First Friday briefing [Mar. 3, 2000]

GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FIRST FRIDAY BRIEFING March 3, 2000
Editor's note: This issue marks the first anniversary of the First Friday Briefing. The Directorate of Communications thanks everyone for their support of this email publication and we sincerely hope that it has helped members of our organization stay better informed about the activities, successes and accomplishments of the Georgia Department of Defense, National Guard and State Defense Force.
Corish Retires, Searcy Assumes Command
The Georgia Air National Guard's first non-rated Commander, Brig Gen Walter C. Corish, Jr., retires on Saturday, March 4 at official ceremonies at the 165AW in Savannah. Succeeding Corish will be Col William N. Searcy, former 165AW Commander. Col Searcy is expected to receive the promotion to the rank of Brigadier General at combined Retirement and Change of Command ceremonies. scheduled at 1:00 p.m. at the Fuels Management Hangar at the 165AW.
General Corish has commanded the 3,000 member Georgia Air National Guard since May 1996 when then Governor Zell Miller appointed him to the position of Assistant Adjutant General for Air. In 1998, Governor Roy Barnes appointed him the Acting Adjutant General for Georgia following the retirement of MG William P. Bland, a position he held for more than four months
A veteran of more than 30 years in the Georgia Air National Guard, General Corish began his career with the 117th Tactical Control Squadron and later served in several units before being selected as commander of the 283rd Combat Communications Squadron in May 1981. Under his leadership, the National Guard Bureau recognized the 283 CCS as the most outstanding combat communications unit in the nation in 1995. Later that same year, the United States Air Force presented the 283 CCS its first Outstanding Unit Award. General Corish also served several senior leadership positions at State Headquarters before being appointed Commander, Georgia Air National Guard.
Colonel William N. Searcy has commanded the 900-member 165th Airlift Wing since 1996. He received his commission as a Second Lieutenant in 1968 as a member of the 165th Military Airlift Group, and upon completing the USAF undergraduate pilot training IN 1969, he

flew the C-124 on worldwide missions, including Southeast Asia, until 1974. From 1974 until the present, Col Searcy has flown as an Aircraft Commander in the C-130 participating in numerous missions, exercises and deployments including support for Desert Shield and Provide Promise. As a member of the 165th Airlift Wing, he served in numerous positions, including commander of the 165th Operations Support Squadron, commander of the 165th Operations Group. He also served in the Georgia Air National Guard Headquarters before becoming the 165th Airlift Wing's com-mander in March 1996.
General Reddick Becomes the Georgia Guard's Newest GO
The Georgia National Guard promoted its newest general officer in February. Brigadier General Terrell T. Reddick pinned on his new stars during a ceremony at the Joint Annual Commanders Conference. General Reddick, who commands the 78th Troop Command, was also honored at a second pinning ceremony in front of family and friends in his hometown of Statesboro. A 30-year veteran of the Georgia National Guard, General Reddick received his commission through the GMI Officer Candidate Program in 1970. He served in both the 1/230th and 2/214th Field Artillery Battalions, as well as at STARC served in a variety of command and staff positions and commanded the 2/214 from 1989-92. He has also served in a number of staff positions at state headquarter including chief of Military Support and military personnel officer, before being assigned as deputy commander of 78th Troop Command in 1997. General Reddick is managing partner of Reddick, Riggs, MacLachlan and Hunter CPAs in Statesboro.
ASCIET Dominates Savannah Military Scene
Savannah and the Combat Readiness Training Center of the Georgia Air National Guard are again hosting the All Service Combat Identification Evaluation Team (ASCIET) exercise that has been occurring over the last three weeks in coastal Georgia. This combat identification evaluation has drawn more than 5,000 troops from more than 55 different military units to Georgia between March 1-12.
The annual DOD evaluation evaluates a broad spectrum of combat identification areas including doctrine, tactics, techniques, procedures and combat systems.
Georgia's Combat Readiness Training Center in Garden City is the epicenter for the twelve-day exercise. Flying units use the sophisticated Air Combat Maneuver Instrumentation system (ACMI) as well as the Center's housing and mess facilities. Aircraft from all services also take advantage of the resources of the Townsend Range, operated by the Georgia National Guard, for a series of ground munitions delivery operations. The Georgia Air National Guard's 117th ACS and 165th ASOS are also involved.
ASCIET 99 brought together more than 70 current combat identification systems and 30 government-sponsored developing technologies to be integrated and evaluated in the joint environment. The exercise, which has occurred in Savannah for the last two years, attracts the most senior leadership in the U.S. military and from numerous defense contractors.

Georgia Guardsmen Respond to Help Tornado Stricken Counties
When tornadoes hit Southwest Georgia in mid-February, Georgia National Guard troops were among the first to respond to assist the affected communities. More than 20 members of the Albany-based 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry, 48th Brigade, were placed in state active duty status to help with damage cleanup in the days following the storms. The Guard troops helped clear debris from roads and driveways in a tiny, hard-hit community several miles south of Camilla, in Mitchell County. The twisters, which hit in late February, killed 18 people and caused an estimated $25-million damage.
Vice President Tours Tornado Disaster Area Aboard A Georgia Guard Helicopter
With the help of Georgia Army National Guard aviation assets, Vice President Al Gore toured the tornado destruction near Camila and Pelham in southwest Georgia in mid-February. Two CH-47 Chinook helicopters from the Savannah-based Company F, Detachment 1, 131st Aviation, and two UH-60 Blackhawks from the 171st Aviation at Dobbins ARB supported the mission. The vice-president flew aboard one of the Chinooks, which took on the call-sign designation of "Army 2." He was accompanied by Senator Max Cleland, along with White House staff, reporters and secret service agents. Earlier in the day Senator Paul Coverdale also viewed the devastation in south Georgia aboard a Georgia Guard Blackhawk.
Georgia Army Guard to Promote its First Female Colonel
The Georgia Army National Guard will pin its first female Colonel this weekend when Lieutenant Colonel Laura Strange is promoted to the grade of 0-6. She will be commander of Detachment 6, Medical Detachment, State Area Command. LTC Strange earned her bachelor's degree from the Medical College of Georgia in 1974 and a master's degree form Emory University in 1981. She is currently seeking her doctorate from Emory. She has served in the military for 26 years, and is currently a staff nurse at Northside Hospital, Resource Pool and a Research Associate at New York University.
National Guard Open House Considered A Success
"It was a significant effort well worth our time," said Major General David Poythress, Georgia's Adjutant General on a review of the first National Guard Open House for state lawmakers. "I feel that through this event that we were able to better acquaint our elected officials with the capabilities and the missions of the Georgia National Guard."
The February 9 event, held at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, included displays of many of the National Guard's most sophisticated warfighting

equipment, from the giant B-1 bomber to M1A1 tanks to Blackhawk helicopters and high-tech communications HMMWVs. As many as forty pieces of equipment were on display and over one hundred Guardsmen participated in the six-hour event.
Nearly eighty legislators attended the first-ever event. Many of the guests made the trip in chartered buses from the Capitol. In addition, a number of the lawmakers also brought their families or staff members.
"I believe that every legislator should see the capabilities of our National Guard in Georgia and to see the dedication and professionalism that these men and women personify," said State Representative Ken Birdsong, Chairman of the House Defense and Veterans Affairs Committee.
The concept of a National Guard Day Open House was a departure from previous National Guard Day activities during the General Assembly. For many legislators, this event may have been the first time that they were able to view up close the kinds of equipment used by National Guard units in their communities and to talk with local Guardsmen. Legislators also saw the capabilities of the National Guard in its all-important secondary state mission to support the citizens of Georgia.
"I see this effort as a beginning that will lead the way to similar efforts to showcase our people and equipment to elected officials, our families and to the general public, " said Poythress.
Savannah-Area Cooks Show Their Stuff in Combat Cuisine Competition
Savannah's 118th Field Artillery Battalion demonstrated their culinary skills on February 12 and 13 by preparing a turkey dinner with all the trimmings under combat conditions. The competition, known as the "Phillip A. Connelly award" was established in 1968 to recognize excellence in military chow.
"The lifeline to any soldier is through the belly," said Johnny Moore, who participated in the competition." If a soldier doesn't eat right, he's not going to fight right."
The soldiers prepared a training meal on Saturday and then another on Sunday that was evaluated by a panel of experts. They were evaluated on food quality, sanitation practices and their skill at setting up the "mobile kitchen trailer," which is a pop-up shelter that can feed 250 soldiers. Honorary guest included The Adjutant General, Major General David Poythress, who said his lunch Sunday "was as good as any restaurant."
Regional winners of the Connelly Award will be announced in the next several months.
TAG Appoints New ESGR Manager for GA DOD

Barbara McCaa has recently been appointed Manager for the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) for the Georgia Department of Defense reporting directly to the Office of the Adjutant General. McCaa was employed for seven years by the Georgia Department of Labor as Employer Committee Coordinator, and before that she spent more 21 years with Southern Bell. At the recent Joint Annual Commanders Conference at St. Simons, MG Poythress emphasized the critical importance he is placing on the ESGR and Family Readiness Programs for the Georgia National Guard. The ESGR function is currently located within the DOWD Directorate. Ms. McCall can be reached be email mccaab@ga.arng.ngb.army.mil.
National Guard Equipment And Capabilities Will Highlight Community Events
Air and Army National Guard members will be busy showing off in our local communities in the coming weeks and months. If you are interested in seeing the Guard in action and having an enjoyable day with your family, be sure to catch them in action at the following events:
The Cracker Barrel 500 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday, March 12. Our recruiters will be in full force with recruiting booths set up at each entrance. The 171st Aviation Group will have a static display of a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter, and Headquarters STARC will have 3 HMMWVs to complete a lap around the track during the pre-race activities. In grand patriotic style, a fly-over of B1-Bs will take place during the National Anthem saluting all military members and veterans. Grand Marshall for the pre-race parade will General (Retired) Colin Powell, retired Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The Cherry Blossom festival is another event that will be spectacular. The Cherry Blossom festival is an annual event held in Macon. This years' event will be held on Sunday, March 19. The 128th Bomb Squadron will complete a B-1 fly-over during the festivities. Be sure to also catch the sounds of the 116th Georgia Army National Guard Band.
On March 25, the 171st Aviation Group (Provisional) will support the "March of Dimes" by displaying an helicopter at the Publix Supermarket in Winder.
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 burchfieldlee@dod.state.ga.us
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