Air Guard Pilots and

Maintainers Make 

History in Iraq

Story and Photo by Tech. Sgt. D. Clare, 332nd Air

Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

Maryland Military DepartmentDigest

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq (11/07/2007) - Capt. Brian “Snap” Curland, a deployed member of the 175th Wing, Maryland Air

National Guard, made history here when he dropped the first

Joint Direct Attack Munition from the newly upgraded A-10C Thunderbolt II in combat Sept. 19.

Winter/Spring 2008

Anthony G. Brown

Lt. Governor

Martin O’Malley

Governor

A 438th Air Expeditionary Group weapons loading team prepares to mount a Joint Direct Attack Munition to an A-10C Thunderbolt II using an MJ-1

“jammer” vehicle at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq. The Airmen made history in Iraq when their upgraded A-10s successfully employed JDAMs in combat.

Because the weapon is guided to targets by pinpoint GPS coordinates, experts here say it is 100 percent more accurate than munitions previously

employed on the A-10C Thunderbolt II, dramatically improving precision and reducing fratricide. The Airmen are deployed from the 175th Wing,

Maryland Air National Guard, located in Baltimore, Md. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. D. Clare)

Continued on page 4

In This Issue...

★ Maryland Defense Force Marks 

90 Years of Service ...................page 5

★ Commentary:Taking the 

Freestate ChalleNGe.................page 8

★ 58th IBCT, MWR ....................page 10

★ Maryland Leads the Way 

in PHA.....................................page 12

★ State Employees Capture

Top Awards .............................page 13
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:

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.

Congratulations are in order to the Maryland Emergency Management Agency for attaining a national accreditation

for the State’s emergency management program. Because of MEMA’s effort, Maryland is one of 15 states that have

attained national recognition in its efforts to protect the people and property of its citizens. I would also like to recognize the local jurisdiction emergency managers for their efforts in this challenging process.

Congratulations also are in order to Ms. Linda Strack of the MDMILDEP Legislative Liaison Office and Mr. J. Carver

Struve, with the Maryland Emergency Management Agency.These two State employees captured top honors at the

2007 State Employee Recognition and Award Ceremony on Dec. 7. Linda, who serves as an Administrative Assistant

in her office, received the Adjutant General’s Award for Excellence and was cited for her tireless devotion to her

duties which include maintaining the Department’s Congressional Inquiry Program. She received a glass trophy and

a monetary prize of $3,000. Carver, who serves as the State Mitigation Officer, received the State’s Innovative Idea

Award and was credited by State Treasurer Nancy Kopp for developing the State Hazard Mitigation Plan. His hazard

mitigation work was instrumental in convincing insurance company representatives who were in the process of setting premiums for the state’s catastrophic loss policy, to reduce the premium by almost $1 million. He also received

a glass trophy and a monetary prize of $1,000.

The Maryland Army National Guard has been recognized by National Guard Bureau for receiving the Distinguished

Motor Vehicle Safety Award for 10 years without a Class A or Class B Army motor vehicle accident.A Class “A” accident involves property damage in excess of $1 million and or fatality or permanent disability.A Class “B” accident

involves property damage in excess of $200,000 but less than $1 million and or permanent partial disability and or

three or more people hospitalized. I am pleased that our efforts to reduce accidents have been successful. Let’s

stretch the winning streak to 15 years.

The Maryland Defense Force marked more than 90 years of service with a ribbon-cutting for its new headquarters at

the Pikesville Military Reservation in November.The new headquarters is located in the Merson Building, and the

ceremony marked the culmination of a three-month long renovation involving more than 1,600 volunteer man-hours

by members of the MDDF. Congratulations on a job well done.

Congratulations to Col. Brian Neal, commander of the Maryland Air National Guard’s 135th Airlift Group for receiving the Bronze Star Medal, for meritorious achievement while serving on active duty in Iraq. During the first six

months of 2007, Col. Neal served on active duty as commander of the U.S.Air Force’s 447th Air Expeditionary

Group, 332d Air Expeditionary Wing at Sather Air Base, Baghdad International Airport. Under Col. Neal’s leadership,

aircraft operations continued unabated despite constant exposure to regular enemy rocket and mortar attacks.Additionally, more than 130,000 passengers were processed through the largest air passenger hub in Iraq and approximately 32,000 short-tons of critical war fighter cargo was flown on more than 5,000 fixed and rotary wing sorties.

He oversaw explosive ordnance operations in Iraq’s deadliest sector resulting in approximately 325 safe explosive

devices and collection of more than 100 pieces of post-blast forensic evidence. His foreign object damage abatement

program removed more than 10,200 pounds of hazards from the runway and ramp and initiated a $500,000 emergency runway repair plan.

We have welcomed home the Maryland Army National Guard Soldiers of the KFOR 8 from their peacekeeping

assignment in Kosovo, the Soldiers of the Aviation Depot Maintenance Roundout Unit from their assignment in

Kuwait and the Airmen of the Maryland Air National Guard’s 104th Fighter Squadron from their assignment in Iraq.

We hope to welcome home the Soldiers of the 58th Infantry Brigade Combat Team from Iraq this spring. I ask that

you keep these men and women in your thoughts and prayers as they wrap up a difficult assignment in support of

Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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.

Bruce F.Tuxill

Major General, MDANG

The Adjutant General
Digest:Winter/Spring, 2008 3

Army Logistics Earn “Green” in CLRT-X

By Staff Sgt. Kristofer Baumgartner, Maryland National Guard Public Affairs 

Photo by Spc. Elizabeth Jones, Maryland National Guard Public Affairs

I

n December, the Maryland Army

National Guard received the highest

assessment level of “Green” for the first

time ever in a major federal inspection

which gauged the state’s logistical posture.

The Command Logistic

Review Team – Expanded inspection is conducted by the National

Guard Bureau and evaluates Army

logistical readiness throughout the

state at selected unit locations and

installations including the Fifth

Regiment Armory and the United

States Property and Fiscal Office.

“This achievement is the

direct result of hard work and forward thinking,” said Brig. Gen.

Edward Leacock, assistant adjutant

general for Army. “The positive

assessment is especially significant

because it comes at a time when

the Maryland National Guard has

more Soldiers deployed than at any

time since World War II and is in

the midst of a major transformation.”

The reviews are conducted 18 months

to three years apart depending on the

results of the previous inspection—the better the assessment, the longer the interval

between inspections.

“I am very proud of the team.Until this

year, our best rating was yellow,” said Col.

Wayne Johnson, Maryland National Guard

director of logistics. His team’s strategy for

success started with understanding and

focusing on deficient areas identified in the

previous inspection. To that end, the Logistics Quality Improvement Board established

the monthly Supply Sergeants’ Logistics

Training to keep unit supply sergeants regularly updated and properly trained. As a

result of this training,the web-based Supply

Room Desktop was conceived and developed. The Web portal is updated daily and

provides a quick reference source for information and documents designed to

enhance unit level supply operations. Johnson noted that it was

especially important to the overall effort that everyone involved

in the process agreed on the

goals and strategy and gave a 100

percent effort from the beginning.

In preparation for future inspections, Johnson expects to generally keep the current successful

strategy in place. Adjustments

and updates will be applied as

needed.

Johnson stressed that the excellent inspection results were due

to the diligence and innovation

of his staff, the USPFO staff and

others.

“Thank you to the entire logistics community,and a special thanks to the unit supply sergeants,”said Johnson.

The logistics community and supply sergeants celebrate the “Green”

assessment earned during the Command Logistic Review Team –

Expanded.

Members of the 29th 

Division Association,

many of them former

Maryland Guardsmen participate in a plaque dedication ceremony at the

National D-day 

Memorial in Bedford, 

Virginia on December 1.

The plaque was dedicated

in honor of the 

1st Battalion 175th 

Regiment with a long 

history in the Maryland

Army National Guard and

is currently deployed to

Iraq.

175th Infantry

Photo by Pvt. Stephen Scott, 29th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
4 Maryland Military Department

The captain’s strike, and the Air

Guard’s participation and support of precision engagement for the A-10, mark a historic new range of capabilities and

accuracy the aircraft is bringing to the battlefield.

Curland was on his second sortie here

when he came upon a former safe house

that insurgents had established as a houseborne improvised explosive device. The

building had been rigged to detonate

when Soldiers swept through the town.

“When I put that out and dropped it,

it was basically two buildings away from a

mosque. And we obviously don’t want to

be doing any damage to significant religious centers and people who aren’t in

the conflict at all,” Curland said.

Despite the proximity of residential

buildings and the mosque, structures

immediately adjacent to the target suffered

little more than a dusting from the attack.

No coalition forces or noncombatants

were harmed.

“With this munition, we’re able to pinpoint a building,” said Curland with the

438th Air Expeditionary Group.“Collateral

damage is about zero. When the bomb

impacts, it buries itself into the building

and then detonates so you’re looking at

basically just taking the building out from

the inside out instead of the outside in like

before.”

Thanks to the comprehensive digital

upgrade completed by the Air National

Guard, Air Force Reserve and Air Force,

newly modified A-10s are bringing a new

level of accuracy and versatility to close air

support in Iraq.

This evolution to precision engagement allows A-10 pilots to strike targets

with pinpoint accuracy, eliminating the

threat to American forces and non-combatants on the ground.

A new ‘SADL’ 

The upgrades to the aircraft have

taken an analog system and brought it into

a digital era, said Lt. Col. Eric Mann, 438th

AEG pilot, and Operational Requirements

division chief for the National Guard

Bureau.

A new hands-on throttle and stick system improves the pilot’s situational awareness, allowing the flyer to keep his or her

“head on a swivel.” The aircraft has fully

integrated electronics and new avionics

systems.

Through the Situational Awareness

Data Link, or SADL, pilots are able to literally show their fellow pilots and ground

forces what they see from their cockpit in

real time.

“Essentially, it shortens the kill chain,”

said Mann, who is also a member of the

Maryland Air National Guard. By instantly

sharing data and camera feeds, a process

that took up to 30 minutes over the radio

before now happens in seconds.

“I can transmit my image from the

advanced targeting pod to the ground

forces who can confirm it,” he said.“I can

transmit what I’m looking at to my wingman digitally without having to ‘talk his

eyes’ onto the ‘red roof building’ when

there’s hundreds down there. He can actually see it the same time I am.”

At the center of the A-10s close air

support mission is the elimination of

improvised explosive devices. In some

cases, they escort troops or convoys on

missions and foot patrols, said Capt.

Richard Hunt, a weapons and tactics officer deployed from the Maryland Air

National Guard.

The new capabilities of the aircraft

reflect the complex nature of that mission.

The A-10C has 11 weapons stations from

wingtip to wingtip, in addition to its

famous primary weapon, the seven-barrel,

30 mm Gatling gun.

“I have no idea what situation I’ll find

myself in when I arrive in a target area,”

said Hunt.“It’s constantly changing on the

ground, and the insurgency and the enemy

is constantly changing. I need to have a

huge variety of different weapons on the

airplane so I can deal with a specific situation.”

New life

More than a decade ago, the Air Force

began discussions on upgrading the A-10.

With so many critical projects for the

Department of Defense to address, it

seemed the “legacy” aircraft’s upgrades

would stall. Before October, 2006, it

appeared that only a portion of the Air

Force’s inventory would be upgraded.

The Air National Guard, and its six A10 fighter wings stepped up to aid the

developmental program. They worked

closely with the Air Combat Command

and the 422nd Test and Evaluation

Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.

In addition to funding from the

National Guard, the Air Reserve Component brought the resources and experience the community needed to make the

upgrade a reality. Its current incarnation is

expected to be viable through 2028.

A Total Force reality

“We went out to Nellis and lived the

Total Force dream,” said Chief Master Sgt.

Terry Allen, 438th Expeditionary Aircraft

Maintenance Squadron superintendent

and member of the Maryland Air National

Guard. The chief served as the enlisted

leader for developmental testing.

“We interacted with the active duty,

the Air Force Reserve and Guard personnel. We brought some experience to the

table.We had a good handle on the legacy

system on the aircraft and expanded on

those in terms of integration and engagement.”

As new modifications were implemented, maintainers worked directly with

contractors to develop technical orders,

data and drawings. As they went, they

wrote the training programs associated

with the changes. Aircrews and maintainers were integrated and brought up to

speed simultaneously.

The upgrades started in earnest in

November 2005.Air Guard specialists from

six different states rotated in and out of

Nevada to facilitate the process.The team

finished in June 2007, and just weeks later,

members from every component of the

upgrade team found themselves in Iraq in

combat in the new A-10s.

Weeks after that, the first Joint Direct

Attack Munition launched from an A-10C

struck its target dead center.

To date, the new system has performed in a “close to flawless” manner,

according to Allen. The squadron has not

dropped a single Central Command Air

Forces tasking - a feat he credits to the successful implementation of upgrades and

the hard work of maintainers before and

throughout the deployment.

“We feel very, very proud,” said Staff

Sgt. Nick Draxler, 438th Air Expeditionary

Group weapons loader deployed from the

Maryland Air National Guard.“It took thousands of man hours and lots of work to

bring this aircraft to battle in a fully functional way. These aircraft performed as

well in combat as we did in preparing

them for combat.”

Air Guard Pilots and Maintainers Make History in Iraq

Continued from page 1
Digest:Winter/Spring, 2008 5

Constant communication is one of

the most important parts of military

operations. Internet, telephones,

radios and the variety of other lines of communication available on Camp Bondsteel

are often taken for granted, thanks to a

small but dedicated staff of 14 signal Soldiers that comprise the G-6 staff.

“Every minute someone is communicating, and it’s our responsibility to make

sure they can. That’s what G-6 does,” says

Capt. Dan Dulin, Deputy G-6 also a Maryland National Guard Soldier.

Dulin went on to further explain G-6’s

mission.

“[We] provide support for the command staff, and as a whole we provide

[retransmission] communications, radio

automation and telephone support for the

task force.We also provide guidance to the

battalion level.”

According to Sgt.Crystal Minor-Sylla,G6 help desk noncommissioned officer in

charge, that guidance and support is one

that many Soldiers and civilians on Camp

Bondsteel forget about — at least until

something stops working.

When that occurs,G-6 Soldiers work to

fix the problem affecting other Soldiers.

“The main thing is reassuring Soldiers that

it is going to be okay,” says Minor-Sylla.

“Then trying to find a solution to their

problem. If their computer shuts down or

their phone stops working,it stops all work

for them.”

But G-6 Soldiers do more than just fix

telephones and computers on Camp Bondsteel.

According to Dulin, G-6 Soldiers also

work in teams to establish radio retransmission sites across Kosovo when needed,providing Soldiers on patrol constant

communication with Soldiers on Camp

Bondsteel.One mission the G-6 staff is most

proud of is one that has nothing to do with

communication at all.

“I think one of our favorite accomplishments is our adopted family. We’ve been

able to give them clothes and tools and

things like that.We also have been able to

adopt a school, providing them with supplies they need,”said Dulin.

Like many offices on Camp Bondsteel,

G-6 is composed of National Guardsmen

from different states and units, something

they count as an asset.“The Soldiers have

really been able to collaborate together as a

team to support the efforts of KFOR 8,”says

Maj. Darryl A.Winston, the G-6.

“We just all came together,” says MinorSylla.“The majority of the people in our section have been in the military for a while,so

we know that the military works as a team.

If there’s a mission, you are going to get it

done,and you are going to work together to

get it done. Everyone has the basic understanding of leadership and camaraderie.”

As their mission comes to a close, the

Soldiers hope to take their positive experiences back to their home units.

“I want to make sure that we have that

active duty ability and flair, and remember

how we worked together to support the

command staff,” says Dulin.

“All we can do is our job to the best of

our ability,” said Minor-Sylla, “I believe we

have done that.We have given our all to this

section; we have gone beyond the call.We

came here, away from our families, and did

what we were called to do.”

The Maryland Defense Force (MDDF)

marked more than 90 years of service with a ribbon-cutting for its new

headquarters at the Pikesville Military

Reservation in Baltimore. The ceremony

held November 8 was attended by a number of

Maryland National Guard (MDNG), state

officials,and both current and retired Maryland Defense Force personnel.

“The Maryland National Guard, both

Army and Air, couldn’t do the job it does

without the Maryland Defense Force,” said

Maj. Gen. Bruce Tuxill,Adjutant General for

the State of Maryland.“The MDDF is a real

force multiplier and we thank you for the

job you do.”

The new headquarters is located in the

Merson Building,and the ceremony marked

the culmination of a three-month long renovation involving more than 1,600 volunteer man hours by members of the MDDF.

“The renovation of this building was a

huge project, that was executed with the

efficiency and professionalism that have

become the hallmark of the MDDF,” said

Brig. Gen. Courtney Wilson, MDDF Commanding General.“I’m tremendously proud

of the engineer corps,the volunteers,and in

particular, the Non-Commissioned Officers

who led the project.”

The move to the new headquarters

comes as the MDDF marks the 90th

anniversary of its formal activation as an

element of the Maryland militia separate

from the National Guard in August 1917. It

was responsible for maintaining public

order in the absence of the Maryland

National Guard which had been mobilized

Shoulder Sleeve Insignia of the 29th Infantry

Division.

Maryland Defense Force Marks 90

Years of Service with Opening of

New Headquarters

Story courtesy of the Maryland Defense Force Photo by Cpl. (MD) A. Hastings, MDDF

Continued on page 6

G-6 Keeps Bondsteel Communicating

By Sgt. Matthew C. Moeller, 17th Public Affairs Detachment 
6 Maryland Military Department

Maryland Defense Force Marks 90 Years of

Service with Opening of New Headquarters

Continued from page 5

for service in France during World War I.

The Maryland State Guard, as it was known

at the time,was called to state duty twice to

suppress civil disturbances in Annapolis

and Easton during 1919.It was disbanded in

March 1920 following the end of the war.

With the outbreak of war in Europe

and the Far East, the Maryland State Guard

was reactivated in February 1941. By 1942,

the force had grown to a brigade of nine

infantry battalions and medical, engineer

and special military police battalions. Some

2,700 men served in the State Guard at the

height of its WWII strength.When the Maryland National Guard returned from Europe,

State Guard units were again deactivated.

In the decades following World War II,

the United States Army became increasingly

dependent upon the National Guard to supply essential combat ready units, creating a

heightened interest in state defense forces

across the nation.

The Maryland State Guard was reactivated under legislation which took effect

on July 1, 1983.The Maryland code subsequently was amended to open the ranks of

the State Guard to women, and in September 1988, the Maryland State Guard was redesignated the Maryland Defense Force to

differentiate the force from the National

Guard.

Following the events of 9/11, the coldwar era MDDF was reorganized into a mission-oriented

command which supports

the Maryland Military

Department by providing

personnel with competent

professional and technical

skills that augment the

MDNG in its state mission

and support its mobilization to and redeployment

from federal missions.Additionally, the MDDF prepares

for and responds to homeland security and civil emergencies by maintaining

trained and ready personnel

that can supplement the

state’s emergency management and first-responder

resources. And it strengthens Maryland’s communities through community

service programs such as

the Freestate ChalleNGe.

Commenting on the

history of the Maryland

Defense Force, Maj. Gen.Tuxill said,“We’ve

evolved and we’ve reorganized many times

since 1917 and we will continue to do so

because we will meet the needs of the citizens of Maryland.”

Members of the MDDF Engineer Corps and renovation project volunteers pose at the ceremony marking the

reopening of the Merson Building.

Col. Brian R. Kelm of the Maryland Defense Force speaks at the

reopening of the Merson Building on November 8, 2007.
Digest:Winter/Spring, 2008 7

MDANG 

Welcomes

New Chaplain

Story by Staff Sgt. Kristofer Baumgartner

I

n November, the Maryland Air

National Guard welcomed a new

chaplain into its ranks at Warfield

Air National Guard Base in Middle

River.

Chaplain (1st Lt.) Ja’nice TubmanPettigrew recently reported to her

post with the 175th Wing. She is one

of only a few female chaplains ever to

have served in the state.

“We are extremely pleased to have

the opportunity to work with Chaplain Tubman-Pettigrew in our efforts to

spiritually support the members of the

Maryland National Guard and their

families,” said Chaplain (Col.) William

Sean Lee, state chaplain for the Maryland National Guard. “Her faith and

conviction combined with her work

as a Crisis Intervention Resource

teacher with the Prince George’s

County Public Schools shows tremendous character and will be a great benefit to our ministry,”he said.

Tubman-Pettigrew is most concerned about the issue of suicide and

sees her role as a National Guard chaplain to assist Airmen to develop spiritual strategies which lead to positive

productivity in their jobs.“I would like

each member to know that they are

important and that they contribute to

the big picture; the overall goals and

mission of the unit,” she said.

Tubman-Petigrew grew up in

Africa and became an ordained nondenominational minister in the United

States in 2005. She holds a Master of

Divinity degree from the Howard University School of Divinity and a Master

of Education degree from Cambridge

College in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Before becoming a chaplain, Tubmann-Pettigrew served as a Chaplain

Assistant with the 113th Wing of the

District of Columbia Air National

Guard. She is currently in the process

of establishing a church with her husband, Forrest Pettigrew.

Maryland Attains Emergency 

Management Accreditation

Story by Quentin W. Banks, MDMILDEP Public Affairs

Congratulations to the Maryland

Emergency Management Agency,

which recently passed a rigorous

examination in 58 emergency management

areas by professional emergency managers

and received National Accreditation under

the Emergency Management Accreditation

Program or EMAP. EMAP is a standard-based

voluntary assessment and accreditation

process for state/territorial, regional, tribal,

and local government emergency management programs.EMAP combines self-assessment against nationally recognized

standards; documentation of compliance;

independent evaluation by trained professional emergency management assessors;

and, for accreditation, committee and commission review, to provide:

• An evaluation of a jurisdiction’s emergency preparedness and response

system against established national

standards

• A structure for identifying areas in

need of improvement and benchmarking progress

• A methodology for organizing strategic planning, corrective actions and

accountability in prioritizing

resources

• A catalyst for improved interoperability and continuity

• Strengthened state/tribal, regional,

territorial, and local preparedness.

EMAP standards and compliance

encompass comprehensive standards that

can be applied to an emergency management program of almost any size. EMAP

standards are scalable and rigorous. Key

components of preparedness and response

are addressed, including multidisciplinary

coordination, continuity of operations and

government planning, alternate operating

facilities, and interoperability. Programs

must provide written documentation for

each standard for compliance to be validated.

MEMA, and by extension the State of

Maryland, becomes the 15th state to attain

the recognition. The achievement is significant because MEMA is the only agency to

achieve the designation in one visit by the

inspection team. The achievement reflects

the professionalism of the State’s emergency management team. Well Done

MEMA!!!

Deployed Soldiers from the 58th IBCT send wellwishes to family and friends over the Raven’s

Jumbo-tron during the 2007 Veterans Day game at

the Baltimore Raven’s Stadium.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Robert Barker, 29th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
8 Maryland Military Department

I

would like to share my thoughts about

the Freestate ChalleNGe Academy,

which is located on Aberdeen Proving

Ground and run by the Maryland National

Guard.

As the director of the Construction

and Development Institute at Prince

George’s Community College, I was

invited, with my wife Barbara, to attend

the cadet awards banquet and the cadets’

graduation ceremony. I have never been as

touched by a graduation ceremony

as I was by this

one.

The academy

is a tuition-free

program which

offers at-risk adolescents 16 to 18

years old an

opportunity to

change their

futures in many

ways, culminating

with the opportunity to obtain a

Maryland high

school diploma.

The initial

program consists

of a five-month

residential phase

during which

cadets will learn

self-discipline,

leadership and

responsibility. Participants live and

work in a controlled military environment, which

encourages teamwork and personal

growth.

A 12-month post-residential phase

consists of helping to enroll students in

continued education, a technical school

program, or an entry-level job. During the

post-residential phase, students are

assisted by a trained and matched mentor

from the community for post-graduate

development.

One female cadet, from Montgomery

County, told the audience how her single

parent mother raised her. The cadet told

the audience how she rebelled against her

mother, skipped school and went to 

parties. Finally she was expelled from

school and moved out of her mother’s

home to an apartment. She started working for a local insurance company as a

receptionist.

“This was not how I want to live my

life,” she said.

She applied for admission in the

Freestate ChalleNGe Academy and was

accepted. The cadet asked her mother to

stand up. She apologized to her mother

and said, “The person you see standing

here is not the same person you saw five

months ago.”

After this cadet finished telling her

story, there were tears flowing from everyone on stage and in the audience.

The second cadet was a young man

from Prince George’s County. He told of

the good family values instilled in him by

his mother. He was a good student and

leader.The cadet stated the neighborhood

in which he lived contained drugs, gangs

and murders. To escape that environment

he moved in with his aunt. His aunt died

and he started hanging around with the

wrong crowd. He finally realized that he

could end up in jail or dead.He applied for

the ChalleNGe Academy and was

accepted. He cried his first night at the

academy, but he did not quit.

While on a field trip with the ChalleNGe Academy

he saw the Amish

community and a

different lifestyle.

The cadet stated

for the first time

in his life he saw

horses, cows and

chickens. The

cadet heard some

cadets say the

Freestate ChalleNGe did not

mean anything to

them, but he said,

“It means something to me!”

He wanted to

quit but thanks to

some of his classmates, he made it

through because

they would not let

him quit. The

cadet said, “I love

you mom.”

Again, not a dry

eye in the house.

Need I say more? 

I also ask (challenge) those of you

reading this message to please consider

supporting the ChalleNGe Academy in any

manner possible.

For more information, visit

www.ngycp.org/state/md.

(Editor’s note: Author is the president of

the Fort Meade Chapter of the Military

Officers Association of America.)

Taking the Freestate ChalleNGe

By Chief Warrant Officer (Ret.) Ricky C. Godbolt 

Special Contributor

COMMENTARY:

Freestate ChalleNGe Academy Students participate in physical training at their facility at Aberdeen

Proving Ground.
Digest:Winter/Spring, 2008 9

Under an unusual collaboration, the Maryland Military

Department presented its first

Maryland Performance Management

Program (PEP) using distance learning technology,which can be found at

all National Guard armories in Maryland. The collaborators included

David Glen, MDMILDEP education

manager, Lauren Holley-Allen of

MEMA’s Exercise and Training Directorate, Tressa Lester, manager of the

Information Technology Center and

Allen Dulley, MDMILDEP site facilitator. The collaboration between the

three directorates was a success.

The training was held in two locations simultaneously.The ITC’s at the

Camp Fretterd Military Reservation

and the Maryland Military Departments site at the Fifth Regiment

Armory in Baltimore.The training was

targeted for management and supervisory staff responsible for meeting the

requirements of employee competency goals and the Performance Planning and Evaluation Program (PEP).

The performance evaluation process

is designed to identify training needs

and employee skill building.The management teams are committed to

improving military and civilian personnel work performance.

Plans for training the line

employee using the distance learning

technology are in the works and will

be finalized by spring 2008.

For more information, contact

Dave Glenn of the MDMILDEP Education Office at 410-576-6189 or Lauren

Holley-Allen of the Maryland Emergency Management Agency at 410-

517-5114.

(Editor’s note: Ms. Virginia Nelson, CEO and instructor of Empowerment Plus, instructed the class.)

Distance

Learning

Technology

By Mr. Dave Glenn

Education Manager

Game Day

By Spc. Jennifer E. Sardam, 29th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Photo by Master Sgt. Bob Haskell, National Guard Bureau Public Affairs

As tens of thousands of fans gathered for the Army-Navy football

game inside Baltimore’s M&T Stadium, Maryland National Guard members

provided security and awareness to the

community.

On Dec. 1, about 50 Soldiers and Airmen from the Maryland National Guard

formed a joint task force assigned to augment stadium security alongside the Baltimore City Police Department. Soldiers

from the Catonsville-based 200th Military

Police Company and Airmen from 175th

Security Forces Squadron, at Martin State

Airport, made up the team.

The game day security mission

enhanced safety during a major national

sporting event,but it also gave greater visibility to the role of the National Guard in

Maryland.

“The community got to see

their Soldiers at

work,” said Capt.

Trisha A. Weitzel,

200th M.P. Co.

commander. “It

gave the public a

chance to see

how the National

Guard can help

defend them or

do a security mission for them here

in the United

States, not just

when they are

deployed.”

Weitzel

added that it was

a “great training opportunity” to work

together with civilian and other military

agencies.

As the presence of security highlighted the Maryland Guard, so did an

event just a few miles away where the

state’s Army Guard Soldiers manned static

displays at the Baltimore Inner Harbor. A

number of Army vehicles, aircraft and

weapons were exhibited, giving the public an opportunity to view and learn about

the types of Army equipment used in state

and federal missions.

There,Maryland Guard Soldiers of the

2nd Regiment, 110th Field Artillery Battalion, based in Pikesville, showcased two

towed 105mm howitzers. The 729th

Brigade Support Battalion, from Camp

Fretterd in Reisterstown and Hagerstown,

brought a Palletized-Loading System

Truck, a truck commonly used for maintenance and hauling. Crewmembers and

pilots from the Edgewood-based 29th

Combat Aviation Brigade were also on

hand to answer questions about a Black

Hawk UH-60 helicopter on display. Later,

some of the brigade’s Soldiers performed

a fly-over of the stadium in four other

Black Hawks, before kick-off.

The Maryland Army National Guard

Recruiting Battalion, based in Baltimore,

caught the attention of passersby with its

one-of-a-kind Minuteman Humvee. The

vehicle sports a standard humvee body

repainted in the colors and design of the

Army Combat Uniform and outfitted with

high-fidelity audio equipment and a large

video screen at the vehicle’s rear.The battalion also entertained families and other

visitors with a gaming trailer, rock-climbing wall,hoop and shoot,and other handson activities.

The Maryland National Guard 32nd

Civil Support Team, from Fort George G.

Meade, stood by to help local authorities,

while other Maryland Guard Soldiers

transported meals to military veterans

attending the game from Walter Reed

Army Medical Center.

At the close of the game, fans dispersed from the packed stadium in a

steady stream. But Maryland Guard Soldiers remained in place to see their mission to its end, as security duties

continued and equipment was put away

until the next event.

Members of the Army Guard's 290th Military Police Company and the Air

Guard's 175th Security Forces Squadron teamed up together to train

with the Baltimore City Police providing security in and around the stadium the day of the game.
10 Maryland Military Department

The buses were ready. The baggage

detail was standing by. Everyone

was waiting on the guest of honor.

But as lead-colored clouds—an oddity for

this time of year in Iraq—passed overhead, the pavement was darkened with

tiny blots of rain. He might not show

because of the weather. Even the sound

equipment might not make it. Periodically an update was given.The plane had

been delayed and would be arriving soon.

Then that time got pushed back. But

finally, four hours after his scheduled

arrival, Bret Michaels, of the ‘80s hairmetal band Poison, landed at Victory Base

Complex. There to greet him was 2nd Lt.

Dave Causey of the 58th Infantry Brigade

Combat Team. While many were glad to

see Michaels had made it, Causey still had

something else to worry about. The

“Hereos of the Diamond”, tour featuring

past major league baseball stars was set to

arrive later that day, but nobody knew

when because of the weather.

As the Morale,Welfare and Recreation

officer for the 58th IBCT, Causey coordinates the MWR shows that happen on

VBC. This includes meet-and-greets with

celebrities as well as shows that can

range from stand-up comedy to musical

acts. While many around him envy the

fact that his job puts him in close proximity to many celebrities, Causey maintains

the job isn’t as glamorous as advertised. It

is, rather, a lot of exhaustive planning and

execution to make sure Soldiers receive

the best show possible.

“Really it’s just coordinating between

a lot of bodies and then just kind of driving the operation, keeping to a timeline,”

said Causey.

After getting the rocker settled, the

next stop for Causey was the stage at

Camp Stryker. A raindrop hit the windshield of the vehicle on the way. The

sound equipment had been offloaded

and wooden sawhorse barriers had been

erected by the time he reached the

venue.Technicians were busily setting up

the amplifiers, electricity, and drum kits.

Causey supervised, intervening only

when necessary, such as when one of the

band’s crew asked that the sawhorses be

moved forward. Michaels, Causey was

told, hated standoffishness.

Little changes like this pile up over

the course of the set-up, which puts a lot

of stress on the organizers. To alleviate

this Causey frequently talks and jokes

with the various Soldiers who are on the

work details that help him set up these

events. Most of the Soldiers tasked with

the detail, Causey said, are people that

spend their days in an up-armored

humvee. Causey believes that being a

“roadie” for someone such as Michaels or

any other performer that comes to VBC

should be as cool as it sounds.

“I recognize the fact that for the average Soldier who’s going outside the wire

every day to conduct a dangerous mission it’s just a little bit of a relaxing break

to help out with one of these MWR jobs.

So I try to make it that way, make it fun

work to come in and actually enjoy the

process.”

Darkness fell.The clouds broke without dropping the rain that had threatened

to fall all day.As more than 1,500 Soldiers

descended on the Stryker stage before

the show, a member of Michaels’

entourage threw DVDs and other gifts

from the stage. Heavy-metal music blared

from the speakers.With the baseball players delayed until tomorrow, Causey could

concentrate on the show at hand, checking the sound and wondering if he

missed anything. All of the last-minute

details were handled.His job,for better or

worse, was done for the moment.

“Once it kind of kicks off and everything’s there I do sort of get a moment of

relaxation where I can kind of start to

enjoy what’s happening,” he said. Those

are moments he really enjoys because of

his love of music. He has played drums

since the fifth grade, and guitar since college. But to put on the show gives him

another perspective on playing music.

“Sometimes that’s the biggest reward

is to step back and take in the full picture

and say ‘Wow, this was your concept

brought to life,’” Causey said.

In addition to that prize, Causey also

has helped create many happy memories

for the servicemembers at the show.

“When people ask them about their experience over here they’re going to talk

about the things they did,” Causey said.

“Some of it may be stuff that might not be

so great or not so happy.And then there’s

going to be that one memory, like ‘Hey I

got a chance to stand on stage with Bret

Michaels.’ Or ‘Hey I got a chance to see

this comedian and get their autograph.

This person,who I’ve always thought was

a fantastic entertainer, I got a chance to

say hello to.’”

To that end, the lieutenant is constantly aware of the impact his performance will have on future acts. Celebrities

have celebrity friends,and any positive or

negative buzz could reach the ears of any

number of other performers.

“It causes a bit of a buzz when someone comes over here and does a show

and goes back,” Causey said. “They get

together with their other entertainment

friends, celebrity friends, and they say

‘Hey I just came back. I was over in Iraq

for a week doing a tour,’ and obviously

that’s very different from saying ‘We went

to Seattle and did a show this weekend.”

Sometimes that can pay dividends.

“Bret Michaels said Toby Keith was the

one that said ‘Hey I play Iraq,it’s great,the

troops really appreciate it,’ and that sort

of inspired him to come bring his show

here,” said Causey.

The show lasted an hour and a half.

Michaels played all of Poison’s hits, such

as “Fallen Angel,” “Unskinny Bop,” and of

course “Every Rose has its Thorn,” in

which many lighters swayed with the

music. Afterward, the crowd gathered to

get an autograph and a picture with the

rock star.

58th IBCT, MWR

Story and Photo by Sgt. S. Patrick McCollum, 

58th Infantry Brigade Combat Team

Second Lt. Dave Causey, the morale, welfare, and recr

Team, hands a guitar case to a baggage detail before

‘80s hair-metal band Poison, on Camp Stryker Sunday

shows on Victory Base Complex by escorting the ente

on site. 
Digest:Winter/Spring, 2008 11

2-110th Field

Artillery’s 92nd

Anniversary 

Pass-In-Review

By Staff Sgt. Kristofer Baumgartner, Maryland National Guard Public Affairs

Photo provided by 2-110th Field Artillery

“How many times are you going to

get a picture with Bret Michaels? Ever in

your life?” asked 2nd Lt. Mary Kim, the

intelligence officer for the 58th BCT,

who attended the show at the urging of

Causey. Kim admitted that she would

not have gone out of her way to see

Bret Michaels if she were in the U.S.,but

under the circumstances, she was glad

it happened.

“When you talk about morale and

uplifting spirits it was just an exciting

night.You completely forgot where you

were,” said Kim.

Finally, at 1:30 a.m., it was almost

over. Michaels had signed everything

the crowd had offered. He had taken a

picture with everyone who wanted

one. Causey made sure that Michaels

got back to the Joint Visitors Bureau

that night, and arrangements were in

place to fly him out at 10:00 a.m. the

next day. It was over. At least until the

“Heroes of the Diamond” arrived.

reation officer for the 58th Brigade Combat

e an MWR show with Bret Michaels, formerly of

y, October 8, 2007. Causey coordinates MWR

ertainers and facilitating the needs of the show

On December 2, 2007, The

Pikesville Armory hosted a pass-inreview of the Maryland Army

National Guard field artillery battalion as

part of a military tradition originally

designed to allow a new commander to

inspect his Soldiers.

The 2nd Battalion 110th Field Artillery

Regiments 92nd anniversary pass-inreview ceremony gave visiting officers and

other dignitaries the opportunity to

review the troops and to pay tribute to

members who have recently returned and

are currently deployed in support of the

Global War on Terror. Unit awards and

individual accolades followed the drill and

ceremony demonstration.

This year’s ceremony was held the day

after the unit’s formal “dining in”—a tribute to St. Barbara, the patron saint of

artillerymen.

“Morale and esprit de corps are

greatly enhanced through the public

awarding of Soldier of the Year,NCO of the

Year, and Best Battery honors,” said Lt. Col.

Matthew Packard, battalion commander.

He emphasized that the pass-in-review is a

chance for the units to “show their stuff”

through drill and ceremony.

Spectators and Soldiers listened as

Brig. Gen. Edward A. Leacock, assistant

adjutant general for Army and keynote

speaker, spoke about the importance of

individual commitment to duty and the

role of the Maryland National Guard in the

Global War on Terror. He noted that his

message was especially timely as approximately a third of the battalion is currently

deployed,and more than 40 soldiers in the

formation had recently returned from

Guantanamo Bay.

“Your state and your nation are proud

of you and proud of the service that you

render” Leacock.

More than 1,400 Citizen-Soldiers and

Airmen assigned to the Maryland National

Guard are currently serving on active duty

in the Global War on Terror. Since 9/11

nearly 7,400 Soldiers and Airmen have

been called to support Operations Iraqi

Freedom, Enduring Freedom, Noble Eagle,

Jump Start and in the relief effort for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
12 Maryland Military Department

“Maryland is leading the way for the

nation,”said Master Sgt.Mitch Uzwack from

the Connecticut Army National Guard as he

explains how Maryland “should be proud”

of how they set the standard for all other

states regarding the process for Periodic

Health Assessments. Uzwack and Capt.

Edward Kelley from the Connecticut State

Surgeon’s Office paid a visit to Maryland in

August to watch the procedures of the

Maryland medical detachment led by Col.

John Gladden. “It validates what we want to

do in Connecticut,”explains Kelley.

Not just in Maryland or Connecticut,

but the entire Army recently came out with

a change to the policy regarding physicals.

In the past, according to Gladden, personnel were required to have an official military physical exam every five years. Under

the new policy, all Soldiers are required to

conduct a PHA every year,replacing the old

five-year physical program. This new policy

creates quite a quandary for the National

Guard because of the part-time nature of

the force and this new time-consuming

process.

According to Gladden, Maryland did

not wait until the fielding date a few

months away. Preparation was the key to

success, said Gladden. Maryland began

training their doctors and support staff

immediately and started procuring the necessary equipment. Implementation began

in November 2006 and all expected goals

have been met.

“We are meeting projections of two

hundred per drill day and four hundred per

weekend,” Gladden said describing the

number of Soldiers that are put through

this PHA process,including stations such as

patient administration, labs, dental and

vision.

The medical detachment even put

about 1,300 Soldiers from the 58th Infantry

Brigade Combat Team through the PHA

process on short notice during a 12-day

train up period prior to mobilizing for Iraq.

One of the other keys to success lies in

the staff support of the program and the

unit coordination.“Without the support of

Lt. Col. Flasch and the [Directorate of Information Management] as well as Lt. Col.

McCabe and the facilities folks, we would

not be able to do what we do,” said Sgt. 1st

Class Kenneth McGill the operations NonCommissioned Officer for the Maryland

Medical Detachment. In addition to coordination with various staff sections,an important part of the process is getting the word

out to the units and unit commanders,even

making it mandatory for unit yearly training

calendars and promotion packets, according to McGill.

The overall intent of this new program

is being met. “It allows us to track chronic

conditions. Prevention. We can identify

problems early. Five years can be drastic.

This way we are able to counsel,”said Gladden as he sums up the positive results of all

the hard work done by all.

Maryland leads the way in PHA

Story by Maj. Kristine Henry, 29th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Carmen Lee, Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Soldiers from the 1729th Maintenance Company of the Maryland Army National Guard fill

out paperwork at Camp Fretterd Military

Reservation during the Periodic Health

Assessment for the 1729th Maintenance Company of the Maryland Army National Guard

during an August 2007 drill weekend. Capt.

Robert Emmons and First Sgt. Steve Marshall

from the unit both agree that the process was

pretty refined and relatively painless as they

put about 100 of their Soldiers through the

PHA process. 

Photo courtesy of the

National Weather 

Service

Prepare for Severe Weather Season

Continued on page 15

Many of the employees of the Maryland Military Department are classified as “MissionEssential,”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 are approaching the Severe Weather season, it is

important for all employees regardless of classification to prepare for the threats posed by severe

storms. The MDMILDEP Digest offers the following

information to assist in the preparation for such

storms.

Spring is the beginning of Severe Weather Season

for the Mid-Atlantic States with the threat of weather

events such as thunderstorms, floods and tornadoes.

Now is the time to make plans and prepare for these

events, which can occur at any time.

THUNDERSTORMS & LIGHTNING

About 2,000 thunderstorms are in progress

around the world at any given moment with lightning striking about 100 times every second.And yes,

lightning can, and does,strike twice! Each year lightning kills 80 - 100 people and injures hundreds more

in the United States.

Thunderstorms and lightning are very

common for Maryland. Here's what

you can do to protect yourself:
Digest:Winter/Spring, 2008 13

THE LECTERN

To paraphrase Charles Dickens,

‘Life is a series of greetings and

partings; that is the way of it.’

While this is true, simply understanding

the fact does not remove the pain associated with changing relationships.We

are currently facing the largest single demobilization of Maryland Army National

Guard Soldiers since World War II.A key

element of this de-mobilization is the

normal stress of adjustment that comes

from any lengthy separation and

reunion, now compounded by the

effects of separation due to a military

deployment to a combat area.The good

news is that the Maryland National

Guard has an excellent plan to support

soldiers and their loved ones through

the process of de-mobilization and reintegration.A variety of events, activities,

and referral sources will be utilized in

the attempt to ensure that every Soldier

and family successfully navigates the

journey of returning home.

Unit Chaplains, a soldier’s own

clergy, the Maryland National Guard fulltime Chaplain, and ‘Partners in Care’

Clergy and congregations are all part of

the support network that will be available for returning soldiers and their families.The spiritual component of

re-integration is a vital component of

support. Supportive services include

religious services, rituals and materials;

spiritual care and counsel; referrals to

other resources for help; and ‘Strong

Bonds’ events such as Marriage Enrichment Retreats and other relationship

support opportunities.

Communities across Maryland will

step-up to offer support through 

participating ‘Partner in Care’ congregations; soldiers and their families will

contact their own Clergy and congregations; Unit Chaplains and Chaplain Assistants will aide in the transition home for

our returning warriors; and the full-time

Chaplain will remain available for support and referrals.

During World War II, General

George C. Marshall said,‘It is a soldier’s

spirit that sustains him in battle.’The

same can be said of the Soldier returning from battle. Be assured that the

Maryland National Guard, it’s Chaplains,

and ‘Partners in Care’ congregations

across Maryland will be there as long as

necessary to help Soldiers and families

re-unite and successfully come home

again.

By Chaplain (Col.) Sean Lee

Ms. Linda Strack of the MDMILDEP

Legislative Liaison Office and Mr.

J. Carver Strube, with the Maryland Emergency Management Agency

(MEMA) captured top honors at the 2007

State Employee Recognition and Award

Ceremony on Dec. 7. The

event was held at the

Warfield Air National Guard

Base in Middle River, Md.

Strack, who serves as an

Administrative Assistant in

her office, received the Adjutant General’s Award for

Excellence and was cited for

her tireless devotion to her

duties which include maintaining the Department’s

Congressional Inquiry Program. Her duties involve the

receipt of inquiries and coordination of solutions to

issues pertaining to the military members of the Department. It also involves

drafting of responses to Members of Congress and the Governor of Maryland. In

addition, she was credited for her volunteer work with the MDMILDEP Morale

Committee where she serves at the committee’s secretary. She received a glass trophy and a monetary prize of $3,000.

Strube, who serves as the State Mitigation Officer,received the State’s Innovative

Idea Award and was credited by State Treasurer Nancy Kopp for developing the State

Hazard Mitigation Plan. Strube’s hazard

mitigation work was instrumental in convincing insurance company representatives who were in the process of setting

premiums for the state’s catastrophic loss

policy, to reduce the premium by almost

$1 million. His work saved the taxpayers a

substantial sum of money while helping

MEMA to assess and mitigate the vulnerability of state-owned facilities. He also

received a glass trophy and a monetary

prize of $1,000.

In addition to Strack and Strube, 54

other state employees received recognition for Incentive Performance Awards or

State Service Awards.

State

Employees

Capture Top

Awards

Story by Quentin W. Banks, Jr.,

MDMILDEP Public Affairs

Photos by Spc. Elizabeth Jones, Maryland National Guard Public Affairs

Office

Mr. J. Carver Strube

Ms. Linda Strack of the Maryland Military Department Legislative Liaison Office captured top honors at the 2007 State

Employee Recognition and Award Ceremony on Dec. 7.
14 Maryland Military Department

On

January

2, The Maryland Board of

Public Works authorized the use of state

land to erect a Fallen Warrior Memorial at

Camp Fretterd Military Reservation in

Reisterstown,Md.The official dedication is

tentatively scheduled for Memorial Day

2008.

The memorial will pay tribute to all

Maryland National Guard Soldiers and Airmen who have given their lives in the

Global War on Terror since September 11,

2001. It will be constructed near the

Camp Fretterd Armory, adjacent to a grove

of pine trees previously planted to honor

Maryland National Guard service members called to active duty for Operation

Desert Storm in 1991.

“The Fallen Warriors Memorial will

serve as a lasting tribute to those Maryland

National Guard Soldiers and Airmen who

have made the ultimate sacrifice,” said

Governor Martin O’Malley. “The men and

women of the Maryland National Guard

continue to selflessly and courageously

serve at home and abroad, each and every

day, fulfilling their mission in defense of

our nation and service to our state. For

those who deployed but will never return,

this memorial is one small way of saying

thank you for your service on behalf of a

grateful state and nation.”

The proposed memorial will consist

of a covered memorial structure; approximately 25 feet in diameter, with two vertical granite monuments in the center on

which the names of the fallen service

members will be placed. A bronze sculpture measuring 45 inches in height, representing the boots, helmet and weapon of

the Fallen Warrior, will be placed in

front of the two granite monuments.

The design of the memorial was completed by an in-house architect

and draftsman with the Maryland National Guard.

“These most recent of Maryland’s fallen heroes, like those

who fell before them, served

with great honor and distinction,” said Lt. Governor Anthony

Brown. “The Fallen Warriors

Memorial will forever pay homage to their sacrifice and serve as

an ever-lasting reminder for all of

us of their service in the name of

freedom.”

Seven members of the Maryland National Guard have fallen

in the line of duty while serving

in Operations Noble Eagle,

Enduring Freedom and Iraqi

Freedom. The Memorial will

serve as a sanctuary for families and loved

ones to remember and honor these great

heroes. Two weeks ago, the State of Maryland unveiled a special license plate honoring Maryland servicemen who have

made the ultimate sacrifice and the families who mourn them.

Military Department operating funds

will provide the lighting of the memorial,

a sidewalk from the parking lot and a concrete slab on which the memorial will

stand. All remaining elements of the

memorial are being funded by private

donations. It is estimated that the

memorial will cost approximately

$40,000 to construct from donations and Military Department Special Funds. A trust has been

established within the Maryland

National Guard Foundation, Inc., a

501C(3) non-profit, for the longterm maintenance of the memorial

Maryland National

Guard to Dedicate

Fallen Warrior

Memorial

Story by the Maryland National Guard Public Affairs Office

Sketches provided by The Construction and Facilities 

Management Office

This sketch shows the tenative design of the memorial.

This sketch is a map of Camp Fretterd in Reisterstown

where the memorial will be located.
Digest:Winter/Spring, 2008 15

Prepare for Severe Weather Season

Continued from page 12

BEFORE A STORM 

• Be aware of weather forecasts at all

times.

• Invest in a NOAA Weather radio to

receive severe weather alerts.

•Watch for signs of approaching storms.

• Keep a commercial battery-operated

radio handy*.

• Postpone outdoor activities if thunderstorms are likely.

*While having both NOAA Weather Radio

and a commercial battery-operated radio

may seem redundant, both have different

functions. A NOAA Weather Radio is

designed to sound alerts and provide an

audio warning from the National Weather

Service. Commercial radios tuned into

commercial stations can receive Emergency Alert System messages as well as

news, bulletins and reports from state and

local emergency management officials.

There are radios available on the market,

which perform both functions.These

hybrid radios can be found at reputable

electronic stores, and stores that sell outdoor and camping equipment as well as

on-line.

DURING A STORM

• REMEMBER:IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER,YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO

THE STORM TO GET STRUCK BY

LIGHTNING.Get to shelter immediately! 

• Get into a building or hardtop car.

NEVER take shelter in small sheds

(especially metal ones) or under trees.

• Get out of boats and away from water.

• Unplug appliances,avoid using the telephone.

• Do not bathe or shower.

• Get to higher ground if flash flooding is

likely to occur from the storm.

• If outdoors and shelter is not

nearby....

-Find a low spot away from trees,

fences and poles.

-If you feel your skin tingle or your

hair stand on end, you are about to be

struck by lightning! Squat low to the

ground on the balls of your feet.Place

your hands on your knees with your

head between them.Make yourself

the smallest target possible,and minimize your contact with the ground.

FLOODS

Flooding is a very common weather

event that has caused some of Maryland's

worst disasters.From 1995-1996,

Maryland had a number of major

floods that resulted in two Presidential disaster declarations.The rules are

simple where flooding is concerned:

make sure you're insured and head to

higher ground.

There is no such thing as a

"flood proof" area. ANY area can

flood, even high ground. If you

are faced with a flooding situation, here's what to do:

BEFORE A FLOOD 

• Make sure your property insurance policy covers flooding.Even

renters are eligible for flood insurance.

• Move furniture and valuables to higher

floors as floodwater rise.

• Keep the car gas tank filled in case you

need to evacuate.

• Prepare a disaster supply kit so that you

can survive if you have to leave.

• Stay informed about weather conditions. Flash flooding can occur in only

minutes!

AFTER A FLOOD 

• Do not eat or drink anything that has

come into contact with floodwater.Follow emergency officials' instructions on

safe water consumption.You may have

to boil your water.

• Clean and have electrical equipment

checked before using.

• Report broken utilities to the proper

authorities.

• NEVER play around high water,storm

drains,downed utility lines,etc.

• Use flashlights,not an open flame like a

candle.Candles are a fire hazard and

could cause an explosion if it comes

into contact with flammable gases if

flammable gasses are present.

• Flooding often forces snakes and other

wild animals out of their homes seeking

higher ground. Avoid killing these animals,as rodents will be attracted to the

carcasses.

• Do not drive through flooded roadways.The road may not be there.

• Follow the instructions given by emergency officials.If told to evacuate,do

so!

• Remember,floodwaters sometimes take

days to rise after the stormy weather

has passed and the sun is shining.It can

take days for floodwaters to make their

way downstream.Don't underestimate

the power and speed of floodwaters.

TORNADOES

Tornadoes can happen any time,

anywhere. In Maryland, the most common time of year for tornadoes is

April through November, and most

occur between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. Some

tornadoes can have winds of 200 miles

per hour or more and can destroy

everything in their path.

It is very important to be familiar

with the terms involved:

∑ A Tornado Watch means that conditions are favorable for a tornado to occur.

Continue to watch television or listen to

the radio to see if there's anything to worry

about.

∑ A Tornado Warning means a tornado has

been spotted or detected on weather radar

and could be coming your way.

Here's what to do if you see a tornado

or are under a tornado warning: 

• Get indoors.

• Go to a basement or interior room or

hallway with no windows (to protect

you from flying glass).

• If you can't get inside,lie flat in a ditch

or low-lying area.

Follow all instructions given by emergency officials when a tornado threatens or strikes.

For more information, visit

www.mema.state.md.us.

Prepare a disaster supply kit for your

home. Prepare a smaller version for you

office or vehicle. The supplies should be

kept in an airtight bag to prevent damage

or spoilage. If you must evacuate,the supplies should be placed in an easy to carry

container such as a duffle bag,a camping

backpack,a cargo container that will fit on

Photo courtesy of the National Weather Service
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 DepartmentDigest

the roof of your vehicle. It should at least

contain the following items.

•A portable,battery-powered radio or television and extra batteries.

• First aid kit and first aid instruction manual

• Supply of prescription medicines

• Credit card and cash

• Personal identification 

•An extra set of car keys

• Matches in a waterproof containers

• Signal flare

• Map of the area and phone numbers of

the places you could go

• Special needs,for example,diapers or formula,copies of prescriptions,hearing aid

batteries,spare wheelchair battery,spare

eyeglasses and other special needs.

• Make plans to care for your pets and or

livestock...unless the animal is a seeingeye dog,shelter officials will not permit

them to enter shelters.

• Depending upon the space available and

the time to accumulate them, consider

adding the following to the disaster supply kit;

-Non-perishable food and water...

enough for at least three days

-Kitchen accessories such as a manual

can opener,mess kits,paper plates,disposable utensils,a can of cooking fuel

(if food must be cooked),aluminum

foil,bleach to treat drinking water and

plastic reseal able bags.

-Complete change of clothing and

footwear for each member of the family,which may include raingear,sturdy

shoes,thermal underwear,hat and

gloves,and sunglasses.

-Blankets or sleeping bags for each

member of the family

-Tools and other accessories such as a

small shovel,paper and pencil,needle

and thread,tape whistle,plastic sheeting,

-Sanitation and hygiene needs such as

toilet paper,toweletts,soap,hand sanitizers,liquid detergent,toothpaste,

toothbrushes,comb and brush,heavyduty garbage bags and ties and disinfectant.

-Entertainment materials such as books

and games.

Prepare for Severe Weather Season