April 2013
CONTENTS ISSUE: April 2013
Cover Story
w w w. g e o r g i a g u a r d . c o m
Features 03| State NCO/SOY
Army Guard names top Soldier and Noncomissioned Officer of the Year.
06| Growing STARBASE
Peach State STARBASE’s new director goes over his plans to grow the math and science program.
07|The Gainey Cup
13| Moving Dobbins Chapel
The historic building finds a new home on the Clay National Guard side of base.
19| The Military Child
With April marking the month of the military child, learn some of the activities that focus on meeting the needs of these children, who deal with the impact of parents in the military.
News
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Georgia Guard tested at grueling event
05| 165th Airlift Wing Returns
Guardsmen greeted by loves ones upon their return to Savannah.
09| 278th MP prepares to deploy Unit to begin nine-month mission to protect forward operating bases.
17| 116th ACW Wins AFOUA
This is the 16th award for the Warner Robbinsbased unit.
columns
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11| Historic Battle Reiview Georgia at Chancellorville.
15| MOS Profile
Learn the skills it takes to make it as a 91 Bravo.
16| NCO Notepad
Opening a dialogue on sexual assault within the military.
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1 | The Georgia Guardsman
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18| Book Review
“9 Things a Leader Must Do” by Henry Cloud.
21| Around the Guard
Georgia National Guard Commander-in-Chief Gov. Nathan Deal Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Jim Butterworth State Public Affairs Director Mary Therese Tebbe State Public Affairs Officer 1st Lt. William Carraway Operations NCO Sgt. 1st Class Gerard Brown Editorial Staff Managing Editor Ashley Fontenot Creative Director Steven Welch Contributors Desiree Bamba 1st Lt. William Carraway Maj. William Cox Corey Dickstein 2nd Lt. Jasmine Griggs Sgt. 1st Class Roy Henry Staff Sgt. Richard Holdridge Capt. Pam Stauffer Command Sgt. Maj. P. Stringfield 1st Lt. Mike Thompson Sr. Airman Elizabeth Van Patten Contributing DOD Organizations 124th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, 116th Air Control Wing Public Affairs Office, Army National Guard Unit Public Affairs Representatives, Air National Gu ard Wi n g P u b l i c A f f ai r s Representatives, Georgia State Defense Force Public Affairs.
Georgia National Guard Channels
Flickr
Youtube
Facebook.com/GeorgiaGuard Flickr.com/GaNatlGuard
Twitter.com/GeorgiaGuard Youtube.com/ GeorgiaNationalGuard
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. April 2013 | 2
Army guard names
top solder/NCO of the year
By: Staff Sgt. Richard Holdridge | 124th MPAD | Georgia Army National Guard 3 | The Georgia Guardsman
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fter three intense days of grueling competition, the Georgia Army Guard has chosen an Augusta-based wheeled vehicle mechanic and a Marietta-based bomb disposal specialist as its state regional 2013 Soldier and Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) of the
Year. Specialist Benjamin Lacrosse of Augusta’s 278th Military Police Company and Staff Sgt. Scott Tinney of Marietta’s 202nd Explosive Ordnance Disposal, are among the 12 Soldiers and NCOs from five major commands – including the 78th Homeland Response Force base here at Clay – across the state, and Recruiting and Retention, to oppose each other for the privilege of being called the Army Guard’s best warriors. Lacrosse, who lives in Alpharetta and Tinney, a resident of Suwannee, now move on to the Region III competition set for later this spring at the South Carolina Guard’s McGrady Training Center in Eastover. “To win is a great honor, and to be able to compete at the same level as my fellow Soldiers, made me push hard and do my very best,” Lacrosse said. “Everything they did, I had to do better in order to be the one to represent the Georgia Army Guard at the next level of competition.” Tinney stated after he took NCO of the Year at the local level, he had to stay more focused and more motivated because his competition wanted the state NCO of the Year title as much as he did. “There was a lot of determination, a lot of extra effort on everyone’s part, which meant I had to do more to get my body into extra shape and study more if I was going to be selected over them,” Tinney said. “I am deeply honored to have competed against such good Soldiers, and to be representing the 78th HRF and the state of Georgia in the regional competition.” Day one of state completion started out early with an Army Physical Fitness Test, followed later that morning by qualification firing of the M16 rifle on a nearby weapons range. The day wrapped up with a timed 8–mile forced road march. Day two followed with the 12 competitors running non-stop from one event to another – among them a map reading test and a land navigation course – and finished up with nine warrior training tasks, to include weapons familiarization, evaluating a causality, calling in for a nine-line MEDVAC and searching a detainee. One the final day, each Soldier had to write an essay concerning Brig. Gen. Joe Jarrad’s – Georgia’s Assistant Adjutant GeneralArmy – four priorities for Soldiers to live by. That was followed by a board appearance before a panel of sergeants major who tested each competitor’s knowledge of Army regulations and programs, and other related subjects. “The most challenging event is always going before the board,” Tinney said. “Here, you have to face senior Soldiers who know regulation, programs and all the other things being asked about, and you need to know the answer or be honest enough to say ‘I don’t know.’ If you try to fool them, they will know.” Among the Soldiers who competed at the state level were Pvt. 1st Class Jonathan Strickland from Company B, 1st Battalion, 121st Infantry, 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team; Spc. Juan Hernandez from Company A 348th Brigade Support Battalion, 648th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade; Spc. Barton Kennelly from Company A, 221st Military Intelligence Battalion, 560th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade; Spc. Ephrain Robertson from Company E 1st Battalion, 171st Aviation, 78th Aviation Troop Command; and Pfc.
Photos by: Staff Sgt. Richard Holdridge | 1 2 4 th MPAD | Georgia Army National Guard
“To win is a great honor, and to be able to compete at the same level as my fellow Soldiers, made me push hard and do my very best. Everything they did, I had to do better in order to be the one to represent the Georgia Army Guard at the next level of competition.” -Specialist Benjamin Lacrosse Tyler Johnson from Recruiting and Retention. The NCOs who competed were Staff Sgt. Lewis Byrom from Company B, 1st Battalion, 121st Infantry, 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team; Sgt. Charles Sargent from Company A, 348th Brigade Support Battalion, 648th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade; Staff Sgt. Matthew Eubank from Troop C, 3rd Squadron, 108th Cavalry; 560th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade; Staff Sgt. Clement McRae from Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion 171st Aviation, 78th Aviation Troop Command; and Staff Sgt. David Nash from Recruiting and Retention. “To our entire NCO Corps, I tell you, we are dedicated to being the backbone of this organization, and we are going to make it better,” Command Sgt. Maj. Phillip Stringfield, the Georgia Army Guard’s senior enlisted leader, said later during an awards banquet. He would also laud the hard work by Soldiers with the Army Guard’s Regional Training Institute into making the Soldier and NCO of the Year competition a success. Stepping to floor shortly after Stringfield spoke, Jarrard –who had come to the competition earlier on the last day, told those assembled before him, “I really want to speak to those who competed, because that is you are why we are here tonight. You have already separated yourselves from your peers by the skills and experience you have demonstrated this weekend. You were recognized by your individual commands as being the best among your fellow Soldiers, and you have confirmed their belief in your abilities to represent them and this organization in the very best fashion,” Jarrard said.
“There was a lot of determination, a lot of extra effort on everyone’s part, which meant I had to do more to get my body into extra shape and study more if I was going to be selected over them. I am deeply honored to have competed against such good Soldiers, and to be representing the 78th HRF and the state of Georgia in the regional competition.” -Staff Sgt. Scott Tinney April 2013 | 4
Savannah Air Guardsmen return from deployment By: Corey Dickstein | Savannah Morning News | www.savannahnow.com
The rumble of the massive, quad-propeller aircraft drowned out the cheers and applause from below as the C-130 approached the 165th Airlift Wing’s Savannah hangar early Friday afternoon.
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amily members and friends of the returning Georgia Air National Guardsmen clutched homemade signs and fought back tears as they watched the plane over the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport. Within minutes, about 30 airmen returning from Kuwait — where they staged airlift missions across the Middle East — were in their loved ones’ arms for the first time in four months. “I’m just glad to be home,” said Capt. Seth Adler, a navigator returning from his first deployment. “It’s been way too long.” The C-130 that arrived Friday was the first of three planeloads of 165th airmen. The second flight is expected to return to Savannah today and the third next week as the airlift wing completes its 11th deployment to the Middle East since 2001, in support of operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. The Georgia National Guard’s top general was among the dozens waiting to welcome back the returning troops. Maj. Gen. Jim Butterworth, Georgia’s adjutant general, applauded the 165th Airlift wing for achieving a stellar 97 percent
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success rate in their missions flying troops and cargo across the region, including into many forward operating bases directly supporting combat operations. “Nobody does it better,” Butterworth said of the unit. “I’m a little bit biased, but I can promise you that nobody does it better.” While Adler was met by family members, including his mother, sister and niece, Master Sgt. Chris Odom was greeted by a face he’d not seen in decades. Immediately after crossing through the restricted area on the tarmac, Odom threw his arms around Vona Goodman, who’d flown in from Tennessee to greet him. After both endured failed marriages, they found each other via the Internet while Odom was deployed. “After all these years, we reconnected,” Goodman said. “And here are, finally. All we’ve had were phone calls and texts, and Skype — thank God for Skype.” Odom, who didn’t show any signs of exhaustion even after the long, overseas flight, just smiled as he held Goodman. “This is great, wonderful; I feel so great right now,” he said. “Coming home’s good, but this — this is just even better.” Photos Courtesy of Savannah Now
Growing STARBASE
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By: Steven Welch | Public Affairs Office | Georgia Department of Defense
ohn McKay, the new director for Pe a ch St ate STA R BASE , outlined his plans for growing the program, before joining Maj. Gen. Jim Butterworth in speaking to the program’s students at their graduation ceremony. The Peach State STARBASE program is a National Guard Youth Program, part of the Georgia Department of Defense Directorate of Joint Operations, and is located at Dobbins Air Reserve Base. Students who live in inner cities or rural locations, those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged, low in academic performance or have a disability are in the target group. Through real-world application, STARBASE aims to inspire these kids to set goals for themselves, and then work to achieve them. “We provide at-risk kids a 25-hour immersion program in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics,” McKay said. “What we do is take the regular lessons they learn in the classroom and give them realworld application. That way they can apply all the things they learn and see how they really
work.” Before becoming the new director, McKay served as the lead instructor, having been with STARBASE since 2001, a program he cares deeply about when it comes to helping Georgia’s children. “This is my favorite place. We can impact more students here, deeper than most regular schools can in a full year of academics,” he said. During a graduation ceremony for Peach State STARBASE’s most recent group of students, Maj. Gen. Jim Butterworth, Georgia’s Adjutant General, spoke to the soon-to-be graduates, offering encouragement as they move forward with their education. “If at some point you look back and think you didn’t try as hard as you needed to yesterday, don’t worry about what happened yesterday.” he said, “When it comes to right now, and what’s going to happen tomorrow, that’s the part that you can change. “ Before the start of the graduation ceremony, McKay outlined his plans to grow Peach State STARBASE, from its current 800 students a year, to 3,000 within the next three
Photo by: Steven Welch | Public Affairs Office | Georgia Department of Defense
years, allowing more of Georgia’s students to have the opportunity to better themselves in mathematics and science. “First, we’re going to expand the facility, we’ve had this same one since 2001.” he said, “Secondly, we’re looking for space for a satellite facility. In three years we’re looking to expand to a third track.” Along with changing the facility, Peach State STARBASE has also seen its curriculum evolve, both on the state and national level. “We’re moving our curriculum upwards, shifting things a little,” he said, “It’s really exciting to see a dynamic program like this growing within the military.” As the graduation ceremony came to a close, McKay voiced his feelings on the students, and how Peach State STARBASE has set the groundwork to help them have successful futures. “It’s all about raising the standard of Georgia’s students; they do not have to stay in the bad neighborhoods,” he said. “They can grow out of that and have productive lives, and that makes the whole state of Georgia better.”
April 2013 | 6
Guard scouts test their skills at inaugural
gainey cup By: 2nd Lt. Jasmine Griggs | 560th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade | Georgia Army National Guard
7 | The Georgia Guardsman
Photo by: By: 2 nd Lt. Jasmine Griggs | 5 6 0 th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade | Georgia Army National Guard
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he Inaugural Gainey Cup competition has come to an end as 19 teams of Active Duty, Marine and National Guard scouts finished competing after a long weekend of events to determine who among them would be the best of the best. During the four-day event the teams tested their knowledge, skills, and endurance with a ruck march, movement over obstacle, reconnoitering and a written test over scout knowledge. Speaking with his scouts before the competition began, Georgia National Guard’s Staff Sgt. William Bookout told his troops, “take everything we have learned over our careers and apply it here, and let’s show everyone how good we are. Show them that the National Guard belongs in these competitions. We can go up against the best guys that train everyday for this.” The Gainey Cup is named after retired Command Sgt. Maj. Joe Gainey who was the first senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He served in that position from September 2005 to April 2008 upon retirement. “I am very honored to know you and I’m really excited about being here. We are bonded together,” said Command Sgt. Maj. (Ret.) Gainey during the welcome brief. “It is not about the Army and Marine Corps, it’s about the scouts.” According to Col. Paul Laughlin, commandant of the Armor
School here, “this competition isn’t supposed to be easy. It’s about committing yourself to excellence and giving it all you’ve got.” The 108th team was one of three National Guard teams to compete and consisted of Staff Sgt. William Bookout, Sgt. Bryan Urquhart, Spc. Jacob Black, Spc. Steve Rangel, and Spc. Samuel Shuler. All of whom are members of Cedartown’s Troop A, 1st Squadron, 108th Cavalry, 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. As the competition started Bookout and his team began to move forward and bypass many of their competitors while performing each task up to standard. Heading into the last day, the Georgia team was in second place. The only things standing between it and the finish line were the scout knowledge test, the obstacle course and a 5-mile ruck march. When the weekend was over, Bookout and the 108th team was cheered in by not only their families and supporters, but by all of the fellow Scouts that were present. After a long weekend of tests they were finally done. The 1-108th team beat out 12 of the 19 teams overall, proudly representing the GA National Guard while standing tall amongst their fellow brothers in arms. Congratulations to Alaska’s 1st Squadron (Airborne), 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division scout team who took first place as the best of the best.
April 2013 | 8
278th MP departs For Afghanistan Unit to begin nine-month mission to protect forward operating bases
By: 1st Lt. Mike Thompson | 78th HRF | Georgia Army National Guard |
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he 278th Military Police Company held a departure ceremony for its 150 Guardsmen deploying on a ninemonth mission to protect forward operating bases in Afghanistan. “They have a very special mission in Afghanistan,”
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said Maj. Jonathan Adams, 170th MP Battalion commander. The 170th MP battalion is the higher headquarters for the 278th MP company. “What they are doing is exactly in line with the MP regimental motto; assist, protect and defend. This company is one of the best prepared, best equipped, and best manned for this warfight.” The 278th is also celebrated as the first unit in ten years of combat-readiness training at Fort Stewart Pre-mobilization Training Assistance Element (CPTAE) to have 100 percent validation in all warrior tasks. “That is a testament to some of the folks in leadership we have down at Fort Stewart, but mostly a testament to the leadership of Cpt. Gavant and 1st Sgt. Murphy and the Soldiers standing in front of us,” said Brig. Gen. Joe Jarrard, Assistant Adjutant General, Georgia Department of Defense. Georgia’s PTAE applies the Army training standard to build confidence and trust in unit’s deploying by providing training in 15 warrior tasks and four battle drills before they move onto their mobilization sites and more comprehensive, mission-oriented training. Leaders also recognized the Georgia Guard family readiness groups and encouraged family service members to contact them in case of any need. The Georgia National Guard Family Program serves as a delivery point of information, communication and support of national, state and community resources to warfighters and their families. These resources allow family members to obtain household support, financial support, health support and family preparedness. “If you have issues at home, don’t struggle with them by yourself,” said Col. Vernon Atkinson, 78th Homeland Response Force commander. “The family readiness groups have a tremendous amount of resources in Atlanta and through out our communities to help you.” The 278th last deployed to Iraq in 2008 to support Operation Iraqi Freedom.
PhotoPbyhoto : Staff gt.LtW hitney Hughes | |1 71 84 th HPublic Affairs Detachment ew Hampsire ational Guard uard by: S!st .M ike Thompson omeland Response Force | GNeorgia Army National
Brig. Gen. Joe Jarrard speaks to Georgia Guardsmen of the 278th Military Police Company before their departure ceremony held at Fort Gordon.
April 2013 | 10
Georgia at Chancellorsville: Setting the stage for Lee’s Masterpiece
By 1st Lt. William Carraway Public Affairs Office Georgia Department of Defense
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A New Union commander and a new strategy ollowing the debacle of Fredericksburg in December 1862, President Abraham Lincoln replaced Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside, commanding general, Army of the Potomac, with Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker. Hooker had achieved a reputation for brash action as a brigade, division and corps commander. He received the nickname “Fighting Joe Hooker” accidentally when a New York newspaper editor misread a headline describing the actions at the Battle of Williamsburg. Instead of printing the headline “Fighting – Joe Hooker” the editor ran the headline “Fighting Joe Hooker.” Hooker took immediate steps to reorganize and refit an army shattered by the Fredericksburg defeat. He devised a system of unit identification badges, elements of which survive in today’s army. He established a distinctive badge for each of his corps and a distinctive color for each division within that corps. For the first time, Soldiers could be identified at the division level. This action improved unit morale and facilitated faster reconsolidation of forces following a battle. Having invested the greater part of the winter restoring the Army of the Potomac to fighting trim, Hooker was determined to strike General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. Still entrenched in strong positions, Lee’s tiny army suffered in winter quarters across the Rappahannock from Hooker’s army. Having dispatched Maj. Gen. James Longstreet and 13,000 men to obtain provisions, Lee had only 60,000 men available to face
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Hooker’s 135,000; however, Lee’s Soldiers had improved their defensive positions in the months since Fredericksburg. Hooker understood despite his numerical superiority, attacking Lee’s entrenchments was no option. At the same time, he could not wait and risk the return of Longstreet’s forces. Moreover, nearly 30,000 Union Soldier’s enlistments would expire in May.
Hooker positions his army
On April 27, 1863, Hooker began sending forces northwest to ford the Rappahannock upstream of Fredericksburg. Bypassing heavily guarded ford sites, Hooker sent four of his seven corps as far as 20 miles north to multiple ford sites. After the crossings, these corps concentrated near the Chancellor mansion approximately 10 miles northwest of Fredericksburg. To conceal his intentions, Hooker left two corps encamped near Falmouth, Va. and ordered Maj. Gen. John Sedgwick to feign an attack on Fredericksburg with the VI and I Corps. By 2 p.m. April 30, Hooker’s corps were in place near Chancellorsville. Hooker’s plan had heretofore been a study in flank maneuver. Unfortunately, Hooker delayed in prosecuting his flanking attack, apparently presuming that his position alone had already decided the contest.
Lee responds
Lee had already discerned the Union general’s intent. He had dispatched Maj. Gen. Richard Anderson’s division north the day before to establish blocking positions along main avenues of approach. The brigade of Brig. Gen. A. R. Wright, composed entirely of Georgians, marched with Anderson’s column. One of these units, the 2nd Georgia Battalion was the forerunner for the 48th Brigade Combat Team. Anderson’s scouts confirmed the Union Army was consolidating near Chancellorsville. Lee acted decisively. Despite the river crossing of Maj. Gen. John Sedwick’s troops, Lee determined that Sedgwick’s presence was a feint and correctly judged that Hooker was attempting a flanking maneuver. He ordered Lt. Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson to leave one division opposite Sedgwick and move to reinforce Anderson’s Division. Jackson left the division of Maj. Gen. Jubal Early which included the six Georgia regiments of Brig. Gen. John Gordon’s brigade in position to contend with two federal corps. He then marched the remainder of his troops north. Jackson met Anderson near Zoan Church at 11 a.m. and found Anderson’s troops were entrenching. Analyzing the situation, Jackson realized that three roads led east from Chancellorsville to Fredericksburg: the Mine Road, Orange Turnpike, and Plank Road. Ordering Brig. Gen. W. T. Wofford’s Georgia brigade to defend the Mine Road approach, Jackson sent the division of Maj. Gen. Lafayette McLaws west along the Orange Turnpike. Anderson was dispatched west along the Plank Road to meet the
The bold gamble begins
advancing enemy.
The Georgian’s strike
On the evening of May 1, 1863, Lee and Jackson met near Catherine Furnace. Both generals felt that attack was the best course of action. The Federal left was unassailable because thick woods hampered approach marches and artillery support. Engineers reported dense woods, and earthworks rendered attack of the Union center impractical. As the generals mulled courses of action Maj. Gen. Jeb Stuart, Lee’s cavalry commander reported that his cavalry had scouted the federal right and found it vulnerable to attack. Jackson immediately dispatched his chief topographical engineer, Maj. Jedediah Hotchkiss, to gather what information could be found of roads and terrain west of the Confederate position. Hotchkiss returned and reported that a concealed route existed that would allow the army to march unseen and gain position on the enemy right. “General Jackson,” said Lee. “What do you propose to do?” “Go around here,” said Jackson indicating the circuitous route identified by Hotchkiss “What do you propose to make this movement with?” asked Lee. Jackson’s reply was typical. “With my whole corps.” Lee paused again, and then spoke three simple words. “Well, go on.”
Jackson was correct. Hooker was advancing east from the woods surrounding Chancellorsville. Hooker needed to reach the open fields east of Chancellorsville in order to deploy his numerically superior forces to effect. Moving east along the Orange Turnpike and Orange Plank Road, Hooker’s elements encountered the lead elements of McClaw’s division at approximately ½ mile east of the Zoan Church. Deploying to deny the Union’s advance, McClaws sent the four Georgia regiments of Brig. Gen. Paul J. Semmes astride the Orange Turnpike. These Georgians smashed into Maj. Gen. George Sykes’ division south of the turnpike. Meanwhile, the Georgia brigades of Brig. Gens. George Doles and Alfred Colquitt maneuvered to strike Sykes’ right flank. Sykes’ division, taking fire from two sides was stunned by the offensive and fell back. Wright meanwhile had used an unfinished railroad cut as a high speed avenue of approach west. By 2 p.m. Wright’s Georgians had flanked the division of Maj. Gen. Henry Slocum forcing it to withdraw. The Georgians continued their march west and secured a vital intersection near the Catherine Furnace, a pig-iron works vital to production of iron for the Confederate war effort. This intersection would prove vital to the prosecution of the battle on the next day. Surprised by the swift response, Hooker ordered his commanders to withdraw and consolidate near Chancellorsville. Hooker had ceded the initiative to Lee. Lee would not surrender the initiative again.
April 2013 | 12
Holy roller Dobbins chapel taxis across runway By: Senior Airman Elizabeth Van Patten | Public Affairs Office | 94th Airlift Wing
The Dobbins Air Reserve Base chapel waits on the Dobbins ARB taxiway on March 17, for the final phase of its relocation to the Army National Guard side of the base.
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“Tower, this is Chapel 1950, request permission for engine start-up and taxi on Alpha crossing, Runway 27 for Clay,” said Col. Timothy Tarchick, 94th Airlift Wing commander, into his land mobile radio. “Chapel 1950, this is Dobbins Tower,” said Melanie Rogers, Dobbins air traffic controller. “You are cleared for taxi on Alpha crossing, Runway 27. Thank you for your service and Godspeed.” aking its cue, an orange front-end loader rumbled to life on the Dobbins Air Reserve B a s e f l i g ht l i n e a n d began its journey of approximately 10,000 feet towards Clay National Guard Center. T he f ront - e nd l o a d e r w a s attached to and began pulling the Dobbins chapel. The chapel, which could be seen from Cobb Parkway by any passers-by, was at that moment taxiing down Dobbins runway to its new home - taking and keeping safe its history, and making history with every foot it traveled. As far as anyone on Dobbins knows, this has been the only chapel, and will likely be the only chapel to ever taxi down the flightline. The chapel played an important role for over 60 years as a spiritual home to Airmen and their families. It was deployed to Europe during World War II. After the war, it was acquired by the Georgia Air National Guard through private donation. Placed on then active-duty Dobbins Air Force Base, it was dedicated to veterans who served their country in World War II by Army Brig. Gen. J.H. O’Neil, Third Army chaplain. O’Neil is known for writing Army Gen. George Patton’s prayer for clear weather during the Battle of the Bulge. Evenually, Dobbins became a Reserve base and the chapel remained standing as a memorial and place of worship for drilling Reservists. After 9/11 however, the chapel was on borrowed time. Air Force leadership mandated increased security and logistics requirements. Because Dobbins was a reser ve base, no government funds could be spent on its relocation. It appeared that the chapel would have to be demolished in order to make way for a logistically required access road. This brings us back to the history-in-themaking on March 17th. Rather than demolishing
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“What I believe makes America truly great is the good men and women that choose to get passionately involved every day in making sure the right things happen, instead of sitting idly by.” -Col. Timothy Tarchick
Photos by: Senior Airman Elizabeth Van Patten | Public Affairs Office | 9 4 th Airlift Wing
the chapel, base officials honored its history and the service members - some of whom paid the ultimate price for freedom - the chapel was originally dedicated to. During the ceremony, Tarchick stated the importance of not standing idly by and doing nothing - where doing nothing in this case would have resulting in the demolition of the little chapel. “What I believe makes America truly great is the good men and women that choose to get passionately involved every day in making sure the right things happen, instead of sitting idly by,” said Tarchick. “I would like to thank the Dobbins Chapel Foundation for their passion in preserving this chapel. Their perseverance and dedication in fundraising over more than seven years was instrumental in making this day and relocation possible.” The Dobbins Chapel Foundation is a pr ivate, non-prof it g roup established in 2005. Appointed to lead the charge to preserve the chapel and its history of faith is retired Col. John Powers. “She looks pretty rugged right now - a little worn around the edges,” said Powers. “You can be assured that this chapel foundation is committed to making her look good again.” The foundation will be given one year to raise funds and bring the chapel up to current building codes at no cost to the government, according to Powers. The final location chosen for the chapel is the old gas station site on Clay. This location does not require any additional grading for the chapel to be placed. In addition to the efforts of the foundation, Tarchick also praised the members of the contractor teams who worked together and the members of the community at large who expressed their support of the project. He also praised the many military members, both in the Air Force Reserve and the Georgia Army National Guard, who put in the time to see the chapel move become possible. Maj. Gen. Jim Butterworth, Georgia’s Adjutant General, showed his support for the move. “We are glad to house this piece of Georgia military history,” Butterworth said. “It was a collaborative effort that brought Georgia’s citizens and the folks here on base together for a great cause. Together this chapel will continue to inspire all those who cross its path.”
April 2013 | 14
91 Bravo combines army guard training with love for motorcycles By: Desiree Bamba | Public Affairs Office | Georgia Department of Defense |
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n the Georgia Army Guard the job of handling the maintenance and repair of light and heavy tactical vehicles and select armored vehicles belongs to Guardsmen like PFC Brittany Wynn with the military occupational specialty (MOS) 91 Bravo (Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic). As a 91 Bravo, Wynn performs duties such as maintaining wheeled vehicles, their asso ciated trailers and material handling equipment systems. Wynn also carries out tasks such as inspecting, servicing, maintaining, repairing, replacement, adjusting and testing of wheeled vehicles, and performing wheeled vehicle recovery operations. “I took up 91B because I love to work on engines with my hands,” Wynn said.“I started out on taking small Appliances apart and putting them back together and then I moved to fixing motorcycle engines.” Schooling to become a wheeled vehicle mechanic is approximately 13 weeks and is conducted in Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Wynn says the job of a 91 Bravo is very rewarding. She says that if anyone “loves engines, working with their hands, and doesn’t mind getting dirty, then 91B is the job for them.” Wynn’s interest in motorcycles comes in handy with her Guard duties, as an interest in auto mechanics and physical activity is a major requirement of a 91B. She spends her time disassembling and
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reassembling these bikes with her father, allowing the skills she’s learned within the Guard to become a part of her civilian life. As a driver with UPS, her interest in mechanics and driving has given her a career path she enjoys, and allows her further experience as she works with the Guard as well. “I joined the guard because of my father. He is a retired Major of the Georgia Army National Guard,” Wynn stated. “Seeing him as I grew up really opened my eyes to one day join the U.S. Army. As I got older I have seen how the Guard made my father’s life better and I plan on making my life better also as I joined the Georgia Army National Guard.” Along with her motorcycle hobby, Wynn also enjoys being outdoors, skating, going to the firing range, and spending time with her family and friends. She speaks her mind and has never been easily influenced by peer pressure. However, she is always open to trying new things with her step mom (like cooking, swimming, and sometimes shoe shopping). Her goals are to continue to build her skills (through education & experience), and pursue opportunities that will allow her to be hands. “I plan on going to school for my bachelor’s degree then I will be going to school to become an officer,” Wynn said. “I plan on continuing on up the ranks to as high as I can go.”
“I joined the guard because of my father. He is a retired Major of the Georgia Army National Guard. Seeing him as I grew up really opened my eyes to my one day joining the U.S. Army.” -Pfc. Brittany Wynn
Photo by: Sgt. 1 st Class Roy Henry | Public Affairs Office | Georgia Department of Defense
A By CSM Phillip Stringfield State Command Sergeant Major Georgia Army National Guard
NCO Notepad Words of wisdom from one to another
s we move into the month of April, we touch on a topic that has played a demoralizing role in today’s military, that of sexual assault. This subject is sensitive to many people to include those serving in our very own ranks. Although we cannot go back and change the past, I certainly do believe that we – as an organization and as individuals – possess the power to make a positive impact on the future. Many among us are asking, “How can I help prevent sexual assault,” and I’m glad they are seeking an answer, for we should all be asking that question. You can help prevent sexual assault by being a leader. Doing your best to uphold the Army Values and making the personal safety of your fellow warriors, and yourself, a priority. Furthermore, you, me, all of us, need to leading from the front, in and out of the uniform. We do not stop being Soldiers when we take off that uniform at the end of a long day’s work. Even in our off-duty hours, we continue to represent the morals we have sworn uphold and defend, and that value should reflect in our actions and the way we carry ourselves every day of the year. It is our duty as Citizen-Warriors to not only protect our country, but also our comrades-inarms. Working together as a team and keeping good accountability of one another is a good way to ensure we are maintaining good visibility on our buddies’ well-being. Conducting integrity checks is another preventive measure we can execute in doing our part to help prevent sexual assault. This means standing up for what is right even when it is not always easy. It means having the courage to report unsafe acts in spite of any fear of reprisal. More importantly, we need to continue to educate ourselves – and each other – on the signs and symptoms displayed by victims of sexual assault. We have amazing resources available to us such as unit victim advocates, chaplains and sexual assault resource counselor’s who can teach us how to use available prevention tools so we can continue to help make positive changes for the future. We must all become educated on what sexual assault truly is, and the devastation it causes, and make certain that we continue to reintroduce this information as the lowest unit level. If we do not teach others what is right and what is wrong…how do we expect our Soldiers to know the difference? The welfare of the Soldiers of the Georgia Army National Guard is a responsibility that I am honored to uphold, and I expect my senior leaders to do the same. I charge them, and every member of the Guard, to make it their personal goal to take care of each other, to follow up with one another and to continue to be the outstanding service men and women I know they, and you, are. Patriots!
April 2013 | 16
116th Air Control Wing Receives 16th AFOUA
By: Capt. Pam Stauffer | Public Affairs Office | 116th Air Control Wing
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he Adjutant General of Georgia traveling to a unit to present a Bronze Star medal is a special occasion, but on April 12, 2013, when the general personally awards the wing its 16th Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, it’s a cause for celebration. Picture it: as the medal presentation began, approximately 80 members of the 116th Air Control Wing personnel are deployed, but the existing crowd cheered loudly for Senior Master Sgt. James Love as Maj. Gen. Jim Butterworth, Georgia’s Adjutant General, pinned the medal to Love’s left pocket. This occasion marked the fifth Bronze Star medal presented to a 116th ACW member since 2010. “The Adjutant General presenting the medal only emphasizes how important my team’s work was in Afghanistan,” stated Love during a media interview. “The 131 people whom I supervised, did the real work in Afghanistan and should share in the celebration.” One of Love’s major accomplishments in Afghanistan included placement of $32 million in Force Provider War Readiness materials, benefiting 2,500 coalition forces and enhancing security in the region. Overall, Love’s leadership resulted in a 20 percent increase in project completions valued at $40 million. “Twenty-two years ago when we met, I saw the same dedication and team-oriented focus in him as I do now,” said Master Sgt. Rhonda Love. “After the presentation, our daughter went back to school and her classmates threw a celebration for my husband.” After Butterworth acknowledged the need for Love’s daughter
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to return to school that day, the general focused the audience’s attention on the 116th ACW’s Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. With streamers of the previous 15 AFOUAs hanging in the background, Butterworth presented the award for meritorious service to Col. Kevin Clotfelter, 116th ACW commander. Air Force officials validated the 116th as among the very best, noting wing personnel of the Team JSTARS accrued more than 78,000 combat hours [from 2001 to the end of the reporting period] providing command and control and intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance support of National and Homeland Defense missions. “All of these victories are incredibly important,” stated Butterworth. “Every single penny spent is under the microscope.” As the October 1, 2010 to Sep 30, 2012 award period closed, the 116th ACW finished its Operational Readiness Inspection, resulting in an ‘Excellent’ rating from Air Combat Command inspectors. In attendance for the presentations were: Mr. Russell Carlson, deputy adjutant general of the Georgia Department of Defense; regional community leaders; family; personnel from 116th Operations, Maintenance, Mission Support, and Medical groups; personnel from the 461st ACW and 138th Military Intelligence Company, and personnel from 116th ACW Geographically Separated Units. The 461st Air Control Wing and 138th Military Intelligence Company are co-located at the 116th ACW and provide RegAF assets to support the Joint STARS mission.
Professional Development Bookshelf:
R eviews of books that teach us about our craft By: sgt. 1st Class Gerard Brown Public Affairs Office Georgia Department of Defense “9 Things a Leader must do” written by Dr. Henry Cloud, is an easy to read leadership roadmap broken down into 9 Chapters. This book is a good read for those that are in supervisory positions that want to become better leaders for those they supervise. As you read through this book, you may say to yourself that some of these are clearly common sense, but as we all know, common sense is not common. “Achieve big goals by taking small steps over time.”-Dr. Henry Cloud There is a clear difference between knowing a leadership style and then being able to implement that leadership style. As you read from chapter to chapter the writer takes you through each step with detail as well as gives you examples of best practices for each item a leader must do. One of the topics covered in this pocket sized leaders guide is “Play the whole movie” which discusses the importance of decisions based on the present and how they will affect the future. Another topic discussed is, “Put Superman out of a job”, which encourages leaders not to sit back and be disengaged, but to continue to improve a situation, mission or project. “Leaders do not strive to appear more than they really
are”-Dr. Henry Cloud The book is based on Dr. Henry Cloud’s psychological studies on the styles and methods of successful individual’s thoughts and behavior. Dr. Cloud’s studies showed that success in leadership was not a mystery, was not by chance, nor based on individuals college degrees, but something else. With the information obtained by his research, he was able to show that success was more tied to an individual’s thinking, ability to move forward and learning from ones mistakes while still staying focused on the desired outcome. “9 Things a Leader must do” is a good quick read that can actually be read over and over again, because the information obtained from the reading is worth it. If there is anything we know about serving in the military, is that we learn a lot through repetition. Once again, this book provides some sound and challenging principles for not only enlisted or officer level, but all levels of leadership. Each one of the principles in this small book is something that will take varying amounts of repetition to learn, implement and master. This book is also a good read for Soldiers and Airmen alike, because it breaks down a replicated leadership model that works for all levels in the military. Many of our Soldiers and Airman learn a lot about leadership through how we as leaders lead them and through the emulation of others. By using these 9 fundamentals, we would be able foster the development of our service men and women, being not only managers of people, but leaders.
April 2013 | 18
meeting the needs of military youth Month long activities celebrate the military child. By: Sgt. 1st Class Roy Henry | Public Affairs Office | Georgia Department of Defense |
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those children and their families continue to encounter training requirements, deployments and humanitarian missions, the Office of Family Policy-Children and Youth has said. “Our youth are an important part of the military family, and they play a vital role in the support and moral of their parents who said Mark Richards, state youth coordinator for the Georgia National Guard. “They [military children], too, need all the support they can get because they often believe they must ‘fight the good fight,’ often hiding their
throughout the year – military youth are able to reach out, to each other and to the adults who can help them deal with their feelings, with schoolmates and friends who are not military, and coping with life changes that may have occurred during their parent’s absence. One of the on-going programs for the Georgia Guard’s high school age youth is its 12-member Military Youth Advisory Council. Through the council, teens like 16-year-old Victory “Tori” Socia of Acworth, work with military and elected officials to
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ll this month, throughout the service branches, active duty, Guard and Reserve are reaching out to the children of their ser vice members through programs such as Youth Council and Month of the Military Child camps. Here in Georgia, just as it is across the country, and around the world, April is the month during which the daily sacrifices made by children as they support one or both parents who serve and sacrifice for their state and their nation, whether it is
Who our military youth are, and the issues they face when a parent deploys, or returns from deployment, are very important to all of us involved in this program.
during times of crisis here at home, or in time of war. This year’s theme for Month of the Military Child is “Military Children: Proud, Ready and Resilient.” According to the Defense Department’s Office of Family Policy-Children and Youth, there are more than 1.8 million children in the military today.While the number of children with one or both parents deployed continues to drop because of the drawdown in Afghanistan,
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own feelings from their parents, so they believe everything is ‘OK at home.’” It is not until the deployed parent returns, Richards said, that those hidden feelings come out, and re-integration – that coming back together as a family, that ability to get back to some kind of “normalcy” – is much more difficult. Through special activities and events this month – and others that continue
ascertain issues facing today’s military youth and find solutions to those issues, and then sharing those solutions with their peers and their families. Socia, whose father – Master Sgt. Richard Socia oversees the 122nd Regional Training Institute’s Military Intelligence Academy here at Clay – is in her second year as a council member. “I remember when my dad deployed
Photos by: Sgt. 1 st Class Roy Henry | Public Affairs Office | Georgia Department of Defense
to Iraq in 2004, that I didn’t have anyone, or anywhere – at that time – I could go and talk about the problems, the feelings I faced in his absence,” she recalled. “We have those now, throughout the Georgia Guard now – Yellow Ribbon events, being a great example of that – where we as military youth can come together and help each other better understand, and deal with, the separation that is so much a part of our lives.” As Youth Council members, Socia and her fellow councilmen also facilitate events and activities at Month of the Military Child camps like the one held April 12 to 14 at Fortson 4-H Camp outside Hamilton in Harris County, Richards explained. Here, with the assistance of Operation: Military Kids and the 4-H and Army Youth Development Project, children of military families participate in individual and team building activities – various sports events, canoeing, ropes confident course and art – that help thembecome more resilient in handling life issues, and understand that they do not have to sacrifice “being a child” to support their parent, or parents. “Through these camps we help our youth build relationships and trust, among themselves and within their families, and better their ability to cope with the changes that are part of being a military family,” he said. “With the help of Tori and other youth council members, those whose parent has, or is deployed, or may not have deployed before, find a kindred soul with whom they
can related and who understand what they may be feeling.” Brian Stone, a retired Air Force colonel and Operation: Military Kids coordinator for the University of Georgia College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, said the 8-year-old national program collaborates closely with the Georgia Guard’s Joint and Family Services’ Family and Youth Services, to co-fund, and operate, the camp. “Who our military youth are, and the issues they face when a parent deploys, or returns from deployment, are very important to all of us involved in this program,” he said. “They deal with as many challenges before, during and after a deployment as their parent does, and through camps such as this, and many other programs, we’re helping the develop a better sense of well-being.” A new program, added to this year’s camp activities is Art Reach. According to Stone, Kara Coleman – Georgia’ Family and Youth Services director – reached out to the Atlanta-based non-profit foundation to find out if its art therapy curriculum might be a good fit with those Family and Youth Services already provide. Using various art forms – song, dance, creative writing, drawing, painting and the like – participants find a way to express what they are feeling in relationship to the situation in which they find themselves, in this case a child or teen whose parent has deployed during a homeland crisis or combat operations.
“One of the activities the children are doing is called ‘masking,’ whereby they team up and create a paper Mache’ mask of each other’s face,” explained Tonya Butler-Collins of Gainesville, and a former Army sergeant and an Art Reach volunteer. “A child whose parent is deploying wants to show they are being strong for them so they don’t worry about that child while they’re gone, thereby masking their true feelings of sadness and anxiety. Through this activity we get them to “see the face they don’t show their parent and help them understand that it’s OK to be a kid and let that parent know how they feel.” Malkah Lyons, 13, and Amir Lyons, 11, of McDonough, are the daughter and son of Georgia Army Guard Master Sgt. Charles Lyons, have participated in the camp several times. Speaking for herself and her brother, Malkah said their dad deployed to Afghanistan in 2009. Every camp her and brother have attended, she said, has seen them make new friends, build new relationships and find new ways of coping with being a Soldier’s child, something she has found to be extremely helpful. “Every year it’s been something new, and every year we come away understanding ourselves better and the importance of what our dad does,” Malkah said. “It’s hard to talk about our feelings with our dad, sometimes, because we don’t want him to worry about us while he’s gone. When camp is over, we go home knowing it’s OK to say how we feel because dad loves us and will understand.”
April 2013 | 20
Around the Georgia Guard CLAY HOSTS COBB COMMANDERS”
“HONORARY
Clay National Guard Center hosts Cobb County’s “Honorary Commanders.” Visitors were given a tour of Georgia National Guard facilities including the Joint Operations Center, Mock Afghan Village, and an aircraft hanger.
“FIRST FOOT” AIR ASSAULT Infantry Scouts from HHC, 1-121st Infantry, 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team move out at dusk on reconnaissance patrol following a successful air insertion at Fort Gordon.
78TH HOMELAND RESPONSE FORCE CHANGE OF COMMAND The 78th Homeland Response Force holds a change of command ceremony for outgoing commander Col. Michael Scholes and incoming commander Col. Vernon Atkinson.
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GEORGIA GUARD TAKES 2013 ACOE AWARD The Georgia Army Guard is the recipient of the 2013 Army Communities of Excellence Award (ACOE) – National Guard Specialty Category. Governor Nathan Deal – flanked by Maj. Gen. Jim Butterworth, Georgia’s Adjutant General, Brig. Gen. Joe Jarrard, Assistant Adjutant General-Army and a host of Army Guardsmen – made the announcement today before a crowd of state officials and Guard members during a ceremony held at Hangar No. 1 here at Clay National Guard Center.
GEORGIA SENATORS VISIT CLAY Senator Steve Gooch, Georgia District 51, is shown an example of an improvised explosive device (IED) vest during a Georgia Senate visit of Clay National Guard Center in Marietta.
648TH WELCOMES NEW COMMAND TEAM Soldiers of the 648th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade present the colors prior to the change of command and change of responsibility between Col. Andy Hall and Command Sgt. Maj. John Smiley, outgoing command team, and Col. Randal Scott Carter and Command Sgt. Maj. John Scott Rainwater, incoming command team.
April 2013 | 22
HHC, 1st Battalion 121st Infantry Air assault training in preparation for a possible deployment
Public Affairs Office Georgia Department of Defense 1000 Halsey Ave. Bldg. 447 Marietta, Ga. 30060