Posted on: Monday, March 10, 2003

Guard's communication group deploys

Advertiser Staff

Thirty-eight members of the Hawai'i Air National Guard deployed over the weekend as part of a military build up for a possible war against Iraq, the state Department of Defense said.

Those deployed on Saturday and yesterday were all members of units belonging to the 201st Combat Communications Group. Defense officials would not say where they would perform active duty.

The National Guard personnel were based at Barbers Point and Hickam Air Force Base on O'ahu, Kahului on Maui, and Hilo on the Big Island.

Defense officials said those deployed would provide air traffic control and radar approach control for U.S. military aircraft and provide secure satellite, microwave and Internet communications.

Their deployment is for an undetermined amount of time.