First Friday briefing [July 4, 2003]

Georgia DOD Home
First Friday Briefing for July, 2003
In this issue:
q Georgia Guardsmen Continue to Support Iraqi Freedom, War on Terror LRSU Soldiers Wounded in Iraq; All Returned to Duty
q 48th Brigade Completes 2003 AT; Train Up For 2005 NTC q Units Get New Commanders q Guard Band Helps Honor Carter, King q Enlistee Participates in All-Volunteer Ceremony q Citizen-Soldiers Participate in July 4 Activities q Westgate Takes On New Position q Date Set For Next 'Fast Track' OCS Class q Customer Survey Continues q Annual Family Readiness Workshop Set q Davis Set For Bureau Position q Clean Air Campaign Offers Commuters Cash q Plans For Historical Society Conference, Workshop Continue q Guard Lauded by Governor At NGAGA Confab q Horse Camps Draws Enthusiastic Kids
Photo Gallery
q 4 Receive Recognition for Fund Raising Effort q TAG Completes Course q Senator Hill Receives Minuteman Award
Georgia Guardsmen Continue to Support Iraqi Freedom, War on Terror
More than 4,000 Georgia Army and Air National Guard members remain mobilized in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and other operations on the US War on Terror. That number includes more than 3,000 deployed to the Middle East. Here's a brief look at some of the events of the past several weeks....
LRSU Soldiers Wounded
Six Long Range Surveillance soldiers of Georgia's Company H, 121st Infantry Regiment, were involved in action inside Iraq toward the end of June that resulted in four of Guardsmen being wounded.
Company H, stationed at Fort Gillem In Ellenwood, has been on deployment with the 221st Military Intelligence Battalion since March. The unit is expected to be overseas for up to a year.
Capt. Matthew Smith, Company H commander, reported in a recent e-mail home that three of the seven received minor shrapnel wounds, while the fourth suffered minor first-degree burns to one of his hands. The soldiers, Sgt. 1st Class Colin Thompson, Staff Sgt. Robert Garrison, Sgt. Logan Corse and Spc. David Giammoa, had their wounds treated and were released from a short time later from the medical facility that treated them, Smith stated. Sgt. William Hughes and Sgt. John Lara, the two other squad members, were "lucky enough to escape injury," he added.
The LRSU soldiers came under attack by enemy fighters while escorting a convoy to a base north of Baghdad, Smith wrote. He stated that during the trip, the military vehicle the group was riding in was hit by debris from an explosive device that was detonated by enemy combatants along side the highway on which the convoy was traveling.
"Our paratroopers reacted exactly as they have trained," Smith recounted. "They immediately regained control of their vehicle after the explosion, and they took the appropriate action in response to the threat and then continued on with their mission."
48th Brigade Completes AT 2003; Train Up For 2005 NTC Rotation Continues
Georgia's 48th Enhanced Brigade has moved another step closer to its rotation to the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif., with the completion of annual Training 2003 at Fort Stewart.
More than 2,000 members of the 48th occupied Stewart's piney woods and swamplands for two weeks. There they sharpened their individual and combat skills in anticipation of the Brigade's deployment to the NTC. Before going to fort Irwin, the 48th will travel next year to Fort riley, Kans., where the Brigade will conduct a Mission Readiness Exercise (MRE). Full Story
Units Get New Commanders
There have been several changes of command within Georgia's 48th Enhanced Brigade recently. New commanders have stepped up and taken the reins of at three brigade elements.

These were: q 648th Combat Engineer Battalion in Statesboro Lt. Col. Tom Blackstock took command of the battalion from Lt. Col. Randy Postell. q 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment headquartered in Albany Lt. Col. Harry S. McCorkle is the new commander, replacing Lt. Col. Scott Carter. q 1st Battalion 121st Infantry Regiment in Lawrenceville Now under the command of Maj. (P) Ben Sartain. Sartain replaces Lt. Col. Reed B. Dunn.
Guard band Helps Honor Carter, King Soldiers of the Georgia Army National Guard's 116th Army Band participated in an event recently that honored the lives and works of President Jimmy Carter and the late Dr. Martin Luther King. Band members provided a variety of melodies for the ceremony during which exhibits about Carter and King were unveiled to an audience of more than 60. Full Story
Enlistee Participates In All-Volunteer Ceremony The newest soldier to the Georgia Army National Guard's ranks was one of ten people inducted into military service as part of the 30 anniversary of the day America dropped the draft and adopted the "All-Volunteer Force." Active duty, Guard and Reserve officials were among the guests honoring the enlistees and the accomplishments of today's volunteer military during a ceremony at Fort Gillem's Military Entrance Processing Station in Ellenwood. Full Story
Citizen-Soldiers Participate in July 4 Activities Georgia Guardsmen were among the more than 2,000 active duty, Guard and Reserve and Department of Defense civilians supporting Independence Day celebrations across the nation. Soldiers assigned to the Army National Guard's Demonstration and Recruiting Team (DART), for example, were at Six Flags over Georgia during the week leading up to the July 4 holiday. Team members then joined the WSB Salute 2 America pre-parade show on the fourth. DART's Patriot and Orange Crush Humvees, along with a tactical Humvee assigned to Kennesaw's 190th Military Police Company and the Guard's Sgt. Hooah were among those traveled the parade route. As the parade progressed, three UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from Marietta's 1st Battalion, 171st Aviation Regiment flew overhead. Full Story
165th's Westgate Takes On New Position Col. Steve Westgate, who commands Savannah's 165th Airlift Wing, has been named deputy director of mobility forces (DM4) in the Southwest Asia Area of Operations (AOR). During his 90-day deployment overseeing mobility operations throughout Southwest Asia, it is his task to coordinates air assets used throughout the theater of operations. The seven-day-a-week, eight-hour workload leaves him little time except to work, run, eat and sleep and then to start the routine over again, Westgate said. But he quickly added, "What I do doesn't hold a candle to what our soldiers and airmen are doing everyday in the field." As deputy director of mobility operations, Westgate is working out of U.S. Central Command at Al Udeid AB, Qatar. Full Story
Date Set for Next `Fast Track' OCS Class
Georgia's Accelerated Officer Candidate School Orientation will be conducted, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sept. 6, at Macon's Regional Training Institute. Interested and qualified soldiers are encouraged to attend this event, They should remember, however, that direct coordination through unit or major command is required. Soldiers attending this orientation will be in a split drill status and placed on Individual Duty (IDT). Training travel orders for this event by their unit. OCS accession packets can be obtained from the State Recruiting Office by calling 404-675-5269 or by e-mailing Capt. Josie Johnson as well as from unit commanders. Full Story and Requirements
Annual Family Readiness Workshop Set Georgia will conduct a combined Family Readiness Workshop, Army and Air Senior Leaders' Conference Aug. 15 to 17 at the Crowne Plaza hotel near Hartsfield International Airport. Each Army and Air National Guard unit is authorized, and encouraged to send two volunteers to attend the workshop. The workshop and conferences are combined this year to accomplish fiscal savings, and because of the increased "operational tempo" of Army and Air Guard. Key leaders will gather to discuss leadership issues and meet with family readiness volunteers, commanders, senior noncommissioned officers and Family Readiness volunteers attending this groundbreaking event. The conference will have joint and separate sessions. Tentative plans include service specific breakouts planned by Air, Army and Family Readiness. Events are

planned for Friday through noon Sunday. A "no-host" social and awards banquet will be held Saturday evening. Registration will be conducted Friday morning and will consist of two different fees. Military members will pay a reimbursable $60 registration, while all other attendees will pay a non-refundable $30 registration fee. Those planning to attend should make reservations directly to the Atlanta Crowne Plaza at 404-768-6660 or 1-866-896-8937 for a rate of $112.00 per night and ask for the GA National Guard Conference. For further information call Lt. Col. Rene Kuhn at 404-624-6454 or Altamese Finch at 404-624-6420.
Davis Accepts NGB Post
Air National Guard Col. Jimmy Davis, director of human resources for the Georgia National Guard, has been appointed deputy director for human resources at the National Guard Bureau in Washington. He will report to NGB in August. "I appreciate the opportunity of being selected for the position of deputy director," Davis said in a recent interview with the Georgian National Guard Public Affairs Office. "This assignment provides me the opportunity to streamline and improve the human resource processes at the national level. "It also allows me assist human resource officers throughout the United States and its territories" he said. "I look forward to working on the NGB Joint Staff with Lt. Gen. Blum and Mr. Stine." Full Story
Clean Air Campaign Offers Commuters Cash
Georgia Guard and Department of Defense employees can free themselves from the hassle of Atlanta traffic and earn money for changing the way they travel to and from work. The enormous amount of traffic in the metro area continues to increase pollution problems, which also causes a rise in pollution related illnesses and stress. Those who participate in Atlanta's clean air campaign can receive $180 for finding alternatives to driving their personal vehicles. Guardsmen and DoD civilians who anticipate taking advantage of the program have until Sept. 30 to register. They can do so by contacting Joy Drummond, environmental awareness coordinator, at 404-624-6539 or sending e-mailing to her. Registration forms for the Commuter Cash program can picked up at the Environmental Office in Building No. 21 at the Confederate Avenue complex. They can also be found on the Web at cleanaircampaign.com Participants with questions can call Drummond or 1-877-CLEANAIR.
Workshop, Conference Mark Historical Society Plans
The Historical Society of the Georgia National Guard continues planning for its annual conference and Guard historian's workshop. Society members have scheduled the event for Oct. 24 and 25 in Forsyth. Conference organizers have said a panel of former Georgia Army and Air Guardsman, including Charles Shepard and John W. Meeler will talk about their service in the Guard before, during and following World War II. Historical Society officials have said other Guard veterans who served in the Pacific during the war are being sought for the panel. Hosting this year's conference is retired Brig. Gen. Paul Jossey, Forsyth's mayor and a former Army Guard chief of staff. Events planned for the Saturday conference, which normally kicks off in the morning, include a luncheon. The annual conference of the Historical Society is open to the public. Cost and event details will become available as time for the conference draws near, said society president John Hardwick. Some of the issues and projects Society members are involved with include the restoration of several artillery pieces, the conservation of Guard unit guidons and flags, and the publication of a anthology detailing events in Georgia Guard history The Workshop, to be held the Friday before the Saturday conference, is especially significant this year, said Staff Sgt. Gail Parnelle, who works with the Georgia's Army National Guard History Section. Preserving, recording and maintaining the history of the past year, she said, is crucial because of the many mobilizations and deployments that have occurred. "We need to capture that history so the generations of Guardsmen who come after us will know who we were and what we did," Parnelle explained.
The Historians Workshop is the only annual conference during which historians of all branches come together and discuss mutual issues and problems.
Georgia DoD Customer Survey Continues
Georgia's Organizational Development Office continues its Internet-based survey to determine the level of satisfaction among our employees/members. To find the survey go to (http://websurveyor.net/wsb.dll/12894/2003GADODSURVEY.htm) . There will be no paper surveys mailed out this year.
Officials with the office are conducting the survey to find out how satisfied the DoD family is with the assistance they receive from a variety of offices. The survey was released May 1 and will be available through July 17. This assessment of services measures only a person's opinion and perceptions, so there are no right or wrong answers. Data from the survey will be compiled as a group. This is Organizational Development's first Internet-hosted survey. Commanders and supervisors are asked to ensure their people have access to the Internet for maximum participation. Full-time employees/members have been asked to answer the questions based on their full-time experiences.
Governor Lauds Guard During NGAGA Meeting Governor Sonny Purdue and wife Mary were among the dignitaries to express their gratitude for the dedication and selfless service offered up by Georgia's citizen-soldiers during the 2003 National Guard Association of Georgia (NAAGA) conference. More than 200 NAGA members, some accompanied by their spouses, listened intently as the commander-in-chief and first

lady heaped praise upon them for the professionalism that citizen-soldiers continue to show while taking on state and federal missions.
This year's three-day conference took place in late June at St. Simons Island. Also present this year were senior members of the Enlisted National Guard Association of Georgia, whose conference was cancelled because of mission and personnel commitments to the homeland security and the U.S.-led war on terrorism.
Horse Camp Draws Enthusiastic Youths
Nine dependents of Georgia National Guardsmen attended the second annual youth Horse Camp sponsored by the North Star Equestrian Center.
During the weeklong camp, the youths learned horse safety, grooming, saddling up, basic riding (start out in an arena), feeding and stall cleaning, and classes on shoeing and English riding. Also included are activities such as swimming, fishing, archery, and golfing. Full Story
At left: Jason Rogers leads "his horse Charlie". Rogers' partner, Jamiah Aguabella waits his turn at the 2003 horse camp.
Photo Spotlight

Captain D's Officials Receive Recognition
From Left: Jesse Spaulding, Jim Kite, and Buddy Uncapher pose with their Georgia Commendation Medals. Georgia Army National Guard commander Brig. Gen. Terry Nesbitt presented the awards in a special ceremony. The Captain D's managers donated food, supplies and labor in April to support the State Area Command's Family Readiness Group which raised more than $400. The Readiness Group helps support National Guard soldiers' families in times of need. Austin Gipson, a Captain D's area director also received the award, but was unable to attend.

Senator Hill Receives Recognition

Maj. Gen. Poythress Completes Course State Senator Jack Hill receives a
Minuteman Award from Col. Tom Lynn,

Air Guard Capt. Tiffany Sneed congratulates Maj. Gen. David B. Poythress, Georgia's Adjutant General, who recently completing a shortened version of Leadership Skills Enhancement Course. Set for July 22 to 25,

commander of the 116th Air Control Wing. Sen. Hill, a retired member of the Air National Guard, received the award in recognition of his lifelong dedication and service to the Georgia National Guard.

the complete course takes place at Macon's

202nd Engineer Installation Squadron.

Sneed, who works with Organizational

Development, said there are two slots

unfilled for the course, and those who may

want to participate should check with their

chain-of-command to get authorization. More

information can be obtained by calling 678-

655-4187 or sending an e-mail to tiffany.

sneed@ga.ngb.army.mil.

Return to First Friday Briefing
Lt. Col. Tom Blackstock (left) assumed command of the 648th Engineer Battalion in a change of command ceremony at Fort Stewart. Other 48th Infantry Brigade battalions also have new leaders.

Return to First Friday Briefing
Georgia Army National Guard Sgt. Matthew Burke, drum major, leads Ellenwood's 116th Army Band in a rendition of "America the Beautiful" while people gather for the unveiling ceremony of the first of six exhibits honoring President Jimmy Carter and the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (Georgia National Guard photo by Sgt. Roy Henry)

Return to First Friday Briefing
Spc. Toni Hand (far left) swears to "uphold the Constitution of the United States and obey the orders of the officers appointed over me," while she and nine other inductees are sworn in at Fort Gillem's Military Entrance Processing Station in Ellenwood. Swearing in Hand and her fellow enlistees is Maj. Gen. David B. Poythress, Georgia's Adjutant General.

Return to First Friday Briefing
Georgia Guardsmen were among the more than 2,000 active duty, Guard and Reserve and Department of Defense civilians supporting Independence Day celebrations across the nation. Soldiers assigned to the Army National Guard's Demonstration and Recruiting Team (DART), for example, were at Six Flags over Georgia during the week leading up to the July 4 holiday. Team members then joined the WSB Salute 2 America pre-parade show on the fourth. DART's Patriot and Orange Crush Humvees, along with a tactical Humvee assigned to Kennesaw's 190th Military Police Company and the Guard's Sgt. Hooah were among those traveled the parade route. As the parade progressed, three UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from Marietta's 1st Battalion, 171st Aviation Regiment flew overhead. Later in the day, DART put the Patriot and Orange Crush on display next to an Army Guard Black Hawk in the parking lot of Turner Stadium. This allowed Braves baseball fans to talk with Georgia Guardsmen prior to the game. That night the Black Hawk left the parking lot to do a fly-over of the stadium. It then proceeded to Lennox Mall. Once over the mall, it joined two other UH-60s in a fly-over of the mall and

Centennial Olympic Park.
Missing from this year's activities were Long Range Surveillance soldiers of Company H, 121st Infantry Regiment. In the past a group from the Fort Gillem-based unit re-enact the foot march conducted in December 1943 Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, from Camp Toccoa in Northeast Georgia to Atlanta.
Company H is on deployment to the Middle East where it is assisting in the stabilization of Iraq since the end of major combat operations in that war-torn country.
Return to First Friday Briefing

Return to First Friday Briefing
165th's Westgate Takes On New Position
Col. Steve Westgate, who commands Savannah's 165th Airlift Wing, has been named deputy director of mobility forces (DM4) in the Southwest Asia Area of Operations (AOR). During his 90day deployment overseeing mobility operations throughout Southwest Asia, it is his task to coordinates air assets used throughout the theater of operations.
The seven-day-a-week, eight-hour workload leaves him little time except to work, run, eat and sleep and then to start the routine over again, Westgate said. But he quickly added, "What I do doesn't hold a candle to what our soldiers and airmen are doing everyday in the field."
As deputy director of mobility operations, Westgate is working out of U.S. Central Command at Al Udeid AB, Qatar.
"We carry every thing from Arnold Schwarzenegger visiting the troops to suspected weapons of mass destruction found `in theatre,'" said Westgate, whose supervision extends to virtually every facet of Central Command U.S. Air Forces air operations in the congested air corridor over Southwest Asia. He also handles an ever-changing air control environment that demands his careful attention to detail and operational security.
Westgate, in working with the Combined Air and Space Operations Center, is charged with the movement of troops, vehicles, ammunition and food throughout the region. Hundreds of airlift aircraft travel the Southwest Asian skies each day to bring this vital cargo to the continuing war effort.
On a daily basis, Westgate is coordinating air traffic control slot times into each country in the region. He arranges for diplomatic clearances, coordinates base closures and openings, secure country clearances for distinguished visitors airlift, coordinates American Expeditionary Force rotations in and out of area of operations.
Westgate's new job also has him developing aircraft tactics within the theater of operations, resolving tanker aircraft issues and arranges for the movement of enemy prisoner of war. He oversees issues of security and intelligence matters as well as those concerning aircraft maintenance, supply, airspace and force protection.
As deputy director Westgate has conducted airfield surveys to Balad, Baghdad, Al Minhad and Al Dhafra. In addition to tactical airlift, Westgate handles the strategic airlift missions flown by Air Force C-5, C-17 and C-141 aircraft and works issues involving coalition aircraft and contract air carriers that bring in and take out military personnel.
Return to First Friday Briefing

Return to First Friday Briefing
Date Set for 'Fast Track' OCS Class
Georgia's Accelerated Officer Candidate School Orientation will be conducted, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sept. 6, at Macon's Regional Training Institute. Interested and qualified soldiers are encouraged to attend this event, They should remember, however, that direct coordination through unit or major command is required. Soldiers attending this orientation will be in a split drill status and placed on Individual Duty (IDT).
Training travel orders for this event by their unit.
Unit Commanders are encouraged to nominate / counsel personnel prior to attending this orientation to ensure that only qualified applicants attend. Dates for the Winter Accelerated OCS course are:
q Phase 1, Alabama RTI is Jan. 31, 2004 to Feb. 14, 2004 q Phase 2, is February 15, 2004 to March 12, 2004 q Phase 3, is March 13, 2004 to March 27, 2004
The ATRRS school code for this course is 974.
Initial entry requirements to OCS include:
q Meet physical requirements as outlined in Chapter 2, AR 40-501 q Heet height and weight standards established in AR 600-9 q Valid Commissioning Physical within 6 months of reporting to OCS q Passing score on the Army Physical Fitness Test q Must be a citizen of the United States q No record of undesirable convictions *May be waived q College credits to enroll = 60 Semester or 90 Quarter hours (official transcript required) q College credits prior to commissioning = 90 Semester or 135 Quarter hours (official
transcript required) q Score of 850 (SAT) or 19 (ACT) (official transcript required) q GT score of 110 or higher in aptitude area on the ASVAB / AFCT q Minimum of 18 years of age q Maximum of 30 years of age upon time of graduation * Up to 35 years with a waiver by
The Adjutant General, up to but not including 40 years with waiver by the National Guard Bureau. Must be commissioned prior to 40th birthday with NGB waiver.
For more information contact Sgt. 1st Class Rodney A. Becton by calling 478-464-3229.
Return to First Friday Briefing

Return to First Friday Briefing
Davis Accepts NGB Post
Air National Guard Col. Jimmy Davis, director of human resources for the Georgia National Guard, has been appointed deputy director for human resources at the National Guard Bureau in Washington. He will report to NGB in August.
"I appreciate the opportunity of being selected for the position of deputy director," Davis said in a recent interview with the Georgian National Guard Public Affairs Office. "This assignment provides me the opportunity to streamline and improve the human resource processes at the national level.
"It also allows me assist human resource officers throughout the United States and its territories" he said. "I look forward to working on the NGB Joint Staff with Lt. Gen. Blum and Mr. Stine."
Davis said he will "truly miss my HRO family and other friends in the Georgia Guard who have made a difference in my life."
Davis, a 37-year military veteran, has been the Georgia Department of Defense director of human resources since October 1996. Under his leadership, the Georgia DoD was awarded the nation's first Diversity Excellence Award in 2002. Davis and other DoD officials were presented the award by NGB representatives. This recognition is one of the National Guard's highest honors in the human relations field, and it represents the Georgia National Guard's focus on its people.
Davis has been instrumental in overseeing all human resources and manpower issues relating to the formation of the 116th Air Control Wing, the first combined Guard and active-duty wing in the Air Force.
He began his military career in January 1966 when he enlisted and was assigned to Marietta's 116th Military Airlift Group. Davis was commissioned as a first lieutenant in 1978 and later became a personnel officer, serving in a variety of positions in the human resources directorate. He commanded the 116th Fighter Wing Mission Support Squadron for three years during which time the unit received the Outstanding Unit Award.
During the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta, Davis was the military venue commander at the Georgia Dome. During that mission, he commanded more than 200 troops.
Davis also chaired the Georgia DoD human resources team that was honored in 2001 with the Oglethorpe Award for Organizational Excellence. He continues as chairman for the DoD Human Relations Team.
Return to First Friday Briefing

The survey you requested: "12894/2003GADODSURVEY.htm" has been deactivated. It has been closed by the owner of the survey. This is not an error. If you have questions regarding this survey please contact the owner of the survey directly.

Return to First Friday Briefing

Participants in the Summer Riding Camp put their mounts through their paces

Nine children of Georgia National Guardsmen got up close and personal with horses and their care, thanks to a cooperative effort of Andy Robb, owner of Jasper, Georgia's North Star Equestrian Center and the Georgia National Guard Family Readiness Office. The second summer Horseback Riding Camp for family members of Georgia National Guardsmen held June 8 14, 2003 gave the nine participants a view from the saddle, as well as the experience of grooming, and cleaning stalls.

More than 24 citizens of Jasper and Talking Rock volunteered their time and talents to provide a place to stay, meals, fishing pond and grill, instruction to the students, and transportation to and from the activities for the youths selected to attend.

Attendees:

Boys:

Jamiah Aguabella Tyler Faulkner Scott Perry Irvin Roberts Jason Rogers

Girls:

Kristin Kuettel Chelse Pike Danielle Roberts Avante Spear

Return to First Friday Briefing
From Left: Jesse Spaulding, Jim Kite, and Buddy Uncapher pose with their Georgia Commendation Medals. Georgia Army National Guard commander Brig. Gen. Terry Nesbitt presented the awards in a special ceremony. The Captain D's managers donated food, supplies and labor in April to support the State Area Command's Family Readiness Group which raised more than $400. The Readiness Group helps support National Guard soldiers' families in times of need. Austin Gipson, a Captain D's area director also received the award, but was unable to attend.

Return to First Friday Briefing
Air Guard Capt. Tiffany Sneed congratulates Maj. Gen. David B. Poythress, Georgia's Adjutant General, who recently completing a shortened version of Leadership Skills Enhancement Course. Set for July 22 to 25, the complete course takes place at Macon's 202nd Engineer Installation Squadron. Sneed, who works with Organizational Development, said there are two slots unfilled for the course, and those who may want to participate should check with their chain-of-command to get authorization. More information can be obtained by calling 678-655-4187 or sending an e-mail to tiffany.sneed@ga.ngb.army. mil.

Return to First Friday Briefing
State Senator Jack Hill receives a Minuteman Award from Col. Tom Lynn, commander of the 116th Air Control Wing. Sen. Hill, a retired member of the Air National Guard, received the award in recognition of his lifelong dedication and service to the Georgia National Guard.