Photo By Maj. William Carraway | Brigadier General Thomas Blackstock, commander of the Georgia Army National Guard’s...... read more read more
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Lieutenant Colonel Lucas Rice assumed command of the Georgia Army National Guard’s 122nd Tactical Support Detachment from Col. Alan Alexander during a ceremony at the Clay National Guard Center Dec. 2, 2018.
“The 122nd TSD has an important mission in support of the 7th Infantry Division,” said Brig. Gen. Thomas Blackstock, commander of the 78th Troop Command. “They couldn’t do what they do without your support and it is due in large part to the work you have done the past two years under Col. Alexander’s leadership.”
Alexander assumed command of the 122nd TSD in June 2016. His previous assignments include rotations as deputy commander of the 78th Troop Command, executive officer of the 648th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade and commander of the 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment. Alexander completed combat tours in Iraq with the 3rd Infantry Division and Afghanistan with 2-121. In his next assignment Alexander will serve as the deputy commander of Task Force Southeast for Operation Resolute Support in Afghanistan.
During his farewell remarks, Alexander recognized his family for their enduring support and thanked current and past members of the 122nd TSD for their hard work.
“I have had the privilege to command what I call the best kept secret in the Georgia Guard,” said Alexander addressing the assembled Soldiers. “This opportunity came about because of numerous people, some of whom are present, who made the investment to train and mentor me. I sincerely appreciate the investment.”
The 122nd TSD was originally constituted in the Georgia National Guard as the Field Hospital Number 1 in 1914. Following service on the Mexican border in 1916 and 1917, the unit was sent to Camp Wheeler in Macon, Ga. to prepare for World War I mobilization. The 7th Infantry Division was organized at Camp Wheeler December 6, 1917, and for the next several months, the forerunners of the 7th Infantry Division and 122nd TDS trained on the same ground.
One hundred years later, the 122nd TSD supplements the staff of the 7th Infantry Division during National Training Center rotations.
Lieutenant Col. Rice brings a wealth of experience to his new command and its important mission. A graduate of West Point, Rice began his military career at Ft. Campbell, Ky. with the 101st Aviation Brigade where he served as a platoon leader and member of battalion and brigade staff. During his active duty career, Rice additionally served in Korea and later as an Apache instructor pilot at Fort Rucker, Ala.
In 2008, Rice joined the Georgia National Guard. As a pilot with the Marietta-based 78th Aviation Troop Command, Rice deployed to multiple national disasters as well as extended deployments to both Haiti and the Texas border in support of counterdrug operations.
He has deployed to Afghanistan with 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and served as the commander of the 1-171 General Support Aviation Battalion. His most recent assignment was as an operations officer in the Joint Operations Center, Clay National Guard Center.
Rice congratulated Col. Alexander on his follow-on assignment and addressed the soldiers of his new command.
“You represent this state and this unit very well and I look forward to continuing to be able to do that with you," said Rice.
| Date Taken: | 12.02.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 12.02.2018 18:23 |
| Story ID: | 301970 |
| Location: | MARIETTA, GEORGIA, US |
| Web Views: | 507 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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