September 2014 Edition

september 2014 | 1

Welcome Home48th IBCT Returns from afghanistan

September 2014

Plus: Operation Market Garden | National Preparedness Month | and so much more

1 | The Georgia Guardsman

News

CoNTeNTSISSUe: september 2014

Features

columns

06| National Preparedness MonthSeptember is National Preparedness Month; are you ready?

13| 116th overseas TrainingThe 116th Air Control Wing trains medical professionals in the Country of Georgia.

03| 48th Completes DeploymentThe 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team fin-ishes third Global War on Terror deployment.

05| operation Market GardenThe 165th Airlift Wing conducts training in the Netherlands.

11| The eagle has LandedAn F-15 Eagle is moved to Warner Robins.

14| Nascar Supports the TroopsGeorgia’s National Guardsmen honored during the NASCAR Great Clips 300.

07| Historic Battle ReviewAllatoona Pass: Forgotten Key to Sherman’s March.

09| NCo NotepadFiscal Year 2015 transitions.

10| Book review“Switch: How to change things when change is hard” by Chip and Dan Heath.

12| Chaplain’s CornerGeorgia Guard chaplain ministers in Romania.

15| Blast to the PastGreat moments in Georgia Guard history.

w w w . g a d o d . n e t

04| 48th IBCT Comes HomeThe 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team is back on Georgia soil.

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17| Around the Guard13

cover story

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Georgia National Guard

Commander-in-ChiefGov. NathaN Deal

adjutant GeneralMaj. GeN. jiM Butterworth

State PubliC affairS direCtorlt. Col. thoMas lesNieski

State PubliC affairS offiCerCapt. williaM Carraway

oPerationS nCosGt. 1st Class GerarD BrowN

editorial Staff

manaGinG editorsGt. ashley sutz

Creative direCtorDesiree BaMBa

ContributorSelizaBeth BlaCkstoCk

Capt. williaM CarrawayMaj. will Cox

Master sGt. Charles DelaNoCapt. Greta jaCksoN

Master sGt. roGer parsoNsstaff sGt. Mike perry

CoMMaND sGt. Maj. phillip striNGfielDstaff sGt. traCy j. sMithCapt. MiChael thoMpsoNteCh. sGt. reGiNa youNG

The Georgia Guardsman is published monthly under the provisions of AR 360-81 and AF 6-1 by the Georgia Department of Defense Public Affairs Office. The views and opinions expressed in the Georgia Guardsman are not necessarily those of the Departments of the Army, Air Force or the Adjutant General of Georgia. The Georgia Guardsman is distributed free-of-charge to members of the Georgia Army and Air National Guard, State Defense Force and other interested persons upon request.

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The Volunteer Brigade first took responsibility for Camp Phoenix in 2009, on their first deployment to Afghanistan. They returned in 2014 as part of the Kabul base cluster mission to transfer Camp Eggers, Camp Phoenix, Camp

Bala Hissar, and in northern Afghanistan near Mazar-e-Sharif, Camp John Pratt.

The Georgia National Guard’s 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team recently transferred command from the New Kabul Compound to the Oregon National Guard, 2-162 Infantry Battalion, which will continue the security missions in Kabul. Both Citizen-Soldier units are known as the “Volunteers,” dedicated to their profession to leave their homes, jobs and families to serve their nation.

“This, I don’t need to tell you, was not a decisive point in the campaign, this was THE decisive point,” said Gen. Joseph Dunford, commander of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and U. S. Forces-Afghanistan (USFOR-A), to 48th IBCT leaders during a visit to NKC to thank them for their service in Kabul. “Everything we have sacrificed over the past 13 years is coming together right now to determine whether our endeavor here is going to be successful.”

Task Force Volunteer provided critical base operations support to USFOR-A and coalition partners for several base camps, security for the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan and Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan, training missions spread across five regional commands, and force protection throughout Train-Advise-Assist Command-Capital.

As part of their initiative, the Volunteers consolidated backscatter X-ray vans to train Afghan National Police and Afghanistan National Army soldiers, and deployed the scanners to the Gates of Kabul to enable protection of Afghan and coalition lives during the Afghanistan elections.

“Without exception, every time I have had the opportunity to interact with Task Force Volunteer, I have come away impressed,” said Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Colt, deputy commander-support for USFOR-A. “I credit this to the men and women that comprise this outstanding task force. Their service to both our Nation and Afghanistan is unsurpassed.”

The base support groups led some of the largest and most complex transfers of installations to date. Camp Eggers was first to complete transfer to the U.S. State Department in March 2014. Camp Bala Hissar transferred to the Afghan National Army August 17, 2014. Camp Bala Hissar’s partnership with the Afghan Capital Quick Reaction Force (QRF) was pivotal in helping leverage intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms to monitor key routes and checkpoints of Kabul. On Aug. 19, 2014, the largest base in Kabul, Camp Phoenix, transferred to the Ministry of Interior and will be used to consolidate several offices in one

location. The transition of Camp Phoenix was impressive in effort, for scale and for reaching completion a month before deadline.

The initiative, ingenuity and teamwork of the 48th IBCT helped develop and document effective procedures for unit base transfers across Afghanistan.

The exceptional command team focused and synchronized a broad spectrum of operations with Afghan National Security Forces to enhance security, improve force posture and assure mobility throughout the capital, while maturing an effective operational relationship with the Afghan Capital Division and Police. These partnerships have impacted more than 14,000 Afghan National Police.

State partnerships with coalition forces continued overseas with Albanian and Georgian forces to enhance Afghanistan’s election audit security which facilitated the safe and secure delivery of over 18,000 ballot boxes from North Kabul International Airport to the International Election Committee compound without incident and closely worked with partners to enhance checkpoint capabilities for the IEC facility.

“So a true, joint, team, cooperative effort,” said Lt. Gen. Joseph Anderson, IJC commander, speaking to Task Force Volunteer at the NKC awards ceremony in August 2014. “It is because of all of you that we as a coalition are successful here.”

As the task force returns home, all of the Volunteers carry a deep sense of pride for accomplishing tough and diverse jobs across Afghanistan. The 48th IBCT will arrive home to families Sept. 16 and host a special welcome home ceremony Nov. 7 in the city of Macon as part of Veterans Day.

Photo by CaPt. MiChael thoMPson | 4 8 th infantry brigade CoMbat teaM | georgia arMy national guard

48th IBCT Completes GWoT DeploymentBy Capt. Michael Thompson | Georgia Army National Guard

Family, friends and coworkers gathered to welcome home 200 Georgia Guardsmen with the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) from Afghanistan. The 48th IBCT conducted some of the largest and most complex transfers of installations in Afghanistan to date during their 9 month deployment.

“We were able to close three camps as part of the downsizing of the U.S. footprint in Afghanistan,” said Col. Randall Simmons, commander, 48th IBCT. “Our forces responded to any major incidents happening in the city of Kabul while we were there.”

It was all smiles and tears of joy as wives, husbands, fathers, mothers and children of Guardsmen came to reunite with their loved one.

“I’d wait for him forever but 246 days was long enough,” said Catherine Clark, wife of a returning Georgia Guardsman. “That’s how long it has been since I have seen my husband, so I am very excited. It has been a whirl wind of emotions for the last 9 months and I am glad to be reunited with him again.”

“This was a long time coming,” said 1st Lt. Michael Carlson. “The 48th IBCT did a great job and accomplished the mission, but we could not have done it without the support of our family.”

Like the Soldiers, family members were glad the wait was over, including the anxious nights.

“Because there is always a threat, over there it is never safe. So I always had concerns and worries,” said Bailey Smith, wife of Capt. Jared Smith. “I have a very good support system, if I had a problem my family was right there to help me out.”

“I am very excited to get him back,” said Hillery Cecil, wife of

1st Lt. Casey Cecil. “Just having him back in the house and feeling his presence is all I want right now.”

Hillery had a few tips for successfully negotiating the separation of a deployment. The first was to stay active.

“I was super busy with my job and our two children,” said Hillery. “Being responsible for two little lives did not give me a lot of time to focus on how much I missed him.”

Hillery also highlighted the importance of staying connected to your community.

“My neighbors were so faithful to help our family throughout the deployment,” said Hillery. “Everyday someone was doing something for us, whether it was mowing the grass, fixing us dinner, washing our car or even taking out the trash. I have great neighbors. It was really sweet that they took the time out of their busy day to help us when we needed it.”

Hillery emphasized the importance of connecting with other spouses that were going through or have gone through a deployment; they could understand what she was feeling.

“I made some really good friends in the unit’s family readiness group and when we got together it was great to share,” said Hillery. “Staying busy, having community and knowing when to ask for help is what got me through this deployment successfully.”

After the short ceremony, hugs were shared with family and Soldiers introduced lifelong friends that they made on the deployment to their family. Finally every Soldier gladly accepted their next mission: reintegrating back into their civilian and family lives.

48th Back on Georgia SoilBy Maj. Will Cox | Public Affairs Office | Georgia Army National Guard

September 2014 | 4Photo by Maj. Will Cox | PubliC affairs offiCe | georgia arMy national guard


Four C-130H Hercules aircraft assigned to the Georgia Air National Guard’s 165th Airlift Wing and the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Airlift Wing dropped 360 U.S., British, Dutch and Polish

paratroopers over Groesbeek, Netherlands, to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of Operation Market Garden.

“It is our privilege to provide the airborne portion of this commemoration,” said Lt. Col. Chris Davis, 165th Airlift Wing mission commander. “It is our wish that every World War II veteran, past and present be honored by this reenactment and to thank the ‘Greatest Generation’ for their acts of valor.”

Among the jumpers were four Georgia Air National Guard joint terminal attack controllers from the 165th Air Support Operations Squadron and six Georgia Army

National Guard Soldiers from the 3rd Squadron of the 108th Cavalry. The Service Members jumped during a reenactment of Operation Market Garden, the September 1944 airborne assault. This was the first static line jump on Drop Zone Tango since the original assault.

“It was a great experience to jump with the British, Dutch and Polish paratroopers on a drop zone that had not been jumped since the DZ was active in 1944,” said Maj. Roger Brooks, 165th ASOS JTAC. “After the jump, I was honored by the reception of the town mayor and local citizens. They were thankful for the liberation of the Netherlands by Allied Forces.”

Airmen and aircraft from the 165th also supported this year’s commemoration of the 70th Anniversary of D-Day in Normandy, France.

Market GardenBy: Master Sgt. Charles Delano | 165th AW | Georgia Air National Guard

Photo by Master sgt. Charles delano | 1 6 5 th airlift Wing | georgia air national guard

operation

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National Preparedness Month: A Call to ActionSeptember is National Preparedness Month, and President

Barack Obama has declared September 30th as America’s PrepareAthon day: a day of action for individuals, organizations and communities to prepare for six specific hazards -- earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires and winter storms.

The theme of this year’s National Preparedness Month is “Be Disaster Aware, Take Action to Prepare.” This campaign established four elements of preparedness: Be informed, make a plan, build a kit and get involved.

Ga DoD’s Disaster Response RolePerhaps no organization in the United States has the

combination of personnel, resources, training and stationing to be an effective partner in emergency management like the National Guard. This partnership was most recently demonstrated in Georgia during two during two winter storm response activations.

Georgia Guardsmen may be called to respond to any number of emergencies such as floods, fires or in the wake of Hurricanes like Sandy or Katrina. Our Guardsmen live in all of Georgia’s counties, and Guard armories are located strategically throughout the state. Due to the key role the Guard plays in domestic emergency response, Guardsmen must be ready to respond at a moment’s notice. That means that they and their families must be prepared for emergencies because they may be asked to respond to a disaster while their homes or families are affected by that same disaster. As Guardsmen, we are expected to know about preparedness. The question is: Are you sharing your knowledge with your family and your community?

Be Prepared, InformedBeing informed means knowing what kinds of disasters may

strike the area in which you live and where to go to get information during emergencies. The Georgia Emergency Management

Agency’s ready.ga.gov website can help Georgians learn more about the hazards in their area and how to prepare for them. GEMA posts disaster updates on its website and provides contact information for all emergency management agencies throughout the state. Make sure you and your family know what key information sources are available and how to access them in an emergency. Have a Plan for Emergencies

Planning for a disaster or emergency means taking into consideration your family’s unique needs. How will your family link up in the event of a loss of power and cell phone coverage? Do all your family members know how to access emergency information and supplies? How will your family come together in the event of an emergency?

Build a KitOnce you have a plan, you can build a toolkit so you will have

the supplies you and your family need in the event of an emergency. Your plan should identify critical supplies needed if you don’t have power or water, or if the communication network goes down. http://www.ready.ga.gov/Prepare offers guidance for developing your family response toolkit. Do you know how much water you will need per day for each member of your household? Do you have a week’s supply of prescription and non-prescription medicine?

Get InvolvedDon’t just write down your plan, test it. Will you track

emergency bulletins through radio or by smart phone? How will you supply power?

Practice and refine your emergency procedures. Do your kids know where to go in the event of a fire? Conduct a fire drill with them and be sure to include a plan for pets. Talk with your neighbors about preparedness and how you can assist each other in the event of an emergency.

National Preparedness MonthBy: Capt. Will Carraway | Public Affairs Office| Georgia Department of Defense

Photo by det. 1 , Co. b, 1 6 9 th gsab | georgia arMy national guard

7 | The Georgia Guardsman7 | The Georgia Guardsman7 | The Georgia Guardsman

Situation: October 1864Atlanta had fallen to Federal Forces September 2, 1864. Major

Gen. William T. Sherman with more than 60,000 Federal troops was encamped in the city while Lt. Gen. John Bell Hood and his 35,000 man Army of Tennessee lurked just north of the Chattahoochee River in Douglas County. Warily, the two Army commanders dispatched scouts and attempted to ascertain the plans of the other while formulating their own courses of action.

Sherman’s Atlanta Campaign had relied on railroad transport for logistical support. His lifeline, the Western Atlantic Railroad connected his forward elements with his supply depots in Chattanooga. As his forward lines moved further south, Sherman was forced to commit troops to guard the railroad against Confederate cavalry raids. Confederate Battle Plan

At this point, Sherman’s plan for the March to the Sea was in its infancy, and Hood could not have known about the Federal commander’s intention to strike south. The Confederate Commander determined therefore to swing his army north and strike in the vicinity of Marietta and Kennesaw (then called Big Shanty) in order to sever Sherman’s supply lines, seize badly needed provisions and establish his army on defensible terrain. Thus gaining the initiative, Hood would be able to dictate terms of

battle on ground favorable to him and his outnumbered army.

Sherman was not oblivious to the peril of his supply lines. He had stationed troops at strategic locations along the railroad. Using the rails, these troops could move swiftly to reinforce any threatened point along the line. In addition to his quick reaction forces, Sherman had dispatched cavalry units to seek our Hood’s forces and to ascertain their intent. Early Movements

On October 2, 1864, Federal cavalry detected Hood’s army moving in separate corps columns. The disposition of the troops near Powder springs indicated that the Confederates were marching on Marietta. Receiving this intelligence, Sherman confirmed the enemy’s intent and also perceived the danger. While he had troops stationed in towns along the Western and Atlantic Railroad, these postings were intended to deter cavalry raids, not to repel a force of 35,000 infantry. Accordingly, Sherman prepared to

march in defense of the railroad. He would leave a garrison of 12,000 Soldiers in Atlanta and cross the Chattahoochee with more than 50,000 to deal with Hood and his Army of Tennessee.

At 3:30 pm, the lead brigade of Hood’s army had reached Big Shanty and captured the 100 man garrison there. With 24-hours, the Confederates captured 500 additional Federals in the vicinity of Acworth and were in the process of destroying the railroad when Hood received intelligence of a large supply depot near Allatoona Pass. Determining to bag one more prize, Hood dispatched the 3,200 man division of Maj. Gen. Samuel French to capture the depot.Allatoona Pass

Allatoona Pass was a 65 foot railroad cut in the mountains east of Cartersville. To the east and west of the cut were defensive forts garrisoned by Col. John Tourtellotte’s brigade. As French’s Division was receiving rations on the outskirts of Acworth, Sherman dispatched Brig. Gen. John Corse, then commanding the Federal 4th Division, to reinforce the pass. Moving by rail from Rome, Corse’s men crossed the Etowah rRver bridge enroute to Allatoona Pass. Had the Confederates succeeded in burning the bridge, Corse’s men could not have reinforced the garrison.

Arriving just after midnight of October 5, 1864, Corse assumed command. He had a combined strength of just over 2,000 Soldiers

AllAtoonA PAss: Forgotten Key to shermAn’s mArchBy Capt. Will Carraway| Public Affairs Office| Georgia Department of Defense

Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress

september 2014 | 8

positioned in the two forts along the heights above Allatoona Pass. They did not have long to wait.A Needless Effusion of Blood

Advanced Federal pickets detected the approach of the French’s Division from the west between two and three o’clock on the morning of October 5. French intended to attack from the west with his main force while maneuvering a brigade from the north to strike the eastern fort. He had placed his artillery to the south of the pass and at 6:30 a.m., his cannons initiated a two-hour bombardment that was joined by Federal artillery of the 12th Wisconsin. At 8:30 a.m., French dispatched a messenger under flag-of-truce to Federal lines with the following note:

“Sir, I have placed the forces under my command in such a position that you are surrounded, and to avoid a needless effusion of blood, I call on you to surrender your forces at once and unconditionally.”

Receiving this letter, Corse responded with a terse note of his own:

“Your communication demanding surrender of my command I acknowledge the receipt of, and would reply that we are prepared for the “needless effusion of blood” whenever it is agreeable to you.”

The Confederate attack commenced at 9:00. The attackers had to cross 400 yards of open ground and two trench lines just to reach the base of the western hill where a 40 degree pitch awaited them. The entire approach was covered by Federal fields of fire and the attackers would face enormous casualties. The Confederates moving from the west captured the first line of works at bayonet point but

were stalled in their attempt to take the second trench line until reinforcements turned the tide. Surging forward, the Confederates came within a few yards of the western fort and despite withering fire were on the verge of capturing the works. Federals in the western fortification were pinned down by flanking fire and Brig. Gen. Corse had been rendered unconscious after a bullet struck him in the face.

With victory in his grasp, French received a cavalry dispatch that reported Federal reinforcements entering Big Shanty. With his ammunition short, French realized that he might capture the fort only to be cut off from Hood’s Army and surrounded by Sherman’s reinforcements. Despite the terrible cost paid by his brigades, French withdrew to preserve the balance of his forces. Aftermath

Though relatively small by 1864 standards, the battle yielded the highest per-capita casualties of the Civil War. More than 700 Federals and 900 Confederate Soldiers were killed, wounded or captured out of a total engaged force of little over 5,000 – roughly one out of three.

Where Hood had intended to draw Sherman north to fight, Allatoona had convinced Sherman of the futility of attempting to preserve his rail line and continuing to pursue Hood. Citing Allatoona, Sherman again proposed to Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant that he be allowed to take his army on a march to the sea. In an October 9, 1864 letter, Sherman wrote:

“By attempting to hold the roads we will lose 1,000 men monthly and will gain no result. I can make the march, and make Georgia howl.”

Photo by Capt. Will Carraway


It is in times of transition that I believe one finds the most clarity. The transition period for the Georgia Army National Guard is now. The new fiscal year has sparked several questions. The most popular among them being … how will the Georgia Army National Guard maintain its readiness with the looming budget cuts? The answer is simple. We will maintain our readiness as an

organization by reintroducing skills of adaptability into our current ranks and utilizing our resiliency to maximize our effectiveness. We cannot change the financial direction the military is headed however we can change our mindset about that direction. We can begin doing so by implementing innovative strategic planning techniques that will aid in maintaining imperative Soldier skills. Now is the perfect time for molding junior Soldiers into one day becoming senior leaders. Allow them to learn how to train and sustain the standards. Encourage them to create effective training techniques that will help enhance unit readiness. The more involved we let our Soldiers become, the more engaged they will remain in their units. I believe this will increase retention in the Georgia Army National Guard and develop outstanding leaders for years to come.

Another popular question related to the fiscal year 2015 unit drills: If the funding shortage does not allow the Georgia Army National Guard to drill consistently every month, how can we ensure the training standards will be met and maintained? Excellent question. Whether in uniform on duty or out of uniform on personal time… Soldiers are always Soldiers. We have the responsibility of encouraging one another to maintain the standards on and off duty. It is our job to guarantee that we are exercising as often as possible to preserve our physical readiness. It is our job to take the time to study our skill sets to keep them fresh regardless of whether we are at the unit on drill weekend or in the comfort of our own homes. With that being said, I understand some training needs the support of military funding and equipment in order for us to properly maintain certain skill sets. Nevertheless, if we work together as a team and do our best to ensure that we are maintaining these standards; there is no doubt in my mind that we will continue to thrive in excellence as we have always done in the past.

I recognize that the upcoming fiscal year may have many challenges. We will have to adjust to operating under a different normal than we have before. The year may appear as though it will be tough at first but I believe that the state of Georgia has the most excellent units in the State of Georgia than anywhere else in the country and I know that we will be able to adapt to any situation that confronts us.

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NCo

Words of wisdom f r o m o n e t o another

Command Sgt. Maj. Phillip StringfieldState Command Sergeant Major-Georgia Department of Defense

Notepad

“If you cannot change the situation or its outcome, change your attitude about it.

september 2014 | 10

Change is a word that strikes fear into the hearts of many people. The most seasoned of warriors can have a difficult time adjusting to a new way of doing things, even when change is the obvious course of action. The question then is no longer “if ” things should change, but rather “how” to go about it.

“Switch : How to Change Things w h e n C h a n g e i s Hard” delves into the psychology behind why change is so difficult for so many

people. The essence of change consists of three elements: the rider, the elephant and the path. Each component is described in-depth, with several real examples of how changes occurred from the various perspectives, and how each one can affect and be affected by the other two.

Change will not occur unless there is a need. Even when the need to change is recognized, it won’t happen as a matter of course. For change to occur, something must happen with each of the three components mentioned: you must direct the rider, you most motivate the elephant, and you must shape the path.

If change is difficult for an individual, imagine how hard it would be for an organization or a community – even for a country. Yet change is possible. Certainly you could easily effect change if you are the head of an organization, but the book describes how you, as someone within the organization, are able to bring about change even if you have no real power or authority.

It is a well-known fact that many valuable lessons come from screwing up; it is often we are not able to capture success until after we failed. Therefore, we should not be afraid of failure. If we build the possibility of failure into the change process, the failure itself

won’t be so daunting, which then takes the focus off the failure and places it back on the desired end state.

If you think of all the people you know, almost all of them have vowed to change something about themselves, but it is likely only a few actually have. You probably describe those few as very impressive, while you consider the others to be average or possibly even lazy or unmotivated. If you think about yourself, how many times have you failed at change? How many times did you quit on your New Year’s resolution? Maybe other people aren’t so lazy and unmotivated. Maybe, just maybe, their rider wasn’t able to get their elephant to go down their path.

In reading this book, if you are only familiar with novels, biographies or other books written on similar styles, “Switch” does not follow that format. The writing style will appeal to some while at the same time frustrate others. It is not a book I was able to read in one sitting, but the information would be very useful. Perhaps it was not the way the book is written, but rather that my elephant was exhausted. You will have to read the book to understand that.

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Change will not occur unless there is a need. Even when the need to change is recognized, it won’t happen as a matter of course. For change to occur, something must happen with each of the three components mentioned: you must direct the rider, you most motivate the elephant, and you must shape the path.

DevelopmentProfessionalreviews of books that teach us about our craftBy Capt. Greta Jackson | Public Affairs Office | Georgia Department of Defense


A different k ind of vehicle rolled down Highway 247 as Georgia Guardsmen of the 116th Air Control Wing’s maintenance group towed a

decommissioned F-15 Eagle jet fighter to Warner Robins City Hall, celebrating the first phase of a new veterans memorial.

“I had a great crew with me that made the towing operation go smoothly,” said Master Sgt. Ryan Page, the tow supervisor from the 116th Maintenance Group.

“The whole operation was a collaborative effort that gave the Guard the opportunity to work hand-in-hand with the city and establish relationships that will endure for years to come,” said Page.

As they moved down Highway 247 onto Watson Boulevard, the Airmen were aided along the way by officers from the Warner Robins Police and Houston County Sheriff ’s departments along with personnel from other city agencies.

“Today showed what cooperation and mutual respect between each agency and a partnership with the community can accomplish,” said Lt. Jeff McCommon, Warner Robins Police Department.

The procurement of the aircraft by the city was made possible through a static display program managed by the National Museum of the United States Air Force.

The jet was flown by the Georgia Air National Guard’s 116th Tactical Fighter Wing from 1986 to 1996 out of Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga. During that time, the unit developed an impressive record of accomplishment garnering nine Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards.

After deactivation of the F-15 Eagles, the Guard unit moved to Robins Air Force Base where they currently operate as the 116th Air Control Wing flying the E-8C Joint STARS.

Preparing the aircraft for static display was a joint effort between aircraft maintainers from the Air National Guard’s 116th Air Control Wing and the 402nd Aircraft Maintenance Group from the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center.

F - 1 5 t a x i e s t o W a r n e r r o b i n sThe eagle has landed

Photos by teCh. sgt. regina young | 1 1 6 th aCW | georgia air national guard

By Tech. Sgt. Regina Young | 116th ACW | Georgia Air National Guard

september 2014 | 12

A Georgia Army National Guard chaplain and chaplain’s assistant spent three weeks during April and May at Forward Operating Station Mihail Kogalniceanu (FOS MK), Romania, providing a ministry of presence to Soldiers, Airmen and Marines going in and out of Afghanistan to help them stay in the fight.

“Our primary purpose was to provide religious support to the passenger terminal which is the gateway in and out of Afghanistan for U.S. Service Members, since Manas shut down,” said Chaplain (Capt.) Andrew Parker of the Georgia Army National Guard. “We had the privilege of ministering to the transient service members for the 48 to 72 hours that they were on ground with us at FOS MK.”

“Being there as they came off the plane gave each Soldier a face and nametag seek out encouragement or counseling,” said Staff Sgt. Matthew Couch, chaplain assistant in the Georgia National Guard. “After the briefings I would walk around FOS MK with the Soldiers to gauge the temperature of the unit moral. We like to say that it was ministry of presence.”

The Georgia Unit Ministry Team provided religious support services every day to Catholics, a bible study on Wednesday nights for Protestants and religious services on Sunday for Protestants.

They also provided informal and formal counseling to deploying or returning service members.

“It was an awesome experience, being able to connect with people when they are coming out of a stressful situation and to be that encouraging face for them,” said Parker. “Being there when they got off the plane provided that necessary connection to give that service member the opportunity to reach out when they needed it.”

A chaplain and a chaplain’s assistant may have many motivations for doing what they do, but one of their motivators is helping Soldiers assigned to their care.

“It is literally part of the job for a chaplain to encourage someone and build them up when they are feeling down or just fatigued,” said Parker. “The chaplain and chaplain assistant can come alongside and encourage and that is my favorite part. Being approachable is important and my prior service experience gives me a platform to minister to both enlisted and officer service members.”

“My job is to make sure the chaplain has what he needs to succeed. But my favorite part is spending time encouraging lower enlisted Soldiers to help them stay in the fight,” said Couch.

“It was an awesome experience being the last chaplain they see before going into Afghanistan and the first chaplain they see coming out,” said Parker.

the Chaplain’s CornerBy: Maj. Will Cox | Public Affairs Office | Georgia Army National Guard

Photo by ChaPlain CaPt. andreW Parker | georgia arMy national guard


Imagine traveling to a foreign country and being tasked to teach some of the country’s top medical professionals through translators. For a team of eight healthcare experts from the Georgia Air National Guard’s 116th Air Control Wing Medical Group, that’s exactly what the doctor ordered.

The doctor, in this case, was the U.S. European Command.“We were invited to the Country of Georgia by EUCOM to

teach physicians, infectious disease experts and hazmat response teams about treating patients in a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high-yield explosive environment,” said Chief Master Sgt. Cynthia Haines, 116th Medical Group medical operations superintendent.

The Airmen overcame language and cultural barriers to share practical experiences gained from years of training and real-life situations with a group of 35 professionals from the Georgian Ministry of Health and Ministry of Defense.

“As it turned out, the group we were teaching not only included some of the top military and civilian physicians and first-responders, but also the chief of infection control and policy writers for biological and chemical response for the country,” said Col. Muriel Herman, commander of the 116th Medical Group.

The 116th Medical Group’s expertise in disaster response and medical procedures is well established. In three consecutive years, the team has received perfect scores in their Homeland Response Force external evaluations. In 1996 when the Georgia Guard’s State Partnership Program with the Country of Georgia was just beginning, medical experts from the 116th were present to provide care and training. Nearly two decades later, the 116th again partnered with the Country of Georgia to provide cutting-edge training at a time when infection concerns dominate the news

headlines.Herman and her team shared a series of interactive

presentations followed by biological, chemical and radiological scenarios, created with a personal touch.

“We researched the area and people prior to the trip so we could make our presentations personal and realistic to them,” said Lt. Col. Julie Churchman, chief nurse of the 116th Medical Group. As the training proceeded, the Georgia Air National Guardsmen were approached with a real-world medical question that challenged their military and civilian training.

“A (Georgian) physician approached our team about a patient,” said Herman. “For two months (the physicians) had struggled to diagnose this particularly difficult case.” Fortunately, one of the 116th Medical Group’s physicians was Lt. Col. Anna Likos, who as a civilian serves as the director of the Division of Disease Control and Health Protection for the Florida Department of Health. A phone call to Dr. Likos resulted in a temporary diagnosis that assisted the physician and her colleagues in helping the patient.”

“What started as a few members from both nations trying to come up with a solution turned into the whole class working together excited about the possibility of helping the patient,” said Herman. “The collaboration was even briefed at the Georgian Embassy.”

The last day of class brought a surprise for the Georgia Air National Guardsmen.

“Our last day of class was September 11,” said Herman. “We went to class as normal and didn’t say anything about the day. The Georgian students stopped class on that day and wanted to have a moment of silence in remembrance of 9/11. It was a very touching moment for all of us.”

116th ACW in Country of GeorgiaBy: Master Sgt. Roger Parsons | 116th ACW | Georgia Air National Guard

Photo by Master sgt. roger Parsons | 1 1 6 th aCW | georgia air national guard

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Georgia’s National Guardsmen were honored during the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) Great Clips 300, in partnership with the Armed Forces Foundation (AFF) at Atlanta Motor

Speedway. The Troops to the Track race weekend originated with a

handshake between NASCAR and AFF five-years ago and has grown into an occasion to remember for Service members throughout the country.

Daniel Kletnetsky, NASCAR senior public affairs coordinator for the International Motorsports Center, was personal host to the group during the track tour. He called the departure from his normal duties a personal privilege and the Troops to the Track event a humble opportunity to give back to the small numbers who are willing to do so much.

“We, at NASCAR, would not be able to do what we do if you did not volunteer to protect our country,” Kletnetsky said. “This is a small thanks compared to the huge responsibility you have committed to.”

A behind the scenes look at pre-race events was eye opening for the group. The tour at Atlanta Motor Speedway was a stargazing race fan’s dream as the Citizen-Soliders were given full access to the pits, the tracks and, most important to Staff Sgt. Shatoric Fletcher, the cars!

Walking through the garage pits Fletcher felt right at home and half-jokingly asked the Dale Earnhardt National Guard crew if he could lend a hand.

“I’ve been a military driving professional nearly my entire career,” the Hilltop, Ga. native said. “It’s nice to get a quick glimpse under the chassis of these race machines.”

Private First Class Savannah Glover had aspirations of driving

professionally like her idol Danica Patrick, but her mom quickly nixed the idea.

“My mom said it was too dangerous,” Glover laughingly shared. “So I joined the military.”

She never lost sight of her dream.“As a little girl I was very into (video) racing games and go-

carts, anything fast, hoping one day I could take the wheel of a real NASCAR!” Glover, a native of McDonough, Ga. said. On this special day she settled for Patrick’s autograph and a chance to walk through the pits with the 7th place finisher for the weekend. “There aren’t a lot of professional women drivers and to have the honor of seeing her was a dream for me.”

As a supply technician for the 648th Brigade Support Battalion, Glover works tirelessly to ensure her Soldiers are ready for whatever mission may arise.

The NASCAR team has placed the same level of commitment into each of their events and was able to expand upon the 2014 Sprint Cup series Troops to the Track events. In previous years the organizations were limited in the number of offerings for their military guests.

“This year we are able to bring the NASCAR VIP treatment to more of our military,” Klenetsky pointed out. “Troops to the Tracks will be able to offer the experience at 27 of our series races.”

On the track the racers are gearing up for Saturday’s run and the Soldiers pose for send-off photos with their host driver, OneMain Financial’s Elliott Sadler who rounded out the top ten finishers.

“Its one thing to experience the race from the stands,” Georgia National Guard chaplain candidate, 1st Lt. Jeffery Charlton commented. “Even if you aren’t a die-hard race fan, THIS is pretty cool.”

Nascar Supports The TroopsBy Staff Sgt. Tracy J. Smith Public Affairs Office | Georgia Department of Defense

Photo by staff sgt. traCy j. sMith | PubliC affairs offiCe| georgia arMy national guard


Blast from

the Past

October 1949: 158th Fighter Squadron Places Third in National Event- A member of the 158th Fighter Squadron of the Georgia Air National Guard, 1st Lt. Phillip E. Colman, placed third in the Indianapolis-to-Cleveland Allyson trophy event. He averaged 555 miles per hour over the 265-mile course. Before departing for the races, Lt. Colman had Tech. Sgt. Gene Smith, ex-commercial artist, design a “shark’s mouth,” similar to the Flying Tigers of World War II fame, in front of the jet intake.

November 1951: GA Guardsmen Maneuver as 48th Division Trains at Ft. McClellan, Alabama- The 48th Armored Division completed some of the Soldiers’ most successful training exercises ever. Close supervision with the Staff resulted in high efficiency in the field where lumbering tanks, potent howitzers and the deadly small arms spat out a staccato of shells at distant targets. Guardsmen of the Division also strung miles of wire throughout the intricate maze of companies from several different states, made minor repairs and received messages to direct troop movement.

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September 1965: Wing Transport Units Airlift Puerto Rico Air National Guard Tactical Fighter Group- Units of the 116th Air Transport Wing teamed up in first-class fashion by airlifting 650 officers and airmen of the 156th Tactical Fighter Group, Puerto Rico Air National Guard, back to their annual Field Training at Travis Field. Providing aircraft for the airlift were the 128th and the 158th Air Transport Squadrons from Georgia, the 156th Air Transport Squadron from North Carolina and the 142nd Air Transport Squadron from Delaware. In this picture, personnel of the 156th Tactical Fighter Group, Puerto Rico Air National Guard, are getting ready to board a C-97 of the 116th Air Transport Wing for their return flight to San Juan.

September 1969: Georgia Air National Guard’s Largest Emergency Airlift Supports Mississippi Hurricane Victims- The largest domestic airlift ever performed (to date) by the Georgia Air National Guard in a natural disaster situation came in the aftermath of Hurricane Camille when some 700,000 pounds of emergency supplies were flown into Mississippi August 18th to the 30th, 1969.


Around the GeorGiA GuArd

AssAult on KennesAw MountAin 5K

The third-annual Assault on Kennesaw Mountain 5K Run drew hundreds of runners who braved chilly temperatures and a fog-swept mountain to commemorate Georgia’s fallen.

nGAus honors 1177th Citizen-soldier

The National Guard Association of the U.S. awards Staff Sgt. Robert Byrd from the LaGrange-based 1177th Transportation Company with the prestigious Garde Nationale Trophy for contributions to his community.

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spotliGht on suCCess

The Georgia Dept. of Defense, along with seven other agencies, will be honored at the human resources community meeting in September for outstanding performance in the state FY 2014 HR audit. Pictured here is State Personnel Director Sandra Bruce.

operAtion noble ledGer

Georgia Air National Guard C-130 Hercules aircraft of the 165th Airlift Wing drop U.S. and International Army paratroopers near Rena, Norway as part of Operation Noble Ledger. The Kentucky National Guard also contributed air crews for the operation.


Public Affairs OfficeGeorgia Department of Defense1000 Halsey Ave. Bldg. 447Marietta, Ga. 30060

Family members welcome home their SoldiersThe 48th IBCT Returns

Documents

September 2014 Edition