Fighting New Battles - Arkansas National Guard

The Arkansas Minutemanof interestChastain named new Adjutant General of Arkansas National GuardGovernor Mike Huckabee namedMaj. Gen. Ron Chastain as the new adjutantgeneral of Arkansas Wednesday,May 31. Maj. Gen. Don C. Morrow,the current adjutant general, announcedhis retirement after 43 years of servicewith the National Guard.Chastain has accumulated over 34ytears of military experience, includingtwo tours of command in Iraq. He iscurrently assigned as the wartime chiefof staff for the U.S. Forces, Korea.During Operation Desert Storm,Chastain commanded the ArkansasNational Guard’s 25th REar OperationsCenter. One of the most notable highlightsof his career was leading 4,200men and women into combat as thecommander of the 39th Brigade CombatTeam during the brigade’s 18 monthmobilization in support of OperationIraqi Freedom.“I feel honored to be able to succeedMaj. Gen. Don Morrow as yournext adjutant general,” said Chastain.“And as adjutant general, I pledge tocontinue to improve the readiness of theArkansas National Guard units. At thesame time, I’ve got a goal of lookingout after our Airmen and Soldiers, andall of their families here in Arkansas,”he said.Arkansas Guard Soldier reports on life in Iraq– Long days, hot sun, good food selection are part of deploymentBy Spc. Trevor McIntyre, Battery C, 1-142nd Fires Brigadelife, and the days are not too hot--butI am currently deployed with Charlie they’re getting there.Battery, 1st Battalion of the 142nd Fires The living conditions are prettyBrigade, out of Rogers, Ark., in support good, as far as I’m concerned. We liveof Operation Iraqi Freedom. Although in barracks that were just constructed.we are a field artillery unit we have been They have running water, indoor plumbingand three-man rooms. This makestasked with the duties of a security force.Life in Iraq is not quite what I life a little easier after coming off a 12-expected. I had expected to come over hour shift. That’s my only complaint, sohere to blazing hot days and sand as far far. Twelve hour shifts make for a longas the eye could see. Instead, there is day, especially in the desert sun. Butmore mud than I’ve seen in my entire that’s all part of being in Iraq.Spc. Trevor McIntyre, Battery C, 1-142nd Fires Brigade, on night patrol in Iraq.Morrow was appointed as the adjutantgeneral by Governor Huckabee in1996 and has witnessed the role of theGuard shift during his tenure. He ledthe Arkansas National Guard throughthe transition and the strongest operatingtempo Arkansas Guard membershave ever seen. Since the global waron terror began, 8,000 have answeredcountless calls for stateside support aswell.“It ahs truly been an outstandinghonor for me to have had the opportunityto work with these men and women,and all of those others out there thatthey represent,” Morrow said.As far as free time goes, we’re a littleshy of that. But we are able to stay intouch with loved ones back home. Thereare facilities such as the Morale, Welfareand Recreation center, and the phonecenter located fairly close to where Ilive and work. We are able to go on-lineand/or call our families and friends backin the states 24 hours a day, which makesit a little easier on us.The food over here is something ofits own. I can’t recall a time when I’vebeen able to eat this much, and have suchgreat selection in an Army chow hall.We have the main line, short order (fastfood, hamburgers, hot dogs, etc.), thesalad bar, taco bar, sandwich bar, potatobar and an ice cream bar. You name it,it’s available.We are fairly close to one of thelargest bases in Iraq, so on our days offwe have the opportunity to go and enjoythings like the huge Post Exchange,Popeye’s Chicken, Burger King, Cinnabonand other assorted shops. It makesfor a fun day off and a place to relax.That’s about all I have to say aboutlife in Iraq, thus far. Hopefully it willstay the same for the remainder of thedeployment.Page 8 Summer 2006