The TAG Visits Poland!

Photo By Sgt. Sarah Kirby | U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Terry ‘Max’ Haston, Tennessee’s Adjutant General, speaks with a Polish Armed Forces Soldier after Battle Group Poland’s transfer of authority ceremony at Bemowo Piskie, Poland, Sept. 20. Haston is responsible for the supervision of the Military Department of Tennessee, which includes the Army National Guard, the Air National Guard, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, and the Tennessee State Guard. (Photo by U.S. Army Sgt. Sarah Kirby)  

POLAND

09.20.2018

Story by Sgt. Sarah Kirby 

278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Tennessee Army National Guard

BEMOWO PISKIE, Poland — U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Terry ‘Max’ Haston, Tennessee’s Adjutant General, visits Bemowo Piskie, Poland for Battle Group Poland’s transfer of authority ceremony, here, Sept. 20.
During the ceremony, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Donny Hebel, commander of the Tennessee Army National Guard’s 2nd Squadron, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment (Task Force Raider) assumed command of Battle Group Poland from U.S. Army Lt. Col. Timothy Wright, commander of 1st Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment (War Eagles).
“For the National Guard to be involved in this mission is very important,” said Haston. “All of our Soldiers here are ambassadors representing the 6.5 million Tennesseans. I’m hoping our Soldiers take in and absorb the culture here in Poland, because this is a great assignment.”
The arrival of 2/278th ACR marks the first rotation of a U.S. Armored Task
Force under NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence providing a defense and deterrence posture along the eastern border of Poland against aggression.
“I served with the fathers and grandfathers of some of the Soldiers who are standing in this formation,” said Haston. “We are a family here and we bring a feeling of closeness and commonality wherever we go, and we are sharing that with Poland right now.”
The 278th is the largest Major Command (MACOM) in Tennessee, and one of only five armored brigade combat teams in the National Guard. 
“This unit has been training hard for over two years to prepare for this mission,” said Haston. “We are committed to maintaining a presence in this area providing continued support to our European allies."

• Date Taken: 09.20.2018
• Date Posted: 09.26.2018 06:39
• Story ID: 294397
• Location: PL
• Hometown: KNOXVILLE, TN, US