There are 6,500 Army National Guardsmen and 2,500 Air National Guardsmen currently serving in units throughout the Garden State.  Most people are familiar with the dual mission of the Guard: the federal, combat mission which provides for our national security as part of America’s Armed Forces; and the emergency response mission in which the Guard performs its traditional role as a “state militia” under the command of the Governor, who serves as the Commander-in-Chief.  

The Guard’s emergency response mission typically includes evacuating and assisting residents stranded by floods, hurricanes, blizzards, or other natural disasters, and providing security to neighborhoods threatened by looting or civil disturbance.  However, as everyone in America now knows, the post September 11th world has changed dramatically and forever; and this new reality has imposed new demands on the state’s citizen-soldiers.

In the hours following the terrorist attacks against the World Trade Centers and the Pentagon, New Jersey’s National Guard troops were mobilized to assist in the rescue and recovery efforts at ground zero and to provide additional security at key installations both here in New Jersey and in our nation’s capital.  F-16 Fighting Falcon jet aircraft and crews from the Air National Guard’s 177th Fighter Wing stationed at Atlantic City International Airport were placed on federal active duty to fly CAP (combat air patrol) missions over the northeast quadrant of North America (including New York City and Washington, D.C.)

KC 135 Strato-tanker aircraft and crews from the 108th Air Refueling Wing, stationed at McGuire Air Force Base, which already had been providing critical in-flight refueling to U.S. and allied aircraft involved in Operation “Deny Flight” enforcing the “no-fly” zones in the skies over Northern and Southern Iraq as well as aircraft involved in UN Peacekeeping missions in Bosnia and Kosovo, and United Nations Humanitarian Assistance missions throughout the world, began refueling aircraft involved in the war against terror in Southwest Asia and Afghanistan as part of Operation “Enduring Freedom”. 

At the direction of Governor James E. McGreevey, Commander-in-Chief of the New Jersey National Guard, Armed Army National Guard troops were deployed immediately to provide additional security at the state’s major airports (Newark, Atlantic City, and Trenton-Mercer), the Hudson River bridges and tunnels (George Washington Bridge, Lincoln and Holland Tunnels), and the nuclear facilities at Salem and Oyster Creek. 

Army Aviation personnel assigned to the National Guard’s Drug Interdiction / Demand Reduction Program which had been actively involved in the war against drugs, flying observation missions and providing aerial support to DEA, FBI, State Police and other local law enforcement organizations were called upon to perform new and different missions.  Guard aviation assets recently supported the U.S. Marshall’s Service by transporting three “high profile” prisoners; one of whom was on their “15 most wanted” list.  

When New Jersey was threatened with the possibility of a bio-terrorism attack, Guard helicopters and crews transported the deadly anthrax samples taken from the contaminated Hamilton Post Office to the Army’s Medical Research & Materiel Command Analysis facility at Ft Detrick, Maryland.  And, in July of this year, the National Guard Training Center in Sea Girt New Jersey hosted Secret Service personnel for three days of specialized, presidential motorcade security training.  

While the rest of America prepares to commemorate the first anniversary of September 11th with speeches, wreath laying ceremonies, and moments of silence, the more than 9,000 citizen-soldiers proudly serving in both the New Jersey Army and Air National Guard will commemorate the milestone in a slightly different way.  Despite the burdens placed on themselves, their families, and their civilian employers, the more than 1,700 members of your “Home Town Team” who answered the call to serve will commemorate this special day by manning their posts, protecting our skies, guarding our nuclear facilities, and serving on the front line in the ongoing war against terrorism.  

Your “Home Town Team” comprised of your friends, neighbors, co-workers, and colleagues will be continuing their 320-year tradition of patriotic and dedicated service to the people of our great state and nation; defending freedom, protecting liberty, and adding value to America.