GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FIRST FRIDAY BRIEFING July 2000 
TAG Georgia Announces Recruitment Incentive Bonus 
Major General David B. Poythress, TAG-GA, announced implementation of the Governor's Georgia National Guard Recruitment Incentive Bonus program beginning 1 July. The Georgia National Guard needs every enlistment possible to meet National Guard Bureau end-strength and readiness levels for assigned units. 
The Recruitment Incentive Bonus Program is designed to alleviate personnel shortages, to engage all members of the Georgia National Guard in recruiting, and to increase recruiting incentives. The program authorizes cash payment to current and retired National Guard soldiers, airmen, and other DOD personnel who refer qualified personnel who subsequently enlist into the Army or Air National Guard. The attached memorandum outlines specific details. 
224th Celebrates 50th Anniversary 
Guardsmen and families, VIPs and guests were treated to a weekend of special activities to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the 224th Joint Communications Support Squadron in Brunswick. 
The Anniversary weekend actually began on Friday, June 23 with an open invitation golf tournament at Oak Grove Island Golf Course near Brunswick. The team anchored by Generals Searcy and Oldfield came in second in the tournament winning a new set of golf clubs. Friday evening saw past and present members mingle in a 50's style sock hop. Highlighting the evening's entertainment was the hoola hoop skills exhibited by Generals Searcy and Oldfield. 
Saturday was devoted to Family Day activities highlighted by the dedication of a restored F-104 Starfighter on static display. The Jacksonville NAS Band provided music throughout the day. A Savannah Air Guard C-130 was on display throughout the day. State Representative Stephen 
 
 Scarrett presented a flag to the unit that had flown over the state capitol in memory of those 224th members who have proudly served over the past fifty years. 
A formal banquet and dance closed the weekend celebration with Major General David Poythress and his wife as the unit's special guests for the weekend's finale. Retired Rear Admiral John Paul Jones, Jr., former Commander of the Navy's Construction Battalion was the keynote speaker. 
Youth Challenge Graduates 174 Saturday in Macon 
Class Number XIV of the National Guard-sponsored Youth Challenge Academy graduated 174 students on Saturday, June 17 at 6:30 p.m. at the Macon City Auditorium. The graduation of Class XIV brings to over 2,500 the number of students graduating from the seven-year-old National Guard-sponsored youth program located at Fort Stewart. The guest speaker for the graduation ceremony was Eighth District U.S. Congressman Saxby Chambliss. 
Major General David Poythress made the preliminary announcement at the graduation of the expansion of the Youth Challenge and of the possibility of a second campus located in the state. 
Concurrent with the graduation of Class XIV was an orientation program held for Class XV (which begins in July). 
48th Deployment Heightens Media Interest 
As Georgia's 48th Infantry Brigade prepares its soldiers for deployment to Bosnia early next year, media interest in the deployment has been noticeable with major stories appearing in the Athens Daily News, the Rome News-Tribune, Covington News and the Florida Times Union. Appearing here are several excerpts from these stories. 
Florida Times-Union, June 27 17 Units of Guard Preparing for Bosnia Teresa Stepinski 
A total of 116 Georgia Army National Guard soldiers from Valdosta will take their place on the front lines of that war ravaged country early next year. 
The members of Company A, 2nd Battalion 121st Infantry, Mechanized, 48th Brigade, conducted military training exercises at Fort Stewart in Hinesville over the weekend as preparations kick into high gear for the deployment that will involve Guardmembers statewide. 
"We are citizen soldiers. This operation is unique to the Guard. It will definitely be a challenge, but it's one that we can definitely meet and 
 
 accomplish," (Staff Sergeant Don) Whitmire said. 
"This year's training takes on heightened significance and there will be a new sense of urgency. This is training for the real thing," (Lt Col Ken) Baldowski said, adding that the soldiers will undergo specialized training in several areas including urban operations and tactics. 
Athens Banner Herald-Daily News, June 24 Georgia National Guard members going to Bosnia Kenneth Holloway 
An estimated 1,200 Georgia National Guards soldiers, including about 100 assigned to a Winder-based unit, are preparing for deployment to Bosnia. 
About 100 of the 150 soldiers of 1/121st Infantry Headquarters, Headquarters Company in Winder are getting ready for the largest deployment of Georgia National Guard troops since Desert Storm. 
"The Department of Defense, U.S. Army and the United States are demonstrating their confidence in the 48th Brigade and the Georgia National Guard by selecting these units to lead the way for National Guard participation in support of this mission," Maj Gen David Poythress, Georgia's Adjutant General said. 
"While other National Guard units have participated in the Bosnia operation in the past, it will be among the first National Guard combat units of this size and capability to take over such a large portion of this mission," said (Lt Col Ken) Baldowski. 
Kegley appointed Sergeant Major of 48th 
Command Sergeant Major Walter Kegley has been appointed to the position of Command Sergeant Major for the 48th Infantry Brigade. CSM Kegley was formerly the CSM of the 2-121 Infantry Battalion in Albany. CSM Kegley assumes this position as the 48th prepares for deployment to Bosnia. CSM James Nelson will replace CSM Kegley at the 2-121 Infantry Battalion. 
National Guard Insurance Trust Presents Scholarships 
Fourteen college students from Georgia received scholarships recently amounting to over $50,000 from the National Guard Insurance Trust at the Scholarship Awards banquet held on Saturday, June 24 in Marietta. Michael Bowers, Insurance Trust president, presented the fourteen scholarships. 
 
 Over the past seven years, the National Guard Insurance Trust has awarded more than $250,000 to the children and dependents of active and retired Georgia National Guardsmen. 
The National Guard Insurance Trust established the college scholarship program in 1993. College scholarships are available to any dependent of a Georgia National Guardsman. Applications for scholarships can be obtained from the National Guard Association of Georgia. The Insurance Trust is made up of members of the Georgia National Guard Association and the Georgia National Guard Enlisted Association. 
Georgia Counterdrug News 
On May 22, Georgia Counterdrug personnel assisted local, state and federal law enforcement officials in seizing cocaine on a ship docked in Savannah. During a search of the vessel, a five-gallon paint can from the paint locker was opened and five packages were found inside of the can. A field test of the packages resulted in a positive test for cocaine. The total weight of the packages was 6.15 kilograms. 
In other Counterdrug news, members of the Georgia National Guard Counterdrug Task Force participated in the NGB Congressional Exhibit sponsored by U.S. Representative John Mica (R-FL), at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C. on 12 -16 June. 
Led by 1SG Reyes (Co. H, 121st Infantry, Airborne, Long Range Surveillance), the Georgia exhibit team included SPC Jenkins (HHC, 221st MI BN) and SSG White (Co. H, 121st Infantry Airborne, Long Range Surveillance). The ceremony to open the twelve-state exhibit featured several key speakers, including Lt Gen Russell C. Davis, Chief, NGB; COL John Mosby, Director of NGB Counterdrug; and U.S. Representative John Mica, who chairs the House subcommittee on drug policy. 
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 |