The Delaware National Guard’s 153rd Military Police Company, located in
Delaware City, was alerted on Friday, May 3, of an impending
activation and deployment to Southwest Asia in August 2002. More than 150
of Delaware’s citizen-soldiers are being called to active duty as part of
a Presidential Select Reserve Call-up. They will be activated for up to
270 days in support of Operation Desert Spring and will serve as part of a
task force helping to provide site and installation security for U.S.
interests in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
NOTE – This call-up is not a part of Operation Enduring Freedom, our
global war on terrorism.
Governor Ruth Ann Minner, commander-in-chief of the Delaware National
Guard, has given her approval of the activation and noted, "This
activation is a testament to the preparedness of our Delaware National
Guard. I am extremely proud of our troops and sure they will represent
Delaware well."
"These soldiers are military police and experts in providing force
protection and facility security," said Col. Henry McCann, Brigade
Commander of the Delaware Guard’s 72nd Troop Command. "Because of their
unique skills in law enforcement and security, they were hand-picked for
this important mission," he added.
On Saturday, May 18th soldiers of the 153rd will officially
begin processing into the active duty force for an August deployment date.
"While three months (May through July) may seem like a long time, it’s
really not," said Mobilization Officer, Lt. Col. Chris Haser. "These are
traditional Guardsmen, meaning they perform duty one weekend per month and
two weeks per year." he explained. "Three months is actually less than one
week to activate more than 150 soldiers. That’s challenging, but it’s what
the National Guard is all about."
Typical in-processing includes updating personnel, medical and pay
records, along with receiving information about family and employer
support programs. Lastly, the soldiers will receive any additional mission
training they may need for their tour in Southwest Asia.
"This is the largest mobilization of the Delaware Army National Guard –
not since Desert Storm, but since World War II," said Maj. Gen. Frank
Vavala, adjutant general and military commander of the Delaware National
Guard. "Our being selected for this mobilization further emphasizes the
Delaware Guard is a relevant force here in Delaware and around the world,"
he added.
The three-month alert phase is used to ensure soldiers are
administratively prepared to mobilize. The next phase will occur in August
when the unit reports to its readiness center in Delaware City for active
duty and prepares to move its people and equipment to a mobilization
station. Once at the mobilization station, unit records will be validated
by the active duty force, travel arrangements will be finalized and the
153rd will deploy overseas.
While this mobilization is not part of Operations Enduring Freedom or
Noble Eagle, the Delaware Air National Guard has had more than 100 airmen
and women deployed in response to these operations.
This is the first activation of the 153rd Military Police Company,
which was formed in 1997. Before the events of September 11, 2001, the
last partial mobilization of the National Guard and Reserve was ordered on
January 18, 1991 for Operation Desert Storm, when 265,322 Guard and
reserve members were activated, to include elements of the Delaware
National Guard.
The Delaware National Guard is made up of 2,700 citizen-soldiers,
airmen and women, serving and living here in Delaware as your "Hometown
Force."
Please Note - the 153rd was alerted of the mobilization on May 3rd, and
will begin processing onto active duty on Saturday, May 18th in Delaware
City. Their active duty tour will start in August, but we don’t have an
exact date as of yet. We want to provide media representatives maximum
access throughout this process. If you have a specific request or would
like more information –
CONTACT - Capt. Len Gratteri at 326-7010 or page at 247-5547
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