Q3 / 2021
/ 2021 | A1more Plus: Welcoming New Leaders | Assualt on Kennesaw Mountain 5k | And soq3much
CONTENTS ISSUE: Q3 / 2021
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Highway Rededication
A section of Georgia State Route 81 was dedicated in memory to Georgia Guardsmen Sgt. Michael Stokely and Master Sgt. Mark Allen.
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columns 09| NCO notepad
The importance or resileincy and readiness.
15| The Chaplain’s Corner The chaplain’s story.
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18| Professional development
Features 04| 648th MEB Assumption of Command
Georgia Army National Guard Col. Kris Marshall became the seventh commander in the history of the Columbus-based 648th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade.
12| New Leadership for 48th IBCT
The 48th IBCT conducts a change of command ceremony.
19| Assault on Kennesaw Mountain
The Georgia National Guard Family Support Foundation, the official support organization of the Georgia National Guard, hosted its 10th annual Assault on Kennesaw Mountain 5k run.
20| 78th ATC Change of Command
The 78th Aviation Troop Comnand conducts a change of command ceremony. 2 | The Georgia Guardsman
“Leading with Honor” by Col. Lee Ellis.
22|Around the Guard
See what’s going on around the Georgia Guard.
News 06| Butts County Civic Visit
Members of the Butts County Civic group tour Clay National Guard Center.
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08| 202nd Ordnance Company Deploys
The Georgia Army National Guard 202nd Ordnance Company deploys overseas.
10| Georgia Guard Honors Marietta Firefighters
Georgia National Guard honors Marietta firefighters for swift water training.
14| Cyber Dawg 2021 Service members with the Georgia National Guard participated in exercise Cyber Dawg 21.
Georgia National Guard Commander-in-Chief Gov. Brian Kemp Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Thomas Carden State Public Affairs Director Col. Patrick Watson State Public Affairs Officer Charles Emmons Editorial Staff Managing Editor Desiree Bamba Contributors Maria Balderas Maj. William Carraway Tiffany Irene Coulibaly Charles Emmons Chaplain (Ma.j.) Jon Pirtle Capt. Amanda Russell Maj. Pamela Stauffer Cpl. Rydell Tomas Shye Wilborn Capt. Bryant Wine 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 quarterly 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. q3 / 2021 | 3
684th MEB Assumption of Command & Assumption of Responisbility
Story & Photos By: Maj. William Carraway |Public Affairs Office | Georgia Army National Guard
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eorgia Army National Guard C ol. Kris Marshall became the seventh commander in t he histor y of t he C olumbus-bas ed 648th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade during a ceremony held on the grounds of the near century old Doughboy Stadium at Fort B enning, Ga. Oct. 23, 2021. During the same ceremony, Command Sgt. Major Rodney Bettis assumed responsibility as the brigade’s eighth senior enlisted leader. “Today, we get to add two outstanding leaders to your ranks: Colonel Kris Marshall and Command Sgt. Major Rodney Bettis,” said Brig. Gen. Dwayne Wilson, commander of the Georgia National Guard. “Both of these leaders have records of leading, training and caring for Soldiers.” Marshall assumes brigade command following a successful command tenure at the head of the 122nd Tactical Support Detachment. He previously served as the Ga. ARNG’s deputy chief of staff for intelligence and was the last commander of the Statesboro-based 48th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, leading the unit through its reorganization as the 177th Brigade Engineer Battalion. Marshall deployed to Afghanistan in 2003 and again in 2013. In 2021 he served as exercise co-director for Agile Spirit 21 in the Country of Georgia. Upon assuming command, Marshall thanked his family, civilian employer and mentors, both civilian and military. “I am humbled to be able to serve the men and women of the 648th,” said Marshall. “I look forward to moving this unit forward to support the citizens of Georgia when needed, continued engagement with the 3rd Infantry Division and
when called to respond on the national and international stage.” Bettis is an accomplished senior enlisted leader having served as command sergeant major of the 1st Battalion, 214th Field Artillery Regiment and 221st Military Intelligence Battalion. He originally enlisted in the Ga. ARNG as an aerial sensor specialist with the 158th Military Intelligence Battalion and later served as an infantryman with Company H, 121st Infantry. He deployed to Iraq in 2005 and Afghanistan in 2009. During his remarks to the assembled Soldiers, Bettis invoked the symbolism of the compass rose on the 648th MEB shoulder sleeve insignia in expressing his leadership philosophy. “I will be a 360-degree leader,” said Bettis. “I will lead to the south and the Soldiers under my care, I will lead to the north by influencing those with authority over me, I will lead to the east and west impacting my peers.” The 648th MEB is one of 19 maneuver enhancement brigades in the total Army force structure. With an authorized strength of more than 1,600 Soldiers, the 648th MEB is structured to support combatant and joint task force commanders with specialized support units. It demonstrated this capability during a 2012 deployment to Kabul, Afghanistan where the MEB provided mission command, security and support operations for the nearly 9,000 U.S. and coalition forces operating in the capital region. The 648th has additionally developed successful training and support relationships with the 2nd Infantry Division in South Korea as well as the Third Corps based in Fort Hood, Texas. The 648th has supported domestic operations such as hurricane response missions and has contributed personnel and equipment in support of the state’s coordinated response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Georgia DoD welcomes civic group from Butts County
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Story By: Capt. Bryant Wine| Public Affairs Office | Georgia Army National Guard he Georgia Department of Defense hosted a civic group from Butts County, Georgia, at Clay National Guard Center in Marietta, Georgia, Oct. 7, 2021. U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Tom Carden, The Adjutant General of Georgia, led the group through a tour of the department’s headquarters. Civic engagements promote relationships and improve collaboration between civil authorities and the Georgia DoD to ensure whole-of-state efforts in responding during times of need. “Community engagement is critically important to our organization. Our citizens through their tax dollars fund what we do, “said Carden. “We have a responsibility to make sure that we tell every Airman’s and every Soldier’s story, and we do that by engaging with the communities that we support.” The tour began with a visit to the memorial wall outside of Clay National Guard Center. The memorial wall is enshrined with plaques dedicated to 43 Georgia Army National Guard Soldiers that died while serving overseas during the Global War on Terrorism. Next, Carden presented a civic brief to the group showcasing the readiness status, capabilities and activities of the Georgia DoD. The tour ended with a visit to the headquarters’ joint operations center and briefing from U.S. Army Lt. Col. Pervis Brown, the
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officer-in-charge of the JOC. The JOC is the brain of the Georgia DoD that receives requests from civil agencies and tasks personnel from Georgia’s Air National Guard, Army National Guard and State Defense Force to complete those requests. “The visit was very nice and I really liked the tour,” said Kristie Head-Stodghill, a staffing coordinator at Wellstar Sylvan Grove Hospital in Jackson, Georgia. “We were in a critical state at Wellstar and we needed help, and you guys [Georgia Department of Defense] came to help. Butts County serves a vital role to the Georgia DoD. Jackson, the county seat of Butts County, is home to the Georgia Army National Guard’s Bravo Company, 148th Brigade Support Battalion, 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. The unit formed in 1902 as the Jackson Rifles. Jackson, Georgia, also hosts one of 11 field maintenance shops for the Georgia Army National Guard. Here, mechanics provide maintenance and repairs on vehicles beyond the capabilities of units in surrounding areas. “For the leaders of Butts County to understand what we do and how they factor in terms of workforce development and supporting local units is critically important to our success,” said Carden. “If we’re successful in our relationship with Butts County, our chances of being successful across the state goes up exponentially.”
A By Command Sgt. Major Jeff Logan State Command Sgt. Major Georgia Army National Guard
NCO Notepad Words of wisdom from one to another
s t he State Comma nd Sergeant Major, I was asked to talk about two different areas, Readiness and taking care of Soldiers. For me, those two topics go hand in hand. While visiting Soldiers, different issues are brought to my attention regarding bonuses, SLRP, Promotion, and pay. These every-day concerns ultimately impact retention and retention, in turn, impacts readiness. In order for Soldiers to keep a continued faith in the organization, it is very important that we as leaders address these issues and find a way to solve them. Each one of our Soldiers came into the Georgia Army National Guard with a goal, it is our job to help provide a pathway of success to help them meet their goals. As leaders, we must keep the care of our Soldiers as a primary mission and in turn the retention and success will follow. When we talk about readiness as a single element, this is very broad and covers many different areas. There are four areas that falls under the umbrella of readiness and they are personnel, equipment on hand, supply/ maintenance, and training. However, the main reason for readiness is to have each Soldier ready and able to deploy to a combat environment and accomplish its mission. As an organization, these areas are normally the focal points of drill weekends or during the unit’s annual training. With mindfulness centered around readiness and taking care of Soldiers, we can keep a portion of the Soldier’s creed in the forefront of our minds at all times, “My two basic responsibilities w i l l a lw ay s b e upp er mo s t i n my m i nd : accomplishment of my mission and the welfare of my Soldiers.”
“My two basic responsibilities will always be uppermost in my mind: accomplishment of my mission and the welfare of my Soldiers.” q3 / 2021 | 7
Citizen-Soldiers of 202nd Company embark on overseas
S t o r y by : M a j . W i l l i a m C a r r aw ay | P u b l i c A f f a
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d Ordnance s deployment
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O f f i c e | G e o r g i a A r m y N at i o n a l G u a r d
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amilies and friends of the Georgia Army National Guard’s 202nd Ordnance Company gathered at Burke County High School in Waynesboro, Georgia for a farewell ceremony heralding the unit’s upcoming overseas deployment. The Citizen Soldiers of the 202nd will join more than 500 Georgia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen presently deployed to five geographic combatant commands across the globe. “Today we not only honor the Soldiers of the 202nd Ordnance Company, but we honor fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, sisters, brothers, friends, and employers,” said Lt. Col. Trevis McCullough, commander of the 265th Chemical Battalion addressing the Soldiers and family members. “Know that you are a vital part of our team and our ability to execute this mission rests in your commitment.” In addition to McCullough, several key leaders of the Ga. National Guard gathered to witness the departure including Maj. Gen. Tom Carden, Georgia’s Adjutant General; Brig. Gen. Dwayne Wilson, commander of the Ga. ARNG and Col. Shane Strickland, commander of the 201st Regional Support Group. In addition, several state and community leaders witnessed the departure ceremony to include Bill Tinley of the Waynesboro City Council who commanded the Georgia National Guard unit in Waynesboro when it was designated Battery C, 1st Battalion, 214th Field Artillery. The Soldiers of the 202nd are capable of eliminating explosive hazards such as improvised explosive devices. To become an explosives ordnance disposal specialist, Soldiers must complete nearly one year of specialized training covering chemistry, robotics and methods used to detect and neutralize explosive threats. For the deployment, the 202nd completed an aggressive pre-mobilization schedule. “The 202nd conducted 65 days of EOD operations training for deployment,” said Strickland. “They worked with the EOD National Guard community across six states and seven different units during their train up to help cross training and fully certified three new team leaders in six months.” Since its organization in 1987 under the 78th Troop Command, the 202nd has built a robust training and mission resume. In 1990, personnel of the 202nd were placed on alert and mobilized to Fort Drum, New York, in support of Operation Desert Storm. The unit served on active duty at Fort Drum until May 20, 1991. In March 1999, the 202nd conducted a two-week overseas mission in Panama where it helped clear unexploded ammunition from smallarms and artillery ranges. In December 2002, the 202nd entered federal service for Operation Noble Eagle and served on active duty through June 15, 2004, in support of security operations in the United States. Upon its demobilization at Fort Bragg and subsequent return to Georgia, the 202nd relocated from Forest Park to Marietta. When the 78th TC received the Region IV Homeland Response Force mission assignment in 2010, the 202nd capabilities augmented the mission of saving lives in the event of a domestic terrorist or natural emergency. The 202nd participated in a series of exercise beginning with a joint exercise at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida, in Feb. 2010. The unit mobilized to Afghanistan in 2011, where its skillset helped protect coalition forces and Afghan civilians from the threat of unexploded IEDs and mines. A 2013 reorganization of the Georgia National Guard resulted in the transfer of the 202nd from the 78th TC to the Marietta-based 201st Regional Support Group. In March 2019, the 202nd was assigned to the 265th Chemical Battalion, part of the 201st RSG. On March 27, 2020, the 202nd moved to its current armory in Waynesboro, Georgia. Since that time personnel of the 202nd supported the state’s coordinated response to the COVID-19 pandemic, augmented law enforcement in response to civil unrest and mobilized to Washington D.C. to support security operations for the presidential inauguration.
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Georgia Guard honors Marietta firefighters Story & Photos by: Cpl. Rydell Tomas | Public Affairs Office | Georgia Army National Guard
Soldiers and Airmen with the Georgia National Guard attended an award ceremony Sept. 27, 2021, at the Marietta Fire Museum to honor the selfless service of some of the Marietta Fire Department’s outstanding firefighters. The ceremony recognized Marietta Fire Department firefighters that travelled to the country of Georgia and conducted swift water rescue training with the Georgia National Guard and Georgian Defense Forces during exercise Agile Spirit 21. U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Tom Carden, The Adjutant General of the Georgia, was one of the main speakers during the ceremony. “An organization that fails to celebrate success has less success to celebrate,” said Carden. “We didn’t want to miss an opportunity to celebrate these outstanding firefighters.” Agile Spirit 21 was a joint multinational exercise under the U.S. European Command’s Joint Exercise Program located the Vaziani Training Area, Orpholo and Senaki Air Base, Georgia, July 26-Aug. 6. Agile Spirit 21 promoted readiness, partnership, interoperability and theatre operations. The Marietta Fire Department created the swift water rescue course in 2009. The course trains lifesaving methods in a flood or swift waters caused by heavy rains, hurricanes and other natural disasters. The training proved to be extremely valuable. During the training in Borjormi, Georgia, Marietta Fire Department firefighters rescued tourists that fell into rushing waters while on a rafting excursion. Ron Presley, a Marietta Fire Department firefighter at the rescue scene, spoke about the incident and why swift water rescue training is such an important asset to utilize. “Last year, we taught Georgia Army National Guard Soldiers from the 201st [Regional Support Group], and they enjoyed the program,” said Presley. “Our job is to train you guys, and they train
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themselves.” The Georgia National Guard has formal partnership agreements with the country of Georgia and Argentina under the National Guard’s State Partnership Program. Formed in October 1994, the Georgia-to-Georgia partnership is one of the oldest agreements in the program’s history. The Georgia National Guard and Argentina partnered together in 2006. The country of Georgia hosts joint, multinational exercises every year which the Georgia National Guard deploys participants to sustain the partnership and interoperability. The two organizations also conduct many smaller training events, like seminars and classes, throughout the year in-person and digitally. The implementation of the Marietta Fire Department’s swift water rescue training program across agencies and countries is an addition to the Georgia National Guard’s commitment to fostering partnerships and building interoperability. “This partnership increases our interoperability,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Colin Thompson, director of the Georgia National Guard’s State Partnership Program. “It’s a mutual benefit to both countries that strengthen the economy and security.”
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New Leadership for the Volunteer Brigade
Story by: Capt. Bryant Wine | Public Affairs Office | Georgia Army National Guard The Georgia Army National Guard’s 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team held a change of command ceremony Oct. 17, 2021, at Volunteer Headquarters in Macon, Georgia. U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Dwyane Wilson, commanding general of the Georgia Army National Guard, presided over the ceremony where Col. Anthony Fournier relinquished command to Col. Jason Baker. Baker becomes the 29th commander of the 48th IBCT, an organization of more than 4,000 Soldiers nicknamed the Macon Volunteers. “Tony made a very challenging and complex mission look easy,” said Wilson. “The Volunteers have certainly benefited from your leadership, your professionalism and dedication, and most importantly, you ensured that the 48th remained ready, lethal and relevant.” Fournier assumed command in
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December 2019 in what was expected to be a period of reset and refit. The 48th IBCT had just returned from Afghanistan, it’s fourth deployment during the Global War on Terrorism. Beginning in March 2020, the 48th IBCT Volunteers were among thousands of G eorgia National Guardsmen activated in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Months later, Soldiers under Fournier’s command performed security tasks during protests in Atlanta in June and Stone Mountain in August following civil unrest stemming from the death of George Floyd. Experience responding to protests paid dividends when the brigade deployed two task forces to Washington D. C . i n Ja nu a r y 2 0 2 1 for the 59th presidential inauguration. Georgia was one of the largest contributors of the more t h a n 2 5 , 0 0 0 Nat i o n a l Guardsmen representing all 54 states and territories supporting the mission. Fournier ensured the 48th IBCT maintained mission essential readiness during this time of frequent domestic operations. The 48th IBCT also completed a rotation to the southwest border mission under the command of Joint Task Force-North and U.S. Customs and Border Protection during Fournier’s tenure.
The brigade’s 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment, deployed to Morocco in June 2021 for exercise African Lion 21. African Lion was the largest
“Soldiers of the 48th Brigade, I couldn’t be more proud of all you have accomplished.”
Photos by: Capt. Bryant Wine | Public Affairs Office | Georgia Army National Guard
joint, multinational training exercise on the African continent. The Georgia National Guard sent more personnel and equipment to African Lion than any exercise in the organization’s history. Exercise Noble Partner 20 preceded African Lion. Here, the 48th IBCT deployed hundreds of Soldiers to the country of Georgia in September 2020 to train with multinational and active-duty partners. The Georgia National Guard possesses a formal partnership with the county of Georgia under the National Guard’s State Partnership Program, a relationship that formed in October 1994. Fournier passes to Baker a brigade with proven capability, whether at home or abroad. Fournier’s next assignment is with the Georgia National Guard joint staff as director, training and exercises. “Soldiers of the 48th Brigade, I couldn’t be more proud of all you have accomplished,” said Fournier. “To go from combat operations in Afghanistan to switching gears a few months later, and being polite, professional Soldiers is nothing short of incredible. You did your jobs and you did it well; You saved lives and made a difference in the lives of our Georgia citizens.” Baker, a native of Indianapolis, Indiana, has s er ved in command positions from company to battalion
level, and is no stranger to the Volunteer Brigade. Baker served as executive officer of the 48th IBCT during the brigade’s 2014 deployment to Afghanistan. He then served as the squadron commander of the Calhoun-based 1st Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment, from 2014 to 2016. Baker had previously deployed to Iraq with the 101st Airborne Division and returned to Iraq in 2006 with a military transition team. In addition to combat d e p l o y m e n t s , B a k e r ’s international experience included a stint as bilateral affairs officer in Tbilisi, country of Georgia, from 2009 to 2011. Later, he served as exercise director of exercise Agile Spirit 19 in the country of Georgia. Baker most recently served as the Georgia Army National Guard’s deputy chief of staff for personnel at Clay National Guard Center
in Marietta, Georgia. “We will continue to train to win,” said Baker. “I am excited to be back in the brigade, and I am fully aware that the brigade demands, requires and deserves the best leadership. The 48th IBCT wears the patch of the 3rd Infantry Division as part of the Total Force Protection Program. The program aligns National Guard units with active-duty units to enhance training and deployability. 48th IBCT’s alignment with 3rd ID is the first in the program’s history when the relationship began in March 2016, then called the Associated Units Program. The 48th IBCT is comprised of units whose history and battle honors predate the American Revolution. Its colors bear the campaign streamers of the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Seminole War, the American Civil War, both World Wars, Iraq and Afghanistan. The list of commanders for the 48th IBCT encompass those of the 48th Infantry Division (1946 to 1955); 48th Armor Division (1956 to 1968); 3rd Brigade, 30th Infantry Division (1968-1973) and the 48th Brigade (1973 to present).
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Cyber D a w g 2 0 2 1 Story & Photo By: Capt. Bryant Wine | Public Affairs Office | Georgia Army National Guard Service members with the Georgia National Guard participated in exercise Cyber Dawg 21, a live-action cyber security exercise held Sept. 13-17, 2021, at the Georgia Cyber Center in Augusta, Georgia. The Georgia Technology Center created and led Cyber Dawg 21 to increase, practice and refine response to cyber-attacks amongst state agencies. The exercise comprised of 60 participants from 20 total organizations from the state of Georgia, including the Georgia National Guard. The first Cyber Dawg exercise occurred in 2019 and has continually sought to enhance a whole-of-state approach to cyber awareness, readiness and coordination. “The Georgia National Guard continues to play a huge part in our plan for cyber defense in Georgia,” said Mr. David Allen, chief information security officer of the Georgia Technology Authority. “Any chance we can get together and train together pays big dividends.” Soldiers and Airmen from Georgia’s Army and Air National Guards trained alongside civilian counterparts from various state agencies at Cyber Dawg 21. Soldiers participating in Cyber Dawg 21 hail from the Forest Park-based 170th Cyber Protection Team, 781st Troop Command Detachment, 78th Troop Command, Georgia Army National Guard. The Georgia Air National Guard sent Airmen from the Warner Robins-based 202nd Engineering Installation Squadron and Marietta-based 283rd Combat Communications Squadron, 116th Air Control Wing, as well as the Brunswick-based 224th Joint Communications Support Squadron, 165th Airlift Wing. Soldiers from the countries of Georgia and Argentina also participated in the exercise. The Georgia National Guard maintains formal relationships with Georgia and Argentina under the National Guard’s State Partnership Program. The Georgia National Guard established its first partnership with Georgia in 1994, and
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then Argentina in 2016. Cyber security is a relatively new and fast-growing field developing in response to the challenging, destructive threats of the digital age. The U.S. Army created its cyber branch in 2014, making it the newest branch of America’s land-based force. The Georgia Army National Guard’s 170th CPT organized in 2015 and is one of the first three cyber protection teams formed in the National Guard. The crucial need for cyber warfighters in the DoD has made Georgia Guardsmen into highly trained and experienced partners to other state agencies. Cyber Dawg 21 brings these actors together to train and learn from each other. “The Georgia National Guard has performed very well [in the exercise],” said Allen. “The state employees that participate always have nothing but great things to say about how much they learn from the Georgia Guard team when they come and participate.” The Georgia Technology Authority organized Cyber Dawg 21 participants into a blue cell, red cell and white cell. The blue cell simulated a fictional organization defending itself from cyber threats and responding to attacks. Red cell participants represented the exercise’s adversaries, seeking and exploiting vulnerabilities in the network environment. The white cell facilitated Cyber Dawg 21, monitoring, training and ensuring the exercise occurred without stoppages. Georgia Guardsmen embedded in all three cells were able to share their knowledge with other state agencies while also gaining unique approaches to cyber security from their civilian counterparts. “This exercise has been great,” said U.S. Army Master Sgt. Tammy Giles, a cyber operations noncommissioned officer assigned to the Forest Park-based 170th Cyber Protection Team, 781st Troop Command Detachment, 78th Troop Command, Georgia Army National Guard. “I’m extremely happy that Georgia does something like this.”
the Chaplain’s Corner
By: Chaplain (Maj.) Jon Pirtle | Georgia Army National Guard
“The dignity of movement of an iceberg is due to only oneeighth of it being above water.” That was a line from Ernest Hemingway’s “Death in the Afternoon”, about his style of writing. His style is often imitated but seldom surpassed. So much of the beauty and pathos in Hemingway’s writing occurs because its power comes through what is not said, in the seven-eighths of the iceberg that remain under water. In his fiction, relationships are often depicted as on the brink, but the couple refuses to speak overtly what they are feeling. “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber” and “Hills Like White Elephants” are two of Hemingway’s masterpieces illustrating his iceberg style of writing. “Hey, chaplain; got a minute?” That’s the way the deepest conversations begin, at least in my experience as a chaplain. “Of course. What’s up?” And then I hear the story. Sometimes the conversation is a search for marriage counseling. Sometimes it is about a crisis in one’s faith or worldview. Sometimes it is about trust andlack thereof. Sometimes the person just needs someone he/she can confide in who will not betray the information, but will remain one who genuinely cares and will walk with him/her through the valley of the shadow of death, and do so in confidence. And conversations often demonstrate Hemingway’s iceberg style, wherein the heart of the issue is often located in what is not being said. Beautiful times come in chaplaincy, too: engagements, weddings, births of children and grandchildren, dedications, baptisms, retirements, promotions, etc. There is nothing quite like military chaplaincy wherein we get to minister to soldiers, their families, and even our civilians in their questions, their doubts,
their celebrations, and yes, in their grief. If it is true that seveneighths of an iceberg remains unseen ,at least by most eyes, it is a privilege to serve our nation’s warriors in their depths, in their unspoken but experienced realities, and minister to them so that they continue to selflessly serve our nation.
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Highway rededicated to two fallen Georgia Guardsmen
Story By: Capt. Bryant Wine | Public Affairs Office | Georgia Army National Guard
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oldiers, veterans, retirees, families and friends met in Loganville, Georgia, for a rededication of a section of Georgia State Route 81 in memory to U.S. Army Sgt. Michael Stokely and Master Sgt. Mark Allen Oct. 12, 2021. Stokely and Allen served in the Georgia Army National Guard and resided in Loganville. The date of rededication coincides with the date of Allen’s death on Oct. 12, 2019. “Today, we are gathered to honor to honor men who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom. Two men from our community who did not back down in the face of evil to defend the freedoms that we as Americans enjoy and cherish,” said Rey Martinez, mayor of Loganville, Georgia. “Master Sgt. Mark Allen and Sgt. Mike Stokely are certainly worthy of the honor that we are gathered here today.” The 10-mile long stretch of highway dedicated to the Georgia Guardsmen begins at the intersection with U.S. Route 78 and ends at the Newton County line. This portion runs through the community of Youth and town of Walnut Grove. The section of State Route 81 was previously dedicated in memory of Stokely, who was killed in action in Iraq on Aug. 16, 2005. The ceremony rededicated the portion of highway in memory of Stokely and Allen, who died in October 2019 as a result of wounds he sustained in Afghanistan in July 2009. Stokely became the first Walton County resident to die in combat since World War II. He was assigned to the Griffin-based Echo Troop, 108th Cavalry Regiment, 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. Stokely and Allen served in the same troop and deployed together to Iraq in 2005. The 2005-2006 deployment to Iraq was the first of four 48th IBCT deployments in support of the Global War on Terrorism. “I’m proud to have served Mike and Mark as their commander of Troop E, 108th Cavalry, and I’m honored to speak on their behalf as we rededicate this highway to them both,” said retired U.S. Army Maj. John Alderman, commander of Echo Troop, 108th Cavalry Regiment, during the 2005-2006 deployment. “Mike was our first casualty, a loss that rippled across the troop with anguish we will never forget. It is fitting today that we
memorialize Mark Allen, the troop’s last casualty of war.” In 2007, Echo Troop, 108th Cavalry Regiment, consolidated with the Griffinbased Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment, 48th IBCT. Many of the troop’s Soldiers joined units throughout the brigade and deployed again in 2009, this time to Afghanistan. At t h e t i m e , A l l e n s e r v e d a s the readiness NCO for the Recruit Sustainment Program at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, Georgia. He volunteered for the 2009 deployment, j oining t he Ne w nan-b as e d Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment, 48th IBCT. Allen was severely wounded in July 2009 while conducting combat operations. He was hospitalized for more than three years before returning home to Loganville. Allen retired from the Georgia Army National Guard in 2013, completing more than 21 years of military service, before dying in 2019 as a result of the wounds he attained ten years prior. Stokely and Allen are among 43 Georgia Army National Guard Soldiers enshrined at the memorial wall at Clay National Guard Center, the state headquarters in Marietta, Georgia. The memorial wall is dedicated to Georgia National Guardsmen who died while supporting combat operations after 9/11. Allen became the first Soldier added to the memorial wall since 2010 when the Georgia National Guard dedicated a plaque in his honor during a Memorial Day ceremony in 2020. The Georgia State Route 81 rededication ceremony began with a speech at the American Legion post near the intersection of U.S. Route 78 and Georgia State Route 81. Next, a procession followed the newly dedicated Sgt. Michael Stokely and Master Sgt. Mark Allen Highway. The procession ended at Corinth Christian Church where Allen is buried next to a marker dedicated to Stokely. Stokely rests at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. “The rededication is important to me because we need to tell to Soldiers, the community and the world that we will not forget those that gave their life for America,” said Robert Stokely, the father of Sgt. Michael Stokely. “It’s a tangible reminder of what they did, why they did it and who they did it for.”
Photos by: Maj. William Carraway | Public Affairs Office | Georgia Army National Guard
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Professional
Development
reviews of books that teach us about our craft By: Lt. Col. Jeffrey Freeman | Adjutant General’s Office | Georgia Department of Defense True leadership stands out in difficult circumstances. You would be hard pressed to find more difficult circumstances than spending nearly five and half years in the Hoa Loa Prison most commonly known as the Hanoi Hilton. U.S. Air Force Colonel Lee Ellis discusses his time as a POW very candidly and the lessons learned in Leading with Honor: Leadership Lessons from the Hanoi Hilton. Leadership lessons learned during POW interment may be the most tested of all. This book contains much more than stories of endurance. It demonstrates how true character, honor, and integrity can prevail in the worst conditions. I expect every reader will glean different thoughts after reading this book. For me, there are two primary ideas that emerge above all others. First, your circumstances and challenges in life do not have to control you. For many individuals, a bad family situation or poor decision made during their youth, remains a stumbling block for the remainder of their life. From the group of about 300 men who were in the Hanoi Hilton with Ellis, the vast majority returned to the United States to not only survive but to excel. Ellis writes, “From our POW group came 16 generals, six admirals, two U.S. ambassadors, two college presidents, two U.S. senators, one U.S. representative, and several state legislators. At least three men returned to medical school and became doctors; quite a few became attorneys; several became CEOs of corporations; and seven became attaches in U.S. embassies abroad.” The second idea is the importance of character. Character flaws, character failures, or a simple lack of character has been the underlying cause of many failed military careers. This book covers leadership fundamentals such as communication, teamwork, innovation, and many others. However, Ellis states, “Authentic leaders intentionally guard their character. Clarify your values with specificity and total honesty. Then structure a support team to help you live
your commitments with courage and transparency.” Colonel Ellis detailed another story about character from the enemy’s standpoint. A few days following his capture, Ellis was marched partially blindfolded to his first POW prison. Along the route, civilians wanted to kill the captured American. Ellis recalls, “My young, North Vietnamese escort and the guards under his authority formed a cordon and ushered me to safety, even absorbing some of the blows. Several times during the week-long journey north, this young Soldier saved my life. In following his orders to transport me safely, he displayed a remarkable balance of toughness and kindness, not only to me, but also to his men and to the civilians we met along the way. Strong character is remarkably apparent even in your enemy.” Leaders should never stop learning leadership lessons. Leading with Honor is a tremendous reminder to those of us who wear the uniform that we can never predict what circumstances we will face during our career or lifetime. This book will benefit anyone who is interested in continuing the development of their leadership skills.
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Authentic leaders intentionally guard their character. Clarify your values with specificity and total honesty. Then structure a support team to help you live your commitments with courage and transparency.
2021 Assault on Kennesaw Mountain Story By: Capt. Bryant Wine | Public Affairs Office | Georgia Army National Guard The Georgia National Guard Family Support Foundation, the official support organization of the Georgia National Guard, hosted its 10th annual Assault on Kennesaw Mountain 5k run Oct. 23, 2021, in Kennesaw, Georgia. Georgia Guardsmen, their families and friends across the world ran in the event in honor of fallen comrades, notably 43 Georgia Army National Guard Soldiers that perished fighting in the Global War on Terrorism. For the first time, the Assault on Kennesaw Mountain 5k ran both in-person and virtually. Last year’s event was entirely virtual. “This race is ran in honor of our fallen 43 Soldiers that we have from the Georgia Army National Guard,” said U.S. Army Master Sgt. Meara Brown, organizer of the Assault on Kennesaw Mountain 5k run. “So we thank you for coming out and helping us remember them.” Over 230 participants registered for this year’s Assault on Kennesaw Mountain. Virtual runners ran on their own in Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina. The virtual format even allowed runner overseas in Germany, Kuwait and the country of Georgia to participate in Assault on Kennesaw Mountain. On the crisp morning of the in-person portion, runners and walkers of all ages met at Grace Community Church in Kennesaw, Georgia. There, the 2021 Assault on Kennesaw Mountain 5k began with an opening ceremony, starting with the national anthem and a benediction. Next, participants heard opening remarks from Brown, Maj. Gen. Tom Carden, The Adjutant General of Georgia, and U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Thomas Grabowski, commanding general of the Georgia Air National Guard. “You are all special. You are what’s right about this country,” said Carden. “I can’t tell you enough how humbled and honored I am just to stand on the same piece of ground with every one of you today so that we can honor our fallen, to honor their families with every step we take up that mountain today.” The opening ceremony solemnly concluded with a reading of the fallen 43 Georgia Army National Guard Soldiers that perished fighting in the Global War on Terrorism, then the playing of “taps” in their honor. Participants took their places on the starting line after the opening ceremony. At 7:54 a.m., they began their five-kilometer trek up Kennesaw Mountain. Kennesaw Mountain forms the majority of Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield park, the preserved location of the American Civil War battle fought in June 1864. The park holds a special place to the Georgia National Guard where leaders and staffs conduct studies of the battle and terrain for their development, as well as scenic location to conduct physical training. Water, snacks and awards awaited participants as their reward for trekking up the steep mountain path lined with 43 markers, all dedicated to Georgia Army National Guard Soldiers that died fighting in the Global War on Terrorism. After all participants ran and walked across the finish line, a ceremony recognized the fastest runners and officially concluded the Photos by: Capt. Bryant Wine | Public Affairs Office | Georgia Army National Guard
event. “Today’s a big day for our organization when all of us pause and take a little bit of time to honor the 43 of our fallen comrades who gave their last full measure of devotion for freedom in this country,” said Carden. “The freedom to gather, the freedom to have our voices heard, all the freedoms that we enjoy in this country, every one of us know that it’s not free. It was bought and paid for by the blood of the men and women and their comrades from all the services throughout the history of this country.” Proceeds from the race went to the Georgia National Guard Family Support Foundation, a self-funded 501(c)3 organization. The Foundation’s primary mission is to provide financial relief assistance during times of unexpected emergencies and hardships to current member of the Georgia National Guard and full-time federal/state civilian employees of the Georgia Department of Defense living in the state of Georgia. Not only does the event promote healthy lifestyle habits of the Georgia National Guard, it also sustains an organization that assists service member resiliently bounce back from hardship.
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78th ATC Change of Command
Story & Photos by: Mr. Charles Emmons | Public Affairs Office | Georgia Army National Guard
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olonel Jas on W. Fr y man bid farewell to the Georgia Army National Guard’s 78th Aviation Troop Command as he relinquished command of the brigade to Col. Barry B. Simmons during an official ceremony August 8, 2021, at the Clay National Guard Center in Marietta, Ga. Fr yman ref lected on how the culmination of his three years as a brigade commander was different than the others he’d experienced as a company and battalion commander within the 78th ATC.
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“I’m leaving the command, the unit, the formation, the family that I’ve served with for nearly 25 years,” Fryman said. He went on to explain that the unit didn’t even exist when he originally served as a young lieutenant. Now he will leave the organization that has been his home since the early 2000s and accept the challenges and opportunities awaiting him in the recently established Army Futures Command as Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Guard Advisor for the Future Vertical Lift and Cross-Functional Team at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.
The 78th ATC conducted the change of leadership event in the same hangar that their mechanics repair and maintain rotary wing airframes which include the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters used for missions around the world. During Fryman’s command tenure, the 78th ATC supported domestic response missions as well as company and battalion-sized deployments to Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Country of Georgia, and Kosovo. Recently, elements of the brigade supported the Southwest border mission. The operational tempo has been constant
with fluctuating numbers of Soldiers and assets deployed each of the last 1,100 days. “You’ve ensured that our aviation Soldiers and leaders have remained ready, lethal, relevant, disciplined, and safe,” Brigadier General Dwayne Wilson, commander of the Georgia Army National Guard said to Fryman, who had succeeded him as commander of the brigade in 2018. Simmons, who most recently served as chief information officer for the Ga. Department of Defense, now takes over as the leader of an organization that has been deployed 26 times since 9/11 and remains in high demand by combatant
commanders around the world. “I’ve dreamed of a time that I could come back again and grab a weapon and stand a post with you,” Simmons said to his formation of Soldiers. “I could not be more proud than to be here with you today.”
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Around the Georgia Guard TEAM USA Capt. Kari Giles, from the 116th Medical Group, competes in the Powerman Long Course World Championships in Zofingen, Switzerland on Sept. 19, 2021.
EQUIPMENT TESTING The 165th Airlift began its proud history on October 12, 1946 as the 158th Fighter Squadron, with the P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft. Over the past 75 years, the 165th AW have proved that we are the “America’s Best Team, World’s Best Airlift”.
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PARTNERSHIP TRAINING Officer Matt Bartlett, an explosive detection canine handler with the Cobb County Police Department, and Brave, a Dutch Shephard with the K-9 unit, retrieves a practice device during explosive detection training Sept. 15, 2021 at Clay National Guard Center in Marietta, Georgia. The Cobb County Police Department utilized training areas at Clay National Guard Center to enhance training and facilitate partnerships with the Cobb County community.
ARGENTINE STATE PARTNERSHIP The Argentine Ambassador Jorge Argüello and to the Consul General Juan Manuel Navarro for visit Clay National Guard Center as a part of the state partnership program.
CELEBRATING OVER 30 YEARS Congratulations to Mrs. Dania Aponte on her retirement from the Georgia Army National Guard’s Construction and Facilities Management Office (CFMO). Dania served the State of Georgia for over thirty four and a half years. Her tenure with the Georgia DoD culminated in serving as our Deputy CFMO. q3 / 2021 | 23
Stay tuned for the Year in Review Edition of the Georgia Guardsman Magazine!
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