Massachusetts Army National Guard

The Massachusetts Army National Guard maintains 69 armories, and is present in 58 communities.

The Massachusetts Army national Guard continued to foster community partnerships with innovative programs in FY99. The Rails to Trails program linked several of the Commonwealth's towns with public access recreational trails. At Camp Curtis Build, the Minuteman Challenge Academy provided life skills and a high school equivalency certificate to 100 at-risk youths.

The Drug Demand Reduction Office continued its successful Operation Challenge after school program in 15 communities. The forty-hour course combines peer leadership with adventure-based training to promote a drug resistant lifestyle.

The Massachusetts Army National Guard supported its strategic goals during FY99 as soldiers from Company E, 12th Aviation Battalion returned from Bosnia. The 104th Fighter Wing also deployed in support of Operation Allied Force in Kosovo.

Massachusetts became the home station to one of 10 Military Support Detachments trained to assist local, state and federal law enforcement agencies during incidents involving weapons of mass destruction. This 22-member team became operational in the first quarter of 2000.