Maryland Military Department

Digest

Maj. Gen. Bruce F. Tuxill, standing with his wife

Keren,mirrors his pose during the unveiling of his

portrait. On June 1 he will retire after more than

40 years of service in the Guard and the last five asAdjutant

General for Maryland. He will be missed and we wish him

well in his retirement.

Summer 2008

Anthony G. Brown

Lt. Governor

Martin O’Malley

Governor

In This Issue... ★ Governor Visits National Guard

Soldiers Before Deployment......page 3

★ Maryland National Guard

Announces Airman of the Year ..page 4

★ Dundalk Armory Renovation ....page 7

★ The 58th Infantry Brigade

Combat Team Returns

From Iraq! ..................................page 8

★ Maryland Army Guard Aviators

Prepare for Hurricane Season ..page 12

Maj. Gen. Bruce F.

Tuxill leaves a

lasting legacy

Photo by Spc. Elizabeth Jones, Photojournalist, State PAO
Digest: Summer, 2008 3

Martin O’Malley

Governor

Anthony G. Brown

Lt. Governor

Maj. Gen. Bruce F. Tuxill

Adjutant General

Fifth Regiment Armory Baltimore, Maryland 21201

TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE MARYLAND MILITARY DEPARTMENT:

More than 40 years ago, I took an oath to support and defend the Constitutions of the United States of

America and the State of Maryland. A lot has happened to our state and our nation since I began learning

the skills of an American fighter pilot. I was blessed to be associated with the men and women of the

Maryland Military Department.

As I pass command of the Maryland Military Department to Brig. Gen. James A.Adkins, I want to thank a

group of people who have made my time as Adjutant General one of which I can be proud as I step into

retirement. I want to thank Brig. Gen. Ed Leacock, assistant adjutant general for Army for his leadership

of the Maryland Army National Guard. He has led the Army Guard through a tough period of organizational transition and oversaw the largest deployment of Maryland National Guard Soldiers since World

War II. He successfully completed a deployment as Deputy Task Force Commander of Task Force Guantanamo guarding captured insurgents in Cuba.

I want to thank Brig. Gen. Charlie Morgan, assistant adjutant general for Air for his leadership of the Maryland Air National Guard. Under his leadership, the Air Guard deployed both the 104th Fighter Squadron

and the 135th Airlift Squadron to bases in the Middle East. Despite the actions of the Base Realignment

and Closure Commission, we will keep the airlift mission. Their tremendous success is a result of his

emphasis on leadership and training.

John Droneberg, director of the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) brought state emergency management from a reactive organization to a proactive one. He oversaw the agency as it attained

national accreditation and placed Maryland as one of the best prepared states in the country. Under his

watch, MEMA created the Maryland Joint Operations Center which now functions as the state’s 24-hour

watch center.

Brig. Gen. Courtney Wilson and his predecessors Brig. Gen. Fred Smalkin and Brig. Gen. Ben Lucas of the

Maryland Defense Force gave purpose and organization to a previously underutilized volunteer organization. MDDF now provides professional support services to the Maryland Military Department and has

brought great credit to itself and to Maryland. Other states are asking to see the “Maryland Model.” As an

example, MDDF’s medical teams were dispatched to Louisiana in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

They organized and operated six medical clinics which treated almost 7,000 people in the three weeks

of their deployment. They were the first such volunteer organization to accept a mission outside of

Maryland.

In thinking back over the last 40 years and more precisely the last five years, I am humbled by this

department’s accomplishments. The thing that I believe will characterize my time is readiness...readiness of this organization to prepare and execute the dual federal-state missions.We trained

our Soldiers and Airmen for the jobs they were expected to do in combat as best we could with the

resources and time available. Our state employees, many of whom are responsible for coordinating the

use of state resources during emergencies and disasters have performed their missions flawlessly.And I

would be remiss if I did not mention our uniformed volunteers of the MDDF. My admiration and respect

for all of these Marylanders cannot be adequately expressed and I could not be more proud of them.

Brig. Gen. Jim Adkins is an old friend and a leader who cares deeply about the people in this department.

He previously served as chief of staff and assistant adjutant general for state operations previously in the

Military Department. I am leaving him a department that is ready to handle the missions that come our

way. I have every confidence that you will accomplish your missions for him as you did for me. May

God Bless and keep all of you.

Godspeed!

Bruce F.Tuxill

Major General, MDANG

The Adjutant General

Governor Martin O’Malley joined federal, state and

local officials March 24 to say farewell to members

of the 224thArea Support Medical Company of the

Maryland Army National Guard in a ceremony at the Private Henry CostinArmory in Laurel,Md. Approximately 80

Soldiers are mobilizing for deployment to Iraq.

“We are deeply indebted to these Citizen-Soldiers and

their families for their sacrifices in the defense of our

nation and state,” said Governor O’Malley.“They are welltrained, well-equipped, well-led, and I have every confidence in their ability to perform their mission.”

The Soldiers departed for Fort Lewis, Washington

where they receive additional training before deployment

to Iraq. In Iraq, they will provide direct medical support.

This includes retrieval and stabilization of the wounded,

immediate triage care,and pass-on care to medical-surgical

teams.They also will conduct basic dental, physiological,

and psychological care.

Governor Visits National Guard

Soldiers Before Deployment

Photos courtesy of the Maryland Governor's office
4 Maryland Military Department Digest: Summer, 2008 5

Maryland National Guard Announces Airman of the Year

SONOITA, Ariz. -- Maryland Air

National Guard Tech. Sgt. Stephanie

Scott, from Baltimore, Md., with the

175th Civil Engineer Squadron cuts

pieces of steel, Feb. 14, for use as

temporary vehicle barriers along

the Southwestern border. Scott is

part of Task Force Diamondback,

the engineering component of Operation Jump Start – Arizona, the twoyear, presidentially mandated

mission placing National Guardsmen alongside agents of the U.S.

Customs and Border Protection, U.S.

Border Patrol. (U.S. Army photo by

Sgt. Benjamin Cossel, Operation

Jump Start – Arizona Public Affairs)

Tech. Sgt. Amy L. Franklin

175th Medical Group

Senior Airman Kyle J. Greene

135th Aerial Port Flight

On Feb 12, the Maryland Air National Guard

announced the winners of its annual Airman of

theYear competition for 2007 as follows:

In the Airman category: Senior Airman Kyle J.

Greene, of Pylesville, Md. Greene is a member of the

135th Aerial Port Flight.

In the Non-Commissioned Officer category: Tech.

Sgt.Amy L. Franklin, of Bowie, Md. Franklin is a member

of the 175th Medical Group.

In the Senior Non-Commissioned Officer category:

Chief Master Sgt. David L. Davies, of Baltimore. Davies is

a member of the 175th Maintenance Squadron.

“We are extremely fortunate to have such truly outstanding young men and women serving in the Maryland Air National Guard,” said Maj. Gen. Bruce F.Tuxill,

adjutant general of Maryland.“Day in and day out,these

citizen-airmen are serving their nation at home and

abroad and in our local communities. They truly are

Chief Master Sgt. David L. Davies

175th Maintenance Squadron

Master Sgt. Steven C. Mooney

135th Aerial Port Flight

Senior Master Sgt. Michele L. Vogel

Headquarters, 175th Wing

making a difference.”

This year’s winners were chosen from amongst a

field of 24 nominees from units throughout the MarylandAir National Guard.Nominees were recognized at a

ceremony held Feb.10 at Warfield Air National Guard

Base in Middle River, Md.

In addition to the winners of the Airman of theYear

competition, the Maryland Air National Guard also

announced the selectees for First Sergeant of the Year

and Honor Guard Member of theYear.Senior Master Sgt.

Michele L.Vogel, of Baltimore, was selected as First Sergeant of theYear.Vogel is first sergeant for Headquarters,

175thWing.Master Sgt. Steven C.Mooney,of Linthicum,

Md., was selected as Honor Guard Member of the Year.

Mooney is a member of the 135th Aerial Port Flight.

Maryland Air National Guard

Unit Returns from Iraq

On March 7, the Maryland Air National Guard welcomed home 27 members of the 175th Security

Forces Squadron from their six-month deployment

to Sather Air Base at Baghdad International Airport, Iraq.

The Guardsmen were activated in July 2007 and

attended pre-deployment training at Creech Air Force Base,

Nev., before deploying to Baghdad. Since that time,the unit

has been conducting air base defense and security missions

as well as protective service operations for visiting dignitaries, including the Secretary of State and the Chairman of

the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

“The 175th Security Forces Squadron has been the

workhorse of the Maryland National Guard and has made us

proud time and time again,” said Maj.Gen.Bruce F.Tuxill,the

adjutant general of Maryland.“Their service and sacrifice –

as well as the sacrifices of their families and employers – are

what keep this nation and this state safe and secure.”

This was the squadron’s twelfth significant overseas

deployment since Sept. 11, 2001, and their second deployment to Iraq. In addition, the unit deployed a task force to

Louisiana in 2005 to assist in relief efforts in the aftermath

of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

A patriotic crowd of family, friends and other well-wishers were on hand at Baltimore Washington International

Thurgood Marshall Airport to greet the returning Airmen.
6 Maryland Military Department Digest: Summer, 2008 7

Maryland National Guard

Reaction Force Prepares

for Preakness

Story and photos by Staff Sgt. Kristofer Baumgarnter, State PAO

Dundalk Armory Renovation

Photo courtesy of Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger.

The Maryland National Guard

conducted non lethal weapons

training in April at Camp Fretterd Military Reservation in Reisterstown, Md. in preparation for an

upcoming security assistance mission

at the Preakness Stakes.

Instructors from the 70th Regiment conducted a five-day Non Lethal

IndividualWeapons Operators Course

(NIWOC) for members of Maryland’s

National Guard Reaction Force

(NGRF) at the new Warrior Training

Center at Camp Fretterd. Training

focused on the Rules of Force and

crowd control tactics including

implementing non lethal weapons

such as the TASER X26 and Oleoresin

Capsicum (pepper spray).

Due to the state’s proximity to

Washington,D.C. and major ports,the

National Guard is taking steps to

increase its NGRF preparedness

through this type of training.

“(NIWOC) is the first state level non

lethal operators course of its kind in

the National Guard,” said Maj. Amy

Bennett,Warrior Training Center officer in charge.

The NGRF will apply its new

knowledge on May 17 as it supports

the high profile Preakness Stakes

horse race at Pimlico Race Course in

Combat Lifesaver Training Photos by Staff Sgt.Kristofer Baumgartner and layout design by Spc. Elizabeth Jones, State PAO

Baltimore.The Preakness Stakes is the

second jewel in the Triple Crown of

thoroughbred racing and is traditionally held the third Saturday in May. A

record crowd of 121,263 attended

the race in 2007 becoming the largest

crowd to see a sporting event in

Maryland history. As in years past,the

Maryland National Guard will provide

additional security supporting local,

state and federal law enforcement

agencies.

“The National Guard is in a

unique role to respond to state and

federal needs. Regardless of our status, the non-lethal weapons training

will provide additional options to deal

with tense situations,” said Lt. Col.

Adam Flasch, commander of the

NGRF. “The skills my soldiers learned

during this training will ensure that

our citizens can rely on the National

Guard to respond effectively to any

emergency.”

Each state and territory has a

National Guard Reaction Force capable of responding in support of state

and local requests. In Maryland, the

assignment rotates annually among

Army National Guard battalions. The

NGRF may be augmented with other

units to enhance capability based on

the situation.

Sgt. 1st Class Antivone Young, 1729 Field Support Maintenance Co., takes down a simulated

rioter during non-lethal weapons training while fighting the effects of pepper spray. The April

training at Camp Fretterd Military Reservation was in preparation for an upcoming security

assistance mission at the Preakness Stakes horse race.

Tech. Sgt. Charles Doran drives on with his civil disturbance mission after being sprayed in the

eyes with pepper spray during non-lethal weapons training at Camp Fretterd Military Reservation

in April 2008.

The Joint Forces Headquarters Medical Detachment with the assistance of volunteers from the Maryland Defense Force conducted a

four day Combat Lifesaver Training course at the Edgewood Armory

between 11-14 March 2008.Training consisted of classroom instruction and practical exercises in a simulated battlefield environment.

On Friday, March 7, 2008, during a tour of

the facility,Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger announced that $829,000 in

federal funds will be put toward a much needed

renovation of the Dundalk Armory.

The facility has a leaking roof, inadequate

electrical systems, insufficient ventilation,

deteriorating classrooms, and a sub-standard

kitchen.The firing range is currently shut down

for lead testing and the locker rooms are located

in a separate building from the showers and

latrines. The money will pay for plans for an

extensive renovation that will include new

classrooms, a firing range,showers, and a kitchen

to improve the morale, retention, and readiness

of the personnel stationed at this facility.
8 Maryland Military Department Digest: Summer, 2008 9

The 58th Infantry Brigade

Combat Team Returns From Iraq!

About 1,300 Soldiers recently returned from

places such as Baghdad and Mosul in Iraq. Missions ranged from command and administrative

support to providing security and combat logistics

patrols. These units’ armories are located in Towson,

Annapolis, Glen Burnie, Dundalk, Frederick, Easton, and

White Oak.
10 Maryland Military Department Digest: Summer, 2008 11

With over 1,200 Maryland Army

National Guardsmen from the

58th Brigade Combat Team

returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom,

the State and Federal government, along

with the US Army, wants to assure that

these military personnel are “reintegrated”

back into civilian life with their families,

workplace, and other hometown

connections – thus the name for a

program addressing these concerns: The Maryland National

Guard Reintegration Initiative.

Under the Governor’s leadership, a coalition of Federal, State,

County and local agencies, along

with the Maryland Military Department, have been networked to

assist combat veterans and their

families through a series of briefings held at military installations as

well as local hotels.

The Reintegration Training will

prove its value if it follows the

trends that show early intervention

alleviates follow-on costs as measured in dollars, health, and productivity of veterans. A June 2007

Department of Defense study

showed that 49% of National Guard

Soldiers suffered from some sort of

psychological problems and with

up to a quarter also having significant medical issues a year later. And their

education is impacted as well, with nearly

a third of Soldiers dropping out after their

first semester back to college. Additionally,

Soldiers’marriages are affected with over a

third reporting relationship problems and

20% contemplating divorce. The Reintegration Training targets these concerns

and many other areas as well through

training, counseling and available

programs.

Although it is required for all Soldiers to

attend, other members of the Soldiers support network are encouraged to attend,so

spouses, significant others, siblings, children and even close friends have been

invited. Many have found the program

helpful because of the topics covered by

the briefings and workshops,such as medical concerns, including combat stress and

depression; relationships and family life;

financial interests; anger management; single Soldier issues;substance abuse; coping

skills; higher education programs; job

opportunities; spiritual assistance, and

the many benefits available to combat

veterans.

The program has five phases: a reunion

briefing for families at home (and for Soldiers in Iraq) about 30 days before they

return, another briefing for Soldiers at Fort

Dix upon their return, then a day long

workshop for Soldiers and families about

30-45 days afterwards, then another workshop coupled with a job fair about 30-45

days later, and lastly, a weekend that

includes a Post Deployment Health ReAssessment (PDHRA) at the VA Medical

Center capped by a Freedom Salute

“Welcome Home” ceremony.

Joint Reintegration

Story and photo by Staff Sgt. Howard Hodges, 29th MPAD

Photo by Staff Sgt. Kristofer Baumgartner

Honor Guard

Earns Coin

Brig. Gen. Edward Leacock,

assistant adjutant general

for Army presents coins to

the Maryland National

Guard Honor Guard on

behalf of Lt. Gen. Steven

Blum, National Guard

Bureau chief. The Honor

Guard received the coins for

exceptional performance of

duty at the funeral service

of Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Phillip

Sherman in March, 2008.

Chaplains Convene

Story and photo by Staff Sgt. Ron Sollod, Chaplains Office

The Maryland National Guard

recently held a training conference

for the Chaplains and Chaplain

Assistants. The training was held at the

Weinberg Center at Camp Fretterd Military

Reservation in Reisterstown, Maryland.

The theme for the conference was

“Reintegration”. The conference centered

on the return of our servicemembers from

combat. There were many presentations

on the issues facing the Soldiers

as they return to their home life.

Some of the subjects covered

included Post Traumatic Stress

Disorder and Acute Combat

Stress. The “Beyond the Yellow

Ribbon – Reintegration”program,

was presented by Lt. Col. Michael

Gafney, the officer in charge of

the initiative. The topic covered

the many aspects of issues that

Soldiers might incur as they

return to their home life. There

may be as many as 30% to 40% of

soldiers and/or family members

that may need assistance. The

assistance needed can range from

basic family counseling to the

other extreme of treatment for PTSD or

ACS.

There was also a presentation from

one of the attendees, Chaplain (Capt.)

Rebekah Montgomery, on the first Military

World Religions Conference which was

held at Ft. Jackson, SC in November 2007.

Other subject matter included how

the Maryland National Guard can support

the youth and children of Soldiers, who

may also need some assistance dealing

with the issues of their soldier coming

home after more that 12 months away.

The conference discussed a preliminary plan for the return of approximately

1,300 Soldiers of the 58th Infantry Brigade

CombatTeam who were part of the largest

contingent of Soldiers from the Maryland

National Guard to return from combat

since World War II.

By Chaplain (Col.) Sean Lee State Chaplain

THE LECTERN

I

n a world where conflict, ethnic

strife, war, an killing often include

elements of religious intolerance, it

is fortunate to live in a State and Nation

where the accommodation of religious

practice is a protected right of every

citizen. From inception our State and

Nation have sought to ensure that

every citizen is able to practice their

faith freely according to the dictates of

their heart.We also recognize that this

right to free exercise of religion is

crucial to the well-being of our citizensoldiers who protect our freedoms.

During this time of persistent

conflict the spiritual care and religious

support of all our Guard members and

their families is an essential component

of resiliency for our Maryland National

Guard force. Part of the support

provided throughout the deployment

cycle is Chaplain support. Currently the

Maryland Army and Air National Guard

and Maryland Defense Force Chaplains

and Chaplain Assistants are woven into

the fabric of support for nearly 1400

soldiers and families participating in

the “Beyond the Yellow Ribbon” re-integration program.The Maryland Military

Department recognizes that spirituality

is a key component to successful

re-integration from deployment and the

resiliency necessary to continue as

healthy families and a ready force for

future State or Federal missions.

Maryland National Guard and

Defense Force Chaplains and Assistants

offerreligious services and supplies;

spiritual care, counseling, education

and direction;referrals to local ‘Partners

in Care’ congregations; Marriage Enrichment Retreats; and referrals to Federal,

State and community based support

systems as necessary. During the

re-integration events Chaplains and

Assistants provide information about

services available, ministry of presence,

and counseling as referrals as

appropriate.

To paraphrase President Franklin D.

Roosevelt,Americans should all enjoy

the essential freedoms of freedom from

fear, freedom from want, freedom of

speech, and freedom of religion.As our

citizen-warriors continue to deploy in

defense of those freedoms, Maryland

Army and Air National Guard and

Maryland Defense Force Chaplains and

Assistants will continue to support

them as they are deployed and when

they return,so both warrior and family

can find strength,solace and support

from their faith.
12 Maryland Military Department Digest: Summer, 2008 13

Chinook Unit Deployed

to Afghanistan

Members of the Maryland Army

National Guard’s Company B,

3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation

Regiment stationed at Edgewood have been deployed to

Afghanistan since August 2007.

Soldiers and Airmen of the

Maryland National Guard's

32nd Weapons of Mass

Destruction-Civil Support

Team train aboard the USS

Barry March 6 at the Wash- ington Naval Yard during

Exercise Capital Spear. Capital Spear included

WMD-CSTs from Washing- ton, Delaware, Maryland, Michigan, Virginia, West

Virginia, and Indiana.

Maryland Army Guard

Aviators Prepare for

Active Hurricane Season

Story and photos by Capt. Rick Breitenfeldt, State PAO

Robert Hastings was appointed Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary ofDefense for Public Affairs on 10

March,2008. He serves as staff advisor and

assistant to the Secretary of Defense and

Deputy Secretary of Defense for public

information, internal information, and

community relations as well as information training and audiovisual matters in

support of DoD activities, leading a worldwide public affairs community of some

3,800 military and civilian personnel.

Mr. Hastings is a former U.S.Army officer with more than 20 years experience as

a Master Army Aviator and Public Affairs

Officer. His assignments include command of an Apache-equipped Air Cavalry

Troop and a Blackhawk-equipped Air

Assault Company, as well as Public Affairs

duties in Germany, Eastern Europe, Iraq,

and Bosnia. He also served as an instructor

with the Defense Information School Public Affairs Officer Course.

Following retirement from the Army

in 1999, Mr. Hastings served as Chief of

Staff and Vice President, Communications

for BAE Systems,Inc., a $15 billion defense

and aerospace company employing more

than 50,000 employees in the U.S., U.K.,

Sweden, Israel and South Africa.

Mr. Hastings is active in numerous

community and professional associations,

and has served on the board of directors

for several non-profit organizations. He is

a member of the International Association

of Business Communicators (IABC), an

accredited member (APR) of the Public

Relations Society of America (PRSA), and

serves as a member of

the Board of Advisors

for the Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communications and as the professional advisor for the Public Relations Student

Society at Hood College. He is a winner of

PRSA’s Silver Anvil Award of Excellence

and IABC’s Gold Quill Award for Excellence in Communications Management.

A native of Ocean City, Maryland, Mr.

Hastings earned a Bachelor’s Degree in

Government Studies and History from the

University of Maryland in Heidelberg, Germany, and has completed executive studies at the Wharton School of Business and

the University of Michigan.

Mr. Hastings and his wife Leigh reside

in suburban Maryland and have two college-age children.

Maryland Defense Force Public Information Officer Named To Top Spot

Courtesy of the Department of Defense

Continued on page 14

EDGEWOOD, Md. – Experts are predicting a“well above average”hurricane season

for 2008, and the Maryland Army National

Guard stands ready to respond.

In addition to attending quarterly flood rescue meetings and continually honing their

skills as professional Soldiers by practicing

lifesaving rescue techniques, Maryland

Army National Guard aviators are now

learning how to use a new piece of communications equipment developed specifically

to talk to local first responders on the

ground and government officials during an

emergency.

This new multi-band radio, known as

Project 25 or P-25, enables Maryland Army

Guard aviators to talk to just about any

emergency first responder or agency during a crisis using three different bands or

frequencies that are standard in the first

responder community.

According to Col. Charles H. Schulze,

Maryland’s state Army aviation and aviation

training officer, Project 25 is a public safety

communications standard dedicated to

ensuring interoperability in communications. It is designed to ensure fast and

secure communications between local,

state and federal agencies when protecting

the public’s welfare.

“We are continuing to improve our

ability to support our first responders with

our aviation capability,” said Schulze. “Standardization and interoperability are what

we’re shooting for.”

During an evening training flight, 1st

Lt. Bruce E. Hartt,from Company C, 1st Battalion, 169th Medevac, was piloting a Maryland National Guard helicopter and using

the new radio to talk to emergency responders on the ground. That wouldn’t have

been possible even a year ago.

“It’s a valuable asset to the Guard

because it magnifies our ability to participate in any type of response. It prepares us

to do a federal response as well as our state

mission because we can now talk to all

sorts of assets on the ground like the Coast

Guard, FEMA, local police and fire,” said

Hartt. “We can participate in all those missions now.”

Hartt and Schulze were able to use the

Photos Courtesy of the unit

Civil Support

Team Training

Photo by Tech. Sgt. Mike R. Smith, National Guard Bureau
14 Maryland Military Department Digest: Summer, 2008 15

CIVIL AIR PATROL

MARYLAND WING HEADQUARTERS

National Level Exercise

Simulates A Category 4

Direct Hit

Courtesy of the MEMA Public Affairs Office

The West Virginia and Maryland Wings

of the Civil Air Patrol joined forces to

conduct a multi service, multi disciplined search and rescue exercise (SAREX)

from 18-21 April 2008.

Ground teams usually travel to mission

locations by van, but when long distances

are involved airlift can be requested. The

Maryland Army National Guard (MDARNG)

had scheduled flight training on 18, 19, and

20April,the same weekend as this SAREX in

West Virginia. “The Army does not conduct

airlift operations with tactical rotary wing

aircraft because airlift is an Air Force mission. However, mission analysis revealed

the distance involved is within the tactical

range of the UH60 Blackhawk for an Army

air movement operation,” explained Col.

Charlie Schulze,the MarylandArmy National

Guard’s State Army Aviation Officer.

“Normally the MDARNG conducts

training with its own ground soldiers from

the 58th Infantry Brigade Combat Team but

that unit is currently demobilizing from

Operation Iraqi Freedom.So the CAP SAREX

provided an opportunity to move personnel

incidental to scheduled training,” Schulze

added. CAP members,when on anAir Force

authorized mission, may fly on Department

of Defense aircraft.This makes it possible to

support the CAP using tactical rotary wing

aircraft and incidental to training.

The MarylandArmy National Guard also

used the CAP exercise as an opportunity to

test the ability to communicate with other

government agencies.“After 9-11 and Hurricane Katrina, interoperability was identified

as a critical area for all government agencies.

We will be using newly installed Project 25

multi-band radios in the UH-60 and we will

perform inter-agency aviation operations

commensurate with National Response Plan

and the National Incident Management System – Incident Command System,” noted

spokesman, Lt.Col.Charles Kohler.

In support of this, Schulze and 1st Lt.

Nick Kiaunis flew their OH-58 Kiowa helicopter over one of the simulated crash sites

on Saturday. This sortie offered an opportunity to use a recently installed GPS moving

map display system with capability to

quickly switch from aeronautical to street

and topographic maps, while using NIMSICS plain-speak on CAPVHF radio channels,

fulfilling one of the Guard’s objectives for

their training weekend. This capability, the

interoperability of two-way radio training

with the Maryland Army National Guard,

had not previously existed nor had it been

tested until this exercise – perhaps a first in

the Nation.

MEMA Hosts Statewide Storm Drill

MEMA Rallies State Agencies During

Nuclear Power Plant Exercise

Story by Quentin Banks, MD Military Department PIO

On May 6, Maryland emergency managers,

state agencies and local first responders

participated in a national level exercise

to evaluate the State of Maryland’s preparedness and planning process before

a major storm makes landfall near the

Chesapeake Bay.

“Maryland hasn’t had a hurricane or

tropical storm make direct landfall in at

least fifty years”,said Maryland Emergency

Management (MEMA) Director John

Droneburg.“However, we can’t rely on

past experience when it comes to keeping

Maryland citizens safe.”

The exercise is hosted by MEMA and

involves all state and private organizations

represented in the State Emergency Operations Center. Participants include Federal,

regional,state and local emergency operations personnel and first responders.The

exercise scenario was produced following

the guidance set

forth by the

Department of

Homeland Security (DHS) and

the Homeland

Security Exercise

and Evaluation

Program

(HSEEP).

“The State

of Maryland and

local first

responders have

proven in past exercises—and real world

emergencies—that we are ready to

respond to any major emergency or disaster”, said Droneburg.“We continue to

improve and progress our operations with

each event.”

Continued from page 12

Maryland Army Guard Aviators

Prepare for Active Hurricane Season

one-hour training flight to practice “plain

speak”radio skills to communicate with the

Coast Guard station in Baltimore and the

Maryland Joint Operations Center as well as

listen to multiple police and fire calls from

both Harford and Montgomery counties.

Schulze said this type of familiarization

training with this radio is absolutely critical

for his pilots to help them get past what he

calls “mic fright”.

“[The pilots] just aren’t

sure who they are talking to

and they are a little intimidated

by what to say and how to say

it,” said Schulze. “I’ve tried to

tell everybody to just use plain

speak and you can’t go wrong.

We are all learning. They are all

professionals.”

“In Maryland, we have

purchased enough radios to

outfit every Black Hawk we

have in the Maryland Guard

with this P-25 radio,” said

Schulze who hopes to make

that same investment in Maryland’s CH-47 helicopter fleet.

With more than 15 named

hurricanes forecast to form in

theAtlantic basin between June

1 and Nov. 30, Schulze said it is

absolutely critical to train Maryland Guard pilots with this new

equipment.

According to Schulze,the Maryland Guard has a robust and unique aviation

asset that could be called on not only for a

state or local emergency, but also for a

larger regional or national response.

“Maryland is unique because of its aviation

force structure,” said Schulze. “It has air

ambulance, it has assault, it has cargo and it

has support and security—all in one aviation support facility and aviation brigade.”

According to Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke, a

spokesperson for National Guard Bureau,

the National Guard is prepared nationwide

to respond to terrorist attacks or natural disasters at any time and any where in support

of civilian responders.

“We have more than 400,000 CitizenSoldiers and Citizen-Airmen available to

assist with personnel and equipment

should any governor request it,” said

Krenke.

“Maryland is continuing to close the

gap in both training and equipment to support those local first responders,” said

Schulze.

The Maryland Army National Guard is

setting the standard in supporting first

responders in flood rescue emergencies,he

said, and can respond within 30 minutes to

an emergency if it is during the duty day

and within a few hours if the call comes in

the middle of the night.

“The most difficult situation for an Army

National Guard aircraft is to find itself supporting first responders who have never

done any training with the military or the

National Guard and suddenly in an emergency situation where they have to come

together and rescue people,” said Schulze.

“It’s an evolving relationship and an evolving capability,”said Schulze. “It’s training for

the National Guard so that we can be ready

and refreshed on how to support those first

responders when the time comes.”

Col. Charles H. Schulze, Maryland’s state Army aviation and

aviation training officer, checks a system on a new multiband radio before a training flight. Maryland Guard pilots

are leaning to use the new radio which enables them to communicate with local first responders on the ground during

an emergency.

Every two years, the federal government conducts an exercise to testthe emergency response capabilities of each nuclear power plant and the

preparedness of the surrounding communities. There are two plants that impact

five Maryland jurisdictions should an

emergency occur. The first is the Calvert

Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant located in

Lusby, Md., and owned by Constellation

Nuclear. The second is the Peach Bottom

Atomic Power Station, located in Delta,

Pa., and owned by Exelon Energy. This

year, the exercise was conducted to test

the preparedness of Peach Bottom and its

surrounding communities.There are two

Maryland counties located within the

plume zone: Harford and Cecil.

The scenario develops at the plant

from a normal status to an “Unusual

Event” to an “Alert” to a “Site Area

Emergency” and finally a “General Emergency.” The Secretary of the Maryland

Department of the Environment (MDE) or

his/her representative makes the decisions on protective measures after coordination with the Maryland Emergency

Management Agency (MEMA), the state of

Pennsylvania and the impacted counties

using dedicated phone lines.

The decisions are announced in the form

of a protective action order.

The emergency protective actions

include precautionary measures such as

advising folks with livestock to shelter animals and provide them with stored feed

and water. The scenario played on April

22 resulted in a situation where a sizable

amount of radioactivity was released from

the plant. The protective measures

included ordering the evacuation of residents in the impacted emergency planning zones and advising farmers within a

50-mile radius to shelter their livestock

and provide stored feed and water.

West Virginia and Maryland Wings Conduct Joint Search and

Rescue Exercise with Maryland Army National Guard

By Lt. Col. Wes LaPre Civil Air Patrol PAO

Maj. Gen. Bruce F. Tuxill, the Adjutant General of Maryland, and other state

agency officials engage in a conference call from the State Emergency Operations Center at Camp Fretterd during the Hurricane Exercise.
Fifth Regiment Armory

Baltimore, MD 21201-2288

The Maryland Military Department Digest

is published quarterly by the Maryland Military Department via the Maryland

National Guard Public Affairs Office, Fifth

Regiment Armory, Baltimore, Md. 21201-

2288. Articles or suggestions can be forwarded to the editor at

paomd@md.ngb.army.mil or call us at

410-576-6179.

Martin O’Malley

Governor

Anthony G. Brown

Lt. Governor

Maj. Gen. Bruce F. Tuxill

The Adjutant General

Quentin Banks

Director of Public Affairs

Spc. Elizabeth Jones

Editor

Numbers You Need

Maryland National Guard Family

Readiness Office

410-576-6019

Department of Information

Management Help Desk

410-702-9600

Maryland National Guard

Chaplain’s Office

410-576-6124

Red Cross

Central Maryland Chapter, Baltimore

1-888-737-4306

Southern Maryland Chapter, La Plata

301-934-2066

Lower Shore Chapter, Salisbury

410-749-5331

Frederick County Chapter,Walkersville

301-662-5131

Maryland Poison Control

1-800-222-1222

Websites

Maryland Government Website

www.maryland.gov

Maryland Military Department

Website

www.mdmildep.org

Maryland Emergency

Management Agency

www.mema.state.md.us

Maryland State Employee

Central Payroll Bureau

compnet.comp.state.md.us

Maryland Military Department

Digest

Check out the new and

improved external website

MARYLAND NATIONAL GUARD

www.md.ngb.army.mil

Check out the new and

improved education website

MARYLAND NATIONAL GUARD

www.educationarmory.com