MDDF Mobilizes to Support Baltimore’s 2012 Star-Spangled Sailabration

By CPT (MDDF) Stephen Rice
Maryland Defense Force Public Affairs
June 25, 2012

From June 13 to June 19 the Maryland Defense Force (MDDF) supported the commemoration of the bicentennial of The Star-Spangled Banner and the War of 1812 in Baltimore, Maryland. This important national event helped to kick-off a three year series of activities that are designed to commemorate the writing of our National Anthem and our nation’s struggle for independence. Although a number of government agencies and volunteer organizations played critical roles in the event’s success, Sailabration was principally spearheaded by the U.S. Navy and the City of Baltimore.

The Sailabration festivities brought an estimated 500,000 visitors to Baltimore City to participate in the celebration. In addition, several thousand sailors and Marines visited Baltimore traveling from home ports around the world. Many of the sailors and Marines arrived on the more than 40 ships that paraded up the Chesapeake Bay and docked in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor for the special commemoration. Planning for the MDDF participation in the Sailabration event was conducted by Col. (MDDF) David Thaler.

During the opening ceremony, MDDF military escorts and ushers under the leadership of Col. David Thaler (MDDF) and Command Sgt. Maj. (MDDF) Ronald Scott helped to ensure that the dignitaries and the press were properly seated. Dignitaries in attendance included Maryland Lt. Governor Anthony Brown, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Rear Adm. Gregory M. Nosal and Brig. Gen. (MDDF) Brian R. Kelm. Music was provided by the U.S. Navy Band.

MDDF trusted agents under the leadership of Col. (MDDF) Walter Coryell worked to ensure that civilian visitors were safely transported to Locust Point where many of the “grey hull ships” were docked. At least one MDDF trusted agent was posted on each visitor shuttle bus between the Baltimore Ravens M&T Bank Stadium and the Locust Point harbor site. Over the six day celebration the trusted agents helped to ensure the safety of over 8,000 visitors.

The MDDF 10th Medical Regiment under the leadership of Col. (MDDF) Walter Hettinger erected and operated two medical tents during Sailabration. A Mobile Medical tent was located at the Baltimore Inner Harbor and another was located at Ft. McHenry. The 10th Medical Regiment was augmented by the MDDF Linguistics Unit which was under the leadership of Col. (MDDF) Stanley Shapiro and Lt. Col. (MDDF) Sierra Braiterman. The Linguistics Unit provided skilled interpreters for international visitors that were not native English speakers. Over the course of the six day event the 10th Medical Regiment successfully treated 103 patients for an assortment of medical issues.

In order to support MDDF field units and the Baltimore City and U.S. Navy operations centers, a MDDF operations center was established in the Fells Point neighborhood of Baltimore. The MDDF operations center was located at the Polish National Alliance headquarters and executed its mission under Col. (MDDF) Raymond Bocelli. Supporting the Sailabration communications network was the MDDF Communications Unit under the direction of Col. (MDDF) Henry Clark. In addition, a recruiting booth for the MDDF was coordinated by Capt. (MDDF) Bryan Fischer.

In supporting the Sailabration mission, MDDF personnel contributed over 4,400 man hours to the success of this event. Nearly 200 MDDF personnel participated in Sailabration which helped to save the U.S. Navy, the State of Maryland and the City of Baltimore well over $250,000. At the conclusion of Sailabration MDDF Commander Brig. Gen. (MDDF) Brian R. Kelm commented that he “could not be more proud of my MDDF soldiers as they have completely exceeded my expectations.”

The Maryland Defense Force (MDDF) is the State’s uniformed volunteer military unit providing professional and technical assistance to the Maryland Military Department. Established in 1917, the MDDF consists of nearly 450 personnel who perform legal, engineering, finance, medical, chaplain, field support and ceremonial services for the State of Maryland. For more information: www.mddf.maryland.gov

MDDF Command Staff Colonel Receives Meritorious Service Award

By CPT (MDDF) Stephen Rice
May 20, 2012

On June 14, 2012 Maryland Defense Force (MDDF) Col. David S. Thaler will receive the Meritorious Service Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers. Col. (MDDF) Thaler is a member of the 121st Engineer Regiment of the Maryland Defense Force and President of D.S. Thaler & Associates, Inc. D.S. Thaler & Associates is a civil and environmental engineering, surveying, landscape architecture and land planning firm that was founded by Col. (MDDF) Thaler over 35 years ago.

As a practitioner, he has designed hundreds of residential, commercial and industrial land development projects throughout the Mid-Atlantic. His firm has created many innovative designs and he invented the “Super Silt Fence” technique which has become an international standard. Col. (MDDF) Thaler’s specialty is managing large, difficult and environmentally complex projects.

Thaler has been an advocate and educator for the land use industry for several years. He has published more than 200 articles and four books on engineering and development topics. In addition, Col. (MDDF) Thaler previously taught storm water engineering at Lehigh University. Most recently he taught at the University of Maryland School of Architecture and at the Johns Hopkins University Carey School of Business. Currently, he presents a program entitled “Thaler on Land Use” at the University of Baltimore School of Law where he serves as a Visiting Scholar.

Col. (MDDF) Thaler has also been very involved in civic affairs. He is a past president of the Maryland Society of Professional Engineers and was the founding president of the Land Development Council of Maryland. Thaler is a fellow of both the National Society of Professional Engineers and the American Society of Professional Engineers. He is also the recipient of many other honors and lifetime achievement awards.

As an engineer within the MDDF, Col. Thaler formed a partnership between the MDDF and the Maryland Society of Professional Engineers. This initiative is called the Maryland Engineering Emergency Response Team. It provides volunteer professional engineering services to support the Maryland National Guard in times of emergency.

Brig. Gen. (MDDF) Brian R. Kelm, the commanding general of the MDDF commented that “Col. Thaler is special in that he is both very technically proficient and he knows how to lead. He is a wonderful asset to the MDDF.“

The Maryland Defense Force (MDDF) is the State’s uniformed volunteer military unit providing professional and technical assistance to the Maryland Military Department. Established in 1917, the MDDF consists of nearly 450 personnel who perform legal, engineering, finance, medical, chaplain, field support and ceremonial services for the State of Maryland. For more information: www.mddf.maryland.gov.

Maryland Defense Force Participates in Operation STAT Disaster Drill

By COL (MDDF) H. Wayne Nelson, LTC (MDDF) Elizabeth Austin
April 20, 2012

On April 20, 2012 Maryland Defense Force (MDDF) personnel worked side by side with Maryland National Guard ambulance units, local police units, emergency medical technicians, nurses, nursing students, the Maryland State Funeral Directors Association disaster response team and public health professionals in response to a simulated earthquake at Towson University. This field training exercise called Operation STAT was a mass casualty calamity drill designed to practice a coordinated agency response and to introduce Towson University nursing students to disaster triage.

Operation STAT is in its fourth year and it gave MDDF personnel the opportunity to work beside community partners to enhance interagency cooperation, planning, command and control in a disaster situation. The MDDF 10th Medical Regiment contributed 35 personnel and provided operational leadership. There were 37 MDDF personnel from other units including the Finance Corps, Judge Advocate Corps, the Military Support Unit and the Operations and Training Unit. Towson University provided 546 student “victims” who were treated during the exercise.

Many of the student victims were moulaged with fake blood, bruises, broken bones, impalements and abrasions. This created a sense of realism for the exercise which lasted just under four hours. The MDDF 10th Medical Regiment provided medical, nursing and mental health personnel on site to coach student nurses in the treatment of the injured. The 10th Medical Regiment commander, Col. (MDDF) Walter Hettinger noted that, “It is a nice refresher course for immediate trauma stabilization.”

Other MDDF units provided operational support for the exercise through treatment area set-up, the tracking of supplies, the tracking of patients, radio communication, incident command support and public affairs. Lt. Col. Charles Kohler, Public Affairs Officer of the Maryland National Guard enthusiastically commented that “Everybody is learning, everybody!” Brig. Gen. (MDDF) Brian R. Kelm, the commanding general of the MDDF noted that “the moulage, the expected scenarios and even some unexpected injects were all accomplished in an exemplary manner. Bravo Zulu!”

The Maryland Defense Force (MDDF) is the State’s uniformed volunteer military unit providing professional and technical assistance to the Maryland Military Department. Established in 1917, the MDDF consists of nearly 450 personnel who perform legal, engineering, finance, medical, chaplain, field support and ceremonial services for the State of Maryland. For more information: http://mddf.maryland.gov/.

Maryland Defense Force Major Adam Daniel Metz, II Passes Away

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