Maryland Military Department's response to terrorism for Governor Ehrlich's first 100 days, 2003

MARYLAND MILITARY DEPARTMENT’S RESPONSE TO TERRORISM FOR GOVERNOR EHRLICH’S FIRST 100 DAYS • The Maryland Army and Air National Guard continue to be called upon to support Operation Iraqi Freedom, Noble Eagle and Enduring Freedom. The Guard has more than 2,000 citizen-soldiers and airmen mobilized to protecting freedom at home and overseas at 24 locations representing Maryland around the world. The Army and Air National Guard stands ready to respond to state emergencies or additional Federal activation to protect America’s freedom. • The Maryland Army National Guard’s Special Forces soldiers from the 20th Group deployed to Afghanistan and Korea. Our Special Operations Detachment Joint Forces is helping to fight terrorism from Jordan. • The Maryland Army National Guard’s 1 1 5Ih Military Police Battalion has deployed to Southwest Asia in support of Iraqi Freedom. The 1229th Transportation Company is preparing for deployment overseas to Southwest Asia. • On March 15 we welcomed home the Maryland Army National Guard’s 2-1 10th Field Artillery Battalion from a one year activation providing force protection at four active duty installation in the Military District of Washington. • The Maryland Army National Guard’s 1-175* Infantry Battalion from Baltimore is guarding Andrews Air Force Base and Warfield Air National Guard Base on federal orders. The 1 15th Military Police Battalion has deployed to Southwest Asia in support of Iraqi Freedom the 1229th Transportation Company is preparing for deployment overseas to Southwest Asia. • Almost 400 citizen-soldiers from the Maryland Army National Guard’s 121st Engineer Battalion and some of both the 729th Forward Support Battalion and 1- 1 15th Infantry Battalion are being called to federal active duty for one year. The units will support of Operation Noble Eagle to provide security and force protection at three critical federal installations in the state of Maryland. • The Maryland Air National Guard’s 104lh Fighter Squadron and other portions of the 175th Wing deployed to Afghanistan as part of the normal rotation in the Aerospace Expeditionary Force in January. In February the wing members were mobilized in-place and are currently fighting the war on terrorism by serving at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan as part of the Combined Joint Task Force-180. The A-10 jet fighter pilots from the 104th Fighter Squadron have flown more than 780 hours and 284 sorties providing close-air support to Operation Enduring Freedom ground forces