By: By BILL JONES/Staff Writer
Source: The Greeneville Sun
09-23-2004

The Tennessee Army National Guard’s 278th Regimental Combat Team (RCT), which includes dozens of Greeneville-based soldiers, has begun moving from Camp Shelby, Miss., to Ft. Irwin, Calif., where it will undergo 30 days of dessert training.

The 278th RCT (redesignated from Armored Cavalry Regiment) has been undergoing training at Camp Shelby since June. Greeneville-based Troop G is a part of the unit.

Staff Sgt. Russell Lee Klika, the unit’s public information non-commissioned officer in charge, said during a Wednesday afternoon telephone interview from Camp Shelby that the 278th Regimental Combat Team’s "advance party" units began moving to Ft. Irwin on Tuesday.

The main body of the 4,000-soldier strong regiment was scheduled to begin moving today to the National Training Center at Ft. Irwin, Calif., Klika said.

He said that most of the unit’s soldiers are scheduled to be at Ft. Irwin by Sunday, Sept. 26.

"Our mission (at Fort Irwin) starts on Sept. 27," he added. Following 30 days of training in California’s "high desert," Staff Sgt. Klika said, the 278th Regimental Combat Team will return to Camp Shelby in late October.

Beginning Oct. 29, the 278th RCT’s soldiers will begin a period of home leave that will end with their return to Camp Shelby on Nov. 9.

Klika said that on Nov. 11, which is Veterans Day, a "send-off" ceremony for the entire unit will be held at Camp Shelby, Miss., with the unit departing for eventual duty in Iraq shortly thereafter.

The National Guardsmen who make up Troop G left Greeneville in June for training at Camp Shelby, Miss.

Story Copyright to Greene County Online