Louisiana National Guard Public Affairs Office

MINDEN, La. – The Louisiana National Guard joined local authorities in their annual joint training exercise at Camp Minden, [...]]]> By Sgt. Robin Perry

Louisiana National Guard Public Affairs Office

MINDEN, La. – The Louisiana National Guard joined local authorities in their annual joint training exercise at Camp Minden, May 17. This year’s exercise was designed to simulate a forest fire that encompasses land both on and off Camp Minden, including parts of Bossier and Webster Parishes, and focused on communication between military and civilian offices and the response time of all agencies.

Participants included the Louisiana National Guard, Caddo-Bossier Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office, Webster Parish 911, Minden Fire Department, Bossier Fire Department, Camp Minden Force Protection, Louisiana Department of Natural Resources and Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries.

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By Sgt. Robin Perry Louisiana National Guard Public Affairs Office

MINDEN, La. – Louisiana National Guard Soldiers at Camp Minden, in conjunction with the Webster Parish Sherriff’s Office, took [...]]]>

By Sgt. Robin Perry
Louisiana National Guard Public Affairs Office

MINDEN, La. – Louisiana National Guard Soldiers at Camp Minden, in conjunction with the Webster Parish Sherriff’s Office, took part in an annual anti-terrorism drill, May 16, which was evaluated by the Caddo-Bossier Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

The goal of the exercise was to assess and improve emergency preparedness at Camp Minden. It put into action various emergency response skills and procedures the Force Protection Soldiers have been training on, to include urban tactics, cover and concealment, communications and disarming of suspects.

Retired Lt. Col. Gene Barattini with CBOHSEP has been evaluating Camp Minden’s Force Protection group for the past three years. “I am already seeing tremendous improvements,” he said. He also conducted the after action review in which the participating Soldiers and their leadership discussed the drill and identified ways to improve training even more.

Capt. Donald Bolton, the LANG’s state anti-terrorism officer, was also on site to observe the exercise and to offer tips and encouragement to the Soldiers. “I am very impressed with how the exercise went,” he told the group.

Force Protection’s day-to-day functions at Camp Minden include gate guard, patrols, access control, and providing personal security details for visiting dignitaries.

All of the Soldiers who participated in the drill are members of the 39th Military Police Company. The 39th’s recent deployments include Iraq in 2008 and Haiti in 2010.

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NEW ORLEANS – Approximately 20 high school seniors from New Orleans representing the Louisiana National Guard and [...]]]> By Spc. Tarell J. Bilbo, Recruiting and Retention Command Public Affairs Representative

NEW ORLEANS – Approximately 20 high school seniors from New Orleans representing the Louisiana National Guard and the U.S. Army were honored at the inaugural New Orleans High School Senior Enlistee Recognition Ceremony held at the Jackson Barracks Military Museum, May 12.

The ceremony, part of the Our Community Salutes program, was held to publicly recognize graduating high school seniors who “answered the call” by making a voluntary commitment to enlist in the U.S. military upon graduation.

“An event like this is important for them because it lets them know they’re not enduring this choice alone,” said Master Sgt. Thomas W. Mancil, non-commissioned officer with the LANG’s Recruiting and Retention Command. “They have a community behind them and supporting them.”

Before the recognition certificates were handed to the students and the Oath of Enlistment recited, the keynote speaker, World War II veteran and retired U.S. Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer Bret Stolier, delivered a powerful message retelling his account of the attack onPearl Harbor.

“At that time we were the great generation for what we did, now you young people have got to be that great generation,” said Stolier. “You can’t let us down and you can’t let the Army down.”

The Our Community Salutes program is a combined effort of the military services and civilian communities to honor those soon-to-be high school graduates who have chosen a path of service to their nation.

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Courtesy Photo

SHINDAND AIR BASE, Afghanistan – Brig. Gen. Glenn H. Curtis, the adjutant general of the Louisiana National Guard and Command Sgt. Maj. Tommy Caillier, the senior enlisted [...]]]>

Courtesy Photo

SHINDAND AIR BASE, Afghanistan – Brig. Gen. Glenn H. Curtis, the adjutant general of the Louisiana National Guard and Command Sgt. Maj. Tommy Caillier, the senior enlisted leader, visit Louisiana Airmen from the 236th Combat Communications Squadron in Shindand Air Base, Afghanistan, May 9. The 236th deployed to Afghanistan in December and provide voice and data services.