DISASTER RESPONSE EXERCISE SIMULATES EARTHQUAKE

A T W O P A R T S E R I E S F O C U S E D O N T H E H I S T O R Y O F 

TENNESSEE’S JOINT FORCE HEADQUARTERS

INTERVIEW WITH COL 

DARNBUSH OF THE 

278TH ARMORED CAV

JFHQ 101

THE VOLUNTEER STATE

guard

magazine

SPOTLIGHT ON LEADERSHIP -FORGING FRIENDSHIPS THROUGH 

TENNESSEE 

NATIONAL GUARD 

YOUTH CAMPS
2 VSGM FALL 2014

VolState Guard is published to provide command and public information about Tennessee Guard Soldiers and Airmen throughout the world. 

Views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily 

reflect the official view of and it is not endorsed by the U.S. Government, 

the Department of Defense or the Departments of the Army and the Air 

Force. This publication does not supersede any information presented 

in any other official Air or Army publication. Articles, photos, artwork and 

letters are invited and should be addressed to: Editor, The Volunteer 

State Guard, 3041 Sidco Dr., Attn: TNPAO, Nashville, TN 37204.

For more information, the staff can be reached by telephone (615) 313-

0633, or by email to tnpao@live.com. The Volunteer State Guard reserves the right to edit all material. Published works may be reprinted, 

except where copyrighted, provided credit is given to The Volunteer 

State Guard and the authors. Distribution of the The Volunteer State 

Guard is electronic and can be downloaded at: http://www.tnmilitary.org

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

SENIOR EDITOR

ART DIRECTOR

PHOTO EDITING

PHOTOGRAPHY 

WRITERS

MAJ (Ret.) Randy Harris

Rob Pennington

Rob Pennington

Rob Pennington, 

SPC Chris Daily

MAJ (Ret.) Randy Harris,

CW4 Nick Atwood, 

Lt. Col. (Ret) Niki Gentry,

SFC (Ret) John Evans,

CW2 Emily Wiest, 

SMSgt Paul Mann,

MSgt Robin Olsen, 

SGT Paul Banks, Sr. 

SPC Chris Daley,

SGT Art Guzman

SSG Melissa Wood,

SFC Matthew Zier, 

MAJ (Ret.) Randy Harris, 

Lt. Col. (Ret) Niki Gentry, 

SMSgt Paul Mann,

MSgt Robin Olsen, 

SFC Matthew Zier, 

SSG Melisa Washington, 

Rob Pennington

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

SHARE YOUR 

STORY! 

Contact us at 

tnpao@live.com

THE VOLUNTEER STATE 

GUARD MAGAZINE

PREPARING FOR DISASTER 

PAGE 13

PAGE 10 PAGE 17

JFHQ 101

PAGE 8

PAGE 18

PAGE 16

PAGE 11

PAGE 19

PAGE 12
3 VSGM FALL 2014

COL DENSON TREE PLANTING

Soldiers from the Tennessee Army National Guard plant a Bur Oak tree in 

honor of COL (Ret.) Donnie Denson at Joint Force Headquarters, April 30th, 

2014. 

PHOTO BY: SSG Melissa Wood 

T E N N E S S E E 

SNAPSHOT
4 VSGM FALL 2014

MEMORIAL DAY 2014

Governor Bill Haslam presents flags and state flowers to the families of fallen 

Tennessee servicemembers during Memorial Day services at Legislative Plaza in 

Nashville, Tenn., May 23, 2014.

PHOTO BY: SSG Melissa Wood

T E N N E S S E E 

SNAPSHOT
5 VSGM FALL 2014

RANGE TRAINING

Soldiers from the 230th Sustainment Brigade prepare for annual weapons 

qualification at the range on the Volunteer Training Site - Tullahoma, Tenn., 

May 3, 2014.

PHOTO BY: SGT Paul C. Banks Sr. 

T E N N E S S E E 

SNAPSHOT
6 VSGM FALL 2014

WELCOME HOME 181ST

The 1-181st Field Artillery Battalion returned home from deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, June 17, 2014.

PHOTO BY: SPC Chris Daley

T E N N E S S E E 

SNAPSHOT
7 VSGM FALL 2014

Information Technology Solutions

Is your family able to pay for your funeral and house hold 

expenses once your are gone?

BENEFITS

1. Total NGAT 

group claim paid in 

24 hours

2. Payroll deduction 

from your military 

check

3. Life insurance 

payable in event of 

death from any 

cause

4. Coverage is 24 

hours a day, 365 

days a year

5. No war or suicide 

clause, aviation 

exclusion, nor 

hazardous duty or 

civilian occupation 

restriction

6. Keep insurance 

after you discharge, 

premiums will not 

change

State Sponsored Life Insurance

Unexpected

Although funeral prices vary considerably between funeral homes and 

geographic areas of the country, here is a reasonable “ballpark” estimate 

of the main costs that are involved:

1. fee for the funeral director’s services: $1,800

2. cost for a casket: $2,300

3. embalming: $625

4. cost for using the funeral home for funeral service: $500

5. cost of a grave site: $1,000

6. cost to dig the grave: $600

7. cost of a grave liner or outer burial container: $1,000

8. cost of a headstone: $1,500

9. Hurst services: $275

TOTAL: $9,600

That’s just for the “main” items. There could be additional charges for 

things like placing the obituary in the newspaper and buying flowers.

Planning for the

State Sponsored Life Insurance (SSLI) is a program that provides group term life 

insurance exclusively for National Guard members and their dependents. 

COVERAGE 

AMOUNT MEMBER SPOUSE DEPENDENT

$50,000 $20.40

$35,000 $14.40

$25,000 $10.40 $10.40

$20,000 $8.40

$10,000 $4.40 $4.40 $6.70

$5,000 $2.40 $3.35

If interested in applying for Group Life Insurance Please feel free to contact Julie 

Longard, Insurance Administrator at 615-833-9100 or Julie@ngatn.org

1. fee for the funeral director’s services: 

2. cost for a casket: 

3. embalming: 

4. cost for using the funeral home for funeral service: 

5. cost of a grave site: 

6. cost to dig the grave: 

7. cost of a grave liner or outer burial container: 

8. cost of a headstone: 

9. hearse services:

$1,800

$2,300

$625

$500

$1,000

$600

$1,000

$1,500

$275

Is your family able to pay for your funeral and household

expenses once you are gone?
8 VSGM FALL 2014

I

n 1942, the area south of Thompson 

Lane became the Classification Center 

for the U.S. Army Air Corps. Towards 

the end of World War II, and up until 

Oct 1, 1945, it was the Separation Center 

for the U.S. Navy. Now the hill overlooking 

Powell Avenue and Sidco Drive is the home 

of the Tennessee National Guard Headquarters, Houston Barracks. The Maj. Gen. 

Hugh B. Mott National Guard Headquarters, and the Clement-Nunnally Armory 

dominate the area south of Armory Drive 

to the intersection of Powell and Sidco.

 The World War II complex had at least 

14 Mess Halls, fire halls, recreation halls, 

two theaters, a chapel, school, library, warehouses, drill fields, pistol ranges, and rows 

of barracks with nearby wash houses to 

provide showers and toilets at its peak.

 The $5 million dollar facility was two 

miles long and accommodated 10,000 cadets, 500 enlisted Soldiers and 200 Officers. 

After expansion, the capacity was reported 

by the media of over 30,000.

 The military complex sprawled over as 

many as 560 acres starting in 1942. The 

hundreds of barracks and buildings were 

intended to be temporary , mostly sided 

with nothing but tar-paper, which stayed in 

use as long as ten years. 

 In the beginning, the center was seen 

as a great addition to the Nashville area at 

Radnor Yards. After proposal in 1942, it 

was rushed into construction under the direction of the Nashville Architectural firms 

of Warfield & Keeble and Foster & Creighton, and accepted its first cadets in mid July 

of that same year.

 Nashville’s City Council had quickly 

approved contracts with the federal government to provide water, sewer and electric 

services. The sites proximity to the rail 

lines at Radnor Yards was also considered a 

plus.

 The role of the Classification Center was 

evaluation of skills and aptitudes before 

classifying cadets as pilots, navigators or 

bombardiers. The process took from a matThe Military History of the Sidco Drive Area

by MAJ (Ret) Randy D. Harris - Director, Joint Public Affairs & Strategic Communications

PART 1 OF A 2 PART SERIES

(Above) The Sidco Drive Area Barracks housed Nashville area military 

veterans and their families when they needed a place to live. 

JFHQ 101
9 VSGM FALL 2014

ter of days to a few weeks.

 Pilot candidates were then sent to Maxwell Field (now Maxwell Air Force Base) in 

Alabama for training, bombardiers to Santa 

Anna, Calif., and navigators to Monroe, La. 

 Candidates recalled that the Psychological tests were the most feared. 

 “There were questions such as, ‘What 

would you do if you were driving a military 

truck with a load of GIs in the back and a 

little girl ran in front of you. Would you 

turn quickly and risk injuring the passengers in the back, or would you hit the girl?”

 A Women’s Army Corps (WAC) contingent was added by 1943, and brought 

females into the classification center mix. 

They performed mostly clerical duties 

which freed male Soldiers for foreign 

service. The center’s 1,000 personnel were 

about 60 percent women at this time. 

 The Nashville community was aided in 

several ways by the center. When it was 

discovered that no one had thought to 

provide clothes hangers, a public drive to 

supply them was launched. When Soldier’s 

relatives would visit for holidays or other 

events, more than 400 Nashvillians opened 

their homes to provide rooms.

 The arrival of 86 enlisted men in April 

of 1944 marked the first group of Army 

Air Corps casualties being placed in a new 

convalescent centers developed on the site. 

They flew in to Berry Field and were transported to their wards by ambulance and 

staff cars.

 When the war ended, the Classification 

Center was transformed into the Naval Personnel Separation Center , one of only five 

in the country. This new facility opened in 

October of 1945, and was intended to process about 7,000 to 20,000 Navy personnel 

weekly. The average stay for these troops 

was three days.

 City officials anticipated some problems 

from what one newspaper described as, 

“the underworld, gamblers, prostitutes, and 

camp followers or amateur prostitutes.” Listening to this concern, the Navy sent several hundred Shore Patrolmen to the center 

to keep order as the thousands of veterans 

moved in and out of the city with their discharge pay of $200 to $1,000, of which only 

$50 was in cash.

 A permanently assigned staff of 1,400 

enlisted Sailors and 120 Navy officers operated the center. They provided those passing through with “full information on the 

re-integration to civilian life”. This re-integration included lectures, movies and pamphlets, as well as physical exams, discharge 

papers and transportation arrangements.

 After the Navy’s use, late in 1945, the 

complex took on a third role housing the 

Nashville area’s military veterans who needed a place to live. About 800 families ended 

up here. The barracks were divided into two 

family dwellings. The tar paper was peeling 

outside, but to the families , it was home. 

The $15 monthly rent included electricity 

and water. A coal stove provided heat, a 

wood stove was there for cooking, and the 

kitchen had a sink with running water. For 

bathing, washing clothes and toilet needs, 

there was a shared “wash house” in another 

building nearby.

 The federal government leased the site 

to the Nashville Public Housing Authority 

until it was declared surplus in 1952. The 

remaining veterans and their families, 

about 275 in all, were relocated.

(Continued in the next issue of the Volunteer 

State Guard Magazine)

Article by MAJ (Ret) Randy D. Harris

Director, Joint Public Affairs & Strategic Communications

Contributors to this article include:

The Nashville Tennessean

The Nashville Retrospect

SGT Miles M. Capps III

Mr. Ralph Brown

Ms. Stephanie Day

COL Brad Bishop

JFHQ 101

Barracks were divided into two family 

dwellings, tar paper was peeling outside, but to the families, it was home. 

The area off Thomson lane where 

the Classification Center was located - The Tennessean
10 VSGM FALL 2014

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. - For almost 

20 years, the Tennessee National Guard’s 

Child and Youth Program has hosted a 

Youth Development Week for military-connected children of Tennessee. This year, the 

Child and Youth Program will host over 

200 campers from across the 

state on Boxwell Reservation 

in Lebanon, Tenn.

 Paige Major, Child and 

Youth Program coordinator, explains the impact this 

camp makes on Tennessee’s 

military kids. 

 “This camp builds confidence in our military youth 

and cultivates friendships. 

Due to military families 

being geographically dispersed, this is a unique 

opportunity for them to take 

part in fellowship with other 

military-connected kids that 

share a common bond,” she said.

 Campers spend the week team-building 

and bonding with other children that understand the pressures that come with being 

part of a military family, usually at little or 

no cost to the family. 

 In support of the youth camp, the Dollar 

General Corporation took time during their 

2014 Human Resources Summit to donate 

and pack 300 backpacks with beach towels, 

water bottles, bug repellent, and sunscreen 

for campers and volunteers.

 Lt. Col. James Reed, deputy director for 

the Tennessee National Guard Military 

Family Readiness Operations, expressed his 

gratitude for Dollar General’s donation to 

the youth camp.

 “We really appreciate everything the 

Dollar General is doing for our kids, donating time putting these bags together,” he 

said to Dollar General employees during 

the summit.

 Employees also packed snack bags for 

the United Services Organization, or USO, 

to be handed out to deploying troops from 

Fort Campbell, Ky. 

 Dollar General Corporation is known for 

its exemplary community efforts through 

the Dollar General Literacy Fund, Paycheck 

for Patriots, and several other campaigns.

 Denine Torr, Dollar General Corporation’s Community Initiative Director, put 

it simply. “We want to be serving others, 

lifting them up,” she said. 

 The Child and Youth Program graciously 

welcomes donations for the local community and encourages other organizations to 

get involved.

 “We appreciate the community support 

because it expands the quality 

of the program. Military youth 

have more opportunities than 

ever before due to the compassion and generosity of local 

organizations,” Paige said.

 For more information about 

the Tennessee National Guard 

Child and Youth Program and 

ways to donate, please contact 

Paige Major at 615-313-0547.

- SSG MELISA 

WASHINGTON

Dollar General Employees packed and donated 

backpacks for the 2014 Youth Camp. (Photo by CW2 Emily Wiest)

Forging friendships through Tenn. 

National Guard Youth Camps

YOUTH CAMPS

(Left) The Tennessee National Guard Youth 

Camps allows children to interact with other military-connected kids. 

YOUTH PROGRAM
11 VSGM FALL 2014

SMYRNA, Tenn. - Tennessee Army National Guard Soldiers from A Battery, 

1-181st Field Artillery Battalion, based in 

Lawrenceburg, Tenn., returned 

to the state on June 17, following 

their deployment in support of 

Operation Enduring Freedom. 

 Seventy-five members departed from post deployment 

processing at Fort Bliss, Texas, 

and returned to the Volunteer 

Training Site in Smyrna, Tenn., 

by a chartered flight. The group 

was met by a large gathering of 

friends and family, as well as senior leadership from Tennessee 

Guard Headquarters. 

 Maj. Gen. Max Haston, the 

Adjutant General of Tennessee, 

attended the event and welcomed the Soldiers home while thanking 

their loved ones for the sacrifices made 

during the deployment.

 “I’m glad your home, I’m glad everyone 

is safe. Families, thank you for letting us 

have your warriors for the period of time 

they have been gone,” said Haston. 

“They could not have done their job 

without you here at home so thank 

you very much,” he concluded.

 Returning Soldiers were able to 

return to their home town of Lawrenceburg, Tenn. The return was a 

very joyous occasion for those who 

had served their state and nation so 

bravely. In one case a member was 

able to meet his four-month-old son 

for the first time. 

 More than 28,000 Tennessee Army 

and Air National Guardsmen have 

deployed since Sept. 11, 2001.

- LT. COL. (RET) NIKI GENTRY

Family members and senior leaders 

welcomed home soldiers from the 

181st. (Photos by SPC Chris Daily)

HOMECOMING

The 181st Field Artillery Battalion returns from Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan

THE 181ST COMES HOME
12 VSGM FALL 2014

Sgt. Randy Sylak (middle) and Master Sgt. Bobby Sells (right), both of the 118th 

Wing Civil Engineering Squadron, providing on-the-job training to Senior 

Airman Charles Frederick (left), from the 123rd Airlift Wing CES, Louisville, 

KY, June 3, 2014. Several members from both units as well as Marine Reservists 

performed their annual training at Camp Hinds Boy Scout Camp from June 

1 - June 14. The servicemembers made several additions to the camp, including 

constructing a road, building staff cabins, laying water lines, beginning construction of a zip line, and establishing electricity across the camp site. Fixing 

up the camp provided various areas for members to get hands on training for 

their military career specialties without having to do so in a deployed environment.

ANNUAL TRAINING

Air Guard Annual Training in Raymond, Maine

TRAIN IN MAINE

Staff Sgt. Melody Kimery and Staff Sgt. Jacob 

Warren, of the 118th Wing Force Support Squadron, prepare sandwiches for lunch June 9, 2014, 

at Camp Hinds Boy Scout Camp in Raymond, 

Maine. Members of the FSS attended their twoweek annual training at the Camp and were 

responsible for providing three meals each day 

for more than 80 members of the Tennessee and 

Kentucky Air National Guards as well as Marine 

Reservists from all over the United States. 

Senior Airman Chris 

Kullman, 118th Wing Civil 

Engineering Squadron, 

wires and electric outlet 

June 13, 2014, to the outside of a staff cabin assembled at Camp Hinds Boy 

Scout Camp in Raymond, 

Maine. Kullman is one of 

eight members of the unit 

who performed annual 

training at the Camp, 

helping to upgrade several 

areas around the site.

Staff Sgt. William Leddy performs a maintenance 

check on a U.S. Marine Corps dump truck at 

Camp Hinds in Raymond, Maine, June 3, 2014. 

This is one of pieces of equipment being used at 

the Boy Scout camp.

Photos and captions by MSgt Robin Olsen
13 VSGM FALL 2014

EOC TRAINING

The June morning is beginning 

to come alive in communities 

all over Western Tennessee. A 

morning rush-hour commute 

is nearly complete. Office workers are half 

way through the work week and the muddy 

waters of the Mississippi River are flowing 

with barge traffic from distant ports. The 

Memphis International Airport is beginning 

a busy day as large airplanes lift cargo and 

passengers to global destinations. In high 

rise office buildings the clocks show 9:17 

a.m., business is underway as usual.

 This morning will not be the same. A 

sudden jolt beneath the earth and a grumbling roar deep underground are the first indications. Giant geysers of water and sand 

begin to explode from fields, roads, yards 

and street corners. Cracks begin to open 

and the concrete sections of Memphis begin 

to shake violently, turning highways into a 

wet cement-like consistency as vehicles and 

heavy objects begin to sink into the rolling 

ground. Along the bluffs of the Mississippi River, landslides collapse into the water. 

Buildings in Memphis violently sway as the 

ground slips away from their foundations. 

Bridges, pipelines, overpasses and roadways 

collapse; numerous fires from ruptured gas 

lines ignite. The air is filled with dust from 

the giant sand geysers spraying massive 

amounts of liquefied earth under high pressure far into the sky. Within minutes cities 

and communities throughout the region become unrecognizable as structures collapse 

and the bright day is filled with smoke, dust 

and clouds of hazardous vapors from leaking chemical storage facilities along the east 

bank of the Mississippi River, the toxic mixture affects every living organism as it slowly 

creeps across the countryside. 

 In seconds, the once graceful landscape 

and beautiful dawn has been turned into one 

of the worst natural disasters to impact the 

United States. America is alerted with text 

of the news – “URGENT - MAJOR EARTHQUAKE STRIKES WESTERN TENNESSEE 

AND SURROUNDING AREA – PRELIMINARY REPORT – USGS – MAGNITUDE 

7 OR GREATER – SEVERE DAMAGE REPORTED...”

 The description of such an incident 

sounds like a page ripped from a science 

fiction novel - yet at 2 a.m. December 16th, 

DISASTER

PREPARING FOR

Nashville, Tenn., following a massive 

earthquake (Artistic Rendering by 

Rob Pennington)
14 VSGM FALL 2014

Inside the TNNG Emergency Operations Center, EOC (Photo by Randy Harris) 

1811, and for many days following, residents 

in northwest Tennessee, southeastern Missouri and western Kentucky experienced 

this very nightmare. In the rural areas of the 

lesser populated area along the New Madrid 

Fault, the earth gave way and created a series 

of quakes that altered the landscape to this 

day, over two centuries later. 

 Preparing for a natural disaster of the 

magnitude projected along the New Madrid Fault is one of the most vital issues facing public safety in Tennessee. Emergency 

Planners at all levels of government have 

devised plans and conduct exercises both in 

the field and in their Emergency Operations 

Centers (EOC). 

 The Tennessee Military Department plays 

a vital role in the response and recovery efforts should the New Madrid Fault trigger 

a major earthquake. June 16 through June 

20, 2014, more than 1,000 Soldiers, Airmen 

and civilian emergency response personnel 

throughout the state participated in an exercise called TNCAT14 simulating a New 

Madrid disaster and enhanced their training 

on how to respond to dangers and recover 

from losses that may occur during this type 

of event.

 The Tennessee National Guard, in conjunction with the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) and the 

Tennessee State Guard, worked at locations 

throughout the state exercising plans laid 

out in the Tennessee National Guard Emergency Response Plan that fully integrates 

with the statewide Tennessee Emergency 

Management Plan.

 “The National Guard has a dual mission,” 

said Maj. Gen. Max Haston, Tennessee Adjutant General. “In addition to providing 

war fighting troops to the President, the 

Tennessee Military 

Department also has 

a state mission to 

provide the Governor with troops and 

equipment ready to 

respond to disasters 

or civil disturbances 

here at home. The 

close relationship 

between the National Guard and TEMA 

makes for a seamless 

operation integrating TEMA’s mitigation of resources and the 

Guard’s response capability.”

 On June 16th, a simulated 7.7 magnitude 

earthquake scenario was declared, setting 

into action requests for military support 

from TEMA, as local authorities in areas 

across the seismic zone began to test the capabilities of the Military Department. Soldiers and Airman of the Tennessee National 

Guard and Tennessee State Guard rapidly 

began to meet the challenges, providing numerous levels of assistance and conducting 

support missions in simulated impacted areas from East to West Tennessee.

 “This capstone exercise provided an excellent opportunity to illustrate the interoperability of all the elements that comprise 

the Tennessee Military Department,” said 

Brig. Gen. Don Johnson, Assistant Adjutant 

General, Tennessee Air National Guard. “I 

am very pleased with the ability of the state’s 

emergency operations center to communicate with the Air Wings’ command and 

control centers across the state.” Johnson 

stated these exercises are designed to stretch 

the limits of the Guard and allow them to 

address any issues that may develop. Those 

lessons learned are critical to ensure they are 

considered and dealt with prior to an actual 

emergency. 

 Brig. Gen. Terry Ethridge, Director of 

the Tennessee National Guard’s Joint Staff, 

reiterated, “TNCAT14 was a highly successful operation, demonstrating the seamless 

spirit within all elements of the Tennessee 

Military Department.” Ethridge noted a 

key element tested during the operation was 

stressing lines of communication to their 

maximum he said, “no communication failures occurred among military units due to 

PREPARING FOR DISASTER - EOC TRAINING

The Tennessee Military Department 

plays a vital role in the response and recovery efforts should the New Madrid 

Fault trigger a major earthquake.

Earthquake hazard map of the contiguous United 

States (Source: USGS)
15 VSGM FALL 2014

the numerous redundant systems now available in the state. In an actual emergency, lines of 

communication, cellular towers and various systems are expected to experience serious degradation. Yet, during the exercise, the ability to communicate was maintained at optimal levels 

to ensure critical response missions were accomplished.” Ethridge noted there are elements in 

the response that will need to be assessed and improved. “The TNCAT14 exercise tested a very 

robust response plan and validated major elements that would prove to be vital in a real world 

situation,” he said.

 The Tennessee National Guard, in conjunction with the Tennessee State Guard, which is 

commanded by Brig. Gen. (TN) Kenneth Takasaki, played an integral role providing communication support and placing personnel in various staging locations across the state. The use 

of the Tennessee State Guard, whose members are strictly volunteers, was unprecedented and 

Guard leadership praised the professionalism and value added by these personnel.

 “We spend a lot of time on deliberate planning and working through multiple scenarios. 

Then we develop the best response for each event, “said Col. Robert Covert, Operations Director for the Tennessee National Guard. “By having a deliberate plan, it allows us to excel at 

crisis/emergency planning. It is easier to adjust a plan to fit the unknown events that arise than 

it is to start from scratch each time,” said Covert.

 The TNCAT14 Exercise concluded on June 20, and the personnel involved reviewed the 

overall operations that were effective and identified elements needing further work. Overall, 

the leadership of Tennessee’s Military Department expressed how successful the exercise was 

for all involved. Using lessons learned, the Guard is now better prepared to assist fellow citizens 

during times of crises. - LT. COL. (RET) NIKI GENTRY

PREPARING FOR DISASTER - EOC TRAINING

WATER

one gallon per person per day 

for at least three days

FOOD

at least a three day supply of 

non-perishable food with a can 

opener

RADIO

hand crank or battery powered 

with extra batteries

FLASHLIGHT

one or two flashlights with extra 

batteries

WHISTLE

to signal for help

DUST MASK

SANITATION

moist towelettes, garbage bags 

and plastic ties for personal 

sanitation

TOOLS 

wrench or pliers to turn off 

utilities

LOCAL MAPS

FIRST AID KIT

MAKE A BASIC 

EMERGENCY 

SUPPLY KIT

(for any potential emergency)

Q

An inflatable antenna provides communication on the fly. (photo by J6)
16 VSGM FALL 2014

Program Gives Voters Way to Honor Military

From the office of the Tennessee Secretary of State, Tre Hargett

Voting and paying tribute to our nation’s active and retired armed services 

personnel are two of the most patriotic acts citizens can perform. A new program launched by the Secretary of State’s Office this week allows people to tie 

the two together. 

 

Secretary of State Tre Hargett announced the “Tennessee Honor Vote” program in 2012 

which provides citizens with an opportunity to dedicate their votes in the upcoming election to the servicemen and servicewomen of their choice. 

 A new page has been developed on the Secretary of State’s website where people may 

sign up and dedicate a personal message to one or more active or retired members of the 

armed forces. 

 Once the messages have been reviewed, they will be posted online. Each participant in 

the program will receive an “Honor Vote” button and a letter of appreciation from Secretary Hargett. 

 The program began with dedications during the November 6, 2012, election, and will 

continue for future elections as well. 

 “Members of our armed services fight and sometimes make the ultimate sacrifice to 

protect our freedoms,” Hargett said. “Their service highlights how important it is for us 

to exercise our constitutional right to vote. I encourage Tennesseans to participate in this 

program, which is absolutely free of charge. It only takes a few minutes to sign up and 

prepare a message. And those messages to our active military and veterans may mean 

more to them than we’ll ever realize.”

 “More than 28,000 members of the Tennessee National Guard have deployed since 9/11, making Tennessee the fourth largest National Guard 

state for deployments,’ Major General Max Haston, Tennessee’s Adjutant General, said. “Many of these Soldiers and Airmen have seen firsthand, 

in Iraq and Afghanistan, just how important the right to cast your vote really is. This is a right we too often take for granted. Nothing means 

more to a service member than to be appreciated for their selfless service. The Tennessee Honor Vote program is just another way to show your 

support for the men and women defending the freedoms that we all enjoy.” 

Tre Hargett

Tennessee Secretary of State

To participate in this program, 

go to: www.GoVoteTN.com/honor 

or call toll-free 1-877-850-4959. 

R

VOTER PROGRAM

HONOR VOTE
17 VSGM FALL 2014

Air Guard Percussionist Taps Out After 

24-Year Performance

MCGHEE TYSON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Tenn. 

- A typical annual training day has different definitions for 

nearly every member of the National Guard. The Air National 

Guard Band of the South formerly of the Smokey Mountains, 

began a two-hour road trip on July 3, that started at 5 a.m. For 

one band member it was a ride to his farewell performance.

 After 24 years in military bands, including the Band of the 

South, a career percussionist tapped out his grand finale for 

the residents of Panama City, Fla.

 Master Sgt. Eric Odiorne, and the band’s 40 other members, 

finished their summer tour, playing for a military audience 

during a change of command ceremony at Hurlburt Field Air 

Force Base, followed by two performances in nearby Panama 

City. It was part of the city’s Pier Park Summer Concert Series, 

with the last show being a Fourth of July fireworks concert.

 The fireworks added the boom for Odiorne to the final 

concert of his military career. For the band, it was the last 

show in their annual road tours that entertain and educate 

thousands with military music and regalia. The band will 

play on, but without Odiorne.“I will really miss the people, 

the comradery, and the interactions with the audiences,” he 

said.

 He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in September 1986, playing for the U.S. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps at the Marine Barracks, a short 

walk from the nation’s capital. He also played for the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center at Twentynine Palms, Calif. “I loved serving and 

being a Marine, but wanted to finish college and complete my computer programming degree,” said Odiorne. He finally did earn his degree and 

got a job as a software developer. But he always remembered his time serving as a band member.

 A trade show four years later brought him back to the service. There, he met Airmen from the Air National Guard Band of the Smoky Mountains, who told him the band was in need of a percussionist. Within months, Odiorne enlisted with the Tennessee Air National Guard. “Eric has 

been welcoming and kind,” said Master Sgt. Patrick Hydo, remembering the first time they met. “Quickly after I joined the unit, he became both a 

friend and mentor.”

 Over the next 20 years, Odiorne and the Air National Guard Band of the South played for audiences throughout the southern U.S. and across 

the world. In 2008, the band deployed to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and Odiorne was there with his percussion 

talents. He and other band members said the deployment still holds special memories. “I am in denial that he is retiring,” said Tech. Sgt. Traci 

Carico. “There was a special bond formed during deployment. Eric was a key part of holding the group together and has always been a great mentor for our Airmen.” 

 “That bond resonates through the team. I haven’t known Eric for as long as some of the others, but I absolutely adore his complete sense of 

ease,” said Tech. Sgt. David Fairchild. “There has not been a situation that I have been in with him where he has not been the epitome of our band 

- confident, relaxing and welcoming.”

 With his instruments packed away, Odiorne will orchestrate his career as a software developer at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn.

“Juggling two separate careers was becoming too difficult to balance, so something had to give,” said Odiorne. “This final tour was fantastic, and 

I’m just happy that I was able to be part of it with my Guard family.” - SMSgt PAUL MANN

The Air National Guard Band of the South performs the final 

concert of their Summer Concert Series, July 4, 2014, in Panama 

City, Fla., at the Aaron Bessant Park Amphitheater. 

AIR GUARD BAND

PERCUSSIONIST 

TAPS OUT
18 VSGM FALL 2014

While in Nashville, Tenn., to visit the National Governor’s 

Association, Gen. Frank Grass, the Chief, National Guard 

Bureau, briefs Tennessee Guard senior staff. Pictured 

in the photo left to right: Maj. Gen. Judd Lyons, Acting 

Director, Army National Guard, Gen. Grass, Maj. Gen. 

Max Haston, the Adjutant General for Tennessee and Maj. 

Gen. Robert Harris, Assistant Adjutant General, Army for 

Tennessee. 

SPECIAL GUEST

Gen. Frank Grass Visits Joint Force Headquarters

NGB CHIEF MEETS

WITH TNNG LEADERSHIP 

Photos by SFC (Ret) John Evans
19 VSGM FALL 2014

INTERVIEW

In future editions of the Volunteer 

State Guard magazine we’ll highlight 

the senior leaders of all Tennessee 

National Guard major commands. 

This is the first of such interviews 

where we endeavor to ask questions 

that provoke insightful and informative answers all members of the Tennessee National Guard may find beneficial.

SPOTLIGHT ON 

LEADERSHIP:

Colonel Darrell Darnbush is the 11th 

Commander of the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, headquartered in Knoxville, 

Tennessee. A construct of the U.S. Army’s 

Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT) 

the 278th geographically stretches across 

the entire state. Their mission is to conduct 

decisive action, which is the continuous, 

simultaneous combination of offensive, 

defensive and stability or defense support 

of civilian authorities (DSCA). In a June 

interview with Chief Warrant Officer Nick 

Atwood, Deputy Director of Joint Public 

Affairs, Colonel Darnbush spoke candidly 

about the storied lineage and mission of the 

Regiment, his personal leadership philosophy and the unit posture in light of the current environment of constrained resources. 

He also addressed why now is the best time 

ever to serve as a Citizen Soldier, and what 

every Soldier in his command needs to 

know about his views on the way forward 

after more than a decade at war. 

CW4 Atwood: Selection to command at the brigade level is 

a significant milestone in any 

officer’s career. Considering 

the regimental heritage of the 

278th, educate our readers on 

the lineage and mission, as 

well as what it means to you, 

personally, having been selected to command such a storied 

unit.

COL Darnbush: First of all, that saying 

of, “you can never go home again“, is not 

entirely true. I’ve spent 22 of my 31 years 

in the 278th ACR. I left the regiment as a 

squadron commander in 2008 and thought 

I was gone forever but last year, lo and behold, I was asked to command again. So it 

was very exciting for me to go home again. 

 The uniqueness of the National Guard, 

specifically the 278th, is that you can trace 

your roots back to the beginning, to the 

pre-revolutionary war days, through the 

Civil War, then WWI, and WWII. Then 

there was that lull during the Korean War 

for some units, and portions of the 278th 

were mobilized for Korea, but not as a 

whole unit with the regimental combat 

team. In 2004 and again 2009 the Regiment 

was mobilized for Operation Iraqi Freedom. 

 We can look back to World War II and 

see how we were part of the 30th Division 

with the 117th Infantry Regiment, the unit 

the historian for the European Theater of 

Operations claimed was the best battalion 

in the European Theater of Operations. 

Mr. Marshall wrote that himself, and so the 

lineage and honor is like, “really?” 

 Then in the blink of an eye, I find myself in command of the unit in which our 

grandfathers and great grandfathers fought 

and commanded during the major wars of 

this nation’s history. 

 Some things never change regardless of 

names of the city. What is unique about 

the National Guard in Athens, or Knoxville, 

Tennessee is that they have been home to 

many, many units. It’s how you trace your 

lineage going back to pre-revolutionary 

war days. That’s the great thing, as we look 

back and see what this unit was in 1955 

what is it now in 2014. The regimental 

heritage in total is something that has been 

part of the National Guard, the Tennessee 

National Guard, since Kings Mountain. In 

1977 it became the 278th Armored Cavalry 

An Interview with 

Colonel Darrell Darnbush
20 VSGM FALL 2014

INTERVIEW

Regiment and that’s what it’s been for the 

past 30 plus years. That’s where we get the 

local National Guard tie-in, when we talk 

about “the regiment” we’re talking about the 

people. We’ve gone where a town can be a 

infantry unit— the 117th Infantry Battalion 

a long time ago—it became an Armored 

Cavalry Squadron and a few years later it’s a 

Military Police company or battalion. But, 

that’s what is unique about that town, it’s 

the people of each town who support the 

unit. 

 The past commanders of the 278th 

sought participation in active component 

warfighter/war games to get the name of the 

regiment out there. We learned by doing 

through all the military buildup in the 

70’s and 80’s, and then in the 90’s when we 

started getting the active component units 

to be our external evaluators the regiment 

had a really good name with our active duty 

counterparts because there were select few 

Armored Cavalry Regiments. Then it just 

took off when we look back at the history of 

the regiment in the late 90’s to the present. 

 We did an NTC rotation in 2002 and we 

thought that was it—and then two years 

later we were mobilized for OIF—and the 

regiment has done that twice. Being a 

commander today, I can look back into the 

roots when the 117th was chasing Poncho 

Villa across Mexico, and then coming back 

and mobilizing for WWI, and then later 

WWII being named the best battalion in 

the European theater of operations. What 

I’m saying is that those cities and towns 

that were part of that are still part of the 

regiment or at least the National Guard of 

Tennessee.

CW4 Atwood: With so much 

written on the subject of leadership these days, it is nearly 

impossible to deny the importance implied by the writers. 

One Army inspector even went 

so far as to comment to me 

years ago his view when he 

said, “leadership makes the 

world go around.” What are 

your thoughts on his comment 

and I’d like you to elaborate 

on the basic principles of your 

command/leadership philosophy.

COL Darnbush: Well, as far as leadership 

makes the world go “around”—it’s leadership that makes the world go. ”Around”, to 

me, means there’s a circular motion, which 

means someone is mentoring/developing someone else so there is a continuous 

circle of leadership. Leadership provides 

the direction and motivation for Soldiers 

to do great things and that is why they are 

here. Leadership is at all levels—formal and 

informal. You can have a Citizen Soldier 

in our civilian population who is a subject 

matter expert in a field totally unrelated to 

their military occupational skill, but that 

skill set might be needed and would make 

him an informal leader if that trade or skill 

is necessary. That said, within the 278th 

we want to expand our unity. Using our 

command and leadership philosophy we 

want to extend the unity beyond the armory walls, meaning—jobs for example—if 

you’re an employer we want you to hire 

people from your unit that are in the 278th 

or in the Tennessee Army National Guard. 

If you need a job then your battle buddy, or 

someone in your unit, can help. They can 

point you in the right direction and if not 

then we’ve also got plenty of areas within 

the Tennessee Army National Guard that 

can assist in that effort. We want to be able 

to have an individual battle buddy support 

program to expand our unity outside our 

armory walls for Soldiers to maintain contact—not just see each other on drill weekend but during the month. 

 What can we do? Come to training 

meetings—no. They might be friends on 

Facebook; they might connect through social media or other sort of contact. Family 

support—whether it’s the family readiness 

group that’s the formal structure or family 

support because a family is in need then 

someone’s going to step up and meet that 

need. That goes to business support—if you 

own a business and you’re in the regiment 

or in the Tennessee National Guard that’s 

the business we want to solicit, that’s the 

business we want to support. So when we 

talk about making the world go around, 

that’s our circle and that’s our regiment 

within the Tennessee Army National 

Guard. In short, at the end of the day some 

individual is going to stand up and take 

responsibility, whether that’s a duty position 

or somebody sees a need—they meet the 

need.

CW4 Atwood: What are your 

expectations for those men and 

women in your command and 

what can they expect from you 

as their senior leader?

COL Darnbush: The regiment expects 

attendance for individual drill weekends 

(IDT) and your annual training. We expect 

the Soldier to be able to become duty MOS 

qualified and when possible perform and 

get trained on additional duties. Whether 

that is a sexual assault point of contact, a 

sexual assault representative, equal opportunity, or unit movement officer. Those additional duties are enormous, so when they 

are assigned that position there’s already 

training established so they can receive 

what will aid them in the job, which in turn 
21 VSGM FALL 2014

INTERVIEW

aids each Soldier of the regiment. Another 

expectation I have of the Soldiers is individual readiness—you know leaders can only 

do so much so the individual Soldier needs 

to ensure they are physically fit and medically capable of performing their duties. I 

expect the Soldier to be professional and 

conduct self-development. As far as NCO’s 

and Officers are concerned, the moment 

they put on the stripe or bar the Guard is 

no longer just a “weekend job”. In short, 

the Soldier takes care of his or herself, their 

family, and wants to develop and progress—

they will do those things—they will show 

up for drill. And then, what the Soldiers 

can expect from me as their leader, is fair 

and equitable treatment, training for their 

MOS (military occupational skill), training 

for their unit whether it’s individual or collective tasks to prepare them for a mission 

or a capability. I’m just pointing in the 

direction and believe me we have numerous 

Soldiers that will go.

CW4 Atwood: When did you 

begin your career as a Citizen 

Soldier, what do you see as the 

two most challenging issues 

facing Guardsmen and women 

today, and are these just challenges, in your opinion, or opportunities?

COL Darnbush: I enlisted in 1983 as an E-3 

71B personnel administrative specialist. I 

was in college about to begin my junior year 

so I joined in an effort to pay for college—

but then I found something that I needed—I found the discipline, I found order 

in my life and I definitely found purpose. 

Probably, I found something I was good at. 

As far as those challenges you mentioned—

one of them is social media. It’s a great way 

to tell the individual story, the Guard story. 

It’s great for contact, as I mentioned regarding expanding the unity beyond the walls of 

the armory. It also includes the family, so 

the family knows what’s going on and the 

family can stay in touch with not just each 

other but with the unit itself and possibly its 

leaders. 

 Then there’s always the “but”. But, using 

social media for rumors, falsehoods, ganging up on somebody, or you might say or 

do something that’s not respectful, social 

media becomes a negative. For example, 

on Facebook you say that you are COL 

Darnbush and you just say bad things about 

people or about a certain political office . 

. . people aren’t seeing Darrell Darnbush 

they’re seeing that rank and they’re seeing 

that I’m a member of what organization. 

Think before you post!

 The second challenge is our domestic 

operations—in the event of a natural disaster, our first responsibility is the accountability of our Soldiers and their families. 

Are they safe? Do they need any assistance 

to eliminate that personal suffering? When 

a tornado comes through a town it’s hard 

for the Guard to respond if its own members have suffered, so we need to make sure 

that they’re taken care of and they know 

where to go to seek help and that others will 

continue the mission.

CW4 Atwood: What have been 

some of the 278th’s greatest 

successes during your time, 

both pre-command and as commander? What are some of the 

enduring challenges, and how 

might they be overcome?

COL Darnbush: Well, the 278th’s greatest 

success during my time, you know as I said 

22 years, has been its endurance. Endurance during cutbacks in the 90’s when we 

became an enhanced brigade, the only 

armored cavalry regiment in the Reserve 

Component! 

 New equipment training—as the National Guard was allowed to modernize equipment the 278th ACR went from M48A5 

and M60A3 tanks to M1IP’s, and then 

M1A1’s within a four or five year period 

right after Desert Storm. You’re able to field 

new equipment because Soldiers are available and Soldiers do the training, and that 

speaks very highly of your organization. 

 Some of the other key things that have 

come up during my time—we provided 

security for the summer Olympics in 1996 

on the Ocoee River venue for the white 

water rafting—specifically, the 1st Squadron, 278th ACR provided that security. 

The NTC rotation in 2002, at the time, was 

the largest deployment and movement of 

equipment and personnel since WWII. 

 Our mobilization and deployment in 

support of OIF III in 2004 exceeded that 

of both NTC and WWII. Then again in 

2009—we faced the difference between 

going from a full spectrum operation to a 

security force operation. In all those cases, 

the Soldiers and leadership of the regiment 

performed the tasks that they were given to 

do—and really wanted to do more if provided the opportunity. The strengths of the 

regiment are those that endure regardless of 

the unit type and the city, remember I talked about how they can change, and that the 

Soldiers have the passion to serve their state 

and nation. To be able to know that there’s 

a state mission as well as a federal mission. 

One of those challenges is the predictability—what does the future hold for the National Guard as a whole. Then you start to 

look at Tennessee and then the 278th. I’m 

confident that the state and national leadership is doing everything it can to make sure 

the 278th ACR maintains itself as a brigade 

combat team and definitely remains relevant to the total force policy.

CW4 Atwood: Obviously, your 

day to day focus as Regimental 

Commander is on interaction 

with your staff and squadron 

commanders. Most of your 

Soldiers do not get an opportunity to work as closely with you 

as the aforementioned leaders. 

With that in mind, are there any 

insights you can provide that 

might benefit everyone in your 

command regardless of rank or 

position?

COL Darnbush: The regiment is always 

about the troopers—the Soldiers that perform their missions and execute those given 

tasks are the heart and soul of the 278th 

Armored Cavalry Regiment. We are a family—and we are in the family business. Just 

as important are the families of every Soldier. The family provides the stability for 

our Soldiers to attend drills, go to military 

schools, conduct annual training, and when 

necessary, deploy to protect our national 

interests. In addition, we’re prepared to 

provide assistance to our state in the event 

of state emergencies. The regiment’s motto 

of, “I volunteer, Sir!” has a meaning and 

purpose. We’re all part of an extraordinary 

history—today at this time and together, 

the current regiment—we’re going to make 

our own history.

Interview by CW4 Nick Atwood 

Photos by SGT Art Guzman
22 VSGM FALL 2014

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