It's been quite some time since I've seen any reports about National Guard members needing to go active.

At this late date, I'd expect that if the plans were in place, someone whould know about them. Someone would have been told that he'd better stay in town, he'd better order up extra MRE's , etc.

If the government was planning, there should be plenty of 1st hand evidence from National Guard folks not convinced that secrecy was the best policy.

Love to here anything from active National Guard members.

-- Randers (coyotecanyon@hotmail.com), December 12, 1999

Answers

[snip]

"For the Y2K phenomena, we're ready with fuel. For example, generator crews, we have 50 of them, we have trucks, C130s, Blackhawks and Chinooks (helicopters) and people and shelters and armories and so on," said California National Guard Col. Terry Knight.

[snip]

http://cnn.com/US/9911/14/y2k.security/

[Fair Use: For Educational/Research Purposes Only]

California cops, National Guard prepare for millennium trouble

From Correspondent Rusty Dornin

November 14, 1999

Web posted at: 5:55 p.m. EST (2255 GMT)

SAN FRANCISCO (CNN) -- California is gearing up for turn-of-the- century celebrations that go over the top. Some 1,700 National Guard troops will be on duty from December 30 to January 2, ready for action in San Francisco -- or other cities in the state in case revelers get out of hand.

"Right now, the National Guard is preparing for Y2K in the eventuality we would have to backup law enforcement because of lights going out or a civil disturbance," said Capt. Joseph Horton of the California National Guard.

There is a history of citywide parties turning dangerous.

Thousands of San Franciscans took to the streets for VJ Day, when the fighting with Japan formally ended in 1945. Eleven people were killed during the celebration and thousands were injured in the three-day party.

To make sure millennium parties -- or any civil disturbances resulting from possible Y2K problems -- don't measure up to those statistics, San Francisco police have been practicing riot control measures, backed by stiff warnings.

"If you intend to come to San Francisco and conduct yourself in an unpeaceful manner ... you will be taken into custody immediately," cautioned San Francisco Police Chief Fred Lau.

The National Guard helped out Los Angeles police during the Rodney King riots.

Troops also have provided statewide disaster relief during earthquakes and floods. Spokesmen say the Guard would be ready for just about anything the New Year might bring -- including massive power outages.

"For the Y2K phenomena, we're ready with fuel. For example, generator crews, we have 50 of them, we have trucks, C130s, Blackhawks and Chinooks (helicopters) and people and shelters and armories and so on," said California National Guard Col. Terry Knight.

Crews at California's Office of Emergency Services will also be on duty round the clock through New Year's weekend.

"We are connected with all the counties by satellite with generators so even if there was a problem we would be able to communicate with one another to help protect public safety," said the agency's Tom Mullins.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

-- Linkmeister (link@librarian.edu), December 12, 1999.

"If the government was planning, there should be plenty of 1st hand evidence..."

This is December 12th. Of course there would have been plenty of evidence by now! It amazes me that some people still believe it's all being "covered up".

Note to Randers: You know you are really putting a damper on the martial law/concentration camp conspiracy theorists here don't ya? Expect to be attacked if you continue this line of questioning.

-- CD (not@here.com), December 12, 1999.

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=001n3K

[snip]

www.msnbc.com/local/KRNV/48340.asp

Nevada National Guard and Y2K RENO, Nevada, Nov. 16  They are usually standing by for floods, earthquakes and other natural disasters. The Nevada National Guard is getting prepared for Y2K. The National Guard is adding 500 soldiers and airmen to be on duty this New Years Eve and for the entire weekend. The Guard has equipment for power outages, communication failures and water shortages. The National Guard officials say they do not expect any major problems but they will be ready to help local agencies with whatever the turn of the century has in store. General Tony Clark explains, Were a safety net is what we are. Were going to be a back up to local agencies should anything occur that they are not prepared to handle. The National Guard will also be ready to help out with crowd control if New Years Eve parties in Reno and Las Vegas get out of hand.

[snip]

-- Linkmeister (link@librarian.edu), December 12, 1999.

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=001lfs

[snip]

Baltimore police will be joined by a contingent of National Guard troops on New Year's Eve as a backup force in case of major disturbances stemming from everything from drunken parties to a loss of basic services because of a large-scale computer breakdown.

Meanwhile, State Police will have one of their largest mobilizations ever as 1,600 sworn officers fan out across the roadways that weekend.

State and local officials say they expect few problems, but they want to be prepared for anything from water and power systems across the state shutting down to drunken revelers creating disturbances as the New Year begins.

"The governor has made it clear he wants the State of Maryland to be prepared in every way, shape and form, including the National Guard in a support capacity," said Jack Cahalan, deputy press secretary to Gov. Parris N. Glendening.

The Baltimore Police Department's mobilization for New Year's is being matched in many ways by cities nationwide, but so far, only Washington officials say theirs will include National Guard troops.

Baltimore's acting police commissioner, Col. Bert L. Shirey, said the city will have 1,300 officers -- two-thirds more than normal -- patrolling its streets on New Year's Eve.

Shirey said 85 to 100 National Guard military police officers will be stationed at the Guard's Fifth Regiment Armory on Division Street in case they're needed.

The city might ask the governor to station another 500 National Guard troops there, but the extra troops will probably not be needed, Shirey said.

"We are going to re-evaluate, but it appears during peak time plenty of people in blue willbe ready to handle what happens," Shirey said.

Mayor-elect Martin O'Malley, who will be sworn in Dec. 7, said he is consulting with city officials on potential Y2K problems and was relieved to know that the National Guard will be available if needed -- although he has not talked with Glendening about the troops.

City Council President-elect Sheila Dixon said she was concerned that the city's plans may be "overreaction" but wants to know more about them.

"I don't think this year, other than additional parties, is going to create the activity where we would need the National Guard to come," Dixon said.

Guard members have been training for New Year's for almost a year.

National Guard leaders will be stationed at the state's emergency management command bunker at Camp Fretterd Military Reservation in Reisterstown.

As many as 6,500 Army and 1,800 Air National Guard troops could be mobilized in a few hours, said Capt. Drew Sullins, spokesman for the Maryland National Guard.

`Security blanket'

"Our position is that we are not going to be the red-caped heroes that save the day because Baltimore City police cannot handle something," Sullins said. "We are the security blanket of the state; and in the event the mayor and police chief decide they need some help, we are available."

National Guard troops last patrolled in Baltimore during the blizzard of 1996, when more than 400 soldiers, many driving olive Humvees, helped police and res- cue workers navigate snow-filled streets.

Statewide, more than 1,600 Maryland State Police troopers -- the entire force -- will be working over the New Year's Day holiday patrolling the state's 23 counties, police spokesman Major Greg Shipley said.

"You probably won't see this presence again in our lifetime," Shipley said. "It is an unusual event -- the millennium -- and we are prepared for the

Generators prepared

State police tactical units and SWAT teams will be prepared for any disturbance or emergency, Shipley said. Large generators will be placed on tractor-trailers for quick response to any large-scale power outage, he said.

"We don't really know what is going to happen for Y2K," said Quentin Banks, director of the Maryland Emergency Management Agency. "But if there are things that do happen, we believe the disruption will be minimal," with essential state functions being carried out normally.

Banks said the state's emergency management command center will be staffed by officials from all state agencies, the U.S. Coast Guard and Army Corps of Engineers and the Red Cross.

Baltimore has established an emergency Y2K command center in the former Fire Department headquarters at 410 E. Lexington St., where Police, Fire and Public Works Department officials will monitor problems.

In July, the General Accounting Office placed Baltimore on a federal report of cities not prepared to handle computer problems linked to the change to the New Year. Among the areas of concern were water distribution, wastewater treatment, and emergency services.

The city has played down the report.

Shirey said crowds are expected at the Inner Harbor and Fells Point, so the police presence will be large in both areas. And police are worried that the practice of firing guns into the air at midnight could increase sharply.

On Nov. 30, police and city officials will meet with representatives of the city's major hospitals, businesses, universities and factories to coordinate Y2K preparations.

Plans in other cities

Police in cities including Seattle, Boston, Chicago and Los Angeles said they will maximize their presence on New Year's, but don't plan to have National Guard troops as immediate backup.

In Washington, National Guard troops will augment 3,200 police officers -- but only for directing traffic, said Peter Laporte, director of the Washington Emergency Management Agency.

Glendening's office hopes National Guard troops never have to be seen on the streets of Baltimore.

"The National Guard is certainly in the mix, but as far as armed personnel carriers driving down streets -- it's doubtful," Cahalan said.

Sun staff writers Joanna Daemmrich, Erin Texeira and Ivan Penn contributed to this article.

Originally published on Nov 13 1999

[snip]

-- Linkmeister (link@librarian.edu), December 12, 1999.

Let me clarify.

I'm not looking for PR pieces or news items or opinions other than those of current National Guardsmen with first-hand knowledge, but thanks all, so far for your interest!

-- Randers (coyotecanyon@hotmail.com), December 12, 1999.

Also see this thread by Randers:

"If it's the end of the IRS, where are the disgruntled employees?"

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=001zUH

-- Linkmeister (link@librarian.edu), December 12, 1999.

"If the government was planning, there should be plenty of 1st hand evidence..."

I KNOW you are NOT going to believe this, BUT, Saturday morning I observed flat-bed train cars loaded with Amphibious Attack Vehicles. I only saw about 10 of these, but the effect was chilling. They were on a rail line leading to downtown Sacramento.

THIS was more evidence of "preparation" than I personally wanted to observe.

-- notEven (no@Way.com), December 12, 1999.

I have a friend with the Florida National Guard who has been training this weekend. So far, there hasn't been anything doing with Y2K. I will ask him this week and let you all know.

-- the Virginian (1@1.com), December 12, 1999.

Four Ohio Guardsmen we know have received orders to report in right after Christmas.

-- PillsBury DoughBoy (pbdb98@yahoo.com), December 12, 1999.

There have been numerous reports of military vehicles seen in places which they are not normally encountered.Although there are no active duty military installations in Oregon, (Just reserve facilities), recently a poster reported seeing a trainload of tanks and apcs on a siding in Portland. Just this morning, I heard a helo going overhead and looked up to see an Apache attack helo flying overhead, (Springfield OR). I've never seen one in Oregon before.

-- Ralph Kramden (and@AwayWeGo.com), December 12, 1999.

Who's got the polly off?

-- FLAME AWAY (BLehman202@aol.com), December 12, 1999.