Maryland

Digest

Military Department

WWW.md.ngb.army. M I L

Fall 2009

Wreath Laying We must never forget the 

tremendous sacrifices of these 

Americans and their families.

-Brig. Gen. James A. Adkins

The adjutant general of Maryland

“

”
Chaplain’s Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MDDF’s 1st NCO Induction . . . . . . . . . . . .

Freestate ChalleNGe Academy . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MD OCS Land Nav. Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Extended Education Benefits . . . . . . . . . . 

MEMA Calvert Cliff Exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Command Changes for the 175th Wing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

OCS 50th Anniversary & Commissioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Social Media and the Maryland Guard. . . . . . . . . .

To the Personnel of the Maryland Military Department:

 As we begin the winter season, the Maryland Military Department, including 

all its components, continues to successfully accomplish federal and state missions 

with professionalism, integrity and resourcefulness. I am proud of all you do for 

our nation, our state and our communities. Please thank your families for all they 

do to support you and our organization.

 One of the issues that requires constant attention is safety. All of you are valued 

assets to our state and our nation; we care about you and quite simply, we want to 

keep you safe. For most of us, the riskiest part of our day is the time we spend in 

our cars. Car accidents pose a very real threat to your safety both on the job and 

off. In fact, on any given day in Maryland, there will be an average of 258 crashes. 

More than 100 people will be injured, and at least one person will die. Hazardous 

driving during winter weather increases the threat.

 On average in Maryland, traffic crashes claim the lives of about 600 people 

each year. Multiply that figure by the thousands of loved ones those crash victims 

leave behind and you can see that the emotional impact can be devastating. More 

than 93 percent of these crashes are attributed to driver error. Most, if not all, of 

those crashes can be prevented. We want to make sure you have the information and tools you need to prevent crashes 

through new campaigns outlined in executive orders issued by President Obama and Governor O’Malley.

 President Obama has issued an executive order which forbids text messaging by federal employees while driving a 

government-owned vehicle; when driving a privately-owned vehicle on official government business; or when using 

electronic equipment supplied by the government while driving. In the President’s order, texting or text messaging 

means reading from, or entering data into, any handheld or other electronic device for the purpose of Short Message 

Service texting, e-mailing, instant messaging, obtaining navigational information or engaging in any other form of 

electronic data retrieval or electronic data communication. The order also defines driving as operating a motor vehicle 

on an active roadway with the motor running, including while temporarily stationary because of traffic, a traffic sign or 

otherwise. 

 Governor O’Malley’s executive order mandates a new hands-free cell phone policy and prohibits texting while 

driving. State employees who drive state vehicles will participate in a “Be a Driving Force for Safety” program that 

encourages safe driving skills.

 The next few weeks and months will present challenges as we prepare for deployments, major exercises and other 

missions. Please focus on your duty to our state and our nation. That includes keeping yourself safe. Millions of 

Marylanders are counting on you. God speed.

 Respectfully,

 JAMES A. ADKINS

Brigadier General, MDARNG

The Adjutant General

Martin O’Malley

Governor

Anthony G. Brown

Lt. Governor

Wreath Laying at Arlington CemetEry . . . 15

Antietam’s Unknown Sent Home . . . 

An unknown Union Civil War Soldier was 

sent off to his home state of New York 

for a proper burial with military honors. 4

COVER PHOTO

MDNG paid tribute to fallen 

Servicemembers during 

a ceremony at Arlington 

National Cemetery in 

Arlington, Va. October 13.

Photo by 

Spc. Thaddeus Harrington

Military Appreciation Day . . . . 

The Baltimore Ravens held their second 

Military Appreciation Day at their Westminster training camp. 8

110th IO Stands Up . . . . . . . . . 

The 110th Information Operations Field 

Support Battalion, a unique unit because of 

the high-tech information based skill 

sets, stood up in October. 13

SF Soldiers train in Korea . . . . 

Elite MDNG unit took part in a major joint 

exercise in the Republic of Korea as 

part of their annual training. 16

Air Crew Earns Major Award. 

Four members of the 135th Airlift Squadron 

received the Earl T. Ricks Award at the Air Force 

Association’s annual Air and Space 

Conference and Technology Exposition. 19

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2 Fall 2009 Maryland Military Department Digest www.md.ngb.army.mil 3

Governor: 

Martin O’Malley

Adjutant General: 

Brig. Gen. James A. Adkins

Editor & Layout Designer: 

Spc. Thaddeus Harrington

Contributors:

CH (Col.) Sean Lee * Maj. Kristine Henry * 

Capt. Edward Liu * 1Lt. Kurt Rauschenberg 

* 2nd Lt. Kristofer Baumgartner * Master 

Sgt. Ronald Pitts * Sgt. 1st Class Paul Wade 

* Tech. Sgt. David Speicher * Sgt. Jennifer 

Sardam * Spc. Stephen Scott * 175th Wing 

Public Affairs * Col. (MD) Robert Hastings

Public Affairs Office

Fifth Regiment Armory

29th Division St.

Baltimore, MD 21201 ---

paomd@md.ngb.army.mil

410.576.6179

Mail:

www.md.ngb.army.mil

www.Facebook.com/MDGUARD

www.Twitter.com/MDNG

www.FlickR.com/photos/mdng

ESGR Bosslift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Employers of Maryland Guard Soldiers took 

part in the Maryland Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve’s 

annual Bosslift Aug. 8. 9 7

Nearly a century of history ended on a Saturday in early August for 

the Maryland National 

Guard’s 110th Field Artillery as the regiment’s 

colors were retired during 

a deactivation ceremony 

at the Pikesville Military Reservation.

110th FA Deactivated . . . . . . . . 
4 Fall 2009 Maryland Military Department Digest www.md.ngb.army.mil 5

By Spc. Thaddeus Harrington

The Lecturn By Chaplain (Col.) Sean Lee, state chaplain

Just days before Sept. 17, the 147th anniversary of the 

Battle of Antietam in Sharpsburg, Md., an unknown 

Union Civil War Soldier was sent off to his home 

state of New York for a proper burial with military 

honors. A hiker from Oklahoma recently found the remains while walking on a trail near the battlefield. He 

spotted disturbed ground and decided to look closer.

Jim Rosebrock, Jr. is an Antietam volunteer. 

He is the son of a retired Army Soldier who is 

also an Antietam volunteer. The Rosebrocks are 

dressed in Union uniform, each with an Enfield 

rifle, a European firearm, which fires a .58 caliber bullet. 

The Battle of Antietam on Sept. 17, 1862, was the bloodiest 

one-day battle in American History. It left 23,000 Soldiers 

killed, wounded or missing after 12 hours of combat. This 

battle was the first invasion of the North by Confederate 

General Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia. The 

New York National Guard accepted the transfer of remains of 

the Unknown Soldier from the Maryland National Guard.

The 12-hour battle began at dawn on Sept. 17th. 

The unknown Soldier was under the command of 

Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker who led the first Union 

assault. Six Park Rangers, specially selected to 

perform this detail, carry the empty coffin to the 

place where the remains are located. The remains 

were placed in the coffin, and the coffin was 

nailed shut.

The New York National Guard’s Honor Guard unfolded a 

34-star flag to place over the coffin. The flag was adopted 

with the admission of Kansas as the 34th state in January 

1861 and used until 1863 when West Virginia became 

a state. The United States did not believe that secession 

was legal, thus the flag never lost any stars during the 

Civil War.

Members of the Maryland National Guard's 

Honor Guard salute as the coffin containing the 

remains of the unknown Soldier is carried to 

the transport vehicle.

The New York National Guard’s Honor Guard accepted the transfer of the remains, which included a coat, a cuff, trouser buttons, a 

leather strap, a belt buckle and more than 400 bone fragments. The 

remains were placed in a replica Civil War era coffin and transported 

in a specially configured vehicle to Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga 

National Cemetery to be buried on Sept 17.

Antietam’s Unknown Soldier Sent Home

Resiliency of the force continues to be paramount 

to the readiness of the Maryland National Guard. 

Spiritual resiliency - the integration of faith for 

coping, comfort and meaning - is foundational to remaining able to hear and respond to the repeated call to 

service. A key part of spirituality, or “that which animates life”, is often the relationships with those we love. 

 The chaplains and chaplain assistants of the Maryland 

Army National Guard, Maryland Air National Guard and 

Maryland Defense Force are committed to keeping the 

spirit of our Soldiers, Airmen and their families resilient 

in this age of persistent conflict.

 Along with the traditional support of providing worship services, pastoral counseling, religious education, 

prayers and religious supplies, our chaplains and chaplain 

assistants provide relationship skills and enhancement 

training for both married couples and singles through 

“Strong Bonds” weekends and events. These opportunities provide a time away at a location designed to allow 

the Soldiers, Airmen and families to come away from the 

stress and learn some wonderful relationship and life 

skills. 

 The State Family Program Office provides the coordination for the events, and the Joint Force Headquarters 

Chaplain’s Office provides a certified instructional team 

to lead the weekend. While the singles events are newly 

offered this year, the marriage events (both I and II) have 

been offered for several years. Comments from participants continue to be positive about the often life-changing results of the weekends. The education and interaction 

offered provides tools for keeping the most important 

human relationships healthy and resilient.

 Many have said that the Guard is like a family. Through 

Strong Bonds events, we are working hard to keep the 

families and singles of the Maryland National Guard 

strong in relationship to those they love. This, in turn, will 

help steady the home front so Soldiers and Airmen alike 

can keep the focus on the mission when deployed.

For more information about the Maryland National 

Guard Strong Bonds programs, a schedule of events, or 

to register for an upcoming weekend, call Joint Force 

Headquarters Chaplain’s Office at 410-576-6124, or the 

State Family Programs Office at 410-576-6019.
6 Fall 2009 Maryland Military Department Digest www.md.ngb.army.mil 7

110th Field Artillery 

Regiment Deactivated

Nearly a century of history 

ended on a Saturday in early 

August for the Maryland 

National Guard’s 110th Field Artillery 

as the regiment’s colors were retired 

during a deactivation ceremony at the 

Pikesville Military Reservation.

 “It’s a very sad occasion,” said Lt. 

Col. Matthew L. Packard, commander 

of the 2nd Battalion, 110th FA Regiment for the past two years. “But 

having gone through the ceremony, 

I’m very proud of having been in this 

battalion, and to stand alongside some 

of the very great men who have served 

here and their families who have supported them.”

 The unit originated as the Light 

Artillery Battery in 1915, and nearly 

two years later, it officially became the 

110th FA, assigned to the 29th Infantry Division.

 As part of the 29th ID, the 110th 

FA stormed Omaha Beach on D-Day 

at Normandy, France, in 1944. Elements of the regiment have since been 

involved in a number of campaigns 

which include Operation Noble Eagle, 

Operation Enduring Freedom and, 

most recently, Operation Iraqi Freedom. 

 The deactivation of the regiment is 

a part of a larger U.S. Army reorganization plan.

 “It’s a process,” said Brig. Gen. 

James A. Adkins, the adjutant general 

of Maryland. “Our Army goes through 

changes and transformation, and we 

look at what the needs are and the 

requirements [are]. The United States 

Army is shutting down artillery units 

all over the globe, and that’s what hit 

us.”

 The 110th’s colors are cased. However, the impact of such an active 

military heritage is not so easily surrendered.

 Retired Brig. Gen. J. Donald 

Haynes, commander of the 110th from 

1984 to 1988, hopes to see another 

chapter unfold for the field artillery 

tradition in Maryland, which has its 

beginnings in the Revolutionary War.

 “I pray that we will very soon see 

another artillery unit come back to 

Maryland and be stationed at Pikesville. . . and that the lineage of the 

110th FA will be returned to it,” said 

Haynes.

 During the ceremony, Packard dedicated an oak tree on the reservation’s 

grounds to the unit.

 The regiment’s motto, “Sicut Quercus,” means “as the oak.”

 In keeping with that motto, the 

roots of the 110th FA run deep, 

glimpsed in the camaraderie of its current and past Soldiers and felt in the 

palpable reverence that filled the air 

throughout the ceremony.

 “Today was a day we honored history and recognized that all our units 

are made up of individuals who have 

answered the call,” said Adkins. “They 

serve and make sacrifices and have 

done (so) in Maryland for hundreds 

of years. We just wanted to honor that 

service today and deactivate the unit 

with class and the appropriate respect 

it deserved.”

Twenty-eight noncommissioned 

officers of the Maryland Defense 

Force were welcomed into the 

NCO corps during an induction ceremony held at Naval Station Annapolis 

on Oct. 17, 2009.

 Brig. Gen. (MD) Courtney Wilson, 

commanding general of the Maryland 

Defense Force, offered opening remarks for the command’s first-ever 

NCO induction ceremony, addressing 

an audience of MDDF officers, NCOs, 

Soldiers and family members. 

 The senior noncommissioned officers 

of the Maryland National Guard – Command Sgt. Maj. Brian Sann, Command 

Sgt. Maj. Franklin Wright, and Command Chief Master Sgt. Glenn Hart – 

attended as distinguished guests.

 Wilson told the audience that the 

concept of an NCO summit was inspired 

by the Army’s “Year of the NCO” theme.

 “When I heard early this year that 

the Secretary of the Army had declared 

2009 the Year of the NCO, it set me 

thinking about the character and nature 

of the Maryland Defense Force.”

 Explaining that the MDDF has been 

largely dominated by the officer corps 

for a number of years, Wilson added, 

“I think we all realized, largely through 

our experience in the field during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita....that there was 

an entire layer of leadership missing. It 

is my sincere hope that, in this Year of 

the NCO, you...the NCO Corps of the 

MDDF will find new life, new esprit de 

corps, new inspiration and new responsibility as a result of this great day.”

Command Sgt. Maj. Brian Sann, senior 

enlisted leader, Maryland National 

Guard was the keynote speaker. 

 Sann told the NCOs, “you are the 

heart and soul, the nervous system and 

the eyes and ears that enable MDDF to 

successfully complete its mission.” 

 The solemn and dignified ceremony, 

meant to symbolize the significance 

of the transition to NCO, began with a 

tribute to fallen soldiers and the playing 

of Taps. 

 Several readings highlighting the 

history of the NCO Corps, the role of 

NCOs as leaders and mentors, and the 

NCO values were conducted by MDDF 

NCOs and junior soldiers. Ceremonial 

support was provided by the MDDF 

Cavalry Troop, the MDDF Band and the 

Maryland National Guard Honor Guard.

 Planning for the ceremony was 

coordinated by 1st Sgt. (MD) Ronald 

Scott of the MDDF Engineer Corps who 

said the NCO Council, consisting of the 

senior NCOs of each of MDDF’s subordinate units, has been planning the 

event since June.

 “The induction ceremony underscores MDDF’s renewed focus on the 

NCO and is intended to enhance the 

professionalism and esprit de corps of 

the command’s NCOs while acknowledging their many accomplishments,” 

said Scott. “Walking under those 

crossed sabers held by members of our 

own cavalry unit was a huge honor and 

meant we have turned a new page in 

the MDDF and that our NCOs and the 

soldiers they lead will be ready when 

called.” 

 The formal induction into the NCO 

corps was marked by the NCO Charge 

led by Sann and the reading of the NCO 

Creed by the group of inductees. Each 

inducted NCO then marched through 

a saber arch and was presented with a 

personalized certificate commemorating the event. 

 In remarks during the ceremony, 

Sann reminded the newly-inducted 

NCOs of their responsibilities to lead 

and care for the Soldiers entrusted to 

them, and to support and advise the officers in command. 

 “I see a group of Soldiers who truly 

inspire me,” said Sann. “The MDDF has 

distinguished itself in every mission 

assigned.” 

 Sgt. Maj. (MD) John Kelly of MDDF’s 

10th Medical Regiment served as 

master of ceremonies for the event. “I 

don’t know what problems tomorrow’s 

Defense Force will face,” said Kelly. 

“But I am sure that with a strong and 

vibrant NCO Corps as the backbone of 

the Maryland Defense Force, we will 

achieve the highest standards for years 

to come.”

 Former Secretary of the Army Pete 

Geren named 2009 "Year of the NCO" 

to recognize the commitment of NCOs 

to service and their willingness to make 

great sacrifices on behalf of the nation. 

 Throughout the year, the Army has 

honored NCOs through initiatives and 

events that enhance awareness and 

public understanding of the roles and 

responsibilities of today's NCO, and enhance and accelerate the development 

of NCOs through education, fitness and 

leadership development initiatives.

 The MDDF is not part of the Army 

but follows Army customs, courtesies 

and traditions.

 “This is a great step in reestablishing 

the importance of the Maryland Defense Force NCO Corps,” said Sann.

MDDF Conducts First-Ever NCO 

Induction Ceremony

By Sgt. Jennifer Sardam

 I will not forget, nor will I allow 

my comrades to forget that we are 

professionals, Noncommissioned 

Officers, leaders!

--MDDF NCO Creed

“

By Col. (MD) Robert Hastings

”
8 Fall 2009 Maryland Military Department Digest www.md.ngb.army.mil 9

Employers received briefings 

about the ESGR program and 

how the Guard values the 

relationship and understanding that 

civilian employers have for their employees with military obligations.

 Rita Carter, a contracting supervisor for the U.S. Property and Fiscal 

Office for Maryland, receives her first 

Meal Ready-To-Eat – Southwestern 

Chicken. “I was told that chicken was 

the best,” she said.

 The ESGR was established in 1972 

to promote cooperation and understanding between reserve component 

members and their civilian employers. 

It also serves to assist in the resolution of conflicts arising from an employee’s military commitment.

 Bosslifts provide employers the 

opportunity to share their insights on 

the challenges and benefits of having 

employees that serve in the reserve 

components. Employers are encouraged to offer recommendations and 

ideas for improving the employer/employee relationship with respect to the 

consequences of military service. 

 Soldiers and employers participated in an after action review discussing 

the good and bad points of the exercise as well as what can be improved. 

 The employers viewed and learned 

about several weapons systems used 

in the Maryland Guard like the MK19-

3 Grenade Machine Gun, the M249 

Squad Automatic Weapon and the M2 

.50-Caliber Machine Gun. 

Flying in on UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopters, employers of Maryland Guard Soldiers took 

part in the Maryland Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve’s 

annual Bosslift Aug. 8. The Blackhawks transported them from Warfield Air National 

Guard Base at Martin State Airport to the Lauderick Creek Training Site at the Edgewood Area of Aberdeen Proving Ground to watch the 1297th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion conduct training operations.

 “As much as I want them [her 

Guard employees] to learn how to do 

their jobs, it’s important for me to 

learn what they do on the military 

side,” said Carter. “It helps me to better understand and be as flexible as I 

can be so that they can perform the 

military duty that they need to do.”

 “The Bosslift gave me the opportunity to see what goes on out in the 

field and makes me appreciate the 

work that they [Servicemembers] do 

for me,” she added.

 Employers received training and 

information on spotting three categories of improvised explosive devices: 

package type, vehicle-borne, and 

suicide bomb as well as respective kill 

radiuses.

The Baltimore Ravens held their 

second annual Military Appreciation Day at their training 

camp in Westminster on Wednesday, 

August 19. 

 There were more than 500 uniformed Servicemembers in attendance 

at this year’s event, said Melanie 

Legrande, the community relations 

director for the Baltimore Ravens. 

 This number represents a tenfold 

increase from last year, and it doesn’t 

include the many military members 

that were present in civilian clothing.

 Legrande enlisted the help of her 

mother, who works in Air Force family 

readiness at Langley Air Force Base, to 

get better contacts and bolster participation this year. Legrande’s father and 

sister were also members of the armed 

forces. She said she has “a huge affinity for the military” because of this 

background.

 “It just makes sense,” said the self 

proclaimed “military kid” commenting 

on the motivation behind this event.

 In addition to making sense, the 

The Maryland National Guard 

Freestate ChalleNGe Academy 

recognized six distinguished 

individuals who significantly contributed to the success of the academy 

efforts Oct. 14.

 In a ceremony at the Lt. Gen. 

Milton A. Reckord Lounge at the 

Fifth Regiment Armory in Baltimore, 

academy officials honored U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski, Ms. Jennifer 

C. Buck, deputy assistant secretary 

of defense for reserve affairs, State 

Senator Nathaniel McFadden, Lt. Gen. 

H Steven Blum, deputy commander of 

U.S. Northern Command, retired Air 

Force Lt. Gen. John B. Conaway and 

Clarence Davis, former state delegate, 

with its lifetime achievement awards. 

 The academy is a 22-week residential intervention program for underemployed, drug-free, “at-risk” high 

school dropouts from the state of 

Maryland and the District of Columbia. The program, which began in 

1993 has graduated more than 2,750 

cadets during the last 16 years.

Ravens’ appreciation also made an impression and an impact on the Servicemembers and their Families.

 “I was very impressed that they 

allowed the members of the military 

out onto the field after the practice 

to interact with the players and the 

coaches,” said Sgt. 1st Class Charles 

Brubaker.

 During this interaction, he and his 

son got a chance to meet offensive 

lineman Tre’ Stallings, wherein Stallings thanked him for his service, said 

Brubaker. Stallings also signed an 

autograph and posed for a picture with 

his son, he added.

 Even military members who aren’t 

avid football fans such as Staff Sgt. 

Carmen Wilkins, a supply sergeant 

with the 58th Battlefield Surveillance 

Brigade of the Maryland Army National Guard, enjoyed their experience 

at training camp. 

 “Our grandsons couldn’t stop talking about it,” said Wilkins.

 Wilkins’ four grandsons range from 

three to 10 years old, and out of those 

four, three play 

organized recreational football.

 Wilkins recalled 

her oldest grandson saying that it 

was the best day 

of his life because 

he got to meet and 

take pictures with 

Ray Lewis, Joe Flacco, Todd Heap and 

other players.

 “To see the excitement and smiles 

on our grandsons’ faces was more 

momentous than hitting the lottery,” 

said Wilkins.

 Legrande says she hopes to continue this event for many years to come, 

and military members such as Wilkins 

and Brubaker look forward to going 

back.

Ravens Military Appreciation Day

Freestate ChalleNGe 

Academy

Employer Support of the Guard 

and Reserve’s annual Bosslift

By Spc. Stephen Scott

By Maryland National Guard Public Affairs

By Spc. Thaddeus Harrington

Six individuals : Recognized
Clearing the Draw

During a ceremony at the Fifth Regiment Armory Sept. 26, artist Larry Selman along 

with Joseph Balkoski, command historian, presented the painting “Clearing the Draw,” 

depicting Soldiers of the of the 121st Engineer Battalion and 116th Infantry Battalion 

performing a mission during World War II.

10 Fall 2009 Maryland Military Department Digest www.md.ngb.army.mil 11

MD TAG Visits MEDEVAC

Brig. Gen. James A. Adkins, adjutant general of Maryland, stares out of a UH-60 

Blackhawk onto Camp Bondsteel as pilots of Charlie Co., 1-169th General Support 

Aviation Battalion take him to a demonstration of their hoist machine.

By Sgt. 1st Class Paul Wade

Brigade Support Battalion Stands Down

Hundreds of current and former members of the 729th Brigade Support Battalion 

participated in the Oct. 4 inactivation ceremony held at Camp Fretterd Military 

Reservation. The battalion, which was created on September 30, 1985, was made up 

of seven different companies from different communities around the state including 

Hagerstown and Easton. 

By Master Sgt. Ronald Pitts

Eyes on the Guard

By Capt. Edward Liu

C-130J Hercules on the Rise

Representatives from the Indian Air Force recently met with Maryland Air National 

Guardsmen to learn the ins and outs of the C-130J Hercules aircraft, which Maryland 

operates out of Warfield Air National Guard Base in Middle River, Md. Pilots and 

support personnel from the MDANG’s 175 Wing conducted a two-day training session 

September 18 and 19 with four of their Indian counterparts following India’s recent 

purchase of six new C-130Js from the Lockheed Martin Corporation.

By Spc. Thaddeus Harrington

Morning Physical Training at Ravens Stadium

The Maryland National Guard Honor Guard conducted their morning physical training, 

a unit flag football game, at the Baltimore Ravens M&T Bank Stadium Oct. 19. 

By Spc. Thaddeus Harrington
The Maryland National Guard recently announced that the University of Maryland University College, 

signed a partnership agreement with 

the National Guard as part of its Partners in Education program at the Fifth 

Regiment Armory in Baltimore, Md.

 As part of the agreement, UMUC 

has agreed to authorize a 50 percentoff tuition waiver for members of the 

Maryland National Guard.

 “This is an outstanding example of 

the incredible support the men and 

women of the Maryland National 

Guard receive from the educational 

community,” said Brig. Gen. James A. 

Adkins, adjutant general of Maryland.

 “The University of Maryland University College has really supported 

those who put their lives on the line 

defending our state and our nation.”

 In addition to the tuition waiver offered as part of this program, National 

Guard members are also eligible for 

federal and state tuition assistance, as 

well as educational benefits under the 

G.I. Bill.

 The Maryland National Guard spent 

more than $139,000 in federal tuition 

assistance last fiscal year, and members of the Maryland National Guard 

were left with the remainder of the bill 

or had to seek State Tuition Assistance Reimbursement. The agreement 

signed will save not only FTA, but 

STAR funds that can be used to pay 

for education for additional CitizenSoldiers and Airmen. 

 UMUC is the 40th institution of 

higher learning to sign on with the 

Partners in Education program. The 

Partnership Agreement was read aloud 

and signed by Adkins; Dr. Susan C. 

Aldridge, UMUC president; Capt. Brian K. Zdunowski, education services 

officer-MDARNG; and David H. Glenn, 

professional development & trainingMaryland Military Department.

12 Fall 2009 Maryland Military Department Digest www.md.ngb.army.mil 13

E X T E N D E D 

EDUCATION BENEFITS 

TO MARYLAND GUARD 

MEMBERS

PIKESVILLE, Md. – The 110th Information Operations Field Support 

Battalion, stood up in October here 

as part of the Maryland Army National 

Guard’s transformation. 

 The IO FSB, headquartered at the 

Pikesville Military Reservation, is commanded by Lt. Col. Dick Amott, a seasoned officer with more than 33 years 

military experience. 

 The unit consists of positions largely 

in the fields of military intelligence and 

signal, complemented and supported by 

a handful of other military occupational 

specialties. The unit is unique from other 

battalions because of the high-tech, information-based, skill sets required and the 

experience of a senior rank structure. 

 The unit’s senior enlisted leader, Command Sgt. Maj. Kemp Freund explains 

the mission, “In essence, what IO does 

is take all of the unit staff sections and 

advisors and tie them into one cohesive 

group and manages information for a 

consistent message. Ultimately, our job 

is to provide trained personnel to combatant commanders in all active theaters 

to assist with this mission.” 

 “The Maryland Guard is uniquely 

positioned to have a unit like the 110th 

because of the large pool of the right 

kind of people in this area,” explains Maj. 

Andrew Goldin, the operations officer, as 

he describes the benefits. 

 Being located so close to the Washington, D.C. and Baltimore metropolitan 

areas, makes this part-time soldiering 

opportunity a win-win-win for the Guard, 

the Soldier [and family], and civilian employers, says Goldin. 

 Many of the personnel in the unit also 

work in similar fields on their civilian 

jobs, which provides a seamless continuity between civilian work during the week 

and military duty on the weekends. 

 Capt. John Henderson works during 

the week as a civilian senior threat analyst for the Rapid Equipping Force at Fort 

Belvoir, Va. analyzing possible threats. 

 “I will do exactly the same type of 

things I do on my civilian job even when 

applying it to my position within the IO 

[battalion],” said Henderson. 

 “Many of the battalion’s members 

have come from existing units that have 

deactivated under transformation, however, we are still trying to fill some slots 

with the right people, whether they come 

from an existing unit in Maryland or 

outside of the Maryland National Guard,” 

explains the executive officer, Maj. Dave 

Dement. “It’s an exciting opportunity for 

motivated Soldiers to be a part of a unit 

that incorporates so many of the Army’s 

modern information functions into a 

single mission.”

 The unit’s higher headquarters, the 

56th Theater Information Operations 

Group, is located in Seattle, Wa., another 

high-tech corridor. For administrative 

purposes while in Maryland, the 110th 

IO FSB will report to the 29th Combat 

Aviation Brigade stationed at Edgewood. 

The actual activation ceremony for the 

unit is projected for December. 

Camp Baker, located near Hancock, Md., 

is more than a hundred miles west of Baltimore and named after Brig. Gen. Thomas B. Baker, a former Maryland assistant 

adjutant general – Army. The 1st Battalion, 

70th Regiment conducts its consolidated 

fall accelerated OCS and phase 1 annual training, beginning at Camp Fretterd. 

Phase 1 ended Aug. 15 at Camp Baker 

Training Site.

Lt. Col. Jeffery Knepshield, commander 

of Maryland’s Officer Candidate School 

battalion, briefs senior leadership from the 

Maryland Guard, as well as representatives from several states, at the Brig. Gen. 

Thomas B. Baker Training Site Aug. 9. 

August 9 was V.I.P. Day, allowing command representatives to observe candidates train and have a chance to chat with 

and share a meal with the troops.

Candidates were 

completing a land 

navigation exercise 

before eating lunch 

in the shaded 

area overlooking 

a mountain range. 

Today’s lunch 

special are meals 

ready-to-eat. 

MRE’s are also 

known to some 

as 'Mysteries' 

because you often 

have little choice in 

what flavored meal you get.

Brig. Gen. James A. Adkins, the adjutant 

general of Maryland, eats an MRE with 

candidates from different states. 193 

candidates began the Fall course, 166 are 

on schedule to graduate according to the 

Aug. 8 figures.

Command Sgt. Maj. Brian Sann, senior 

enlisted leader, was once the OCS battalion’s first sergeant, and he offers candidates advice on successfully completing 

the land navigation task. As of Aug. 8 

there were 166 candidates from 28 states 

—15 from Maryland and 16 from California, which had the most of any state.

1st Sgt. Carrie A. Heinze, first sergeant 

of Maryland’s OCS battalion, and Brig. 

Gen. Adkins review points used in the 

land navigation exercises. Candidates are 

tested on physical fitness, road marches, 

drill and ceremony, troop leading procedures, operational orders and warrior task 

battle drills.

At Point Kilo, is a memorial dedicated to 

Command Sgt. Maj. Roger W. Haller by 

family, friends and Maryland Guard Members. Haller was the command sergeant 

major of the 70th Regiment and was killed 

January 2007, while serving in Iraq. Point 

Kilo was a favorite spot for Haller. It’s a 

serene view of the Potomac River, shaded 

by tall trees; a place to view the sun rise 

and set over the mountains adjacent the 

river.

Maryland’s Officer Candidate 

School Land Navigation Training

110th IO FSB at Forefront of 

Information Warfare

By Spc. Thaddeus Harrington

By Maj. Kristine Henry
14 Fall 2009

Maryland Military Department Digest www.md.ngb.army.mil 15 Wreath Laying Arlington National Cemetery Tomb of the Unknowns

MEMA

Calvert Cliffs 

Exercise

During a recent ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, 

Va., the Maryland National Guard paid tribute to Maryland Service-

members who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

 Brig. Gen. James A. Adkins, the adjutant general of Maryland, laid a wreath 

at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in remembrance of Maryland’s fallen 

military heroes.

 “I was honored to have the opportunity to lay a wreath at Arlington National 

Cemetery's Tomb of the Unknowns with Maryland's Civilian Aide to the Secre-

tary of the Army, Mr. Turhan Robinson,” said Adkins. 

“We must never forget the tremendous sacrifices of 

these Americans and their families. Marylanders have 

a proud tradition of defending their state and country 

dating back to well before the founding of this great 

nation.”

 Maryland military history dates back to 1634 when 

two militia captains landed at St. Mary’s City, Md. 

Since then, Maryland Servicemembers have served 

with distinction in virtually every American conflict. 

•	 Members of the "Maryland Line" repeatedly charged a vastly superior British 

force at the Battle of Long Island during the American Revolution, buying 

time for the Continental Army to escape.

•	 Maryland militia units fought on both sides of the Civil War. At the Battle of 

Front Royal, the Confederate 1st Maryland fought the Union 1st Maryland.

•	 As part of the 29th Infantry Division, Marylanders took part in the D-Day 

landings of June 1944 and fought their way across France, Holland and Ger-

many to link up with the Russians at the Elbe River. During the war, the 29th 

Division suffered one of the highest casualty rates of any American division.

By Maryland National Guard Public Affairs

Evaluators gave high marks 

to participants, including the 

Maryland Emergency Manage-

ment Agency, for their performance in 

a three-day October exercise testing 

state and local capabilities in the event 

of an incident at Calvert Cliffs Nuclear 

Power Plant in Calvert County.

 The first day of the exercise was 

conducted like the typical every-otheryear nuclear power plant exercise. 

Those exercises test the ability of the 

plant operator — in this case, Balti-

more-based Constellation Energy — to 

work with state and local officials to 

protect residents in the emergency 

planning zone, which extends for a 

radius of 10 miles around the plant.

 Emergency operations centers were 

set up by the power plant operators in 

Calvert County and MEMA in Reis-

terstown, along with the three counties 

in the emergency planning zones in 

Calvert, Saint Mary’s and Dorchester.

 Every six years, plant operators and 

state and local officials must also exer-

cise as if a particularly bad incident at 

the plant would send radioactive mate-

rial beyond the 10-mile EPZ, known 

as the ingestion pathway. Ingestion 

pathway exercises determine what efforts state and local officials must do 

to areas contaminated with radioactive 

material, focusing on food and water 

safety and relocation of residents.

 The second day of the ingestion 

pathway exercise was conducted at the 

Maryland Department of the Environ-

ment headquarters in Baltimore, where 

officials evaluated simulated radia-

tion sampling to determine what areas 

would require special protective action 

decisions.

 On the third day, the exercise 

moved back to MEMA’s Emergency 

Operations Center, where various state 

agencies simulated how they would 

implement the previous day’s deci-

sions. (In a real event, both activities 

would have been conducted simultane-

ously.)

 MEMA usually conducts one 

nuclear power plant drill annually, 

alternating between Calvert Cliffs and 

Peach Bottom, located just a few miles 

over the Mason-Dixon Line in Delta, 

Pa. Part of the Peach Bottom EPZ affects northern portions of Harford and 

Cecil counties. Peach Bottom exer-

cises will be conducted in January of 

2010.
 But adaptability is a Special Forces 

trademark, said Dennehy. “We are 

uniquely suited for this type of mission,” he said. 

 “Our specialized training and 

past experiences 

give us the expertise needed to 

help effectively 

coordinate special operations 

forces at all levels 

in any theater.”

 For many of 

the Soldiers, this 

exercise was their second trip to Korea this year. The unit also traveled to 

Korea in March to participate in Exercise Key Resolve, a command-post 

exercise with computer-based simulations similar to 

UFG.

 Even though 

the unit is 

largely self sufficient, the SODJF’s multiple 

unconventional 

missions rely 

on MDARNG 

leadership support from the brigade level at the 

58th Troop Command to the state 

level at Joint Force Headquarters in 

Baltimore. Headquarters-level support such as processing orders and 

arranging transportation is vital 

to the success 

of the SOD-JF’s 

mission, said 

Weedon.

 The unit 

recently deployed for a year 

to Stuttgart, 

Germany where 

they helped to 

build and establish the Army’s newest 

Theater Special Operations Command 

in Africa.

Maryland Special Forces 

Soldiers train in Korea

175th Wing Change of 

Command

16 Fall 2009 Maryland Military Department Digest www.md.ngb.army.mil 17

The Maryland National Guard 

announced Col. Scott L. Kelly 

as the new commanding officer 

of the Maryland Air National Guard’s 

175th Wing on Aug. 1.

 Kelly most recently served as the 

vice commander of the 175th Wing, 

which is comprised of both C-130J 

Hercules transport and A-10C jet 

fighter aircraft. 

 An A-10 jet fighter pilot with more 

than 25 years of service, Kelly assumed command of the unit during a 

ceremony at the Warfield Air National 

Guard Base in Middle River, Md., on 

Aug. 1. Kelly officially took command 

of the unit on June 22. 

 “Col. Kelly is an extremely accomplished Airman and leader who 

is well-positioned take the 175th 

Wing to the next level,” said Brig. 

Gen. James A. Adkins, the adjutant 

general of Maryland. “As we look to 

the future, the Maryland Air National 

Guard will be a leading voice in helping to shape the future of both the Air 

National Guard and the U.S. Air Force. 

I look forward to even greater accomplishments by Col. Kelly and the 

men and women under his command. 

They truly represent the best that the 

state of Maryland and this great nation have to offer.”

 Kelly is a command pilot with more 

than 3,700 military flying hours. He 

is a veteran of the 1991 Persian Gulf 

War, during which he flew 40 combat 

sorties. He also served as the 455th 

Expeditionary Group vice group commander during Operation Enduring 

Freedom. His previous assignments 

include mission support group commander, operations group commander 

and fighter squadron commander. 

 “I’m extremely excited and ready 

to get to work,” said Kelly. “This is a 

tremendous unit with an extremely 

talented and hard working group of 

professionals, and I’m honored to 

command them at this most critical 

time in our nation’s history. We have 

a number of challenges ahead of us, 

both at home and abroad, but I have 

every confidence that we will continue 

to demonstrate that the Maryland Air 

National Guard is second to none.” 

 Kelly, who earned his bachelor’s 

degree from the Citadel and is a 

graduate of the U.S. Air Force Air War 

College, assumed command of the 

175th Wing from Brig. Gen. Guy M. 

Walsh, who was recently selected to 

be the first Air National Guard officer 

to command an active duty wing in 

combat. Walsh now commands the 

451st Air Expeditionary Wing, based 

in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

 The 175th Wing is comprised of 

more than 1,500 members and has 

an economic impact of nearly $120 

million on the Baltimore metropolitan 

area. 

An elite Maryland Army National Guard unit took part in 

a major joint exercise in the 

Republic of Korea as part of their annual training.

 The Special Operations Detachment-Joint Forces, based in Laurel, 

Md., lent their expertise in planning 

and operations to Special Operations 

Command-Korea during the annual 

joint exercise, Ulchi Freedom Guardian, August 12-28.

 Named for the 7th century Korean 

military strategist, Ulchi Mundok, the 

exercise helped coordinate the joint 

U.S.-ROK response to the outbreak of 

hostilities on the Korean Peninsula 

and utilized significant numbers of 

National Guard personnel, according to Lt. Col. Kevin Dennehy, acting 

commander, SOD-JF.

 “In some cases, whole shifts in 

the Joint Operations Center and at 

a ROK Special Operations headquarters were entirely manned by SOD-JF 

personnel,” said Dennehy. “That says 

something about the importance of 

National Guard augmentees for these 

important exercises.”

 In addition to serving as strategic 

liaisons to the South Koreans, other 

Maryland Guardsmen worked in 

administrative, intelligence, logistical 

and information technology roles during the exercise.

 Although it is an annual event, 

this year’s exercise set a different 

precedent because the ROK military 

took the lead of the combined forces, 

which consisted of all branches of the 

U.S. and ROK militaries. This was in 

preparation for a planned 2012 organizational shift which would see the 

Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff taking 

charge of the overall military effort. 

The U.S. would assume a supporting 

role providing resources, assets and 

capabilities as requested by ROK JCS, 

such as added air and naval power 

or additional defensive capabilities 

against ballistic missile attacks.

 “They’re using their internal command and control systems independent of ours to see how they would 

work in the event of an actual war,” 

said Maj. David May, operations officer with the SOD-JF, highlighting 

one aspect of the new operational 

environment.

 This change to a support role 

required some adjustments for the 

SOD-JF, according to Maj. Craig 

Weedon, SOD-JF full-time supervisor. 

While imbedded with the ROK Special 

Forces Command Center, he helped 

synchronize and coordinate operations for the SOCKOR commander.

 One of the more difficult challenges was that the Koreans’ decisionmaking process is centralized and at 

a different organizational level than 

U.S. forces, said Weedon.

The Maryland Army National 

Guard’s Officer Candidate 

School celebrated its 50th Anniversary Sept. 26 at Camp Fettered Military 

Reservation. During the ceremony, 

Brig. Gen. Hinz, Brig. Gen. Deener 

and Brig. Gen. Adkins were inducted 

into the OCS Hall of Fame.

 After the anniversary ceremony, 

the Maryland Army National Guard’s 

70th Regiment (LDR) Officer Candidate School hosted a commissioning ceremony for classes 50 and 51 

accelerated. A total of eight Soldiers 

graduated. Class 50 graduated five, 

and class 51A graduated three. 

Officer Candidate 

School’s 50th 

Anniversary & 

Commissioning 

By 2nd Lt. Kristofer Baumgartner

By 175th Wing Public Affairs
18 Fall 2009 Maryland Military Department Digest www.md.ngb.army.mil 19

By Spc. Thaddeus Harrington

No longer just an outlet for college 

students to meet people, social 

networking sites have left their mark 

on information gathering and the sharing of 

ideas and content. 

These sites have turned the average Joe 

and Jane from an audience member to a 

producer. They make it easier for people to 

post content, broadcasting their message 

to a wider audience while inviting people’s 

perspectives.

Social media encompasses 

communications, multimedia, opinion 

sharing, collaboration and entertainment 

sites. It can be considered anything that 

can help build a community — next door or 

worldwide. 

It allows for the viral spread of ideas 

and content. Although some use these 

networking sites to air what many deem 

trivial, these sites have also served as an 

outlet for citizen journalism in places where 

reporters and news agencies were denied 

access. Whether Joe Snuffy posts about 

wanting to get some ice cream or a citizen 

in Iran shares his thoughts on the election, 

social media sites have proved to be a source 

of real-time reporting. 

Although very popular, sites such as 

Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr were 

not utilized for the benefits they provided 

and were blocked on Maryland National 

Guard computers until recently. As times 

change, so must people and the organizations 

in which those people are members. 

The Maryland Army National Guard 

issued its Policy for Social Media and 

Website Use on July 15, 2009. It addressed 

topics such as operations security, first 

amendment rights, being transparent, staying 

in your lane and representing yourself as a 

reflection of the Maryland National Guard. 

Most importantly, the policy stated that 

it’s a personal decision to participate in 

social networking, and it’s also a personal 

responsibility to uphold the integrity of the 

military.

The first paragraph of the policy states 

that: 

Social networks and blogs are 

an increasingly popular means 

of communicating. They open 

incredible doors for Citizen 

Soldiers to communicate in a 

public forum and create their own 

content on the Web. As these types 

of emerging technologies begin 

to replace traditional modes of 

communication, it is incumbent 

upon MDNG leadership to not only 

familiarize itself with the trends, but 

also to ensure that our mission is not 

adversely affected within this new 

online context.

Many military officials have maintained a 

presence through social media.

“Gen. McKinley, the chief of the National 

Guard Bureau, started Twittering four days 

ago [July 12, 2009] . . . He has been putting 

an update or two up there every single day 

about what he’s doing, what he’s thinking 

and what he’s feeling. I think people, 

Soldiers and Family members connect to 

that. They connect to the personal-ness, the 

authenticity,” said Rick Breitenfeldt, branch 

chief of online social media-NGB.

Navy Adm. James G. Stavridis, supreme 

allied commander, Europe and commander 

of U.S. European Command, started the blog 

‘From The Bridge’ the day he assumed his 

post as commander on July 2, 2009. 

Army Gen. William E. Ward, commander 

of U.S. Africa Command and a Morgan 

State University graduate, created the blog 

‘AFRICOM Dialogue’ Dec. 21, 2007, to 

describe the command’s goals.

Military public affairs practitioners, 

those who collect and disseminate 

information, will have a new use for 

slightly new media to aid in informing its 

audience.

“Public affairs-wise it [Twitter] has 

a huge implication because we could 

provide real-time up-to-the-minute, 

accurate information to the media,” said 

Breitenfeldt. “If used correctly, social 

media can help us tell our story. It’s like 

going where the people are. . . . It’s a 

little bit of community relations. This 

community is just online.”

Social media outlets allow increased 

ability to link, tag and bookmark content, 

helping to gain search engine visibility

No longer are news, information and 

ideas a one-way conversation. They 

are discussions. These conversations 

help keep the buzz going and allow 

for the audience’s point-of-view. This 

participation helps spread messages 

farther and faster and strengthen 

relationships with the audience.

“I think this is a great way to allow 

leadership to communicate with its 

Soldiers, Soldiers to communicate 

with their families, and all three to 

communicate with each other,” said 

Breitenfeldt.

With an Army unit in direct 

contact with the enemy and 

in need of an emergency 

resupply, a Maryland Air National 

Guard C-130J crew came to the rescue 

with much-needed supplies and ammunition. 

 "We got guys fighting the enemy, 

and we are going to do whatever we 

have to do to get them the supplies 

they needed," said Lt. Col. Mike Mentges, 135th Airlift Group director of 

operations, who was the aircraft commander during the mission. "There 

was a lot of action in the vicinity." 

 This sortie was just one part of a 

day-long mission to resupply Army 

units that wound up landing the crew 

of TORQE 95 a prestigious flying 

award. 

 Mentges, Capt. Kristen Hoeckel, 

Senior Master Sgt. Thomas Kelly and 

Tech. Sgt. Billy Shiflett of the 135th 

Airlift Squadron, and Staff Sgt. Brian 

Miliefsky of the California Air National Guard, received the Earl T. Ricks 

Award Sept. 14 at the Air Force Association's annual Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition. 

 The annual award recognizes Air 

National Guard members for outstanding airmanship. The crew flew 

the mission in Afghanistan during 

an Air Expeditionary Force rotation 

in the summer of 2008. They were 

stationed at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, at the time. 

 Mentges said the original mission 

for the day involved three airdrops to 

small forward operating bases. The 

first airdrop, humanitarian supplies 

for an Army unit to distribute to local 

villages, went according to plan. 

 The second airdrop involved delivering ammunition to the Army and 

then a return to Bagram Airfield. It 

was at this second drop that Army 

forces were in contact with the enemy. The crew coordinated with Joint 

Tactical Air Controllers on the ground 

to ensure the supplies landed where 

enemy forces could not seize them. 

 When the plane returned to Bagram, they were told they would need 

to fly to Kandahar and load emergency supplies for another airdrop 

with the troops in contact. With the 

supplies aboard, TORQE 95 returned 

to the scene of the fight. 

 "They were still fighting the bad 

guys," said Mentges. The crew again 

coordinated with JTAC and fighter 

aircraft that were engaged with the 

enemy. They held outside the area 

until the fighters had disengaged and 

then modified their drop to come in 

from a direction to avoid the enemy. 

 To top it all off, the crew went on to 

conduct a fourth air drop at another 

location before calling it a day. 

 "At the end of the day, we dropped 

42,000 pounds of ammo and supplies," said Mentges. 

 The Earl T. Ricks Award, a national 

award for Air National Guard personnel, was established in 1954 in honor 

of Maj. Gen. Earl T. Ricks who served 

as chief of the Air Force Division, 

National Guard Bureau. 

Afghan Mission E a r n e d 

Maryland Crew Major Award

By Tech. Sgt. David Speicher

By Spc. Thaddeus Harrington

Social Media and the Maryland Guard
The Maryland Army National Guard recently held a 

grand opening for its newest recruiting storefront in Reisterstown, Md. Brig. Gen. Alberto J. Jimenez, commander of the Maryland Army National Guard, cut the ribbon, officially opening the recruiting station. This effort to link the Maryland Army National Guard with communities throughout the state is a new 

business venture in the Reisterstown area.

Final Frame

By 1st. Lt. Kurt Rauschenberg