648th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade The 648th Maneuever Enhancement Brigade is a major command of the Georgia Army National Guard . History . The 648th MEB is one of the two newest brigades placed in Georgia in 2007 ; the other being the 560th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade at Cumming , GA , the Army National Guard ' s first battlefield surveillance brigade , which was stood up in October 2007 then officially activated January 2009 . The 648th MEB started with an initial staffing of just 12 personnel , a headquarters company , and the 348th Support Battalion , home - stationed in Ellenwood . The brigade now touts approximately 3 , 000 personnel . There are just 21 MEBs in the nation – two of which are active duty Army , three are Army Reserve and 16 belong to the Army Guard . Since the 648th MEB came on line , it has added Augusta ' s 878th Engineer Battalion ; and Elberton ' s 1st Battalion , 214th Field Artillery . The brigade has deployed Marietta ' s 248th Medical Company and elements of the police and engineer battalions in support of operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom . On August 8 , 2010 , the unit changed command for the first time . Colonel Keith Knowlton , the 648th ' s first commander , turned over the unit reigns to his successor , Colonel Andy Hall . Mission . The 648th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade ( MEB ) ' s mission is to provide manned , ready , and fully equipped mission - capable units to combatant and joint task force commanders , with the capabilities of full - spectrum operations and consequence management to support the war - fight and homeland defense , as well as to provide defense support to civilian authorities in times of crisis . The MEB ' s command and control capacity exceeds that of any other brigade headquarters . MEBs , in general , are uniquely designed for both the warfighting and operational support roles . Their capabilities are a sized - down parallel of the National Guard ' s dual roles to serve in the operational environment and to serve in a local role in support of state missions , mostly in disaster and humanitarian relief operations . There are just 22 MEBs in the nation – three of which are active duty Army , three are Army Reserve and 16 belong to the Army Guard . Deployments . In 2009 , the 810th Engineer Company deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom , clearing routes so coalition units could complete their missions unharmed and on time . In 2010 , 190th Military Police Company deployed to Bagram Air Base near Kabul , Afghanistan . The company ' s primary job was to provide security for the base detention center along its guard towers and various entry control points . The unit later picked up the additional task of escorting detainees to and from the center ; and the 190th served as part of the base ' s immediate response force , protecting the area in which it resided in the event of an attack . In 2012 , the 648th HHC deployed to Kabul , Afghanistan as Task Force Hydra . Task Force Hydra is responsible for the Kabul Base Cluster , providing command and control , security and support operations for the nearly 9 , 000 U . S . and coalition forces operating in the capital region . They provide Garrison Command , CERP missions , Police Assistance Teams and construction management for the Kabul region . In 2013 , 1st Battalion 214th Field Artillery Regiment deployed to Shindand , Afghanistan as Task Force Granite . Task Force Granite is responsible for base security for Shindand Air Base , providing Command and Control , security and patrol operations for the U . S . and coalition forces operating in and around Shindand Air Base . They provide Base Security Battalion Command , patrol and assessment missions , checkpoint control and flightline security for the base . 1 - 214 FA BN moved from the 78th HRF to the 648th MEB in June 2013 , while deployed .