Maryland National Guard sends 300 soldiers from Dundalk to Horn of Africa mission

The Maryland National Guard is set to deploy about 300 soldiers from the 175th Infantry Regiment to the Horn of Africa as of part efforts to support counterterrorism security initiatives in East Africa.

The First Battalion, 175th Infantry Regiment’s deployment officially began Monday morning, when soldiers departed the Dundalk Readiness Center.

Families were invited to the ceremony, giving them a chance to say goodbye.

“I got my family and my in-laws that came here, so just for them to be able to look around and see all the love and support that all of the soldiers behind me and in front of me, that I’m both in charge of and that are in charge of me, just to see the support that they have, I think is extremely important,” said Maryland National Guard Capt. Isaac Avon.

Service members will spend the next several months supporting the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti.

Camp Lemonnier is the largest U.S. military base in Africa and a key player in anti-terrorism operations in Yemen and Somalia.

Read more: WBAL