HATTIESBURG, Miss. (Queen City Newsfeed) – The Mississippi Association of Broadcasters got a firsthand look at the Mississippi National Guard last Thursday.
The “Boss Lift” event, hosted by the Mississippi National Guard and Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, gave media professionals a chance to see the training and equipment used by Guard members.
“Today the Mississippi National Guard has invited the Mississippi Association of Broadcasters for a behind the scenes look at what our men and women in the Mississippi National Guard do every single day for our communities, for our state, and for the nation,” said Lt. Col. Deidre Smith, Director of Public Affairs for the Mississippi National Guard.
Broadcasters were flown by helicopter to Camp Shelby, where they were treated to a tour of the facilities.
“Once we had an opportunity to meet and greet some of our Senior leaders for the state, then we went on to the EST. Which is an Electronic Skills Trainer. So it’s an opportunity for our service men and women to familiarize themselves with our weapon systems. Learn how to shoot and fire, so that when they go to a live fire range, they’re ready,” said Smith.
The broadcasters also had the opportunity to ride in military vehicles and experience firsthand the training that Guard members undergo.
“We’re here at our MATES, Maneuver Area Training Equipment Site. So, this is the location where we keep our formation combat ready with our tanks, and we had an opportunity to let our broadcasters take a ride,” said Smith.
The event was designed to highlight the important work of the Mississippi National Guard and to strengthen the bond between the Guard and the community.
“First of all, if we don’t tell our story, no one else will. It’s so important. Mississippi is a very patriotic state. We have Mississippi National Guard Air and Service Members that represent every single county of our great state. So, out of 82 counties, there’s a member of the Mississippi National Guard that calls that county home,” said Smith.
The Mississippi National Guard continues to invest in its facilities and personnel to ensure it is ready to respond to any challenge.
“The Mississippi National Guard is always growing and expanding. Right now, what you can see behind us is an expansion of the MATES facility where they’re going to be welcoming a new tank. They needed a larger facility to be able to perform the maintenance and keep that up to standard. So, this new facility will give them that capability to make sure that, that platform is always ready,” said Smith.
The Guard offers a variety of benefits to its members, including education and healthcare.
“The Mississippi National Guard is such a hidden jewel in our state, and the resources and benefits for our service members are beyond any others that you can see. Just for an example, our college education benefits, the healthcare, the insurance, it really is a blessing for our service members,” said Smith.
