The 648th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MEB) is a Georgia Army National Guard unit consisting of around 1,374 soldiers. The brigade provides fully equipped and ready units that can perform a wide range of missions from combat to disaster relief. In 2011, the brigade deployed units to Afghanistan while also conducting training exercises. It is composed of engineer, support, transportation and signal units spread across multiple locations in Georgia and West Virginia. The brigade supports both federal and state missions at home and abroad.

1. 648th Maneuver in a local role in support of state
missions, mostly in disaster and
Enhancement humanitarian relief operations.
The 648th MEB is parent to
Brigade an engineer battalion, brigade
support battalion, and a separate
signal company. The 620th Signal
The Georgia Army National Company, in Weston, W.Va., is
Guard’s 648th Maneuver currently detached in support of
Enhancement Brigade (MEB), a unit missions to the West Virginia Army
currently authorized an estimated National Guard.
1,374 Soldiers, was formed Oct. 1, In the spring of 2011, the 648th
2007, in Columbus, Ga. The 648th’s MEB transferred command of the
current commander is Col. Andy 781st CERF-P Battalion, the 1-214
Hall and the senior enlisted advisor Field Artillery Battalion, and the
is Command Sgt. Maj. John Smiley. 170th Military Police Battalion to the
The 648th MEB’s mission is to 78th Homeland Response Force.
provide manned, ready, and fully The main training event
equipped mission-capable units to conducted by elements of the 648th
combatant and Joint Task Force in 2011 was the National Guard
commanders with capabilities Bureau’s Exportable Training Center
of full-spectrum operations and (XCTC) exercise in October at Camp
consequence management to support Blanding, Fla.
the war fight, defend the homeland The Brigade completed
Col. Andy Hall
and to provide defense support to numerous, collective pre-deployment Commander
civil authorities. tasks, from staff systems integration 648th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade
The MEB’s deployments and in a tactical operations center, to Ga. Army National Guard
redeployments in 2011 included the base-support group battle drills.
redeployment of the 877th Horizontal The 348th Brigade Support
Construction Company from Wardak Battalion offered the comprehensive
Province, Afghanistan, and the white cell to liaison with XCTC • 876th Engineer Company (Vertical
forward deployment of the Brigade staff and the Florida Army National Construction), Toccoa
Headquarters and Headquarters Guard, and provided administrative • Detachment 1, 876th Engineer
Company to Kabul, Afghanistan. and logistics support for all GARNG Company (Vertical Construction),
The 877th exceeded expectations forces during the XCTC exercise. Hartwell
in constructing a vital roadway in the • 810th Engineer Company
volatile Tangi Valley to provide safer (Sapper), Swainsboro
alternate routes for coalition forces. • 874th Engineer Detachment
The Brigade Headquarters is now (Construction), Fort Stewart
providing support to seven military 648th MEB Units • 175th Engineer Detachment
outposts in the Kabul Base Cluster. (Asphalt), Fort Stewart
The MEB concept for command • Headquarters and Headquarters • 348th Brigade Support Battalion,
and control capacity surpasses that Company, Columbus Cumming
of other brigade headquarters. MEBs • 878th Engineer Battalion, Augusta • Headquarters Company, Cumming
are uniquely designed for both war • Headquarters Support Company, • Alpha Company, Cumming
fighting and operational support Augusta • Bravo Company, Hinesville
roles. Their elaborate capabilities • Forward Support Company, • 1160th Transportation Company,
are a microcosmic parallel of the Augusta Rome
National Guard’s dual roles to serve • 877th Engineer Company • 620th Signal Company, Weston,
in the operational environment and (Horizontal Construction), Augusta WV, detached to WVARNG
15 | Georgia Department of Defense