Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Craig Norton | Soldiers of the North Carolina National Guard’s 1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion,...... read more read more
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By Army Capt. David Chace and Sgt. 1st Class Craig Norton, 382nd Public Affairs Detachment
Capt. Veronica Aguila
30th ABCT Public Affairs
Sgt. 1st Class Robert Jordan
NCNG Public Affairs
Air Force Master Sgt. Patti Moran
145th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
RALEIGH, N.C. – Nearly 8,000 soldiers and airmen of the North Carolina National Guard conducted drill-weekend training for the first time since the Oct.1 partial government shutdown.
The most important part of this weekend though, was that old familiar friendship and camaraderie that comes with begin part of a team returned to North Carolina this past weekend.
The N.C. National Guard’s “Always Ready, Ready Team” reported for duty at the armories and got to work after the October partial Federal Government shutdown.
One of the training highlights from around the state included the North Carolina Air National Guard’s 145th Airlift Wing, who conducted a six ship (C-130 Hercules aircraft) flight support mission for paratroopers at Fort Bragg. The N.C. Air Guard emphasized their relevancy and reliability by assisting the paratroopers in this joint operation. It’s one of many ways the 145th has a reputation as a superb airlift and mobility unit.
“I’ve been in the military for 19 years; this is the first time drill (in October) has been cancelled due to lack of funding,” said Air Force Lt. Col. Bobby Walston, Operations Officer for the N.C. Air Guard’s 245th Civil Engineer Flight.
Luckily for him and all soldiers and airmen of the NCNG, there will be opportunities to make up lost pay and training in the months ahead.
Soldiers of the 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team also demonstrated their flexibility and resourcefulness as more than 2,500 soldiers reported for duty at armories across North Carolina.
The drill included a brigade-wide communications exercise at the brigade’s headquarters in Clinton, N.C., while the 1-120th Combined Arms Battalion trained on weapons system and combat life saver exercises.
“I was very impressed with how quickly the battalion was able to adjust to the change. In a matter of a couple of days we completely changed our training calendar and moved into reallocating resources,” said Maj. Benjamin Wynn, an administrative officer with the 120th.
Leaders throughout the state had to face the challenges of the stress placed upon soldiers losing their drill income and the uncertainty of how their individual unit training calendars would be affected.
“The important thing is to limit the stress on soldiers, their families and employers,” Wynn said. “I think it is important for our soldiers to have a sense of how to plan their lives to incorporate the guard. The shutdown took that away for a brief period.”
Another NCNG unit, the 505th Engineer Battalion, whose trade skills and construction capabilities make them a valuable asset when supporting state emergencies or building structures on bases in combat zones or here at home, trained at the Camp Butner National Guard Training Center, in Stem, N.C.
“It is good to get back to train and mingle with friends," said Army Sgt. Kenya Vice, a heavy equipment operator with the 725th Equipment Support Platoon.
In addition to the training, members of the 505th welcomed their new commander, Army Lt. Col. Christina M. Moore.
Senior noncommissioned officers checked and rechecked their Soldiers in formation before the change of command ceremony. Battalion leaders called the Soldiers to attention as the new commander ceremonially took command by accepting the battalion's colors, a flag unique to the unit, in front of the formation.
Meanwhile, in Raleigh, at the NCNG’s Joint Force Headquarters complex, the NCNG’s Joint Operations Center (JOC), along with 60th Troop Command, conducted a pandemic flu-reaction training exercise throughout the weekend.
“The state is running a Joint Operations Center communications exercise geared towards testing all our communication equipment, to make sure we are ready for any type of domestic or other type of emergency,” said Maj. Edward Wallace, the Assistant S-3 and Training Officer for 60th Troop Command.
“The JOC is the mission command foundation and communications hub in the event the Guard is called to state active duty,” said Wallace. “We have all our communications platforms operational; that includes Defense Connect Online, megahertz radios, voice-over-IP phones … and our satellite systems in place, to make sure they’re all functioning before we get called out for an emergency.”
Communications training exercises are held routinely to ensure that the N.C. Guard maintains its ability to respond quickly and thoroughly to local, state or national authorities if called upon to support North Carolina and U.S. citizens.
Finally, in Morrisville, the NCNG’s 1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 130th Aviation Regiment, whose armory and hangar are adjacent to the Raleigh-Durham International Airport, also conducted training this past weekend.
The 130th executed Individual Soldier Readiness which evaluates Soldier’s overall health, by testing their strength, physical fitness levels, stamina and general medical readiness.
“Collective readiness is based on individual soldier readiness,” said Army Lt. Col. Lee Winningham, the 1-130th ARB’s Commander.
“We’re excited to be back to work. This shutdown was tough, but obviously we survived,” said Army Lt. Col. Maury Williams, director of Public Affairs for the State of North Carolina National Guard, who proudly summed up the November weekend’s training. “We want to show folks that we’re still ready, reliable, responsive and relevant to serve the citizens of North Carolina.”
| Date Taken: | 11.05.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 11.06.2013 11:32 |
| Story ID: | 116368 |
| Location: | RALEIGH, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 211 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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