Civil Support

Great November article on the current status of the National Guard's civil support teams (CSTs), "Over Tasked?" CST commanders have been concerned with "mission creep" since the inception of the teams.

The article correctly points out that all states are not created equal in emergency response capabilities. Thus, each CST has to find its proper niche in its state's emergency plans. This is not always an easy task.

What constitutes a valid mission was the question I got most often as a CST commander, from team members and state staffs. I am happy to see the evolution of congressional language that now legally permits CST participation in both manmade and natural disasters.

Retired Lt. Col. John R. clayton

South Carolina

Army National Guard

Editor's Note: The writer commanded the 43rd CST from 1999 to 2003.

Wrong Texas Unit

The November article ("Lone Star Lore") on Texas National Guard history states that the 49th Armored Division in Bosnia in 2000 was the "first Guard unit since World War II to command an active-component Army element."

That statement is incorrect.

In 1997 and 1998, the 111th Area Support Group, Texas Army National Guard, commanded the 608th Ordnance Company from Fort Benning, Ga., and the 503rd Maintenance Company from Fort Bragg, N.C., at the Intermediate Staging Base, in Tasar, Hungary.

The 111th was commanded by Col. Maurice J. Mayfield.

Lt. Col. Erick Matthys

Texas Army National Guard

Editor's Note: The statement in question was imprecise. In fact, the 49th was the first Army Guard division since World War II to command an activecomponent maneuver element.

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