North Carolina activates National Guard for winter storm

By Army Sgt. Miko Booth
North Carolina National Guard

BUTNER, N.C. (12/26/10) - North Carolina National Guard Soldiers stand ready to assist the public in case of any emergency caused by the snow.

Nine Soldiers reported to the N.C. National Guard’s Armory here last night for State Active Duty.

“I was on my way to my mother’s house for Christmas dinner when I got the call (to be placed on State Active Duty),” said Army Spc. Jon Schwager, a Guardsman with the N.C. National Guard’s 1132nd Military Police Company. He recently returned from an overseas deployment with the N.C. National Guard’s 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team.

“This is my first time doing a state mission,” he said. “I’m excited to be able to serve my community here at home.”

Thirty-four Soldiers reported last night to armories in Butner, Rocky Mount, Elizabeth City, Winterville, and Mount Olive, N.C.

Soldiers will prepare to help provide transportation, recovery or other missions as required by the North Carolina Emergency Management and emergency response officials.

Each location will have two HUMVEEs and Guardsmen to assist in operations.

Additional Soldiers will be on duty to maintain the armories for the HUMVEE teams.

The HUMVEE teams, mainly from the 514th and 1132nd Military Police Companies of 60th Troop Command, are based out of Winterville and Rocky Mount, respectively. 

All Guardsmen arrived at the National Guard armories late last night and will prepare for upcoming operations.

The length of time that the Soldiers will remain on State Active Duty will be determined by the needs of the communities, but Soldiers are currently preparing to stay on duty for three days.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Jason C. Jones, 258th Asphalt Team readiness noncommissioned officer, was activated to state duty to maintain the armory for the HUMVEE team.

“I’m here to assist the HUMVEE team so that they have a working headquarters to base their community assistance mission out of,” he said. “My team and I will support these Soldiers so that they are able to fulfill their state mission while they are activated.”

In December 2009 and January of this year, about 50 Guardsmen were called to assist the N.C. State Highway Patrol, rescuing stranded motorists and transporting them to safety.

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