August 9, 2005

From Staff Reports The Tennessee National Guard will be changing its structure later this year and reducing positions, but for soldiers at Maryville's HOW Battery, 278th Regimental Combat Team, that means a change in unit name only.

"Shouldn't have any change as far as equipment or personnel," Tennessee National Guard spokesman Randy Harris said Monday. "Just change of names." Later in the fall, the 278th RCT will become the 278th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team. For soldiers drilling locally, HOW Battery, 1st Squadron will become Battery B, 3-115.

The Guard announced a reduction of 1,300 positions last month, but Harris said the positions planned for cuts are ones that are not filled.

The headquarters of the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, currently deployed to Iraq, will remain in Knoxville, with subordinate unit headquarters in Cookeville, Henderson, Kingsport, Winchester, Lebanon and Smyrna. Chattanooga's 196th Field Artillery Brigade Headquarters, currently deployed to Afghanistan, will be replaced by a Sustainment Brigade, while the 30th Troop command headquarters will move from Smyrna to Tullahoma.

In a press release Monday, Maj. Gen. Gus Hargett, Tennessee's Adjutant General, announced the proposed transition for the Tennessee Army National Guard.

"We have spent many months reviewing Tennessee's military structure, and how we can best transition into the force needed to meet both today's threats, and tomorrow's challenges," said Hargett. "We believe that the changes we are implementing enhance our command and control, the ability for our units to train together, and the ever-changing demographics of our state.

"All of these factors affect our ability to fulfill both our wartime and state emergency response missions. The transition of units throughout the state will enhance our ability to respond in the event of natural disaster, civil disturbance or Homeland Security events. The changes will also allow recruitment of females in areas where we have not been able to do so in the past."

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