Plans are progressing well toward the standup of the National Guard’s first two homeland response force units in this fiscal year, according to Gen. Craig McKinley, the Guard’s top boss. “I was briefed by my team last week, and this effort is on track,” stated McKinley during a speech this week at the 2011 National Guard Bureau domestic operations workshop in National Harbor, Md. He added, “I’ve heard from the states involved. They’re confident and ready to perform.” These first two HRFs will be in Ohio and Washington. The Guard announced these plans last June. An HRF unit will provide a self-deployable capability to respond domestically to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high-yield-explosive incidents. The Defense Department intends to establish one unit for each of FEMA’s 10 regions nationwide. (NGB release by TSgt. John Orrell)
Airman 1st Class Marcus White-Allen concocted a story to cover up that he fired his M18 9mm pistol into Airman Braden Lovan’s chest killing him on July 20, two Airmen from F.E. Warren Air Force Base, WY testified during separate courts martial proceedings on Oct. 30-31.
