Members of 186th called to active duty

By By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
March 13, 2003
Thirteen members of the Mississippi Air National Guard's 186th Air Refueling Wing Security Forces Squadron were scheduled to leave today for an undisclosed overseas location.
The guardsmen were called to active duty on Wednesday as part of a presidential partial mobilization of reserve forces.
The airmen are to provide base security overseas in support of U.S. Air Force operations. Under partial mobilization, soldiers and airmen can be called for a period up to 24 months.
Lt. Col. Tim Powell, spokesperson for Mississippi Adjutant General James H. Lipscomb III, said other members of the 186th have been mobilized but are still waiting on the call to active duty.
He said additional activation will probably come in bits and pieces.
Powell said a deployment for many members of the 186th was put on hold earlier this month pending diplomatic clearance for a change in their destination.
In January, 16 members of the 248th Air Traffic Control Squadron left for a 90-day deployment overseas in support of U.S. Air Force operations.