Cherry Hill's MP unit ready to answer call
	Feb 2008 - From Courier-Post Newspaper.   Soldiers at the Cherry Hill National Armory will be joining the deployment of about half of the New Jersey National Guard this summer. The 328th Military Police of Cherry Hill was originally scheduled to deploy separately, but is now joining the 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team to deploy to Iraq beginning in June.
The approximately 170 MPs will bring the total force of National Guard soldiers to more than 3,000 -- the largest deployment of the New Jersey National Guard since World War II. The 50th IBCT will be conducting detainee operations, security force measurements and some convoys while serving to support Operation Iraqi Freedom. "The Military Police fit right into that mission," said Col. Steven Ferrari, the commander of the 50th IBCT. "Their expertise will certainly help."Since the deployment was announced in October 2007, soldiers have been going through the Soldier Readiness Processing site at Fort Dix to complete medical and dental screenings in addition to family readiness, legal, dog tags and identification updates before beginning actual training. The deployment was originally slated for 2010, but new federal guidelines have created more frequent deployments for Guard and Reserve components, resulting in the change of the 50th IBCT's deployment to 2008.	Check out the PHOTOS ! Click here for Photos from the April 2008 Picinic at the Cherry Hill National Guard Armory Click here for Photos from the May 2008 ceremony and Luncheon at the Cherry Hill National Guard Armory. Click here to sign up for CARE PACKAGES while youre away! Calling all Military Men/Women All active military men & women receive FREE MEMBERSHIP to the American Legion Post 372 in Cherry Hill.  Click here for Membership Applications If you are interested in learning more about the American Legion and the benefits of joining, email Susan Quinn-Morris at squinn9807@aol.com

Because of the new federal regulations requiring reserve units to be called to active duty for no more than 12 months, pre-mobilization efforts have become crucial to utilize the active time for essential training and in-country missions.

Because of the new federal regulations requiring reserve units to be called to active duty for no more than 12 months, pre-mobilization efforts have become crucial to utilize the active time for essential training and in-country missions.

"The one year total mobilization for reserve components had significant implications on what we needed to do to get ready," Ferrari said. "The pre-mobilization training equates to being better prepared. The better shape we're in when those 12 months start means more time in theater (in Iraq doing the mission) supporting the Army."

When signing up for the Guard, soldiers are required to attend training, known as "drill," for one weekend a month and two weeks a year. But from now through June, the citizen-soldiers of the Guard will be conducting training two weekends a month and for three weeks this spring.

After that, the Guard will officially be activated in June and begin training at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas.

"The soldiers will train on convoy live fire exercises among other desert training," Ferrari said.

"They will train on detainee operations at a mock detainee site.

"They will be home in June 2009," he added.

Once training is completed at Fort Bliss, the New Jersey National Guard soldiers will be "in country" -- in Iraq -- by September.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, New Jersey has mobilized about 7,000 National Guard troops either overseas or in the United States.

"They've had missions to bridges, tunnels and airports throughout the state," said Kryn Westhoven, spokesman for the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. "They have also had ongoing missions at nuclear power plants."

The largest number of local soldiers will be deploying from the 1/114th Infantry Battalion. The battalion consists of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company at the Woodbury Armory, Company A out of Mount Holly Armory and Company C out of the Burlington Township Armory. The 250th Brigade Support Battalion, Company B, out of the Bordentown Armory also will be joining the 50th IBCT as well as select units from Fort Dix, according to the NJDMVA.

Almost 600 of the 3,000 soldiers deploying reside in Burlington, Camden and Gloucester counties.

Ferrari said the biggest challenge is the lack of time to prepare.

"In seven months, we're doing what we're supposed to have at least one or two years to do," he said.

This will be the first deployment for Ferrari, of West Berlin.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge," Ferrari said. "It's a great opportunity and it's great to work with the soldiers.

"The motivation and morale of the soldiers are excellent," he added. "We're going to do great."