VSG MAGAZINE VOL.16 | ISSUE 1

1

THE TNNG SAYS FAREWELL TO THE OH-58D KIOWA WARRIOR

THE VOLUNTEER STATE

guard

magazine

VOL. 16, ISSUE 1

LAST

FLIGHT

OF THE OH-58 DELTA
VSG MAGAZINE VOL.16 | ISSUE 1 2

THE VOLUNTEER STATE GUARD MAGAZINE

PAGE 8 

LAST FLIGHT OF THE OH-58 

DELTA

The Tennessee National Guard says Farewell 

to the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior.

PAGE 16

NORANDA CORP. SHOWS 

SUPPORT

ESGR Presents a Plaque to Noranda Aluminum Holding Corporation for it’s Continued 

Support of the Guard.

PAGE 17

CYBERSECURITY THREATS

Do you know the Top Five Cybersecurity 

Threats?

PAGE 18

THE NEXT SWITCH 

Tech. Sgt. Chalanda Roberts Conquers the 

Broadcast Room.

PAGE 20

COMBINED RESOLVE V

Fox Troop, 2nd Squadron, 278th Armored 

Cavalry Regiment Collaborate in Overseas 

Deployment Training.

PAGE 23

FIRST AIR GUARD SOCIAL 

AIDE

Tenn. Airman Appointed First White House 

Social Aide.

PAGE 24

MAJCOM CHALLENGE

The Airmen on the Air National Guard’s Marathon Team Earn Second Place at this Year’s 

Competition.

PAGE 26

PURPLE HEARTS TO BE 

AWARDED

Servicemembers Killed in Chattanooga will 

be Awarded Purple Hearts by Department of 

Navy.

PAGE 27

TEC AIRMEN SWEEP 

AWARDS

Airmen Sweep Readiness Center Awards in 

Maryland.

PAGE 28

ICE CREAM FOR LIFE

The 164th Wing Supports a Fellow Airman in 

Need.

PAGE 30

RELAX: JUST A DRILL 

Tenn. Guard Chemical Unit Trains at Calsonic 

Arena.

PAGE 31

BOOK REVIEW

TNNG Historian MAJ Darrin Haas Reviews An 

Army at Dawn; The War in North Africa, 1942-

1943, By Rick Atkinson.

VOLUME 16 ISSUE 1

CONTENTS

The Volunteer State Guard Magazine 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

ART DIRECTION

SENIOR EDITORS

PHOTOGRAPHY 

WRITERS

MAJ (RET) RANDY HARRIS

ROB PENNINGTON

MASTER SGT. ROBIN BROWN

ROB PENNINGTON

1ST LT JEREMIAH GILES 

CW2 CALEB BUCY

MASTER SGT. JERRY HARLAN 

MASTER SGT. KENDRA OWENBY

MASTER SGT. MARVIN PRESTON 

MASTER SGT. KURT SKOGLUND 

MASTER SGT. MIKE R. SMITH

TECH. SGT. JONATHAN YOUNG

SSG WILLIAM JONES

SGT ARTURO GUZMAN

DAVID MELSON

DANIEL WOOLFOLK

MAJ DARRIN HAAS 

MAJ KYLE KEY

CPT HEATHER REAL

1ST LT JEREMIAH GILES

MASTER SGT. ROBIN BROWN

MASTER SGT. MIKE R. SMITH

SENIOR AIRMAN LEON BUSSEY

SSG WILLIAM JONES

DAVID LARTER

DAVID MELSON

THE COVER

Nov. 10, 2015 - 

A TNNG OH-58-D on its 

last flight, en route to the 

boneyard in Arizona.

(Photo by CW2 Caleb 

Bucy) 
VSG MAGAZINE VOL.16 | ISSUE 1 3
VSG MAGAZINE VOL.16 | ISSUE 1 4

WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA

Members of the 278th ACR work with Wreaths Across America on Dec 12, 2015. The 

annual effort is intended to raise funds to place live wreaths on the graves of veterans 

buried at the three veterans cemeteries in Knox County. 

PHOTO BY: SGT ART GUZMAN

T E N N E S S E E 

SNAPSHOT
VSG MAGAZINE VOL.16 | ISSUE 1 5

LAST FLOOR

MCGHEE-TYSON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Tenn. - The final exterior wall studs 

went up Dec. 8, 2015, on the third floor of the second dormitory building at the I.G. 

Brown Training and Education Center’s new classroom and lodging facility.

PHOTO BY: MASTER SGT. JERRY HARLAN

T E N N E S S E E 

SNAPSHOT
VSG MAGAZINE VOL.16 | ISSUE 1 6

PRESIDENT JACKSON WREATH LAYING

Members of the Tenn. National Guard present the colors at the Hermitage, the home 

of former President Andrew Jackson, in a wreath laying ceremony to honor the 201st 

Anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans, Jan. 8, 2016.

PHOTO BY: SSG WILLIAM JONES

T E N N E S S E E 

SNAPSHOT
VSG MAGAZINE VOL.16 | ISSUE 1 7

AIRMEN HELP OUT SANTA

Members of the 134th Air Refueling Wing’s Security Forces Squadron join Santa to 

spread joy around the East Tennessee Children’s hospital. Members of the Unit donate money throughout the year to make this event possible. 

PHOTO BY: TECH. SGT. JONATHAN YOUNG

T E N N E S S E E 

SNAPSHOT
VSG MAGAZINE VOL.16 | ISSUE 1 8

A TNNG OH-58-D on its last flight, en route 

to Arizona. (Photo by CW2 Caleb Bucy) 

THE END OF AN ERA

The rotor blades spun on the last nine of 

Tennessee’s 30 OH-58D Kiowa Warrior 

helicopters as they departed their units in 

Louisville, Tenn. and Jackson, Tenn., for 

the last time November 30, 2015. 

LAST

FLIGHT

OF THE OH-58 DELTA
VSG MAGAZINE VOL.16 | ISSUE 1 9

The Tennessee Army National Guard was 

the last National Guard unit to have the 

Kiowas, which were sent to a scrap yard 

in Arizona as part of the Army’s divestment of the airframe. 

 “It’s kind of bittersweet,” said Chief 

Warrant Officer 3 Peter Neveu, maintenance test pilot with the Tennessee Army 

National Guard’s 1/230th Armored Cavalry Regiment. “Our main mission has 

been to keep the bad guys from shooting 

the good guys and I think the Army is 

going to miss it.” 

 It took three separate trips during November 2015 to get all of the state’s remaining aircraft to the 309th Aerospace 

Maintenance and Regeneration Group 

(AMARG), known as the “bone yard,” 

which adjoins Davis-Monthan Air Force 

Base in Tucson, Ariz. AMARG is a joint 

service aerospace storage and maintenance facility managed by the Air Force. 

Neveu took part in all three trips.

 “We don’t have to do anything when 

we drop them off. It’s their helicopter. 

They shake our hand, say thank you, and 

we walk away from it,” said Neveu. “It’s a 

different feeling, kind of painful, knowing we have flown all of these aircraft in 

different countries and now see them being torn down for storage. It hurts a little 

bit.” The aircraft is partially disassembled 

for long term storage.

 Tennessee’s Kiowa Warriors joined 

more than 140 OH-58 helicopters already turned in just this year alone, as 

well as some C-5 Galaxy and C-130 Hercules aircraft from the Tennessee Air National Guard’s 164th Airlift Wing based 

in Memphis, Tenn., and the 118th Wing 

in Nashville, Tenn. In 2013, there were 

more than 330 Kiowas in the Army’s inventory, with 30 of those in the National 

Guard.

 “The Army made the decision that the 

OH-58 airframe was going to be taken 

out of the inventory,” said Maj. Gen. Max 

Haston, Adjutant General, Tennessee 

National Guard. “It has been in service 

since Vietnam. It’s a great airframe.”

 Ultimately, the Army wanted to reduce the overall number of airframes in 

its inventory. “It was a mathematical decision,” explained Haston.

 The OH-58 Kiowa helicopter has been 

used continuously by the Army since its 

inception in 1969. In May of that year, 

Maj. Gen. John Norton, commanding 

general of the Army Aviation Material 

Command, received the first OH-58A 

Kiowa at an official ceremony at Bell 

Helicopter’s plant in Fort Worth, Texas. 

After only two months, the first batch of 

helicopters were arriving in Vietnam for 

use in the war. Ultimately, 2,200 would 

be built between 1966 and 1989.

Development and 

Operational History

“The 58-D has been very reliable the entire time I’ve flown in it,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Andrew Farrell, a master 

gunner for the OH-58D with the 1/230th 

ACR. “It tends to always be available 

when nothing else is,” he added.

 The OH-58 is a single-engine, single-rotor military helicopter used primarily for observation, utility, and direct 

fire support. The OH-58D model, also 

known as the Kiowa Warrior, is mostly 

used as an armed reconnaissance helicopter to support troops fighting on the 

ground. The Kiowa Warrior is the armed 

version of the OH-58D. 

 In October 1960, the Navy began 

accepting proposals, as part of an Army-Navy design competition board, 

from several helicopter manufacturers. 

In May 1961, Bell was announced as one 

of the winners. The original model Bell 

presented was later rejected by the Army 

because it lacked cargo space and provided cramped quarters for the aircrew. The 

Army then chose a design by the Hughes 

Tool Co. Aircraft Division, but, in 1967, 

the Army reopened the competition for 

bids because the company couldn’t meet 

the contractual production demands. 

Bell resubmitted a redesigned aircraft 

with more cargo space and a more aesthetic appearance. In the end, Bell underbid Hughes and the Bell 206A was 
VSG MAGAZINE VOL.16 | ISSUE 1 10

designated the OH-58A “Kiowa” helicopter, 

following the Army’s naming convention 

honoring Native American tribes.

 By the 1970s, the Army wanted to improve the capabilities of their scout aircraft, 

but found that the OH-58A lacked power for 

operations in higher altitudes and hot temperatures.

 Looking for a new scout helicopter, in 

March 1974, the Army created a special task 

force at Fort Knox, known as the Advanced 

Scout Helicopter (ASH) Program. The requirements the Army wanted met were an 

aircraft capable of performing during the 

day and night, in adverse weather conditions, and compatible with advanced weapons systems planned for development and 

fielding in the 1980s. Unfortunately, the 

ASH program didn’t get off the ground because Congress declined to provide funding 

for it in the fiscal year 1977 budget and the 

program was closed in September 1976.

 In 1979, the decision was made to defer development of a new aircraft in favor 

of modifying existing airframes. The development of the Mass-Mounted Sight (MMS) 

was the primary focus to improve aircraft 

capabilities. The MMS gave aircraft additional mission capability through target acquisition and laser designation in both day 

and night, as well as better visibility during 

adverse weather. Prior to the Kiowa, helicopters couldn’t fight very well at night. At 

the time, there were only flares to light up 

the sky.

 “The MMS was really good for the time 

period when it was initially put on the aircraft; but as far as today’s technology goes, 

it lacked reliability,” explained Farrell. “So 

divestiture of it is really a good thing. There 

were other choices for sights that could have 

been mated to this aircraft, but they chose 

not to move forward with those.”

 Initially, two aircraft were evaluated to use 

this system, the OH-58 and the UH-1 Huey, 

but the UH-1 was dropped from consideration due to its larger size and ease of detection. But, the OH-58 demonstrated a dramatic reduction in detectability with MMS. 

 Another distinctive feature of the OH-58 

is the wire strike protection system. These 

are the knife-like extensions above and below the cockpit. This system protects 90 

percent of the frontal area of the helicopter 

from striking telephone and power lines at 

low altitudes. The system directs the wires 

to the upper or lower blades, cutting them 

before they can entangle the rotor blades or 

landing skids. 

 “It was first used on the Kiowa and now 

it’s widespread throughout the Army fleet,” 

said Farrell. The Kiowa was the first helicopter to test this system, which was later adopted by the Army for most of their helicopters. 

“They work just as advertised.”

 The modification of existing airframes 

became known as the Army Helicopter 

Improvement Program (AHIP). Bell and 

Hughes once again redesigned aircraft to 

compete for the contract. In September 

1981, Bell Helicopter Textron was awarded 

the development contract and the first prototype flew in 1983. The aircraft, known as 

the OH-58D, entered service in 1985, fulfilling its role as the Army’s multipurpose helicopter utilized for troop transport, medical 

evacuation, and external lift missions using 

cargo hook. This model would eventually 

Kiowa schematics 

courtesy flightglobal

OH-58D 

KIOWA 

WARRIOR

CRUISE SPEED 

WITH WEAPONS

95 kts 176 kph

RANGE

140 nm 260 km

SEATING

2 Crew Seats In Cockpit

MAXIMUM GROSS 

WEIGHT

5,500 lbs 2,495 kg

POWERPLANT

One (1) Rolls-Royce 250-C30R3

650 shp 485 kW

www.bellhelicopter.com

SPECS
VSG MAGAZINE VOL.16 | ISSUE 1 11

become what is in use today and known as 

the Kiowa Warrior.

 “It started out just kind of attaching different systems on it, like velcro,” said Chief 

Warrant Officer 4 Brad Hutsell, an instructor pilot with the 1/230th ACR. “It started 

out with stinger missiles, then hellfire missiles were added later on. An upgraded version of the .50 caliber machine gun was tested before we went to Afghanistan, but it did 

not come to fruition.”

 Hutsell also said that the MMS had been 

improved over the years, as well as internal 

computer systems within the aircraft and the 

engines.

 The Warrior was developed through the 

AHIP program due to hostile gunboats patrolling and placing explosives in the Persian 

Gulf at night in 1987. A small armed helicopter was needed for interdiction. Bell completed the Warrior model in less than 100 

days. Known as Operation Prime Chance, 

15 OH-58D helicopters were shipped to the 

Persian Gulf aboard Navy vessels to protect vital sea lanes for the world’s oil supply. 

During Operation Prime Chance, Kiowas 

escorted oil tankers during the Iran-Iraq 

war. OH-58D operations primarily entailed 

reconnaissance flights at night, rotating from 

the Navy’s Mobile Sea Base Hercules and 

other combatant ships to a land base every 

one to two weeks, with no loss of personnel. 

After just two incidents, the gunboats would 

no longer venture out at night. When Hercules was deactivated in September 1989, all 

but five helicopters returned to the United 

States. The modified armament to support 

Operation Prime Chance became the basis 

for the weapons and fire control systems for 

the Kiowa Warrior.

 In 1989, the Kiowa had a small role in Operation Just Cause, a US-led action in Panama that eventually ousted Manuel Noriega 

from power. It was during Just Cause that a 

team consisting of an OH-58 and an AH-1 

Apache were part of the Aviation Task Force 

during the securing of Fort Amador in Panama. The Kiowa was fired upon by Panama Defense Force soldiers and crashed 100 

yards away, in the Bay of Panama. The pilot 

was rescued, but the co-pilot died. 

 During Operation Desert Storm, 115 deployed OH-58D helicopters participated in a 

wide variety of critical combat missions and 

were vital to the success of the ground forces 

mission. During Desert Shield and Desert 

Storm, the Kiowas flew nearly 9,000 hours 

with a 92 percent fully mission capable rate. 

The Kiowa Warrior had the lowest ratio of 

maintenance hours to flight hours of any 

combat helicopter in the Army. In the 1990s, 

it was utilized around the world in support 

of US forces, including Haiti, Somalia and 

Bosnia. All OH-58D aircraft have now been 

converted to the armed Kiowa Warrior configuration.

Kiowa Warrior 

Comes To Tennessee

In 1991, Congress appropriated money 

to procure 36 OH-58Ds for the National 

Guard, allowing the active Army to use the 

assets in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm if required. The active component 

absorbed all 36 aircraft, eventually issuing 15 

to the Mississippi National Guard in 1994. 

It would be decided in 1996 and fiscal year 

1997 that the Tennessee National Guard’s 

4th Squadron, 278th Armored Calvary Regiment, would receive 24 of the aircraft. They 

were the last National Guard unit equipped 

with the Warrior model. At the time, Tennessee had 20 OH-58D qualified aviators 

and no aircraft with which to train. 

 Bell helicopter started producing Warrior models for the 278th in 1996. Brig. Gen. 

Gus Hargett, Tennessee’s Assistant Adjutant 

General for the Army at the time, went to 

the assembly plant and saw them on the line. 

The 278th ACR was already written on the 

helicopters and on the production orders for 

16 aircraft. However, by 1998, the Tennessee National Guard still didn’t have any of 

the aircraft. Tennessee leadership adamantly pressed congressmen and senators to get 

their helicopters back in the state.

 “We are talking about millions of dollars 

worth of equipment that will be coming into 

East Tennessee and will have far reaching 

impacts on the local economy for that area, 

as well as enhance the rest of the state,” said 

Tennessee Army National Guard Lt. Col. 

Bob Mitchell in 1998, who is now retired. 

“It started out just kind 

of attaching different 

systems on it, like velcro.”

Some of Tennessee’s OH-58 fleet in 

Knoxville, Tenn. (Photo by Master Sgt. 

Robin Brown)
VSG MAGAZINE VOL.16 | ISSUE 1 12

“This is bigger than the 278th ACR, this is 

about the Tennessee Army National Guard.”

Counterdrug Operations

In 1989, Congress began to expand the military’s support role to conduct military training exercises in drug interdiction areas. The 

Department of Defense became the lead federal agency for the detection and monitoring of aerial and maritime transit of illegal 

drugs into the United States. In response to 

this mandate, the Army National Guard Bureau created the Reconnaissance and Aerial 

Interdiction Detachments (RAID) in 1992. 

 Several OH-58As were modified for counterdrug operations. Modifications included 

the addition of thermal imaging systems, 

enhanced navigational equipment and high 

skid gear. RAID initially consisted of aviation units in 31 states that utilized 76 specially modified OH-58As to assume the reconnaissance/interdiction role in the fight 

against illegal drugs. In 1994, 24 states conducted more than 1,200 of these missions. 

Utilizing the capabilities of the OH-58A, 

several of these missions took place at night. 

Eventually, the program was expanded to 

cover 32 states utilizing 116 aircraft.

 The RAID program’s mission was later expanded to include the war against terrorism 

and supporting Border Patrol activities in 

support of homeland defense. The National 

Guard RAID units’ area of operation is the 

only one in the Department of Defense that 

is wholly contained within the borders of the 

United States.

 As equipment continued to be modernized, the Army National Guard gained nine 

OH-58C helicopters and 15 Kiowa Warriors 

in FY 1994. 

 The 1/230th ACR was tasked for border 

protection operations during Kosovo in 

1998 and 1999.

 “We were in operations throughout the 

country as a multinational force for peacekeeping operations,” said Hutsell. “We maintained the peace as they dealt with the situaiton.”

 June through October of 2007, the Tennessee National Guard took part in Operation Jump Start.

 “Jump Start was National Guard Bureau’s 

involvement with border operations, particularly utilizing aviation assets,” explained 

Hutsell. “They were outfitting other aircraft 

for a longer term solution. We were interim 

to fill the gap until they got those aircraft 

done.”

 “We had a mission set every day, mostly 

at night, and mostly utilizing the night vision and thermal capabilities of the aircraft,” 

he added. “It was one of the first instances 

where we had to figure out how to work 

communication capabilities with civilian 

agencies.”

 In 2012, the Tennessee National Guard 

flew 185 counterdrug related missions, resulting in 1,785 arrests, 268 weapons seized 

and 1,811 meth labs found and destroyed. 

The Tennessee National Guard’s Counterdrug Task Force has worked with communities across the state since the 1980s. They 

do more than just eradicate drugs by spotting them from helicopters. The Task Force 

is also responsible for anti-drug education 

programs, operating summer camps across 

the state for juvenile offenders as an alternative to state custody, and providing intelligence analysis for federal drug-trafficking 

cases. 

 Prior to losing several Soldiers due to 

budget cuts, the Task Force conducted 

roughly 450 classes each year at more than 

70 schools and other groups across the state.

 The Tennessee National Guard does have a 

few LUH-72 Lakota helicopters to continue 

working the counterdrug mission in lieu of 

the Kiowas. These were the first brand new, 

never before used aircraft the state has ever 

received. Initially, there were only four in the 

state, making it difficult to keep up with the 

counterdrug requirements.

 “I asked, just for standardization training, 

if we could fly our OH-58Ds and it worked 

out superbly well,” said Haston. “Counterdrug is reconnaissance and that’s what the 

OH-58 is designed for. So now that we’ve 

lost those, our complete counterdrug program will depend on the supply and support 

company of the four LUH-72s. It will tax the 

flying hours for those aircraft.”

Operations Enduring Free- dom and Iraqi Freedom

The Kiowa was never the Army’s first choice, 

but it has proven itself time and again in 

modern air cavalry operations. The Army 

utilized the OH-58D during Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. 

 Unfortunately, the higher-density altitude 

 “We had a mission 

set every day, mostly at 

night, and mostly utilizing the night vision 

and thermal capabilities 

of the aircraft.”
VSG MAGAZINE VOL.16 | ISSUE 1 13

in Afghanistan caused complications for the 

underpowered, single-engine helicopter. 

Due to combat and accidents, more than 

35 airframes were lost, and 35 pilots were 

killed. The Kiowa has also been credited 

with saving lives, having been used to rescue 

wounded Soldiers despite its small size. 

 According to Bell, as of 2013, the OH58 has more than 820,000 combat hours. 

From 2001 to 2010, the OH-58D accounted 

for nearly 50 percent of all Army reconnaissance and attack missions flown in Iraq and 

Afghanistan, the highest usage rate of any 

other Army aircraft. 

 “It was a very fulfilling experience knowing the Soldiers on the ground knew we 

were in the air to protect them,” explained 

Neveu, who deployed as a pilot in both Operations. “The fact that just our rotor noise 

keeps bad guys at bay is what makes our job 

worthwhile and that’s why we all love to do 

this job.”

Misfortune Befalls Ten- nessee Aviators

With all the skill and positive mission accomplishment stories that come along with 

the OH-58, Tennessee has also experienced 

tragedy; not once, but twice.

 “When we went to flight school, they 

talked about it’s not if you’re going to lose 

a friend in aviation, it’s when,” said Neveu. 

“What we do is inherently risky. We are all a 

huge family-it has such a great impact to all 

of us and we all suffer.”

 In 2010, two Tennessee Army National 

Guard pilots were killed in a helicopter accident in Iraq. Capt. Marcus Alford and Chief 

Warrant Officer 2 Billie Jean Grinder were 

killed when their OH-58D suffered a hard 

landing near Qayyarah Airfield. The Soldiers were assigned to Troop C, 1/230th Air 

Cavalry Squadron based in Louisville, Tenn.

 Later, in 2011, two more of Tennessee’s 

National Guard aviators were killed while 

conducting a routine training mission in an 

established training area in Campbell County, Tenn. The Kiowa struck power lines, 

resulting in a catastrophic accident that 

claimed the lives of 1st Lt. Thomas Williams, 

Jr., and Chief Warrant Officer 4 Daniel Cole.

 “We all know what loss is and it hits pretty 

hard. We have to take it in stride and keep 

moving on. That’s what we’ve done to do our 

mission,” Neveu said. 

Divestment

“What we flew was modernized,” said 

Haston. “Our oldest OH-58D was newer 

than our newest UH-60 (Blackhawk).” Now, 

the time has come to retire the OH-58 fleet. 

The Army has been trying to find alternatives for years. 

 The first attempt to replace the OH-58 

came in 2004 with the RAH-66 Comanche. 

This was cancelled the same year. The ARH70 was the second choice for replacement, 

but the airframe was scrapped in 2008. Fiscal restraints and cost overruns at that time 

kept delaying the inevitable. 

 “When I came to the Tennessee National 

Guard from the active duty Army in 1983, 

we had 83 aircraft. Over my career, we have 

gone through 32 different airframe modernizations,” said Haston. “We will end up with 

less than 40 rotary wing aircraft in the Tennessee National Guard. That’s a significant 

capabilities loss.”

 The original OH-58 was designed to fly 

about 14 hours each month; however, it averaged 85 to 90 hours a month. As a result 

of its heavy use in Iraq and Afghanistan, the 

Kiowa Warrior underwent major upgrades 

and modifications, including the Cockpit 

and Sensor Upgrade Program (CASUP) and 

weight reduction program. The CASUP featured a nose-mounted targeting and surveillance system in addition to the MMS. This 

resulted in the OH-58F.

 The first OH-58F was finished in October 

2012. The Army designed and built the new 

variant itself to lower costs. 

 “It’s the first time that the Army has been 

the system integrator for a new mission design series or new aircraft,” said Lt. Col. Mat 

Hannah, the Army product manager for the 

OH-58F in 2012.

 The F model weighs about 200 pounds 

less than the D model. The weight savings 

are attributed to more efficient wiring and a 

lighter sensor. The first production F models were built in 2013 with its first flight in 

April of that year. The Army had planned to 

remanufacture all A, C, and D models to the 

F model, and the first operational squadron 

was to be equipped by 2016. An estimated 

321 aircraft were scheduled to be upgraded 

to the F model. Each helicopter conversion 

was estimated to cost between $4 million 

and $5 million, according to Hannah.

 In the first quarter of 2014, Bell received 

a stop work order for the F model program, 

shortly after the Army ended the Armed 

Aerial Scout (AAS) Program in late 2013 

due to sequestration budget cuts. AAS was 

the third replacement option for the OH58. Now, the Army has ended the F model 

CASUP upgrades and is retiring the entire 

Kiowa fleet. Upgrades were estimated to cost 

about $10 billion. 

 “We did not find a single aircraft out 

there that could meet Army requirements,” 

said Lt. Gen. William Phillips, the principal 

military deputy for acquisition, during testimony before Congress on May 8, 2013. This 

came after evaluating five aircraft candidates 

under the AAS program. Other aircraft considered included the AH-6I, AAS-72X, MD 

540F and AW169.

 The reduction from the fleet is all in the 

interest of saving money and reducing the 

number of different helicopter types in the 

Army. 

 “I can’t afford all the fleets of aircraft I 

have right now. We can’t afford them. It is 

impossible under the budget that we’ve been 

given,” said former Army Chief of Staff Gen. 

Ray Odierno at an Association of the US 

Army breakfast in January 2014.

 The Army also planned to pull all of the 

Apaches from the Guard and Reserve into 

the active duty Army fleet to fill the scout 

role voided by the Kiowas.

 Divesting the OH-58 fleet is supposed to 

save the Army money; however, a Bell-contracted Logistics Management Institute 

study found that the Apache would cost $1 

million more than the Kiowa per year for 

maintenance and fuel costs, according to Jim 

Schultz, Bell program director. This study 

also said that if the Army used an Apache 

in the Kiowa scout role in operations in Iraq 

and Afghanistan, it would have cost an additional $4 billion in fuel, maintenance and 

operating costs.

 Additionally, the smaller size of the Kiowa 

is more beneficial when it comes to trans-
VSG MAGAZINE VOL.16 | ISSUE 1 14

porting the aircraft overseas. Apaches must 

be partially dismantled to be loaded onto 

strategic airlift and then rebuilt in theater. 

This can take about three hours or more. 

Whereas, two Kiowas can roll directly into a 

C-130, and then roll back out in theater and 

be in the air within 15 minutes.

 The downside to Kiowas is that they are 

more vulnerable in deployed environments, 

having lighter armament and armor.

 “I know in reality the Army is trying to 

juggle tough budget decisions, but I feel as if 

what I’ve done has been designated no longer necessary,” said Farrell. “I feel the biggest 

loss is the effectiveness of the reconnaissance 

and attack mission itself, more so then the 

loss of the helicopter.”

 “Having been in the aircraft for several 

years and the missions we have performed, 

I hate to see the aircraft and the missions 

go,” added Hutsell. “No other aircraft fills 

that roll. It’s an aircraft I hoped would stay 

around.”

 The OH-58D currently reaches 20 percent 

of armed aerial scout mission requirements. 

Upgrading to the F model standard would 

have raised that to 50 percent. However, replacing the Kiowas with Apaches and unmanned systems in scout roles is expected 

to meet 80 percent of the requirements. It is 

unknown if the already upgraded F models 

will also be retired. The AAS mission will be 

performed by the MQ-1C Gray Eagle, AH64 Apache, and RQ-7 Shadow aircraft until a permanent replacement is found. It is 

estimated the Army will be able to meet 80 

percent of its AAS requirements using these 

Apaches and unmanned aerial vehicles.

 “As much as possible, we want the Guard 

and Reserve to look the same as the active 

component,” said Odierno. “Will there be 

exceptions? Yes.” So far, these include eliminating Apaches from the Guard fleet, in addition to the total divestment of the OH-58s.

 “We can’t afford our current fleet, so we 

have to make adjustments,” he added. “The 

majority of those adjustments are going to 

happen in our active-component aviation 

units.”

 Maj. Gen. Haston actively spoke out 

against eliminating the Kiowa Warriors 

from the Army inventory. 

 “I think it was a very bad decision because there is no aircraft that is designed to 

do what the OH-58D does in our inventory,” 

said Haston. “There is no other aircraft that 

can do both the reconnaissance and light attack mission for close air support.”

 The mission the Kiowas performed will 

now be shifted to Apache helicopters instead. “In my opinion, Apaches are too large 

and cumbersome, and not stealthy enough 

to do that mission,” Haston added. 

 With the loss of the aircraft comes the loss 

of jobs for Tennessee National Guard pilots, 

maintainers, and others who worked with 

“There is no other aircraft that can do both 

the reconnaissance and 

light attack mission for 

close air support.” 
VSG MAGAZINE VOL.16 | ISSUE 1 15

the helicopters.

 “Tennessee was assigned an aviation interim maintenance company and we will 

lose that company,” said Haston. That’s approximately 300 people. “A lot of people 

have secondary skills that are still applicable 

to aviation, so we will be able to transition 

them over to the new aviation structure.”

 “Tennessee leadership is working to ensure that Soldiers are re-classed to a required 

MOS,” said Lt. Col. Melvin Clawson, currently J3 DOMS, Future OPS, and former Commander of the Aviation Unit. “The 1/230th 

will reduce in size from about 700 to around 

400, so some will re-class to non-aviation 

units.” The Regiment will be reorganized as 

an assault helicopter battalion, primarily flying UH-60 Blackhawks.

 The first 26 Kiowas in the Army fleet to 

be divested came from the 6th Squadron, 

17th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Wainwright, 

Alaska in May 2014. As part of the Army’s 

Aviation Restructure Initiative, the unit was 

later deactivated in 2015 after a nine-month 

deployment to South Korea. 

 Later the same year, the Florida National 

Guard said good-bye to their OH-58 fleet. 

Three of the Florida helicopters went to different Florida sheriff ’s offices. One was kept 

and placed as a permanent static display 

outside the Army Aviation Facility in the 

state. Florida utilized the A and C models. 

Tennessee and Mississippi were the only 

National Guard units to utilize the D model.

 “D models have never gone to a civilian 

agency,” said Clawson. “They are not practical for civilian use because of the cost to 

transition them. A/C models are good for 

this.” He added that three of Tennessee’s Kiowa Warriors are being retained for static display across the state in Louisville, Jackson, 

and either Smyrna or Nashville. A fourth 

went to Tupelo, Miss. for static display there. 

 “I think we have resigned to the fact that 

the Army is committed to the divestment, 

reluctantly giving up the aircraft,” said Hutsell. “It has provided a lot of support over the 

years.”

 In the end, Maj. Gen. Haston reclaimed 

the pilot seat to say goodbye, as the last aircraft left the state.

 “It was very nostalgic to know that its capabilities and the lives the aircraft has saved 

on the battlefield, that that service is no longer going to be there,” said Haston about his 

final flight November 10. “And to know it’s 

being flown to Davis-Monthan Air Force 

Base to an uncertain future.” It is possible for 

the helicopters to be sold to foreign militaries, but that has yet to be determined.

 “It felt very good to fly the aircraft,” Haston 

added. “It showed me it can operate in an 

environment like the Smoky Mountains or 

Afghanistan. I had the privilege to be part of 

its final journey; it was a sad flight.”

 Over the years, Tennessee has utilized 

the Kiowas for missions in Kosovo, support 

of Hurricane Katrina, Operation Jump Start, 

various counterdrug operations, as well as 

approximately 29,000 combat hours during 

Operation Iraqi Freedom and another 8,635 

during Operation Enduring Freedom. The 

aircraft finally came to rest at AMARG in 

Arizona on November 30. 

 Early December 2015, the unit was redesignated as the 1/230th Assault Helicopter 

Battalion.

 “I personally want to thank the pilots, 

the crews, the maintainers, schedulers and 

the refuelers. All of the people who have put 

their hands on that aircraft and made it the 

workhorse of our inventory over the past 

25 years,” said Haston. “It is really tough to 

see an old friend-a reliable piece of equipment-being divested for all the wrong reasons. There is always something new on the 

horizon.” - MASTER SGT. ROBIN BROWN

Maj. Gen. Haston waves goodbye as 

he pilots Tennessee’s last Kiowa out 

of the state. (Photo by Master Sgt. 

Kendra Owenby)
VSG MAGAZINE VOL.16 | ISSUE 1 16

FRANKLIN, Tenn. - The Tennessee 

chapter of the Employer Support of the 

Guard and Reserve (ESGR) presented a 

plaque to Noranda Aluminum Holding 

Corporation. 

Carl Lambert, ESGR Tennessee 

State Chairman, presented the plaque of 

appreciation to Mr. Kip Smith, president 

and CEO of Noranda, at a signing ceremony at the company’s headquarters in 

Franklin, Tenn. The Nov. 17 event highlighted the company’s ongoing support of 

the National Guard. Several Noranda and 

military leaders were present at the event, 

but most of the attention was on two junior enlisted Soldiers employed at the 

Noranda factory in Missouri. 

Spc. Garrett McIntyre and Pvt. 1st 

Class Christian McCombs, both Soldiers 

serving in the Missouri National Guard 

work in the aluminum smelter plant near 

New Madrid, Mo., where temperatures 

inside the plant can reach over 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Smith noted that despite 

the extremely high temperatures inside the 

plant, there have been no accidents during 

the last reporting period. He credited McIntyre and McCombs’s safety record to the 

training they received in the military. Maj. 

Gen. Max Haston, the Tennessee National 

Guard’s Adjutant General, agreed.

“You see these two young men over 

there? They are the very best our country has 

to offer”, said Haston. He then said Noranda recognizes the skills the military instills 

in its people, skills they bring to work with 

them every day. This is something he said 

the company values and is willing to make 

sacrifices for. 

“When I worked in the civilian sector, I would let them know when I had to go 

off to training and they would let me go, but 

I could always tell there was resistance to me 

leaving,” Haston added. “We don’t see that 

with Noranda.”

In October 2013, the company began an initiative to employee more Veterans 

and their spouses with a goal to increase 

its Veteran hiring to at least ten percent by 

2014. Noranda specifically sought Veterans 

because it values leadership, accountability, 

change management, and a focus on mission accomplishment, qualities they believe 

can be found in “the men and women who 

serve our country,” according to Noranda’s 

website.

The corporation met its goal and was 

named a Most Valuable Employer by civilianjobs.com.

- SSG WILLIAM JONES

ESGR AWARD

ESGR Presents a Plaque to Noranda Aluminum Holding 

Corporation for it’s Continued Support of the Guard.

NORANDA CORP. 

SHOWS SUPPORT

Mr. Kip Smith (center), President and CEO of Noranda, signs a letter of support of the 

Army National Guard presented to him by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. (Photo by SSG William Jones)
VSG MAGAZINE VOL.16 | ISSUE 1 17

1. RANSOMWARE - Malware that infects your system and locks you out of important files. The adversary then 

wants ‘ransom’ money to release the files back to you.

2. SCRIPT INJECTION - The adversary can use script injection to ultimately gain unauthorized remote access to 

your system, private data, and invite other malicious code as well.

3. MOBILE BANKING - Attackers can use non-encrypted unsecure wireless connections to intercept banking data 

while you are using your mobile device.

4. INTERNET OF THINGS (IOT) - Evolution of technology where major consumer products are connected to the 

grid. Examples would be: Smart TVs, vehicles with built-in WIFI, Vehicle data accessible through web or mobile applications, Home Alarms controlled through web apps or mobile applications. Most IoT devices are not secure.

5. SOCIAL ENGINEERING - It’s easiest (least path of resistance) for the Adversary to utilize social engineering to 

obtain sensitive information. Untrained and non-vigilant audiences make the best targets to gain sensitive information.

These five threats can be mitigated with:

• Arming yourself with knowledge (cyber awareness training, cyber bulletins and googling)

• Keeping all applicable devices protected with latest anti-virus software

• Conducting official business, personal business, and commerce on secure connections and trusted web sites

• Being cautious about the information you put out on the internet and to individuals that you encounter.

CYBERSECURITY

Do you know the Top Five Cybersecurity Threats?

CYBERSECURITY 

THREATS
VSG MAGAZINE VOL.16 | ISSUE 1 18

It’s her last switch as well as her 

next switch: after videography 

missions with Army infantry in 

Iraq, then conquering a broadcast 

control room comparable to a major television studio’s, one Airman said that she hopes 

for something challenging.

 Tech Sgt. Chalanda Roberts just began 

her last technical direction here of the I.G. 

Brown Training and Education Center’s satellite Airman leadership school before her 

reassignment to the Defense Media Activity.

 “We’re the ones controlling everything the 

audience actually sees,” said Roberts.

 The broadcast studio airs the Air Force’s 

enlisted professionally military education 

instructors and their lessons for the next 

month to students at 15 Air National Guard 

bases. Roberts and a studio engineer both 

make sure it airs without a hitch.

 “There’s a lot to it,” she said.

THE WOMAN BEHIND 

THE CURTAIN

 Roberts is one of four Airmen qualified as 

a technical director, or a switcher. They take 

turns managing satellite broadcasts, including ALS and NCO academy. The term comes 

from switching between cameras, slides and 

microphones as well as queuing up video 

segments, photos and screen graphics so that 

they appear seamless on live television. They 

also guide two instructors though earpieces 

and teleprompters from a control room that 

overlooks the broadcast desk.

 “I want to make sure they look good at all 

times,” said Roberts.

 She explained that switchers manage on 

their own what it takes three or more workers at a civilian television studio. “We do it 

all,” she said.

 “You see all of these keys and buttons 

flashing,” Roberts said about the control 

room’s panels. “There are at least 100 of 

them. The most challenging part is trying 

to do it all; everything needs done now, because we are live. You want these students to 

get the information.”

FROM CHICAGO TO 

THE WORLD

 Roberts’s original plan was no plan at all: 

she joined the regular Air Force without a 

NEW OPPORTUNITIES

Tech. Sgt. Chalanda Roberts Conquers the Broadcast Room.

THE NEXT

SWITCH 

Tech Sgt. Chalanda Roberts poses for a photo Nov. 2, 2015, inside the broadcast 

control room at the I.G. Brown Training and Education Center. Roberts served for five 

years as a regular Air Force technical director for the Air National Guard’s satellite 

enlisted professional military education. (Photo by Master Sgt. Mike R. Smith)
VSG MAGAZINE VOL.16 | ISSUE 1 19

designated career field, but her first assignment in videography at Langley Air Force 

Base garnered her application and acceptance into the military’s one-year television, 

radio and film program at Syracuse University.

 It was after that when she joined combat 

camera in South Carolina.

 “I fell in love with the Air Force all over 

again,” said Roberts.

 She deployed and embedded with the 

Army in northern Iraq, donning their uniforms, jumping off helicopters and capturing their combat patrols. She said that their 

village visits often put her in a room full of 

Iraqi women, while the Soldiers met customarily with the men. “The women would 

gravitate to me; try to put lipstick on me,” 

said Roberts. “That was always cool.”

 She said that she slept in the dirt, out 

there, the only woman among them. “I was 

able to hold my own, and the guys said that.”

 Then, after some aerial qualifications, she 

flew, and she documented missions from Al 

Udeid and Haiti, among other places. She 

said that it all never crossed her mind when 

she grew up in Chicago.

 “I don’t how I got the job, but I loved it,” 

said Roberts. “Never in million years would 

I have thought I’d get that experience.”

 There is a mannequin at the Enlisted Heritage Research Institute on Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base whose name is Chalanda 

Roberts too, she said. She donated its uniform to help embody a minority of combat 

camerawomen and their service. Their exhibit displays photographs of her in the field.

GETTING TO TENNESSEE

 Roberts arrived five years ago with little 

experience in a broadcast studio, outside of 

technical school. 

 “I was pretty nervous when I saw the studio, but now I feel like I’m pretty good with 

most of the equipment in there,” she said.

 Her biggest challenge: adjusting to a 

smaller base and not constantly deploying, 

she said. She found mentorship in her first 

supervisor, also a former combat camera operator.

 “Chalanda can learn things really easy,” 

said David Barlow, retired master sergeant 

and TEC’s graphics manager. “She can watch 

you do something once and really, truly 

learn it. She is creative, she likes to challenge 

herself, and she will think of something different.”

 According to Barlow, Roberts’s professional development in the studio could serve her 

well at the Defense Media Activity, which 

holds another satellite broadcast studio similar in capability and reach. “It is definitely 

going to be a plus for her.”

 This is good place to learn and shadow, 

said Barlow. As you cannot just learn the studio and then you know it, you have to stay 

current on it. Buttons get routed different, 

and there is a lot of multi-tasking. Everyone 

has his or her own way in managing it all.

 “He’s a really good teacher,” said Roberts.

THE NEXT SWITCH

 Roberts will travel to her new assignment 

with her husband and son after the holidays.

 She became a mom during this assignment. Her son is in daycare and her husband 

works nights, so they can support each other, especially during football season. Putting 

on a Paw Patrol video helps keep her son occupied as well as helps her husband watch 

the game until she gets home from evening 

broadcasts, she said.

 Roberts’s family attended her promotion 

ceremony last year, as well as supported recent deployments to Dover Air Force Base 

and her own studies at NCO academy.

 She said that she hopes they can drive 

up together to the Fort Meade area, south 

of Baltimore, before the move, to help limit 

their hotel stay. “Try to pick out a couple of 

spots that we want to live.”

 “I’m leaving here better than I came, for 

sure,” she said.

- MASTER SGT. MIKE R. SMITH

NEW OPPORTUNITIES

Staff Sgt. Chalanda Roberts, broadcast journalist, manages a switchboard and Master 

Sgt. John A. Anderson, right, broadcast operations manager, handles camera placements during a live broadcast March 7, 2013, at the I. G. Brown Training and Education Center’s television control room. (Photo by Master Sgt. Kurt Skoglund)
VSG MAGAZINE VOL.16 | ISSUE 1 20

Fox Troop, 2nd Squadron, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment 

Collaborate in Overseas Deployment Training.

COMBINED

RESOLVE V

Combined Resolve V in Hohenf els, Germany - Oct. and Nov. 2015.
VSG MAGAZINE VOL.16 | ISSUE 1 21

HOHENFELS, Germany - When the Soldiers of Fox Troop, 2nd Squadron, 278th 

Armored Cavalry Regiment, Tennessee 

Army Nation Guard got the word back in 

July that they were slated for an overseas 

deployment training mission to Germany 

later that year, the words “Octoberfest”, 

“beer”, and “thank God it’s not Camp Shelby in summer again” were thrown around. 

Little did they know what the scope of the 

mission would be, or how the experience 

would shape their outlook of their chosen 

profession of arms.

 The exercise, Combined Resolve V, was 

the last iteration for the 2015 calendar 

year, held at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC), Hohenfels, Germany, during October and November. Fox 

Troop joined with 13 NATO and European 

Partner for Peace nations and their active 

duty counter-parts, in a rare training opportunity that instructed participants in 

how to function together in a joint, multinational, and integrated environment at 

all echelons. 

 First call took place at the armory in 

McMinnville, Tenn. at 12:30am on the 

day their flight was departing. They then 

spent the next few hours going over the 

packing list and loading all their sensitive 

items onto the buses. From there, they 

hand-carried this equipment through the 

Atlanta-Hartsfield International Airport 

and loaded it directly onto their flight. 

Twelve hours and 7 time zones later, they 

arrived in Frankfurt, Germany, ready to 

head south to JMRC. 

 Once on the ground at JMRC, the Soldiers 

couldn’t waste any time. They had a full 

couple of days of drivers training, HEAT 

(roll-over) training, and their welcoming 

in-brief by 1/4 Infantry Regiment, the 

host unit, to accomplish Opposing Forces Academy. OPFOR Academy is a slate 

of events which normally takes our active 

duty brethren two weeks to accomplish; 

the Soldiers of Fox Troop accomplished it 

in three days. Fox Troop had been tasked 

with augmenting the dismounted infantry OPFOR with the host unit 1/4 Infantry Regiment, so black BDUs were issued 

to all Soldiers. Being OPFOR, the fight is 

somewhat different than the normal mission, but through a new trend in the Army 

Training model, many OPFOR tactics are 

being run as business as usual. 

 The first days of STX lanes, Fox Troop 

Soldiers had their first taste of working 

with, or “against,” many European NATO 

countries. They were excited to see the 

difference in tactics, techniques, and procedures used, and to try to learn from each 

other on how to make all partner nations 

fighting forces more effective. Fox troop 

was tasked with an array of missions, from 

a complex urban defense to squad ambushes on BLUFOR convoys as well as a 

joint multinational company defense of an 

urban area. 1/4 Infantry Regiment personnel and Fox Troop leadership coordinated 

daily on the next day’s requirements, and 

performed above expectations every day. 

 The Force-on-Force days lined up like 

a football field, the home team, 1/4 IN and 

Fox Troop positioned on the far west of 

the training area (aka “the box”), and 3rd 

Infantry Division and NATO forces to the 

east, positioned to defend their main battalion objective from the coming attack. 

Normally during Force-on-Force days, the 

National Guard units remain divided between the 1/4 Infantry Regiment companies, but, for the first time, they relied on 

Fox Troop as their own Task Force, with 

our own area of operation on the southern side of the box, commanded by Task 

Force Commander Capt. Deric Runge, 

Fox Troop commander. Some of the operations from the nine days of training were 

Oct. 26, 2015 - Soldiers from 2nd Platoon conduct patrolling and hand and arm signals training before deploying “to the box.” (1LT Jeremiah Giles)

COMBINED RESOLVE V
VSG MAGAZINE VOL.16 | ISSUE 1 22

a joint multi-national battalion attack, 

retrograding into a hasty defense, engagement area development, reconnaissance 

and surveillance operations with a Norwegian Recon element, and psychological 

operations against friendly forces. 

 All the time the infantry Soldiers were 

in the field, Fox Troop also brought a 

small contingency of mechanics to work 

on 1/4 Infantry Regiment vehicles in the 

rear. These Soldiers worked tirelessly on 

vehicles not their own and showed our active duty counterparts what the National 

Guard could do in a short time. During 

the two and a half weeks they were tasked, 

Tennessee National Guard soldiers fixed 

65 tracked and wheeled vehicles, more 

than double their normal annual training 

workload, earning the maintenance section the highest of praises from the permanent party host, 1/4 Infantry Regiment.

 Our Tennessee troops were also visited 

while they were in the field by Col. Jimmy 

Cole and Command Sgt. Maj. Mike Gentry, TN National Guard G-3, along with 

Maj. Hebel and Master Sgt. David Malone, 

on an official visit with JMRC staff and 1/4 

Infantry Regiment representatives, who 

have already requested the Tennessee National Guard Soldiers to return for another rotation. 

 After the field exercises were done and 

vehicles cleaned and turned in, the Soldiers from Fox Troop were authorized to 

take a day off to visit Nuremburg, Germany. With 10 hours to sight-see, eat some 

good German bratwurst, and have a beer 

or two, one of the main take-aways from 

the visit with the locals was how cordial 

and hospitable the German people are to 

U.S. Servicemembers. 

 Hopefully, Fox Troop will be tasked 

again for overseas deployment training. 

Fox Troop thoroughly enjoyed our time 

in Germany and we look forward to more 

time in the future to work hand in hand 

with our comrades from Europe.

 - 1ST LT JEREMIAH GILES

First Lieutenant Tommie Lane, Fire Support Officer for Task Force Fox, calls in indirect fire spotted by the forward observers during the force on force battle during 

Operation Combined Resolve V. . (1ST LT Jeremiah Giles)

“Soldiers 

worked tirelessly on vehicles 

not their own 

and showed 

our active duty 

counterparts 

what the National Guard 

could do in a 

short time” 

COMBINED RESOLVE V
VSG MAGAZINE VOL.16 | ISSUE 1 23

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Since President 

Theodore Roosevelt established the White 

House Social aide program nearly 114 

years ago, the White House has never had 

an Air National Guard officer until now.

 Capt. John D. Fesler, a native of Lebanon, Tenn., recently began his duties as 

a White House social aide, an honor and 

privilege only reserved for military officers who represent the best that the service has to offer. His road to the Executive 

Mansion began more than a year ago after 

a mentor suggested he would be a good 

candidate for the program. 

 After his nomination, Fesler progressed 

through a series of intense interviews by 

panels of military officers. The longest 

part of the process, however, was patiently 

waiting almost nine months for an extensive background investigation to be completed for his security clearance. After the 

investigation closed, Fesler was granted a 

“Yankee White,” category one, top-secret security clearance allowing him to serve in direct support of the President and First Family. The screening is identical to what Secret 

Service agents undergo who are detailed to 

the White House.

 Fesler said he felt honored just to be asked 

to interview and was humbled to be selected.

 “If you asked me two years ago, serving as 

a White House social aide would have been 

a wild-eyed, pipe dream,” said Fesler. “It’s exciting, exhilarating and an incredible opportunity to meet and interact with extraordinary people who are making history. These 

are stories I’ll be telling my grandchildren 

someday.”

 The highly selective program is made up 

of military officers from all branches of the 

military who are currently stationed in the 

Washington area on active duty orders. Approximately 45 military officers serve in this 

elite and prestigious additional duty through 

the White House Military Office. Aides work 

an average of four events each month with 

the holidays being the busiest period of the 

year. In December alone, Fesler was scheduled for nine functions at the White House.

 Fesler said he and his fellow social aides 

work quietly in the background to assist 

guests during dinners, luncheons, teas, state 

arrivals, and seasonal celebrations. 

 “As we move up in seniority, White House 

Social aides may start by lining the hallways 

at events to greeting, escorting and even announcing guests as well,” Fesler said. “Once 

we get our sea-legs, we are also picked for 

more esteemed events bestowing the nation’s 

highest honors such as Medal of Honor ceremonies or arrivals for heads of state.”

 Fesler said it has been a long and interesting road leading to this milestone of his 

military career. His previous assignments 

were challenging, giving him greater perspective and appreciation for representing the Air National Guard at the White 

House. But for all of the glitz and glamour of his current assignment, Fesler said 

he would not be able to fully appreciate 

the significance behind the highest office 

in the land prior to his tour with the Air 

Force Mortuary at Dover Air Force Base, 

Del.

 “No other duty had as much impact as 

working the Dignified Transfer mission at 

the Air Force Mortuary,” Fesler said. “Providing comfort to families of the fallen, 

while ensuring they are given the dignity, 

honor and respect they earned while paying the ultimate sacrifice, is the most honorable duty I have had or ever will be a part 

of.”

 During his tour in 2010 as Deputy Chief, 

Public Affairs for the Air Force Mortuary, 

Fesler oversaw 162 dignified transfers of 

fallen Warriors. He said each one had a significant emotional impact and continues to 

be the most meaningful and poignant point 

of his career.

 In addition to serving as a White House 

Social aide, Fesler serves full-time as the 

Traveling Executive Officer, Aide de Camp 

for the Director of Air National Guard, Lt. 

Gen. Stanley E. Clarke III at the Pentagon. 

He is currently a member of the Tennessee 

Air National Guard’s 118th Wing based in 

Nashville and was recently elected to the 

board of directors for the National Guard 

Association of the United States.

- MAJ KYLE KEY

AN AIR GUARD FIRST

Tenn. Airman Appointed First White House Social Aide.

FIRST AIR GUARD 

SOCIAL AIDE 

Air Force Capt. John D. Fesler stands 

in front of doorway to the Blue Room in 

Cross Hall of the White House. Fesler 

is the first Airman from the Air National 

Guard to serve as a White House social 

aide. (Photo courtesy of National Guard 

Bureau)
VSG MAGAZINE VOL.16 | ISSUE 1 24

MCGHEE TYSON AIR NATIONAL 

GUARD BASE, Tenn. - Chief Master Sgt. 

Edward Walden had been waiting, reassuring the Air National Guard marathon 

team, their units, friends and family that 

they ran very well, when the race officials 

made an anticipated announcement.

 He sat in his office here Dec. 10 overlooking the I.G. Brown Training and Education Center. He smiled. He handed over 

a recent article on the Air Force Marathon. 

And then, after some questions about the 

coming year, he began to talk about something near and dear to him.

 “I really want to focus and emphasize 

that three years ago, we were last in the 

Air Force Marathon’s MAJCOM [major 

command] Challenge, last year we were 

eighth, this year, we came in second,” he 

said about the teams’ official standings behind the winners: Air Combat Command.

 “First place was a little more than five 

and a half minutes away ... an achievable 

goal for next year.” He paused.

 “The accomplishments of the Guardsmen that did this, is phenomenal.”

 More than two months before, Walden, 

TEC’s commandant, ran the Air Force Half 

Marathon at Wright-Patterson Air Force 

Base in Ohio.

 But he knew that his finish time would 

not count for the Air National Guard’s team 

time because he did all he could last year 

to find and manage the nation’s fastest citizen-Airmen to do just that. 

 “This team was made up of the best the 

Air National Guard could offer, full-time 

and part-time Guardsmen that were officers 

and enlisted,” he said. 

 “I also think that it’s important to report 

all of their names.”

 The team: Col. Christan Stewart, Kentucky; Maj. Sharon Ehasz, Virginia; Maj. 

Laura Johnson, New Mexico; 2nd Lt. Adam 

Bernal, Texas; Tech. Sgt. Shane Hurd, New 

Hampshire (TEC); Tech. Sgt. Travis Kallay, 

Wisconsin; Staff Sgt. James Munnis, West 

Virginia; Staff Sgt. Mathew Klundt, California; Airman 1st Class Franz Konczak, Texas; 

and Airman 1st Class Annelise Rowe, Idaho.

MARATHON TEAM

A photo, autographed by Airmen on the Air National Guard’s 2015 U.S. Air Force Marathon team, overlooks the I.G. Brown Training and Education Center campus at McGhee 

Tyson Air National Guard Base in Tennessee, Dec. 11, 2015, atop Chief Master Sgt. Edward Walden’s desk. Walden, TEC’s commandant, managed the runners. They earned 

second place among other major commands that competed on Wright-Patterson Air 

Force Base in Ohio (Photo by Master Sgt. Mike R. Smith)

The Airmen on the Air National Guard’s Marathon Team 

Earn Second Place at this Year’s Competition.

MAJCOM CHALLENGE
VSG MAGAZINE VOL.16 | ISSUE 1 25

MARATHON TEAM

 Now the hard work, he said: putting together another competitive team to make a 

run for the MAJCOM trophy in next year’s 

20th Air Force Marathon.

 It is a bigger challenge than just having 

the team run faster. Walden is keenly aware 

that the Air National Guard’s runners are the 

only MAJCOM Challenge participants who 

pay for their own travel, entrance fees and 

uniforms out of pocket. 

 Some of their fastest runners last year 

qualified for the team, but they could not afford the trip to Ohio, including one Airman 

from Puerto Rico, and Walden said that they 

would never know if his speed might have 

pushed their team’s time to the top.

 “In talking about One Air Force ... we 

need to make sure that we are looking at it 

in all ways - when it comes to deployment, 

when it comes to our missions back home 

and even when it comes to our MAJCOM 

Challenge,” he said.

 When Rowe won her military division as 

top female in the half marathon, she learned 

that the Guard and Reserve were not counted as part of the other military runners or 

winners in the awards ceremony – Walden 

stepped in, spoke with the race officials and 

things were rectified. Race officials mailed 

her trophy to Walden with an assurance that 

next year’s race would be different.

 “Chief was defiantly my biggest supporter and backer to see that the award was 

given to the fastest military member,” 

said Rowe, noting that sometimes Guard 

members are not seen as a part of the Air 

Force. “We definitely consider ourselves 

every bit ...”

 While Walden pointed out those potholes, he is equally confident that there’s 

support out there with all involved to 

patch them up before the next race. 

 Runners will get online for the marathon’s open registration, beginning on 

New Year’s Day. The race sells out. Walden 

said he would also be lacing up again to 

try to solicit the Air National Guard’s top 

runners to join the team.

 More than 100 Airmen submitted their 

official race times for consideration in 

last year’s team. Three men and one woman 

make up the full marathon team. Four men 

and two women, make up the half marathon 

team. Their combined times count toward 

the trophy.

 Walden’s call for runners goes out in 

February, through Air National Guard base 

Force Support Squadrons. He announces 

the team’s qualifying runners in May. From 

there, the team will train and get to know 

each other through email and social networking up until the third weekend in September.

 He’s redoubled his training to try and 

make the team too. If nothing else, Walden 

said that he wants to highlight the talent and 

the pride of National Guard Airmen alongside the other major commands.

 Walden tapped his desk. “I want to shout 

from the rooftops how great we did,” he said. 

“It’s important for all to know how well our 

Guardsmen did in this competition and how 

we are looking forward to a great competition next year, hopefully with additional 

support and funding.”

- MASTER SGT. MIKE R. SMITH

The starting line of the 2015 United States Air Force Marathon. (Photo courtesy usafmarathon.com)

2015 Marathon Finisher Medals. (Photo courtesy usafmarathon.com)
VSG MAGAZINE VOL.16 | ISSUE 1 26

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The Department of the Navy will posthumously award 

Purple Heart medals to four Marines and a 

sailor killed by a lone terrorist at the Navy 

Operational Support Center Chattanooga 

in July, according to a statement from Navy 

Secretary Ray Mabus.

 Another Marine wounded in the shooting 

will also be awarded the Purple Heart.

 “Following an extensive investigation, the 

FBI and NCIS have determined that this attack was inspired by a foreign terrorist group, 

the final criteria required for the awarding 

of the Purple Heart to this sailor and these 

Marines,” Mabus said in a statement. “This 

determination allows the Department of the 

Navy to move forward immediately with the 

award of the Purple Heart to the families of 

the five heroes who were victims of this terrorist attack, as well as to the surviving hero.”

 The announcement comes hours after a 

news conference where the FBI director labeled the shootings an act of terror.

 “We’ve investigated Chattanooga as a terror 

attack from the beginning,” Director James 

Comey said, according to a report from Fox 

News. “The Chattanooga killer was inspired 

by a foreign terror organization. It’s hard to 

entangle which particular source ... there 

are lots of competing poisons out there.”

 The language Comey used was important because the law that governs the Purple 

Heart specifies that service secretaries can 

award the decoration in stateside incidents 

when the attacker was in contact with and 

inspired by foreign terror organizations.

 Marine Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Sullivan, 

Lance Cpl. Squire K. Wells, Staff Sgt. David Wyatt and Sgt. Carson Holmquist were 

killed at Navy Operational Support Center 

Chattanooga on July 16, and Navy Logistics 

Specialist 2nd Class Randall Smith died July 

18 from wounds sustained during the shooting. Marine Sgt. DeMonte Cheeley was shot 

in the leg and later recovered. All were nominated for Purple Hearts.

 Comey said in November that the motivations of the Chattanooga shooter might 

never be made public, raising questions 

about whether the Navy would ever be in 

a position to award the Purple Heart to the 

families, which will now qualify for survivor’s benefits associated with recipients of 

the decoration.

 Benefits include burial in a National Cemetery free of cost and a monthly payment 

from the Veterans Administration to the 

families of service members killed in action.

 Mabus said he hoped the award would 

comfort the families in some way.

 “Although the Purple Heart can never possibly replace this brave sailor and these brave 

Marines, it is my hope that as their families 

and the entire Department of the Navy team 

continue to mourn their loss, these awards 

provide some small measure of solace,” he 

said. “Their heroism and service to our nation will be remembered always.”

- DAVID LARTER | NAVY TIMES

CHATTANOOGA ATTACK

Servicemembers Killed in Chattanooga will be Awarded 

Purple Hearts by Department of Navy.

PURPLE HEARTS 

TO BE AWARDED 

An August memorial for the Chattanooga shooting victims included a moving unit roll 

call. (Photo courtesy of Daniel Woolfolk / Navy Times)
VSG MAGAZINE VOL.16 | ISSUE 1 27

MCGHEE TYSON AIR NATIONAL 

GUARD BASE, Tenn. - The Air National Guard Readiness Center praised six I.G. 

Brown Training and Education Center Airmen as its top performers in the second and 

third calendar quarters during a Dec. 15 

awards ceremony on Joint Base Andrews in 

Maryland.

ANGRC SECOND QUARTER 

OUTSTANDING AIRMEN

•	 The ANGRC Senior Noncommissioned 

Officer of the Second Quarter is Senior 

Master Sgt. Christine Shawhan, director 

of education.

•	 The ANGRC Civilian of the Second 

Quarter is Mr. David Barlow, graphics 

manager.

•	 The ANGRC NCO of the Second Quarter is Tech. Sgt. Johnathan Kelley, EPME 

instructor.

ANGRC THIRD QUARTER OUTSTANDING AIRMEN

•	 The ANGRC Senior Noncommissioned 

Officer of the Third Quarter is Senior 

Master Sgt. Shaun Withers, superintendent of professional and continuing education.

•	 The ANGRC Civilian of the Third Quarter is Tammie Smeltzer, PCE director.

•	 The ANGRC NCO of the Third Quarter 

is Tech. Sgt. Jacob Sutton, enlisted professional military education instructor.

The TEC swept the Air National Guard 

Readiness Center’s awards, which employs 

more than 700 military and civilian personnel. It is also responsible for four detachments, to include the TEC, and other operating locations.

- MASTER SGT. MIKE R. SMITH

AIRMEN AWARDS

Airmen Sweep Readiness Center Awards in Maryland.

TEC AIRMEN 

SWEEP AWARDS

Top performers in the second and third quarters 

during a Dec. 15 awards ceremony in Sheppard 

Hall on Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. (Photo 

by Master Sgt. Marvin Preston)
VSG MAGAZINE VOL.16 | ISSUE 1 28

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines family as “a group 

of people united by certain convictions or 

a common affiliation.” The members of the 

164th Airlift Wing exemplify this plus more. 

When Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Dresten Gaboya was diagnosed with a rare form 

of cancer, the 164th rallied to support their 

family member.

 “Gaboya is a really good guy,” Senior Master Sgt. Jim Lehmen said, the 164th Maintenance Group Aid Shop supervisor. “I could 

immediately tell that he was going to be a 

great asset to the shop.”

 “He is just one of those people, on your 

team, that you want to bat for and help out.” 

he added.

 When Lehmen found out about what 

Gaboya and his family were going through, 

164TH AIRLIFT WING

Staff Sgt. Dresten Gaboya and daughter (left) pose for a picture with Master Sgt. 

Danny Stone (right) and the makeshift ice cream truck. (Photo by 164th Airlift Wing)

ICE CREAM 

FOR LIFE

The 164th Wing Supports a Fellow Airman in Need.
VSG MAGAZINE VOL.16 | ISSUE 1 29

he told his leadership the situation, and 

it ended up making its way to the 164th 

Wing Commander Col. Mark Devine.

 “I was in a staff meeting with Col. Devine, 

and he had been talking to Chief Master 

Sgt. Kenny McFeggan over in operations 

squadron , trying to brainstorm some type 

of way to raise money for Gaboya,” said Lt. 

Col. Keith Stiles, the 164th Maintenance 

Squadron commander “They kicked out 

the idea ‘let’s sell ice cream sandwiches,’ 

and I said ‘OK’. He said ‘sell ice cream 

sandwiches for an exuberant amount of 

money’,” Stiles said as he laughed. “I took 

that as a ‘go do’,” Stiles said.

 

S t i l e s 

contacted Prairie Farms dairy to see 

if there was any possible 

way they could donate the ice 

cream sandwiches needed to accomplish the task he was given.

 “I called and left a message; nothing,” 

Stiles said. “I called again and left a message; 

nothing. Then the Tuesday after Memorial 

Day, I received a call from Tommy Stevenson, an operations manager with Prairie 

Farms Dairy. He said that he had gotten a 

message from me saying that I was looking 

for a donation.”

 Stiles explained to Stevenson about Gaboya’s situation, and about how the 164th 

wanted to sell ice cream sandwiches to help 

raise money for the Gaboya family. Stevenson was instantly on board with the plan, 

and asked Stiles how many sandwiches he 

would need to accomplish his task.

 “I told him 1,000, and he said ‘done’,” said 

Stiles.

 Gaining a commitment from Prairie Farms 

for the ice cream was only phase one of the 

p l a n . 

Stiles felt that in order for this plan to be 

successful, he needed the commitment and 

support of the rest of the 164th family.

 “You can’t sell ice cream without an ice 

cream truck,” he said.

 Stiles thought about the little carts used 

on base to transport items from one area to 

the next. He figured that would be the best 

means of distributing the ice cream to the 

different Air Guard members across the 

base. Then came phase two, who would he 

ask to be the ice cream man?

 “I knew we needed a person, so I went 

through my mental rolodex of who would 

be the best ice cream salesman,” Stiles said. 

“And a name popped in my mind immediately, Senior Master Sgt. Jimmy Murphy, he’s 

talkative,” he said with a laugh.

 Stiles went to Murphy, 164th Maintenance Group Aircraft Maintenance Element 

Supervisor, and explained his plan on how 

he wanted to execute the selling of the ice 

cream. Stiles wanted him to start thinking 

about how to turn one of the carts into a 

makeshift ice cream truck.

 After the cart was designed and ready to 

go, Murphy, along with Master Sgt. Danny 

Stone, loaded up the ice cream and began 

driving around the base selling ice cream 

sandwiches for five dollars each. For those 

members that did not want ice cream but 

still wanted to help the cause, they could just 

donate money or an hour of paid time off for 

Gaboya to use.

 “The fact that the base, for someone like 

myself, would put time and effort into it, I 

feel extremely blessed and humbled,” Gaboya said, as he held back tears.

 Over a short four day time span, the 164 

th managed to rally together and raise over 

$2,800 and 80 hours of leave in support of 

Gaboya.

- SENIOR AIRMAN LEON BUSSEY

164TH AIRLIFT WING

Members of the 164th Airlift Wing and 

the Gaboya family at the Memphis 

Air National Guard Base in Memphis, 

Tenn.. (Photo by 164th Airlift Wing)
VSG MAGAZINE VOL.16 | ISSUE 1 30

SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. - A military training exercise on Jan. 14, at the Celebration 

grounds near Calsonic Arena attracted attention from passers-by. 

 Large trucks were surrounded by Tennessee National Guard Soldiers in military 

fatigues and a series of tents. 

 It was a chemical detection unit facing 

a scenario of a hazardous substance being 

found at a large stadium -- in this case, Calsonic Arena and the nearby Celebration stadium. 

 “The unit here is a chemical CBRN -- 

chemical, biological, radiology and nuclear 

detection unit,” Maj. Matt Hayes of the Tennessee National Guard’s 45th Civil Support 

Team said. 

 The specialized 22-person team made up 

of Army National Guard and Air National 

Guard troops helps in disasters throughout 

the Southeast, as well as standing by at large 

events in case of emergencies, Hayes said. 

It’s one of 55 similar teams throughout the 

nation.

 “We assist local authorities in events where 

they need additional assistance,” said Hayes.

 National Guard Civil Support Teams were 

established to deploy rapidly to assist a local incident commander in determining the 

nature and extent of an attack or incident; 

provide expert technical advice on response 

operations; and help identify and support 

the arrival of follow-on state and federal 

military response assets. 

 The unit was at a large chemical spill following a train crash in Maryville last summer, for example. It monitored the air at 

more than 100 locations, including a hospital, for poisonous cyanide and helped evacuate one home. 

 “We’ve trained here before. Every 18 

months the unit has to go through an evaluation to determine our state of readiness 

-- the evaluators pick our location for us,” 

Hayes said. “We’ve always received good 

evaluations.” 

 After initially arriving at the show grounds, 

a second simulated occurrence was presented to the unit. 

 “The scenario is that we discovered a 

harmful product just inside the gate, so we’re 

being forced to move to another location,” 

explained Hayes. 

 Trucks and tents were quickly packed and 

moved across the street to the Celebration 

campgrounds. 

 Soldiers in the unit, established in 2002, 

took pride in their accomplishments, pointing out years’ worth of continual certifications. 

 “We’ve been at events protecting people 

and no one even knew we were there,” one 

member said.

- DAVID MELSON / TIMES-GAZETTE

PREPAREDNESS

Tenn. Guard Chemical Unit Trains at Calsonic Arena.

RELAX: JUST 

A DRILL 

Sgt. Stephen Evans and Staff Sgt. David 

Owen take down a tent used in a Tennessee National Guard chemical detection 

unit’s exercise at the Celebration grounds 

on Jan. 14, 2016. (Photo courtesy David 

Melson / Times-Gazette)
VSG MAGAZINE VOL.16 | ISSUE 1 31

Even though World War II is 

one of the most written about 

American conflicts, Operation Torch and the campaign 

for North Africa is often overlooked by American historians and overshadowed by later 

operations in Italy and France. But thanks to 

Pulitzer Prize winning author Rick Atkinson’s 

work, An Army at Dawn, this key operation in 

the European Theater is brought to vivid life 

and reminds us why the first campaign in Europe was so critical to defeating Germany.

 Utilizing countless primary sources, Atkinson weaves together a story that examines the 

U.S. Army’s experience during the lead-up and 

beach landings at Morocco and Algeria on November 8, 1942, and continues until May 13, 

1943, when American troops captured Tunis 

and Bizerte. He vividly narrates key moment’s 

in-between, including the U.S. defeat at Kasserine Pass by Erwin Rommel’s Afrika Korps 

and the U.S. victory at Hill 609 in Tunisia. Atkinson presents a detailed account of every 

battle during the campaign, examining not 

only the perspective of leaders at the diplomatic and strategic level, but also what the individual combat Soldier was experiencing. 

 With a beautiful narrative style that is accessible to all readers, Atkinson argues that the 

North African campaign was crucial to developing the U.S. Army into an effective fighting 

force that was prepared for the crucible of the 

Normandy invasion. It is in North Africa that 

American forces learned to work with the British and other Allies, learned how to fight together, and mastered the art of war. The U.S. 

Army quickly evolved from an untried and naive 

force in November 1942, to a battle-hardened veteran Army armed with countless battlefield lessons 

written in American blood. Atkinson wrote that the, 

“troops had learned the importance of terrain, of 

combined arms, of aggressive patrolling, of stealth, 

of massed armor. They now knew what it was like to 

be bombed, shelled, and machine-gunned and fight 

on.” (537).

 Another key component of warfare that Atkinson 

narrates and explains in detail is the difficulty U.S. 

Soldiers had in combined–arms combat, and how 

crucial it was for success on the modern battlefield. 

Coordinating the effects of infantry, armor, artillery, 

engineers, and aviation, all while under fire, proved 

incredibly difficult at the outset of Operation Torch 

for inexperienced Soldiers and leaders. Sustaining 

these forces logistically was also a major challenge. 

Over time, U.S. forces learned to master these skills 

and used them with great success.

 Throughout his work, Atkinson touches on various aspects and levels of warfighting, writing that 

“we can see that North Africa was a pivot point in 

American history, the place where the United States 

began to act like a great power – militarily, diplomatically, strategically, tactically.” (3) The historical 

importance of the campaigns in North Africa and 

Atkinson’s treatment of it, makes this work a valuable addition to the library of any Soldier at all levels 

of leadership. 

 As the first installment of a three volume Liberation Trilogy, which covers the entire European theater ending with the fall of Berlin, I highly recommend this work to all Soldiers and anyone interested 

in the birth of the modern American Army. 

- MAJ DARRIN HAAS

AN ARMY

AT DAWN 

An Army at Dawn: 

The War in North Africa, 

1942-1943.

By Rick Atkinson. New 

York: Henry Holt and 

Company, 2002. 

List Price: $22.00

BOOK REVIEW

MAJ Darrin Haas Gives his Review of:
VSG MAGAZINE VOL.16 | ISSUE 1 32

RESERVE YOUR

LICENSE PLATE

TODAY!

tnmilitary.org/license-plate-request.html

Beginning in 2014, Tennessee Army and Air 

Guard Officer personnel requesting a license 

plate must order your plate(s) online NO LATER 

THAN 15 MAY 2016.

The request form can be found at 

tnmilitary.org/license-plate-request.html.

The information will be submitted to the State of 

Tennessee for production of plates. Those failing 

to meet the 15 May 2016 deadline will not get a 

specially numbered Officer plate in September.

All questions should be directed to the Joint 

Public Affairs Office, Tennessee Military Department at 615-313-0633.

GO HERE

Scan the QR Code above, to go 

directly to the license plate request 

form.