On Wednesday, 17 June, the Virginia Defense Force’s (VDF) Mobile Communications Platform (MCP) of the 3rd Regiment stationed at the Cherry-Beasley Readiness Center, Winchester, Virginia successfully made its inaugural contact with the SHAred RESources (SHARES) High Frequency (HF) Radio Network. The SHARES HF Radio Network, administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, provides an additional means for Federal, State, tribal, local, and non-governmental organizations with an emergency management mission to transmit critical messages to coordinate operations even when traditional means of communicating via landlines and cellphones are degraded or destroyed.

Two proven leaders are taking command of the Indiana Guard Reserve (IGR) and its parent organization, the Indiana National Guard this summer. While change is often difficult and uncertain, Guard Reservists are optimistic the new commanders will continue to build on the strong foundation developed over the past decades.

Maj. Gen. Bruce Bowers is the new commanding general of the IGR. Bowers has been a member of the IGR since 1987 and has served in multiple positions in second brigade and at IGR headquarters. Bowers entered military service in 1970 and was appointed com-manding general of the IGR and promoted to major general by Maj. Gen. R. Martin Um-barger, the adjutant general of Indiana, in April. His promotion was not a surprise to Guard Reservists, including Command Sgt. Maj. James Coe.

“Everyone knows his leadership and care of the soldiers will bring further greatness to the IGR,” Coe said. Bowers replaces Maj. Gen. F. Barry Green, who retired after leading the IGR for ten years and serving the IGR and Indiana Army National Guard for more than a half century.

 

Soldiers of the Tennessee State Guard stand in formation outside the gate to Fort Wautauga, at Sycamore Shoals in Elizabethton, TN, during the official celebration of the 235th anniversary of the Overmountain Men’s historical crossing of the Wautauga River on their way to fight COL Ferguson’s British force during the Revolutionary War.

The Tennessee Volunteers were victorious over the British force at the Battle of King’s Mountain. The British Commander, COL Ferguson, was killed in battle; downed by a Tennessean sniper’s musket ball. This seminal event began the Great State of Tennessee’s volunteerism tradition that the Tennessee State Guard proudly carries on today.

The celebration took place on 25 SEP 2015 and was attended by the Tennessee Commissioner of Tourism and the Tennessee Adjutant General among other dignitaries and State Representatives.