48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Cases It’s Colors

This morning (12-21-18) at Fort Stewart, “Georgia’s Army,” the 48^th IBCT, Georgia Army National Guard, held its casing of the colors and departure ceremony in the presence of several dignitaries and a very large turn-out of Brigade families and supporters.  The Brigade soldiers will deploy to Afghanistan in the coming days, after spending some time off with their families.

Speakers included 3^rd ID Commander, MG Lee Quintas, MG Joe Jarrard, Georgia’s Adjutant General, LTG Daniel Hokanson from the National Guard Bureau in D.C., COL Matthew Smith, 48^th Brigade Commander, and a very special guest, the Governor of Georgia, Nathan Deal.  Appropriate that the Governor would be here as the 48^th prepares to deploy, since the Brigade is composed of Army Guardsmen from units located all across the state.

In a pilot project, the 48^th Brigade has become officially associated with the 3^rd Infantry Division, to include intense training at Fort Stewart with elements of the 3^rd, and the wearing of the Division’s patch.  By all accounts, this pilot pairing, part of the “Total Army” initiative, has been very successful.  All Georgians wish a successful and safe deployment as the 48^th heads over to continue the training assistance being provided by America’s Army to the Afghan Army.