Selected
Article:
New
Guard unit relocates to Greenville
Employment
and economic benefits expected
By Natalie W. Criss
DBJ Contributing Writer
Several
members of the Mississippi Army National Guard's 114th Army
Liaison Team (ALT), previously located in Laurel, have been
transferred to Greenville. Completing their first drill
on July 20, the move places these members, including 8 officers
and 15 enlisted men, along side members of the Service Battery,
2nd Battalion, 114th Field Artillery already stationed at
the Army National Guard Armory located at the Mid-Delta
Regional Airport.
"This is an exciting move for the National Guard of
Mississippi," says Maj. Gen. James H. Lipscomb, III,
the adjutant general of Mississippi. "It will certainly
benefit Greenville and the Washington County area economically.
It also brings a much higher command structure to Greenville."
A command unit of the National Guard, the ALT's mission
is to coordinate the Armed Forces Joint Task Force commander
with its allied Coalition Forces Command, and U. S. Major
Subordinate Commands and services. Col. George E. Irvin,
formerly a resident of Greenville, commands the unit. Citing
the two additional full-time positions the move will bring
to the Greenville armory, Irving reports, "This expansion
in full-time structure will increase the number of employees
at the armory to 17. Additionally," he explains, "the
part-time members of the unit will contribute to the community's
economy by eating at local restaurants, staying at area
hotels and shopping at neighborhood businesses."
Greenville Mayor Paul Artman, Jr. believes the timing was
right. "This was a good opportunity to seize some growth
of the National Guard in Greenville," he explains,
"[Maj. Gen. Lipscomb] requested the unit and there
happened to be a command unit that needed new quarters.
First, they accommodated us by moving a water purification
unit to Greenville, and then granted the request for a command
unit. This leads to more payroll which goes back into the
community as well as lends more prestige to the area."
Washington County experienced an economic boost when the
existing Army National Guard Armory was reopened in Leland.
The 1387th Quartermaster Company, a water transportation
unit, was organized and stationed at the Leland armory.
With a payroll of $1.2 million th unit currently has 132
members with two full-time employees. With the 114th ALT
relocated to Greenville, the National Guard represents over
$3 million of economic impact in Washington County.
"We are pleased to be able to add more Guard support
in Washington County," Lipscomb says, "It's a
win-win situation for everyone." DBJ
