VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. –
Soldiers assigned to the Virginia National Guard’s Virginia Beach-based 329th Regional Support Group conducted reception and mission command exercises Nov. 25 – Dec. 9, 2018, at Fort Stewart, Georgia. The 329th RSG was selected as one of the few military organizations assigned to be a Mission Support Force. MSFs have a unique and critical role to quickly mobilize thousands at a mobilization station in preparation for a deployment abroad.
According to Brig. Gen. John B. Richardson, director of Operations, Readiness and Mobilization, G-3/5/7, the mandates of the current National Military Strategy/National Defense Strategy called for a new way to view mobilization. Senior leaders recognized that future actions against near-peer adversaries could require much larger mobilization.
“It is a privilege to be involved with a mission of such strategic importance,” said Col. Doyle Gillis, Jr., commander of the 329th RSG. “Our recent annual training period at Fort Stewart allowed us to build stronger ties with the installation and those with whom we will work if called upon.”
The 329th RSG utilized this annual training period to exercise mission command in support of the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. The 329th RSG integrated with the Mobilization Force Generation Installation operation center to develop processes to report on unit arrivals, units trained, and units synchronized. The 329th also coordinated sustainment and tracked onward movement to theater. Ultimately, this annual training exercise allowed the 329th RSG to exercise the MFGI concept to further define gaps and capabilities within the established processes.
The 329th RSG served as mission command to approximately 250 Soldiers, which included Soldiers from the following subordinate commands: the Kansas City, Mo.-based 7406th Troop Medical Clinic, the Gainesville, Fla.-based 7201st Medical Support Unit, the Greensboro, N.C.-based 114th Finance Detachment, and the 461st Adjutant General Company. In the event that the 329th RSG would execute the MSF mission, the 329th RSG would serve as the higher headquarters to seven downtrace units. These units are responsible for human resources, finance, medical, sustainment, and legal to name a few.
Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, visited with the 329th RSG during their annual training Dec. 4, 2018 at Fort Stewart, Georgia. During the visit, Gillis provided a brief on the unit’s mission and accomplishments before Williams presented challenge coins to some of the unit’s exceptional Soldiers. Williams also met with the commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, Maj. Gen. Leopoldo A. Quintas, Jr., and toured the Staff Sgt. Charles E. Mower Processing Center.
Other distinguished guests who also visited the 329th RSG included Brig. Gen. Lapthe C. Flora, Assistant Adjutant General Virginia Army National Guard, Maj. Gen. Joseph F. Jarrard, Adjutant General Georgia National Guard, and Brig. Gen. Ural Glanville, Commanding General U.S. Army Reserve Legal Command.
“The men and women of the 329 RSG did a magnificent job during this proof of concept and there is no doubt, we are ready,” said Gillis.