Sam Morishima | 12/07/2009

When I was young I loved the old comedies.   The Honeymooners with Jackie Gleason and Art Carney was one of my favorites next to the Three Stooges. I remember whenever things went right for Jackie Gleason he would shout, “How Sweet It Is!”

Now whenever I ski or board, and those magic moments come when I blast through bumps or lace my way down steeps or float through powder I think “How Sweet It Is!”

I realize now, how true that statement is. No matter if you are skiing or snowboarding, every great run begins with a great turn and continues with a series of turns.  

To have those great turns you need to master the “sweet spot.” 

Griffon
Story and Photos by Sgt. 1st Class Marty A. Collins | 12/07/2009

Col. Dwayne Edwards was promoted to Brig. Gen. in a ceremony held at the 108th Training Command headquarters here in Charlotte, N.C. on a crisp October day. Edwards was nominated by President Barack Obama on May 12, 2009 to be a general officer, assigned to the 108th Tng. Cmd. (IET) as deputy commanding general on May 18, 2009. He was confirmed for promotion by the U.S. Senate on June 19, 2009. The host for Edward’s promotion ceremony was Maj. Gen. James B. Mallory III, commanding general, 108th Tng. Cmd. (IET)

“Both non-commissioned officers and officers have been a part of Edwards’s career. “When you reach the position of general officer you are the sum of all your experiences, good and bad, and the Army has recognized your leadership potential, to be able to, as a general officer, to solve problems, take care of Soldiers and accomplish the mission,” said Mallory.

After Mallory’s remarks the official order was published promoting Edwards to Brig. Gen. Mrs. Heather Edwards then pinned the rank of Brig. Gen. on her husband’s beret as Mallory placed the rank on Edwards ACU jacket. Mallory then administered the Oath of Office to Brig. Gen. Edwards. After the Oath of Office, Edward’s daughter Caroline presented her father with his general officer’s belt.

The Griffon
95th Training Division (IET) Public Affairs Staff | 02/19/2010

The Battle

 Sixty years ago in the picturesque rolling hills of northern France, snow blanketed the countryside as November invited a bitterly cold winter. The residents of Lorraine were continuing to live in fear and duress under the rule of Nazi Germany as they had for the previous four years. The German soldiers were dug deeply into their defensive positions, confident in their ability to repel the American liberating forces.

Meanwhile, U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers of the 95th Infantry Division were mobilized and busy rehearsing battle plans to free the French from their captors. They conducted exercises specifically intended to prepare them for the fight of their lives.

In early August 1944, 95th Division Soldiers set sail from the shores of the United States, arriving in the United Kingdom in just over a week. This marked the first time 95th Soldiers would fight a war on foreign soil. For weeks they gathered equipment and made their way east to the Lorraine region. Their focus: break through the fortified walls of the French city of Metz which had been constructed and reinforced by generations of German soldiers.

TRAVEL USA
| 12/07/2009

Located in the foothills of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and less than a day’s drive from three-quarters of the nation’s population, Sevierville is known for its family-friendly entertainment, shopping and scenic beauty. But this veneer of fun cleverly lures visitors of all ages into learning something new and enlightening nearly everywhere they go.

The Griffon
Victoria L. White | 02/19/2010

It’s the biggest Army Reserve base and the eighth largest in the entire Army with more than 165,000 acres of rolling hills, mountains, forests and rivers.  With warm winters and temperatures rising to 115 degrees during summers, Fort Hunter Liggett offers an ideal location for training warriors headed to war.

Established in 2005, the U.S. Army Support Training Center trains Combat Support (CS) and Combat Services Support (CSS) units.  It is home for the Army Reserve’s Regional Training Center-West where 108th drill sergeants conduct pre-mobilization training, allowing units to get the combat training they need, deploy quicker and get more “boots on the ground” time during deployments, say officials.  Reserve officials say the RTC concept was developed from lessons learned by leaders who witnessed flaws in mobilizations during Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

From the Command Sergeant Major...
Command Sgt. Maj. William J. Payne | 02/19/2010

Welcome to 2010 and to a new decade. Does it seem like it’s been ten years since Y2K and the prediction the world would come to a grinding halt? Well, it has been 10 years and there have been a number of changes and challenges in the past decade, some good and some not so good and with the New Year the only constant is change.

The Bad was the terrorist attacks on our country on September 11, 2001. Since then our lives, for those of us who serve in uniform and especially the Reserve and National Guard, have been changed forever. We are no longer the old strategic reserve force sitting on the bench, waiting to be called, but never getting into the game. Since 9-11 will have been part of the starting team. The current up-tempo operations would be impossible to sustain without the support of reserve forces.

TRAVEL USA
| 02/19/2010

Re-Defining Adventure

If you’re looking for the “Southern Jewel” everyone is talking about, you’ve finally found it. Berkeley County, South Carolina, located just minutes from downtown Charleston and 90 minutes from Myrtle Beach, is cradled in what is quickly becoming known as the “emerging new south.” 

Griffon
| 12/07/2009

As the 108th Training Command (IET) continues to grow, it will be difficult for the Public Affairs Staff to visit each brigade, battalion and company to cover news events. Public Affairs is the responsibility of all commanders and Soldiers alike.

in briefs…
J.D. Leipold | 02/19/2010

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Jan. 7, 2010) — The Army’s top operations officer said yesterday that not only will the Army add a new combat aviation brigade to the warfight, it will also increase the number of aircraft in medical evacuation companies.

From the desk of the Chief Executive Officer...
Command Chief Warrant Officer Shirley B. Moser | 02/19/2010

It is with great excitement that I begin my new position as Command Chief Warrant Officer of the 108th Training Command.  The journey has been very challenging but very rewarding.  I envisioned this moment many times and wondered what it would feel like to be in CW5 Gary Williams’ shoes.  I read his column and appreciated the excellent job he did in mentoring Soldiers and taking care of their needs during his tenure as Command Chief.  I know this will be the best time in my entire career as a Soldier and Warrant Officer.  There are many things I hope to accomplish as I grasp the enormous job before me.  I want to touch base with all the Warrant Officers within the 108th Training Command and let them know who I am and what I stand for as I accomplish this mission.  I want to know their problems and improve communication.