HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass., April 16, 2013 – The Massachusetts National Guard continues to assist local and state authorities following yesterday’s explosions near the Boston Marathon finish line.
“We offer our deepest sympathy and prayers to the victims of the explosions in Boston today,” Army Brig. Gen. Paul G. Smith, commander of the Massachusetts Army National Guard’s Land Component Command, said yesterday. “We are here to assist the Boston Police and provide additional support as it is requested.”
More than 400 Guardsmen who had been on duty to help law enforcement agencies keep the marathon’s route clear remain on duty to continue to assist local authorities. All of the Guardsmen are accounted for, and none were reported injured, Guard officials said.
The 211th Military Police Battalion has been called upon to provide security. The Guard also is staging transportation assets, such as buses and helicopters.
The Massachusetts National Guard’s 387th Ordnance Company has been activated, and the 267th Combat Communications Squadron’s joint incident site communications capability, or JISCC, is headed to Boston to assist with interagency communication. A JISCC is a wireless broadband that provides computers, Web access and telephones to deployed personnel. It has its own satellite, officials said, so it is stand-alone system. It enables state and local emergency responders with communications capabilities.
The Massachusetts Civil Support Team is providing support to civil authorities. Personnel from the New York, New Hampshire and Rhode Island civil support teams are providing additional support.