National Guard Battery to be deployed soon
By Bonnie K. Taylor General Manager

The Georgia Army National Guard Battery C 1/214th Field Artillery will report for duty Monday, June 4, in Waynesboro for later deployment to the Middle East.

The all-male reserve is expected to fly to Fort Bliss, Texas, for a two-week military police detainee operations training and head for a 12-month stay in Iraq or Kuwait, returning to the states for a twoweek de-mobilization.

Many of the combat units across the nation are being restructured for military police duty, said public information officer Sgt. Gary Roane of the Waynesboro C Battery.

There has been more than usual traffic at the local armory, but it is not due to the upcoming mobilization. The extra soldiers include those who completed the Mexican border patrol and have volunteered to serve in Iraq. These soldiers will join the 1/214th for deployment.

Prior to Tuesday, all of the orders for deployment had been verbal, Roane said, but the soldiers have been told to SPR (Soldier Preparation Readiness) … to get their affairs in order.

Now that the orders are official, soldiers can notify their employers about their needed leave time.

The Charlie Battery includes 55 soldiers from an approximate 50- mile radius. The remaining 120 are from all over Georgia, including the full-time staff at the local armory, Roane, SFC Aloysius Loafer and SSG Tyrone Wilson.

When they report here, many will bring their families, which will pose a problem for overnighters. The Jameson Inn and Best Western have already been booked and more overnight rooms will be needed. Families who live nearby can drive back and forth to be with their loved one each day, but those who live farther away will need accommodations.

Anyone who knows of additional available accommodations is asked to get in touch with Sgt. Roane at 706-437-6836.

Contracted lunch and evening meals for the soldiers will be provided by local restaurants.

While the military and their families are here awaiting deployment, local activities would be helpful to pass the time away, Roane said. There will be a lot of "down time," he added.

A church service, games or any activity would be helpful.

"A cheerful, patriotic send off will be much appreciated," he said. "We do not know the exact time for leaving Waynesboro, but a few American flags and folks waving us goodbye will be most welcome."

There will be little activity at the local armory for the next year following deployment except for a few new faces - Commander Jeremy Johnson of Appling and 1st Sgt. Clarence Gilmore of Louisville. "They will be on hand, after all it is a community building," Roane said. "A recruiting officer will also be in and out during the week."