First Friday briefing [Nov. 3, 2000]

FIRST FRIDAY BRIEFING, November 3, 2000

GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Oglethorpe Team Conducts Site Visit; Georgia Scores Well on Army Quality Competition
The Georgia DoDs "quality journey" continued in October with two significant events. The National Guard Bureau announced that Georgia was awarded fifth-place in this year's Army Performance Improvement Criteria (APIC) competition. Georgia was honored with a "Silver Award" and was presented a $25,000 check.
Word of the APIC award came as Georgia DoD members across the state were making last minute preparations for the site visit by the Oglethorpe Award examiner team.
The eight-member team spent three days this week at work centers across our organization. They visited eight different locations and conducted interviews with more than 250 individuals. The examiners use the same criteria as the national Malcolm Baldrige Award to recognize organizational performance.
A team of more than 35 Georgia DoD members (Army, Air and civilian) worked for nearly 18 months putting together the DoD application, which was submitted in June. Results of the application and the site visit will not be announced until after the first of the year.
Georgia's B-1 Successfully Drops Newest "Smart Bomb"

By 1st LT Renee Massey

A Georgia Air National Guard B-1B bomber from the 116th Bomb Wing, along with bombers from the Kansas Air Guard B-1B unit, became the first Guard aircraft to successfully drop America's newest smart bomb on targets in the Utah Test Range using the Boeing produced 2,000-pound Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM). The groundbreaking mission occurred at precisely 10:35a.m. CDT on October 13.
The 116th Bomb Wing aircrew that dropped the first JDAM included Lt. Col. David A. Hutchinson, Capt. Nancy Dakin, Capt. John M. Verhage and Maj Lee A. Knowlton. The 116th and the 184th units have been working for the past six months on the conversion of the

aircraft and on training crews to build and load the bombs.
The JDAM is the U.S. Air Force's newest smart bomb used with devastating effect by B-2s in the Kosovo conflict. The B-1B carries 24 JDAM bombs as compared to 16 for the B-2 and 12 for the B-52. Lt. Col. Randy Roebuck, commander of the logistics group of the Kansas Air Guard, illustrated the capability of the new system by explaining that eight Air National Guard B-1Bs have the ability to strike the equivalent of all the targets that were bombed on the first night of Desert Storm.
On hand to witness the historic event was Gen. Richard Myers, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, flying the left seat of the Kansas B-1B.
"I was extremely pleased I had the opportunity today to participate in the first live Joint Direct attack Muntion mission flown by the Georgia and Kansas Air National Guard." said Myers. "The Guard and Reserve are essential elements of our total force and this successful mission once again demonstrates the ability of our reserve forces to perform to the highest standard. The men and women of both wings can be very proud of their efforts and their contributions to our nation's security."
"This is a proud day for the Guard and the 116th Bomb Wing to have the No.2-ranked officer in the U.S. military fly with us during this event,' said Col. Tom Lynn, commander of the 116th.
Governor's Attendance Highlights First Aviation Formal
The Georgia Army National Guard's 1st Aviation Group held its first formal in October, an event Col. Dannis Livingston, Group commander, declared a resounding success. The dinner was highlighted by the unexpected attendance of Georgia Governor Roy E. Barnes, and his wife Marie.
With more than two hundred fifty guests attending, the formal celebrated the successes of Georgia Guard Army Aviation was well as the soldiers who make it happen. All Army Aviation personnel - including leaders, aviators, crew chiefs, mechanics, refuelers and supply, operations and administrative personnel-- were recognized for playing a direct or indirect role in the development of the 1st Aviation Group.
The Governor recognized the accomplishments and selfless service of Georgia Guard members throughout the state. "I am acutely aware, especially now as governor, of the important role of the National Guard," said Barnes. He mentioned Guard contributions in times of disasters like Hurricane Floyd, and the fires and tornadoes in South Georgia.
Guest speaker Maj. Gen. David B. Poythress focused on the long lineage and history associated with the Guard and Georgia starting with the Battle of the Bloody Marsh.
Livingston concluded the evening with a video presentation celebrating the evolution and achievements of Army Aviation.
Past TAGs Recount 50 Years of Guard History

Adjutants General and Assistant Adjutants General representing more than 50 years of service to Georgia gathered recently in Forsyth, Georgia to discuss the evolution of the Office of the Adjutant General and the Georgia National Guard.
Participating in the Historical Society's 2000 Conference were Brig. Gen. (Ret) Alpha A. Fowler, Jr. (1947-1948); Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Billy M. Jones (1975-1983); Maj. Gen. (Ret) Joseph W. Griffin, (1983-1990); Maj. Gen. (Ret) William P. Bland Jr., (1991-1999); and Brig. Gen. (Ret) Ben L. Patterson (Asst. Adjutant General, Air, 1975-1977, 1983-1990). Maj. Gen. David B. Poythress, the current Adjutant General of Georgia, delivered the keynote address to open the conference.
In addition, in a 10-minute videotaped interview with former Governor, and two-time Adjutant General, Ernest S. Vandiver, (1948-1954, 1971) discussed his years as TAG.
James R. Wooten, editorial page editor of the Atlanta Journal facilitated the forum.
Every Adjutant General of Georgia since the Guard's reorganization, except one, was represented at the Forum. This was the first time they had all gathered to discuss the office. The city of Forsyth and Mayor Paul Jossey, who is also a former chief of staff or the Georgia Army National Guard, hosted the event at the town's city hall annex.
The annual conference was held in conjunction with the Historian's Workshop for Army and Air Guard personnel. Nearly 40 representative s of units from across the state attended the daylong event.
National Guard and Winder-Barrow Officials Cooperate to Bring Sophisticated Aviation Equipment to Airport
A sophisticated piece of weather monitoring equipment, designed to benefit civil and military aviation, will soon be installed and operating at the Winder-Barrow County Airport. Last month representatives of the Georgia Army National Guard's Winder flight facility joined members of the Barrow County Airport Authority, the Chairman of the Barrow County Commission for a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Automated Weather Observation Station, or AWOS
The sophisticated weather monitoring equipment provides continuous real-time weather reports, 24-hours a day, without human involvement. AWOS gathers, analyzes and disseminates weather information and creates an instantaneous, precise and accurate weather report each minute.
The AWOS system is a result of a unique partnership between the state, the Winder Airport Authority and the Georgia Army National Guard. The Georgia Army National Guard contributed approximately $18,000 toward acquisition of the system. Seventy-five percent of the cost of the system came as part of a grant from the Governor's Airport Enhancement program.
"The AWOS provides civil, commercial and military pilots with accurate, up to the minute weather data from anywhere in the country either by a telephone call or a dedicated AWOS frequency," explained Tim Whitman, Winder-Barrow Airport Director. The AWOS system requires no any additional modification for use by aircraft.

County Commission Chairman Walter Elder said he sees the addition of the AWOS system at Winder as a tool to attract more businesses to the Winder-Barrow area. "For years the airport was a liability to continued growth," said Chairman Elder. "With the AWOS and other planned airport improvements, the Airport becomes an important `front door' to our community." The Winder-Barrow County airport has more than 105 locally based aircraft with hangar operations for six major corporations.
"The acquisition of the AWOS system actually began with the Georgia Army National Guard requesting to lease a small parcel of land for a much less sophisticated weather monitoring station," according to Warrant Officer Tim Golden, of the Georgia Army National Guard's Company C, 1/171st Aviation Battalion in Winder. The request ultimately led to the unique partnership between the Airport Authority, the County Commission and the National Guard, and to the acquisition of the AWOS which will benefit all aviation activities at the airport.
224th Helps Underprivileged in Two Georgia
Members of the 224th Joint Communications Support Squadron have rallied to gather dozens of donations of warm clothing, toys, stuffed animals, medicines and medical equipment for an orphanage in Republic of Georgia. The donations came at the request of Colonel Sidney J. Morgan, Georgia State Air Surgeon who is collecting them to the facility based in the capital city of Tiblisi. The Georgia Department of Defense has an ongoing relationship with the Republic of Georgia as part of the State Partnership Program.
Members of the Brunswick-based unit approached civilian family doctor for any unused medical equipment and contacted local retailers donations of medicines. Requests were also published in the unit's squadron monthly bulletin.
"In just a few short weeks, we came up with enough items to fill up the back of our recruiting van," said Major Harold A. Partin, Detachment Commander. "We're currently halfway there towards another van-load!"
Besides conducting the Christmas drive for the Republic of Georgia, the 224th is also currently collecting donations for Safe Harbor, a local community children's shelter, the local Humane Society, and a magazine drive.
Daniel Earns Eagle in Air Guard Ceremony
Michael C. Daniel, the Senior Judge Advocate for the 3,000-member Georgia Air National Guard, was promoted to the rank of colonel at promotion ceremonies at Headquarters GA ANG during the October drill.
Born in Macon, Colonel Daniel attended Mercer University and later received his law degree from the University of Georgia. Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1983, Daniel served on active duty as Assistant Judge Advocate at Elgin Air Force Base in Florida from 1984 to 1988. He joined the Georgia Air National Guard in 1988 at the 165th Airlift Wing, Savannah as the Deputy Judge Advocate and served in this position until 1990 when he was promoted to the position of Judge Advocate. In 1992, he was reassigned to the 116th Fighter Wing of the Georgia Air National Guard to serve as Judge Advocate. In 1995, Col. Daniel was selected as the senior Judge Advocate of the 3000-member Georgia Air National Guard, the position he holds today.
Daniel was appointed as an Assistant United States Attorney with the department of Justice, assigned to the Middle District of Georgia in Macon. In 1992, he left the Department of Justice to go into the private practice of law. He became a partner in the Athens law firm of

Fortson, Bentley and Griffin.
Garrett Becomes STARC's Newest Sergeant Major
After more than nine years as the non-commissioned officer in charge SIDPERS, Master Sgt. Larry Garret was promoted to the rank of Sergeant Major. With his new rank, he has also become the Chief of Enlisted Management. He replaces Sgt. Maj. Judy Cole.
"It will be difficult to follow behind such a fine NCO," said Garrett of his new assignment. "She has instituted numerous programs within the section, which I hope to carry on. The biggest challenge will be to re-look at how we implement the enlisted promotion program."
Garrett, who has served for more than 17 years in the AGR program, said he had a goal when he entered the National Guard to make Sgt. 1st Class. "I wanted to at least make it that far," he said. "Even though I received the rank, this promotion belongs to all those who have supported me through the years."
COLAs for Retirees and SBP Recipients
Effective December 1, 2000 most military retirees and Survivors Benefit a Plan annuitants will receive a 3.5 percent cost-of-living adjustment. The increase will be in the January 2001 paychecks. Some service members, who retired before October 1, 2000 will receive a partial COLA, based on the quarter in which they retired. Service members who entered the service on or after September 8, 1980 and who retired October 1, 2000 or later will receive no COLA this year.
FY 2001 National Defense Authorization Act
The FY '01 National Defense Authorization Act is at the White House awaiting the President's expected signature. Key parts of the legislation are landmark TRICARE for Life (TFL) and lifetime pharmacy benefits for Medicare-eligible retirees. Scheduled to be effective October 2001, TFL is expected to apply to retirees. Another important provision includes a reserve retirement point hike.
First Friday Briefing is published monthly for the soldiers, airmen and employees of the Georgia Department of Defense, Georgia Army National Guard, Georgia Air National Guard and Georgia State Defense Force. If you'd like to be added to our subscription list and have the First Friday Briefing faxed or emailed, or you have comments or story submission, call the Directorate of Communications at (404) 624-6060 or DSN 338-6060. Or email burchfieldl@ga-arng.ngb.army.mil
| Back | Home | GaDOD Home