimiec made Guard history this past month by being appointed the first female commander of Macon’s 202d Engineering Installation Squadron. This new assignment marks her return to the unit where she was the first female to be commissioned by the 202nd in 1989.
Nazimiec succeeds Lt. Col. William Day, who has been appointed commander of the 283rd Combat Communications Squadron stationed at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta.
Full
Story
YCA mark
anniversary as students reunite
 The
Georgia Army National Guard's Youth Challenge Academy campus
played host Saturday, Sept. 6, 2003, to more than 400 former YCA
cadets and their families as the program held its first annual
reunion and celebrated its 10th anniversary.
Throughout the day graduates of classes 1 to 20
renewed friendships with former classmates and with their former
instructors, reminisced about their time at the campus and
shared stories about how they came to take part in Youth
Challenge.
Since YCA began and the Fort Stewart campus opened its
doors to Georgia's at-risk youth in 1993, the program has
graduated an estimated 3,566 students, said Col. Frank
Williams, YCA's director.
Full
Story on the Web
Those
who fight War on Drugs get protection;
Technology provides officers safety
The Georgia National Guard’s Counter Drug Task Force has been involved in a program since September 2001 that increases the safety factor for its members.
In 1995, the Office of National Drug Control Policy
(ONDCP) declared the Atlanta area a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Site
(HIDTAS). This declaration was based upon the amount of drug-related activities or crimes reported in metropolitan Atlanta. It also made the city eligible for federal grants to help local agencies fight the battle against illegal drugs.
Full Story.
SDF
plays major role in security exercise
Georgia’s Emergency Response Exercise 2003 in late September turned what had been a quiet afternoon in middle Georgia into a simulated nightmare of smoke, fire and chaos.
As the scenario played out, a reported “suicide bomber” blew himself up near an area college. A short time later a plane carrying about 85 passengers was hijacked from Hartsfield International Airport and used the smoke to find the college and crash on campus. It’s path into the ground put it close to a government laboratory where Biological Level 4 materials were being handled such a ebola and hemorrhagic fever.
It would be up to area emergency responders, area Guard and Reserve units and about 84 members of the Georgia State Defense Force to take the appropriate action and deal with the situation.
Full Story
CST
clears stadium before first game of baseball series
 The idea of a terrorist releasing a biological, radiological or chemical agent in the confines of a crowded sports stadium is frightening. And yet it’s all too realistic for the members of Georgia’s 4th Civil Support Team. The team’s 22 specialists are trained to deploy quickly, analyze the threat accurately and take immediate action to safeguard lives and property.
The CST’s capabilities was once again tested as team members were called to clear Atlanta’s Ted Turner Stadium before game one of the National League Division Championship Series. Hours before the first pitch, CST team members were positioned for a search of the 50,000-seat structure.
Full Story
781st
Troop Command celebrates
Family Day and Open House
 Spc. Charles Lollar, a member of the 190th Military Police Co., places a strong, yet gentle hand on the head of his son, George. As he stares down at him, his eyes speak freely of what his heart feels. “My son is my hero. Everything we do is for family.”
His son, age 10, reciprocates that loving sentiment adding, “My dad is the man! He let me ride with him in the (Atlanta annual) July 4th parade on his Humvee.” The elder Lollar proudly grins and chuckles, with a quick correction, “its not my Humvee, but I couldn’t imagine being there without him by my side.” Then they went on their way as they lost themselves in the excitement of the day. After all that is what the 781st Troop Command Family Day and Open House is all about.
Full Story
More
photos on the Web
ESGR
supporters, state employees recognized
 Several
members of the Georiga Department of Defense were received awards
in September for their dedication and commitment to DoD and the
Georgia National Guard. Georgia’s Adjutant General, Maj. Gen.
David B. Poythress, presented the awards during a ceremony at
Building No. 21 at the state DoD complex on Confederate Avenue.
Receiving Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve were
Altamese Finch, administrative assistant for workforce
development; 2nd Lt. William Phillips, ESGR program manager and
retired ESGR employee Margaret Herring. Receiving the Patriotic
Employer Award was Senior Master Sgt. William Pinkney, state equal
employment manager. Phillips and Pinkney also received
Commendation Certificates. Full Story
Guard
recognizes Hispanic contributions
The Georgia Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Division, along with the Atlanta chapter of the Latin American Association (LAA), hosted an event in late September at the city’s Plaza Fiesta Mall to celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month and the contributions made by Hispanics to the National Guard.
This event was held in conjunction with National Guard Awareness Day to bring about a better understanding among the general public of the Guard and the benefits of being a citizen-soldier. Full Story
The USO and
the
National Museum of Patriotism
Offer
"Project Video Connect"
The USO and The
National Museum of Patriotism, Inc. has joined forces with AOL
for Broadband to support "Project Video Connect: We’re
Here Until They’re Home" in the Atlanta Metro area.
Project Video Connect gives military families, troops and
supporters the opportunity to communicate
"face-to-face" by creating personal video messages
that can be sent free of charge. Full Story
Historical
Society to hold October conference
Three distinguished members of the "Greatest
Generation" will address their experiences during World War
II in Europe and the Pacific, Saturday October 25, in Forsyth,
Ga., as the Historical Society of the Georgia National Guard
examines World War II and the Georgia Guard. Featured speakers
include BG (retired) James "Dutch" McLendon, Mr. John
W. Meeler and Charles G. Shepherd, Jr.
Full
Story
Soldiers
get answers at new Support Center
Georgia Army National Guardsmen having trouble with items such as pay, the Enlisted Promotion System, personnel records and benefits have, yet, another place to go for help. The Army National Guard’s Soldier Support Center has people regularly available to help citizen-soldiers get their questions answered and navigate successfully through the problems that arise. All it takes is a telephone call to get the process started.
First
Friday Photo Gallery
Click
on thumbnail for full-size photo |
Spc. Michael
Pope, holds his son, Trevor, while he plays peek-a-boo. Pope
is a mechanic with Headquarters Company, 48th Brigade, which
celebrated National Guard Appreciation Day with their families
and friends. Guard members wearing Army gray physical training
shirts and black running shorts filled Central City Park in
Macon. This was the third soldier appreciation activity
directed from Brig. Gen. Robley Rigdon, 48th Infantry Brigade
commander. "This is a way to help boost the morale of the
soldiers and at the same time increase recruiting and
retention for the unit", said Sgt. Jody Reel, the
Headquarters’ Company recruiting and retention sergeant.
Soldiers were allowed to invite anyone interested in joining
the Guard to the celebration. |
Georgia Air
National Guard commander, Maj Gen Wick Searcy, congratulates
Alan Davis of Blackshear, who was the Grand Prize winner of the
2003 Centennial Edition Harley Davison motorcycle at the first
Georgia National Guard's Troop Ride fundraiser for the Georgia
National Guard Association. The fundraising event organized by
Mr. Jimmy Ford of the South Georgia Western Star Truck Company
and retired Master Sgt. Harry Glick formerly of the 165th Air
Wing who collected more than $5,870.00 for the Georgia National
Guard Foundation. Approximately 80 riders from Douglas and Alma,
GA participated in The Troop Ride rally that occurred on
September 6th 2003. More than 950 participated with a donation
for the fundraiser. |
Sgt Jody Reel, the
recruiting and retention sergeant for Headquarters Company,
48th Brigade watches her daughters during the unit’s
National Guard Appreciation Day in Macon's Central City
Park. |
A group of soldiers
from Headquarters Company, 48th Brigade, enjoy a game of
volleyball during the unit’s National Guard Appreciation
Day in Macon's Central City Park. |
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