The Griffon
Samantha L. Quigley | 02/19/2010

WASHINGTON (AFNS) — In an executive order issued Oct. 1, President Barack Obama banned federal employees from text messaging while behind the wheel on government business.

Text messaging, or “texting,” encompasses more than simply sending a text message via a handheld communication device. It also includes reading from any handheld or other electronic device, including for the purpose of SMS texting, e-mailing, instant messaging, obtaining navigational information, or “engaging in any other form of electronic data retrieval or electronic data communication,” the order said.

The order defines driving as “operating a motor vehicle on an active roadway with the motor running.” This includes the time the vehicle is temporarily stationary because of traffic, a traffic light or stop sign or other cause.

| 12/07/2009

”If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude.” — Colin Powell

This describes the energy, passion and effort of the 108th Training Command IET as it continues to march forward with process improvements resulting in performance excellence!

TRAVEL USA
| 12/07/2009

Louisiana’s 20 state parks, 16 historic sites, and one preservation area offer you and your family a uniquely rewarding experience of our state’s natural beauty and historical riches.

Each one of the state Historic sites was selected for its historical, cultural or archaeological significance. Museums, artifacts, outdoor displays and interpretive programs are some of the ways each area tells its remarkable story.

TRAVEL USA
| 02/19/2010

Outdoor events and activities blossom each spring in Front Royal, Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley.   Just a short, scenic drive from our Nation’s Capital will bring you back to a place where you can relax and connect with family and friends and watch nature return to life.

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.

MyCAA
Reggie Revis | 02/19/2010

As the mother of five children from ages three to 17, Lorena Howell’s household is frequently a whirlwind of activity. Gregarious and personable, she’s “the neighborhood mom” and on any given day the Howell household is filled with neighborhood kids enjoying playtime or meals with the Howell children. With so much activity going on with this dedicated, stay-at- home mom, you’d think furthering her education would be close to impossible. But, thanks to the MYCAA program for military spouses, Lorena Howell is making improvements on her resume while being available each day for her family.

TRAVEL USA
| 06/08/2010

The World’s Largest Automotive Extravaganza returns to Charlotte Motor Speedway August 26-29, 2010. The summer Food Lion AutoFair annually attracts more than 120,000 visitors. It features more than 50 car club displays and more than 10,000 vendor spaces that offer a huge array of automotive parts and memorabilia.

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.

| 12/07/2009

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is considered an anxiety disorder. Anxiety is comprised of worrisome thoughts plus excessive emotional and physical pain.

Alcohol dependence (defined as five or more drinks in the same sitting) is a powerful disorder with enormous health consequences. Alcohol dependence and chronic, excessive alcohol consumption are associated with a high risk of developing various types of chronic diseases, including psychiatric conditions, neurologic impairment and cardiovascular disease, some of which are fatal. It is estimated that in the year 2000, alcohol-consumption was responsible for 85,000 deaths, or 3.5% of all deaths, in the United States, making alcohol consumption the third leading behavioral cause of death after tobacco use, poor diet and physical inactivity. More than 55,000 veterans were admitted into addiction treatment facilities in 2000 .

DETC/AMSCUS/GOARMYED
Sgt. Heddleson | 06/08/2010

UMT has helped me in more ways than I thought possible. I am in the Air Force Reserves and have a full time job with the Government as a Civil Service employee at Robins AFB. I am also married to my wonderful wife Rebecca and have a beautiful nine-year-old daughter, Brooklyn. Before UMT, I was attending a local college, Macon State University in Macon, GA, enrolled in their Pre-Engineering degree program. It was a 30-minute drive, to and from school. I loved going to class and interacting with the students and teachers but found that working full time, going to school full time, keeping my daughter on the weekends, and going to the Reserves one weekend a month was wearing me out quick.

My goal at the time was to be an engineer on base. I soon found out that the local engineering school here did not offer any night time classes in engineering. It was too inconvenient to travel to any other school, so I was back to square one. I had kept working on my engineering core until I could come up with another plan, praying that god would give me an answer.