Isle Air National
Guard troops join
war on terror

23 communications specialists
were called to active duty in March

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By Gregg K. Kakesako
gkakesako@starbulletin.com

Twenty-three Hawaii Air National Guard communications specialists have joined the war on terrorism overseas.

Although the airmen and women of the 291st Combat Communications Squadron left the islands in March, news of their activation was only released yesterday by the Pentagon.

Their activation brings the total number of isle Army and Air National Guard units called to active duty since Sept. 11 to 725, according to Maj. Chuck Anthony, Hawaii National Guard spokesman.

Anthony said he could not say where the unit has been deployed, but did note that this was the first time the 291st has been activated as an unit.

"In the past there have been six or seven of its members who have been deployed, but this is the first for the unit," said Anthony.

Anthony said all of the deployed Air Guard men and women are traditional part-time reservists with only their commander, Lt. Col. Roy Cornella, a full-time technician. The Hilo-based unit is made up of more than 100 airmen and women.

As of yesterday, the Pentagon reported that the total number of reservists on active duty equals 82,607. By services this breaks down to the Army National Guard and Army Reserve, 28,670; Naval Reserve, 9,888; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 37,866; Marine Corps Reserve, 4,382; and Coast Guard Reserve, 1,801.

In Hawaii, Anthony said, 250 Army Guard soldiers and another 475 from the Hawaii Air National Guard have been activated for federal duty since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The Pacific Army Reserve has placed 264 of its soldiers on active duty. However, only 78 are from Hawaii, and the majority of Army reservists called to active duty were military policemen from Guam.

By far the majority of these reservists have remained in the islands as part of the Homeland Defense security initiatives, with some working security at island airports. Some of the National Guard soldiers remain at neighbor island airports, while those at Honolulu Airport have been replaced by federal guards.

Meanwhile, the Hawaii Army National Guard in Hilo will get eight new Black Hawk helicopters on April 26. The helicopters will replace older Black Hawks in the Hawaii Army Guard's fleet belonging to Company D, 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation. The unit is commanded by Maj. Ben Fuata.