National Guard racers visit 219th

Photo By Master Sgt. Jeff Lowry | Indiana Army National Guard Col. Tim Thombleson, center, 219th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade commander, poses for a photo with the brigade’s Headquarters Company leadership behind an autographed hood of the National Guard car.  

FRANKLIN, IN, UNITED STATES

07.23.2014

Courtesy Story

38th Infantry Division

By 2nd Lt. Grainne Page
219th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade

FRANKLIN, Ind. - Indiana National Guard Soldiers with the 219 Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, headquartered in Franklin, Indiana, welcomed National Guard sponsored race car drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Graham Rahal to the unit’s annual training at Camp Atterbury in July.

Earnhardt, a NASCAR racer, and Rahal, an IndyCar racer, greeted some of the brigade’s Soldiers who were preparing to qualify at the range.

After a quick meet-and-greet with a few of the Soldiers, the racers received protective gear, an M-4 rifle and ammunition.

First on the firing line, Earnhardt. Staff Sgt. Brandon Maiden and Staff Sgt. Adam Burke escorted him onto the range and provided basic firing instructions, range rules, and safety precautions.

Earnhardt fired 20 rounds of ammunition down range, stopping only for instruction and to crack a smile. The instructors coached Earnhardt on some standing firing drills before progressing to a danger close drill in which he incorporated a portion of turning and shifting of his body position.

Earnhardt entertained the Soldiers and the entourage of reporters afterward, laughing while saying, “I think I got ‘em,” as he held up his bullet-riddled target.

After his interviews Earnhardt opened a Q&A for the brigade’s Soldiers waiting on the shaded bleachers. He described the ins and outs of his occupation as a professional driver, explaining the necessity of hydration a few days before a race, joking about having no bathroom breaks during a race, and ultimately emphasizing the importance of focus and hard work.

Earnhardt also expressed his appreciation for the National Guard as his sponsor and its Soldiers for their service, admiring the personal and approachable aspect of the organization.

“Soldiers are just everyday people like everyone else. They could be your neighbor, doctor, or mechanic, someone that you have a conversation with regularly,” Earnhardt said.

As the visit came to a close, Earnhardt and Rahal signed and passed around a variety of fan merchandise to some appreciative Guard Soldiers.

The drivers finalized their visit by posing for a group picture with the Soldiers and presenting an autographed race car hood to Col. Timothy Thombleson, the brigade’s commander. The brigade Guardsmen plan to hang the hood on the walls of the Johnson County Armory.

• Date Taken: 07.23.2014
• Date Posted: 09.18.2014 14:18
• Story ID: 142567
• Location: FRANKLIN, IN, US