March 2014
Georgia Guardsmen Awarded The Purple Heart
Plus: 2014 Best Warrior | AJC Awards | And so much more
Contents ISSUE: March 2014
cover story
w w w. g e o r g i a g u a r d . c o m
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Features 03| Task Force Warrior
Nearly 25 Georgia Guardsmen are in Guatemala through April.
04| Maintaining readiness
Army National Guardsmen train night and day at Georgia Army National Guard’s Army Aviation Support Facility #2.
14| Three purple hearts
Three Georgia Guardsman receive the Purple Heart Medal for their bravery shown while stationed overseas.
05| Shoot! Move! COmmunicate!
Georgia Guardsmen of the 3-108th Reconnaissance and Surveillance Squadron are honing their individual field craft skills to accomplish platoon level missions.
11| Savannah Sentry 2014
The CRTC generated 750 combat training sorties, 570 from Savannah’s ramp and 180 divided among nearby airfields.
16| 2014 AJc AWards
Georgia Guardsmen and Reserve Soldiers receive Army Reserve Achievement Award given by the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
News 09| Andrew Sullens Competition
Fort Stewart’s small arms kilo range kicked off the inaugural 2014 Andrew Sullens Marksmanship Competition.
13| Georgia’s Best Warrior
Junior enlisted Soldiers and Non-Commissioned Officers converge on the grounds of the Georgia Garrison Training Center.
columns
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06| Chaplain’s Corner
Experiencing renewal with the world.
07| Historic Battle Review
The Bermuda Hundred and the conclusion of the Overland Campaign.
10| Book Review
“The Three Meter Zone” by Command Sgt. Maj. J.D. Pendry.
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15| NCO Notepad
Reflecting on ourselves as the new season begins.
17| Around the Guard
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 Creative Director Steven Welch Contributors Desiree Bamba SFC Gerard Brown Master Sgt. Bucky Burnsed Maj. Will Cox Sgt. Ashley Fontenot Chaplain Lt. Col. Michael Summers Cmd. Sgt. Maj. Philip Stringfield Ashlie Shrewsbury Staff Sgt. Tracy Smith Capt. Mike Thompson Contributing DOD Organizations 124th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, 116th Air Control Wing Public Affairs Office, Army National Guard Unit Public Affairs Representatives, Air National Gu a rd Wi n g P u b l i c A f f ai r s 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. March 2014 | 2
An ExperienceByThey Will Not Forget Maj. Will Cox Public Affairs Office | Georgia Army National Guard
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early 25 Georgia Guardsmen are in Guatemala through April as part of Task Force Warrior which is partnered with the Guatemalan Interagency Task Force in order to build capacity and to enhance their capability in combating Transnational Criminal Organizations and Drug Trafficking Organizations. “The Guatemalan Interagency Task Force is an elite organization made up of both Army and Police service members,” said Lt. Col. Anthony Fournier, Battalion Commander , 2-121 Infantry Regiment and TF Warrior Commander. “TF Warrior is not only training the GIATF in vehicle and personnel search techniques, but we also are training them in crime scene investigation and evidence processing procedures.” The Georgia Army National Guard was tasked to support the Department of Defense’s Regionally Aligned Forces concept in Guatemala where security is achieved through strengthening alliances, building new partnerships, and forging coalitions of common interest that help resolve problems and hopefully prevent conflict. “TF Warrior is not just composed of the National Guard, it also includes the men and women of the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Border Patrol, and the Drug Enforcement Agency to help provide the best training possible,” said Fournier. “Local agencies like the Guatemalan Ministry of Governance and other Guatemalan Military entities teach classes on human rights and Guatemalan constitutional law.” To accomplish TF Warrior’s mission, Fournier chose Georgia
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Guardsmen with local law enforcement experience in addition to their military training to best train a task force that is composed of both Guatemalan Military and National Police agents. “As an employee of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (in Glynco, Ga.), 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 and TF Warrior Sgt. Maj. “My 26 years of military experience, combined with 16 years of law enforcement experience as a police officer and as a defensive tactics and arrest techniques instructor, gives me a breadth of experience to pull from and relate to both the military members and police agents.” Sperry not only served as the TF Warrior Sgt. Maj. but was also the lead instructor for defensive tactics and arrest techniques training where every combatives exercise ended in handcuffing your opponent. “I think the most interesting thing our team did was the actual hands-on training with the Guatemalan Interagency Task Force,” said Sperry. “I’ve conducted training and joint operations with multiple countries and agencies all over the world, and I’ve never had a group of host nation military or police act with such a high standard of professionalism or show such enthusiasm for executing the training.” “I think a lot of people join the National Guard to do something adventurous,” said Fournier. “Participating in the Regionally Aligned Forces mission in Guatemala is an experience they will not forget.” Photo by Maj. WIll Cox| Public Affairs Office | Georgia Army National Guard
Always Ready!
Army Aviation support facility #2
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By Maj. Will Cox | Public Affairs Office | Georgia Army National Guard
rmy National Guardsmen not only train on their drill weekends and their annual training, but also on weeknights to meet their annual flying requirements. In fact, Army National Guard aircrew members have the same requirements that their active counter-parts maintain. The key to ARNG aircrew members proficiency near Marietta is Georgia Army National Guard’s Army Aviation Support Facility #2. The AASF#2 ensures the crews have everything they need to plan and coordinate for their flight in addition to conducting required maintenance on four unique airframes consisting of UH-60L Black Hawks, HH-60M (MEDEVAC) Black Hawks, LUH-72 Lakotas and the C-26 Metroliner. “The Army Aviation Support Facility is the heart and hub of Army National Guard aviation readiness,” said Lt. Col. Jason Fryman AASF #2 Commander. “Our mission is to safely conduct all flight operations, training and standardization for aircrew members and ensure the operational readiness of aircraft [through maintenance]. We do this to not only meet their annual requirements, but to ensure they are a fully capable force.” One of the flight companies is Det. 1, Charlie Company 1-111th General Support Aviation Battalion composed of six HH-60M Black Hawk helicopters. This company returned Christmas day 2011
Photo by Maj. Will Cox | Public Affairs Office | Georgia Army National Guard
from a year long deployment to Iraq where it was charged with the responsibility of providing aero-medical evacuation coverage during the United States Forces-Iraq final movement out of Iraq. “On any given week the part-time aircrew members of the C/1111th can fly upwards of 30 hours for support missions, continuation training, or evaluations,” said Capt. Matthew Alexander, Det. 1, C/1-111th GSAB commander. “This is obviously a huge time commitment away from the civilian work force, and therefore demands that all pieces of the support facility function in a seamless fashion so that time can be utilized as efficiently as possible. Due to the hard work of the AASF#2 technicians, the C/1-111th is able to stay mission focused and mission ready without compromising our Citizen Soldier’s civilian responsibilities.” Detachment 1, Charlie 1-111th GSAB sends their aircrew members to train out of the AASF#2 most week nights to build aircrew capacity and capability. Due to promotions and retirements there is always a need to train new air-crewmembers. Also aircrew members must practice demanding tasks such as hoist operations to maintain their ability to accomplish these demanding missions safely. “I believe the strength of our nation is our military,” said Fryman. “And our citizens and our nation expect a ready and fully capable force to answer the call. For the army aviation National Guardsman, that standard of readiness happens right here at the AASF.”
March 2014 | 4
Shoot! Move! And Communicate! 3-108th Cavalry Squadron, Reconnaissance and Surveillance
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By Maj. Will Cox | Public Affairs Office | Georgia Army National Guard
tealthily moving between the pine trees and under the Spanish moss at Ft. Stewart, Georgia Guardsmen of the 3-108th Reconnaissance and Surveillance Squadron are honing their individual field craft skills to accomplish platoon level missions. The 3-108th R&S is in the Army Force Generation (ARFORGEN) reset year, and for the squadron commander, it is back to the basics for this year’s annual training. “It is all about training the next generation during this reset year,” said Maj. Michael Lipper, 3-108th R&S squadron commander. “Shoot, move and communicate. We ran weapons qualification ranges to kick off our annual training followed by squad and platoon level maneuver exercises with a key task of exercising their communication equipment throughout the maneuver exercises.” An R&S squadron usually includes a Headquarters and Headquarters Troop (HHT), Alpha and Bravo Troop, and a Charlie Company. The Alpha and Bravo Troops are mounted and are primarily composed of 19D, cavalry scouts, mounted in up-armored high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles (HMMWVs). Charlie Company is composed of primarily 11B, infantrymen, who are trained to conduct airborne insertions behind enemy lines to perform long range surveillance on our adversaries. “Basically, we conduct surveillance operations for our assigned combatant commanders, on both sides of the enemy’s forward line of troops,” said Lipper. “Alpha and Bravo conduct surveillance operations on the forward side of the enemy line, while Charlie will be inserted behind the enemy’s forward line of troops to conduct surveillance operations.”
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Alpha and Bravo Troops’ HMMWVs all have turret mounted crew-served weapons including either an MK-19 grenade launcher or a 50-caliber belt-fed machine gun to help each vehicle provide security while on a reconnaissance mission. The HMMWV with the MK-19 grenade launcher also includes a long range advance scout surveillance system. “We utilize all the technology available on our vehicles to observe an objective and report activity or lack of activity up to our combatant commander so he can make better informed decisions,” said Capt. Steven Russell, commander of Bravo Troop, 3-108th R&S. Mounted cavalry troops train to conduct reconnaissance operations without being detected by their adversary. Bravo Troop used vegetation, terrain relief and coordinated movement techniques to conceal their positions. Moving undetected into position and complete and concise reports are the building blocks of a cavalry troop. “We trained on reconnaissance tasks specific to reconnaissance mounted troops this annual training,” said Russell. “That included individual and section level tasks, everything from mounted land navigation, reconnaissance fundamentals, named area of interest observation and troop leading procedures that culminated in a situational training exercise.” “This was the best annual training I have been to in a long time,” said Russell. “I know I joined the Georgia Army National Guard to serve and play with the big guns, and that is all we did this weekend. We fired our individual weapon systems and conducted reconnaissance mounted troop exercises to further develop our individual skills.” Photo by Maj. Will Cox | Public Affairs Office | Georgia Army National Guard
the Chaplain’s Corner
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By: Chaplain Lt. Col. Michael Summers | Georgia National Guard
pring is a time of renewal. Dead-looking branches sprout blossoms. Bushes pruned near the ground by industrious homeowners revive with new foliage. The sun shines more brightly; d a y s l a s t l o n g e r. T h e temperature warms. Grass is green once more. That which seemed dead now lives. People around the world celebrate. The Persian and Zoroastrian Nawruz (New Year, also celebrated in much of Afghanistan) coincides with the beginning of spring. Several nature-based religions celebrate the beginning of spring also. Judaism celebrates Pesach, or Passover, a celebration of national liberation by the hand of God. Much of Christianity celebrates Easter as a reminder of the resurrection of Jesus, life once more where death had seemed the end result. Many Christians observe Lent, a time of fasting and self-denial during the weeks before Easter. Spring testifies that hope exists where despair seems the only option. Life prevails, having survived a hostile environment. In the midst of revival, joy and celebration,
however, some people still cry out for help. The joy around them reminds them of the deep sorrow they harbor within. What can they do to experience renewal with the world around them? First, they must tell others of their crisis. Their trouble may be emotional, but it may be grounded in debt, unemployment, failed relationships or poor health. If emotional, seeking out trusted counselors will be a first step toward better health. If not, then finding the appropriate sources of help for their problems will give them hope for better outcomes. Second, they must assess what lies at the root of their troubles. Friends or counselors may help with this assessment. Sometimes others see better than ourselves where we have failed. If poor decisions created difficulty, then accepting responsibility for those decisions and improving the criteria by which we make such decisions will build a foundation for a brighter future. Just as gardeners prune bushes to improve the health of their plants, we need to cut away activities, attitudes and habits that impair our ability to succeed in life. The wide-spread practice of “spring cleaning”
demonstrates that many of us hold on to “baggage” (both physical possessions and emotional memories) that weigh us down. That pruning or cleaning process may cause initial pain; we may grieve the loss of what we have realized was hurting us. As we realize that we function better without what we have thrown away, we gain hope. Third, t he y must s e ek to bui ld opportunities for joy into their lives. National and religious celebrations persist because they remind us of the possibility of renewal. They also build a sense of community, an awareness that none of us are truly alone. When we belong to a positive group, and engage in that group as a participant rather than a spectator, we learn and we grow. Spring reminds us that we can renew hope when despair seems the only option. However, renewal requires decisive action on our part. We must decide that we want renewal, and discipline ourselves so that it may happen. The process described earlier is grounded in self-discipline. When we learn to say “no” to what hurts or restrains us, we build opportunity to say “yes” to renewal.
March 2014 | 6
Bermuda Hundred and
the Conclusion of the Overland Campaign By Capt. William Carraway Public Affairs Office Georgia Department of Defense Bermuda Hundred, May 14, 1864-May 20, 1864: On May 4, 1864, the same day that Grant was crossing the Rapidan River with the Army of the Potomac, Maj. Gen Benjamin Butler and his 38,000 Union Soldiers of the Army of the James were on the move. While Grant was positioning his army to threaten Gen. Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia, Butler was tasked to maneuver by way of steam ships down the York River from Yorktown and up the James River to City Point. From there he would move west along the Bermuda Hundred Peninsula and threaten Richmond from the east. Meeting little opposition, Butler’s force arrived at City Point, Va. at the confluence of the James and Appomattox Rivers and captured a small Confederate force. So far, Butler’s Army had not suffered a single combat casualty and were on the steps of the Confederate Capitol. On May 5, nearly 40,000 Union Soldiers landed on Bermuda Hundred to face an aggregate of perhaps 6,000 Confederate defenders under the command of Maj. Gen. George Pickett, of Pickett’s Charge fame. Pickett notified his superior Maj. Gen. Pierre Beauregard, then conducting operations in North Carolina. Beauregard immediately dispatched forces from his New Bern expedition north to Virginia. By May 6, lead elements of Butler’s forces were engaged by two South Carolina regiments near Walthall Junction. Under orders not to seek a general engagement, the Union elements withdrew giving time for additional Confederate reinforcements to arrive. On May 7, the second battle of Walthall Junction was inconclusive but the delay allowed additional Confederate reinforcements to arrive. Over the next few days, Union Soldiers and Confederates would skirmish along Bermuda Hundred, the Confederates fighting desperate delaying
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actions to allow additional forces to arrive. The decisive action came on May 20, 1864 when Confederate forces launched an attack along Butler’s line, driving in his pickets and forcing Butler to establish new works. The Confederates meanwhile established a defensive line anchored to the north by Battery Dantzler. The Howlett Line effectively “bottled” Butler on the Bermuda Hundred peninsula thus ending his campaign for Richmond. N. Anna to Cold Harbor, May 23, 1864- June 1, 1864 Meanwhile, to the north, Butler wassuppressed, Grant was side stepping Lee’s army on the banks of the North Anna. Flanking east, his forces crossed the Pamunkey River. Despite Union cavalry probing actions, Lee’s army, moving with interior lines, established blocking positions along the south bank of the Totopotomy Creek and Beaver Dam Creek near the 1862 Mechanicsville battlefield. After conducting reconnaissance on May 29, Grant launched his Army in force against Lee the next day. The combination of muddy terrain and uncoordinated actions on both sides resulted in tactical draw, though the Confederates had suffered greater casualties due to unfortunate direct assaults in the vicinity of Bethesda Church. Following the engagement, both sides requested reinforcements from the armies stalemated along the James River. Realizing that Butler could not uncork himself, Grant ordered him to send part of his force by steamer down the James, and up the Pamunkey. Lee anticipating Grant’s actions, ordered reinforcements be sent north from the Howlett Line. Cold Harbor, June 1, 1864-June 12, 1864 On the 30th and 31st of May, Union cavalry led by Brig. Gen. George Custer succeeded in taking and holding the crossroads at Old Cold Harbor. Confederate cavalry retreated and established blocking positions to buy time for Confederate infantry to move to Cold Harbor just six miles from Richmond. On June 1, 1864, The Confederate line extended from the banks of the Totopotomy Creek to New Cold Harbor and the bank of the Chickahominy River to the south. Desiring to retake the crossroads, Lee ordered an attack which was poorly coordinated and easily repulsed by Union cavalry armed with repeating carbines. Grant’s counter attack, delayed by several hours, breached Confederate lines but the Confederates rallied and retook the positions. Intending to attack again on June 2, Grant ordered Maj. Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock to march his II Corps into position to the left of the VI Corps to mass for an attack against the Confederate line near Cold Harbor. The night march so exhausted the troops that Grant postponed his attack until the early morning of June 3. In the meantime, the Confederates constructed deliberate defensive works with interlocking fields of fire and mutually supportive firing positions. At 4:30 a.m., June 3, 1864, 50,000 Union Soldiers of the II, VI, and XVIII Corps surged forward into a dense fog. Some of the Soldiers anticipating the outcome had pinned their names to their coats for post-battle identification. These actions were prophetic.
Union leadership from corps command down failed to coordinate the assault. Except for the general instruction for the army to attack at 4:30 a.m., no greater level of direction was given. Further, no reconnaissance of the lines was conducted. As a result, as the blue ranks moved forward they encountered swamp and dense vegetation that slowed their approach and broke up their formations. When the Confederates opened fire with artillery and rifle the Union ranks were devastated to a degree unprecedented in a war that was itself a study in unimaginable casualties. Entire Union formations disappeared in grapeshot and canister. Massed volleys ripped into the oncoming Soldiers with terrible effect. In less than an hour more than 7,000 Union Soldiers were killed or wounded. Seven colonels in II Corps were killed outright in the opening minutes of the battle crippling the command and control of the attacking force. The attack quickly halted as Soldiers dropped to the ground and began desperately to dig in. Dead comrades were piled as macabre breastworks in an effort to stop the deadly fire. Incredibly, Union leadership was unaware of the dreadful carnage. With the sound of fire deafened by the trees, Maj. Gen. George Meade was uncertain of the effect of the assault and inquired to Grant whether the attack should be continued. When the order came to resume the assault, it was rejected en masse by the troops and their commanders. The Armies would remain in place for nine days. Unable to move or be rescued, the majority of the casualties succumbed to their wounds on the battlefield. The Union suffered nearly 13,000 casualties at Cold Harbor. The Confederates suffered half that number.
Crossing the James, June 15, 1864 As burial parties moved to bury the dead. Grant, final convinced that he would achieve no advantage at Cold Harbor again moved by the right flank to circumvent Lee’s positions. Through deft deception the Federals managed to construct a pontoon bridge to span the James River without the Confederates learning of its construction. The bridge was nearly half a mile long and took Union engineers less than 8 hours to construct. By June 15, 1864, Union Soldiers were crossing the James and landing east of the industrial city of Petersburg, Va.
Overland Campaign Map and Cold Harbor Map by Hal Jespersen, www.cwmaps.com
The End of the Overland Campaign With Grant threatening Petersburg, Lee had run out of maneuver options. Grant had forced him into a siege. Lee withdrew his remaining forces from the Bermuda Hundred lines into Petersburg to hold Union advances until he could arrive with the Army of Northern Virginia. For the next ten months of the War, the armies of the east would fight bitter trench warfare that would serve as a harbinger for the slaughter to come in World War I. More than 100,000 men fell in less than a month during the Overland Campaign. But that terrible price had brought the Union inexorably closer to victory.
March 2014 | 8
Andrew Sullens Marksmanship Competition By Staff Sgt. Tracy Smith | 124th MPAD
| Georgia Army National Guard |
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ith the sound of weapons firing and the smell of expended rounds permeating the air, the competitiveness on Fort Stewart’s small arms kilo range kicked off the inaugural 2014 Andrew Sullens Marksmanship Competition February 28
through March 2. Open to all Georgia Air and Army National Guardsmen, the competition draws its focus from the mantra that ‘Every Soldier is a Rifleman’ and a return to the basics of combat Soldiering – responsiveness, camaraderie, adaptability and professionalism. Throughout the state the ‘best-of-the-best’ among the Georgia National Guard’s Warriors comprised five 4-man teams, which, as the competition waned, ultimately focused less on competitiveness and more on like-minded cohesiveness. “I’ve got my eye on the prize,” said Pfc. Armstead L. Salters, a military policeman from Atlanta competing with team Joint Task Force 781. “There is a great deal at stake for a new Soldier like me, bragging rights one of them, but we want to move to the next level.” The ‘next level’ is the annual Winston P. Wilson Marksmanship Competition held annually at Fort Joseph P. Robinson in Little Rock, Ark. The Georgia Guard’s tournament is a precursor to the Wilson event, which will reach its 43rd year as a National Guard event. Sergeant Major Joseph F. Shirer, Operations Sgt. Major for the Georgia National Guard, competed in the last formal iteration in Georgia as a specialist in 1998 prior to the current events reincarnation. “It’s important to always be prepared as Soldiers,” Shirer said punctuating the Army Chief of Staff ’s Waypoint Marching Orders. “We are all required to react in chaotic battlefield environments and make the best decisions depending on the threat level regardless of what your (military occupational specialty) may be.” Second Lieutenant Barren Santhianathan, a platoon leader with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment, was determined to get all he could from these competitions to take back to his regiment. “Our first responsibility is to be a Soldier in all that represents,” said Santhianathan, a native of Lakeland, Fla. “In this scenario I not only get the privilege of bonding with my Soldiers but enhance my skills as an infantryman and a leader.” The Sullens Marksmanship Competition is not about trophies
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for the participants but an embodiment of its namesake and setting your sights to achieve beyond ones own expectations. Sullens lost his lower right leg as a result of severe injuries suffered in Afghanistan 2009. “I was his team leader and responsible for his training,” said Sgt. 1st Class Jakob J. Raven, competition coordinator and mentor to Sullens during the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Teams deployment. [“If there is an example of a man being knocked from his horse and unhesitant in regrouping and remounting, it’s Sulley.] He does so with humility and raises the bar consistently challenging himself.” Sullens currently resides in Dahlonega, where he attends the University of North Georgia College with 2nd Lt. Santhianathan. The competition was a reunion of sorts for them both as they occasionally see each other on the rugby pitch playing in the same league. “We never really spoke about life strategies,” Sullens said. “We are likeminded spirits on the pitch and, obviously, in taking up challenges to empower others.” Neither really embraced how connected they were until the meeting on the competition range where Sullens presented the overall award to Santhianathan’s Team Four, which swept the competition. Santhianathan garnered the individual pistol award and Sgt. Charles Bishop nabbed the award for best overall in rifle. Raven has lofty goals for the evolution of the competition will be to host the event as a regional jump-off for the Southeast. This year a marksmanship regional for Florida, the Carolinas and Georgia will be held in Tullahoma, Tenn. adding another layer to preparation for the Winston P. Wilson competition. “This process is to bring marksmanship back to the forefront,” Raven stated. “Get our Soldiers, and Airmen, thinking forward training year round and not simply checking the box for the annual weapons qualification. Training each Soldier until each weapon becomes an extension of their bodies.” With a nod of approval Shirer added, “you have the readiness aspect of training and the morale aspect of competition giving your best shooters some reward representing our state as the best!”
Photo by Staff Sgt. Tracy Smith | 1 2 4 th MPAD | Georgia Army National Guard
Professional Development Bookshelf: Reviews of books
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that teach us about our craft
he Three Meter Zone is a book focusing on “common sense leadership for NCO’s” written by Command Sergeant Major J.D. Pendry. He details how any first line supervisor can and should not only develop themselves, but also their leadership style so as to better develop their subordinates. Through his experiences in the military, he realized that not all Soldiers could be led the same way, and that different types of Soldiers needed to be guided another way. “There are three types of Soldiers; three-meter, fifty-meter, and one-hundred meter Soldiers.” Command Sergeant Major Pendry’s concept is based on of training he received on the Bouncing Betty Mine. This mine was an anti-personnel mine that once detonated, killed personnel within three-meters, those within fifty-meters were wounded, and those at one-hundred meters and beyond were no longer in harm’s way. The author uses these distances to illustrate how first linesupervisors need to be able to identify and provide the correct guidance and motivation. CSM Pendry breaks down these meter distances by the classification of Soldier types as follows; • Three Meter Zone Soldiers need immediate training and direct supervision. • Fifty Meter Zone Soldiers require training and spot checks from time to time. • One Hundred Meter Zone Soldiers need only the desired result and deadline. He shows how in this instance, you as the first line supervisor represent the mine and it is your responsibility to get your Soldiers from underneath you in the kill zone to a one hundred meter distance where they are able to execute tasks on their own with little or no supervision. “Whether it’s a straight, strong and healthy backbone supporting a strong army or a weak, crippled one holding up a weak army is wholly dependent on noncommissioned officers realizing the influence they have over it,” said Pendry The Three Meter Zone is broken down into two parts. Part one focuses on the leader and part two focuses on the Soldiers. Part one focuses on leader’s building their foundations, establishing direction, being the example and communicating.
By Sgt. 1st Class Gerard Brown Public Affairs Office Georgia Department of Defense
In part two, Command Sgt. Maj. Pendry breaks down his book into sections focusing on standards and discipline for Soldiers; knowing them, motivating them and physically training them. This book does not just state concepts and theories, but the author actually provides examples of these principles by sharing war stories to better illustrate their effectiveness. “Talk to people in real words that have substance and meaning, and not in empty buzz phrases”, Said Pendry Having read several books such as Sun Tzu’s the Art of War for Managers, the 60-Second Manager and Nine Things a Leader Must Do; I found that this book focused directly on the military culture, by giving a blueprint on how NCOs should provide purpose, motivation and direction to their subordinates. This book could benefit any service member that is interested in not only developing themselves as well as their leadership style, but also getting their subordinates out of the kill zone.
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Whether it’s a straight, strong and healthy backbone supporting a strong army or a weak, crippled one holding up a weak army is wholly dependent on noncommissioned officers
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March 2014 | 10
Sentry Savannah 2014 By Master Sgt. Bucky Burnsed | CRTC | Georgia Air National Guard
F Florida.
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rom its inception in 1733, General James Edward Oglethorpe recognized the importance of Savannah to England’s military strategy in keeping the Spanish in
Photos by Master Sgt. Bucky Burnsed | CRTC| Georgia Air National Guard
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avannah’s strategic importance continued in February as the nation’s frontline, fighter-aircraft community rallied at the Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC) to fight mock air-battles over the Atlantic Basin. Savannah’s proximity to the copious overwater airspace is an enticing tactical element for fighter pilots, especially those with supersonic capabilities due to inherent constraints when flying over populated areas. All-the-more enticing are the air-warriors indigenous to the low country of Georgia, South Carolina and Florida which include: Beaufort Marine Core Air Station F-18’s, Jacksonville’s Florida Air Natioanl Guard F-15’s and McEntire’s South Carolina Air National Guard F-16’s. The air battle commenced early February 3rd with Vermont’s Green Mountain Boys lifting their F-16’s along with F-22’s from Tyndall Air Force Base to join the fray over the ocean. Days later, Washington D.C.’s F-16’s and Hawaii’s F-22’s were immersed in the synchronized air dance bobbing and weaving high above the Atlantic Gulf Stream. Conducting an air-battle exercise of this scope at Savannah’s CRTC is difficult to fathom, considering the specialized unit lost 26 of its 81 members (450 years of combined experience) less than six months ago to the first round of mandated budget cuts. Realizing this, the only way to embrace such an exercise was to develop the ‘Team Savannah’ approach, a concept readily embraced throughout local command. Georgia Air Guard Commander, Major General Thomas Moore, called it the linchpin for accomplishing the exercise. “Team Savannah is the force multiplier that made ‘SS14’ a success.” The combination of key players from the 165th Airlift Wing, 117th Air Control Squadron, and 165th Air Support Operations Squadron, along with the CRTC’s experienced cohort of Airmen, created the required setting for this achievement. During the short month of February, which included only two weather cancellation days, the CRTC generated 750 combat training sorties, 570 from Savannah’s ramp and 180 divided among nearby airfields. In all, 21 Air National Guard units participated in the overall exercise; flying, fighting and
training together with Marines and Air Force elements. The synergy of more than a billion dollars in fighter aircraft, ably flown, maintained, armed and fueled on the CRTC’s new ramp space by more than 800 Airmen climaxed with the use of 4,852 munitions and the movement of 387 tons of cargo. It is indeed hard to imagine all of this critical training was executed with a weight of effort totaling only $175,000. Air Force North Commander, Lt. Gen. William Etter’s reaction after his own F-16 sortie adds further weight. “What great airspace, facilities and training! I think the Savannah CRTC experience is not as widely known as it should be. I look forward to another opportunity to fly here.” Far more critical than the overall success of the exercise is the ability to accomplish the critical training required to keep our Airmen’s preparedness razor sharp. During the four week air battle, 7,000 ‘Ready Aircrew Program’ training events were realized, truly a staggering statistic but it goes directly to the heart of efforts by commanders at all levels to maximize utilization at the most cost-efficient levels. Colonel Glen Nakamura, Hawaii’s Air National Guard 154th Wing Vice-Commander, referred to Savannah’s CRTC as “Air Combat Central,” a comment echoed by his maintenance officer, Maj. Luke Swanson. “We simply can’t get this training at home station.” This intense regional exercise proves Savannah’s CRTC and Team Savannah’s ability to conduct a short term air-war provides exceptional training for the aircrews, maintainers, refuelers, Transient Alert, aerospace ground equiment, joint terminal attack controllers, air field managers and all other support Airmen, at an exceptionally low cost and without a single safety incident. Georgia’s Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Jim Butterworth, spelled it out succinctly to a group of local dignitaries and media at SS14’s midpoint. “This point should not be lost on anyone. The expertise of Team Savannah’s Airmen, and the CRTC’s unique location, make it possible to train our air warriors effectively and efficiently, providing the best deal possible for the Air National Guard, the Air Force and our nation.”
March 2014 | 12
Georgia’s Best Warrior Competition By Sgt. Ashley Fontenot
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ach year, junior enlisted Soldiers and NonCommissioned Officers representing the Georgia Army National Guard’s six major commands, converge on the grounds of the Georgia Garrison Training Center for the state’s Best Warrior competition. Preparation for the three-day event began months ago, bringing senior NCOs from readiness training assessment evaluation and 122nd Regional Training Institute together to coordinate training, lodging and transportation for the 11 competitors and their coaches. The competition kicked off with a physical fitness test and weapons qualification conducted in quick succession. Competitors were required to keep a fast pace to adhere to the strict timeline. The weather began to decline as Soldiers weighed in their bags for the last event of the day; a timed 7-mile ruck march. Cold rain poured for hours making the course muddy and difficult to traverse. “The conditions this week have truly tested these competitors both physically and mentally,” said Staff Sgt. Robert Persun, trainer, RTAE. “We set up this competition to find the strongest warrior in the state of Georgia, and the proof will be in how these Soldiers react and ultimately persevere through anything that comes their way.” Friday’s schedule was equally challenging. Soldiers began the day testing their land navigation knowledge during a map reading test and subsequent practical exam along a timed 5-point land navigation course. Competitors were then evaluated on the execution of seven warrior training tasks including weapons maintenance, 9-line medical evacuation request and detainee search procedures. The final day of competition intentionally coincided with the state’s senior enlisted workshop, ensuring that leadership from each MACOM would be present to observe and support their Soldiers. Following an essay writing session, a board of sergeants major assembled to interview each competitor and quiz them on the basic tenets of the Army.
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124th MPAD | Georgia Army National Guard
“These Soldiers are truly a sample of the best and brightest among our enlisted ranks,” said Command Sgt. Major Phillip Stringfield, Senior Enlisted Advisor, Georgia Army National Guard. “They’ve proven themselves in the field, and now they’re proving themselves in front of the board. The competition has been close throughout this race, and I’m proud of what I’ve seen this week.” More than 200 Guardsmen and community supporters gathered at Club Stewart for the Best Warrior awards banquet. Sergeants Major representing Georgia’s MACOMs recognized each competitor with tokens of congratulations before announcing the winning Soldier and NCO of the year. The award for the 2014 Best Warrior Soldier went to Pfc. Andrew Zipp, Company A, 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment, 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. Best Warrior NCO went to Staff Sgt. Eric Hunt, Company A, 1st Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment, 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. Both winners brought with them the knowledge and skills of a trained infantryman, but Hunt said that knowing the basics isn’t enough. “The key to preparing for a competition of this caliber is to never stop training,” said Hunt. “The National Guard gives you all the resources to stay proficient and strive for perfection, but you will never get there if you only train one weekend a month. If you want to be the best at what you do you have to put in the hours at home.” Brigadier General Joe Jarrard, Commanding General, Georgia Army National Guard, awarded Zipp and Hunt the Georgia Meritorious Service Medal. Various businesses, military associations and community organizations presented the winners with additional prizes. In April the two winners will go on to represent Georgia in the Region 3 Best Warrior competition at Camp Blanding, Fla. “I know that this is a great accomplishment, especially considering that my competitors came here ready to win as well,” said Zipp. “I’m glad I was able to represent the 48th Brigade well, and I’m looking forward to going after my next goal of winning at the regional level.” Photo by Sgt. Ashley Fontenot | 1 2 4 th MPAD | Georgia Army National Guard
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Three Purple Heart Medals
By Maj. Will Cox | Public Affairs Office | Georgia Army National Guard he Purple Heart Medal is linked to the Badge of Military Merit established by George Washington during the Revolutionary War when he pinned a purple, cloth-shaped heart on three men’s chests. The Georgia Army National Guard took a moment to honor the courage, commitment and sacrifice of three Guardsmen with Purple Heart Medals in front of their family and fellow servicemen Sunday, March 2, 2014, in Atlanta. Sergeant Jason Ulin, Spc. Jean Bermudez and Pfc. Sean Kitchens were awarded Purple Heart Medals for injuries sustained in combat during their deployment to Afghanistan with the Georgia Army National Guard’s 1-214th Field Artillery Battalion in 2013. “The Purple Heart Medal is an award that you do not want, but it finds good people in bad places,” said Lt. Col. David Casey, 1-214th FA Battalion commander. “These Guardsmen deserve our utmost respect.” These medals highlight the real danger Georgia Guardsmen face when deployed. Their everyday actions and those of their fellow servicemen exemplify courage as they accomplish their mission overseas, despite the dangers. “When you are in that situation in the operations center and you get the first report that one of your own vehicles was hit by an IED [improvised explosive device] and then see on a live feed the vehicle smoking with the tires blown 500 meters from where the
Photo by Staff Sgt. Tracy Smith | Georgia Army National Guard
vehicle used to be, it is not a good feeling,” said Casey. “The fact that these men are standing here today is a testament to the great training we received here in the Georgia Army National Guard and the great training we received at Camp Shelby, and their ability as Guardsmen to survive in a very bad area of Western Afghanistan. It is good to see these guys standing here.” The U.S. Army spent an average of $6 billion a year on Tactical Wheeled Vehicles from fiscal year ‘03 to fiscal year ‘10 in order to better protect our U.S. soldiers from IED attacks. “The equipment the Army and the country has invested in saving the lives of these Guardsmen, and I think that is a true testament to the leadership at all levels that have given servicemen the very best possible chance to succeed and survive,” said Casey. When asked how he felt about service to the Georgia Army National Guard, Ulin of the 1-214th FA Battalion and recipient of the Purple Heart Medal said, “I am very proud of my service. I wouldn’t change a thing. You meet a lot of great people when you join the military and serve.” The 1-214th Field Artillery Battalion conducted base defense operations in Western Afghanistan from May to December 2013 and returned to Georgia on Jan. 11, 2014. The 1-214th was responsible for command and control of all base defense activities in an area covering approximately 315 square kilometers. Operation of the base entry control points, flight line security and patrolling were major components of their operations.
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T By Command Sgt. Major Philip Stringfield State Command Sgt. Major Georgia Army National Guard
NCO Notepad Words of wisdom from one to another
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he season has changed and we are officially in spring. For some, the change in season may have little to no significance. For me, this is a time of reflection. During our day-to-day lives, it becomes almost an impossible task to slow down and really meditate on the good things we are blessed with on a daily basis. Beyond the good things, we often times neglect to recognize the good people that add value to our lives, to include, but not limited to, our children. For those of you that are unaware, this is the Month of the Military Child; a month dedicated to children who not only endure the challenges we place upon them by being in the military but also help us to endure the challenges of this strenuous lifestyle as well. Being a father to three wonderful children and five grandchildren, I (as I’m sure you all do as well) understand the important impact that children have on our lives. It is our job as parents, guardians, aunts, uncles and supporting community members to make certain that children also understand the important impact they have on us. We sometimes fail to remind them that we do what we do in this uniform not only for the United States of America, but for them as well. Children are not only the future of America but they give this country its strength. How can we remind them of how significant they are? We need to remember to mentor them. Mentoring is one of the most powerful ways, I believe, to communicate with our children. Showing them how to be self-sufficient people with good morals, integrity, and allowing them to see those same qualities in our actions are an essential part of their growth. We need to spend time with our children; keeping open lines of communication regardless of whether we are in country or overseas. A great way to do this is by using the resources the military provides for service members and their children. There are programs such as Blue Star Families that offer activities for children to get involved in while their loved ones may be deployed. Operation Home Front is a program that highlights amazing contributions children make in their communities. There is also the National Military’s Association Operation Purple Camp which focuses on empowering military children and their families to establish and maintain healthy connections. There are numerous resources at our disposal for us to take advantage of. If we can do our best to sustain well-built connections with children, we can maintain healthy relationships with them. More importantly, we need to love them. In loving our children we recognize they are not perfect. We recognize that whether we are overseas or in the United States of America, they will make mistakes. We recognize that even through our flaws they love us unconditionally and expect the same from us. If we as service members can take the time to love, support, and communicate with our children more often there is no doubt in my mind that they will continue to thrive.
AJC Awards Recognize Georgia Guard and Reserve Soldiers
By Desiree Bamba | Public Affairs Office | Georgia Department of Defense
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very year, the U.S. Army Reserve and the Georgia Army National Guard host the Army Reserve Achievement Award given by the Atlanta Journal Constitution (AJC). This year, the Georgia Army National Guard had the privilege to host the ceremony at Clay National Guard Center in Marietta, Ga. Two Georgia Army National Guardsmen are among the four Soldiers to receive the 2013 AJC Army Reserve Achievement Award for outstanding performance, at a ceremony held in their honor. “The annual award, conceived during the Vietnam era, served to support the morale of Georgia’s Guardsmen and Reservists during a time when the military was a very unpopular organization,” said Mr. André Jackson, AJC Editorial Editor. “It was important for the newspaper to support and say thank you to those who have served our country. We have been able to do so for over 35 years now.” The awards honored Sgt. 1st Class Adkin Lomax and Spc. Jonelle Eye. Also receiving the AJC Army Reserve Achievement Award were Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Reed and Spc. Mikayla Larsen of the U.S. Army Reserve. Lomax and Eye, along with two United States Army Reservists, were presented the award by Mr. Jackson. “It gives me even more encouragement to keep doing what I am doing and to further my career. I can take everything I am learning now and apply it later,” Spc. Eye said. “This award shows that people do notice you and the hard work that you are doing and it is nice to know that.” Photo by Desiree Bamba | Public Affairs Office | Georgia Department of Defense
As the Soldiers stood before their cheering family and friends taking photos, Brig. Gen. Joe Jarrard, Assistant Adjutant General Army, and Command Sgt. Maj. Phillip Stringfield, State Command Sgt. Maj., Georgia Army National Guard, along with their Reservist counterparts were on hand to congratulate the winners. The leaders congratulated the awardees with words of praise while handing them the award and a coin to recognize their excellence. “These two soldiers are really special; they are head and shoulders above their peers because of what they’ve done throughout their careers,” Jarrard said. “They had to be something special to be selected by the group of Sergeants Major who chose the recipients.” The AJC has bestowed this award annually since the 1970’s. To be selected, Soldiers must attend at least 95 percent of their scheduled drills, attend annual training and be qualified in their particular military occupational specialty. They must also qualify as sharpshooter or higher on their assigned weapon and have had no disciplinary actions taken against them during the nominating period. The reserve component award honors one Soldier in grades E-1 to E-9. “This is one of the highlights of my year, and I’m honored to represent the AJC and present these awards to deserving Citizen Soldiers of the United States Army Reserve and the Georgia National Guard,” Jackson said. “We admire these Soldiers who serve with honor and valor, and it’s always a pleasure for me to be a part of this.”
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Around the Georgia Guard Remembering the fallen Friends and family members visit the “Remember Our Fallen” memorial at Clay National Guard Center to honor their loved ones.
48th IBCT in Kuwait and Afghanistan Georgia National Guard Capt. Daniel Chicola, Logistics Civil Augmentation Program operations officer describes some of the installation’s capabilities at Camp Phoenix.
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2014 Military National Championship Powerlifter TSgt Mike LLoyd of the Georgia Air National Guard 165th Airlift Wing takes gold at the 2014 National Military Championships.
Cobb Honorary Commanders Community and business leaders from Cobb County visit Clay National Guard Center.
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2014 Best Warrior Competition
Junior enlisted Soldiers and Non-Commissioned Officers compete.
Public Affairs Office Georgia Department of Defense 1000 Halsey Ave. Bldg. 447 Marietta, Ga. 30060