Mississippi's top Guard leaders visit Q-West on Thanksgiving

CONTINGENCY OPERATING LOCATION Q-WEST, Iraq - The adjutant general and the command sergeant major of the Mississippi National Guard visited Mississippians serving throughout Iraq, stopping at Contingency Operating Location Q-West, Nov. 26.

Brig. Gen. William L. Freeman, Jr., and Command Sgt. Maj. Donald L. Cooley toured numerous bases to see Soldiers of the 155th Brigade Combat Team, headquartered in Tupelo, Miss., spending several hours in the company areas of 2nd Battalion, 198th Combined Arms, out of Senatobia, Miss., which oversees the Q-West's base defense operations center, the mayor cell basic life support operations, and fields three convoy security companies.

"Brig. Gen. Freeman and Command Sgt. Maj. Cooley have always been engaged leaders," said Lt. Col. Kerry Goodman, commander of 2/198th CAB and a Meridian, Miss., native. "They have made it a habit of participating in training and just being around Soldiers. I admire their dedication to the troops of the Mississippi National Guard and respect their leadership. It was notable that they left their families to visit us during the Thanksgiving holiday."

The General offered holiday greetings and praise to the Soldiers.

"I wanted to be here in person to wish you a happy and safe Thanksgiving from the home front," Freeman told a gathering of Soldiers. "I wanted to thank you for your service. Everything I hear about the Soldiers of the 2/198th CAB is good. You are doing a great job over here."

The Mississippi National Guard is doing everything possible to prepare for the returning Soldiers and to ease their transition back to civilian life, said Freeman, starting with the mobilization site.

"When you return to Mississippi for demobilization, you will find improvements at Camp Shelby, which is one of the country's enduring mobilization sites," said Freeman. "We are investing in a brand new Post Exchange complex, and we have improved the Clothing Sales section."

Freeman talked about the Department of Defense Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program designed to help Guard and Reserve members through the deployment cycle.

"You all had a great Yellow Ribbon event prior to deploying, and we want you to have a great one when you get back," said Freeman. "Your families were very much involved in that event, and we need to keep them involved in the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program when you return. We have 30, 60 and 90-day events planned, which will inform you and your families about things like your (Veteran's Administration) benefits, job opportunities and other services to help your transition."

Cooley also emphasized the Guard's support for families.

"If your family is having financial problems during your deployment, the Family Relief Fund can help," said Cooley. "The Guard can help if families need it."

Cooley told the Mississippians that they need to be planning for the return home, and he emphasized the importance of furthering their military educations.

"During the reset time in those months when your unit first gets home, you need to go to school," Cooley said. "The opportunity will be there, so take it. You should be preparing for whatever leader's course you need, whether it's (Warrior Leader's Course), (Basic Noncommissioned Officer's Course) or (Advanced Non-Commissioned Officer's Course). You are the future leaders of the Mississippi National Guard, so attend those schools."

Command Sgt. Maj. Perry Campbell, senior ranking noncommissioned officer with the 2/198th CAB and native of Senatobia, Miss., said the visit showed good leadership.

"They did what good leaders should do," said Campbell. "They spent the holidays with the troops who are away from family in harm's way. Soldiers admire that. The message was supportive, and it got us to thinking about how to prepare for returning to our families, and the Soldiers needed to hear that."

Lt. Col. James L. Sisson, commander of 2nd Battalion, 114th Field Artillery, out of Starkville, Miss., traveled from Contingency Operating Location Marez to be with G Company, 106th Brigade Support Battalion, out of Louisville, Miss., a unit attached to his battalion.

Sisson, a native of Madison, Miss., said that he was impressed by the visit.

"It was great to see the senior leadership from Mississippi take time during the Thanksgiving holiday to visit bases where Mississippi Soldiers are serving, and we have Soldiers spread all over Iraq," said Sisson.