Mississippi Guardsmen to watch over nation’s capital

Photo By Victoria Molinar | Lt. Col. Scott Griffin, commander, 1st Battalion, 204th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, shakes the hand of each Soldier in his battalion before joining them on a flight to Washington for a security mission.  

FORT BLISS, TX, UNITED STATES

10.13.2015

Story by Victoria Molinar 

Mobilization and Deployment, DPTMS Fort Bliss

FORT BLISS, Texas - Ready and eager to protect the National Capital Region, Soldiers assigned to 1st Battalion, 204th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, Mississippi National Guard, departed the Silas L. Copeland Arrival/Departure Air Control Group Oct. 13 en route to Washington after completing their pre-mobilization training at McGregor Range, New Mexico.

“We’re providing ground-based air defense for the (NCR) to deter, detect and – if necessary – defeat any hostile air attacks against the nation’s capital,” said Lt. Col. Scott Griffin, commander, 1st Bn., 204th ADA Regt. “We utilize two weapon systems, use a radar system to provide early warning and man all the sites 24/7 over the next year.”

The 1st Bn., 204th ADA Regt., was the first National Guard battalion to take over the NCR security mission in 2003, because of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. This is the unit’s third deployment to Washington, and while about half of the battalion has taken on the contiguous United States mission at least once, the Guardsmen reiterated each deployment presents a situation that calls for unwavering diligence.

“It’s an election year and we know the bad guys are watching. We’re going to be on our ‘A’ game watching as well,” Griffin said. “(I) hope and pray nothing bad happens, but we’ll be ready if it does.”

The unit’s mission isn’t limited to the D.C. region, said Staff Sgt. Christopher Tracy, noncommissioned officer in charge, Team 2, 1st Bn., 204th ADA Regt. (Avenger).

“We also have fly away missions as well where we provide air defense for the president while he’s traveling,” Tracy said. “We did the same thing when (former) President Bush was around.”

Along with the honor of protecting their nation’s capital, Guardsmen said they look forward to taking in all that D.C. has to offer, including its museums and monuments.

“(When) they have some time off, they can go see the sites in the city,” Griffin said. “It’s a great opportunity to be educated.”

While at McGregor Range, the air defenders fired Stinger missiles and were provided hot meals, Griffin said.

“We’re pleased with the (Mobilization and Deployment) Brigade and the people out at McGregor as well,” Griffin said. “If we had an issue, they addressed it. We’re happy to say that they did a good job.”

For Tracy, who has trained at Fort Bliss since 1994, Fort Bliss’ rapid growth has also made an impression on him.

“I was driving through on the (Spur) 601 going out to the Cattleman’s ranch and I could not believe how far east post goes out now,” Tracy said. “It just amazes me.”

Tracy’s trips to the Sun City have also been a pleasant experience, he said.

“I love it every time I come to El Paso,” Tracy said. “Being a Texan myself, I think there’s that comradery.”

While most of the Guardsmen come from Mississippi, a few of them, such as Tracy, come from other states such as Texas. For Staff Sgt. Corey Quintanilla, an El Paso native and NCOIC of Team 10, 1st Bn., 204th ADA Regt. (Avenger), the benefits of being a part of the battalion since 2006 make the 16-hour commute to Mississippi worth the trip.

“It’s that southern hospitality, so to say,” Quintanilla said. “The unit has been good to me since day one. That’s why I’ve stayed in so long.”

Family support has also been a major boost for the morale of the battalion, which was recognized as the top Army National Guard battery in the nation after receipt of the Alexander Hamilton Award.

“I think the family’s our backbone,” said Maj. Tim Harrelson, operations officer, 1st Bn., 204th ADA Regt. “The stronger your family is, the more successful your mission is because you don’t have to focus on what’s going on back home.”

The support coming from both fellow Soldiers and family left Griffin a deep sense of confidence about his battalion.

“The morale is high,” Griffin said. “Soldiers are motivated and we’re ready to take it home.”

• Date Taken: 10.13.2015
• Date Posted: 11.03.2015 17:06
• Story ID: 180794
• Location: FORT BLISS, TX, US