Maryland Line 2014, Issue 2
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THE Fall/Winter 2014 MarylandLINE 1 The MarylandOFFICIAL Line MAGAZINEWWW.MD.NGB.ARMY OF THE MARYLAND.MIL MILITARY DEPARTMENT Fall/Winter 2014 The Maryland Line PB Inside this issue: 4 6 8 9 12 LINE 26 14 23 30 Feature Stories 4 Centennial Legion 6 Female Soldiers unite Pass and Review 16-22On LINE The through new sorority 8 Caroline County 12 231st Chem. Co. joins with Air Veterans Memorial Guard for HAZMAT training 9 58th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade’s Best Warriors On the cover: 14 Maryland Army Guard Maryland 10 290th Military Police Return gets first female, African- 11 115th Military Freedom Salute American commander 26 Star Spangled 200 A look at black history in 23 28 Operation Harbor Assault THE the Maryland Guard 30 Distinguished Flying Cross Contributors: Governor: Lt. Col. Charles Kohler Martin O’Malley Staff Sgt. Thaddeus Harrington Tech. Sgt. David Speicher In January drill members of Sgt. Crystal Hudson Adjutant General: Military Department the 175th Wing evaluated the Sgt. Regina Glott unit’s ability to operate and Maj. Gen. James A. Adkins Maryland National Guard Sgt. Edwin Gray Public Affairs Office Sgt. Breeanna Pierce launch missions in a chemi- Fifth Regiment Armory cal combat environment with Design & Layout: 29th Division St. UPAR 58th BfSB Baltimore, Md. 21201 Lt. Col. Armen Martirosyan, Ar- their A-10 aircraft at Warf- Staff Sgt. Thaddeus [email protected] menian Peacekeeping Brigade ield Air National Guard Base Harrington 410-576-6179 in Middle River, Md. /MDGUARD /MarylandGuard /MDNG /MDNG /MDNG 2 The Maryland Line WWW.MD.NGB.ARMY.MIL Fall/Winter 2014 The Maryland Line 3 Maryland Guard answers state’s call for help - Staff Sgt. Amanda Youngblood By Sgt. Edwin Gray, authority of the adjutant general. 29th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment The way the Joint The agency is responsible for pproximately 500 Service Task Force runs coordinating the state’s response in members of the Maryland “ the system is any major emergency or disaster. National Guard and Defense “The way the Joint Task Force A very smooth. It Force, were activated for to runs the system is very smooth. It help with severe winter weather allows us to keep allows us to keep accountability,” operations throughout the state on accountability.” said Staff Sgt. Amanda Youngblood, Feb. 13, 2014. supply sergeant with F Co., 128th Most of these troops were Brigade Support Battalion. “The prepositioned at readiness centers the roads so emergency workers emergency response missions are throughout Maryland and then could do their jobs efficiently and being tracked with an online portal dispatched to support local more people stay safe. that allows state and local agencies first responders. “Our Maryland Guard has to make requests for assistance.” Many first response vehicles are deployed roughly 500 people,” said Each request is updated when it not capable of traveling through O’Malley. “They are helping in has been assigned to a unit. The deep snow. In response to this response to local calls for service.” requester will know how many dilemma, the Maryland Guard has The Maryland National Guard personnel will arrive and what provided approximately 50 High receives its missions through the equipment is being provided. Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Maryland Emergency Management Youngblood also added that her Vehicles with troops to help get the Agency (MEMA) when there is unit sent out multiple vehicles to first responders through the a need to assist state and local various locations around the state to snow safely. emergency response organizations. support local fire departments. Gov. Martin O’Malley asked MEMA is part of the Maryland Marylanders to refrain from using Military Department and under the 2 The Maryland Line WWW.MD.NGB.ARMY.MIL Fall/Winter 2014 The Maryland Line 3 Centennial Legion Pass and Review By Lt. Col. Charles Kohler, Maryland National Guard Public Affairs Officer 4 The Maryland Line WWW.MD.NGB.ARMY.MIL Fall/Winter 2014 The Maryland Line 5 aj. Gen. James A. Adkins, the adjutant general of MMaryland was the reviewing officer for the Centennial Legion pass and review and the flag changing ceremony Nov. 2, 2013, at the historic Fort McHenry in Baltimore. The Centennial Legion is comprised of the historic military commands from the 13 original states. It was officially organized on July 4, 1876, in Philadelphia during the 100th anniversary celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The Legion perpetuates the legacy of units who served and protected our nation during the Revolutionary War and continue today. Past members of the Maryland National Guard’s 175th Infantry Regiment and members of the Veteran Corps were well represented in the ceremony. 4 The Maryland Line WWW.MD.NGB.ARMY.MIL Fall/Winter 2014 The Maryland Line 5 Female Soldiers unite through new sorority By Sgt. Edwin Gray, 29th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment Dailey, who served as its first national vice president. everal female troops united to Many sorority members mention create the Kappa Epsilon that they enjoy the opportunity to SPsi åas KEΨ. The sorority is connect with others who have served open to all female Service members, in the military. regardless of branch, who are “It’s a new organization, but I’m serving or have served honorably in excited to be a part of something the military. that’s meaningful to fellow military The mission of KEΨ is to women,” said Latasha Bell, who honor past female is a Navy petty officer third class Service members, electrician’s mate and a veteran. “I unite current think it’s a great way to connect female Service with other women who may have had members, similar experiences.” and mentor KEΨ’s local chapters meet twice a the future month. Nationally, all chapters meet leadership annually at the Reveille Retreat. of our This retreat is a reunion for all KEΨ armed forces. sisters. It is also an opportunity for Many of the newer troops to get advice from a members say the diverse group of more experienced organization is a Service members. unique asset to “I wanted to be a part of a the military. sisterhood,” said Belinda Mann, “There are so many challenges that an Army staff sergeant with the come along with being a woman in headquarters element of Maryland’s uniform,” said Sharise Payne, an 70th Regional Training Institute Army staff sergeant with Maryland’s and among the first to join from 231st Chemical Company, also a the Maryland Guard. “It gives me member of KEΨ. “This is a great the opportunity to go out into the opportunity for military women to community and mentor fellow female get out and help, as well as mentor Service members.” other women.” Candidates with less than two The sorority was founded April 4, years of military service are teamed 2011, by YaShica Hill, who served up a mentor who has more military as the first national president of or civilian experience. Several the sorority, and by Moneka Smith- veteran Service members have joined 6 The Maryland Line WWW.MD.NGB.ARMY.MIL Fall/Winter 2014 The Maryland Line 7 -Staff Sgt. Belinda Mann I wanted to be a part of a sisterhood. “ It gives me the opportunity to go out into the community and mentor fellow the sorority to advise and help new Campbell, but joining a sorority is female Service female troops while also helping not always an option for military members.” the community. members, since many cannot attend Twenty women chartered the first college full time. “Now it is.” chapter of KEΨ on May 25, 2013. Some members view KEΨ as a The sorority is already working college experience that they never toward expanding the organization had the chance to experience. The to have a chapter on every military women of KEΨ have created bonds installation. Since the first KEΨ that could exist far beyond their chapter started, several other women military careers. Most say that have begun the process of bringing joining feels equivalent to extending local chapters to their their family. own communities. “Being a part of this organization Male Service members have is no different than it is with my followed their female counterparts family,” said Payne. “I love my by creating a similar organization sorority sisters as if we were relatives, Kappa Lambda Chi Military and to be honest, you couldn’t tell Fraternity, Inc., also known as KΛX, me that we aren’t.” founded on July 4, 2013. KEΨ members actively participate “Oftentimes, joining the military in community service. The Virginia- means not going to college full District of Columbia chapter has time like many other young adults,” provided many hours of community said Kerry Campbell, a former service local charities such as the Army Reserve and National Guard D.C. Central Kitchen and the Soldier. Taking college courses is Interfaith Clothing Center. encouraged in today’s military, said 6 The Maryland Line WWW.MD.NGB.ARMY.MIL Fall/Winter 2014 The Maryland Line 7 Caroline County Veterans Memorial enior leaders both past and present from the Maryland National Guard were in Denton, Md., Stoday for the dedication of the memorial walk at the Caroline Veterans Monument on the grounds of the General James F. Fretterd Community Center. A plaque honoring Caroline natives who died in WWII and a plaque honoring Maryland Guardsmen who mobilized from the former armory for service in WWII were also unveiled. Maj. Gen. James A. Adkins, the adjutant general of Maryland, Brig. Gen. Linda L. Singh, the assistant adjutant general of Maryland, Lt. Gen (ret) H Steven Blum, former chief of the National Guard Bureau, Brig. Gen. Carole A.