Indiana leads nation in Army Guard, Reserve deployments

By Laureen Fagan, 24/7 News Report

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Indiana National Guard members of the 76th Brigade Combat team

More than 3,400 Indiana National Guard members of the 76th Brigade Combat team assemble on the floor of the RCA Dome at a departure ceremony in Indianapolis last week. Department of Defense numbers released the same day show Indiana leading the nation in Army active-duty deployments. (AP photo/TOM STRICKLAND)

By Tiffany Griffin

Story Created: Jan 7, 2008 at 7:33 AM EDT

Story Updated: Jan 7, 2008 at 11:14 AM EDT

It'll come as no surprise to the many families who said their goodbyes at the RCA Dome last week, watching loved ones in the Indiana National Guard leave in the largest single deployment since World War II.

But the latest figures from the Department of Defense reflect the contribution the Hoosier state is making when it comes to the total of National Guard and Reserve Units called to active duty.

Numbers released Wednesday in a 274-page roster report show that across the services, there are 90,252 called up to active duty, nearly 80 percent of them — 70,320 listed — serving with the U.S. Army.

And no state is more represented than Indiana. The numbers show 4,515 Hoosiers on active duty, with California second at 3,914 deployed and Oklahoma third, with 3,368.

And with another Army National Guard unit headed out Sunday from Dowagiac, it's important to note the 1,467 deployed from Michigan, too.

In fact, Michigan also makes one of the nation's most significant contributions in the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve. There are 211 personnel deployed with the 110 Fighter Wing based in Battle Creek, and another 41 from a Detroit-based unit.

Nationwide, there are a total of 5,925 called to active duty from the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, with 131 of them based in Indiana, the DOD report said.

An additional 8,668 are serving with Marine Corps units, while 5,013 are Navy Reserve and the remaining 326 were listed with the U.S. Coast Guard.

Tuesday, Jan 15 at 2:09 AM MJ wrote ...

What a terrible waste of healthy people fighting a needless war

Monday, Jan 14 at 9:33 AM Mitch wrote ...

Most if not all of these soldiers, sailors,and airman are double volunteers. First volunteering for the National Guard or Reserves...second volunteering to fight the Global War on Terrorism at it's front door so their families and friends don't have to fight in at their's. Never forget that nothing in life is free, somebody always has to pay....Freedom is no exception.

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