june 2013 edition

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all gave some SOME GAVE ALL Remembering Georgia’s fallen Heroes Sgt. 1st Class Victor Anthonio Anderson, Sgt. 1st Class John Curtis Beale, 1st Sgt. John David Blair, Spc. Dennis Joel Boles, Spc. Christopher Kermin Boone, Spc. Jacques Earl Brunson, Sgt. Brock Henry Chavers, Spc. Joshua Paul Dingler, Sgt. Philip Allan Dodson Jr., Staff Sgt. George Ray Draughn Jr., Sgt. 1st Class Amos Collins Edwards Jr., Staff Sgt. Bobby C. Franklin, Staff Sgt. Alex French IV, Staff Sgt. Carl Ray Fuller, Spc. Marcus Shawn Futrell, Sgt. Jerry Lewis Ganey Jr., Spc. Matthew Vincent Gibbs, Staff Sgt. Charles Crum Gillican III, Sgt. Jonathan Christopher Haggin, Sgt. 1st Class Robert Lee Hollar Jr., Sgt. David Holmes, Maj. Kevin Michael Jenrette, Spc. Issac Lee Johnson, Staff Sgt. David Randall Jones Sr., Spc. Jeffrey William Jordan, Sgt. James Ondra Kinlow, Sgt. Myla Lumayag Maravilosa, Sgt. John E. McGee, Staff Sgt. Chad Michael Mercer, Staff Sgt. Dennis Paul Merck, Sgt. Raymundo Porras Morales, Sgt. Foster Pinkston, Sgt. 1st Class Edgar N. Roberts Jr., Sgt. Paul Anthony Saylor, Sgt. Ronnie Lee Shelley Sr., Spc. Channing Garrett Singletary, Sgt. Michael James Stokely, Sgt. Thomas James Strickland, Master Sgt. Thomas R. Thigpen Sr., Sgt. John Frank Thomas, Staff Sgt. Philip Lamar Travis, Sgt. 1st Class Charles Houghton Warren, Master Sgt. Davy Nathaniel Weaver Sgt. 1st Class Christopher R. Willoughby

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The special Memorial Day 2013 edition of the Georgia Guardsman honors those serving in our ranks who have lost their lives since 9/11. This issue highlights the "Some Gave All 5K" and the "Staff Sgt. Phillip L. Travis Warrior Spirit Trophy," two annual events dedicated to upholding the memory of some of America's finest who have lost their lives serving in the Georgia National Guard. Command Sgt. Maj. Phillip Stringfield offers a reflection on the meaning of Memorial Day in the NCO Notepad column. In addition to Memorial Day content, this issue features stories on the training the Georgia National Guard is conducting overseas and the programs available to help Guardsmen and their families cope with stress.

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: June 2013 Edition

all gave someSOME GAVE ALLRemembering Georgia’s fallen Heroes

Sgt. 1st Class Victor Anthonio Anderson, Sgt. 1st Class John Curtis Beale, 1st Sgt. John David Blair, Spc. Dennis Joel Boles, Spc. Christopher Kermin Boone, Spc. Jacques Earl Brunson, Sgt. Brock Henry Chavers, Spc. Joshua Paul Dingler, Sgt. Philip Allan Dodson Jr., Staff Sgt. George Ray Draughn Jr., Sgt. 1st Class Amos Collins Edwards Jr., Staff Sgt. Bobby C. Franklin, Staff Sgt. Alex French IV, Staff Sgt. Carl Ray Fuller, Spc. Marcus Shawn Futrell, Sgt. Jerry Lewis Ganey Jr., Spc. Matthew Vincent Gibbs, Staff Sgt. Charles Crum Gillican III, Sgt. Jonathan Christopher Haggin, Sgt. 1st Class Robert Lee Hollar Jr., Sgt. David Holmes, Maj. Kevin Michael Jenrette, Spc. Issac Lee Johnson, Staff Sgt. David Randall Jones Sr., Spc. Jeffrey William Jordan, Sgt. James Ondra Kinlow, Sgt. Myla Lumayag Maravilosa, Sgt. John E. McGee, Staff Sgt. Chad Michael Mercer, Staff Sgt. Dennis Paul Merck, Sgt. Raymundo Porras Morales, Sgt. Foster Pinkston, Sgt. 1st Class Edgar N. Roberts Jr., Sgt. Paul Anthony Saylor, Sgt. Ronnie Lee Shelley Sr., Spc. Channing Garrett Singletary, Sgt. Michael James Stokely, Sgt. Thomas James Strickland, Master Sgt. Thomas R. Thigpen Sr., Sgt. John Frank Thomas, Staff Sgt. Philip Lamar Travis, Sgt. 1st Class Charles Houghton Warren, Master Sgt. Davy Nathaniel Weaver Sgt. 1st Class Christopher R . W i l l o u g h b y

Page 2: June 2013 Edition

1 | The Georgia Guardsman

Memorial Day 2013

CONTENTSISSUE: June 2013

Features

columns

06| Fallen Guardsman HonoredThe life of Staff Sgt. Phillip L. Travis is remembered during a Memorial Day event.

13| GA Guard RemembersThe Georgia National Guard spent this year’s Memorial Day honoring our country’s fallen at various events around the state.

03| Some gave all 5k inspiresThe annual race in honor of fallen soldier raises money for the Georgia National Guard Family Support Foundation.

07|Operation Maple ResolveGeorgia Army National Guard heads up north to participate in a Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) land-based exercise.

08| Making Strong BondsWhen Georgia Guardsmen and their familes are dealing with stress, the Strong Bonds program is here to help.

09| Shared Horizons 2013The Georgia National Guard continues its state partnership with the nation of Georgia. The third annual event served to train Soldiers on national response planning and highlight inter-ministry cooperation.

05| MOS StoryThis month’s story features a Soldier’s experi-ence making the band.

11| Historic Battle ReiviewThe Battle of Gettysburg begins.

15| NCO NotepadRemember the fallen this Memorial Day.

16| Book Review“Good to Great” by Jim Collins

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

Front Cover

In MemoriamThis month’s cover serves to honor the men and women of the Georgia National Guard who have been lost since 9/11.

all gave someSOME GAVE ALLRemembering Georgia’s fallen Heroes

Sgt. 1st Class Victor Anthonio Anderson, Sgt. 1st Class John Curtis Beale, 1st Sgt. John David Blair, Spc. Christopher Kermin Boone, Spc. Jacques Earl Brunson, Sgt. Brock Henry Chavers, Spc. Joshua Paul Dingler, Sgt. Philip Allan Dodson Jr., Staff Sgt. George Ray Draughn Jr., Sgt. 1st Class Amos Collins Edwards Jr., Staff Sgt. Bobby C. Franklin, Staff Sgt. Alex French IV, Staff Sgt. Carl Ray Fuller, Spc. Marcus Shawn Futrell, Sgt. Jerry Lewis Ganey Jr., Spc. Matthew Vincent Gibbs, Staff Sgt. Charles Crum Gillican III, Sgt. Jonathan Christopher Haggin, Sgt. 1st Class Robert Lee Hollar Jr., Sgt. David Holmes, Maj. Kevin Michael Jenrette, Spc. Issac Lee Johnson, Staff Sgt. David Randall Jones Sr., Spc. Jeffrey William Jordan, Sgt. James Ondra Kinlow, Sgt. John E. McGee, Staff Sgt. Chad Michael Mercer, Staff Sgt. Dennis Paul Merck, Sgt. Raymundo Porras Morales, Sgt. Foster Pinkston, Sgt. 1st Class Edgar N. Roberts Jr., Sgt. Paul Anthony Saylor, Sgt. Ronnie Lee Shelley Sr., Spc. Channing Garrett Singletary, Sgt. Michael James Stokely, Sgt. Thomas James Strickland, Master Sgt. Thomas R. Thigpen Sr., Sgt. John Frank Thomas, Staff Sgt. Philip Lamar Travis, Sgt. 1st Class Charles Houghton Warren, Master Sgt. Davy Nathaniel Weaver Sgt. 1st Class Christopher R . W i l l o u g h b y

06

1309

05

17| Around the Guard

Page 3: June 2013 Edition

June 2013 | 2

Georgia National Guard

Commander-in-ChiefGov. NathaN Deal

adjutant GeneralMaj. GeN. jiM Butterworth

State PubliC affairS direCtorMary therese teBBe

State PubliC affairS offiCer1st lt. williaM Carraway

oPerationS nCosGt. 1st Class GerarD BrowN

Editorial Staff

manaGinG editorashley FoNteNot

Creative direCtorsteveN welCh

ContributorSlt. Col. w.e. Bailey

Desiree BaMBasGt. 1st Class GerarD BrowN

1st lt. williaM CarrawayMaj. williaM Cox

Cw5 thoMas GolDeNspC. jasMiNe jaCoBs

CoMMaND sGt. Maj. p. striNGFielDstaFF sGt. r.e. thorNtoN

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.

Disclaimer

Georgia National Guard Channels

FaCeBookFaCeBook.CoM/GeorGiaGuarD

FliCkrFlickr.com/GaNatlGuard

twitterTwitter.com/GeorgiaGuard

youtuBeYoutube.com/GeorgiaNationalGuard

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.

Page 4: June 2013 Edition

3 | The Georgia Guardsman

Some gave all and inspired others to keep giving. Maj. Kevin Jenrette did this through his life and death in combat June 4th, 2009. His l i f e i n s p i r e d

his family and others to give to Guardsmen and their families when they are in need. Shannon Jenrette, bereaved wife of Kevin, spends every May putting on a charity race to raise money for the Georgia National Guard Family Support Foundation.

“Kevin helped a lot of people, in a lot of ways, and after he was killed I had many people come and tell me about what he had done for them. His life and their stories made me want to do something once a year to bring people together to remember him and raise money for a good cause,” said Shannon Jenrette. “Now it is not only to honor the memory of my husband, but it also honors the memory of all those who have given their all in combat.”

Before this year’s race began Shannon was brought on stage by the master of ceremonies to be honored in front of the crowd.

“Shannon turned something that would have devastated one family into a victory for many,” said Maj. Bobby Brookshire, Some Gave All 5K Master of Ceremonies and committee member. “Planning an event like the SGA 5K is a big undertaking for anyone and especially for a single mother of three. Shannon lives the Army Values and is Army strong, her self less sacrifice and enduring spirit of giving is amazing and an example for all and is indicative of the awarding of the Oglethorpe Distinguished Service Medal.”

S h a n n o n w a s a w a r d e d the highest award the Georgia Department of Defense can give.

“The Oglethorpe Medal is presented for distinguished service to the National Guard and the families of the National Guard. Shannon’s service and continued sacrifice is what this award was

created for,” said Maj. Gen. Jim Butterworth, Adjutant General of Georgia.

The SGA 5K race has raised over $52,000 dollars in the last three years for the Georgia National Guard Family Support Foundation to support Guardsmen and their families with emergency financial relief.

“The Some Gave All is probably our most heartfelt fundraiser that we are the beneficiary of,” said Harriet Morgan, Georgia National Guard Family Support Foundation Administrator. “This is the 4th year with close to 500 people registered. The net proceeds for this comes back to the foundation. In many ways Maj. Kevin Jenrette is still giving and helping families in the Georgia National Guard through Shannon and it is just amazing. The foundation provides emergency relief assistance for members of the Georgia National Guard. We provide basic needs such as rent or mortgage payments in the event any type of urgent issue causing a financial hardship. With the support of events like the Some Gave All 5K, we have been able to help over 2,100 families with over $1.8 million dollars in assistance.”

The Some Gave All 5K also provided an oppor tunity for mobilized Soldiers to connect with their loved ones back at home.

“It is nice to know that we can do something together, even though he is so far away,” said Kristen Johnson, wife of 1st Lt. Michael Johnson, Charlie Battery, 1-214th Filed Artillery Regiment, who came out to run the SGA 5K in Lula Georgia while her husband c on du c te d a s h a d ow r u n i n Shindand Afghanistan.

Texas native Kaley Caperton sang her song, “Always Ready, Always There” among other songs as she entertained the crowd gathering for the Some Gave All 5K race.

Cadet Richard Henry, a senior at the University of North Georgia, won the race with a time of 18:58 and Deanna Lewis of Stevens county had the fastest female time of 22:20.

SomeGave

All 5kInspires Race in honor of falllen Soldier raises money for the Georgia National Guard Family Support Foundation.

By: Maj. Will Cox | Public Affairs Office |G e o r g i a A r m y N at i o n a l G ua r d

Photos by: Maj. Will Cox | PubliC affairs offiCe | GeorGia arMy NatioNal Guard

Page 5: June 2013 Edition

June 2013 | 4

Page 6: June 2013 Edition

5 | The Georgia Guardsman5 | The Georgia Guardsman

When Spc. Lauran Assad of Marietta’s 116th Army Band joined the Georgia Army National Guard, she was fulfilling a personal goal serving in the military, and a personal dream of serving her nation,

through music, as a 42R9K – Musician.“Playing in an Army band has been my dream since I

was in high school,” Assad explained. “My band director’s daughter back then played bassoon for the National Guard, and my assistant band director was also in the Army. So going after that dream was something I just could not get out the back of my mind.”

Being able to play the bassoon in the National Guard was the first part of her dream. After completing her four weeks of Advanced Individualized training (AIT) at the Army Element School of Music, Located at Joint Base Little Creek, Virginia Beach, Va., Assad said she then set her sights on a higher goal.

There are three different types of bands in the Army – small, medium and large. Assad said she wanted to next play with an active duty Army band, and after completing her six year enlistment she began the auditioning process.

She first started by sending out an audition recording, with which to gain an in-person audition in front of those who would tell her whether she was good enough to make the cut. To prepare, Assad said, she had to select several pieces of music of contrasting styles to show her abilities. She then

auditioned and her selection was recorded and sent up to be compared with others also competing to play for the Active Army Band. After a month of anticipation, Assad said, she was selected to play her bassoon in the active duty Army.

“Between school and my husband being on active duty, I always get to meet this family of other diverse musicians, some are professional musicians, others are directors but all provide a great group of support,” said Assad.

Having fulfilled the goal she first set for herself, Assad will be leaving the Georgia Army Guard and the 116th Band to begin playing with the active duty band stationed at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, later this year. With her acceptance into an Army medium-sized band, she will be providing more visible support by performing at local concerts, parades and schools for Soldiers and the American public alike. What makes her achievement an even greater success story is that there are only 10 allocated slots in the Army for bassoon players, and now, Assad is going to be one of the chosen few.

When she is not playing her bassoon, Assad doubles also as a flute player since Bassoon players typically are not in marching bands.

“It is about increasing moral; it is more of a service to Soldiers and their families,” said Assad, with a proud, but humble smile on her face. “Having fulfilled my dreams of serving and doing what I love in the Army, I would love move my personal goal higher and become a warrant office and conduct a band of my own…what a dream come true that would be.”

MakingBANDT H E

Guardsman fulfilling dream of service through music

By: Sgt. 1st Class Gerard Brown | Public Affairs Office | Georgia Army National Guard

Photos by: sGt. 1 st Class Gerard broWN | PubliC affairs offiCe | GeorGia dePartMeNt of defeNse

Page 7: June 2013 Edition

June 2013 | 6Photo by: lt. Col. W. e. bailey | Provost Marshal, Clay NatioNal Guard CeNter | GeorGia arMy NatioNal Guard

Staff Sgt. Phillip L. Travis, one of the Georgia Army Guard’s fallen, was honored during the annual John C. Garand (JCG) M-1 Rifle Match held at River Bend Gun Club this Memorial Day weekend, with match director Ben L. Franklin Jr. establishing the “Staff Sgt. Phillip L. Travis Warrior Spirit Trophy.”

Travis, who lived – and worked as a firefighter – in Snellville, was killed on Dec. 2, 2005, near Tallil Air Base

in Southeastern Iraq. Travis was an honorably discharged Navy veteran when he joined the Georgia Army Guard and was assigned to Winder’s Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment. While at Camp Liberty in Baghdad, Iraq, then Sgt. Travis volunteered for duty with the brigade’s Military Transition Team (MiTT). Because this was considered especially hazardous duty, the brigade commander, Brig. Gen. Stewart Rodeheaver, mandated that all members of the MiTT must be volunteers.

Travis and the MiTTs served in a region that became known as “The Triangle of Death” with his own MiTT–1

being based at Forward Operating Base Row in Latifiya, Iraq. While conducting joint combat operations with Iraqi “Jundi”, Travis and the crew of his gun truck were attacked with IEDs on at least 7 occasions.

In September 2005, midpoint of the deployment, the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team’s (IBCT) mission changed. Travis and the MiTTs were sent back to their parent units. Because of his military occupational specialty (MOS), he was assigned to the 148th Support Battalion. Members of MiTT-1 were shocked and deeply saddened on Dec. 2, 2005 to learn that Travis, and the entire crew of his Humvee, had been killed in a catastrophic vehicle mishap while on a mission “outside the wire.” It would be his commander who would escort Travis home and represent the unit at his funeral.

At the start of this year’s Memorial Day match, Staff Sgt. R.E. Thornton gave an introduction outlining Travis’ story to the fellow shooters, honoring the fallen soldier for his service to the nation.

“We remember Travis, not because he died in some heroic shoot out with the enemy,” Thornton said. “We do so, because after serving honorably as a Sailor, he heard his nation’s call and brought himself back into harm’s way so others could sleep safe in their beds at home.”

Fallen Guardsman Honored during memorial day eventBy: Staff Sgt. R. E. Thornton | 121st Infantry | Georgia Army National Guard

Page 8: June 2013 Edition

7 | The Georgia Guardsman7 | The Georgia Guardsman Photo by: sGt. 1 st Class Gerard broWN | PubliC affairs offiCe | GeorGia dePartMeNt of defeNse

Georgia Army National Guard aviation units from around the state were in the “Great White North” participating

in one of the most important annual Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) land-based exercise here at Wainwright.

Operation Maple Resolve is a joint, bilateral exercise conducted at the Canadian Maneuver Training Center (CMTC) from May 21st to June 4th. During this 16-day force-on-force event, Marietta’s 78th Aviation Troop Command is putting two CH-47F Chinook and three UH-60M MEDEVAC (Aero Medical Evacuation) Blackhawk helicopters to work supporting the Canadian’s efforts to keep their warfighter skills sharp.

“Canada would not be able to conduct this level of training without the use of the Georgia Army National Guard’s helicopters and personnel, all of which adds realism to the scenarios we use,” said Col. Jocelyn Paul, who commands the maneuver training center.

According to Paul, CMTC uses real training areas as well as technology to represent realistic and intense combat situations. People and vehicles involved in the exercise, he explained, are fitted with varying sizes of laser emitting and detecting devices. These, he said, are connected to a GPS system that tracks the movements of personnel and vehicles.

The Weapons Effects Simulation System (WES), for example, Paul added, captures shots and angles fired, wounds acquired, near misses and kills. WES also allows for varying wounds to be registered – depending on the contact – thereby allowing medics to view the injury sustained and choose the correct medical treatment to administer, using the man-worn system. He said the WES system captures and transmits the data back during each combat scenario for commanders to see what tactics worked and which tactics did not. At this point, Paul explained further, the same scenario can be ran again – either with the same team or a new one – to better determine which tactics and strategies work best.

“The value of operating in an austere environment, with a mobile enemy is something you can only replicate at a combat training center. Our participation in this exercise – providing obviously valuable assistance to our Canadian brothers-in-arms – enables us to fully exercise our preparation, deployment, operations and recovery of our aviation units,” said Col. Brock Gaston, the 78th Aviation commander.

Another element in the CMTC training is the Contemporary Operating Environment Force (COEFOR). Understanding that to truly encapsulate the collective training exercises and to provide real-word conditions and

circumstances, the use of civilian and military personnel in areas such as cities or markets prepares them for more urban encounters. Here again, CMTC uses civilians and military personnel during these scenarios who speak the language and know the culture, which adds another level of realism to the training.

“We constantly find ourselves in the fox hole with other nations, protecting freedom together,” said Maj. Barry Simmons, who commands the Army Guard’s Flight Facility No. 3 on Savannah’s Hunter Army Airfield. “Because of this, it is important for our camaraderie we have with our fellow warriors to run deep and remain strong.”

In addition to Georgia Army Guard’s aviation assets being used during the coalition exercise, the Utah Army Guard’s 19th Special Forces Unit is providing four Shadow unmanned aerial vehicles. The Washington Army Guard’s 1041st Transpor tat ion Company – the Road Chiefs – is providing heavy trucks.

“We hope to support operations with our Canadian brethren in the future,” Gaston said. “78th Aviation and the Georgia Army Guard look forward to more challenging operations as we transition from a wartime posture to a peacetime stance, and seek to maintain our expeditionary mindset as our nation’s operational reserve.”

Operation Maple ResolveBy: Sgt. 1st Class Gerard Brown | Public Affairs Office | Georgia Department of Defense

Page 9: June 2013 Edition

June 2013 | 8

As much as separation, work, finances, attitudes and emotional needs can take their toll on a relationship – civilian or military – they can be especially hard on those who serve, be they active duty, Guard or Reserve. One of the programs available to help service members and their families, and those who are single as well,

deal with the stresses that can often complicate their lives and their relationships is Strong Bonds.

Strong Bonds is a chaplain-led program for commanders, Soldiers, and their families at the unit level, which helps build relationship resiliency. The Strong Bonds mission, according to the Georgia Army Guard Chaplaincy, is to increase Soldier and family readiness through relationship education and skills training.

“It starts with knowing yourself and this weekend I saw my true self instead of how I thought I was,” said a spouse attending the course.

The program first started in Savannah as a pre-deployment event in 2005. In 2008, the program began conducting re-integration, single and relationship events. During these events, attendees voluntarily participate in a Strong Bonds offsite retreat designed to maximize relationship training impact. Here, participants take part in classes, such as “How not to marry a jerk,” where they are taught how to have lasting healthy relationships and conflict resolution.

Strong Bonds began in 1999 with four events and 90 couples in Hawaii. Since then, it has spread throughout the Army’s active and reserve components. In 2004, the U.S. Code was amended to allow command funding for “chaplain-led programs to assist members in the armed forces…in building and maintaining a strong family structure.”

The program uses certain tools to help the attendees along the way such as the Relationship Attachment Model (RAM) Board. This board is designed to help one recognize where they are in a relationship and how it grows. The RAM takes participants through

the areas of “know, trust, rely, commit and touch.” It stresses the importance of making sure to grow fully in each area before moving on to the next level.

“The use of the RAM model is key to any successful relationship, because many times, couples make unknown commitments to one another before they really get to know each other,” said Capt. Andy Shepherd, The Georgia Army Guard’s Strong Bonds Program coordinator. “As you grow in one, you build into the next one, one should not exceed the other.”

After the event, participants are provided further reading and reference material when needed. RAM also provides them the tools to be able to appraise their current relationship so that they can ensure each is balancing his, or her, time and communication and truly learn about their partner, Shepard added.

This program plays an important part in the Army. Healthy relationships contribute to the maintenance of a healthy Army and a secure future force. With increasing demands placed on Soldiers and families, to include both frequent deployments and duty relocations, relationships are fully tested. Building Army Family resiliency is a part of a strategic approach to cope with the high operational demand placed on today’s Army.

Though the program started off as a pre-deployment event, Strong Bonds is not just wrapped around deployments, but is offered to any Soldier that is interested in attending. Enlisted and Officers are all encouraged to attend the conferences, because the event is centered on relationships and not rank.

Since its start in Georgia in 2005, the Strong Bonds program has helped over 10,000 Soldiers, Shepard said. Quite an impressive number, and that number continues to grow, he added.

“Strong Bonds doesn’t just give you the skills and tools to build healthy, strong and lasting relationships. It teaches you conflict resolution and resiliency, things that you need in any personal or work relationship,” Shepard said. “By helping our Soldiers and families better understand how to deal with the stresses that can touch any relationship, we strengthen our organization through the people – those who serve, and those who support them.”

MakingStrongBondsBy: Desiree Bamba | Public Affairs Office

Georgia Department of Defense

Page 10: June 2013 Edition

9 | The Georgia Guardsman

A massive earthquake has struck near the Black Sea port city o f Po t i . I m m e n s e infrastructure damage has been reported. To

the South, in Batuli, structural collapses have trapped hundreds of people in rubble. As Emergency Management Department officials and Ministry of Internal Affairs labor feverishly to assess damage and dispatch relief measures they must contend with media inquiries and ensure that the population is

kept informed. This was the scenario that confronted Georgia National Guardsmen and representatives from the Country of Georgia’s ministries in the third annual Shared Horizons exercise June 18-22 in Tbilisi, Georgia.

“Shared Horizons allows Country of Georgia representatives the avenue to train on national response planning and highlight their inter-ministry cooperation,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Lance Rygmyr, Shared Horizons Chief of Exercise Control.

This is the third year of Shared

Horizons, the latest joint training effort between the country of Georgia and the State of Georgia. Shared Horizons grew out of the State Partnership Program between the two Georgias in 1994. Included in the exercise were Nat ional Guardsmen, U.S . Army active duty Soldiers, U.S. Army Europe representatives, representatives from the Country of Georgia’s Emergency Management Department, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Press Center, along with other Georgian officials.

SharedHorizons2013

By: Spc. Jasmine Jacobs | 124th MPAD | Georgia Army National Guard

Photos by: 1 st lt. WilliaM CarraWay | PubliC affairs offiCe | GeorGia dePartMeNt of defeNse

Page 11: June 2013 Edition

June 2013 | 10

“These exercises allow us the chance to share ideas, lessons learned and techniques in all aspects, both civilian and military related,” said Col. Anthony Abbott, United States team co-director. “The partnership between ourselves and the Country of Georgia is mutually beneficial, we learn as both mentors and as trainees.”

Shared Horizons not only trains citizens of both Georgias on disaster relief operations, but also provides U.S. forces with a unique opportunity.

“This allows the Georgia National

Guard to contribute to U.S. foreign policy in multiple ways,” said Lt. Col. David Johnson, State Partnership Program director for the Georgia National Guard. “We are able to help implement goals and strategies of the U.S. government and provide Soldiers and Airmen with unique missions and learning opportunities.”

In the simulated exercise scenario, a catastrophic earthquake took place in the Country of Georgia. The tasks for exercise part icipants include determining the proper response process and activation of resources 72 hours post-disaster, and then six weeks post-disaster. The participants also had simulated media involvement, which allowed them to develop media relations skills to keep the public informed in the event of a national disaster.

“We worked with graduate students of journal ism f rom Tbi l is i State University to prepare them to serve as simulated media for the exercise,” said 1st Lt. William Carraway, Public Affairs Officer for the Georgia National Guard. “By training future journalists alongside representatives of Georgian ministries we can shape the way the government communicates with its citizens in times of crisis. By understanding the kinds of questions media will ask, the ministries can be prepared with the right information when it is needed.” For the graduate students, this was an opportunity to put their education and training to practice.

“This training was very valuable said Nino Dgebuadze, a fifth year student at the Tiblisi State University. “I now know the kind of questions the people will want the media to ask of their government in times of disaster.”

Junior Lieutenant Georgi Zagnidze, of the Ministry of Internal Affairs was responsible for holding a press conference with the media.

“It is good to be prepared, to anticipate what the media are going to ask so that we can get that information ahead of time,” said Zagnidze.

The structure of the exercise tested the capability of the Georgian ministries to collect, analyze, and act

on information. The Georgians were presented with as many as 50 events per day that required decisions and government coordination of resources. Additionally, officials had to decide how to respond to media inquiries and correct false media reports. The Georgian’s rose to the challenge to the satisfaction of Malkhaz Lagurashrili, Head of Training Division in the Emergency Management Department.

“I hope the U.S. Soldiers will be able to see how our system works here in Georgia, as well as our tactics, te chnolog y and communic at ion practices as they are conducted between agencies and ministries during disaster relief operations,” said Lagurashrili.

The Georgia National Guard trainers were impressed by how much progress the Georgians had made over three years. This progress translates to lives saved in the event of a national crisis.

“We are in a very unique position to take all these tools at our disposal to help coordinate cohesive emergency response programs in this city. As state partners we are able to get these agencies to work together to form a cohesive, streamlined process for emergency management capabilities, so that in case of a natural disaster, they are more likely to be able to handle it in-house,” added Rygmyr.

Shared Horizons 2013 is the third and final iteration in this bi-lateral exercise which has run annually since 2011. The U.S. National Guard’s State Partnership Program has fostered nearly two decades of teamwork between the state of Georgia’s National Guard and the Country of Georgia, dating back to 1994. Although the Shared Horizons exercise is in its final iteration, it is not the end of the relationship between the State of Georgia and the Country of Georgia.

“The National Guard is a long-term partner with the Country of Georgia,” said Johnson. “This partnership enables us to select and sustain focus on strategic objectives and goals to build partnership capacity and long-term civil-military relationship. The State Partnership Program is an affordable and effective instrument of U.S. foreign policy.”

Page 12: June 2013 Edition

11 | The Georgia Guardsman11 | The Georgia Guardsman

In June, 1863, the Army of Northern Virginia, in high spirits following their improbable victory at Chancellorsvil le was marching north from Fredericksburg, Va. General Robert E. Lee’s intended to take the war to the north in an effort to gain foreign

recognition of the Confederacy. If Lee could win a battle on northern soil, the Confederate States might gain that foreign recognition or else weaken northern resolve to continue the war.

Lee shared a supreme confidence with his 72,000 men. The Army of Northern Virginia had gained incredible victories at long odds. But those victories had often been the result of the superb leadership of Lt. Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson. Jackson’s death at Chancellorsville sent shockwaves through the South. He was irreplaceable and indeed, Lee chose not to replace him. Instead, Lee divided Jackson’s 2nd Corps in two. Maj. Gen. Richard Ewell was given command of the 2nd Corps while Maj. Gen. A.P. Hill received command of the newly-created 3rd Corps. Maj. Gen. James Longstreet of Georgia retained command of 1st Corps and Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart commanded Lee’s cavalry division.

Less than a week after initiating movement north, Stuart’s 9,500 cavalry were surprised by a combined force of 11,000 Union Soldiers near Brandy Station. The ensuing battle was the largest cavalry engagement of the Civil War. Cobb’s Legion and its Georgia Cavalrymen were swept up in the engagement and Pierce Young, the legion’s colonel, was wounded. Cobb’s cavalry companies were from Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, Richmond, Burke Morgan, and Clarke Counties. They would fight in the bloodiest battles of the eastern and western theater.

Despite their failure to defeat the Confederates or to detect Lee’s Army encampment at nearby Culpepper, Va., for the first time, Union cavalry had fought well against Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart’s Confederate cavalry. The battle was a turning point for Union cavalry morale and effectiveness. The era of Confederate cavalry dominance was coming to an end.

Still smarting from his rebuke at Chancellorsville, Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker was initially slow to respond. Prompted by telegraphs from President Lincoln, Hooker’s 95,000-man Army of the Potomac began pursuit of Lee on June 11, 1863

– eight days after Lee began his march north. Lee’s order of march led with Ewell’s Corps followed

by Hill and Longstreet. On June 14, Ewell’s forces crushed federal forces at Winchester, Va. In a double-envelopment attack led by the Georgia Brigade of Brig. Gen. John Gordon. Ewell took more than 4,000 Union prisoners before crossing the Potomac River into Maryland the following day. Hill and Longstreet crossed the Potomac 10 days later. In the meantime, Ewell’s men ranged north into Pennsylvania scattering militia units as they went.

Despite the precarious situation in Maryland and Pennsylvania, Hooker halted his army for six days on June 19 allowing Lee even more time to effect his strategy. By that time, Confederates had captured Chambersburg, Pa. and begun funneling supplies south to strengthen their advancing forces. Panic erupted in Philadelphia and Harrisburg at the thought of Ewell’s 22,000 Soldiers marching on the lightly defended city.

At a critical time, Lee was about to lose his cavalry advantage. Granting Stuart permission to conduct a daring raid behind Union lines to disrupt communications and supply lines, Lee was deprived of his best source of intelligence on enemy movements. Unfortunately for Stuart, as Union army movements paralleled Longstreet’s; Stuart was separated from the Army of Northern Virginia and unable to rejoin Lee. The decision to dispatch Stuart would prove to be a significant misstep.

Frustrated with the speed of Hooker’s pursuit, Lincoln relieved him on June 27, 1863 and appointed PennsylvanianMaj. Gen. George Meade as the new commander of the Potomac. Stern, balding and possessing the temper of a

The GeTTysburG CampaiGn beGins: Lee Turns norTh

By 1st Lt. William CarrawayPublic Affairs OfficeGeorgia Department of Defense

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June 2013 | 12

snapping turtle, Meade was a safe choice for command. He had led at the regimental, brigade, division and corps level with distinction and, despite not being the most senior general had the confidence of many Union generals.

Upon learning of Meade’s appointment, Lee ordered a concentration of his forces west of Gettysburg. Ewell’s corps would move south from Carlise while Hill maneuvered along the Cashtown Pike to Cashtown with Longstreet trailing.

On June 30, a brigade of North Carolinians under Brig. Gen. Johnston Pettigrew advanced to the outskirts of Gettysburg where they spied Union cavalry under Brig. Gen. John Buford. Assuming the forces were local militia, Pettigrew withdrew and reported the intelligence. Major Gen. Henry Heth, Pettigrew’s division commander, resolved to move forward in a reconnaissance in force to sweep away resistance and secure supplies for the concentrating army.

An experienced cavalry commander, Buford analyzed the terrain near Gettysburg and determined to preserve the high ground for Union control. On the morning of July 1, 1863 his cavalry division was positioned along ridges west of town with the intent of fighting a delaying action to allow Union reinforcements to secure the key terrain. His 2,700 men were met by more than 7,500 infantry as Heth arrived on the field. Though heavily outnumbered, Buford’s cavalrymen held good terrain and were armed with breach loading carbines that could be loaded and fired three times as fast as the standard infantry rifled-musket.

Buford viewed the onrushing gray lines of battle from the cupola of a Lutheran Seminary. Occasionally he would cast an anxious look south for the approach of Maj. Gen. John

Reynolds and his first Army Corps which contained some of the best units in the Union Army.

Heth’s men gradually drove Buford’s forces from the ridges and advanced southeast along the Chambersburg Pike. Having taken Herr Ridge, the Confederates were advancing on McPherson Ridge when the lead elements of 1st Corps arrived to strengthen Buford’s position. Advancing with his lead division Reynolds was shot in the head and killed instantly. Despite the loss of one if their best generals, the Union stood their ground. Fighting swirled around the ridge as units arrived on the field and were funneled into the fray. For the moment, the Confederate attack had stalled. Regiments of the Union 1st and 11th Corps held the ground west and north of Gettysburg, but that position was soon to be challenged with by the Georgia Brigades of Brig. Gen. John Gordon and George Doles and Ewell’s entire corps.

Next month: The Battle of Gettysburg Continues.

The GeTTysburG CampaiGn beGins: Lee Turns norTh

A map of Gettysburg, courtesy of the Civil War Trust (civilwar.org)

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13 | The Georgia Guardsman13 | The Georgia Guardsman

MemorialDay “And they who for their country die shall

fill an honored grave, for glory lights the soldier’s tomb, and beauty weeps the brave.”- Joseph Rodman Drake

The sacrifice our fallen men and women have made for our state as well as our nation will never be forgotton. This month, our cover honors

the Georgia Guardsmen lost during the attacks on 9/11, Operation Noble Eagle, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Georgia National Guard remembers them as well as any other who has laid down their life for our grateful nation.

(ABOVE) Maj. Gen. Jim Butterworth addresses veterans – past and present – family members and citizens during the morning’s ceremony at the National Cemetery’s main assembly area.

(RIGHT) The Ga. National Guard 116th Army Band honors our military at a concert Memorial Day Morning on the Square in Smyrna Georgia. “It is always an honor to pay tribute to our military men and women and thier families.”- CW3 Cummings, Commander, 116th Army Band

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Georgia State Defense Force volunteers support Marietta’s Memorial Day Observance.

Georgia National Guard leadership gather to honor the fallen at Marietta National Cemetery.

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15 | The Georgia Guardsman

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

By CSM Phillip StringfieldState Command Sergeant MajorGeorgia Army National Guard

I had the incredible opportunity recently to take my motorcycle out on the road for a while. One of the things I enjoy about the warmer weather is the chance to get on my bike and just…go. That is the time I take to reflect on the past, meditate about the future and enjoy

the precious moments of the present. Although we have endured hard losses in the past,

we have been blessed to not have endured them alone. I cannot neglect to mention the piece of the puzzle that holds the Georgia Guard together as a unit, and that is the support we have received from countless civilian organizations. Even though we are stronger as a Guard together, we are not nearly as strong as an organization without our civilian supporters, and for that, I salute them all.

I read once that, “Freedom is what you do with what’s been done to you,” but I believe that freedom is what you do with what’s been done for you. It is with that in mind that I challenge each and every Soldier, every leader, and every civilian who helps make the Georgia National Guard one of the best in the country, to remember those who paid that ultimate price for freedom. Let not those who died for us be forgotten during the cookouts, the fireworks, the fun and the empty bottles of beer that will surely fill the upcoming Memorial Day weekend…but be remembered in spite of. As you enjoy time with your families this Memorial Day, remember the troops who never had the opportunity to say goodbye to their loved ones. Remember the warriors who will not be sitting next to us during this year’s Memorial Day meal.

Remember, too, the families who lost the loves ones that died to protect you. Remember the fathers and mothers, the grandfathers and grandmothers, the great grandfathers and great grandmothers who paved the foundation for your freedom. Be thankful, every day, for the battle buddies who helped you through your own deployments, and through that help, gave you the opportunity to be that veteran blessed enough to return safely home. Remember also, those who continue to be a support system as well as a friend here at home station.

As you remember, reflect on the joyous memories, but do not mourn because the moments have passed…be glad because they have happened. Appreciate our veterans, and remember our fallen for they each have given all in the name of freedom.

Finally, never – ever – forget your fellow service men and women who continue to hold the line and miss time with their families and friends, so you can be with yours. Have a great, and more importantly, safe Memorial Day. Patriots!

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By: CW5 Thomas GoldenCommand Chief Warrant OfficerGeorgia Army National Guard

The book “Good to Great –Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don’t” by Jim Collins, and published by Harper Business, in my opinion,is one of the best leadership books of the 21st century. It is an impressive book whether the reader is

in a formal leadership position or an informal one. As the book’s 300-plus pages progress, Collins

addresses the question, “is it possible for a good company to become a ‘Great’ company?”He and his team did an exceptional amount of work to answer that question and how. The answer, of course, is “yes,” assuming that the 11 out of 1435 Fortune 500 companies that the team studied did not make it there by accident.

In its research, Collins’ team identified 11 companies that followed a pattern of “15-year cumulative stock returns, at or below the general stock market– punctuated by a transition point – then cumulative returns at least three times the market over the next 15 years.” Public companies, according to the author, were selected because of the availability of comparable data. Fifteen-year segments were chosen to weed out the one-hit wonders and “lucky breaks.” While these selection criteria exclude “new economy” companies, Collins contends that there is nothing new about the new economy, citing earlier technology innovations of electricity, the telephone and the transistor.

Collins also maps out three stages, each with two key

concepts. These six concepts are the heart of “Good to Great,” and he devotes a chapter to explaining each of them: Level 5 leadership, first who...then what, confront the brutal facts, the hedgehog concept, a culture of discipline, and technology accelerators

Collins characterizes the Level 5 leader as “a paradoxical blend of personal humility and professional will.” The Level 5 leader, he writes, is not the corporate savior or turnaround expert. Most of the CEOs of the good to great companies – as they made the transition – were company insiders.

“They were more concerned about what they could build, create and contribute, than what they could “get - fame, fortune, adulation, power, whatever,” Collins adds.

“No Ken Lay of Enron or Al Dunlap of Scott Paper, the larger-than-life CEO led a Good to Great company.This kind of executiveis concerned more with his, or her, own reputation for personal greatness, than with setting their company up for success in the next generation.”

In this book, Jim Collins also challenges the notion that,“people are your most important asset” and postulates instead that,“the right people are.” Some leadership experts do not agree with that concept, so the reader must decide when he – or she – believes it is more important to get the right people on the bus, and then see where it goes, than it is to figure out where to go and get the right people who can “get you there”on the bus. However, Collins makes his point clearly, which allows

the reader, I believe, to agree with him. This book is packed with leading edge thinking, clear

examples and plenty of data to support Collins’ and his team’s conclusions. It is a challenging read in order to learn the tools and then exhibit the discipline required to move any organization from good to great.

Professional DeveloPment Bookshelf:Reviews of books that teach us about ouR cRaft

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17 | The Georgia Guardsman17 | The Georgia Guardsman17 | The Georgia Guardsman

Around the GeorGiA GuArd

YCA GRADUATION

Ga. National Guard Youth Challenge Academy graduated 202 at risk youth from the Fort Stewart Campus at Macon City Auditorium.

NGAGA MOTORCYCLE RIDE

Georgia Guardsmen roll to Stone Mountain Park during a NGAGA commemorative ride to pay tribute to fallen service members.

AFGHAN WOMEN’S BAZAAR

An Afghan girl draws henna ink designs on a Soldiers hand during the Womens’ Bazzar at Camp Phoenix.

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ATLANTA FALCONS SHOW SUPPORT AT NGAGA 2013

At the end of the first day of the National Guard Association of Georgia Conference, some of the Atlanta Falcons football players came out to show their love and support of the troops and their spouses.

SOUTHWEST ATLANTA CUB SCOUTS VISIT CLAY NATIONAL GUARD CENTER

Chief Northup explains to a group of Cub Scouts the importance of the infrared camera on a Lakota helicopter.

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

UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter on the tarmacExercise Maple Resolve 2013