Nevada National Guard unit to join maneuvers in Egypt

Dick Benoit

Thursday, Sept. 13, 2001 | 8:25 a.m.

Forty-two members of the Nevada Army National Guard's 1864 Transportation Company will leave this weekend for Egypt for three weeks of maneuvers as part of Operation Bright Star.

The maneuvers take place in Egypt every two years and bring military units from as many as 12 allied nations to train in the desert environment. Bright Star exercises pre-date Desert Storm, and lessons learned during the exercises contributed to the initial U.S. response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and eventual allied victory.

According to Nevada Guard spokeswoman Lisa Kent, this is the first time the Nevada Guard has been asked to participate and it is the only National Guard unit to take part in the maneuvers this year.

Members of the 1864 are from all over the state, including Las Vegas and Reno.

Support banquet

The Nevada Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (NCESGR) will hold its awards and recognition banquet at the San Remo hotel, 115 E. Tropicana Ave., Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. The keynote speaker will be the adjutant general of Nevada, Brig. Gen. Giles E. Vanderhoof.

The annual banquet honors Nevada employers of men and women serving in the National Guard and Reserve components, that are supportive of their employees' patriotism and service to the nation.

Members of the Guard and Reserve nominate supportive supervisors and managers for traditional "My Boss is a Patriot" awards throughout the year.

Employers whose management will be honored at this year's banquet include the Las Vegas Municipal Court, Target Stores, the Mesquite Police, Coca Cola Enterprises, Palace Station, Sam's Town, Nextel Communications, Southern Nevada Equipment Co., University of Nevada, Las Vegas, the Postal Service, Diagnostic Imaging of Nevada and the Las Vegas Sun.

Cost for the banquet is $25 a person. Space may be reserved by calling Nevada NESGR Chairman Ted Marshall at 384-7162 no later than noon Sept 24.

In brief