Thomasville’s National Guard unit returns from Afghanistan

THOMASVILLE, GA, UNITED STATES

05.29.2014

Story by Maj. Will Cox 

Georgia National Guard

What: Thomasville’s Georgia Army National Guard unit, the 1230th Transportation Company, returns from Afghanistan Saturday, May 31 at 1 p.m. to the Thomasville High School football field. So come join us as we welcome them home.

Commanded by Capt. Brantley Lockhart and 1st Sgt. Eric Roberson, the 1230th was the only transportation company in there sector of North Afghanistan. Each driver averaged over 8,500 combat miles while supporting the retrograde and base closures in their area of coverage. In total, the unit exceeded over 220,000 total troop mileage since their late August 2013 arrival.

When: Saturday, May 31, 2014, 1 p.m.
(Media arrive no later than 12:45 p.m.)

Where: Thomasville High School, 315 South Hansell Street, Thomasville, GA 31792. Fair weather: Football field / Inclement weather: Basketball gym.

Who: Lt. Col. Israel Ham, 110th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion commander; representatives of state and local government; Guardsmen from 1230th TC and their families.

Media contact: Maj. Will Cox at 404.718.9692 or [e-mail].

Unit contact: Staff Sgt. Kevin Hoffman at 678.569.8561 or [e-mail].

Background: The 1230th Transportation Company is a medium truck National Guard unit from Thomasville, Georgia, staffed with about 115 Guardsmen. The Convoy Escort Platoons exceeded over 220,000 total troop miles during their deployment. The Maintenance Platoon hung over 2,500 parts in support of the 450 job orders, bringing the operational readiness rate up to nearly 100 percent. The unit’s master drivers provided over 115 coalition partners from six countries drivers' training on advance mine resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicles.

Photos of the unit conducting their mission can be found at:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ganatlguard/10995015474/

The Georgia Army National Guard consists of more than 11,100 citizen-Soldiers training in more than 57 hometown armories and regional facilities across the state. Georgia’s Army Guard is the eighth largest in the nation, and includes combat, combat support and combat service support units. The Georgia Army National Guard is organized into six major subordinate commands: the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in Macon; the 78th Troop Command, the 78th Aviation Troop Command and 201st Regional Support Command at Clay National Guard Center in Marietta; the Cumming based 560th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade; and the 648th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade in Columbus at Fort Benning.

• Date Taken: 05.29.2014
• Date Posted: 05.29.2014 19:33
• Story ID: 131545
• Location: THOMASVILLE, GA, US