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VOL. 7 ISSUE 1 Apri l 2011

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GSDF Soldier of the YearGSDF HQ, Atlanta, GA, Sunday, March 6, 2011 –Staff SGT Robert Damaschke, the NOCIC of the Transportation Detachment of the 911th Support Command, has been named “Soldier of the Year” for the Georgia State Defense Force. Ap-pearing before an all-GSDF Selection Board, Staff SGT Dam-aschke was chosen for this high honor from among other can-didates previously chosen at the Battalion and Brigade levels.

The GSDF “Soldier of the Year” is awarded annually to the sol-dier who demonstrates the highest level of professionalism and who embodies the best traits of the volunteer soldier. In choosing Damaschke, the Selection Board had to evaluate an outstanding group of other candidates, including Staff SGT Alan Baker, and CPL Jeffrey Wilson.

CSM Ryan, who participated on the Selection Board, said the selection criteria included personal appearance, military bear-ing, and conformity to GSDF standards. Core competency ques-tions in 1st aid, land nav/map reading, communications were also asked. Emphasis was also on activities during 2010 in-cluding professional development, self-improvement, mission participation, attendance at drills, Annual Training, civic in-volvement, knowledge of the GSDF history and role in military and civil support, personal leadership and service philosophy.

She went on to say “the Enlisted Soldier of the Year competition is a very important event! It highlights not only the commitment and dedication of our enlisted troops, but the knowledge, skills and strengths that they bring to the Force. When we choose to train and engage in friendly competition, this enhances our co-hesion and our esprit de corps and ultimately our mission ac-complishment. Merriam-Webster defi nes esprit de corps as the the common spirit existing in the members of a group and in-spiring enthusiasm, devotion, and strong regard for the honor of the group. The enlisted soldiers who competed represented our best! They stepped up, trained and competed in this Soldier of the Year competition and by doing so, challenge each of us to do and be better. They showed by their example, that they are willing do the hard work necessary to win, to not quit, no matter what the obstacles. They were committed to doing their best.

Now, isn’t that the heart of the warrior ethos! There can be only one offi cial winner of the competition, but in my book, each soldier who competed is a winner. It takes courage to do this. SSG Damaschke was the winner of the competition this year. His professionalism and military bearing were outstanding and he is knowledgeable and competent. It is not easy to appear before a board and his compo-sure and can do attitude endured through-out the stressful event!”

Staff SGT Damaschke resides in Stone Mountain with his wife Karin, son Max and daughter Abby. Employed by Enterprise Rent-A-Car, his prior experience includes the U.S. Navy and the Walton County Fire Department. He joined the GSDF in 2007, saying “I enjoy making a difference, whether in the Navy, a civil-ian fi re department or the GSDF.”Story and photo by CPL Mike CareyPublic Aff airs Representative, HCC PAOGeorgia State Defense Force

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Don’t Forget!!!Georgia State Defense ForceGeorgia State Defense Force

Registration FormRegistration Form

Saturday, 4 June 2011 Saturday, 4 June 2011

Cocktail Hour to Commence at 6:00 PM

Evergreen Marriott Conference CenterEvergreen Marriott Conference Center

4021 Lakeside Drive

Stone Mountain, GA 30083

EntrEntréée Choice:e Choice:

Pan Seared Sea Bass, Filet Mignon, Blue Crab Stuffed Chicken Breast, or Vegetarian

Portobello Melt

Price Per Head: $55.00 - Reservations only Confirmed Upon Receipt of Payment

Visit www.stonemountainpark.com for Information On Park Camping,

Attractions and a Calendar of Events

Make Checks Payable To:

The Association of the Georgia State Defense Force (TAGSDF)

Dress Blues, Class A, Mess Dress or Business Suit for Military Personnel

Cocktail Dress for Guests

CLAY NATIONAL GUARD CENTER, March 6, 2011- Larry Brenowitz , Andrew Brimer, Linda Brown, Jordan James, Donald Jones, Lindo Karan, Marc Kornfi eld, Lindsey Lynette, Jeff Maddox, William Mauldin, Peter McCany, Molly Phillips and Gary Tucker of Alpha Company are the fi rst IET graduation class of 2011.

The new soldiers began training in January and came from as far as Newnan and as close as Marietta to train at Clay. Pvt. Marc Kornfi eld, a professional photographer, came from Canton. He has wanted to join the military since high school but was physically unable. Kornfi eld said he joined the GSDF because, “I just wanted to help out. I wanted to do what I could to help support our troops.” He will be serving as a trumpet player in the 105th Band.

Cpl. Linda Brown of Forest Park, a federal employee with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, is a disabled veteran who served 9 years in the U.S. Army. Brown said she joined the GSDF because she “just wanted to do something to continue serving, even though I was

injured.” She will be serving in Recruiting.

Lt. Peter McCany earned the Distinguished Graduate honor given by the cadre to the soldier who graduates top of their initial entry training instruction class. Only one student per class is selected a Distinguished Graduate. Lt. McCany of Atlanta will be serving as a JAG offi cer.

IET instructor Staff Sgt. Derucki praised the group as “probably the brightest group we have had. They are all intelligent, hard working, motivated individuals who came together quickly to work as a team. As a group, they did an outstanding job.” Story by PV2 Allan HayesPublic Aff airs Representative, HCC PAOGeorgia State Defense ForcePhoto by Beth Spiegel (Fiancé of Cpl Marc Korn ield)

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GSDF Welcomes 13 New IET Graduates

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Marietta, GA, March 10, 2011- The 105th GSDF Band played one of its most high-profi le performances of the year on March 10, at the Strand Theatre on the square in Marietta. The occasion was the 2nd annual Hearts for Heroes tribute to the U.S. military, “Wounded Warriors,” and their families. The event also raised money for the Marietta Museum of History and its new Avia-tion Wing. The band played patriotic tunes on the fl ag-draped stage as audi-ence members gathered. Special guests included Major General Terry Nesbitt, Ambassador Andrew Young, and for-mer Georgia governor Roy Barnes.

The band was directed by LT Eddie An-thony, who also played tuba. Participat-ing in the performance were CPL Regis

Stamey and CPL Diane Hawkins-Cox on fl ute/piccolo; CPL Dawn Swinehart-Jones and PVT Nick Van Wagner, alto saxophone; SGT Lisa Charlton and guest musician Matt Trotter, French horn; SSG Bill Bancroft, SGT David Adams, CPL Tom Carlysle, and CPL Marc Kornfi eld, trumpet; SSG Susie Scarr, trombone; CPL Art Metcalfe, euphonium; and SFC Larry Carey, percussion and First Sergeant.

The band is actively recruiting new members. Additionally, musicians already serving in other GSDF units are welcome to play with the band as their schedules permit. Story by CPL Diane Hawkins-Cox Georgia State Defense Force Unit Public Affairs Representative, 105th GSDF Band Photo by Beth Spiegel (Fiancé of Cpl Marc Kornfi eld)

GSDF Band Participates in “Hearts for Heroes”

GPSTC Forsyth, GA, March 5, 2011- General Jerry Bradford passes the new Command Flag to Colonel Watts.

At the Commanders Call meeting at GPSTC, a new Support Brigade was established to head up change the command structure. This new structure will have Colonel Watts as the Commanding Offi cer over the Medical Battalion, Band and other units.

Story and photo by SGT Leonard GoodelmanGeorgia State Defense ForceMedical Battalion PAO

GSDF Stands Up Support Brigade

Pictured (L to R) SGM Ryan, COL Watts, CG Bradford

GSDF St d U

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Chaplain’s Corner

Command CH (MAJ) Roger D. Lanter

As Command Chaplain I often receive messages like “I have a preacher in my unit and they would like to serve as chaplain.” Allow me to clarify the requirements for serving as a Chaplain to better equip commanders in understanding the chaplaincy program.

Some Basic Requirements for Chaplain:

1. Ordained Minister2. Ecclesiastical Endorsement (Pentagon approved) 3. Valid Masters Degree in Religious Studies – M.Div., Th.M or equivalent 4. Three letters of recommendation5. Pass interview by Command Chaplain for recommendation to board6. Willing to attend IET and Complete CHOBC (Chaplain Offi cer Basic Course)

NOTE: Following the standards and traditions for Chaplain Process into the Army National Guard’s CHOBLC (Chaplain Offi cer Basic Leadership Course) this is not the standardline offi cer Basic Course or OCS program. It is specifi c to the religious support program of the professional Special Branches Services training that are used by all military Chaplain Corps programs.

Chaplain Corps Basic Structure:

1. Each Chaplain is fi rst and foremost assigned to his unit commander as a staff member. Command Chaplain – Command General as Staff Member Brigade Chaplain – Brigade Command as Staff Member Battalion Chaplain – Battalion Command as Staff Member

2. Command Chaplain offers Advice to the Command General and fellow command staff members on faith Based Issues, moral Issues and troop morale issues. Offers leadership in faith Based training and recommends chaplains to unit command. Recom mends Promotions to command and recommends incoming chaplains rank based upon his or her experience in ministry. Com mand Chaplain has a CMD-CH Assistant who serves as NCOIC in review of all candidates for the Chaplain Assistant Program and makes recommendation to the Commandant of the Chaplain Training Center and his NCO regarding this program. The Chaplain Crops now is putting in place the Chaplain Training Center and has a Commandant for the CTC with a NCOIC in charge of Chaplain Assistant Training. The Commandant will act as the Deputy Command Chaplain should the Command Chaplain be unable to temporarily perform the duties due to illness or request for leave as required by the Command General.

3. Joint Forces HQ Chaplain Offi ce. The Command Chaplain is on the staff of the Joint Forces State Chaplain staff as Liaison for the GSDF Chaplain Corps and represents the Command General and sends monthly reports to the State Joint Forces Chaplain for submission to the Adjutant General. Command Chaplain also conducts JFHQ Training and conducts chapel services as part of Joint Forces HQ Chaplain Staff. All GSDF Chaplains are listed on the JFHQ Tab 8 list of chaplains and can be called upon to perform chaplain services as needed by the National Guard or GSDF as recommended by the Command Chaplain GSDF.

4. 1st Brigade Chaplain is also the HQ Chaplain and conducts HQ Chapel services.

5. Chaplain Corps Unit Ministry Team is made up of a Chaplain and the Assistant. They may also have an Admin to assist the UMT if needed.

NO individual or soldier should be called or referred to as a Chaplain unless they are commissioned and they have met the GSDF requirements to be certifi ed as a military chaplain. They must be approved by the Command Chaplain and listed on the JFHQ Chaplain List. Commanders and recruiters should forward all chaplain requests for the services of a Unit Ministry Team or Chap-lain to the Command Chaplain for proper organization of Chaplain UMT’s for National Guard facilities or GSDF units to avoid any confusion in placement of the UMT. Chaplain Corps is a Special Branches Program that has specifi c duties, requirements and professional training to offer faith based religious programs and counseling services to military personnel.

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Winder, GA – It was upon arriving to sign in for the Soldier Leadership Course (SLC) that Corporal Bill Weeks, 3d Battalion, 1st Brigade, learned he had been selected the Class 1st Sergeant for the ensuing weekend. Having spent almost three years watching the 3d BN NCO’s, Weeks felt confi dent in his ability to perform the task at hand.

The Soldier Leader Course, conducted by the Georgia State Defense Force, provides basic leadership training for soldiers who are time in grade eligible for promotion to Sergeant. The SLC provides soldiers an opportunity to acquire leader skills, knowledge, and experience to lead team size units. It is the foundation for further training and development.

At each SLC a recipient of the Distinguished Leadership Award is selected. This soldier is chosen by their classmates and confi rmed by the Cadre. In the recent graduating class, SLC soldiers selected Cpl. Weeks to receive this prestigious honor.

“Being selected for the award is among the most humbling experiences of my life. Being rec- ognized for effort and accomplishment is one thing,” Weeks says, “but to be selected by one's peers for leadership qualities is an incredible yet humble feeling. It is something I will not soon forget.”

Cpl. Weeks, a resident of Suwanee, is also the recipient the 2010 Soldier of the Year, 1st Brigade, Georgia State Defense. “Now as I begin my career as an NCO, I have a higher stan- dard to strive for, not only because of personal standards, but because I have large shoes to fi ll

in carrying on the tradition as not just an NCO, but a 3d Battalion NCO.”

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Winder, GA – It was Francis Bacon who once said “knowledge is power.” At their monthly Drill on March 27, soldiers of the 3d Battalion, Georgia State Defense Force gained the knowledge needed to perform their missions more securely and successfully through Operations Security (OPSEC) training.

“In a nutshell, OPSEC is our own deliberate measures used to deny our adversaries critical information that may be used against us. It is the responsibility of each soldier to do his or her OPSEC duty”. – MAJ Chuck LeFurge, 3d Bn, S3, GSDF.OPSEC comprises a process of fi ve compo-nents: Identify Critical Information; Analyze Threat; Analyze Vulnerabili-ties; Assess Risk; Employ appropriate Protective Measures.

Drill activities included classroom training in OPSEC discipline and it’s benefi ts to the mission, types of information collected by both friendly and opposing forces, OPSEC in every day life, a tabletop exercise to identify potential OPSEC breaches in the public media (such as social networks, websites, blogs), securing a zone and set up operations, including issuing a challenge and applying GSDF rules of engagement. Additional training included a refresher course in knot-tying and their practical uses.

All of this culminated in a fi eld exercise for hands-on training in which the Battalion executed a reconnaissance mission using critiqued standards on elements that are pertinent to that particular mission: hand signal commu-nication, perimeter guard security, and a one-rope bridge “river” crossing.

Knowledge is power. The long term benefi ts of having a well-trained and security-conscious force provides a greater assurance of mission continuity and success. The 3d Battalion, GSDF, is taking steps to ensure that success by becoming more knowledgeable in the areas of security; not only within its ranks, but on the home front, as well.

Knowledge is Power: Third Battalion Takes a Look at OPSEC

PV2 Nforbuh Asangmbeng , SSG Jeff Smith, SGT Jason Loefer, CPL Gary Hammonds study a

map in preparation for a recon exercise.

Story & Photos by PV2 Lisa KennedyHQ Co/3rd Battalion/1st Brigade

Story by PV2 Lisa KennedyHQ Co/3rd Battalion/1st Brigade

(L-R)Sgt Eric Horne, Sgt Jason Loefer, Cpl Bill Weeks, Sgt Guy McMillan

GSDF PUBLIC AFFAIRS HQGSDF PUBLIC AFFAIRS HQ

PA O PA OCPTCPT Andrew Creed Andrew Creed

D E P U T Y PAOD E P U T Y PAOCPTCPT Clark HowardClark Howard

HISTORIAN / JOURNALIST

PHOTOGRAPHER / V IDEO

PAO NCOIC / WEBSITE

UPAR COORDINATOR / HEADS UP

EDITOR / JOURNALIST

ASSISTANT HISTORIAN / JOURNALIST

JOURNALIST / PHOTOGRAPHER

MA JMA J R ich Elwell R ich ElwellCW2CW2 Mario de Car valho Mario de Car valhoSGTSGT Stephen Smith Stephen SmithSGT Jim ZegersSGT Jim ZegersCPLCPL Mike Carey Mike CareyCPLCPL Er ic Tedder Er ic TedderPV2 Al lan HayesPV2 Al lan Hayes

Submit articles & photos to Cpt Andy Creed at andrew_creed_jr@hotmail.com or Sgt Jim Zegers at zegersgsdf@gmail.com. Articles are intended for publicizing unit missions, activities and events and to highlight GSDF members. Provide details: date, time, location and a brief description. Photos are encouraged. Photos with GSDF personnel should include the rank and full name of the person(s). Provide a point-of-contact and phone number or email address with any submissions

HEADS UP is the official newsletter of The Georgia State Defense ForceHEADS UP is the offi cal newsletter of the

Georgia State Defense Force

Recruiting NewsHeadquarters Recruiting participated in a Service Mem-bers & Family Members Career Expo sponsored by the Georgia Army National Guard’s Yellow Ribbon Reinte-gration Program on March 22, 2011 at the Oglethorpe Armory. Special thanks to SGT Pam Conley for assist-ing with coordinating our participation. Major General Maria Britt of the GNG thanked us for attending the event.

Want to train with the National Guard?UPAR Training Classes coming soon. Contact SGT Jim Zegers UPAR Coordinator at zegersgsdf@gmail.com for more information.

Pictured (L to R) CPL Randy Pavlu, PFC Hugo Bryan-Porter, MG Maria Britt, and CPL Chris Alasa.

UPCOMING RECRUITING EVENTS**WWII Heritage Days at Falcon Field in Peachtree City on Saturday, April 30th and Sunday, May 1st**West Georgia Emergency Preparedness Fair in Carrollton on Saturday, April 23rd**Military History Through the Ages at the Southern Museum in Kennesaw on Saturday, May 14th and Sunday,May 15th

Members who would like information on schedulingand conducting recruiting activities should contact CPT Bill Glisson at recruiting@gasdf.com.

Explosion and Blast Injuries Course Response, Triage, Diagnostic, and Victim ManagementLocation: Gwinnett Medical CenterConference held at Gwinnett Hospital System Resource Center - 665 Duluth Hwy Lawrenceville, Ga. Date: Friday, April 15th, 2011 Time: 8:00am—4:00pmCost: Free, but pre-registration is REQUIRED. The course is funded by the Georgia Division of Public Health (GDPH) through an ASPR grant.

This one-day course is intended for pre-hospital care pro-viders and fi rst receivers as well as public health respond-ers who may be called on to respond to a mass casualty incident and/or treat victims of an explosion (e.g., EMA, EMS, fi refi ghters, law enforcement, hospital-based phy-sicians and nurses, social services, rural clinicians).

Register at www.georgiapoisoncenter.org click on Pub-lic Education, and Explosion and Blast Injuries,complete the registration information, and click submit. Make sure you select your desired date and location. You will not re-ceive an immediate confi rmation. You will receive your con-fi rmation within 24 to 48 hours after registration. If register-ing on the weekend, you will receive it the next business day.

Medical Tip: Spring SneezingBring nature's pure air into your home or offi ce.Hepa air fi lters are very effi cient! The word Hepa is short for "high effi ciency particulate arresting." A hepa air fi lter can last up to four to fi ve years. Andcan remove much of the pollen, dust, dust mites, mold

spores, animal dander and bacteria from your home or offi ce. Think how much that will help those who suffer from allergies and asthma symptoms!

You can choose to purchase an electronic air fi lter instead. Through the means of charged plates the air is cleaned. This will not require new fi l-ters. They can calm allergies and asthma symptoms!

Breathe easier!You can say so long to many allergies and asthma symptoms that come from pets, pollen, dust, mold, dust mites and bacteria from your offi ce or home. Bring home one of two kinds of air purifi ers and breathe easier.

Author’s Note:It's very easy to fi nd the best air purifi er products. You can search online to fi nd more information about air living purifi er review, best home air purifi er, ratings of room air purifi ers, hepa air purifi er reviews, home air purifi er rating and consumer reviews living air purifi ers.

Health Tip of the MonthSGT Leonard GoodelmanMedical Battalion PAO

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