February 2014 Edition

February 2014

best of

2013 You chose the winner

Plus: Leon and Pax | 116th ACW Honored | And so much more

CONTENTS ISSUE: FEbruary 2014

cover story

w w w. g e o r g i a g u a r d . c o m

03

Features 03| Breaking Records

Georgia Guardsman holds four USA Powerlifting Georgia state record. His next goal is to train for the Armed Forces competition in the upcoming months.

05| Building Security

48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team is the first National Guard IBCT to execute missions under the regionally aligned forces program.

09| Flying Overhead

This special feature was chosen as the Best of 2013 in our annual contest.

06| tracing lineage

One Guardsman’s connection to the past.

11| Eyes in the Sky

Aviation units of the Georgia National Guard volunteered to deploy to Texas’ Rio Grande Valley to support the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.

11

News 04| 116th ACW REceive honors

70 Georgia Air National Guard members were honored.

15| Ga takes on Leon and Pax

Winter Storms Pax and Leon brought many problems to the state of Ga., but the Guard was standing by to help the State get through it.

15

columns

07

07| Historic Battle Review Grant’s Overland Campaign.

10| Chaplain’s Corner

Improving relationships through training.

13| NCO Notepad

Coming together during Operation Snowball III.

14| Recalling the past Operation Snowball, 1973 .

17| Around the Guard 1 | The Georgia Guardsman

Georgia National Guard Commander-in-Chief Gov. Nathan Deal Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Jim Butterworth State Public Affairs Director Lt. Col. Thomas Lesnieski State Public Affairs Officer Capt. William Carraway Operations NCO SFC Gerard Brown Editorial Staff Managing Editor Capt. William Carraway Copy Editor Ashlie Shrewsbury Creative Director Steven Welch Contributors Desiree Bamba Elizabeth Blackstock SFC Gerard Brown Maj. Will Cox Chaplain Lt. Col. BLair Davis Master Sgt. Charles Delano Chief Master Sgt. Joseph Greene Spc. Corey Long Master SGt. Roger Parsons 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.

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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.

February 2014 | 2

Breaking Records

By Master Sgt. Charles Delano 165th Airlift Wing | Georgia Air National Guard

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alk into the 165th Airlift Wing fitness center on Savannah Air National Guard Base at zerodark-thirty and you will see a handful of Airmen exercising on treadmills, fitness machines, and free weights. Look toward the bench press, squat rack and deadlift area and you will see Tech. Sgt. Michael Lloyd, a vehicle mechanic for the Georgia Air National Guard, pressing multiple 45-pound weights attached to a 45-pound barbell.

Total the amount of weight, and you might assume that Lloyd holds a USA Powerlifting Georgia state record. Before Jan. 25, 2014 your assumption would be wrong because Lloyd had never competed in a powerlifting event. Today, Lloyd holds four state records for the Masters division (45-49 year old) in the 220.26-242.5-pound weight class. His 402.4-pound squat, 336.2 pound bench press, and 1091.3pound three event total (bench press, squat, and deadlift) broke the old state records set in Nov. 2011. His 336.2-pound bench-press-only record was a first for his weight.

Lloyd’s inspiration for strength training began as a child.

He started weightlifting as a way to improve his performance in sports. Since returning from multiple deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Lloyd now uses powerlifting as an outlet to overcome feelings of anxiety. The gym is a safe haven that allows him to control his environment and excel in the sport of powerlifting. Lloyd also uses the gym and weightlifting as a venue where he spends time with his three sons sharing the sport he loves.

Maintaining muscle and improving his squats, bench press and deadlift motivates him to eat healthful foods while passing on pizza and wings. Ultimately, the cornerstone of his heath is his dedication to his faith, which provides the spiritual inspiration to keep mentally and physically fit.

For Lloyd, the road to competing in the USA Powerlifting

3 | The Georgia Guardsman

Winter Classic and Single Ply Invitational began with a simple flyer posted on the fitness center wall. He made a mental note of the details and looked up the current USAPL Georgia state records for his age and weight class. He was surprised to read that he consistently trained with the record-holding weights. Lloyd signed up for the event, and with the support of fellow powerlifter Mike McTier and Earl Leverett, began training for the invitational.

The day before the event, Lloyd pre-weighed at 1 pound over his intended weight class. He used the night to burn off excess calories and reduce as much weight before the official weigh in. The next day, Lloyd stepped on the scale and, with a sigh of relief, made the weight. Next, officials measured him for the bench press and squat rack height. McTier and Leverett began to assist Lloyd with warm up squats before he was called to the stage. He easily squatted his first attempt of 352.7 pounds but missed his second attempt of 402.3 pounds, because his squat was not deeper than parallel.

Prior to his final attempt, Lloyd mentally reviewed his technique then he squared up with the rack, squatted the weight, then placed the bar back on the rack. He looked over to the judges to see three white lights, which indicated a good lift. His final attempt broke the USAPL Georgia state squatting record for his age and weight class.

Lloyd went on to break three more records in bench press, three event total and bench press only.

Lloyd is now training to compete in the USA Powerlifting Military Nationals in Killeen, Texas on March 15, 2014. His current state records are within range of breaking Armed Forces records at this meet.

“I want to be an example to my sons and the men and women of the Air National Guard. In the gym or in life, I put my relationship with Christ first which motivates me to be the best at everything I do”, said Lloyd about his current records.

Photo by Master Sgt. Charles Delano | 165th Airlift Wing | Georgia Air National Guard

116th ACW receives a host of honors

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By Master Sgt. Roger Parsons | 116th ACW | Georgia Air National Guard

ore than 70 Georgia Air National Guard members from the 116th Air Control Wing were honored on for their accomplishments, heroism and sacrifice during a ceremony at the Museum of Aviation.

Major Gen. James Butterworth, Adjutant General of the Georgia National Guard, presided over the events, including the Hometown Heroes Salute awards; presentation of the 116th Air Control Wing’s 17th Air Force Outstanding Unit Award; the Georgia Medal of Valor; the Georgia Meritorious Service Medal; and a workplace safety award.

“Hometown Heroes is what the National Guard is all about,” said Butterworth. “It starts with some of our core values; integrity first, service before self and striving for excellence in every single thing we do.”

Hometown Heroes Salute awardees and their families were recognized for their support of contingency operations, for more than 30 consecutive days, across the globe, since the terrorist attacks on 9/11.

More than 900 Airmen from the 116th Air Control Wing have received the Hometown Heroes award, since the program started in 2009.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the men and women who’ve served with such distinction and met the challenges at home and abroad during the time of our highest operational tempo,” said Col. Kevin Clotfelter, commander, 116th Air Control Wing.

As a testament to the accomplishments of the 116th, Clotfelter Photo by Master Sgt. Roger Parsons | 116th ACW | Georgia Air National Guard

accepted the 17th Air Force Outstanding Unit Award from Butterworth; giving the wing more AFOUAs than any other Air National Guard unit.

The day’s events also showcased individual acts of valor carried out by four Guardsmen on the domestic front whose efforts saved the lives of fellow citizens.

Senior Airman Joey Defore, a graduate of Northside High School in Warner Robins, Ga., and a member of the 128th Airborne Command and Control Squadron, received the Georgia Medal of Valor for rescuing six children and two adults from an overturned school bus Aug. 15, 2013.

“I reacted the way I did because of my own children and it’s the right thing to do,” said Defore. “If this were my children I would want someone to do the same thing for them.”

The Georgia Meritorious Service Medal was presented to Master Sgt. Richard Ross, and Tech. Sgts. Dominick Andrews and Timothy White who performed CPR; saving the life of a passenger, while aboard a flight in route to pre-deployment training.

“Our skills were already honed from our self-aid and buddy care and the pre-deployment training we receive from the Georgia Air National Guard,” said Andrews. “As soon as we heard someone needed help, we went.”

Capping off the day, Maj. Gen. Thomas Moore, assistant adjutant general, Georgia Air National Guard, presented Lt. Col. Rich Ulmen, commander, 116th Maintenance Squadron, with the Labor of Excellence Award for exceptional workplace safety in achieving 2,385 shifts without a workday loss. It was the squadron’s third safety award.

February 2014 | 4

Building Security in the Americas

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By: Maj. Will Cox | Public Affairs Office | Georgia Army National Guard

he Georgia National Guard’s 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team is the first National Guard IBCT to execute missions under the re g i on a l ly a l i g ne d forces program. The 48th IBCT is working with U.S. Southern Command and U.S. Army South, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras in an effort to forge strong regional partnerships across the Americas. Nearly 20 Georgia Guardsmen will be in Guatemala, at any given time, between January and April to advise and train their military forces with best practices concerning: border control operations, command post operations, intelligence support operations and brigade sustainment operations.

Regionally aligned forces are deliberately prepared to support combatant command requirements, like SOUTHCOM, with mission-ready forces and capabilities that are further prepared with cultural, regional and language-focused training. Forces can be drawn from: the Army, Army National Guard, Army Reserve and Department of the Army civilians, in order to operate within the current Army budget and not require new funding.

“The Georgia National Guard’s 48th IBCT is well-suited to promote partnership between U.S. Southern Command, Army South, and the government of Guatemala,” said Lt. Col. Matt Smith, 48th IBCT Deputy Commander. “We believe Guard Soldiers are uniquely qualified to partner with other nations due to the extensive civilian skill sets and experiences they bring to the process. Our partner nations gain from our Guardsmen’s military and civilian experiences, while our Guardsmen sustain their expeditionary mindset and broaden their professional experiences.”

National Guard members represent the nation’s diversity and demographics and are the face of the military in their local community. 85% of the National Guard serves part time in the military while working and living full time in almost every community around the country.

Bravo Company, 2-121 Infantry Regiment,

5 | The Georgia Guardsman

headquartered out of Newnan, Ga., is the unit going to Guatemala.

“As an employee of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, I get to conduct advanced training for agencies such as the U.S. Marshals, Secret Service and Customs and Border Protection,” said 1st Sgt. Timothy Sperry, senior enlisted advisor to Bravo Company, 2-121 Infantry Regiment. “My 26 years of militar y experience, combined with 16 years of law enforcement experience as a police officer and defensive tactics and arrest techniques instructor, gives me a breadth of experience to pull from. We will train the Guatemalan Interagency Task Force composed of Military and National Police members tasked with targeting transnational drug organizations.”

“The 48th IBCT was the perfect choice

for the RAF mission, because National Guard Bureau knew that the unit was fully trained and available, being the first unit to fully execute the Army National Guard’s Contingency Expeditionary Force (CEF) training strategy,” said Smith.

“The CEF training strategy is designed to invest in readiness through progressive training over time, rather than buying readiness just before the unit deploys.

The beauty of fully exercising the training strategy is that it allows the ARNG to internally produce trained and ready units pre-mobilization. In addition to saving tax payer money, this strategy keeps our formations at a higher level of readiness throughout the training cycle, enabling me to provide combatant commanders with combat-ready platoons and companies when they need them.”

Photo by Spc. Corey Long | US Army Reserves

Airman traces lineage to Abolitionist

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By: Master Sgt. Roger Parsons | 116th ACW | Georgia Air National Guard

or Staff Sgt. Barricia McCormick, a paralegal with the 116th Air Control Wing, a fifth grade family history project for her school revealed a rich heritage she found hard to believe.

“You know we’re related to Harriet Tubman,” shared McCormick’s mother.

“No we’re not,” said McCormick.

“Don’t lie to me.”

It was during this conversation that McCormick learned her great grandmother and Harriet Ross Tubman, the AfricanAmerican abolitionist and humanitarian responsible for the rescue of more than 300 slaves through the Underground Railroad, were first cousins.

Then her mother pulled out some family photos and for the first time began sharing a family history lesson that would affect the course of McCormick’s life.

“Up until that time I didn’t know a lot about Harriet Tubman,” shared McCormick. “In fact, Black History Month was just another month to me.”

“As I learned more about my family histor y,” cont inue d McC or mick, “I developed a sense of family pride I didn’t have before.”

During the course of her school project, elders in McCormick’s family were able to trace their lineage as far back as one generation prior to Harriet Tubman.

“Being African American,” McCormick said, “you can only follow so far in researching your family history so it was exciting being able to trace back that many generations.”

“I was glad to learn about my heritage so I can pass it down to children I may have in the future,” she said.

McCormick’s school project uncovered more family history that would impact her future.

As she followed her family tree dating back to Tubman, the Georgia Air National Guardsman discovered that not only did Tubman assist the Union Army during the Civil War, but also nearly every male in her

Photo contributed by Staff Sgt. Barricia McCormick

family, dating back to World War I, served in the military.

At 17, McCormick embarked on her own military journey enlisting in the Air National Guard to become only the second female in her family to serve in the armed forces.

Said McCormick, “the legacy that Harriet Tubman left, that has been carried on from generation to generation in my family, instilled a sense of hope in me and has helped me travel routes I wouldn’t have otherwise.”

Taking advantage of the educational opportunities afforded by her military service, McCormick went on to earn both a Bachelors and Master’s degree.

Recalling meeting a former Colonel from the Tuskegee Airmen, McCormick was taken aback when he thanked her for

her service.

I asked, “why would you thank me for my service when I haven’t experienced anything compared to what you went through.”

The Colonel’s reply was simple, “we fought and served so you guys could do it.”

“People like that and especially other women of color that I’ve met who’ve had successful military careers inspire me to excel,” said McCormick.

Having completed her degrees, the enlisted Guardsman now has her sights set on earning a commission as an officer in the Georgia Air National Guard.

When she’s not serving as a traditional Guardsman, McCormick wears a different uniform serving as a police officer for the City of Atlanta in her fulltime job.

February 2014 | 6

Grant’s Overland Campaign:

Four Key Battles in the 1864 Campaign for Richmond

By Capt. William Carraway Public Affairs Office Georgia Department of Defense The 150th anniversary battle review series will jump out of sequence to focus on the Virginia Theater; beginning with Union Lt. Gen. Ulysses Grant’s initiating of the Overland campaign and ending with his crossing of the Pamunkey River three-weeks later.

The Overland Campaign In the late spring of 1864, with five Union corps and nearly 120,000 men, Grant launched a series of attacks against the 65,000 man Army of Northern Virginia, commanded by Gen. Robert E. Lee. The battles that ensued in May and June 1864 would bleed nearly 90,000 casualties – almost half of the total forces engaged.

The Wilderness, May 5-7, 1864 On May 4, 1864, Grant’s forces crossed the Rapidan River not far from the river crossing Union Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker effected one year earlier during the Chancellorsville campaign. Grant’s objective in 1864 was similar to Hooker’s in 1863: Turn Lee’s lines and force him to engage. Lee’s reaction was also similar to his movements in 1863.

He advanced his army into a tangled forest west of Chancellorsville, known as The Wilderness. As in 1863, this maneuver negated Grant’s numerical advantage and also reduced the effectiveness of his artillery.

The Wilderness was almost impassable, save for two roads which

Overland Campaign Map by Hal Jespersen, www.cwmaps.com

7 | The Georgia Guardsman

ran east to west roughly parallel to each other. Lee placed the corps of Maj. Gen. Richard S. Ewell along the Orange Turnpike to the north.

Three miles south he placed the corps of A.P. Hill astride the Orange Plank Road.

On the morning of May 5, 1864, Union troops advancing west observed Ewell’s men entrenching along the Turnpike. Grant attacked Ewell’s position with elements of the V and VI Corps. Georgia brigades south of the turnpike were heavily engaged. In Brig. Gen. John B. Gordon’s Brigade, the 13th, 26th, 31st, 38th, 60th and 61st Georgia Regiments drove back the famed Union Iron Brigade while to their south, Brig. Gen. George Doles and the 4th, 12th and 44th Georgia Regiments repulsed two Union brigades near the Higgerson Farm.

To the south of the Turnpike engagement, Maj. Gen. A. P. Hill’s approach was intercepted on the Orange Plank Road. The fighting along the Orange Plank Road was vicious but inconclusive.

Grant resumed his attack on Hill’s forces the next day, and the Confederates on the Plank Road nearly broke. Reinforcements from Lt. Gen. James Longstreet’s Corps, just returning from the Chickamauga Campaign in Georgia, arrived on the field at 6:00 a.m. With Longstreet were the Georgia regiments of Brig. Gen. G.T. Anderson and Brig. Gen. William Wofford’s Brigades. By 11:00 a.m., Longstreet had shifted four Confederate brigades to the Union left flank. These brigades surged out of the woods crushing the left wing of the Union Army and drove it back one-half mile. During the assault, Longstreet was seriously wounded in the throat.

The loss of Longstreet stalled Confederate efforts, save for a brief flanking attempt by Gordon’s Georgians. Rather than risk continued losses, Grant maneuvered southeast and away from Lee’s army towards the road intersection of Spotsylvania Court House.

Spotsylvania Court House May 8-20, 1864 Confederate elements arrived near Spotsylvania ahead of Grant and began preparing defensive earthworks. Over the next 13 days, a series of battles would take place over possession of these entrenchments, particularly over a salient called “The Mule Shoe.” On May 12, 1864, Union Maj. Gen. Winifield Hancock launched a corps level assault against The Mule Shoe near Bloody Angle. Hancock’s assault breached the Confederate lines and threatened to cut Lee’s army in two. What followed was almost 24-hours of unbroken, close-combat in darkness and in pouring rain that claimed 17,000 casualties. Only after a counter attack by Brig. Gen. Gordon, now commanding a division, were Confederate lines restored.

One out of every five men engaged at Spotsylvania became a casualty, notably Union VI Corps Commander Maj. Gen. John Sedgwick Sedgwick, while observing Confederate trenching efforts, reassured his Soldiers by informing them that the Confederates “couldn’t hit an elephant from this distance.” Almost immediately after he had spoken these words he was struck below the left eye by a Confederate bullet that killed him instantly.

Fighting continued along the Spotsylvania lines until Grant

abandoned the effort preferring maneuver over frontal assault.

Yellow Tavern: May 11, 1864 As the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House was beginning, Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan launched his Union Cavalry Corps in a raid against Richmond. Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart, 4,000 man cavalry engaged Sheridan’s 12,000 on May 11 at the Battle of Yellow Tavern. Stuart was mortally wounded and his forces defeated by Sheridan’s superior numbers. Although the approximately 900 casualties of Yellow Tavern were relatively light by Civil War standards, the loss of Stuart within one week of the wounding of Longstreet was a serious blow to Lee’s command and control.

Following his success at Yellow Tavern, Sheridan rode south and joined with Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler’s Army of The James then threatening Richmond the east near Bermuda Hundred. Grant would be deprived of his cavalry force for reconnaissance and screening operations for most of the remaining campaign.

North Anna: May 23-26, 1864 As at The Wilderness, Grant redeployed by the left flank from Spotsylvania and continued to maneuver to place his army between Richmond and the Army of Northern Virginia. Lee, moving with interior lines, was able to establish blocking positions along the North Anna River. Lee’s positions along the south bank of the North Anna were masterfully designed and compelled Grant to divide his forces to engage. Lee intended to strike a decisive blow against one of Grant’s divided elements; however, Lee was bedridden by an illness before he could put his plan in place. Grant, likely sensing the trap, withdrew from the North Anna to swing widely around by the left flank to the southeast of Lee to secure a crossing of the Pamunkey River. By May 29, 1864, Grant’s army was south of the Pamunkey and again threatening Richmond.

The Coming Denouement As Grant drew closer to Richmond, Lee’s options and manpower

dwindled. Already the character of the war in Virginia was changing.

Gone were the brilliant flanking maneuvers and initiative-seizing gambles that had characterized the Army of Northern Virginia the previous year. Bled of senior leaders and outnumbered, Lee’s army was settling into a pattern of defensive warfare in prepared positions against a larger enemy that dictated the initiative.

Gone also was the pattern of Union retreat. Where previous commanders had withdrawn from engagements, Grant redeployed and continued maneuvering toward his objective: Richmond.

While Sherman maneuvered towards Atlanta, Grant was drawing ever closer to the Confederate capitol. But soon, he would make a decision that he would regret for the rest of his life.

Next month: Cold Harbor to Petersburg. Prelude to trench warfare

February 2014 | 8

BEST OF 2013

Citizen Soldiers Flying Overhead

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By: Maj. Will Cox | Public Affairs Office | Georgia Army National Guard

eorgia Army National Guardsmen grew up in their communities and now they conduct mission specific training to be ready to help their fellow citizens or those in need around the world. In May, Soldiers from the 560th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade jumped out of a perfectly good UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter high above Paulding County Airport, to maintain their currency and proficiency as Airborne Soldiers, who may need to parachute in to accomplish their assigned mission.

“The purpose was airborne operation sustainment training, primarily focusing on the set up and execution of a safe drop zone and pathfinder activities,” said Capt. Gregg Koester, Charlie Troop, 3-108th Calvalry Company Commander.

“Our Jumpmasters also conducted proficiency training, inspecting parachutes and ensuring the safe deployment of jumpers out of a UH-60 Black Hawk.”

The Command Sgt. Maj. of the Army National Guard,

9 | Georgia The GeorgiaGuardsman Guardsman 9 | The

Command Sgt. Maj. Brunk Conley visited the jumpers to discuss how proud he is of Guardsmen.

“The National Guard is filled with problem solvers just like you.

You give us any mission and we will figure out how to solve it,” said Conley. “We have the unique ability to bring both our civilian and military experiences together to solve the most complex problems that face our nation and world today.”

Support from their local community and family makes the challenge of managing two careers possible. Paulding County doesn’t just say they support their Georgia Guardsmen they host their training.

“We welcome them and love having them here. We feel it is our duty to help them train, by providing a safe location that is convenient to the Georgia National Guard Headquarters in Marietta,” said Junie Walton, Paulding County Airport spokes person. “I don’t get the chance to rub elbows with our Soldiers very often, so I love to let them know I am proud they volunteered to serve our country.”

the Chaplain’s Corner

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By: Chaplain Lt. Col. Michael Summers| Georgia National Guard istening and observation are critical for a successful relationship. If I do not pay attention to what another says, or observe his or her gestures and facial expressions, I will miss impor tant clues that I need to relate well to that person.

Several of the curricula used in Strong Bonds training teach active listening.

These programs emphasize listening, then speaking what one understood to be said.

When I have taught this method, couples frequently complain that the method does not seem natural and that it is hard work.

It does not seem natural because it has not been used before the training. It seems like hard work because, like any new skill, it takes time to master.

Even with written communication, we often should pause to ask for clarification.

Those gestures, tones of voice, and facial

expressions rarely appear in an email. The exclusive use of capital letters may alert us to anger, but emotions are harder to discern in when the message is written.

Planning reduces difficulty in relationships. Anyone who has forgotten a loved one’s birthday, an anniversary, or overlooked Valentine’s Day knows what I mean. The recent winter storms revealed how much better response happens when people and organizations anticipate and plan, then act. I suspect that many families in Georgia planned travel routes, vehicles used, and activities more carefully after the first storm.

Training improves relationships.

Some might protest at intertwining training and relationships, especially in romantic relationships, but life goes more smoothly at work and at home when we have practiced and know what we are doing.

Attending a Strong Bonds training, reading books on relationships, and learning from

friends who have successful relationships are all ways in which we can improve our personal relationships. Similar practices and principles apply in improving our other relationships, also. This “training” teaches us the importance of shared values and perspective as well. Frequently expressed contempt will damage a marriage quickly and severely. Listening includes paying attention to one’s own tone of voice and gestures, too. Studying religious writings and attending worship assemblies together are ways in which couples can refine their shared values. In military units, training exercises improve expertise but also improve camaraderie.

Relationship training does not happen accidentally. I encourage you to develop plans for improving your relationships in all facets of your life. If you need help, don’t hesitate to ask your unit’s Ministry Team or other sections that offer the training you need for assistance.

February 2014 | 10

Eyes In The Sky By: Maj. Will Cox | Public Affairs Office | Georgia Army National Guard

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viation units of the Georgia National Guard volunteered to deploy to Texas’ Rio Grande Valley for 15 months, including all of 2014, to support the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol with aerial detection and monitoring, as part of Operation River Watch II. “I do this job because I know I am making a difference and keeping drugs off of the streets,” said “Roy”, the senior enlisted member participating in the mission. “It is rewarding assisting them in that effort.”

From October 1, 2013 to February 8, 2014, the Georgia Army National Guard helped the Border Patrol apprehend 3,925 illegal aliens, turn back 1,022 illegal aliens and assisted in the seizure of 3,196 pounds of marijuana along the Rio Grande Valley sector.

Daniel Tirado, an agent with the Rio Grande Valley Border Patrol, was present when one of the Georgia Army National Guard’s LUH-72 Lakota and crew provided air-support to the Border Patrol along the RGV sector.

“A safe arrest was made much easier because the aircraft, using their spotlight from above, pinpointed the suspect,” said Tirado.

“As an agent on the ground, your visibility is limited to what you

11 | The Georgia Guardsman

Photo by Maj. Will Cox| Public Affairs Office | Georgia Army National Guard

can see from your vantage point, but when you have an aircraft above, that can give you situational awareness of what is around you. It gives the agent a safer working environment.”

The LUH-72 is a multi-role aviation platform first fielded by the Department of Defense in 2006. The aircraft is equipped with forward-looking infrared radar and can seat six passengers and two pilots. Radio systems onboard the LUH-72 allow crew members to communicate with border patrol agents on the ground.

“The aircraft can advise the Border Patrol agent if the activity appears to be illegal-alien smuggling or narcotics smuggling. This helps agents respond with the appropriate amount of back-up, based on the number of suspects and the illegal activity the agent is about to interdict,” said Tirado.

As part of Operation River Watch II, The Georgia Guard was tasked to support Border Patrol operations with aerial detection and monitoring in order to disrupt transnational criminal and drug trafficking organizations. Operation River Watch II saw a 1,100 percent increase in the number of apprehensions and an 840 percent increase in the number of observations compared to Operation River Watch I, a ground-centric surveillance approach.

A 356 percent increase in marijuana seizures, was also realized. To put this in context, the RGV sector alone will have apprehended more illegal aliens in five-months with an air-centric surveillance approach compared to all of the sectors combined over a 30-month period when ground-centric surveillance was used.

The RGV sector covers 34 counties, 316 river miles and 317 coastal miles. One of the largest sectors, the RGV accounted for 154,453 apprehensions, 37 percent of all apprehensions in the country. More than 1,800 pounds of cocaine were also seized, accounting for 47 percent of all Border Patrol cocaine seized nationwide. The Guard LUH -72 contributed to that success “There are three primary characteristics needed to provide optimal support to the Border Patrol: the right capabilities, the right authority and the right relationships with both federal and local law enforcement,” said Col. Patrick Hamilton, Director of the Texas National Guard’s Joint Staff. “The National Guard meets all of these requirements best when compared to other elements of the total Army Force. The National Guard is the right force to support our local law enforcement in their communities or where ever the war on drugs reaches across the country.”

February 2014 | 12

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By Chief Master Sgt. Joseph Greene Senior Enlisted Advisor Georgia Air National Guard

NCO Notepad Words of wisdom from one to another

13 | The Georgia Guardsman

he famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, emerged from his lair and saw his shadow, predicting six more weeks of winter. Our state mission is what separates the National Guard from the Army or Air Force Reserves. Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA), also referred to as Domestic Operations (DOMOPS), is the National Guard response to either a manmade or natural emergency or to a large, public event like the 1996 Olympics.

When the governor declares a state of emergency and the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) anticipates the civil authorities will be overwhelmed by the crisis, the governor will call the Georgia Department of Defense to state active duty.

The recent winter storm Leon created such an emergency situation. The specific mission requests flowed through the State Operations Center (SOC) from GEMA to the Georgia National Guard Joint Operations Center (JOC) and the Task Force Commander. GEMA directed ten specific missions to the Georgia Department of Defense that ordered 203 personnel to state active duty, 52 vehicles and one UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter resupply mission. Our JOC at Clay National Guard Headquarters was fully staffed and we had Liaison Officers (LNO) at the SOC. All metro Atlanta armories remained open to support activated service members and to receive citizens that needed a safe, warm place to stay the night.

You can be proud of your fellow Guardsmen who, over a three day period, provided direct assistance to 5,000 stranded motorists, including 81 school children. The service members helped to clear vehicle accidents and stalled cars from the roadways, delivered gas and jumped dead batteries. The Guard distributed almost 8,000 MREs, bottles of water and blankets to needy citizens. Staff Sgt. Jerod Rozier singlehandedly extinguished a vehicle fire. Activated members of the 348th Brigade Support Battalion unloaded critical medical supplies from a stranded 18 wheeler and delivered the supplies to hospitals in four counties.

Winter storm Leon was only round one, as we learned Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction would prove true. A few days later, the Governor would once again declare a state of emergency for 95 counties in Georgia as a severe ice storm headed our way.

Over 1,000 Army and Air National Guardsmen and State Defense Force members, 154 vehicles and 29 armories were called upon to respond to OPERATION SNOWBALL III. Task Force East comprised the Augusta and surrounding areas that was forecasted to be the hardest hit. Members of the 165th Air Support Operations Squadron and 165th Airlift Wing cleared 593 fallen trees from Augusta’s roadways. Clearing the streetsgave utility workers access to downed power lines,allowing them to restore power to thousands of households.

Two other actions further highlight the professionalism and dedication of Georgia Guardsmen. 165 ASOS members kicked in the front door and entered a burning trailer in search of victims.

Later, the tactical air control party specialists came upon a second residence fire with 2 critically injured family members. Their unique skill set allowed them to establish a landing zone for a life flight helicopter to evacuate a severely injured mother and daughter.

A total of 38 GEMA missions were received and flawlessly executed by the Georgia Department of Defense in direct support of OPERATION SNOWBALL III and our fellow citizens. Well done!

BEST OF 1973

Recalling Operation Snowball

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ore than 500 Georgia Guardsmen carried out nearly 10,000 individual missions during Georgia’s snowstorm on February 10 and 11.

After only a 5-week recovery from one of the worst ice storms to hit North Georgia, the central Georgia area was inundated by as much as 19 inches of snow.

The snow storm, the worst in Georgia in a century, began quickly and came on with a fury that startled residents and travelers.

“As I left the rear entrance of my home about 1 a.m. Saturday morning, I stood knee deep in snow,” said Capt. Paul Jossey, Commander of the Headquarters Detachment, 176th MP Battalion in Forsyth. “I made my way to the State Patrol station near Interstate 75 and I stood on an overpass looking south. All I could see was snow, and cars backed up for miles,” he added.

Those traffic jams were later determined to be as long as 10 miles and there were several of them on a 50-mile stretch of I-75.

Early on Saturday morning, February 10, Maj. Gen. Joel B. Paris, III, the Adjutant General, accompanied Gov. Jimmy Carter in an Army Guard helicopter on an aerial survey of the central Georgia area. The Governor was stunned by the accumulation of snow and the traffic tie-ups on I-75. He immediately ordered that highway closed and authorized Gen. Paris to have Guard units ready to assist the civil authorities, residents and travelers. As could be expected, many Guardsmen already were offering their aid.

In Perry, troops of Detachment 1, Co. B, 1/121st Infantry began their emergency operations. By 9 a.m. the unit was fully operational with two Armored Personnel Carriers (APC), two 2½ ton trucks and a 3/4 ton truck heading north and south on Interstate 75 plucking stranded motorists from their cars. One of the APCs even came to the rescue of the Perry Fire Department when one of the Department’s auxiliary water carriers became disabled. The APC made quick work of towing the vehicle to the city garage for repairs.

Twenty-two men of Waynesboro’s Battery C, 1st Battalion, 214th Artillery answered more than 200 calls for aid on Saturday

This story first appeared in the 1973 Issue of the Georgia Guardsman

and Sunday. According to the unit’s administrative technician, Sgt. Richard Jenkins, “18 stranded motorists, four hound dogs and a monkey spent the night at the armory in Waynesboro.” Transported to the armory by Army Guard trucks, the visitors were provided sheets and blankets by the Burke County Hospital, air mattresses by the Guard and coffee and doughnuts by Civil Defense workers.

The engineers were busy, too. Co. B, 560th Engineer Battalion in Columbus rolled out its equipment and helped clear streets and roads plus deliver food and medicine to stranded residents.

From 6 a.m. Saturday til 5 p.m. Sunday, members of the Support Company, 1st Battalion, 121st Infantry in Milledgeville used 16 vehicles in its emergency operations. All the vehicles were on continuous dispatch for the period, with men and machines stopping only long enough to eat and refuel. During the two-day period more than 400 gallons of fuel were used in traveling the 4800 miles recorded on the vehicles’ odometers. These vehicles transported more than 650 people.

For Central State Hospital and Baldwin County Hospital, the Milledgeville Guard unit was indispensable. The unit ferried patients, doctors, nurses and other staff personnel to and from the hospitals.

Many problems faced Guardsmen as they worked furiously to aid travelers and residents. One of these problems was the feeding of people staying in the National Guard Armories.

Through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, some 8,000 pounds of surplus food were rounded up in Atlanta and flown to Forsyth and Macon, the two largest towns on I-75 in the storm area. The food was loaded on trucks and transported to the Fulton County Airport by men of the 277thMantenance Company and Decatur’s 122nd Support Center. From there it was airlifted by UH-1 helicopters of the 151st Aviation Battalion with units in Winder and Atlanta.

During the 2½ day period, Guardsmen in the stricken area transported more than 6,300 persons to shelter areas, hotels and motels, to and from hospitals and manned more than 150 vehicles.

This operation was referred to as “Operation Snowball.”

February 2014 | 14

Georgia Guard responds to l e o n a n d pa x snowstorms

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wo storms hit Georgia this winter. Winter Storm Leon struck Atlanta on January 28th and two weeks later Winter Storm Pax brought the threat of icing for much of north and central Georgia.

During Winter Storm Leon more than 200 Georgia Army National Guardsmen were activated in response to Governor Nathan Deal’s state-of-emergency in order to augment local authorities in an effort to alleviate suffering and ensure public safety. The Georgia National Guard mobilized more than 50 response vehicles to work with the Georgia State Patrol and other local responders to assist stranded motorists on Atlanta’s main thoroughfares. Guardsmen assisted more than 4,900 motorists, transporting 362 to shelters in the early hours of January 29th alone. Additionally, 81 children were rescued from stranded school buses and delivered to warmth and shelter during the initial stages of the Georgia Guard’s response.

“This is just another great example of how the Georgia Guard is always ready, always there, and always on target,” said Maj. Gen. Jim Butterworth, Adjutant General of the Georgia National Guard.

“We were able to respond quickly and effectively because of the investment in training, equipment and facilities we have made over the last decade. The quick response is also indicative of the heart and soul of our Citizen-Soldiers who joined not only to fight our nation’s wars, but to take care of their family and neighbors when disaster strikes.”

The Georgia National Guard distributed nearly 4,000 MealsReady-to-Eat to stranded motorists in addition to handing out more than 2,200 bottles of water. Blankets were also provided to 1,662 Georgians during the aftermath of Winter Storm Leon.

“I am proud of my team, from the senior leaders coordinating our response, to the Soldiers on the streets augmenting our local civil authorities to alleviate suffering and ensure public safety,” said Butterworth. “The fact that the Georgia National Guard responded within one hour and 37 minutes from activation and did all of this without any injuries in the treacherous conditions highlights the proficiency of local Guardsmen and their dedication to their local communities.”

The Georgia Department of Defense was then again called into action to assist the Georgia Emergency Management Agency

15 | The Georgia Guardsman

By Desiree Bamba | Public Affairs Office | Georgia Department of Defense in responding to the even larger Winter Storm Pax. At 6:00 p.m. Monday February 10, 2014, Georgia Governor Nathan Deal declared a state of emergency and 45 Guardsmen were placed on state active duty orders. These initial 45 Guardsmen would prepare vehicles and supplies for additional personnel activations in anticipation of a Georgia National Guard winter storm response.

The full effects of Winter Storm Pax were felt by Wednesday, February 12. By then, nearly 1,000 Army and Air National Guardsman and State Defense Force volunteers were part of the Ga. DoD response effort. Additionally, 154 vehicles including high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles (HMMWVs), cargo trucks and wreckers were pressed into service. During the course of the winter storm response, the Ga. DoD responded to 37 mission requests from GEMA, providing critical transportation assistance to civil authorities and opening 29 armories as warming stations, staging areas, and emergency shelters. In addition to direct GEMA support, the Ga. DoD performed patrols and reconnaissance missions, during which 65 motorists were assisted, 228 citizens were transported and 522 road blockages were cleared.

During and after the winter storm, response teams of Guardsmen, operating in HMMWVs performed multiple acts on behalf of Georgia citizens. For example, in Cobb County, Guardsmen of the 201st Regional Support Group and State Defense Force volunteers assisted homeless citizens by providing food and transport to warming stations. Air National Guardsmen of the 165th Air Support Operations Squadron transported a grandmother and three children to a shelter, after her home lost power in Augusta. In Burke County, Georgia Guardsmen of the 648th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade opened the Waynesboro armory as a shelter for approximately 60 citizens who had lost power at their residences.

“Our Georgia Guardsmen have been trained to respond to disasters such as Winter Storm Pax.” said Brig. Gen. Joe Jarrard, Commanding General of the Georgia Army National Guard.

“Guardsmen want to help their fellow citizens during state emergencies and are well prepared to do so.”

Master Sgt. Jorge Chavez (right) and Staff Sgt. Matthew Wainwright, both with the 165th Airlift Wing, Georgia Air National Guard, help a family evacuate from their home after it lost power and heat during Winter Storm Pax. Photo by Sgt. Michael Uribe, 124th MPAD

Georgia Guardsmen with the 560th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade conduct reconnaissance of road pass ability in North Georgia. Photo

by First Sgt. Rachel Dryden, 124th MPAD

February 2014 | 16

Around the Georgia Guard THE SQUAD AUTOMATIC WEAPON Specialist Kenneth Mackey, a truck driver with the LaGrange-based 1177th Transportation Company disassembles an M249 machine gun as part of the Best Warrior Competition conducted by the Marietta-based 201st Regional Support Group and 78th Troop Command.

LAND NAVIGATION FUNDAMENTALS U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Jorge Chavez, Aircrew Flight Equipment technician from the 165th Airlift Wing, Georgia Air National Guard demonstrates map reading and terrain association to Maj. Danny Daniels, a pilot with the 165th Airlift Wing, and Ms. Anna Skinner, 165th Airlift Wing Director of Psychological Health. Chavez evaluates aircrew combat survival proficiency bi-annually.

17 | The Georgia Guardsman

GUARDSMAN JOINS PIT CREW Georgia Guardsmen celebrate with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his pit crew after winning the Daytona 500 in the #88 National Guard car.

GOV. DEAL AND THE GEORGIA NATIONAL GUARD Governor Nathan Deal and First Lady Sandra Deal join both chambers of the Georgia Legislature in honoring the men and women who serve in the Georgia Department of Defense.

February 2014 | 18

Winter Storm Leon

Public Affairs Office Georgia Department of Defense 1000 Halsey Ave. Bldg. 447 Marietta, Ga. 30060