Georgia guardsmen complete first phase of desert war training

FORT STEWART - Members of a Georgia National Guard unit scheduled for deployment to Iraq this year - including a number based in Gainesville - have compelted their first round of desert warfare training.

The exercises at Fort Irwin, California, were all computer-driven, according to a report in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. But, the next time, the former citizen-soldiers will move into the desert and into simulated Iraqi towns that have sprung from the sand.

For now, though, they are back at Fort Stewart near Savannah to practice large-scale maneuvers. They will return to the California desert for the final and most intense part of their training.

The 48th includes about 150 Gainesville-based guardsmen - members of the 121st Infantry.

The brigade, which includes 4,800 members statewide, was called to active duty last month.