NcDeuce
12-30-2003, 01:37 PM
New guards secure post's gates
By CHANTAL ESCOTO
The Leaf-Chronicle
Kentucky Army National Guard Spc. Kenneth Horton said providing security at Fort Campbell for seven months with his unit wasn't terrible because he wasn't deployed far from home.
Horton was part of a ceremony Monday that transferred authority of the post's gate guards from the National Guard unit to a civilian contractor, which marked another step toward the post's privatization.
About 50 soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery from Lexington, Ky., stood in formation Monday next to their replacements in blue -- the newly hired installation security guards of Akal Security.
"I'm going back to college at University of Kentucky and get a degree," said Horton, who was also chosen as the battalion's soldier of the year.
Horton said when he got the word in May that his unit was going to cover security at Fort Campbell instead of fighting in Iraq as an artilleryman he was a bit disappointed.
"I was kind of let down that we weren't going to do our job overseas because we trained in field artillery," said Horton, 20, who is from Lexington. "But at the same time, you still get to see your family because (at Fort Campbell) I'm about three hours away from home. It was better to be here than somewhere half way across the country."
A large metal key -- symbol of security transfer -- changed hands between the National Guard battalion commander Lt. Col. Rod Hayes, installation commander Col. Larry D. Ruggley and Akal Security chief of guards Lt. James Weatherford.
After the ceremonial exchange, Ruggley welcomed the change, which will free up Fort Campbell soldiers to take care of other duties, especially when the 101st Airborne Division returns in February and March.
"I'd like to express my thanks to 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery ... to your professionalism of how you carried out your duties," Ruggley said. "They are soldiers who have done a magnificent job."
Ruggley gave an anecdote of entering through Gate 1 while the battalion was in charge.
"One soldier said with a salute, 'Thanks for using Gate 1, sir,'" Ruggley said. "That struck me as someone who took a lot of pride in what he was doing."
About 400 people have been hired by Akal Security Inc., a New Mexico-based firm, to provide security at Fort Campbell's gates with a majority of those employed having prior military experience. The company was awarded the $10 million annual contract in October.
http://www.theleafchronicle.com/news/stories/20031230/localnews/133240-47984.jpg
Members of Akal Security and the 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery from Lexington, Ky., stand at attention during a ceremony marking the transferring of authority to Akal Security. The change marks the official start of civilian guarded gates at Fort Campbell.
Kinda funny watching the guards shift from 101st to National Guard/Reserve and now to civilians...
I've only gone on post once with the civilians working the gate but they seem like they are getting the hang of it.
By CHANTAL ESCOTO
The Leaf-Chronicle
Kentucky Army National Guard Spc. Kenneth Horton said providing security at Fort Campbell for seven months with his unit wasn't terrible because he wasn't deployed far from home.
Horton was part of a ceremony Monday that transferred authority of the post's gate guards from the National Guard unit to a civilian contractor, which marked another step toward the post's privatization.
About 50 soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery from Lexington, Ky., stood in formation Monday next to their replacements in blue -- the newly hired installation security guards of Akal Security.
"I'm going back to college at University of Kentucky and get a degree," said Horton, who was also chosen as the battalion's soldier of the year.
Horton said when he got the word in May that his unit was going to cover security at Fort Campbell instead of fighting in Iraq as an artilleryman he was a bit disappointed.
"I was kind of let down that we weren't going to do our job overseas because we trained in field artillery," said Horton, 20, who is from Lexington. "But at the same time, you still get to see your family because (at Fort Campbell) I'm about three hours away from home. It was better to be here than somewhere half way across the country."
A large metal key -- symbol of security transfer -- changed hands between the National Guard battalion commander Lt. Col. Rod Hayes, installation commander Col. Larry D. Ruggley and Akal Security chief of guards Lt. James Weatherford.
After the ceremonial exchange, Ruggley welcomed the change, which will free up Fort Campbell soldiers to take care of other duties, especially when the 101st Airborne Division returns in February and March.
"I'd like to express my thanks to 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery ... to your professionalism of how you carried out your duties," Ruggley said. "They are soldiers who have done a magnificent job."
Ruggley gave an anecdote of entering through Gate 1 while the battalion was in charge.
"One soldier said with a salute, 'Thanks for using Gate 1, sir,'" Ruggley said. "That struck me as someone who took a lot of pride in what he was doing."
About 400 people have been hired by Akal Security Inc., a New Mexico-based firm, to provide security at Fort Campbell's gates with a majority of those employed having prior military experience. The company was awarded the $10 million annual contract in October.
http://www.theleafchronicle.com/news/stories/20031230/localnews/133240-47984.jpg
Members of Akal Security and the 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery from Lexington, Ky., stand at attention during a ceremony marking the transferring of authority to Akal Security. The change marks the official start of civilian guarded gates at Fort Campbell.
Kinda funny watching the guards shift from 101st to National Guard/Reserve and now to civilians...
I've only gone on post once with the civilians working the gate but they seem like they are getting the hang of it.