First Friday briefing [Aug. 4, 2000]

GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FIRST FRIDAY BRIEFING, August 2000
TAG Announces Organizational Changes at State Headquarters
Major General David Poythress, Georgia's Adjutant General, announced this week several organizational changes affecting the Georgia DoD State Headquarters. The changes include:
The Director of Facilities (CFMO, Colonel Ricky Stephens) will now report directly to the Adjutant General.
The Chief of State Financial Management (Mr. Ross Fralick) will now report directly to the Adjutant General.
A new state position, "Chief Information Officer," has been created and will be held by Mr. Jack Jolin. He will manage the DOIM and oversee the coordination andintegration of all DOD IT activities. Mr. Jolin will report directly to the Adjutant General.
In the announcement, which was dated August 1, General Poythress also said that the Directorate of Strategic Resource Management (DSRM), as an organizational element, is being abolished. Under the new structure, the Strategic Management and Innovation Division (SMID) is being designated as the Organizational Development Office and will be under the direction of COL (Ret) George Smith who will report directly to the Adjutant General.
"These changes are the logical extension of the development of our organization," said The Adjutant General. "They will streamline our reporting structure and bring more intense focus to the critical areas of IT and Organizational Development."
The changes will be effective on August 7, 2000.

Georgia National Guard Expands Youth Challenge Academy to Augusta
Governor Roy Barnes and Major General David B. Poythress announced the creation of a second campus for Georgia's Youth Challenge Academy. The new facility will be located on Ft. Gordon, near Augusta, and will significantly expand the highly successful program from its current location on Ft. Stewart.
"Youth Challenge continues to be a program that changes lives of many of Georgia's youth," said General Poythress. "This is a wonderful opportunity. We are extremely pleased to be able to expand the program and to provide this second opportunity for more young Georgians to succeed."
The second campus will be ready for its initial class on September 30. It will house 140 students, which will be in addition to 260 students attending the academy at the Ft. Stewart location. Each of the campuses operates two 22-week classes each year.
"This expansion was made possible by a lot of hard work and cooperation by the state legislative delegation from the Augusta area as well as officials at Ft. Gordon," said General Poythress. The cost of the expansion is $2.4 million, which is being funded by matching state and federal dollars.
With the addition of a second campus, Georgia becomes only the second state in the nation to operate two Youth Challenge locations.
"The Challenge program at Fort Stewart has been one of the most successful in the country," said General Poythress. "It is clear that this achievement has contributed greatly our ability to add a second location."
Since its inception in 1993, more than 98 percent of the students have earned their GED's. Studies show that upon completion of the program, 23 percent of the graduates attended college or vocational schools; 16 percent went on to join the military and 55 percent found meaningful, full-time employment.
Georgia's academy is one of twenty-eight similar National Guard youth programs throughout the country. It began operations at Fort Stewart in 1993 and has graduated more than 2,200 cadets in 14 classes.
"Memphis Belle" Shares Famous Name and Heritage with Georgia B-1
The "Memphis Belle," the legendary WWII B-17 bomber credited with more than 25 combat missions over Europe

now shares its famous name and proud heritage with its 21st century successor, a B-1B bomber of the 116th Bomb Wing of the Georgia National Guard
Georgia's B-1 "Memphis Belle" was dedicated July 28 at Robins Air Force Base. On this historic occasion, the Georgia B-1 received not only the name of the famous WWII bomber, but the unique noseart of the "Memphis Belle."
"This was an exciting event for the Bomb Wing as we became linked with the remarkable heritage of this aircraft," said Colonel Tom Lynn, 116th Bomb Wing Commander.
Colonel (Ret.) Robert Morgan, who commanded the original "Memphis Belle" through daring aerial combat missions in Europe, was on hand to dedicate the Georgia Guard's "Memphis Belle." The B-17 used in the 1991 film, "The Memphis Belle" was flown in for the dedication ceremony. Last year Col Morgan received an orientation flight in the B-1.
"I am extremely pleased that the name of the `Memphis Belle' will be shared with this bomber," said Morgan as Col Tom Lynn escorted the WWII hero up the steps to sign the noseart which was transferred to the giant B-1.
Both the B-17 and the giant B-1 aircraft conducted flybys before landing and taxiing into position for the dedication ceremony.
Colonel Morgan also presented the 116th Bomb Wing with a commemorative piece of metal from the wing of the original "Memphis Belle" that will be mounted in the cockpit of the B-1 bearing its name.
165th Returns from Chemical Warfare Training
Savannah's 165th returned from a deployment (27 -30 Jul) to Volk Field CRTC WI for an intense Chemical warfare training exercise. Volk Field the home of "Readiness Safeguard," a training chemical training exercise for which units can evaluate their chemical readiness. A 50-person advanced detachment (ADVON)
left two days early to sign out the CRTC and harden the base for defending against simulated attack.
Approximately 400 personnel participated in the four day deployment. Part of this 400 were about 50 members of the 105 Airlift Wing, a C-5 unit from Stewart, N.Y. The exercise trained personnel in "ATSO," Ability to Survive and Operate in a Chemical warfare environment. The exercise involved air attacks, terrorist penetrations, snipers, protesters, and many simulated casualties requiring us to demonstrate Self Aid and Buddy Care.
OMS Guardsmen Aid Stranded Motorist

Two stranded female motorists recently took time to send a letter to the Georgia National Guard commending two Guardsmen from OMS-6 in Hinesville who came to their rescue when their automobile stalled on a desolate stretch of I-16.
In mid-May the two ladies, both from Griffin, were enroute to visit one's daughter and granddaughter in St. Simons. While diving on I-16, a coolant light alerted the ladies to an impending problem. In her letter, one of the women said that they exited the interstate just seconds before the car stalled.
As they peered helplessly under the hood, a white truck pulled over and a Georgia Guardsman, Sgt Mike Freeman, joined her to see if he could help. Moments later, according to the woman, a big military truck pulled alongside the car and SPC Matt Nelligan joined the two. The two Guardsmen were able to flush the cooling system and free a stuck thermostat. "I apologized to Nelligan for spoiling the shine on his boots," the lady wrote. She said that Nelligan remarked "Don't worry, these are my work boots" and Freeman further minimized the deed saying, "Our job is to help people."
The Guardsmen not only got her back on the road and gave her directions, but Nelligan also gave them his personal cell phone number and asked them to call if they experienced further difficulty.
The letter went on to read, "Thank you Matt and Matt for making what could have been a traumatic and costly experience actually almost enjoyable with just a minimal delay. We reached my daughters house in ample time to be ready for my granddaughter's sixth grade band concert Thursday evening and her piano recital on Sunday.
"So minimize if you choose," wrote the author of the letter. "That's what unselfish people do; it was, however it was a "big deal" to us. With men like you two, I believe our country's defense is in good hands."
OCS Class to graduate at RTI on Saturday
The first senior Officer Candidate School class in the new millennium will graduate from the Regional Training Institute in Macon on Saturday, August 4. Twelve Georgia Guardsmen and two Army Reserve cadets will be commissioned Second Lieutenants at the ceremony, following more than two years of training and preparation.
Newly commissioned second lieutenants will include Michael Bell of Company A, 1/121IN in Covington; Robert Carter of Det 1, Btry C, 1/18 FA in Jesup; Billy Chau of Co C 1/121 IN in Gainesville; Charles Curl, HHC, 1/171 Aviation at Dobbins; Tim Godbee, Btry B, 1/118 FA in Savannah; Danielle Harrington, Det 6, HQ STARC in Ellenwood; and David Hunter, Det 1, Co B 648th Engineering in Perry.
Also graduating will beis Jerry Kilcrease Co B, 1/121 IN in Thomaston; Corey King, Co A 148 FSB in Dublin; Alex McLemore,

HHC, 2/121 IN in Albany; Robert Venton, HHC 1/121 IN in Winder; and Jason Westmoreland of Det 1, Btry A, 1/214 FA in Hartwell. Andre Bennett and Jeffery Wilson, both Army Reserve candidates will also receive their commission at the ceremony.
118 FA Cooks are Honored for Their Culinary Skills
Guardsmen assigned to 1st Battalion, 118th Field Artillery units in Savannah, Jesup, Springfield and Brunswick are eating well. The battalion' Service Battery was first runner-up in the southeastern region in this year's Philip A. Connelly Award, which recognizes excellence in military chow. Judges evaluated the battalion on food quality, cleanliness and readiness. Earlier in the year the battalion won the state competition. They were one of seven competing in the southeastern region.
National Guard Members Participate in Senator's Funeral
When late Senator Paul Coverdale was honored at the State Capitol last month, Georgia National Guardsmen were on hand to provide a ceremonial honor guard. A column of National Guard members lined the capitol steps as the Senator's casket entered the capitol. Later, Georgia soldiers and airmen stood watch over the casket in the rotunda as the public filed by to pay their last respects. Here's a look at the Georgia Guard personnel who made up the late Senator's honor guard:
Army Guard members:
2nd Lt. Anthony Sudduth, 265th Engineer Group
Sgt. 1st Class Nelson Feliz, 1st Battalion, 78th Troop Command
Staff Sgt. Larken Reese, 78th Troop Command
Staff Sgt. Annette Thomas, 221st Military Intelligence Battalion
Staff Sgt. Alberto Willecke, 221st Military Intelligence Battalion
Sgt. John W. Cross, 190th Military Police Company
Sgt. Bradford Peterson, 221st Military Intelligence Battalion
Spc. Christopher D. Hughes, 265th Engineer Group.

Air Guard members: Maj. Kim Chatfield, 116th Bomb Wing Master Sgt. Alton Martin, 165th Airlift Wing Master Sgt. James H. Murphy, 202nd Engineering Installation Squadron Master Sgt. Peter Olsson, 116th Bomb Wing Master Sgt. T.J. Reese, 165th Airlift Wing Master Sgt. Daniel R. Whittle, 202nd Engineering Installation Squadron Tech Sgt. James G. Ellis, 116th Bomb Wing Tech Sgt. Robin D. Jumonville, 165th Airlift Wing Staff Sgt. Scott C. Dougherty, 202nd Engineering Installation Squadron Staff Sgt. Mark R. Jumonville, 165th Airlift Wing Staff Sgt. Christine M Strauch, 202nd Engineering Installation Squadron
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