First Friday briefing [Aug. 3, 2001]

Georgia Department of Defense First Friday Briefing, August 2001
B-1 Update: B-1s Safeguarded for One Year
The House Armed Services Committee voted Aug. 1 to keep the Air National Guard's B-1B bombers flying for another year and to wait for ongoing defense studies before making changes to its force structure.
The amendment, sponsored by Reps. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., and Todd Tiahrt, R-Kan., would restore $100 million to the B-1 program for next year and require the Pentagon to provide Congress with reports detailing the national security implications of downsizing the bomber fleet.
"If the Air Force and the Pentagon are convinced that this action is in our military's best interest, then they must provide the evidence of such to members of Congress whose districts are negatively impacted by the decision," Chambliss said in a press release. "National security is important to us all, and any drastic changes in our force structure must be thoroughly reviewed before they are implemented."
Chambliss introduced the amendment during a committee markup of the FY02 Defense Authorization Bill, which was approved by a 33 to 26 vote. It will be considered next by the full House.
The Air Guard's bombers came under fire last month when Pentagon officials announced they planned to cut and consolidate the Air Force's B-1B fleet.
116th Rated Outstanding in Recent ORI
Despite news reports indicating the removal of the B-1 bomber fleet from the Robins Air Force Base, Georgia Air National Guardsmen of the 116th Bomb Wing proved to Air Force inspectors why the 116th remains the best B-1 unit in the country. In an Operational Readiness Inspection (ORI) conducted by active Air Force inspectors of the Air Combat Command, the unit was rated and earned an overall "excellent" on the inspection with no negative findings.
The four-day ORI conducted in late July was an evaluation of the 116th's ability to transition from a peacetime to a wartime posture and included the generation, mobilization and deployment of aircraft, personnel and equipment.
Tasked to generate and deploy six B-1 bombers and to mobilize and deploy 325 people and 135 tons of equipment, the unit was able surpass this requirement by generating and deploying seven B-1 aircraft, personnel and equipment on time.

Of the 18 specific areas graded by Air Force inspectors, the 1,100 member Air Guard unit earned an "outstanding" in 11 key areas and "excellent" in seven others.
117th Controls Iraqi Skies as Provocations Increase
Members of the Georgia Air Guard's 117th Air Control Squadron are at a heightened state of alert as they continue their three-month deployment to Kuwait. Over the past two weeks, Iraq has grown increasingly aggressive in trying to down a coalition aircraft, a Pentagon spokesman said July 31.
Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. Craig Quigley said the volume of fire is up "significantly" from last year. In the area encompassed by Operation Southern Watch, there were 221 Iraqi provocations of coalition aircraft in 2000. In the first seven months of 2001, there have been 370 provocations. In the Northern Watch area, there were 145 provocations in 2000 and 62 this year. These numbers also include Iraqi violations of the no-fly zones.
Georgia Guardsmen are manning the radarscopes that are detecting the Iraqi violations of the United Nations no-fly zones. The three-month deployment is now entering its second month in the deserts of Kuwait. The Savannah Guardsmen are expected to return in September.
Maj. Gen. David B. Poythress, Georgia's Adjutant General, and Brig. Gen. Wick Searcy, commander of the Georgia Air National Guard, spent time with the Air Guardsmen in the desert during a three-day visit in late July.
"In light of the increase in Iraqi air activity, our men and women on this deployment remain in good spirits and are performing their mission in an exceptional manner," said General Poythress in a TV interview conducted with WGCL-TV, Channel 46, upon his return.
Senior Master Sgt. Mazariegos of the 165th Air Support Operations Squadron has assumed the duties of First Sergeant duties of the 117th in Kuwait. He succeeds former Georgia Air National Guard Command Chief Frank Murray.
Georgia Companies Join Operation Thank You To Support Peacekeepers in Bosnia
More than 70 Georgia companies have shown their appreciation to Georgia National Guard members and other service members serving in Bosnia. Last week more than 35 pallets of goods were taken from warehouses at the Confederate Avenue complex and shipped to the Balkans.
The effort, which has named Operation Thank You, was spearheaded by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce with contributions from other chambers across the state as well as corporations and local businesses. In conjunction with the collection of supplies, Operation Thank You also sponsored a concert at Eagle Base by the country-rock bank BR-549.
Donations to the soldiers included books, music CDs and videos. There were also small toys and candy for the soldiers to handout to children while on patrol. Several pallets of school supplies that were collected will be distributed to the Bosnian schools that have been "adopted" by the American peacekeeprs.
Donations were accepted at family assistance centers across the state under the supervision of Sgt. 1st Class Don Lindberg of the Georgia Guard's Family Assistance Section of the Directorate of Workforce Development. The Army Guard's Directorate of Logistics coordinated transportation of the items, which weighed more than 22,000 pounds.

2001 A Busy Year for State Defense Force
Georgia's State Defense Force has released its annual report of activity for the 2001 state fiscal year and the numbers reveal an impressive performance by the SDF's volunteers.
Over the past 12 months, the organization completed 40 missions and contributed nearly 580 man-days at an estimated value of $58,000.
The year saw a significant increase internal support provided by the defense force. Members played key roles in the hurricane exercises, contributed to the Georgia Oglethorpe Award application process and helped staff family assistance centers. In a unique and innovative mission, members of the SDF's 1st Brigade supported two of the 190th Military Police Company's training exercises at Ft. McClellan, Ala., by acting as role players and opposing forces.
The defense force also continued its tradition of supporting local community relations activities including Macon's Cherry Blossom festival and several CPR training courses.
Significant activities for the State Defense Force in the coming months include supporting the Family Program Workshop in September and the Veterans Standdown in October.
224th Works with Coast Guard in Conch Quest
Nine members of the Air Guard's 224th Joint Communications Support Squadron, recently deployed to Key West, Fla., for eleven days to assist the U.S. Coast Guard Group Key West in Operation Conch Quest 1. Conch Quest is a humanitarian support mission to assist the Coast Guard in the Florida Keys with organizing a huge storage facility that could support another refugee boatlift much like the Mariel Boatlift that occurred in the early 1980s.
The facility once owned by the U.S. Navy, houses supplies to assist other potential boatlifts of refugees who attempt to come to the United States. Boxes of items ranging from toilet tissue to life vests in this former office complex turned warehouse. The Georgia Guardsmen's job was to reorganize and inventory the supplies.
"The result of the audit was to provide the Coast Guard a list of supplies on hand and those that needed to be reordered," said team leader Senior Master Sgt. Perry James. "It provided them with a working paper for future contingencies and allowed the Coast Guard to have, for the first time, the knowledge of what supplies they actually had."
"I believe the role that these Guardsmen played has enhanced the Coast Guard's mission readiness in the event of another mass-immigration," said Captain J. L. Nimmich, U.S. Coast Guard Group Key West commander. "We can never predict when one of these evacuations will occur but thanks to the efforts of the Georgia Air National Guard we will be prepared."
This is the first time the Georgia Air Guard has worked directly with the U.S. Coast Guard.
Georgia Guard Units Ready to Participate in Bright Star
Two Georgia Guard units are making final preparations to deploy to Egypt where they will take part in Operation Bright Star.
More than 90 Air Guardsmen with the Dobbins-based 283rd Combat Communications depart in August for three months in support of the biennial exercise.

The 283rd will be the lead combat comm unit with responsibility for establishing and maintaining highly sophisticated communications links throughout the theater of operations. The 283rd has participated in at least four Bright Star exercises.
The 122nd Rear Operations Center, headquartered in Savannah, will send 12 soldiers to Bright Star with a mission to support the 377th Theater Support Command in the areas of terrain management, security and force protection. Major Anthony Abbott and Spec. Larry Cane will represent the 122nd on the "duration staff," while ten additional members will rotate through the exercise in 21-day increments.
RTI Hosts Annual Graduation of Future Leaders
The push-ups are over, the yelling has stopped and the blisters on their feet have now healed. All that's left for 15 officer candidates from Georgia's Regional Training Institute is to shine their brass and pin on the butter-bar. Graduation for the OCS Class-40 will graduate Saturday, Aug. 11th at 2 p.m at RTI in Macon. Maj. Gen. David B. Poythress, Georgia's Adjutant General, will pin the rank of second lieutenant on the collar of 15 soldiers.
Georgia's newest lieutenants will be:

Campbell, Neil Chalas, Marisol Cook, Daniel Crosby, Charles Grant, Michelle Lynema, Paradee Marin, Cristina McCarthy, William Munn, Michael Oxendine, Calvin Petersen, John Schrum, Stacey Thomas, Eric Walton, Wave Williams, Jerold

Co H, 121st IN Co C, 1/171st Avn Gp 178th MP Trp E, 108th Cav 248th MI Co Co B, 148th FSB Co B, 221st MI Bn Co C, 648th En Bn Co C, 1/121st IN Det l,Co A, 878th En Bn Co B, 1/121st IN 248th MI Co Co C, 1/108th AR HHC, 1/108th AR HSC, 878th En BN

Recruiting and Retention Unveils New, Customized Humvees
Georgia citizens will soon see a new icon of the Georgia Guard when six new sleek, customized Humvees begin appearing at parades, school activities and other community events. The vehicles are part of a joint effort between the 48th Infantry Brigade and the Recruiting and Retention division.
The jet black vehicles each sport the Minuteman and the Army Guard's "You Can" logos on the side, along with orange flames around the grill and fender wells. Gold and silver lettering let potential Guardsmen know they can earn money for college, as well as learn new job and leadership skills.

Sgt. 1st Class Scott Reigel and Sgt. 1st Class Ronnie Garcia coordinated the project which involved designing the new "look" for the Humvees and applying the vinyl graphics to the vehicles.
Each battalion in the 48th Infantry Brigade will receive one of the customized vehicles. In addition, Recruiting and Retention is also arranging for two additional Humvees, which are receiving a unique airbrush designed and will travel the state representing the Guard.
Guard Prepares for Hurricane Devastation Along Coastal Georgia
The Georgia DOD's Directorate of Joint Operations held its second Hurricane Exercise in July. The event tested the organization's ability to prepare for and respond to a devastating hurricane along coastal Georgia.
HURREX not only tested the staff and systems of the Dobbins-based emergency operations center, but also involved units across the state. Some 35 Guard members took part in the disaster preparedness exercise including representatives of both the Army and Air Guards as well as volunteers from the Georgia State Defense Force.
Lt. Col. Robert Cochran, the officer in charge of the emergency operations center, said Joint Operations has new software that will track equipment and soldiers during emergencies. Armed with this new tool, people at the emergency center will know exactly what resources are available at any given time.
"The intent of the exercise is to respond to a hurricane in coastal Georgia -- to assist in the evacuation and then pull our troops back for safety," Cochran said. "Afterwards, they would deploy forward for security, for debris clearing, and to provide water."
This year's exercise was unique in that officers from several other states and nations were on hand to observe. The guests included visitors from the Republic of Georgia, as well as Armenia and Azerbaijani.
Plans Underway for September Medical Mission to Georgia
Plans are currently in motion for a mission by the 165th Airlift Wing's medical squadron to visit the Republic of Georgia to immunize Georgian children in two Tiblisi orphanages and clinics.
The proposed mission, which will last 10 to 11 days, is tentatively scheduled to take place before Sept 30, although exact dates have not been finalized.
A physician, general practitioner, physician's assistant, and nurse, along with three medics, will make up the seven member medical team. Col. Gary Harvey, commander of the 165th Medical Support Squadron will head the contingent.
"We hope to immunize all the children currently in two orphanages against a variety of the early childhood diseases such as polio and hepatitis," said Master Sgt Judy Jones, who is organizing the mission. Over the years, the two orphanages, each housing approximately 100 children, have received aid in the form of clothes, educational supplies and books from the U.S.
Once the team completes the immunization program, members will travel to several clinics in the area, supplementing medical staffs and providing preliminary health care when needed. Each clinic serves as many as 750,000 Georgians.
While airlift will be provided by Savannah-based C-130s, additional funds for vaccines and other medical supplies are still in question. A majority of the medicines and vaccines will be donated by outside sources. The Savannah team will bring much of their own equipment to help administer the vaccinations.

The Republic of Georgia, part of the National Guard's State Partnership program, has been the recipient of a large amount of aid gathered over the years from Georgia Guardsmen and other citizens of the state.
Poythress is Guest of Atlanta Public Affairs Program
Maj. Gen. David B. Poythress, Georgia's Adjutant General, recently taped a special segment of the WGCL-TV Atlanta public affairs program "Clear News Sunday." General Poythress was invited to discuss the Georgia Army National Guard's SFOR-9 deployment to Bosnia with show hostess Jane Robelot.
The program will also rebroadcast portions of several segments of the WGCL-TV news special on Bosnia. In addition, General Poythress was questioned about the future of the 116th Bomb Wing's B-1B bombers.
"Clear News Sunday" is scheduled to air 11 a.m., Sunday, Aug. 5, on Channel 46.
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