P l u s : 7 8 t h T C C h a n g e o f C o m m a n d | 1 4 8 t h B S B A n n ua l Tr a i n i n g | C L R T E x c e l l e n c e
Contents ISSUE: Summer 2016
w w w. g a . n g . m i l
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Features
03| 78th TC Change of Command
Colonel Thomas Blackstock takes command of the 78th Troop Command.
11|148th BSB Annual Training The 148th BSB conduct annual training at Camp Dodge, Iowa.
13|ROTC Hall of Fame
Colonel Anthony Dill is inducted into the ROTC Hall of Fame.
Front Cover
News
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09| National Guard Soldier of the Year
Specialist Joseph Broam will represent the National Guard as Soldier of the Year during the U.S. Arny Best Warrior Competition.
05| Georgia Air Guard in Armenia
The 116th Air Control Wing partner with Armenian contractors on a floor to ceiling renovation.
15|165th Water Survival Training 08| CLRT Excellence The 165th Airlift Wing conduct water survival training.
The Georgia National Guard is recognized for logistical excellence.
20|A Legacy of Leadership
16| OCS Class 55 Graduation
Brigadier General Craig McGalliard and Col. Vernon Atkinson retire from the Georgia National Guard.
Georgia Military Institute’s Officer Candidate School Class 55 graduates.
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columns
06| Chaplains Corner
Friendship: A key to Soldier resilience.
07| NCO Notepad
The importance of safety.
12| Book Review “Ted Talks”.
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1 | The Georgia Guardsman
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17| Blast from the Past Georgia Guard and the 1996 Olympics
21| Around the Guard
Georgia National Guard Commander-in-Chief Gov. Nathan Deal Adjutant General Brig. Gen. Joe Jarrard State Public Affairs Director Lt. Col. Thomas Lesnieski State Public Affairs Officer Capt. Charlie Emmons Operations NCO Master Sgt. Gerard Brown Editorial Staff Managing Editor Desiree Bamba Contributors 1st. Lt. Jeffrey Bezore Master Sgt. Gerard Brown Capt. William Carraway Capt. Charlie Emmons Senior Master Sgt. Roger Parsons Chaplain Capt. Jon Pirtle Sgt. Jeremiah Simmons Sgt. Shye Stallings Sgt. Michael Uribe Staff Sgt. Noel Velez-Crespo Master Sgt. Regina Young Contributing DOD Organizations 124th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, 116th Air Control Wing Public Affairs Office, Army National Guard Unit Public Affairs Representatives, Air National Guard Wing Public Affairs Representatives, Georgia State Defense Force Public Affairs.
Georgia National Guard Channels
Disclaimer 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. Summer 2016 | 2
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Story By: Sgt. Jeremiah Simmons |124th MPAD | Georgia Army National Guard
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78th TC Change of Command ceremony
HE is an outstanding leader, officer and gentleman.
he 78th Troop Command, Georgia Army National Guard, hosted a change of command ceremony July 10 at the Clay National Guard C enter. The ceremony showcased the transition between the 78th Troop Command’s outgoing commander, Brig. Gen. Craig M. McGalliard, and the incoming commander, Col. Thomas H. Blackstock, Jr. Approximately 200 Guardsmen, guests and family members attended the ceremony in order to recognize both McGalliard and Blackstock, as each officer plans to embark on a new career path. After presenting roses to family members in attendance of the incoming and outgoing commanders, the event’s reviewing officer, Brig. Gen. Thomas M. Carden Jr., commanding general of the Georgia Army National Guard, recognized the important contributions of McGalliard an d Bl a ck s to ck t h rou g h t h e i r pre v i ou s c om m an d s . “I ’m t h a n k f u l t o h av e h a d h i s m e nt o r s h i p a n d leadership,” said Carden, referring to McGalliard. “I’m also very, very proud of Col. Blackstock’s accomplishments.” McGalliard received the Oglethorpe Distinguished Service Medal for his time as the commander. He recognized previous units he commanded and how the 78th Troop Command provides multiple assets to meet National Guard Bureau’s goals as well as additional assistance to the state. McGa l liard acknow le dge d t hat he has known Blackstock since they were both young captains. “C olonel Blackstock ref lects best with the Army values,” said McGalliard. “He is the right man for the job.”
B l a c k s t o c k , w h o e n l i s t e d i n t h e 7 8 t h Tr o o p Command over 34 years ago, began by expressing his h on or an d e xc ite m e nt w it h t a k i ng c om m an d w h i l e also thanking his family, commanders and S oldiers. “I never would have imagined 34 years ago that I would be standing in front of this formation as its commander,” said Blackstock. Up o n a s s u m i n g c o m m a n d o f t h e 7 8 t h Tr o o p Command, Blackstock said he intends to focus on three areas of Soldier development to include individual Soldier readiness, leader development and the command climate. “Let us never forget that Soldiers matter always,” said Blackstock as he wrapped up his speech to attendees. While the 78th Troop Command prepares to continue under a new leader, Soldiers appreciate the positive impact from McGalliard. “He is an outstanding leader, officer and gentleman,” s aid C ommand Sgt. Maj or Roy Marcher t, command S e r g e a n t M a j o r o f t h e 7 8 t h Tr o o p C o m m a n d .
Photo by: Sgt. Shye Stallings & Sgt. Michael Uribe | Public Affairs Office | Georgia Army National Guard
Summer 2016 | 4
Ga Air Guard PArtners With Armenia
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Story by: Senior Master Sgt. Roger Parsons and Master Sgt. Regina Young | 116th Air Control Wing team of militar y civil engineers from Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, completed a humanitarian mission renovating a residential wing of a home for the elderly in Yerevan, Armenia, May 10-25. Airmen from the Georgia Air National Guard’s 116th Air Control Wing and an active duty structural craftsman from the 461st Air Control Wing worked in partnership with Armenian contractors on a floor to ceiling renovation to improve the safety and living conditions of 12 residential suites with common areas at the Yerevan Elderly Institution No. 1. The institution provides accommodation, food, clothes, health and psychological care to 236 residents who are over 65 years of age, alone and unemployed; and those over 18 years of age who need special care. The project, part of the European Command Humanitarian Civic Assistance program, afforded the opportunity for the Airmen to complete essential skill-set training while providing the skills, tools, resources, and training so the Armenian people can continue to build their future, strengthen their society and develop social services. “ This mission provided real-life experience similar to the conditions we face when deployed,” said Maj. Tasha LiscombeFolds, deputy commander of the 116th Civil Engineer Squadron and lead project engineer for the mission. “We were able to hone our skills and develop new skills for world-wide contingency operations and our domestic operations response at home.” Overcoming challenges was part of the standard daily operating procedures for the civil engineers. Working side-byside with Armenian contractors while communicating through a translator, limited supplies, scarce and unfamiliar tools were the norm. “Coming to the construction site and not having all the supplies or the same tools we are used to was immensely beneficial for our readiness,” said Liscombe-Folds. “When we deploy to support domestic operations, and highways and power grids are shut down, or we deploy to a country where everything is completely different,
5 | The Georgia Guardsman
we have to adapt and that’s exactly what we did here.” While the project was fraught with challenges, the opportunity to build relationships, learn a foreign culture, and help people in need was a common theme echoed by the Airmen. “It has been eye-opening, it is definitely different than American life,” shared Senior Airman Casey Ashley, on being over-seas for the first time. “It has been rewarding to be able to improve the residents quality of life.” “I fixed a crack in a wall for a resident, she was very grateful and we formed a friendship,” said Ashley. “During my time here she taught me how to count in Armenian and I was able to learn some of her life story through old photographs she shared with me.” Gratitude didn’t stop with the residents. Contractors, staff, and leadership expressed their appreciation throughout the project. “We will be grateful for many years for the work you have done here,” said Khachik Sargsyan, director of Yerevan Elderly Institution No. 1. “The work carried out here will help our residents with hot water and heating and provide a safe and cleaning living environment.” “This work began at our institution last year by the Kansas National Guard
engineers and I would like to express my gratitude to them,” shared Sargsyan. “The Georgia Air National Guard is continuing this tradition and I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to the 116th Civil Engineer Squadron.” The Republic of Armenia signed a bilateral affairs agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense and the State of Kansas in 2003, establishing the KansasArmenia State Partnership Program, of which the Humanitarian Civic Assistance program is a part. Towards the end of the project, the Airmen were recognized for their efforts as U.S. Army Europe Commander, Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges and Kansas National Guard Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Lee Tafanelli visited the Yerevan Elderly Institution No. 1 to view the progress of the renovation. “When I look at the talent here of young people from the United States that are here representing our country, working with Armenians, obviously I’m very proud of that,” said Hodges. “As a fellow engineer, I will tell you the great thing about projects like this is this will last the test of time and you’ll have something you can reflect back on knowing you’ve been able to have an impact on a community here in Armenia,” added Tafanelli.
Photo by: Senior Master Sgt. Roger Parsons | 1 1 6 th ACW | Georgia Air National Guard
the Chaplain’s Corner
By: Chaplain Capt. Jon Pirtle | Georgia Army National Guard
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here is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves,” Jane Austen wrote. There is a paradox in today’s military culture— namely, while we are more connected than ever via social media, Soldiers are often lonely for true friendship. The spiritual connections that come through true friendship are worth more than thousands of “virtual”
friends. Like you I’m “friends” with people on social media that I rarely, if ever spend quality time with. No, not the friends who live hundreds or thousands of miles away, that’s understandable. I refer to people that would be more accurately defined as acquaintances or peers. I’m not a Luddite, one opposed to technological advancement, or social media. Like many of you, I too use social media. Social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) allow
communication to a broad audience instantly. But social media alone, devoid of deep relationships, should not substitute for true friendship. In reality, it cannot satisfy the spiritual hunger that’s satisfied in true friendship. I have taught high school and college English for much of the last 15 years, in addition to serving in the military. A recurring theme I witness is the longing we all have for meaningful connections and true friendships. Some people share details of themselves online that they’d be loath to share in otherwise public ways. Why is that? May I suggest that it’s often the void of friendlessness they’re attempting to fill? “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24). The contrast is clear. We may have many folks around us, but feel alone. But a true friend is not just around, or on the periphery. A true friend “sticks closer than a brother.” May we as Soldiers take the time to invest in our relationships and cultivate friendships. Resilience, the practice of bouncing back, recovering, and enduring, is immeasurably more stable when built upon a foundation of friends.
Summer 2016 | 6
Safety Chief Master Sgt. Reginald McPherson State Command Chief Joint Force Headquarters
NCO Notepad Words of wisdom from one to another
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has recently been a topic dominating our current news cycle. At the start of June we learned about the deaths of nine U.S. Army Soldiers during training at Fort Hood, Texas, when their vehicle was swept away by heavy rain fall. We then witnessed in horror the death of an U.S. Navy Blue Angels F/A-18 pilot at an airshow and the crash of a U.S. Air Force F-16 Thunderbird on the same day. The next week we saw two Air National Guard F-16 Falcons suffer a mid-air collision over Georgia after training at the Bulldog Military Operations Area, formerly Townsend Bombing Range. I would like to ask all members of the Georgia Department of Defense to take a few minutes to read about safety. Summer is upon us and that tends to be a time when there is an increase in outdoor activities and traveling for our Airmen and Soldiers. This is of course the longest vacation period of the year. Traditionally, from Memorial Day through Labor Day is also a time of increased fatalities and injuries for our service members and their families. As a former safety manager, I cannot tell you the number of accident reports I have received during this time of year. Motor vehicle fatalities continue to be the number one cause of death and continue to riddle the National Guard as we lose countless Airmen and Soldiers to preventable accidents. We are losing our young Airmen and Soldiers at an alarming rate; typically between the ages of 18 and 26. In particular, there has been an increase of motorcycle accidents as motorcyclists tend to ride their bikes more during the summer. The three significant causes to these incidents are speeding, darkness and alcohol. Another activity that tends to spike at this time is the use of recreational boats and jet skis while enjoying time at some of our state’s beautiful beaches and lakes. It is imperative that everyone apply water safety rules when they are out on the water. The use of good judgement and making wise decisions while on or around water should be priority. By following common sense safety rules and exercising caution, summer can be, and should be, an enjoyable season without injuries and accidents. What I would like to communicate most is have a plan even if you are doing something as simple as barbequing. Think before you do anything – and most importantly, look out for each other be a good Wingman. Our Airmen and Soldiers are the most important part of our mission and without you, nothing can be done.
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Think before you do anything – and most i mp or t a nt l y, l o o k o ut for each other be a good Wingman.
CLRT Excellence
Story by: Capt. William Carraway | Public Affairs Office | Georgia Army National Guard
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eorgia Army National Guard units across the state hosted a Combined Logistics Review Team visit by National Guard bureau inspectors during the first week of August 2016. In the three years since the previous CLRT, leaders and logisticians at all levels of the Georgia Guard implemented process improvements and addressed observations made in the previous inspection. The hard work paid off as the Georgia Guard received an overall rating of 94 percent, an increase of 11 percent from the previous inspection. “It speaks volumes for our organization,” said Lt. Col. Alex McLemore, director of logistics for the Georgia Army National Guard. “The teamwork over the past year has been extraordinary. There was not a single unit or entity evaluated that did not have at least four of the five major subordinate commands or staff directorate represented during the process.” The CLRT inspection is a comprehensive analysis of 14 logistics functions including unit supply management, property book and security management, financial liability inspection and other assessment areas. CLRT inspections are conducted every three years in order to provide observations and recommendations to leadership while ensuring accountability and best practices. The CLRT confers assessment ratings for each logistics functional area. Areas may be rated as noteworthy, satisfactory, requires improvement or unsatisfactory. To receive a noteworthy rating, an assessment must reveal performance that exceeds regulatory or policy guidance. A satisfactory rating indicates that all regulatory requirements are being met in the assessed area. The Georgia Guard received five noteworthy ratings, an increase of three from the previous inspection. All remaining assessed areas were rated satisfactory indicating that the Georgia Guard is either meeting or exceeding all regulatory standards for logistics functions. The inspection results demonstrated great improvement over
previous inspections. Brigadier Gen. Tom Carden, commander of the Georgia Army National Guard credited leaders at all levels for the success. “Organizations that don’t celebrate successes don’t have a lot of success,” said Carden. “What we saw this week would not have happened if not for hard work at the leader level, the user level, at all levels.” During the Aug. 4, 2016 CLRT out brief, inspectors and Georgia Guard leadership celebrated the successes noted during the inspection. Major Marcus Smoot of the CLRT singled out the performance of Staff Sgt. Katherine Bartlett of the 148th Brigade Support Battalion. Colonel Randall Simmons, chief of staff of the Georgia Army National Guard also recognized Chief Warrant Officer 3 Kim Grogan, property book officer for the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. Carden recognized four individuals for their contributions during the inspection. Staff Sgt. Misty Crapps of the 78th Aviation Troop Command received a commander’s coin for her supply processes, some of which have been adopted by the CLRT as best practices. Staff Sgt. Andrien Nepper of the directorate of logistics also received a commander’s coin for his comprehensive knowledge of the Global Combat Support System – Army, the new web-based logistics and finance system. Two members of the United States Property Fiscal Office also received commander’s coins from Carden. Ms. Wanda Lomax led efforts in improving financial liability prevention and loss management while Chief Warrant Officer 2 Eva McCarley was responsible for the success of the excess management program and the central issue facility operation. “This is just the tip of the spear for those who will be recognized,” said Carden.
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Story By: Sgt. Shye Stallings | Public Affairs O f f i c e | G e o r g i a A r m y Nat i o n a l G ua r d
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eorgia National Guard Spc. Joseph Broam will represent the Army National Guard in the U.S. Army Best Warrior Competition. Broam competed at the brigade, state, regional and, most recently, at the national level prior to advancing to compete against the Army’s finest. “This is the most elite group of Soldiers and NCOs in the entire National Guard,” said Massachusetts Command Sgt. Maj. Ramos Riva. “I want to thank each of the competitors for their outstanding efforts every single day as they tackled various events.” Broam and Florida National Guard Staff Sgt. Travis Ugarte, represented Region III during the national competition. Broam and Ugarte excelled and outperformed in their respective state and regional competitions to reach the national level. “It’s definitely a great honor,” said Broam. “I never thought I would get this far when I first started down at the brigade level.” Broam and Ugarte had to remain flexible as the national level tested their physical and mental stamina from day one. “Having the board and mentally challenging events on the first day was great,” said Ugarte. “It was much easier to answer questions before I was both physically and mentally exhausted.” After the board event, competitors completed the physical fitness test that included push-ups, sit-ups and a two-mile run. But upon completing the two-mile distance, competitors were required to complete another three miles as a part of the total five-mile unknown distance run. “The run was rough,” said Ugarte. “In Florida we have nothing comparable to those hills we just ran.” For the final event on day one, each region’s NCO and Soldier flew in a UH-60 Black Hawk to a remote site at nightfall to complete the military operations in an urban terrain event. On the second day, competitors faced physically demanding tasks to include the obstacle course, day and night land navigation and the warrior training task event. The WTT event required
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competitors to ride in a HMWWV through a wooded course, observe and report intelligence and ordnance. During the event a simulated IED exploded and injured the driver of the vehicle. The competitors then had to evaluate and treat the casualty before calling for medical extraction. They then transported the casualty to the landing zone. “This was a tough competition, I am pleased with both of our competitors from Region III,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Jason York, who hosted the Georgia National Guard and Region III Competition this year. “Both Broam and Ugarte represented Region III with pride and we have established a lifelong bond.” It was a fight all the way to the last and decisive event. The Soldiers and NCOs participated in a 14-mile ruck march over the ground which the Battle of Lexington and Concord were fought and where the “shot heard round the world” was fired. At the conclusion of the march, competitors flew back to Camp Edwards for the award ceremony where the National Guard Soldier and NCO of the year were announced. Ultimately, Georgia’s Spc. Broam and Pennsylvania’s Staff Sgt. Dirk Omerzo were chosen to represent the Army National Guard in the U.S. Army Best Warrior Competition. “While I am thankful, I am humbled by this opportunity,” said Broam, “It is an honor to not only represent the state of Georgia and Region III but now the entire Army National Guard.” Broam will continue his Best Warrior journey September 26th to October 3rd, 2016 at Fort A.P. Hill, Va., against the Soldiers that represent more than one million members of the U.S. Army Guard, Reserve and Active Duty components. “We couldn’t be prouder of Broam,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Phillip Stringfield, command sergeant major for the Georgia Army National Guard. “He put his best foot forward and represented our state well. We know he will continue to do great things for this organization.”
Photo by: Sgt. Shye Stallings | Public Affairs Office | Georgia Army National Guard
Summer 2016 | 10
148th BSB Conducts Annual Training Story by: Capt. William Carraway | Public Affairs Office | Georgia Army National Guard
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n Iowa National Guard installation just north of Des Moines is not the first location you might expect to find Georgia National Guardsmen. But for two weeks in May, the Georgia Army National Guard’s 148th Brigade Support Battalion conducted annual training at the Sustainment Training Center at Camp Dodge Iowa. “Camp Dodge has a mission training set for each of our companies, depending on their operational mission,” said Lt. Col. Alex McLemore, commander of the 148th BSB. While companies of the 148th have previously drilled at Camp Dodge, this is the first time that the entire battalion has assembled for annual training at the Sustainment Training Center. The Camp Dodge Sustainment Training Center provides state of the art training facilities for sustainment units that provide for individual skill qualification and unit mission training. For McLemore, Camp Dodge provided the ideal training environment for the 148th BSB. “Camp Dodge is set up to provide training for all sustainment operations,” noted McLemore. Company A of the 148th BSB performed distribution missions ranging from logistics package missions to refueling operations. Along the way, the Guardsmen of Company A learned about The Global Combat Support System-Army and used the system throughout training. The maintainers of Company B were also able to flex their military operational skills with hands-on training in welding and machine shop work as well as weapons repair and allied trades. “We don’t have the equipment in the state for some of our (allied trades) MOS to train, so this was an opportunity to get
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hands-on mission focused training,” said McLemore. Company C, the medical company of the 148th BSB also received realistic training. “The most amazing training was conducted at what I called the ‘shoot house for medics,’” said McLemore. “Medics were subjected to low light high noise, high-stress intense lifesaving scenarios that really replicated what they would encounter in theater.” The “shoot house for medics” presented the Guardsmen with a mass-casualty event. Prior to entering the shoot house, the medics were required to run in full gear to elevate their heart rate and simulate actual combat conditions. The medics then entered the shoot house and were confronted with simulated combat injuries that required diagnosis and treatment in a dark room, the only light provided by the medic’s flashlight. “You could see the skill of those medics as they assessed and treated the casualties,” recalled McLemore. The headquarters company of the 148th BSB took advantage of the opportunity to conduct a full-scale Military Decision Making Process iteration which allowed the staff sections to experience the planning and course of action development they will be expected to provide on deployment, or in steady state operations. “Our Guardsmen learned what it is they contribute to the war fight,” said McLemore. “So when we go to conduct the sustainment rehearsal, we are better able to visualize how real world sustainment operations support maneuver units.” Wishmasters of the 148th BSB will have the opportunity to apply the lessons learned from Camp Dodge at the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team’s Warfighter exercise Indiana in August. Photo by: Cadet Alvins Acuna| Georgia Army National Guard
Professional Development
reviews of books that teach us about our craft By: 1st Lt. Jeffrey Bezore | Public Affairs Office | Georgia Air National Guard Recently the A i r Forc e C h i e f of Staff, Gen. Mark A. Welsh I I I , rel e as e d his Re ading L ist of 2 0 1 6 . O ne of more interesting categories from this year’s CSAF Reading List was his recommendation of a series of TED Talks. T h e T E D Ta l k s entitled: “How to Overcome our Biases? Walk Boldly Toward Them,” by Vernā Myers, “Why we have too few women leaders,” by Sheryl Sandberg, “How Great Leaders Inspire Action,” and “Why Good Leaders Make You Feel Safe,” by Simon Sinek and “Got a Wicked Problem? First, Tell Me How You Make Toast,” by Tom Wujec were all highly encouraged by Welsh and offer great insight and thought provoking dialogue for our members in the Georgia Department of Defense. Vernā Myers is a diversity consultant from Maryland and has worked with several non-profit companies and government agencies. Her TED Talk encourages us to look inward and acknowledge our own biases. Once we have done this, she believes we should actively seek out those people that make us feel uncomfortable. This will help us move past our prejudices and change our attitudes towards what she calls “out-groups.” Sheryl Sandberg is the chief operating officer of Facebook, which is the largest social media network in the world, with an estimated 1.65 billion monthly users. Her TED Talk examines why there is such a small percentage of women who end up reaching the top ranks of their profession, and what we as a society can do to overcome this. Her proposed solution is to keep women in the workforce. Her proposed tactics to accomplish this are “first, sit at the table, second, make your partner a real partner and third, don’t leave before you leave.” The two TED Talks by Simon Sinek cover leadership. Sinek works for the RAND Corporation and is a subject matter expert on leadership. His first TED Talk looks how the greatest leaders of our time are able to inspire success, cooperation, trust and change. He uses his theory called the “Golden Circle” as a way to explain why
the best leaders succeed. The second TED Talk by Sinek looks at what makes a leader great. He proposes that a good leader is able to create an environment that makes employees feel secure. If there is trust and safety then people will be able to thrive within the organization and face its dangers together. This means that the leader takes on extra responsibilities and sacrifices for the group. The final recommended TED Talk is buy Tom Wujec, an author who specializes in business visualization. He talks about system models by looking at how we describe making toast. In an entertaining discussion, Wujec is able to explain how “nodes” and “links” are key to describing a process and that through collaborative visualization, we are able to solve the most complex problems. These series of TED Talks will take less than an hour of your time to watch and will expose you to some great communicators who cover a spectrum of topics that are relevant to our organization.
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He [Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.] didn’t go around telling people what ne e de d to change in America, he went around and told people what he believed. And people who believed what he believed took his cause and made it their own. Summer 2016 | 12
ROTC HALL OF FAME
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Story by: Capt. Charlie Emmons | Public Affairs Office | Georgia Army National Guard
olonel Anthony Dill, the state inspector general for the Georgia Department of Defense achieved another career milestone recently. During the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps’ 100th anniversary celebration, the U.S. Army Cadet Command inducted Dill and 325 other awardees into the ROTC Hall of Fame. More than 100 former cadets and other recipients’ family members attended the inaugural event and were presented with the honor during the organization’s
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centennial celebration on Brooks Field The selected recipients were chosen by their respective alma mater’s ROTC program because they’ve made significant contributions in and out of service, as government and private sector leaders. Maj. Gen. Christopher Hughes, the commanding general of cadet command re m a r k e d u p o n t h e w i d e r a n g e o f accomplishments of those selected during the prestigious ceremony. “When I look across at our Hall of Fame inductees on the field, I am reminded that they represent more than 2,500 years of collective Army service to our nation,” said
Hughes. “All of our inductees are highly decorated veterans, from the Medal of Honor to the Nobel Peace Prize.” The list of inductees was narrowed down from a pool of 650 thousand eligible names from the last century, and included a number of familiar leaders from recent American history. The roll call included historic retired generals like Gen. George C. Marshall and Gen. Colin Powell as well as National Football League Hall of Famer, Jim Brown. The current Chief of Staff of the Army, Gen. Mark Milley was selected for the honor as well, representing Princeton University.
Photos by: Capt. Charlie Emmons | Public Affairs Office | Georgia Army National Guard
Dill, a University of West Florida graduate, modestly acknowledges his place amongst the other names, and remembers working for some of his fellow awardees. He also reflects on his three decades of experience with other Soldiers that helped to shape his career. “It’s definitely humbling and you’re not even sure that you’re in the right place,” said Dill. “This [award] is probably more of a recognition of the great Soldiers that I got to work with over the years that helped me do well in the Army.” Dill has been associated with military service long before he entered the ROTC
program. His father, an aviator and transportation officer who started as an engineer in the Illinois National Guard, supported numerous of missions in Vietnam. “I knew what the Army was, I thought it was really cool to go see the helicopters on the flight line, and I always thought in the back of my head I’d really like to do that,” said Dill. “On Halloween I’d wanna dress up in some Army stuff, which usually drove my dad crazy because he was really a strict stickler for uniformity.” The influencing decision to join the Army came after Dill’s family moved to Tehran, Iran in the late 1970s, after his father retired from the military and began working there. He witnessed a number of strange and intense situations over the few months they stayed in the volatile country. It was not uncommon to see deadly battles in the streets directly outside their apartment building. Dill and his three younger siblings were often in danger during their time in Iran. He used the experience as motivation. “Watching my family get threatened, watching my sisters and little brother get threatened…it just really imparted upon me that I never want to be a victim,” said Dill. “That really just drove me even more to want to serve in the military.” Dill earned his commissioned in 1988 while simultaneously drilling with the Florida National Guard. He completed his undergraduate degree at UWF in Pensacola and left his mark on a distinguished career, serving in leadership positions with a number of organizations to include special operations units. His deployments to the Middle East spanned the years from Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm through Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and New Dawn. “You start seeing the same places over and over again,” Dill said. “Coming back into Bagram Airfield or something, you see the buildup, you see the changes. Some things are the same, some things are different.” Dill also served as the commander of the Golden Knights aerial demonstration team, a three-year job he considers the most challenging and rewarding of his career. “You get to take the Army across the United States to places where there aren’t bases or there aren’t Soldiers and represent the Army, connecting America with its Army,” said Dill. During his tenure with the Golden Knights, Dill was able to bring a National
Guard Soldier onto the team, and oversaw the event when former President George H.W. Bush jumped with the team in 2009. “Having the Secret Service hand off their most prized possession twice…it was a huge responsibility to not only demonstrate Army capability but to have the Secret Service put that trust in the Army to do that was pretty neat,” said Dill. Recently, Dill completed his tenure as the Chief of Staff for the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center in Fort Bragg, N.C. After accepted a broadening assignment with the Georgia National Guard, he now works as the State Inspector General. The IG is responsible for conducting inspections, investigations, providing assistance, and teaching and training within the Georgia DoD. “I’m very honored to be here. I’ve got a fantastic team of top notch NCOs and officers that are doing great things for the state and are able to identify trends and other issues within the organization or courses of action where we can make things better for our Soldiers,” said Dill. This will likely be Dill’s last job in uniform, and as advice to new Soldiers, he recommends they identify their unique motivations to drive them toward successful careers, in the same way he did. “To have a good career in the Army you’ve gotta find the right place, the right assignment, or the right boss,” said Dill. “You’ve gotta find that thing that makes you come to work every day. As an officer, I just love working with Soldiers.”
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1 6 5 t h Wat e r Survival Training
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Story By: Staff Sgt. Noel Velez-Crespo |165th Airlift Wing | Georgia Air National Guard ircrew members from the 165th Airlift Wing, Savannah Air National Guard Base, Ga. participated in water-survival training at Hunter Army Airfield indoor swimming facilities, practicing skills that could one day save their lives. The training is led and conducted by Master Sgt. Jorge Chavez and his team of qualified instructors from the 165th Aircrew Flight Equipment section. The pilots, co-pilots, navigators, flight engineers, loadmasters and flight surgeons were required to extract themselves from parachute harnesses while being pulled through the water, demonstrate their use of single-person and 20-person life rafts and water extraction. The refresher course is required every three years and puts the aircrew survival and swimming skills to the test. “Water survival training reminds aircrew members of the essential water training to survive in open sea environment�, said Chavez.
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Photo by: Staff Sgt. Noel Velez- Crespo | 1 6 5 th Airlift Wing | Georgia Air Naitonal Guard
Officer Candidate School Class 55 Graduation
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By: Capt. William Carraway | Public Affairs Office | Georgia Army National Guard
he Georgia National Guard welcomed eleven new second lieutenants following the graduation ceremony of the Marietta-based Georgia Military Institute’s Officer Candidate School Class 55. The ceremony marks the culmination of 18 months of training by the officer candidates who will assume leadership positions throughout the State. “This is something I have devoted the last 18 months of my life to,” said 2nd Lt. Patrick Crowley. “It has been a lifetime dream and aspiration to become a military officer and I could not be any happier right now.” Crowley, who previously served as a sergeant in the Georgia Air National Guard, will now lead a platoon in Company D, 148th Brigade Support Battalion. The Georgia Military Institute, part of the Georgia National Guard’s 122nd Regional Training Institute serves as the officer candidate school for the Georgia Army National Guard. Initially established in Marietta in 1851, GMI provided military instruction until 1864 when it was burned during the advance of the Federal armies of Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman. In 1961, GMI was reestablished by the Georgia Army National Guard in Macon. In 2008 the institute returned to Marietta as part of the 122nd RTI. The traditional state National Guard OCS class commits to 18 months of training during drill weekends and two summer annual training events. Of the eleven new officers, ten completed the traditional National Guard OCS while the eleventh completed an accelerated OCS program over the course of three months. “We have spent the last several months tearing them down and building them up.” Said Command Sgt. Maj. Jason York, of the 122nd RTI. “They have been trained by the best the Army has Photo by: Capt. William Carraway | Public Affairs Office | Georgia Army National Guard
to offer. It is now up to them to lice the Army Values and defend Georgia and the United States of America.” Once accepted into the Georgia National Guard OCS program, candidates are subjected to a series of academic challenges and arduous tasks to test them both physically and mentally. They train in the academics of leadership in a classroom setting and take to the field to learn small unit tactics and unit leadership. The rigorous program is designed to push officer candidates to their limit. “The course is physically and mentally demanding,” said Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Sala, course manager for the OCS program. “We have to learn our officer candidates’ strengths and weaknesses inside and outside the program in order to maximize training effectiveness.” The officers of OCS Class 55 come from a diverse leadership background. While some entered the Georgia Guard as officer candidates directly from the civilian world, half of the new officers, like Crowley, have prior enlisted experience. Others, like 2nd Lt. Luis Morales, a Ranger-qualified infantryman from the Georgia Army National Guard’s 121st Infantry Regiment, are combat veterans of overseas deployments. The new officers will follow careers in Army branches such as infantry, quartermaster, military intelligence and finance. The next phase of their training will take them to U.S. Army installations where they will train side by side with U.S. Army active and reserve officers as well as National Guard officers from other states. Major Davis Varner, OCS company commander, praised the OCS graduates and instructors for the success of the program. “We had the students who were willing to learn combined with the heat provided by the instructors and staff and I think both students and cadre did an outstanding job.”
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wenty years ago this summer, athletes from nearly 200 nations converged on Atlanta, for the Centennial Olympic Games. Ne arly 14,000 Nat iona l Guardsmen from 47 states supported the games in what was, at the time, the largest Guard peacetime support mission of the 20th Century. National Guardsmen worked with civilian volunteers as well as State and Federal agencies supporting Olympic events from the Tennessee border to the shore of the Atlantic Ocean.
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Photo courtesy of the 1 6 1 st Military History Detachment
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Securing the Games The Atlanta Police Department was responsible for securing most of the Olympic sites in downtown Atlanta along with providing perimeter security around major events. To provide additional civilian law enforcement support, the State Olympic Law Enforcement Command coordinated assistance from the FBI and GBI, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, Border Patrol and other agencies from across the country. Initial plans called for the activation of 2,000 to 3,000 Georgia Guardsmen and assignment of 8,000 Army Soldiers to bolster civilian security efforts; however, the Department of Defense General Counsel ruled that the use of active military personnel in security roles might violate the Posse Comitatus Act which limits the use of federal military forces in law enforcement activities. The security gap would ultimately be filled by the National Guard and its Citizen Soldiers and Airmen. Under the direction of Maj. Gen. William P. Bland, Georgia’s Adjutant General, The Georgia Guard established two task forces: TF Centennial Guard and TF 165. TF Centennial Guard Aviation support, equipment and facility use, liaison and venue security was the mission of TF Centennial under command of Col. Robert Hughes. TF Centennial Guard established military venue officers to liaise with law enforcement and augment venue security. Base support officers helped coordinate support for Guard personnel from other state who would provide critical support to security operations. Task Force Centennial Guard established Team Hotel, a 275-member special unit of Georgia Guardsmen to secure the Olympic Village from July 1 to August 5, 1996. Team Hotel was comprised of Company H, 121st Infantry Regiment, Long Range Surveillance Unit; 178th Military Police Company and the 190th MP Company. Following the bombing of Centennial Olympic Park, TF 121 was established to augment security at Olympic venues across the state. The task force was composed of more than 450 Georgia Guardsmen of the 48th Infantry Brigade, recently returned from a Fort Irwin National Training Center mobilization. National Guard aviation assets were key to Task Force Centennial Guard. Guard aviators provided aerial reconnaissance to help coordinate traffic flow on the ground and stood ready to provide medical evacuation in the event of an emergency. Aviators from Arizona, Indiana, New Mexico and Tennessee joined Georgia Guardsmen in flying more than 600 mission hours in 22 aircraft, in addition to 700 hours in the days preceding the Games.
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TF 165 TF 165 was commanded by Georgia Air National Guard Col. Steve Westgate, commander of the 165th Airlift Wing. In addition to providing military support for Olympic events in the Savannah vicinity, TF 165 established satellite communication networks in support of events statewide. The Georgia Guard’s Combat Readiness Training Center in Savannah hosted 600 U.S. Coast Guard personnel who supported Olympic marina events. The CRTC and other base camps of TF 165 offered medical, transportation and laundry services 24 hours a day throughout the games Perhaps the greatest challenge faced by TF 165 was the approach of Hurricane Bertha which prompted the evacuation of personnel and athletes from the Olympic marina on July 10, 1996. Events were delayed two days until the track of Hurricane Bertha carried it away from the Georgia Coast.
“The world focused on our c ount r y as the host of the Oly mpic Games and it was the National Guard Soldier and Airmen who made it possible to host the largest peacetime event in history.” - Maj. G e n . Rob e r t
Hicks
Department of Defense Support The National Guard Bureau coordinated personnel and equipment resources for the Centennial Olympic Games that were beyond Georgia’s capability. A primary contributor was the 38th Infantry Division with units from Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. Major. Gen. Robert Mitchell, commander of the 38th Infantry Division recalled the Olympic mission. “ The real value of (the Olympics mission) was the performance of the individual Guardsmen,” said Mitchell. “Each was a true ambassador of goodwill representative of the games.” The U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) established a joint task force to coordinate all federal support to the Olympic Games by the Department of Defense. Commanded by Maj. Gen. Robert Hicks, Joint Task Force Olympics received and approved support requests, provided support to ten base camps and assisted in the transportation of military personnel from base camps to Olympic venues. The JTFO tasked the Army’s 24th Corps Support Group to convert an abandoned Delta Airlines hangar into a main billeting area for Guardsmen. More than 4,000 Guardsmen and other Military personnel stayed at the facility throughout the games. Major General Hicks praised the efforts of the National Guard at the end of Olympic support operations. “All National Guard members performed superbly,” said Hicks. “The world focused on our country as the host of the Olympic Games and it was the National Guard Soldier and Airmen who made it possible to host the largest peacetime event in history.”
Leaving Behind Legacy of Leadership
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Story By: Capt. William Carraway | Public Affairs Office | Georgia Army National Guard ver the drill weekend of August 6 and 7, 2016, Georgia Guardsmen assembled at the Clay National Guard Center to mark the retirement of two Guardsmen with a combined 74 years of experience. Brigadier General Craig Mc G a l l i ard re t i re d S atu rd ay August 6 following a 39-year career. McGalliard enlisted in the Georgia Guard in August, 1977 and was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in 1982 through the Georgia Institute of Technology Reserve Officer Training Corps. In his nearly four decades of experience, McGalliard commanded units from the battery to brigade level to include the 1st Battalion, 118th Field Artillery Regiment; 1st Battalion, 214th Field Artillery Regiment; the 265th Regional Support Group and the 78th Troop Command. McGalliard deployed to Iraq for Operation Noble Eagle, 2003-2004 and Iraqi Freedom, 2005-2006. From 20122013, McGalliard deployed to Afghanistan as commander of the 265th RSG’s Agribusiness Development Team II. During the retirement ceremony, Brigadier General Joe Jarrard, Georgia’s Adjutant General presented McGalliard with the Legion of Merit. General McGalliard’s wife Lisa also received the Georgia Meritorious Service Medal in recognition for her contributions to the Georgia Army National Guard. Following the award presentations, a battery of howitzers from the 118th Field Artillery Regiment fired eleven rounds in honor of the McGalliards.
Colonel Vernon Atkinson, director of domestic operations, retired from the Georgia Guard August 7, 2016 at the Clay National Guard center following a 35-year military career. A graduate of Marion Military Institute and Florida State University, Atkinson began his career in the Florida National Guard as an infantry platoon leader. Transferring to the Active Army, Atkinson travelled to Korea where he served as a battalion intelligence officer. Numerous overseas assignments followed including stints in Honduras, Bosnia, Haiti, Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait. Over his career, Atkinson Transferring to the Georgia Army National Guard as a captain in 1998, Atkinson served as intelligence officer and later operations officer for the 171st General Support Aviation Battalion. Command followed, first with Detachment 1, Company F of the 131st Aviation Regiment and then battalion command with the 122nd Regional Training Institute. In 2006, Atkinson deployed to the Central Command area of operations where he served as the operations officer to the Theater Aviation Support Manager, then Lt. Col Brock Gaston. Gaston recalled that Atkinson travelled extensively, visiting forward operating bases in Iraq and Afghanistan. In this role, Atkinson provided support for more than 500 aircraft encompassing all combat aviation brigades in the Operation Iraqi and Enduring Freedom theaters of operation. Returning to Georgia, Atkinson commanded the 78th troop command and later, the 201st Regional Support Group before assuming the office of director of domestic operations.
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Around the Georgia Guard River Ops Georgia Army National Guard Soldiers of the Daltonbased Troop C, 1st Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment conduct waterborne operations training on the Oostanaula River near Calhoun.
a Special Visit College Football Hall of Fame Coach Vince Dooley, retired University of Georgia, Head Football Coach and Athletic Director, visited Clay National Guard Center today to show his unwavering support for the men and woman who serve in the National Guard.
Gas, GAs, Gas The 138th Chemical Company Soldiers push through the Promask Confidence Course during annual training at the Volunteer Training Center Catoosa.
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Left add, right subract... Georgia Army National Guard 2nd Lt. Landon Rowinski of the Calhoun-based Headquarters Troop, 108th Cavalry Squadron and Lt. Col. Jason Baker, commander of the 108th Cavalry Squadron plot coordinates during the land navigation portion of the 108th Cav’s spur ride held this weekend in Canton, Ga.
116th Army Band Soldiers of the Georgia Army National Guard’s 116th Army Band lead the parade line during the 64th Annual Old Soldiers Day Parade in Alpharetta, Ga., on Aug. 6.
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Lift Off The 1-111th GSAB takes off from Clay to begin their deployment
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