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GaDOD gets
initial NAS property
The Georgia
Department of Defense took its first step in its transition to the Naval
Air Station Atlanta property in early September. At a ceremony marking
the initial transfer of property to the National Guard,
Lt. Gen. David B. Poythress, Georgia’s
Adjutant General, formally accepted the deed to 20 acres and three
buildings on NAS. In the coming years, the National Guard will acquire the entire
property including 106 acres and approximately 100 buildings for a total
of more than 600,000 square feet. Facilities include hangars, classrooms,
administrative space, and temporary billeting.
Full Story
Company H, 121st Infantry LRSU returns
Smiles and tears greeted the Soldiers of the Company H, 121st Infantry,
Long Range Surveillance Company, as family members gathered before dawn in
mid August at Fort Stewart’s Cottrell Field to welcome the troops home
from a year-long deployment In Iraq, the unit was in Tal Afar along Iraq’s
border with Syria. Its mission involved securing the Syrian border, and
training Iraqi Border Police. During that time, Company H detained more
than 350 insurgents and foreign fighters, and earned more than 200 awards
and decorations for the exemplary nature of their service.
Full story
State honors employees
for
years of service
Eight state employees received awards in late August for
their years of service, ranging from five years to 30 years, at a ceremony
in the conference room of Building 21 at the Confederate Ave. complex in
Atlanta.
Full
Story;
Photo gallery
116th's Richardson accepts BIG award
Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Richardson accepted the 2007
Blacks in Government Meritorious Service Award, during a ceremony in
mid-August at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tenn.
The award is
given annually to a military member or Department of Defense civilian
employee who has distinguished themselves through significant
contributions to their service, the advancement of African-Americans and
to the nation.
Full Story
171st invites Guardsmen, families to
meet Falcons at Dobbins
The 171st Aviation Regiment will host 15
members of the Atlanta Falcons football team Sept. 11. This annual event
began in 2003 when the unit deployed to Kuwait in support of Operations
Iraqi Freedom.
"It all began when a number of Falcon players took the time out of their
game schedule in late November 2003 to visit our guys as we made final
preparations for a deployment," said former commander Brent Hanson.
The Georgia Army aviation regiment secured early approval from the Atlanta
Falcons to fashion a unit patch using the distinctive Falcon logo which
members wore on their flight suits throughout their deployment. Among
those slated to visit the unit are quarterback Joey Harrington, tight end Alge Crumpler and
linebacker, Keith Brookings.
Any Guardsmen or family member interested in
meeting and collecting autographs from these Atlanta Falcon players are
welcome to attend the event that will take place at the 1/171st Aviation
Regiment at Dobbins ARB between noon and 2 p.m.
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Governor announces Poythress'
retirement; appoints Nesbitt new AG
Governor Sonny Perdue has announced
the retirement of Lt. Gen. David B. Poythress, Georgia's
Adjutant General, from the military. Lieutenant Gen. Poythress, who has led the Georgia Department of Defense and the
National Guard since 1999, will retire in November, capping a 44-year
military career. He will enter private business as the chief executive
officer of American United Bancorp, Inc., in Gwinnett County. Perdue
named Maj. Gen. William T. Nesbitt, current commander of the
Georgia Army National Guard, and director of the State Office of
Homeland Security as Poythress' replacement .
Full Story
Guardsmen return from border mission
Forty-two Georgia
Guardsmen, who spent the past year assisting border patrol agents in
stopping undocumented aliens from crossing into New Mexico and the
U.S., have returned home. The soldiers were among 150 Georgia Guardsmen
who deployed in July 2006
to help secure the 180-mile border
separating New Mexico and Mexico. The overall Georgia support will
continue on through next summer. Full Story
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221st trains with GSDF
Fort Gillem’s 221st Military Intelligence Battalion
engaged in the second part of a three part field training exercise
designed to enhance the unit's capabilities if ordered to deploy. The
exercise, held in early August, at Fort Gillem was supported by
volunteers from the Georgia State Defense Force, who masqueraded as
Iraqi citizens.
Full Story
Six soldiers earn commissions
in RTI ceremony
Six Georgia Soldiers became new Army National Guard officers during
commissioning ceremonies held on August 10, 2007 at Fort McPherson.
The six newly pinned second lieutenants are William Carraway of Canton;
David Esra of Athens; Billy Henderson of Griffin; Todd Peterson of
Smyrna; Nicole Pugh of Atlanta; and Chad Tyson of Jonesboro were part
of OCS class 46.
Full Story
28 earn
black belts in Lean Six Sigma
Twenty-eight Soldiers, Airmen and
civilians, most of whom are employees of the Georgia Department of
Defense, graduated as black belts from the Lean Six Sigma (LSS) program
in a mid August ceremony held at the Finch Building on Dobbins Air
Reserve Base in Marietta. Championed by companies such as Motorola and
General Electric, LSS focuses on finding ways to cut wasteful spending,
improved efficiency and streamline business practices.
Full Story
Aviation association presents
foundation with $4,000 check
Members of the Greater Atlanta Chapter of the Army Aviation Association
of America, or Quad A as it’s known, have turned over $4,400 to the
Georgia National Guard Family Support Foundation. The amount is 10
percent of the total proceeds raised by the the national organization
during its annual golf tournament and conference held May 5 at Stone
Mountain Golf Course. Full Story
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Deployment Update |
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165th Airlift
Wing deploys
Aircrews of Savannah's 165th
Airlift Wing have once again deployed in support of Operation Enduring
Freedom. Many members of the unit have seen three or more deployments
to southwest Asia ferrying mission essential equipment to troops in
Iraq and Afghanistan. The unit has been in "stand down" mode for the
past sixteen months.
Det. 9, 171st mobilizes
Soldiers of Detachment 9, 171st Aviation Regiment at Dobbins Air
Reserve Base, have mobilized for their first-ever war-time mission.
Full Story |
Hickey joins Army Guard
as
senior army advisor
Colonel James R. Hickey has joined the Georgia Army Guard as senior Army
advisor, a position that has been vacant for more than a year. Hickey,
who’s last active Army posting was four months as chief of strategy,
Multi-National Force –
Iraq (MNF-I), and eight months as chief of staff, strategic operations
for the MNF-I in Baghdad, will spend two to three years in the senior
advisor slot. Full Story
224th earns 2nd 'Meritorious' award
Brunswick's 224th Joint Communications Support Squadron of the Georgia
Air National Guard has recently been awarded its second Joint
Meritorious Unit Award presented by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff and the U.S. Joint Forces Command in Norfolk, VA. According to
224th Commander, Lt. Col Richard Austin, “Winning this award is an honor
for the squadron and a direct reflection of the courage, sacrifice, and
professionalism of our airmen.” Full
Story
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A look at what happened in
September
in Georgia National Guard history:…
1979 -
Command appointments were announced
for two Georgia Army National Guard organizations. The 48th Infantry
Brigade's new commander was Col. Joseph W. Griffin, who, four years
later would become the Adjutant General. BG Dan Bullard III, who had
assumed command of the 48th in the summer of 1978, was appointed
commander of the Command and Control Headquarters, newly organized and
activated with more than 20 units statewide.
* CAC would be redesignated and reorganized in
1982 as Troop Command.
1979 - Hurricane David, a Category 5
storm, had weakened to a minimal strength hurricane by time it touched
the Georgia coast below Savannah. In preparation though, the Georgia
National Guard initiated hurricane relief plans. Guardsmen in the
storm area were notified for possible duty; in Savannah a task force
was set up to provide troops to assist cleanup efforts in the
aftermath of David. Potable water filled water trailers and generators
were gassed up for rapid deployment. Also, the Georgia Air National
Guard activated their "Peach Hot-Line", a high frequency radio
communications network, for Civil Defense officials and rescue
personnel.
Complied by Gail Parnelle,
GaARNG Historical Section |
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