Dear Fire Starters and Fire Starter Families:
This year has been one heck of a roller coaster ride for everyone! We started out the year training hard and rigorously for a yearlong deployment to Iraq, then we endured a long and hot 3 week pre-mobilization Annual Training only to be told halfway through that the Brigade will NOT be deploying to Iraq. We then came to the Armory for a relaxing August drill only to get activated for support to the east coast for Hurricane Irene and then stood down 2 days later. Life in the Indiana Army National Guard has not been easy since 2003, however, this past year seemed to wear everyone down more than a typical year. I urge you to take the next 3 months to spend time with your soldier and your entire family. The unit will be slowing down and not going to the field again for a few months so our drill weekends will not be as long or as stressful on our troops. Take the time to have a safe and joyful holiday season for yourself and your family.We are very excited and can’t wait to see everyone for the 3 December Holiday party at the Scottsburg Armory. There will be several events for the children, so please come to enjoy yourself and great food with your extended Army family.Lastly, we will have some changeover in our Family Readiness Group coming soon and we will need more volunteers. Remember there are NO mandatory monthly meetings or extensive time away from your family to support. Volunteering can be as little as helping create flyers or decorating before an FRG event, we need your support!CPT Craig Cooley
Commander's Corner
Stories in the News
"About 100 more National Guardsmen slated to arrive in Indiana on Tuesday." Click here to read the article in the Greene County Daily World on November 6, 2008.
"Families of National Guard Troops Receive Support From Volunteers" by Will Higgins. Click here to read the article in the Indianapolis Star on Sunday, March 16, 2008.
"Southern Indiana Soldiers Make Final Preparations Before Deploying to Iraq" by Kara Lopp. Click here to read the article in the News and Tribune on Saturday, March 1, 2008.
"Citizen-Soldiers Prepare for War" by Pamela E. Walck. Click here to read the article in the Savannah Morning News on Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008.
"Indiana Guard Arrives at Fort Stewart" by Dal Cannady. Click here to read the article on the WTOC-Channel 11 of Savannah, Georgia news on Friday, Jan. 4, 2008.
"Thousands Give Indiana Guard Members a Patriotic Send-Off" by Justin Helfrich. Click here to read the article in the Madison Courier on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2008.
"76th Brigade Departure Ceremony" by Rob Cooper. Click here to read the article in the BlackAnthem Military News.
"Shipping Out" by Peter Slevin. Click here to read the article in the Washington Post on October 28, 2007.
"Rules of Engagement: Local National Guardsmen retrain in preparation for a tour in Iraq" by Matthew Ralph. Click here to read the article in the News and Tribune on July 22, 2007.
Photo Gallery
All photos are on the Photo Bucket website. Click below for each link to a specific album.
