News Article
By: By BILL JONES/Staff Writer
Source: The Greeneville Sun
06-17-2004
Today is the first day of active military duty for Greeneville-based Troop G of the Tennessee Army National Guard’s 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment.
"Thursday will be a significant day because it will be our first day under federal orders," Capt. Wiley Hammer, Troop G’s commanding officer said Wednesday.
Other than the fact that Troop G will be under federal — rather than state — command, little will change for the soldiers who make up Troop G pending the unit’s departure for Camp Shelby, Miss., on Sunday morning, Capt. Hammer said.
"We will be attending to things that have to be fixed or corrected before we actually leave," he said. "A lot of our equipment has already left the armory. Most of what's left is dotting the I's and crossing the T's."
The unit commander also said that prior to departing on Sunday morning by bus for Mississippi, Troop G soldiers will be engaged in final packing of personal equipment.
While awaiting deployment to Camp Shelby on Sunday, the soldiers also will be engaged in physical training, cultural awareness training and reviewing various procedures.
Rear-Detachment Officer
Capt. Hammer said Dwight Carr, a retired National Guardsmen, has been hired to serve as a rear-detachment officer in charge (OIC) at the Greeneville National Guard Armory while Troop G is deployed on active duty.
Carr, who can be reached at 638-7812, will be stationed at the armory on Hal Henard Road on weekdays and will have telephone numbers that he can furnish to the families of Troop G soldiers who need assistance after the unit leaves.
Capt. Hammer said the primary point of contact for families once Troop G soldiers move to Camp Shelby will by Teresa Carey, who heads the unit's Family Readiness Group.
Her telephone numbers have been given to unit members.
Carey, who resides in Bean Station in Grainger County, regularly will receive information for dissemination to the families of Troop G soldiers and will be able to help them find assistance when they encounter problems.
Once Troop G soldiers move to Camp Shelby, Capt. Hammer said, their families will be able to obtain help with questions about such things as military pay or medical insurance by calling the 278th ACR’s 2nd Squadron headquarters in Kingsport, which will have staff members available to answer questions.
Turnout Urged Sunday
Greene County Mayor Roger Jones and Greeneville Mayor Darrell Bryan are asking local residents to show support for the departing members of Troop G on Sunday morning.
During a Tuesday morning interview, Mayor Jones said he and Mayor Bryan want as many citizens of this community as possible to line the sides of the West Andrew Johnson Highway between Hal Henard Road in Interstate 81’s exit 23 for the expected 9:30 a.m. Sunday departure of the local citizen-soldiers.
"We need to show that Greene County pride for these folks who are going to put their lives on the line for us," Jones said. "You may be a little late for Sunday school, but I think the good Lord will approve of it."
Mayor Jones said about 60 members of Troop G are scheduled to depart the armory on Hal Henard Road by bus about 9:30 a.m. Sunday en route to Camp Shelby, where the unit will undergo training for the next several months.
Capt. Hammer said last week that in late August or early September, the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment will transfer from Camp Shelby to Fort Irwin, Calif., for advanced training.
After completing advanced training at Fort Irwin late in the year, he said, the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment is expected to be sent to Iraq before the end of December.
The 278th ACR last deployed as a complete unit during the Korean War.
Story Copyright to Greene County Online