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A short time later, the unit boarded buses waiting to take them to Fort Bliss, Texas, where they will prepare for their yearlong deployment to Iraq. After spending a month at Bliss getting "spun-up" on the unit's primary mission upgrading and repairing the equipment destined for return stateside as The 110th CSB formed up for the deployment ceremony. is a full-time quality assurance inspector for the Army Guard's FMS No. 1 in Atlanta, will oversee the "maintenance side of things." As an active duty Soldier, Hobbs deployed with the 10th Mountain Division during the first Gulf War. As a Guardsman with Jackson's former 166th Maintenance Company, he defended the main gates of Fort Gillem and Fort McPherson as part of the homeland security mission, Operation Noble Eagle. "I've been doing this a long time," he said while holding on to his wife, Julie. This is her first deployment. "It's the thing we do as Soldiers," he added. "What's hard is the letting go," Juile said, clinging to him ever-tighter. "I know he's got to go, that what he's doing is important, but it's still hard having him there and not here with me." Captain Shauna Evans, the unit's intelligence officer, is one of the first-timers. A marketing manager for Clear Water, Florida's, Tech Data Systems, Evans drives five hours, one way, from Tampa to Tifton for drill each month. "If you're like me, and you love what you do, it's worth the drive. But I also know I'm going home when drill's over and see my family [Isabella, 11, Devin, 2, and husband Ben, himself a former Army staff sergeant]," Evans said. She leaned over, kissed Devin's face and added, "This time, it's gonna be a year before I hold them again. I love being a Soldier, but I guess I'm also a typical mother, who's torn between doing the job and being at home with her family." part of the drawdown of forces from Iraq the 110th will move to Camp Adder at Tallil Air Base. Tallil is about 192 miles Southeast of Baghdad and adjacent to famous archeological sites at Ur. While there, the unit will act as higher headquarters for active, Guard and Reserve units, explained Command Sgt. Maj. Ed Andrews, the battalion's senior enlisted leader. Andrews is also the full-time shop foreman for the Georgia Army Guard's Field Maintenance Shop No. 4 in Winder. "We've already validated most of our basic Soldier skills at home station," Andrews said. "The rest, we'll take care of for the month we're at Fort Bliss. "Our people are confident, capable and ready to do whatever is asked of them," he added. "They'll do the unit, themselves, Georgia and their families proud." For unit members like Sgt. 1st Class Randy Hobbs Families and friends applaud the 110th CSB. of Thomaston, "it's not their first rodeo." Hobbs, who www.gadod.net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very Soldier, every Airman MUST receive H1N1 shot Georgia Department of Defense Public Affairs Office JOINT FORCES HEADQUARTERS, Ellenwood, According McKinley any Soldier or Airman who Feb. 8, 2010 Gen McKinley, Chief of the National has yet to receive any flu shot required for individual Guard Bureau, through the Army Surgeon's Office, readiness must get that shot in order to perform his or has mandated that all Army and Air Guardsmen na- her duties in a Title 32 or Title 10 status. Anyone who tionwide must receive the H1N1 Novel Influenza shot does not have their flu shots, to include the H1N1, by the end of April, 2010. by April 30 "is to be handled by the state in the same Today, the Georgia Army National Guard kicked off manner as having not complied with any other man- its annual H1N1 and Seasonal Influenza vaccination dated vaccine," said McKinley. mission, aptly named "Shots Across Georgia." This Should a Guardsman refuse to take the mandatory operation will meet the NGB policy mandate and si- vaccination H1N1 or otherwise that Soldier or Air- multaneously provide Soldiers and Airmen with other man's commander has the authority to take appropri- routine vaccinations such as Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B ate action According to Chapter 2, Paragraph 2-10, of and Tetanus Diphtheria-Adult Army Regulation 40-562, which Pertussis (TDAP). states: Among the first to get their "The Commander must shots were Brig. Gen. Maria counsel the individual and Britt, Georgia Army Guard recommend approval or denial Commander, and Army Guard of the exemption request, by Command Sgt. Maj. James endorsement. The Commander Nelson. must counsel that noncompli- "We wanted to step up and ance with immunization re- show everyone that there's quirements may adversely im- nothing to fear in getting the pact deployability, assignment, H1N1 shot, or being vaccinated Brig. Gen. Maria Britt and Command Sgt. Maj. James in general," Britt said. "As Gen- Nelson receive the H1N1 vaccine. eral McKinley said, the health of or international travel, and that the exemption may be revoked under imminent risk conditions." our Soldiers and Airmen is important to our readiness Additionally, any Commander making such a rec- as a military organization. ommendation is encouraged to consider the potential "That means we all need to step up and do what's impact on the individual, the unit and the mission. required, even if we'd rather not," she added. Colonel John Mullins, Joint State Surgeon, added that "H1N1 poses a threat to the health and readiness of a commander can allow his Soldier or Airman to talk our forces," Gen. Craig J. McKinley said in a recent with a healthcare provider to alleviate any individual memorandum to the Adjutant Generals of all 50 states fears the Soldier may have. and territories. "Successful mitigation and prevention "But in the end, after the Soldier or Airmen has is dependent upon vaccination...even members who been counseled, the commander can order that person have a history of H1N1 influenza should receive the to get the necessary vaccination," Mullins added. "If vaccine." the Guardsman continues to refuse, he or she can then He went on to say that he appreciates the 100% be charged under the Uniform Code of Military Justice compliance of each state's senior leaders, as well as for disobeying a direct order." their support of National Guard Bureau efforts to Of course, compliance with the order to get vacci- maintain "the wellness and mission capability of our nated is facilitated by the fact that the seasonal flu vac- service members." cine has up to a 90-percent success rate among healthy At one time, there was concern that there might not populations, according to the Centers for Disease be enough H1N1 vaccine available for every Guards- Control and Prevention (CDC). Britt concluded, "We man in the country. However, General McKinley's expect soldiers to get vaccinated not just because memorandum states that there is enough to inoculate they're being ordered to but because it's the smart all uniformed National Guard members. 55 - www.gadod.net thing to do for themselves and their unit." www.gadod.net - 5 Savannah's 118th Field Artillery returns from Afghanistan Story by Sgt. 1st Class Roy Henry Georgia Department of Defense Public Affairs Office HUNTER ARMY AIRFIELD, Savannah, Ga., Feb. 23, 2009 Stepping off a chartered airliner early this morning, more than 100 members of Springfield's Battery A, 1st Battalion, 118th Field Artillery, began the last leg of their yearlong deployment to Afghanistan. Soldiers bear flags on their return home. "You have no idea how great it is to be home," said Sgt. David Clark of Offerman. "Unless you've been there and back, you just don't realize how good it is to be back on Georgia soil." This was the first group of Citizen-Soldiers redeploying to Georgia in the next two months. Arrival times for other returning flights, and dates for upcoming welcome home ceremonies are expected soon, but remain somewhat up in the air. The Soldiers of Battery A are among the more than 2,000 members of Macon's 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team who left in June of last year to support Operation Enduring Freedom. Their mission was to train and mentor the Afghan Army and National Security Force so the Afghans can fully take on the role of protecting that war-torn country's citizens. "I don't know that I can ever fully express how proud I am of these guys," said the unit's commander, Capt. Patrick Grover of Savannah. "From the lowest to the highest rank, they carried out every task and mission asked of them and continually made me and the Georgia Army Guard look good in the eyes of everyone they dealt with." After turning in weapons and other sensitive equipment at the terminal, the Guardsmen boarded buses waiting for them outside the airfield's main terminal and headed for Fort Stewart. Marching onto the post's Cottrell Parade Field with Grove leading it, Battery A received a resounding welcome home from more than 200 family members, friends, fellow Soldiers and dignitaries such Brig. Gen. Maria Britt, Georgia Army Guard commander. Stepping to the microphone, Britt welcomed the unit back, and then told its members how proud she and Maj. Gen. Terry Nesbitt, Georgia's Adjutant General, are of them. "When we stop and think of how being born free is `really an accident,' we realize that our staying free is paid for by our veterans, veterans such as yourselves," Britt told the Soldiers standing in formation before her. "And just as we will always remember the eight who lost their lives during this deployment, we're also grateful to have all of you back safely with us," she added. Britt then turned her remarks toward the families who crowed the grandstand behind her. "You sacrificed as much as our Soldiers did, and yet you stepped up time and again to let them know you are always there for them in these challenging times," she said. "That love and support is so greatly appreciated and we ask, yes we know, that you keep it coming." In no short order after Britt finished her remarks, A Georgia Guardsman sits with his loved ones after returning from a yearlong deployment to Afghanistan. (Photo By Sgt. Jerry DeAvila, 124th MPAD) the crowd rushed the formation, each family finding its Soldier, then hugging and holding on tight as if afraid 6 - www.gadod.net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eorgia National Guardsmen open radio stations to give people of Afghanistan their own voice Story by Sgt. Tracy J. Smith Georgia Department of Defense 48th Brigade Public Affairs SHINWAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan, Feb. 3,2010 17 at Forward Operation Base Torkham in Muhmand In a perfect world, accurate information would be as Dara province near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. close as a radio. For a country at war, accurate infor- The Shinwar station (95 FM) celebrated its debut mation is invaluable. Jan. 21 during the anti-Taliban Shinwari Pact jirga. Soldiers of 1st Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment, This gathering of about 170 tribal representatives, the have opened two radio stations in the Muhmand Dara first of its kind, was organized by the 6th Kandak ABP and Shinwar provinces to give the people of those and prominent tribal leaders. It was held, while em- regions a voice to counter Taliban propaganda. Popu- bracing the strictest traditions of the six district Shin- larly known as the "Radio in a Box," this new media wari tribal councils, to denounce Taliban tyranny and program is an initiative of the International Security passive governance. The radio station gave promi- Assistance Force counterinsurgency process, and it nent Afghan leaders and security forces a new media will belong entirely to platform to announce their the Afghan people. solidarity during the sta- "It will not be a tion's first broadcast. facilitator of military "It brings us together as or security mandates," one community," Malik Afghan Border Police, Usman said of the open- 6th Kandak command- ing and the reading of er, Colonel Niazy said. the council's decision to He punctuated the stand with their uniformed importance of the mis- brothers in arms. "We can sion by stressing how share information with the the station's messaging people immediately when will embrace the needs a crisis is identified and of the community. "It ensure their safety." will be a powerful tool Council elders received to give our people a gifts of hand-held radios voice a resource. at the conclusion of the Our mullahs, district jirga. The same radios government leaders, or our local shop keepers Staff Sgt. Scott F. McElroy, [headphones], of Canton, Ga. and Sgt. Angelo O. Bravo of Jasper, Ga., both 1st Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment, Task Force will also be distributed by ANSF and coalition forces and villagers will have Mountain Warrior communications non-commissioned officers, finalize the during patrols to outlying full access and know setup of the Radio in a Box [RIAB] broadcast stations at the Afghan Border villages. that they can come to Police 6th Kandak headquarters in Shinwar district. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Niazy welcomes the us in a crisis for honest Tracy J. Smith, 48th IBCT Public Affairs) new media as an extension information." of service to the people and says programming will be The Kandak headquarters is a temporary location for created by locals with call-in segments and unique on- the Shinwar radio station. It was also once the site for air radio talk shows that will engage government and Radio Spin Ghar, part of a 2005 independent media village officials. opportunity project called Support for Independent "The station will have a strict traditional format, Radio Stations in Afghanistan, which was co-spon- from the reading of mourners' names, to jirga results sored by the U.S. Agency for International Develop- and the distribution of public service information," ment. Niazy said. "They will celebrate with music pro- Both stations are fully funded by the coalition with grams, but we can reinforce their personal security Afghan National Security Force (ANSF) partners of- with information." fering security, and they employ full-time local Af- ghan station managers and on-air personalities. 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