New commander for Winder National Guard unit

ATLANTA - A Winder-based National Guard unit, which includes members from Gainesville and all over Georgia, has a new commander.

Georgia guard spokesman Jim Driscoll confirmed Monday that Maj. Matt Smith has taken over leadership of the 1st Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment, replacing Lt. Colonel Andy Hall "who will be moving to a position with the National Guard Bureau up in Washington."

Driscoll says the change-of-command would have been taking place, with or without plans for the unit's deployment to Afghanistan next summer.

"The timing is that you want to get the new commander in...to be part of the of the entire training cycle."

The unit was told in December it will be deployed to Afghanistan next summer - and Driscoll said Monday that is still the plan.