More airmen deployed from Meridian base

By Staff
From staff and wire reports
Feb. 8, 2002
About 13 members of the Mississippi Air National Guard's 186th Air Refueling Wing Security Forces Squadron were deployed Thursday to serve in Operation Enduring Freedom.
The airmen will provide base security at an undisclosed location in support of U.S. Air Force operations.
About 20 members of the 186th already have been deployed and remain overseas in support of U.S. Air Force refueling operations.
The deployed airmen were part of the 44 security policemen activated last year under a partial mobilization of forces to provide additional security at the Air National Guard base in Meridian.
Under the partial mobilization, soldiers and airmen can be called for a period up to 24 months. However, this in no way characterizes how long they will actually be mobilized, according to Lt. Col. Tim Powell with the Mississippi National Guard Office of Public Affairs.
About 20 members of a previous 186th deployment remain overseas in support of U.S. Air Force refueling operations.