Maryland National

Guard Unit “Certified” 

to Support the Nation 

Story and photos by Warrant Officer Will Fearrington,

MDNG Public Affairs

Maryland Military DepartmentDigest

The 32nd Civil Support Team (CST), Maryland National

Guard, located at Fort Meade, Md., recently became federally

certified to respond to domestic chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and [high yield] explosives (CBRNE) within the

state or anywhere in the United States, if needed.

Winter 2007

Anthony G. Brown

Lt. Governor

Martin O’Malley

Governor

A member of the 32nd Civil Support Team monitors for contamination during a training exercise.

Continued on page 3

In This Issue...

• MDARNG Command Sergeant Major

Remembered (page 3)

• MD Air Guard Travels to India

(page 4)

• MilDep Assists With Inauguration

(page 8)

• Insight Into ESGR (page 11)
TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE MARYLAND MILITARY DEPARTMENT:

Winter is here and so far it has been relatively mild compared to seasons past. This remains a very

busy time for the Department both here at home and abroad as we continue to perform our dual high

tempo federal and state missions unabated. 

The most significant change involves our leadership at the state level. Our new Commander in Chief,

the Honorable Martin O’Malley was elected Maryland’s 61st Governor in the General Election last

November and took the oath of office at the State Capitol in Annapolis on January 17, 2007. Members

of all four pillars of the Maryland Military Department were involved in all aspects of the planning,

coordination and execution of Inauguration Day events. The folks from our Department provided VIP

escorts, did the planning, coordinated the communications, assisted with invitations, managed parking

in the Navy-Marine Corps Stadium parking lot, advised the Governor’s Transition Team on matters of

protocol, managed more than 2,000 Inaugural Parade participants, marched in the parade, provided

announcers, fed the state employees who participated and took active roles in the swearing in of the

Governor and Lt. Governor. I am extremely proud of all of the efforts and accomplishments made by

the members of this Department in making the occasion a memorable success. 

On January 14, we welcomed home the 135th Airlift Group back from Operations Iraqi Freedom and

Enduring Freedom. Operating in two-month rotations during a two-year commitment, the unit participated in more than 500 continuous days of combat operations. They flew their C-130J aircraft on

more than 2,700 sorties, racked up more than 4,800 flight hours, hauled more than 5,300 short tons

of cargo, and transported more than 33,500 passengers. These outstanding men and women represent Marylanders at their best. By their courage, their sacrifice, and their dedication, they continue to

make this a better world for each and every one of us.

We also celebrate the return of B Company, 1st Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group and the Special

Operations Detachment-Joint Forces from Operation Enduring Freedom. Many of these Maryland

Army National Guard Soldiers are returning from their second tour in Afghanistan. They are dedicated

professionals who have taken the fight to the enemy in the Global War on Terrorism. We are all exceptionally proud of them and glad to have them home.

We are in the middle of winter and it is vital to remember that preparedness for severe weather in winter is just as important as any other season. A severe winter storm can choke commerce, trap citizens

in their homes for days and disrupt the ability of governments at all levels to provide services. We

have information on winter preparedness in this issue, which will be helpful to all members of the

Department. 

The holidays are over and a new year is before us with all of its promise. As we move further into

these turbulent times, I ask that you keep our deployed Soldiers and Airmen in your thoughts and

prayers. We still have a lot of work to be done and we will continue to move forward. Take care of

yourselves and your families. Godspeed.

Respectfully,

Bruce F. Tuxill

Major General, MDANG

The Adjutant General

Martin O’Malley

Governor

Anthony G. Brown

Lt. Governor

Maj. Gen. Bruce F. Tuxill

Adjutant General

Fifth Regiment Armory Baltimore, Maryland 21201
Digest: Winter, 2007 3

Maryland National Guard Unit “Certified” to

Support the Nation 

Continued from page 1

CSM Haller: He volunteered

to fight for freedom in Iraq 

By Sgt. Jim Greenhill, National Guard Bureau

“Our unit was created in July 2004

and we have been working towards this

moment ever since,” said Maj. George

Spence, deputy commander of the 32nd

CST. The 22 full-time National Guard

members had to go through rigorous

training exercises such as conducting

chemical, biological and radiological survey operations to detect and identify any

potential dangerous agents. They were

tasked to decontaminate personnel and

equipment and also performed medical

operations to provide first aid to any

injured or infected personnel, if needed.

All of this training was done under real

life conditions at Fort Leonard Wood,

Mo. Some of their other tasks included

proper diagnosis of CBRNE and how to

properly handle the situation once the

problem had been found. Overall, they

completed more than 600 hours of training in addition to the training they

received for the various military occupational specialties held by the team.

“You actually don’t know what you

are dealing with when you show up on

the scene because it could be anything,”

said Tech. Sgt. Christopher Bolt, one of

the nuclear biological chemical team

chiefs. “This accreditation proves that we

can do the job and anyone can check our

credentials.” 

Bolt, along with his fellow team

members, were able to successfully complete a live scenario certification exercise

at the Port of Baltimore that was overseen by the Department of Defense. The

exercise took almost 26 hours to complete. “It was very intense training that

definitely is not regular work, period,”

said Bolt.

“It was definitely challenging,” said

Sgt. 1st Class Marcus Mingo, communications team chief, referring to the

instruction he received. “Especially the

hazardous material training since it was

new to me but not something that I

could not overcome. We try and stay

sharp and continue to get better.” 

The career communications Soldier

gained additional skills with the new

equipment the unit has acquired, 

he said.

The 32nd CST is responsible for the

State of Maryland and Federal Emergency Management Agency Region III,

which includes Pennsylvania, the District

of Columbia, Delaware, Virginia and

West Virginia but can be called to any

part of the United States. There are currently 55 teams active for all 54 states

and territories. California and Florida

both will be gaining an additional civil

support team in the future.

ARLINGTON, Va. – Maryland Army

National Guard Command Sgt. Maj.

Roger Haller died in Iraq on Jan. 20.

Haller, 49, of Davidsonville, Md., was

among 10 National Guard and two active

Army Soldiers killed in the crash of a UH60 Black Hawk helicopter near Al Jadidah, northeast of Baghdad.

The commandant of the noncommissioned officer academy at the 70th

Regiment, Regional Training Institute, at

Camp Fretterd, Reisterstown, Md., Haller

served in both Afghanistan and Iraq. He

had more than 25 years of military service, 24 of them in the Maryland National

Guard.

“It is with an extremely heavy heart

that I share the news of the death of one

of Maryland’s finest,” Maryland Gov. 

Martin O’Malley said in an official statement. “This tragedy underscores the

debt of gratitude we owe our men and

women in uniform and in particular,

their families.”

He was accorded full military honors

at his funeral at Sailwinds Park in Cambridge, Md., on Jan. 31.

“Words cannot adequately express

the sadness that we in the Maryland

National Guard family feel today,” said

Maj. Gen. Bruce Tuxill, the state’s adjutant general. “Our thoughts and prayers

are with the sergeant major’s family in

their time of grief.”

“I am deeply saddened by the loss 

of these outstanding National Guard 

Soldiers and warriors,” said Lt. Gen. 

H. Steven Blum, chief of the National

Guard Bureau. “I cherish their service,

honor their sacrifice and mourn with

their families.”

Haller’s survivors include his son, Sgt.

Daniel Haller, who is also a veteran of

both Afghanistan and Iraq, and daughters

Morgan Haller and Alex Haller, both of

Cambridge, Md. His ex-wife and the

mother of his three children is Sandy

Hockman, of Cambridge, Md. His mother,

sister and brothers also survive him.

Haller graduated from Cambridge

Senior High School in 1975 and held

degrees in history and political science

from Fairmont State College in West Virginia. An infantryman, he enlisted in the

Virginia Army National Guard in 1981.

- Master Sgt. Bob Haskell contributed to

this report.

The situation is monitored from the 32nd

CST’s mobile command post during a simulated disaster.

Command Sgt. Maj. Roger Haller
4 Maryland Military Department

The Indian Ambassadors

By Capt. Maren P. Barney, 175th Wing Public Affairs

F

ifteen Maryland National Guard

members and one C-130J flew

around the world on a mission to

India in June. Members of the 175th

Wing, accompanied by Maryland’s assistant adjutant general for air, spent five

days interacting with

their Indian counterparts.

The mission’s purpose was two-fold: to

introduce the Indian Air

Force (IAF) to the U.S.-

made C-130J and support U.S. Air Force and

Department of Defense

efforts to build upon

and enhance military

relations between the

United States and India.

“We were honored

that the International

Affairs Division under

the Secretary of the Air

Force chose the most

experienced and knowledgeable C-130J unit in

the Air Force to represent them in India,” said

Brig. Gen. Charles Morgan III, assistant adjutant general for air. “I

was very proud of our

Maryland contingent in

India, and I thought that

each person was a great

ambassador, representing both the United

States of America and

the State of Maryland.”

Their agenda

included static displays, local demonstration flights and cargo airdrops.

“We had a very aggressive schedule,”

said mission commander Lt. Col. Michael

C. Lunt, 135th Airlift Squadron commander. “The Indian Air Force personnel

we met with were very professional and

asked detailed questions that demonstrated they were prepared for our visit.”

Of particular interest to the IAF is the

C-130J’s high-altitude, high-temperature

capability. Passengers on a demonstration flight to northern India’s Leh Air

Force Station, an airfield that sits at an

altitude of 10,000 feet, experienced the

performance of the C-130J at high altitude as they flew over the Himalayas.

“The aircraft performed impeccably,”

said 135th Maintenance Operations

Flight Commander Maj. Mark W. Ruane.

“The IAF was extremely interested in seeing first-hand how the C-130J would perform in that environment. I think its

performance really impressed the IAF

members that flew with us.”

Two full days were dedicated to conducting static tours of the aircraft. Opening the aircraft to tours first thing in the

morning, a seemingly endless stream of

Indian Air Force personnel would tour

the aircraft while the temperatures outside gradually climbed to 110 degrees.

Guests expressed interest in C-130J

operational capabilities, maintenance

issues and features.

“Loadmasters, maintainers and

pilots all worked together to reconfigure

the aircraft when needed,” said Ruane.

“Everyone was a tour guide at some

point.”

The IAF inventory currently includes

only Russian-made aircraft. The IAF

announced last month that they are purchasing six C-130Js from Lockheed Martin, which makes it the first major aircraft

purchase by the IAF of an American aircraft in decades, said Morgan.

“We have offered to have the 135th

Airlift Maintenance Squadron be a sister

squadron with the C-130J squadron in

India, but that will be determined later,”

said Morgan. “We also have advised them

of the advantages of being in the Joint

Maintenance Users Group, which

includes the Brits, Aussies, Italians and

Danes. We hope they will join us there.”

“We hope that in some small way we

were instrumental in that initial aircraft

order,” said Lunt. “But more importantly,

we hope we were able to help start what

could be a long-term military relationship with the great IAF people we met.”

The C-130’s trip literally spanned

the globe over a space of 16 days and

included stops in Lajes, Greece, Qatar,

Thailand, Okinawa, Tinian Island, Kwajalein and Hawaii.

Staff Sgt. Ed Slavin demonstrates how to rig seats as members of the Indian Air force tour a Maryland C-130J at

Leh Air Force Station in northern India. Photo by Maj. Mark Ruane, MDANG
Digest: Winter, 2007 5

Chief of the National Guard

Bureau visits Maryland Troops

in Afghanistan

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Tom Roberts, 41st Brigade Combat Team 

The Chief of the National Guard

Bureau, Lt. Gen. H Steven Blum, visited troops in Afghanistan during

his latest trip overseas. Blum and his new

command sergeant major, Command Sgt.

Maj. David Ray Hudson, met with many

Soldiers in Kandahar, who appreciated a

visit from the command group this past

fall. 

“You’re all doing exceptional work

providing support to the warfight in an

austere environment,” said Blum.

The next day Blum traveled to Jalalabad where Embedded Training Teams

(ETT) provide mentorship and assistance

to the Afghan National Army (ANA). At this

stop Blum met his son, Capt. Mark Blum,

a mentor with the 201st Regional Command Assistance Group. Capt. Blum postponed his promotion five months so his

proud father could pin the rank of major

on his son in a combat zone.

Maj. Gen. Munir Mangal, commander

of the ANA’s 201st Corps, briefed Lt. Gen.

Blum on the current warfight situation

and the status of his forces.

Lt. Gen. Blum also visited Camp

Phoenix in Kabul where Task Force

Phoenix Commander Brig. Gen. Douglas

Pritt and Command Sgt. Maj. Brunk Conley, hosted face-to-face briefings with key

leaders. Hudson and Conley discussed

enlisted Soldiers’ issues and concerns. Lt.

Gen. Blum presented his command coin

to service members exhibiting excellence

in their efforts to train and mentor the

ANA. He seemed truly pleased with the

progress in Afghanistan. Blum continued

visiting National Guard Soldiers at the

frontlines of the Global War On Terrorism

during the remainder of his trip.

Aviation Activation

Story and photo by Pfc. John P. Higgins, 29th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, MDARNG

BERDEEN PROVING GROUND,

Md.– “Nine eleven got us thinking:

bring everything together with the

dedicated mission,” said Lt. Col. Shannon Brown of the 1st Battalion, 224th

Aviation Security and Support Regiment

in her speech given at the unit’s activation ceremony in October.

Everything has been brought

together in this new kind of unit in several senses. After it’s reactivation in 2001,

the mission of the 1-224th has been

changed to augment homeland security,

including local police and emergency

response units, said Maj. Michael Krause,

the battalion executive officer.

That augmentation takes the form of

not only 419 personnel from several

states, some as far away as Alaska, but

also in terms of more helicopters specifically modified for the mission, said

Brown. Those resources also are spread

between eight states from Maine to Virginia, making the unit’s coverage one of

the largest in the nation, when compared to other unit’s spread between

three or four states. 

One of those modifications is an

infrared camera capable of both recording and transmitting images in real time,

said Capt. Kirk E. Regina, commander of

A Company of the 1-224th. 

All these changes and additions

come together in a unit like nothing ever

seen in the Guard before, a point that

Battalion Intelligence Officer Capt.

Andrei Illias emphasized. “I like being

the first to do anything and this is a first

for the Army. It’s a little bit ground breaking I think,” said Illias.

Ground breaking not only refers to

the method but also the equipment the

unit will be using, including many helicopters that will be outfitted not only

with cameras, but with communications

equipment that allows for coordination

with multiple emergency personnel in

any given situation, said Brown.

“They are ready, they are here and

they are ready to support,” said Brown as

she concluded her speech. Given all the

factors that have come together for the 1-

224th to happen, it’s probably safe to

assume that she is right. 

1st Battalion, 224th Aviation Security and Support Regiment Command Sgt. Maj. David Jenkins

unfurls the battalion colors during the unit’s activation ceremony while the color bearer,

Spc. Landraous Pabron, looks on.

Capt. Mark Blum was visited by his father Lt.

Gen. H Steven Blum, chief of the National

Guard Bureau, while serving in Afghanistan.

A
6 Maryland Military Department

Freestate ChalleNGe Cadets Honored by

Baltimore Ravens

By Rebecca Blue, Freestate ChalleNGe Academy

I

t was a gorgeous, warm and sunny

day. The cadets at Freestate were

looking forward to traveling off

Aberdeen Proving Ground for what

would surely be an exciting day of 

football. 

On Sept. 17, 2006 the Freestate ChalleNGe Academy Cadets of Class #27

attended the Baltimore Raven’s game as

special Honor Row recipients. In order

to be selected for this privilege, an application had to be completed and submitted stating how the organization had

contributed to their community. During

the past year, cadets have contributed

9,976 hours of community service and

this number continues to grow each day.

In addition to the cadets, staff members

and mentors have contributed numerous hours assisting the cadets with community service and training. 

The cadets have provided community service at such events as the Baltimore Water Festival, National Flag Day at

Ft. McHenry, So Others Might Eat,

Aberdeen Proving Ground beautification, the Aberdeen Iron Bird Stadium

haunted house, supported the NAACP

Relief Drive benefiting Katrina victims

and Annie’s Playground. Annie’s Playground was built in memory of a 6-yearold girl that was killed by a drunk driver.

The Freestate Cadets, along with many

other community members, spent several days constructing this state of the art

playground. 

Along with the community service

that the cadets provide while at

Freestate, they also are required to perform at least one service project with

their mentor while in residency. They are

encouraged to return to their communities and become role models for their

families and friends.

After arriving at M&T Bank Stadium,

the cadets were treated to a few freebies,

including t-shirts, D-Fence posters, and

Baltimore Ravens bracelets. The best

part of the day happened next. The

cadets were taken down onto the field

before the game started. While on the

field, they were able to take pictures,

watch the professional football players’

warm-up, and just stare up into the

bleachers realizing just how awesome it

was to be standing where they were.

Cadet BaJon Hummons said that this was

a rewarding experience for him because,

“it was kind of early in the program and

the staff allowed us to participate in

something fun to help release some of

our stress.”

For most of the cadets, this was the

first time they were able to experience an

NFL game in person. Just by looking at

their faces, you could see that it was a

day that wouldn’t soon be forgotten. 

“I had a good time because it was my

first time being at a live football game

and as I looked at the field it was like,

this is way better than watching a game

on television,” said Cadet Richard Archie. 

It seemed as though, Baltimore

Raven’s fan or not, the excitement was

all the same. The game started promptly

at 1 p.m. and at around 3 p.m., during

the start of the third quarter, the camera

zoomed in on the Freestate cadets 

and their picture was put on the JumboTron along with a big Baltimore Raven’s

thank you.

At the end, the Ravens were able to

pull off a 28-6 victory over the Oakland

Raiders which just put the topping on

the cake for the day. Most of the cadets

looked exhausted, but they still had the

smile of pride written across their faces.

This was something entirely new to

some of the cadets, not just going to an

NFL game, but being recognized and

rewarded for doing something positive

with their lives. 

“It was a rewarding experience for

me because all of the Raven fans showed

us some love when we were at the

game,” said Cadet Mauricio Escobar.

Hopefully, the feeling that the

Freestate ChalleNGe Academy cadets

obtain from helping others will carry on

in their lives once they have left the program. As seen in the past and surely 

the future, the cadets will have a tremendous positive impact on their communities, families, and friends once 

returning home.

Freestate ChalleNGe cadets render honors during the National Anthem prior to the beginning of

the Ravens game. Photo by Charles Rooks.
Digest: Winter, 2007 7

Charity Campaigns Prove Successfull!

By 2nd Lt. Danielle M. McGriff, MDARNG

The Combined Federal Campaign

and Maryland Charity Campaign began in

October 2006 and marked the second

time that state employees and federal

employees joined forces during the

annual fund drives.

The Combined Federal Campaign

(CFC) which was established in 1961, is

the only authorized solicitation of

employees in the federal workplace on

behalf of charitable organizations, and

according to the 2006 CFC Contributors

Guide, the mission of the

CFC is to support and to

promote philanthropy

through a voluntary program that is employee

focused, cost-efficient and

effective in providing all

Federal employees the

opportunity to improve the

quality of life for all.

The Maryland Charity

Campaign (MCC) is administered by the Maryland Secretary of State for the governor

and gives state employees

and state retirees the opportunity to give to various charitable organizations. 

“I think the program has served many

people in need and those in need of support services from our various supporting

organizations,” said Dave Glenn, professional development and educational

trainer and the manager of the MCC for

the Military Department. 

Organizations involved with the campaigns include Adopt A Block, Inc., American Hospice Foundation, American Red

Cross, The Arc of Maryland and many

more. In all there were more than 834

participating organizations.

Donating to either the CFC or the

MCC provides meals to the hungry, services to the disabled, funds to research disease and technology to clean the

environment. The motto for the MCC

was “2006 Giving from the heart.... Now

more than ever!!!”

Maryland Military state employees finished the 2006 campaign with a total of

$10,551 raised and Federal employees

with the department raised more than

$103,286.

Eagle Scouts get a look

at Maryland Air Guard

By Staff Sgt., David Speicher, 175th Wing Public Affairs

Baltimore, Oct. 14 –Twenty-five Eagle

Scouts and their parents joined

Brig. Gen. Charles Morgan III, assistant adjutant general for air, Maryland

National Guard, for a tour of Warfield 

Air National Guard Base.

Morgan personally led the group and

talked to them about tuition assistance

programs available for members in the

Maryland National Guard. Morgan, a

graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy,

also pointed out that each year the Air

Reserve components, the Air National

Guard and Air Force Reserve, are allocated 85 appointments for the Air Force

Academy. The Army Reserve components,

which include the Army National Guard,

offer an identical plan with West Point.

“Hopefully we explained the tuition

assistance plan for the Eagle Scouts,

because Eagle Scouts make great officers

and non-commissioned officers. They

make great Soldiers and Airmen,” said

Morgan. “We are trying to tell them what

the Air National Guard has to offer. 

We try to help them get into the service

academies.”

Following a welcome to the base and

safety briefing, Master Sgt. James White, a

member of the 175th Security Forces

Squadron, discussed a recent six-month

deployment to Iraq, and introduced the

visitors to the equipment used by Air

Force security forces.

Senior Airman Julia Garrison, from

the 104th Fighter Squadron life support

section demonstrated the flight equipment pilots wear. Chris Meyer, an Eagle

Scout from Troop 602 in Laurel, Md., volunteered to don the gear, which included

an anti-g-suit, survival harness, and helmet. Garrison described how the equipment functioned and how a parachute

would automatically deploy if the pilot

ejected from the aircraft.

The group toured a C-130J and an A10 on static display before boarding a bus

to the runway for a close-up view of two

A-10s in the overhead landing pattern.

The last stop was the fire station,

where the scouts were introduced to

some of the specialized fire trucks the

Guard operates at the airbase.

“Becoming an Eagle Scout developed

my leadership skills,” said Chief Master

Sgt. Mark Maselli, command chief master

sergeant of the Maryland Air National

Guard. “Growing up as an Eagle Scout

there was a military awareness.”

Maselli said that while working on his

good citizenship badge, he felt a calling

for military service. He said that his scouting experience contributed to his later

success in the armed forces.

After the tour, Meyer said, “I have

always wanted to join. This gives me a better idea of what it is like.”

Mary Warren and Chief Warrant Officer Sean Branch, 2006

Combined Federal Campaign agency coordinators for the

Military Department; and Dave Glenn, 2006 Maryland 

Charity Campaign manager for the Military Department.

Senior Airman Julia Garrison, left, 104th

Fighter Squadron life support specialist,

Maryland Air National Guard, helps Chris

Meyer, an Eagle Scout from Troop 602 in Laurel, Md., don a survival vest.
8 Maryland Military Department

The Maryland Military Department has historically been

the primary provider of support to the gubernatorial

inauguration. The Military Department proudly continued this tradition with Governor Martin O’Malley’s inauguration which took place on Jan. 17.

All four pillars of the Department – the Maryland Army

National Guard, Maryland Air National Guard, Maryland

Defense Force and the Maryland Emergency Management

Agency – made contributions to the inauguration. The pillars combined efforts to provide logistical, operational and

communication support as well as entertainment coordination for the inauguration. The Department coordinated the

printing, addressing and mailing of more than 30,000 invitations; assembled 5,000 programs and 5,000 inaugural

addresses prior to the inauguration. The MilDep also provided VIP escorts, marching units, traffic and parking management and an aircraft flyover on inauguration day.

In addition to providing support as a department the

Military Department tasked two of its employees, Vic Macias,

Military Department legislative liaison, and Ron Leard, 

special assistant to the adjutant general, to assist with 

overall coordination for the inauguration.

“Ron and I, as a team, were coordinating everyone from

throughout the State government on behalf of the inauguration committee,” said Macias. 

This included developing the inauguration day agenda

and planning the day’s events. 

In the end the hard work contributed by employees of

the department paid off and this was made evident by the

successful completion of the inauguration day ceremonies.

Military Department Lends Support

To Inauguration

The Maryland National Guard Honor Guard leads the

inauguration parade.

Members of the Maryland Army National Guard’s 1st Squadron, 158th

Cavalry Regiment, headquartered in Annapolis, march in the inauguration parade. These Soldiers had recently returned from a deployment to the Southwest Border in support of Operation Jump Start. 

Lt. Col. (Ret.) Ron Leard, special assistant to the adjutant general (left),

and Col. (Md.) Bruno Conticello, Maryland Defense Force deputy commander, discuss plans on inauguration day.
Digest: Winter, 2007 9

Col. (P) Grant Hayden, assistant adjutant general for army; Maj. Gen. Bruce F. Tuxill, adjutant general for Maryland;

Gov. Martin O’Malley, Col. Thomas E. Hutchins, secretary of State Police and Brig. Gen. (Md.) Courtney B. Wilson,

Maryland Defense Force commanding general, take time out during ceremonies for a group photo. Photo courtesy of

Governor’s Office.

Warrant Officer Lidamar Taylor, a food service technician

with the Maryland Army National Guard’s Department of

Logistics, ensures that there is enough food on hand to

feed all of the department employees working in support

of the inauguration.

The Maryland Army National Guard’s 229th Army Band provided music

for the day’s events.
10 Maryland Military Department

L

ight falls once again on witnesses of

past battles that have lain hidden in

the dark for many years.

1st Lt. Wayde Minami, a Maryland

National Guard historian, described the

moment he discovered the flag as being

“like an antique road show moment.” 

He found the 1861 silk issue Army of

Northern Virginia battle flag in July 2005,

in a footlocker at the Pikesville Military

Reservation. 

The size of the flag indicates that it

may be a cavalry regimental color. The

only other surviving example of such a

flag is in collection of the Chicago Historical Society, according to Minami.

Minami said that the 1861 battle flag

is a part of the irreplaceable heritage of

the United States military. The Maryland

National Guard and the Maryland Military Historical Society have been working diligently to restore and conserve

such objects for future military personnel to reflect upon.

“It was in remarkable condition, 

considering its age, and with the help of

the Historical Society, 

we should be able to prevent future deterioration,” said Minami.

The conservation effort

is part of the Maryland

Military Historical Society’s Flag Rescue Project,

which is dedicated to preserving historical flags

and guidons housed in

the Fifth Regiment

Armory in Baltimore. The

Society supplies money

and volunteers to help

restore and conserve the

flags. In the case of the 

1861 Army of Northern

Virginia battle flag, the

Society has raised $5,000, 

which should cover the

cost of professional conservation.

The Fifth Regiment

Armory has approximately 30 historical flags

in need of conservation,

many of which were damaged in the 1933 Fifth

Regiment Armory fire. 

“In 2001, the estimated

cost to preserve and

restore these flags was

about $430,000,” said Minami. He 

said the cost has undoubtedly gone up

since then. 

“The Military Historical Society has

done incredible work helping us save

these flags, but there’s still a long way to

go, and we’re getting more flags all the

time,” Minami said.

A number of flags were transferred

from the Pikesville Military Museum in

2005. In addition, as units deactivate,

they must turn in their colors and

guidons. With transformation underway

within the Maryland Army National

Guard, more flags arrive on a regular

basis.

In the case of National Guard units,

the Army will normally allow the flags to

remain within the state, but federal law

prohibits transfer to private organizations or individuals. In Maryland, unit

flags that are retained are kept at the

Fifth Regiment Armory, while those that

are not are shipped to Fort McNair for

permanent storage, according to

Minami.

As a result of Army transformation

there will be a significant number of flags

returning to the Fifth Regiment Armory

that will need to be preserved for future

generations, Minami said. 

1st Lt. Wayde Minami displays the 1861 silk issue Army of Northern Virginia battle flag that was

discovered in a foot locker at the now defunct museum at the Pikesville Military Reservation.

Flags, guidons and unit colors, like these in storage at the Fifth

Regiment Armory, are being conserved with help from the

Maryland Military Historical Society’s Flag Rescue Project. 

Flag Rescue Project Preserving History

By 2nd Lt. Danielle M. McGriff, MDARNG, photos by Rick Roth MDNG Public Affairs
Digest: Winter, 2007 11

ESGR Supports Service Members

By 1st Lt. Wayde Minami, MDNG Public Affairs

The young woman was working at a

printing company in Baltimore Co.

when she told her boss she was

thinking about joining the Maryland Air

National Guard. She was told that if she

enlisted, she would be fired. She decided

to enlist anyway, and true to his word,

her boss fired her.

The new Airman took her case to Lt.

Col. William E. “Butch” Hensel, coordinator for the Maryland Committee for

Employer Support of the Guard and

Reserve. Hensel said the ESGR tried to

mediate the problem, and when that

failed it was turned over to the Department of Justice. In the end, the Airman’s

former employer was required to pay her

$5,000 in back pay, an additional $5,000

fine, and was barred from receiving government contracts worth an estimated

$200,000 for two years. 

The intransigence of the employer in

the case was unusual, according 

to Hensel.

“Our ombudsmen in Maryland solve

98 percent of the cases through the

informal mediation process,” he said.

“On average, two cases a year go to the

Department of Labor, and they are usually able to solve them at that level, and

occasionally we have a case that goes to

the Department of Justice and results in

litigation.”

According to Hensel, ESGR handled

more than 100 cases last year in 

Maryland. 

“Maryland’s home to 30,000

reservists across all seven reserve components, so case load’s not that high,”

Hensel said. “But each one’s very important because that person has lost their

job or could be losing a potential job.”

The Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment Rights Act prohibits employment discrimination

against members of the military, including those considering joining.

But not every employer the ESGR

deals with is a problem case.

“Our mission is to gain and maintain

employer support,” Hensel said. “We

also provide free education to the

employers and Guard members on the

USERRA law, and if necessary we provide

free mediation between a Guard member and their employer.”

According to Hensel, Maryland’s

ESGR committee has provided training

and education to more than 100 employers in the state. In addition, ESGR has

had contact with an additional 400

employers through its employer recognition programs. One of the highest levels

of acknowledgement an employer can

achieve is recognition as a “Five-Star

Employer.” Recipients are nominated by

individual Guard members.

“We have about more than 110 ‘FiveStar Employers’ right now, from very

small companies to the largest companies,” Hensel said. 

Although ESGR has gained a considerably higher profile since the war began

in 2001, ESGR has actually been around

for over 30 years. 

According to the ESGR website,

http://www.esgr.org, when the military

conscription ended in the 1970s,

“defense planners foresaw a potential

problem with the nation’s Reserve service members and their civilian employers. Long accustomed to National Guard

and Reserve membership as an alternative to compulsory active duty service, it

was believed that employers might question the necessity of service in a purely

voluntary military system. The planners

concluded that some employers might

not be supportive of their workers serving voluntarily in uniform.”

As a result, the Department of

Defense chartered the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard

and Reserve in 1972. Its goal was to educate employers as to the role and importance of the reserve components in

national defense.

It originally consisted of a panel of

select volunteers representing business,

government, labor and the military. The

group initially focused its efforts on leaders at the executive level. When this “top

down” approach turned out to be insufficient, ESGR was broadened.

In an effort to reach out to local

employers throughout the nation, ESGR

organized committees in each state, territory, and the District of Columbia and a

network of employer support volunteers

across the nation. 

Today, these committees include

nearly 2,500 volunteers, including 72 in

Maryland. ESGR volunteers include business executives, educators, military personnel, and senior government officials.

They conduct employer support programs and have a recognition program

for employers who support and encourage service in the reserve components.

In addition, ESGR maintains a

nationwide network of volunteer

ombudsmen. The ombudsmen, who

receive extensive training on USERRA,

act as mediators and attempt to resolve

military-related conflicts between

employers and service members.

The ombudsman program is one of

ESGR’s more important functions, as

studies have found that nearly of third of

those leaving the reserve components

cited “employment conflict” as a reason.

Communication is key to good

employer relations, Hensel said. Guard

members need to keep their employers

informed. 

“A lot of our deployments, we have

prior notice,” he said. “The Guard and

reserve member needs to give that to the

employer and that fosters good communication, good relations.”

Lt. Col. William E. “Butch” Hensel, coordinator for the Maryland Committee for

Employer Support of the Guard and

Reserve
12 Maryland Military Department

THE LECTERN

By Chap. (Col.) William Sean Lee, JFHQ Chaplain

Maryland has a history steeped

in the tradition of religious

freedom for all of its citizens.

Since the first settlement at St. Mary’s

City and the involvement of its inhabitants in the first American civil war

waged over the issue of freedom of

religious expression, and the inclusion

of the basic tenets of religious accommodation for all citizens in the founding of the colony, Maryland has

maintained a proud history of protecting the free exercise of religious right

for all Marylanders. Each and every citizen can worship freely according to

the dictates of their beliefs without

fear. A cursory look at the role of religion in current world conflicts can

give everyone pause to reflect with

thanksgiving for the contribution this

basic human freedom provides toward

relative peace and security in America.

Maryland National Guard chaplains continue to serve in the United

States Armed Forces generally, and the

Maryland National Guard specifically,

to ensure the free exercise of religious

expression for every member of the

Guard. Chaplains are charged with the

protection of this basic right of citizenship guaranteed to every citizen-soldier by the First Amendment to the

United States Constitution.

Each chaplain in the Maryland

Army National Guard, Maryland Air

National Guard, and Maryland Defense

Force works to ensure that every member of the Maryland Military Department has the opportunity within the

limits of the mission and practicality to

practice their faith while in service to

State and Nation. Chaplains perform

religious support according to the doctrinal mandate of their denominational

endorsing group, but provide support

for all members of the Maryland Military Department inclusive of all religious expressions. Whatever their faith

expression, every member of the Maryland Military Department can find spiritual comfort, counsel, inspiration and

support from chaplains.

From Iraq and Guantanamo Bay,

Cuba to the Southwest Border and the

Gulf Coast of the United States, and in

armories across Maryland, chaplains

continue to serve both State and

Nation ensuring the religious and spiritual well-being of fellow Citizen-Soldiers in war and peace.

The holidays will be a little brighter

for members of the Maryland

National Guard stationed in Iraq

and Afghanistan, and for scores of Iraqi

children, thanks to a volunteer faculty

member and students at the University of

Maryland Dental School.

Dr. Robert Strahl, a volunteer adjunct

professor, organized a relief effort called

“A Taste of Home” in order to make direct

contact with Maryland Soldiers and try to

make their lives far from home a little easier. He enlisted help for the project from

his professional organization, the Maryland State Dental Association, and the

Dental School. 

On Nov. 16, several student leaders

packed “smile kits” containing toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, sugarfree candy and greeting cards–written in

Arabic–that will be sent to Maryland

troops in Iraq to be distributed to local

children. The kits are meant to make life a

little sweeter for the youngsters, and will

also improve the Maryland troops’ relations with the Iraqi citizens.

Other boxes containing boxed and

canned food, DVDs and a player, magazines and baby wipes-useful for wiping

away the desert sand-are meant for

the use of the National Guard’s A

Co., 2-224 Aviation, which is flying

Blackhawk helicopters in Iraq. Others went to U.S. Soldiers in

Afghanistan under the command of

Brig. Gen. Ed Ballard, UMB’s director of public safety. He is a brigadier

general in the Maryland National

Guard, and since July, has been one

of the highest ranking Americans in

Afghanistan. 

Master Sgt. Jeannette Wittman,

family program director of the Maryland National Guard, attended the

event. Acting University Police Chief

Cleveland Barnes also was in attendance, representing Ballard. Procter

& Gamble donated boxes of children’s

toothpaste, toothbrushes, and dental

floss. Other faculty, staff, and students

from the Dental School stopped by to

sign cards that will be sent to the troops.

Strahl’s project has the mission statement “acts of kindness for Maryland’s

sons and daughters in harm’s way.” He

registered the project as a charity and

runs it with a nonpolitical, nonpartisan

tone; he is adamant that the project

focuses on supporting the men 

and women volunteers now serving in

combat zones.

This article appears on the University 

of Maryland Baltimore website and is

reprinted here with permission.

Dr. Robert Strahl (left) oversees the assembly of

“smile kits” by University of Maryland Baltimore

dental students. Photo by Warrant Officer William

Fearrington

Dental Students Assemble ‘Smile Kits’

for Iraqi Children; Maryland Soldiers

By Jeffrey Raymond, University of Maryland Baltimore
Digest: Winter, 2007 13

“Ready When Called”

By Brig. Gen. (Md.) Frederic N. Smalkin, Senior Advisor to MDDF Commander

With the massive Federal mobilization and overseas deployment of

the National Guard in the First

and Second World Wars, it became

apparent that a back-up military force

should stay in the various states to take

on the state militia duties that would

otherwise not be fulfilled. These State

Guards, as they were called, were state

troops without Federal

reserve status. Many states,

including Maryland, had

thousands of volunteer

State Guardsmen during

both wars. These units

were generally disbanded

after the wars.

The modern version of

the State Guard, born during the Cold War, is the

State Defense Force (SDF).

The Constitution authorizes states to maintain

troops only with the consent of Congress, and Congress has consented to

maintenance of the

National Guard and State

Defense Forces. Presently,

about half the states have 

a SDF.

During peacetime, the

Cold War, and when there

was no local or regional

state of emergency, many

SDFs lacked a coherent

sense of identity and mission. It was unlikely that

the National Guard would be subject to

federal call-up on the scale of the World

Wars, and there seemed to be little use

for what amounted to a body of troops

redundant to the National Guard. 

In Maryland, at the millennium, a

handful of key leaders in the Military

Department chose to rethink the entire

SDF concept, in terms of whether – and,

if so, how – the Maryland Defense Force

(MDDF) should be restructured. It was

concluded that the best and highest use

of the MDDF should remain as a “backup” force for the National Guard, but not

just in case of mobilization. That is, why

not utilize the Defense Force as a pool of

trained, often professionally-qualified,

Soldiers who could augment the

National Guard in those areas where the

Guard had a specific need?

Thus, the “new” MDDF was born,

with the key concept being the creation

of talent pools, organized into professional mission-oriented commands, e.g.,

legal, medical, and chaplain. Highly qualified commanders – most of them former

active or reserve officers – were

recruited, and they, in turn, recruited

other professionals for their commands.

Additional commands were organized,

as qualified personnel presented 

themselves. 

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina the MDDF expanded its Medical

Command (which had already achieved

Medical Reserve Corps recognition), and

deployed teams to the New Orleans

vicinity, where they treated close to

7,000 patients over a period of three

weeks. This out-of-state deployment of

the MDDF (as authorized by Maryland

statute, but never before utilized) was

highly successful, leading to the organization of the Medical Command into the

10th (MD) Medical Regiment.

The question of how best to utilize

other non-professionally-qualified Soldiers was solved by abolishing the traditional battalions and reorganizing units

into a Military Support Command, the

purpose of which is to provide command, control, logistic, and administrative support to MDDF personnel in

deployment or other operational environments. Another function of military

support personnel is to serve, after

intensive training, in the Maryland Joint

Operations Center (MJOC), alongside

civilian and National Guard personnel in

both routine and emergency operations.

The theme of fully integrating MDDF

personnel into everyday state missions

and operations, which is really at the

heart of MDDF’s post-Cold War mission,

is actively pursued at all

levels of the Maryland Military Department. MDDF

chaplain personnel are

fully trained alongside

their Guard counterparts

and can perform the same

state duties, as they did in

Maryland during the

Lebanese Repatriation of

2006. MDDF medical personnel are playing integral

roles in the Military Department, teamed with Guard

medical personnel, in medical missions, ranging from

planning for pandemics to

deploying with the Maryland Air National Guard’s

175th Medical Group to

Bosnia on a one-month

humanitarian medical mission in connection with the

Department of Defense

State Partnership Program.

MDDF engineering personnel will be assisting in engineering assessments of

existing Guard facilities

and the design of new ones. On a

monthly - and sometimes even weekly –

basis, MDDF attorneys, chaplains, and

finance officers are tasked with individual counseling of soldiers and their families in cases where National Guard

personnel are not available in adequate

numbers. And, finally, the MDDF’s own

cavalry unit (Troop A) performs color

guard and parade duties, fulfilling

requests from the civilian community for

support from the Maryland Military

Department.

In sum, we in the MDDF strongly

feel that we have, by good planning and

good fortune, hit upon a winning formula, assuring that the Defense Force

will become and remain an indispensable resource for the State’s Military

Department, in accordance with its traditions, but with an eye to the future. 

Members of the Maryland Defense Force deployed to Louisiana following 

Hurricane Katrina. Photo by Division Chief Michael O’Connell, Anne Arundel

County Fire Department.
14 Maryland Military Department

Many of the employees of the Maryland

Military Department are classified as “Mission Essential” which means that during

an emergency they could be summoned

to duty to protect the lives and property

of the citizens of Maryland. As we move

into the winter season, it is important for

all employees, regardless of classification

to prepare for the threats posed by winter

storms. The MDMILDEP Digest offers the

following information to assist in the

preparation for such storms.

Winter Storm Hazards:

A Winter Storm Watch means that a winter storm is possible for the area. This

watch is issued 12 to 36 hours before the

event. A Winter Storm Warning means

that a Winter Storm is occurring, or will

soon occur in your area. A Blizzard

Warning means that sustained winds or

frequent gusts to 35 miles per hour or

greater and considerable falling snow,

which will reduce visibility to less than a

quarter mile, are expected for a period of

three hours or longer.

BEFORE THE STORM ARRIVES:

Learn about your area’s winter storm risk.

Contact the American Red Cross, the

Maryland Emergency Management

Agency at www.mema.state.md.us or the

local National Weather Service office to

learn more about your area’s winter

storm risk.

Learn first aid, especially for treatment of

exposure to the cold, frostbite and

hypothermia.

The most likely direct threat is a loss of

electric power and heat that could last for

several days. Make sure that stocks of

non-perishable food and water are 

sufficient.

Make sure there is plenty of food and

water stored for pets and livestock.

Make sure there is adequate warm clothing for each member of the family.

Understand the effects of wind chill,

which combines the cooling effect 

of wind and cold temperatures on

exposed skin.

Fully check and winterize your vehicle

before the winter season begins.

Keep your car’s fuel tank full for emergency use and to keep the fuel line from

freezing.

Service snow removal equipment

before winter season.

Make sure your home is properly

insulated. If necessary, insulate walls

and attic.

Install storm windows or cover windows with plastic from the inside.

Invest in a NOAA Weather Radio with

a tone-alert feature to keep you

informed of watches and warnings

issued for your area.

Install and check fire alarms.

Consider storing sufficient heating

fuel if the possibility exists that regular fuel sources may be cut off in a

winter storm. Be cautious of fire hazards when storing any type of fuel.

If you live in a flood-prone area, consider purchasing flood insurance to

cover possible flood damage that

may occur during the spring thaw.

Install snow fences in rural areas to

reduce drifting in roads and paths,

which block to homes, barns and animals’ feed and water.

DURING THE STORM

The following information is provided to help citizens get through the

storm:

Avoid unnecessary travel. About 70 

percent of winter deaths related to

ice and snow occur in automobiles.

Listen to NOAA Weather Radio, radio

or television for updated information

about the storm. These devices

should be battery-operated or have a

battery backup in the event of a

power failure.

If you are caught out in your vehicle

when the storm hits, stay in your

vehicle. You will become quickly disoriented in wind-driven snow and

cold. Run the motor about 10 minutes each hour for heat. Open the

window little for fresh air to avoid

carbon monoxide poisoning. Make

sure the exhaust pipe is not blocked.

Turn on the dome light at night

when running the engine, as this will

make you more visible to rescuers.

After the snow stops falling, raise the

hood to indicate that you need help.

Winter Storm Preparedness

Take the following action to

keep your pipes from freezing:

•Wrap the pipes in insulation or 

layers of old newspapers

•Cover the newspapers with 

plastic to keep out moisture

•Let faucets drip to keep them 

from freezing

•Know how to shut off water valves.

Consider keeping safe emergency heating equipment:

•A fireplace with ample supply of

wood

•Small, well-ventilated wood, coal

or camp stove with fuel.

•Portable space heater or kerosene

heater

This requires the proper use of fire safeguards

and ventilation. Consult the local fire marshal

for assistance.

•Mobile phone, charger and 

batteries

•Blankets/sleeping bags

•Flashlight with extra batteries

•First aid kit

•Knife

•High-calorie non-perishable food

and water

•Extra clothing to keep dry

•Large empty can to use as emergency toilet as well as tissues and

paper towels for sanitary purposes

•Sack of sand of kitty litter for 

traction

•Small can and waterproof matches

to melt snow for drinking water

•Shovel

•Windshield scraper and brush

•Tool kit

•Tow rope

•Battery booster cables

•Water container

•Compass and road maps

Carry a Winter Storm Survival

Kit in your vehicle that should

include:
Digest: Winter, 2007 15

Continued from page 14

Army streamlines service

uniforms to one blue Army

Service Uniform

WASHINGTON (Army News Ser

vice, June 6, 2006) – Army service

uniforms will be streamlined to

one blue Army Service Uniform, the Army

announced yesterday.

“World-class Soldiers deserve a simplified, quality uniform. The blue Army

Service Uniform is a traditional uniform

that is consistent with the Army’s most

honored traditions,” said Sgt. Maj. Of the

Army Kenneth O. Preston.

“We have all of these variations of uniforms – green, blue and white,” said Army

Chief of Staff Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker.

“It makes sense for us to go to one traditional uniform that is really sharp and

high quality and which Soldiers will be

very proud to wear. And that’s what we’ve

done by adopting this blue Army Service

Uniform that reflects simplicity, quality,

utility and tradition.”

Many Soldiers already own an Army

blue uniform (now to be called the Army

Service Uniform) and may continue to

wear it. Improvements will be made to

the fabric and fit.

“What we want to do is design the

uniform so it’s tailored to the Soldier, so

it fits his or her physique better,” said 

Preston.

The new uniform will also be wrinklefree.

“One of the materials that’s been

selected is a higher quality material than

what is in the Army Green Uniform and

will maintain its wearability and its looks,”

said Schoomaker.

The uniform will also include a gold

braid on the trousers for E-5’s and above.

Additionally, the service cap will be

authorized for wear by NCOs as well as

officers.

Reduction of the number of uniforms

will reduce the burden on Soldiers for

purchases and alteration cost, officials

added.

Introduction in the Army Military

Clothing Sales Stores should begin in

fourth quarter of fiscal year 2007. Introduction in the Clothing Bag should begin

first quarter 2009. The Mandatory Possession Date is expected to be fourth quarter

fiscal year 2011.

A wear-out date for the Army Green

Class A and White dress uniforms will be

determined at a later date.

Continued on page 16

AFTER THE STORM PASSES: 

Continue to monitor NOAA Weather

Radio, radio or television for official information about the storm and its impact.

If you are caught outside when the storm

arrives, find shelter where you can stay

warm and dry. If no shelter is available,

build a lean-to or windbreak or snow cave

for protection from the wind. Build a fire

for warmth and to attract

attention. Place rocks

around the fire to

absorb and reflect heat.

Melt snow for drinking

water as eating snow 

will lower your body

temperature.

Eat and drink. Food

provides the body with

energy for producing its

own heat. Keep the

body replenished with

fluids to prevent dehydration.

If you go outside after a snowstorm, dress

in many layers and wear a hat and gloves

or mittens. Many layers of thin clothing

are warmer than single layers of thick

clothing. Wear a 

hat to keep the body from losing 

heat through the head. Mittens are

warmer than gloves. Covering the mouth

with a scarf protects lungs from extremely

cold air.

If in a vehicle, exercise from time to time

by moving your arms, legs, fingers and 

toes to keep blood circulating and to keep

warm.

Avoid overexertion, and use caution when

engaging in activities such as shoveling

heavy snow, pushing a car or walking in

deep snow. The strain from the cold and

hard labor could cause a heart attack. 

Sweating could lead to chill or hypothermia. If indoors, wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing and

remember to remove layer to avoid overheating, perspiration and subsequent

chills.

If the pipes freeze, remove any insulation

or layers of newspapers and wrap the

pipes in rags. Completely open all faucets

and pour hot water over the pipes, starting where they were most exposed to the

cold or where the cold was most likely to

have penetrated. A hand-held hair dryer,

used with caution to prevent overheating

also will work.
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 rick.roth@us.army.mil or call us at 

410-576-6012.

Martin O’Malley

Governor

Anthony G. Brown

Lt. Governor

Maj. Gen. Bruce F. Tuxill

The Adjutant General

Quentin Banks

Director of Public Affairs

Rick Roth

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 DepartmentDigest

The consolidation of Army service

uniforms is part of a streamlining process.

In 2004, the Army reduced the number of

battle dress uniforms from three to one

when it adopted the Army Combat Uniform in place of the Woodland Green Battle Dress Uniform (winter and summer

versions) and the Desert Combat Uniform. That uniform consolidation has

been a resounding success in terms of soldier acceptance and reducing the variety

of combat uniforms with which they must

deal.

Army Blue as a uniform color traces

its origins back to the National Blue and

was first worn by Soldiers in the Continental Army of 1779.

Preston said the change reflects Soldiers’ wants.

“I’ve talked to Soldiers and asked

them what their thoughts were on the

Army green, blue and white uniforms,” he

said. “It was always about 85-90 percent

of hands that showed support for the

Army blue uniform.”

Besides tradition, the Army Service

Uniform reflects utility, simplicity and

quality.

• In utility, the blue Army Service Uniform

provides a basic set of components that

allow Soldiers to dress from the lowest

end to the highest end of service uniforms

with little variation required.

• In simplicity, the blue Army Service Uniform eliminates the need for numerous

sets of green Class A uniforms, service

blue uniforms and, for some, Army white

mess uniforms (and tunics, for women).

Streamlining various service uniforms

into one Army Service Uniform reduces

the burden on Soldiers in the same manner that the Army Combat Uniform (ACU)

did for the field utility uniform. 

• In quality, the blue Army Service Uniform is made of a durable material that is

suitable for daily use without special care. 

Information about the blue Army Service

Uniform and its composition is available

at www.army.mil/symbols/uniforms.

Army streamlines service uniforms

to one blue Army Service Uniform Continued from page 15