Georgia Department of Defense First Friday Briefing, Nov. 30, 2001 
Editors Note: In order to get the First Friday Briefing in your mailbox by the first drill weekend of the month we are publishing it a week early. We wish everyone a Happy Holiday!! 
Georgia Units Remain on Duty 
More than 650 Georgia Army and Air National Guardsmen remain on duty in support of Operation Noble Eagle and Enduring Freedom. An estimated 48,000 soldiers and airmen across the nation have been called up in response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. 
Georgia's 122nd Rear Operations Center is the last Georgia Guard unit called to active duty. Georgia units called on, so far, include: 
 224th Joint Communications Support Squadron. 
 117th Air Control Squadron.  116th Security Police Squadron.  165th Security Police Squadron.  190th Military Police Company.  122nd Rear Operations Center. 
There have also been individual Army and Air Guardsmen who have been activated because of their particular job specialty. 
President Requests More Guardsmen at Airports 
Another 40 Georgia National Guardsmen have been added the more than 150 troops who are enhancing security and passenger safety in nine of the state's major commercial airports during the holiday season. 
"The additional Guardsmen are being used almost exclusively at Atlanta's Hartsfield International Airport," said Col. William Thomas, who is in charge of Georgia's Operation Sky Guard. 
 
 The 40 Guardsmen activated for Operation Sky Guard have completed the required FAA aviation security classes and qualified with the M-9 9mm semiautomatic pistol. They reported for duty on Nov. 19. 
President Bush allotted more than $23 million recently for an additional 6,237 National Guardsmen to be in the nation's airports during the holidays, which included Thanksgiving. That's a 25 percent increase in the number of citizen soldiers already on duty. 
Bush asked for the extra Guardsmen for a 53-day period that runs through the busy holiday travel season. 
Along with the increased number of troops, the airport security mission has been expanded to include a higher security presence at employee gates and on employee buses. 
Soldiers and airmen have also been stationed at passenger gates and concourses. They have also been placed at selected ticket counters and they're conducting roaming patrols along external curbside passenger pickup and drop-off areas. 
LRS Recreates Historic Airborne March 
Members of the Georgia Army Guard's Company H, 121st Infantry (LRS) chose to spend Veteran's Day this year taking part in a unique remembrance. 
Some 20 members of the Long Range Surveillance unit recreated 20 miles of the record-breaking 118 mile road march conducted by Easy Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division in 1943. 
The unit was immortalized for its World War II exploits by author Stephen Ambrose in his book "Band of Brothers" and by the recent HBO series based upon the book. 
"They actually marched 118 miles from Toccoa to Atlanta," explained 1st Sgt. Mike Hurnden, who organized the commemoration. "Our original plan was to recreate the entire march, but the events of September 11 caused us to scale back the project." 
He explained that many of the Company H soldiers have been tapped for airport security duty or are assisting in force protection efforts. 
"We still owe 101 miles and plan to complete those next year," Hurnden added. 
The Veteran's Day march started at 4 a.m. at a crossroads in Gwinnett County. For the next five hours, the infantrymen "humped" their 60 pound rucks along a route that took them down Buford Highway to Clairmont Road and then along Peachtree Street through the heart of Buckhead. 
All along the route, passersby honked their horns and waved in support of the soldiers, Hurnden said. The Georgia State Patrol and Atlanta Police escorted the marchers. 
The march ended at Pershing Point in Midtown where Hurnden and his soldiers joined with the rest of Company H to participate in the annual Atlanta Veterans' Day parade. 
Hurnden said he and the rest of the soldiers were inspired after watching the "Band of Brothers" series. 
In December 1943, while training in Toccoa, the commander of the 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, read a Reader's Digest article about a Japanese army battalion that had marched 100 miles. 
 
 "My men can do better than that," he declared and for the next four days more than 580 members of the historic unit trudged their way toward Atlanta. They completed the march in 75 hours, entering downtown Atlanta at Five Points where cheering crowds lined the streets to greet them. 
In addition to Company H, the Georgia Air National Guard's 530th Air Force Band also marched in the Atlanta parade. Members of the Georgia State Defense Force were parade marshals. 
Potential Recruits Attend Open House 
More than 120 people interested in joining Georgia's State Defense Force came to the state Department of Defense complex Nov. 17 and 18 to participate in the SDF's Open House held in Building No. 21. 
"Those 120 are only a small part of the people who showed an interest in joining our ranks," said Col. Byers W. Coleman, Defense Force chief of staff. "Yet it's the largest number of people who have applied to join at any one time." 
Coleman said the organization had an estimated 350 inquiries from individuals looking for enlistment information. 
At least 300 of those checking into enlistment opportunities did so by e-mail. Col. Dennis Brown with the Georgia National Guard's Strength Management Office, worked closely with the SDF to answer those, Coleman said. 
During the two-day open house, 15-20 Defense Force members talked with each potential recruit. They supplied each person with information about how the organization supports the National Guard, requirements for enlistment and what opportunities are available. 
Coleman said the rise in the number of persons wanting to join the State Defense Force has happened because of a story done Nov. 6 by Atlanta television and radio news personality Clark Howard. It has also come about because of information found on Howard's Web site. 
Maj. Gen. MacLane Retires 
Maj. Gen. Bruce W. MacLane ended an Air Force career of more than 35 years recently during a ceremony held in his honor at the 116th Bomb Wing, Robins Air Force Base. 
General MacLane's military career took flight upon his graduation from the Citadel in 1965. He received his commission through the school's Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program. 
General MacLane is a command pilot who has more than 4,800 flying hours in the T-33 Talon, O-1A Cessna, F-100D Super Sabre, F-105G Thunder Chief, F-4C/D Phantom, F-15A Eagle and the B-1B bomber. 
He earned his pilot's wings in December 1966 at Moody Air Force Base. General MacLane attended F-4C flight crew training at Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona and George Air Force Base in California while en route to Cam Ranh Bay Air Base in the Republic of Vietnam. 
In June 1973 he left active duty and joined the Georgia Air Guard's 116th Fighter Wing. General MacLane became an air technician with the Wing in 1975 and served in various command capacities. 
 
 He assumed command of the 116th Fighter Wing in December 1994. General MacLane commanded the 1,100-member Wing during its move in 1995 from Marietta to Robins. He also oversaw the unit's transitioned from 50 years as a fighter outfit to its new mission with the B-1B. 
The move to Robins remains the largest unit relocation and mission transition in Air National Guard history. 
Promoted to the rank of major general in October 1998, General MacLane has held the position of Air National Guard Liaison Officer with the Pacific Air Forces since June 1998. 
He is married to the former Ann Boling Spalding of Atlanta. 
Banquet Honors BG Seely 
Members of the Georgia National Guard recently honored Brig. Gen. Michael L. Seely, the outgoing Army Guard commander, with a farewell banquet. Many of the Guardsmen who served under or along side General Seely spoke of his many achievements. 
"I wanted to come to work and to do my best just because he was my commander," said retired Command Sgt. Major Kenneth Adams during a presentation at the dinner. 
Adams worked with General Seely as his platoon sergeant, first sergeant and battalion sergeant major. Other Guardsmen made similar comments, and most noted how the general inspired others to do their best. "I am truly humbled by this and the remarks my fellow soldiers have made about me," said General Seely, as tears came to his eyes. The general most recently served as the Army Guard commander from February 1999 to October 2001. Prior to that, he was the commander and deputy commander for 78th Troop Command and was the STARC aviation staff officer. General Seely has also commanded the 151st Military Intelligence Battalion, and the 159th and 158th Intelligence companies. He enlisted in the U.S Army in 1961; graduated Officer Candidate School in 1964 and served two tours of duty in Vietnam in 1965 and 1968 as a fixed-wing pilot. 
General Seely is a pilot with Continental Airlines. He and his wife Gail live in Gainesville. They have two children and two grandchildren. 
YCA Set to Graduate Largest Class 
 
 Fort Stewart's Youth Challenge Academy is set to graduate its largest class yet in ceremonies set for Dec. 15 at Macon's City Auditorium. 
The ceremony, usually attended by hundreds of family members, friends, and elected and military officials will take place at 3:00 p.m. 
This is the 17th graduating class for the eight-year-old youth program. 
"We have 231 students graduating that day, which makes this our largest class ever," said Robert Hughes, director of Stewart's YCA program. "We're quite proud of these individuals and the accomplishments they have made since they have been here." 
Before an YCA student can receive his or her diploma, the individual must complete all academic requirements. 
Georgia's second Youth Challenge campus is at Fort Gordon in Augusta, and is in the midst of its second class. There are more than 126 students taking part in the program. 
---- In Other YCA News ---- 
Thirty cadets with Fort Stewart's Youth Challenge Program carried the flags of 36 states whose elected officials attended the Nov. 28 opening plenary of the 25th Legislative Conference of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators in Atlanta. 
The conference, which ran from Nov. 26 to Dec. 1, was held in the city's Hyatt Regency Hotel. 
After the ceremony, the students had the chance to hear the words of Atlanta mayor Bill Campbell, Gov. Roy Barnes and the Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr. 
"Not only was a great honor for us to participate but it was a great opportunity for our cadets to also be able to hear the messages of some of our state and nation's most prominent civic leaders," said Lt. Col. Frank Williams, an YCA director who accompanied the students. 
Rev. Jackson took time after the opening plenary to be meet briefly with the cadets. 
YCA cadet Stefani Montford said she shook with excitement at standing next to someone who has inspired her throughout her life. 
"I have admired Rev. Jackson since I was old enough to understand who he is and the work that he does," Montford said. "Getting to meet him was more than I ever expected." 
Campaign Raises Funds 
More than $8,000 in proceeds and pledges were raised by the State Charitable Contributions Campaign that began in September and ended Nov. 15. 
A total of $610 of the money, taken in during a hotdog luncheon and carnival at the Georgia Department of Defense complex, went to Ronald McDonald House of Atlanta. The State Charitable Campaign coordinator and the organization's committee members hosted the Oct. 31 luncheon and carnival. 
During the campaign, Georgia National Guardsmen and state employees were asked to consider giving to a variety of charitable organizations whose proceeds would benefit Georgians. 
 
 This year's proceeds exceed the previous amounts given in the past. Last year, for example, donations and pledges to the campaign came to an estimated $6,547. Wanda Nichols, campaign committee's Department of Defense coordinator. Other committee members for this year's campaign were state employees Leigh Burchfield, Marilyn Russ, and Elizabeth Warwick. Capt. Perry Carter, aide to Maj. General David B. Poythress, Georgia's Adjutant General, retired Col. Owen Ulmer, Maj. Tom Blackstock and Ross Fralick sacrificed themselves for this year's carnival by sitting in the dunking tank. 
CFC Works to Meet Goal 
Although 2001 Combined Federal Campaign has ended, officials with Georgia National Guard Family Foundation Inc. continue their efforts to meet their fundraising target. This year, the foundation aimed for a goal of $40,000. When the three-month long campaign ended Nov. 15, the combined total raised by its three "campaign areas" was $35,258. The Atlanta area, for example, brought in $20,000, said Maj. Tanya Brinkley, the foundation's treasurer. The Warner Robins area raised around $10,051, while fundraisers in the Savannah area added $5,207. With the official campaign is over, the Family Foundation continues trying to raise the $10,000 it needs to complete its campaign goal, Brinkley said. "Those wish to help us accomplish this can make their contributions directly to the foundation," she added. Potential contributors with Internet access can go to www.gngfoundation.com to find out what they should do. -------------------------------- 
Combined Federal Campaign is an annual fundraising drive conducted by federal employees in their workplace each fall. And each year Federal employees and military personnel raise millions of dollars through CFC that benefits thousands of non-profit charities. The Office of CFC Operations falls under the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which is responsible for oversight of the campaign. OPM s headquartered in Washington, D.C. 
First Food Drive Underway 
Georgia National Guard and Department of Defense employees at the Confederate Avenue complex are hosting their first food drive. Non-perishable can goods and package items should be delivered to the break rooms in buildings No. 3 and 21 by 11 a.m. Dec. 14. Contact Family Support at 404-624-6453 or Staff Sgt. Connie Baptiste at 404-624-6725 for more information. 
 
 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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