Contact: Renee Hoffman 
Date: July 16, 2004
Phone: (919) 733-5027 x231 

Equipment for 30th Brigade Soldiers Arrives in Iraq 

 

RALEIGH — The additional safety equipment that Gov. Mike Easley ordered to be purchased for the N.C. National Guard’s 30^th Heavy Separate Brigade (HSB) has arrived in Iraq.  The equipment supplements federally authorized items and was requested by the Brigade to help ensure the safety and security of the soldiers.

The equipment includes handheld radios compatible with the existing military radio systems so that soldiers will have more communications on patrols.  They also received laptop computers, which will help expedite planning, assignments and execution of their duties.  The computers also allow for more contact between soldiers and their families at home.  The state provided battery-operated flashing yellow lights to be used at nighttime checkpoints.  The lights help make the checkpoints more visible, improving safety for the soldiers manning the checkpoints and the Iraqi citizens using the roads.  The state also sent the 30^th HSB and other N.C. National Guard units additional body armor to be used to help make the military vehicles more bullet proof. 

The 30^th HSB is the first full National Guard combat brigade activated and deployed for service in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  About 3,500 of the brigade’s 4,800 soldiers are from North Carolina.  Headquartered in Clinton, with armories in communities from Wilmington to Charlotte, the brigade also includes soldiers from West Virginia, New York, Illinois, Alabama, Ohio, Minnesota, Texas and California.  The brigade shipped out to the Middle East in late February.  The deployment was the state’s largest since World War I.

Sgt. Montique Williams (left), Headquarters Headquarters Company (HHC), 30^th Brigade Combat Team (BCT), is issued a Dell Notebook Computer from Chief Warrant Officer Bobby Hinton, HHC, 230^th Forward Support Battalion.  These Soldiers are part of the North Carolina Army National Guard serving in Iraq.  The computer was part of large shipment of technical equipment provided at the direction of North Carolina Governor Mike Easley.  (Photo by Master Sgt. Mike Welsh, 30^th BCT PAO)

Sgt. First Class William M. Faulkner (left) and Maj. Tim Harrison, both Headquarters Headquarters Company, 30^th Brigade Combat Team, test out encrypted radios sent to the Brigade at the direction of North Carolina Governor Mike Easley.   (Photo by Master Sgt. Mike Welsh, 30^th BCT PAO)

Cover Photo: Capt. Harry Gray, Headquarters Headquarters Company, 30^th Brigade Combat Team, unloads a shipment Notebook Computers that just arrived in Iraq.  The computers, as well as encrypted radios were provided to the Brigade at the direction of North Carolina Governor Mike Easley.   (Photo by Master Sgt. Mike Welsh, 30^th BCT PAO)