First Friday briefing [Apr. 4, 2003]

Georgia DOD Home
First Friday Briefing for April, 2003
In this issue:
q More than 3,600 Georgia Citizen Soldiers Now on Duty q Both Air Guard Wings Pull Duty `In Country' q Georgia Guard's 3rd Infantry Detachment
In the "Thick" of Iraqi Freedom q Douglas Guardsmen Conduct Terrorism, Mass Casualty Exercise q Guardsmen, Vehicles Part of Annual Auto Show q Savannah Facility Director Makes Moves q HRT Members Honored for Efforts q Georgia Students Awarded North Georgia Scholarships q Historical Society Holds Annual Meeting q Course to Offer Lessons in Leadership q New Program Offers Assistance to Separating Guardsmen
Photo Gallery
q Cordele and Valdosta armories renovated and rededicated q Governor Perdue signs letter of support for ESGR q Longtime supporter Coy Short honored
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More than 3,600 Georgia Citizen Soldiers Now on Duty
With Operation Iraqi Freedom just over two weeks old, and estimated more than 2,500 Georgia National Guard members are either in the theater of operation, or enroute.
While details of contributions by Georgia Guardsmen to the warfight are still sketchy, several units are playing integral roles and making major contributions to the efforts. The 3rd Infantry Detachment is at the "tip of the spear" with the Army's 3rd Infantry Division, while elements of the 221st Military Intelligence Battalion are beginning to pick up missions. The Georgia Air Guard's 116th Air Control Wing is flying JSTARS missions while the 165th Airlift Wing is flying missions throughout the theater.
As of the beginning of April, nearly 2,700 Army National Guard soldiers from Georgia have either been mobilized or have been assigned mobilization dates, and 300 more have been alerted for possible mobilization.
In the Air National Guard, units from Savannah and Brunswick have rotated Guardsmen into the theater of operations, while some 300 airmen, both National Guard and active duty, have been

deployed from the "combined" 116th Air Control Squadron. Additional, nearly 110 Air Guard Security Police remain on duty providing force protection at Robins AFB and in Savannah.
Stories and Photos of Unit Departures

190th Military Police Company

1st Battalion, 124th Field Artillery

878th Engineer Battalion

Story and Photos

Story Web Photo Gallery

Photos and stories

Both Air Guard Wings Pull Duty `In Country'
Georgia Airmen on the Frontline
Georgia's 116th Air Control Wing and 165th Airlift Wing have been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom bringing the number of Georgia Air Guardsmen serving in the Persian Gulf to more than 700.
Members of the 116th received a second activation order in early March adding them to the more than 400 Robins-based J-STARS personnel already in the region. The 116th received initial activation orders in early January and deployed to the area early in the Iraqi conflict.
J-STARS aircraft continue to coordinate much of the ground operations in Iraq as coalition forces move closer than ever to the capital city of Baghdad. The modified Boeing 707 jets, which have highly specialized sensors and communications equipment, provide guidance to ground commanders as they move their troops across the battlefield. Full Story

Georgia Guard's 3rd Infantry Detachment In the "Thick" of Iraqi Freedom
Editor's note: The Georgia Army Guard's 3rd Infantry Detachment is assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division from Ft. Stewart, which is one of the Army's lead unit in Iraqi Freedom. The following story is from the Hinesville Coastal Courier Online and was published about a week before the ground war began.
Talk about a tent city that never sleeps. Camp New York, a sprawling mass of tents, vehicles, equipment and men across the Kuwaiti desert, was home to most of the 3rd Infantry Division, until a few days ago. There are still plenty of the division's troops here, but probably not for long.
Running the rear operations of the 3rd falls to the 3rd ID Detachment, Rear Operations Center. They are National Guardsmen with the special task of following the division wherever it goes.

"We handle rear area security, terrain management and work directly for (Brig. Gen. Harry) Weber and his staff," said Capt. Reg Neal, a Hinesville native whose parents live in Allenhurst. "It never sleeps. It's a 24-hour operation supporting the infantry division on the ground. It is not 9-to-5. We're always receiving and sending out assets." Full Story
Douglas Guardsmen Conduct Terrorism, Mass Casualty Exercise
While the war with Iraq continues the U.S. remains at a "high" state of alert in response to possible terrorist attacks on its soil.
Because such acts of aggression can happen anywhere and at any time, Douglas' Company C, 648th Combat Engineer Battalion conducted Operation Resolve 2003, an antiterrorism, mass casualty exercise. Soldiers of the unit worked along side emergency responders at the city, county and state levels to subdue a group of "terrorists" who threatened the lives of Douglas' residents.
"Should such an incident ever happen, this exercise will have taught us lessons that we and the local authorities can use to better our overall response to the situation," said Capt. John Davis, Company C's commander." Read More on the Web
Web Photo Gallery
Guardsmen, Vehicles Part of Annual Auto Show
The Georgia Army National Guard's Demonstration and Recruiting Team, along with the Guard's Orange Crush and Patriot recruiting Humvees participated in the March 2003 Atlanta Journal Constitution Auto Show's "Salute to American Heroes."
Also making an appearance at the show was Car No. 54, the Army National Guard's Ford Taurus NASCAR racer. Helping make the event a success were members of the Georgia Army National Guard's marketing team. Full Story
Web Photo Gallery
Keep Up to Date
With Todd Bodine and Car 54
The National Guard's NASCAR
http://www.guardcar.com/home.html Race news, schedules, results, and more
Savannah Facility Director Makes Moves
Joyce Takes over as Safety Director
In an informal, but somewhat emotional ceremony March 28

at Hunter Army Airfield, Lt. Col. Steve Joyce said "so long" to the soldiers of Savannah's Detachment Company F, 131st Aviation.
Joyce, who was the full-time director of Army Air Support Facility No. 3 since September 1997, is now the safety and occupational health director at Headquarters STARC. He replaces Col. Charlie Martin who has assumed the duties of director of information management. Full Story
HRT Members Honored for Efforts
Thirty-five Receive Commendation Medals
Members of the Georgia Department of Defense Human Relations Team received medals during the team's quarterly conference in March for their efforts in helping the Georgia Department of Defense win its first national diversity award.
Maj. Gen. David B. Poythress, Georgia's Adjutant General, presented the medals to 35 team members for their collective efforts in the state winning the first-ever National Diversity Award in December 2002. Army members of the team received the Air Commendation Medal, while their Air Guard counterparts received the Army Commendation.
"Each of you played a special role in the state being recognized for its pioneering efforts in promoting diversity," General Poythress told the group. "And each of you deserves our thanks for your commitment to Georgia's diversity goals." Full Story
Georgia Students Awarded North Georgia Scholarships
A group of Georgia high school seniors were honored in March full four-year scholarships to North Georgia College and State University at a ceremony the school's Dahlonega campus.
Guard officials, those with the college and the Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC), which administers the scholarships. On hand to help make the presentations were Gov. Sunny Perdue and the state legislatures who nominated each of the 39 students.
This is the 23rd year the North Georgia Scholarship has been given. At least 550 students, so far, have benefited from the program. This year's recipients were chosen from more than 60 applicants. Total cash value of the awards exceeds $7.5 million. Full Story
Read More on the Web
Historical Society Holds Annual Meeting
Board to Hear Presentation on Museum
Board members of The Historical Society of the Georgia National Guard hold their annual Spring directors meeting this month.
Guest speaker at the meeting is Dorothy Olson, director of the State Capitol Museum. Olson will update the board on plans for a State of Georgia History Museum and what role the National Guard

may play in those plans.
The Historical Society of the National Guard is an organization dedicated to preserving the heritage of the Georgia Guard, as well as educating the public about the organi-zation's history. Anyone interested in more information on the society may contact John Hardwick at 404-624-6451; or Beryl I. Diamond at 404-624-6065.
Course to Offer Lessons in Leadership
Present and future leaders of the Army and Air National Guard are invited to participate in Organizational Development's second annual Leadership Skills Enhancement Course.
The course is set for July 22-25 at Macon's 202nd Engineer Installation Squadron. There's no cost to attend but participants who live outside Macon should be in a training status to help them cover the cost of lodging and meals. Full Story
New Program Offers Assistance to Separating Guardsmen
Soldiers and airmen looking for a career with great pay and benefits that puts a market value on their military skills after they leave the military may want to check out a new federally-funded program called "Helmets to Hardhats."
Information about the program can be found at http://www.helmetstohardhats.org/ or by calling, toll free, at 1-866-741-6210 to learn more about the program and to register. Full Story
Photo Spotlight
(Click on photos for larger image)

The Cordele and Valdosta armories are the latest to be completed in the armory renovation project. In March the two were re-dedicated during ribbon cutting ceremonies. Pictured above, in Cordele, Maj. Gen. David B. Poythress, is joined by Howard Rainey, a former Georgia Army Guardsman and retired state representative of District

With more than 7,500 members of the reserves mobilized from Georgia including some 3,600 Guardsmen - Governor Sonny Perdue made a major statement by signing a letter of support for the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. The Governor saluted the Guard and Reserves during a presentation at the Capitol in March.

In addition to signing a statement of support for the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserves in March, Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue honored Coy Short for his dedication and support to Georgia's military communities. Short is past ESGR State Chairman and a longtime friend to the Georgia National Guard.

135; and Emmett Walker Jr., retired command sergeant major of the 48th Infantry Brigade.

Lt. Gen. David B. Poythress The Adjutant General of Georgia

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Sandersville citizens show their support for members of Company A, 878th Engineer Battalion who deployed to Fort Stewart Thursday Mar. 20, 2003, a day after the U.S.
military launched attacks against Iraq.

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Kennesaw-Based 190th Mobilizes; Second Activation in Two Years

Editor's Note: the following was published by the Marietta Daily Journal on March 19.

By Matt Schafer Marietta Daily Journal Staff Writer

KENNESAW -- Moments before shipping out, Spc. Jamie Buckner stopped in his tracks, ran back to his wife and gave her one more kiss, likely the last one the couple would exchange this year.

Buckner was one of 124 Georgia National Guard military police who shipped out Tuesday as the Kennesaw-based 190th Military Police Company started a yearlong deployment.

discuss their destination.

The company is headed overseas, but they cannot

Family members lingered in the damp morning outside the 190th's headquarters across from McCollum Airport, exchanging goodbyes and messages of hope.

The company held a small sendoff and promotion ceremony Tuesday at McCollum Airport, a civilian airstrip just north of Barrett Parkway.

Among the family and friends gathered were more then a dozen uniformed Cobb County Police Department officers.

"We've got two officers in this unit, and we're here supporting them," Patrolman Ray Bradshaw said. "I'm still in the National Guard, so I might be shipping out in a few weeks myself."

Cobb Police Officers Bruce Witt and Gary Smith shipped out Tuesday.

For Spc. David Wright, 35, of Kennesaw, this is his second major deployment in four months. Last year, he was transferred to the 178th Military Police Company, which was sent to Cuba. When he returned in December, he reunited with the 190th, his home command.

"It's the same thing," Wright said. "I just got back from Cuba, and I'm ready to go again."

Despite some tearful goodbyes, 1st Lt. Navarro Whitsett, 36, of Marietta, said the MPs were ready and willing to serve.

"The morale is great, everybody is rearing to go," Navarro said. "It's tough leaving my wife, but in 18 years I've deployed enough that she's used to it."
For the Buckners this will be the first international deployment of their marriage and for the first time Tracy Buckner will be left alone with 3-year-old Meghan.
"That's the hardest part, him not being there with me," Ms. Buckner said.
Ms. Buckner is also left to answer her daughter's questions.
"She really doesn't understand it, her daddy is in law enforcement so we've told her that daddy has to go over there and put all of the bad guys in jail, so he has to go away for a while," she said.
The whole family turned out to wish Spc. Buckner a safe tour and a quick return.
"I think he'll draw strength from having his family here, and knowing what he has to return to," Aunt Sheryl McClure said.
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Army Guard's 1/214th Deploys
Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 214th Field Artillery are the latest to report to active duty posts for service in the on-going war on terrorism.
Elements of the 214th left March 20 Elberton, Hartwell, Athens, Thomson, Washington, Waynesboro and Toccoa for Fort Campbell, Ky. The Guardsmen are at Campbell to under additional training before departing to undisclosed locations in support of operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
When the soldiers left their home stations on March 20 convoys of Guardsmen and military equipment speed by families, friends school children and area government officials who wished them tearful farewells and hopes for a safe return. Crowds waved goodbye along main streets lined with American flags and yellow ribbons.
"None of us knows where we'll end up," said Capt. David Allen who commands Hartwell's Battery A. "What we do know is that we're ready to take on whatever job is given us and dedicate ourselves to its success and then coming home to our loved ones."
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878th Engineers Get Call to Serve
Editor's Note: the following was published by the Augusta Chronicle on March 21
By Jeremy Craig | Staff Writer
Members of the 878th Engineering Battalion of the Georgia Army National Guard left Augusta on Thursday morning, the same day thousands of American troops crossed into Iraq to wage war.
The fact that the unit is shipping out after war started has made it just a little easier to leave home, some service members and their families said.
Before war, many service members did not know exactly what was in store.
Now, the members of the 878th know what they're headed for, said Spc. Derek Ward, of Waynesboro.
It's still difficult to say goodbye, though. Spc. Ward's wife, Danielle, said he had just gotten home in January from active duty.
"It's really hard for me," said Mrs. Ward, who has been married to Spc. Ward for three years. "I don't have a lot but my child."
Spc. Jim Clearwater, of Jenkinsburg, Ga., said the start of the war has made him a little more at ease, too.
"We know enough now so that troops can get down to taking care of business," Spc. Clearwater said. Originally attached to a National Guard unit near Macon, he has been assigned to the 878th for heavy equipment maintenance.
Some, including Spc. Chaundra Reddick of Augusta, weren't quite so ready to go.
"I'm a little bit mad - I'd much rather go to school," she said.
Spc. Reddick said she was to start classes at the University of Georgia in June as a premed major, but those plans have been put on hold.
"But I'm not really nervous," she said. Spc. Reddick said she would be the driver for the battalion commander during her deployment.
Even though the battalion left Augusta for Fort Stewart on Thursday, members of the 878th and their families face another unknown: They may still have to wait a bit longer before going abroad.
"We don't know when they will leave," said Lt. Col. Ken Baldowski, a spokesman for the Georgia Department of Defense.
"It could be two to four weeks for all we know. It just depends on the needs at the theater (of operation)," he said.

Regardless of when they leave U.S. soil, some soldiers said, they're ready to take part in overseas action.
"It doesn't bother me a whole lot," said Spc. Jeff Courtright, of Thomson. "This is what I've been trained to do."
"We know enough now so that troops can get down to taking care of business." - Spc. Jim Clearwater, on the start of the war.
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Wings Pull Duty `in Country'
Georgia Airmen on the Frontline
Georgia's 116th Air Control Wing and 165th Airlift Wing have been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom bringing the number of Georgia Air Guardsmen serving in the Persian Gulf to more than 700.
Members of the 116th received a second activation order in early March adding them to the more than 400 Robins-based J-STARS personnel already in the region. The 116th received initial activation orders in early January and deployed to the area early in the Iraqi conflict.
J-STARS aircraft continue to coordinate much of the ground operations in Iraq as coalition forces move closer than ever to the capital city of Baghdad. The modified Boeing 707 jets, which have highly specialized sensors and communications equipment, provide guidance to ground commanders as they move their troops across the battlefield.
An estimated 200 aircrew and support personnel of the 165th Airlift Wing received orders in early March. The Savannah-based Guardsmen moved to a classified site from which they are providing airlift support to coalition troops. The heavy lift capabilities of the wing's C-130 aircraft will be used not only in the war, but also after coalition forces reach their objective.
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Top Stories From the desert: Rear guard watching camping

By:Patrick Donahue, Exective editor

March 12, 2003

CAMP NEW YORK - Talk about a tent city that never sleeps. Camp New York, a sprawling mass of tents, vehicles, equipment and men across the Kuwaiti desert, was home to most of the 3rd Infantry Division, until a few days ago. There are still plenty of the division's troops here, but probably not for l
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Georgia Guard's 3rd Infantry Detachment In the "Thick" of Iraqi Freedom
Editor's note: The Georgia Army Guard's 3rd Infantry Detachment is assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division from Ft. Stewart, which is one of the Army's lead unit in Iraqi Freedom. The following story is from the Hinesville Coastal Courier Online and was published about a week before the ground war began.
Talk about a tent city that never sleeps. Camp New York, a
sprawling mass of tents, vehicles, equipment and men across the Kuwaiti desert, was home to most of the 3rd Infantry Division, until a few days ago. There are still plenty of the division's troops here, but probably not for long.
Running the rear operations of the 3rd falls to the 3rd ID Detachment, Rear Operations Center. They are National Guardsmen with the special task of following the division wherever it goes.
"We handle rear area security, terrain management and work directly for (Brig. Gen. Harry) Weber and his staff," said Capt. Reg Neal, a Hinesville native whose parents live in Allenhurst. "It never sleeps. It's a 24-hour operation supporting the infantry division on the ground. It is not 9-to-5. We're always receiving and sending out assets."
The 3rd ID Detachment has three full-time National Guardsmen, led by Lt. Col. Woody Radcliffe, a Statesboro native who lives in Richmond Hill. Sixteen others are part-timers, including Spec. Jeffrey Williamson, who's working on his writing career.
Neal has been with the unit since January and gave up a job as a teacher and vice principal in Charleston, SC, to join the Guard full-time.
Radcliffe interviews every candidate who wants to join the unit, which was tasked to run the division's rear operations following Desert Storm. That arrangement allows the division to use its active forces elsewhere and the detachment is the only National Guard unit assigned to the 3rd ID.
"We're strictly a wartime unit," Radcliffe said. "We're not needed during peacetime or when the division is in garrison. It's a unique opportunity for a National Guard unit. We're always working with our full-time higher headquarters."
Lately, that hasn't been the case. And Radcliffe's troops always take part in command post and Warfighter exercises the division takes part in.
"Our unit is the highest priority unit in the Georgia Army National Guard," Radcliffe said. "We're guaranteed to deploy with the division. Since 9/11, the 3rd has postured itself to be ready to go anywhere. So have we."
They've been busy since they arrived in Kuwait in January. When their equipment was still at sea, the unit found other duties assigned its way.
"Since our boots hit the ground, we've been working 24-hour days," Radcliffe said. "We've had no days off and no leisure time."

The colonel tries to ensure his troops have strong, stable family lives behind them, since this Guard unit could go anywhere, anytime.
"We tell them, this is high speed," he said. "It's hard being in the National Guard these days. It's harder to be in this unit than any other National Guard unit."
Radcliffe has a wife and three children. He and nearly eight members of his church, Richmond Hill First Baptist, have been deployed. He missed his son's birth when he was deployed to Norway and will miss his seventh birthday.
The family support group has been of great help, Radcliffe said, and the Valentine's Day cards the troops received were most welcome.
"It was amazing to see the smiles on the faces," he said.
"Mail call is the most important part of the day," said Neal, who left on his 34th birthday and left behind a 2-year-old daughter, Alexandria.
Though the conditions are less than hospitable, Neal tries to remind himself of how tough other soldiers had it, especially those who fought in the Korean War.
"We're all doing well," he said. "It's not comfortable, but it's not bad."
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Staff Sgt. Scott Gilje, left, and 2nd Lt. Israel Brown, both with Company C, 648th Engineer Battalion, gently move a wounded civilian onto a stretcher to await transportation to Coffee County Regional Medical Center in Douglas. Two other wounded civilians wait movement to the medical center. The company took part in a mass casualty multi-agency training exercise.

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Guardsmen, Vehicles Part of Annual Auto Show

The Georgia Army National Guard's Demonstration and Recruiting Team, along with the Guard's Orange Crush and Patriot recruiting Humvees participated in the March 2003 Atlanta Journal Constitution Auto Show's "Salute to American Heroes."

National Guard's marketing team.

Also making an appearance at the show was Car No. 54, the Army National Guard's Ford Taurus NASCAR racer. Helping make the event a success were members of the Georgia Army

During the four-day event the DART team met with more than an estimated 200 car enthusiast who asked questions about the Guard and the Humvees, said Sgt. Shawn Dantzler. Dantzler, the team's NCOIC, said that through those contacts, an estimated 18 leads on prospective recruits were gained.

Sgt. Jason Howland of the Recruiting and Retention Office at Headquarters STARC was among those who assisted with the Guard's part in car show. "Overall, I'd have to say it was an unqualified success," Howland said. "Events such as this allow us to highlight what the Guard does, locally and nationally, while touting the benefits of serving as a Guardsman."

Web Photo Gallery

Keep Up to Date
With Todd Bodine and Car 54
The National Guard's NASCAR
http://www.guardcar.com/home.html Race news, schedules, results, and more

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Staff Sgt. Jeff Earhart, left, and Chief Warrant Officer 5 Jack Johnson present a photo to Lt. Col. Steve Joyce, the outgoing commander of the Army Aviation Support Facility at Hunter Army Airfield. Johnson is the interim commander until a permanent one is chosen.

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Savannah Facility Director Makes Moves
Joyce Takes over as Safety Director
In an informal, but somewhat emotional ceremony March 28 at Hunter Army Airfield, Lt. Col. Steve Joyce said "so long" to the soldiers of Savannah's Detachment Company F, 131st Aviation.
Joyce, who was the full-time director of Army Air Support Facility No. 3 since September 1997, is now the safety and occupational health director at Headquarters STARC. He replaces Col. Charlie Martin who has assumed the duties of director of information management.
Joyce's duties at AASF No. 3 have been turned over to Company F's Chief Warrant Officer 5 Jack Johnson. Johnson will remain in command until Joyce's replacement has been named.
"He (Joyce) has been an inspiration to us all during his time with the unit," Johnson said. "Although he's only a telephone call away, we're going to miss having him here."
Looking over the Guardsmen gathered before him, Joyce said he was proud of the unit.
"You have been like family to us from the first day we arrived back in 1997," he said while trying hard not to let emotion overcome him. "I have served with no better group of professionals than you."
While Joyce may be leaving AASF No. 3 and Company F, he will continue to have regular contact with the unit. Lt. Col. Dennis Livingston, commander 1st Aviation Group, said he plans to keep the new state safety director involved in the ongoing work to get the unit's new facility and armory built. That, Livingston said, is supposed to happen in 2005.
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HRT Members Honored for Efforts
Thirty-five Receive Commendation Medals
Members of the Georgia Department of Defense Human Relations Team received medals during the team's quarterly conference in March for their efforts in helping the Georgia Department of Defense win its first national diversity award.
Maj. Gen. David B. Poythress, Georgia's Adjutant General, presented the medals to 35 team members for their collective efforts in the state winning the first-ever National Diversity Award in December 2002. Army members of the team received the Air Commendation Medal, while their Air Guard counterparts received the Army Commendation.
"Each of you played a special role in the state being recognized for its pioneering efforts in promoting diversity," General Poythress told the group. "And each of you deserves our thanks for your commitment to Georgia's diversity goals."
Col Jimmy Davis, conference coordinator and director of human resources for the Georgia DoD, echoed that sentiment. He added that Georgia's strategic diversity plan has become a benchmark for many other states.
Team member Chief Master Sgt. Percy Freeman of the 116th Air Control Wing was singled out for extraordinary contribution HRT's efforts in promoting diversity. Freeman received the first-ever individual diversity award the same day the state received the national award at the National Guard Bureau in Washington.
In other business, the team:
q Reviewed the results of a series of in-dept surveys taken in 2002 completed by Air National Guard units across the state. Those surveys will go into the Joint ARNG/ANG strategic diversity plan.
q Outlined the deployment of the state's diversity training program. Participants, however, admit that active deployment of the plan may face the delays caused by the war in Iraq.
The subject of instituting a formal mentoring program in each unit was also on the team's agenda. Members recommended that each unit establish and maintain an active and highly aggressive mentoring program designed to assist soldiers and airmen in guiding their military careers.
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North Georgia College and State University scholarship winner pose with Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue and State Representative Ann Purcell at the Georgia Capitol. The Georgia National Guard sponsors the scholarship

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Georgia Students Awarded North Georgia Scholarships

A group of Georgia high school seniors were honored in March full four-year scholarships to North Georgia College and State University at a ceremony the school's Dahlonega campus.

the 39 students.

Guard officials, those with the college and the Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC), which administers the scholarships. On hand to help make the presentations were Gov. Sunny Perdue and the state legislatures who nominated each of

This is the 23rd year the North Georgia Scholarship has been given. At least 550 students, so far, have benefited from the program. This year's recipients were chosen from more than 60 applicants. Total cash value of the awards exceeds $7.5 million.

To be eligible for a scholarship, each student had to be nominated by a member of Georgia's General Assembly. The nominees had to have a high school grade point average of at least 3.0 and a SAT score of more than 1000 points.

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Course to Offer Lessons in Leadership
Present and future leaders of the Army and Air National Guard are invited to participate in Organizational Development's second annual Leadership Skills Enhancement Course.
The course is set for July 22-25 at Macon's 202nd Engineer Installation Squadron. There's no cost to attend but participants who live outside Macon should be in a training status to help them cover the cost of lodging and meals.
Tech. Sgt. Connie Baptiste, who is assisting in setting up the course, said three of the available 25 seats have been reserved. Those planning to attend should make their reservations no later than June 20.
Capt. Tiffany Sneed, who is in charge of the course, said one reason soldiers and airmen should take part is that it offers them a new look at leadership rarely taught in military schools. It also gives participants the opportunity to discover how their character type can enhance their natural leadership abilities.
For more information about the course and the subjects to be taught, contact Baptiste by calling 678655-3964 or by e-mail at connie.baptiste@ga.ngb.army.mil Sneed can reach at 678-655-4187 or by email at tiffany.sneed@ga.ngb.army.mil
Those making reservations need to check with their chain-of-command and then provide their name, rank, e-mail address and unit.
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New Program Offers Assistance to Separating Guardsmen
Soldiers and airmen looking for a career with great pay and benefits that puts a market value on their military skills after they leave the military may want to check out a new federally-funded program called "Helmets to Hardhats."
Information about the program can be found at http://www.helmetstohardhats.org/ or by calling, toll free, at 1-866-741-6210 to learn more about the program and to register.
This not-for-profit program opens a line of communication between the Guard and Reserve and the country's construction industry. Service members with construction skills, and who are separating from the military, can use it to job opportunities. Helmets to Hardhats also provides those who want to learn construction skills to find training programs that allow them to learn while getting paid.
Information about the program can be found at www.helmetstohardhats.org or by calling, toll free, 1-866741-6210. Among the 10,000 opportunities listed on the site are positions for bricklayers, carpenters, cement masons, electricians, operating engineers, painters, plumber and pipe fitters, ironworkers, insulators and roofers.
Additional information can also be obtained by contacting Cliff Mashburn, South Eastern regional recruiter for Helmets to Hardhats, at (404) 427-1293 or by e-mail cmashburn@eaglegroupint.com
Funded through the FY2003 Department of Defense budget, Helmets to Hardhats was launched in January. It is administered by the Center for Military Recruitment, Assess-ment and Veterans Employment. The center was established by Congress to serve as a one-stop shop for what have been deemed to be the best construction jobs across the nation. The Army administers the center's funding.
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The Cordele and Valdosta armories are the latest to be completed in the armory renovation project. In March the two were re-dedicated during ribbon cutting ceremonies. Pictured above, in Cordele, Maj. Gen. David B. Poythress, is joined by Howard Rainey, a former Georgia Army Guardsman and retired state representative of District 135; and Emmett Walker Jr., retired command sergeant major of the 48th Infantry Brigade.

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With more than 7,500 members of the reserves mobilized from Georgia - including some 3,600 Guardsmen - Governor Sonny Perdue made a major statement by signing a letter of support for the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. The Governor saluted the Guard and Reserves during a presentation at the Capitol in March.

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In addition to signing a statement of support for the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserves in March, Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue honored Coy Short for his dedication and support to Georgia's military communities. Short is past ESGR State Chairman and a longtime friend to the Georgia National Guard.