Call to Duty ceremony March 4 for 200 Airmen from Delaware Air National Guard before they deploy to Afghanistan and other locations in Southwest Asia Published June 1, 2011 By 050211 NEW CASTLE, Delaware -- Delaware National Guard and 166th Airlift Wing leadership will host a Call to Duty ceremony Friday March 4 for 200 Airmen of the Delaware Air National Guard before most of the Airmen deploy the following week to Afghanistan. A modest number of Airmen will go to other nations in the Southwest Asia combat zone. The Airmen will serve overseas for several months, with most supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. The Call to Duty ceremony is 2:30 p.m. Friday March 4. Along with the 200 deploying Airmen, about 250 family members plus civilian dignitaries and other invited guests will attend. However, the event is not open to the public. News media are invited, but are asked to call ahead, and to arrive no later than 1:30 p.m. Media must carry proper identification and will be credentialed at the main gate. The ceremony will be held inside the new aircraft maintenance hangar on base, 2600 Spruance Drive, New Castle, DE 19720. Media should enter the base from Commons Boulevard and follow the signs for "Delaware Air National Guard." Number of deploying Airmen by unit: About 85 Airmen from the 166th Operations Group, about 75 Airmen from the 166th Maintenance Group, and about 40 Airmen from the 142nd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron. About 160 of the deploying Airmen will travel aboard six C-130H model transport aircraft of the Delaware Air National Guard, leaving from New Castle Airport three different days the week after the March 4 Call to Duty ceremony. The 200 deploying Airmen are primarily residents of the four states of Del., Pa., Md. and N.J. A modest number of Airmen reside in several other states from N.Y. to Va. For Delaware, Airmen who reside in New Castle, Kent and Sussex counties will deploy. For Pa., Airmen who reside in Delaware County, Chester County, and other nearby counties will deploy. For Md., Airmen who reside in Harford and Cecil Counties will deploy. For New Jersey, Airmen who reside in Salem County and possibly other nearby South Jersey counties will deploy. Additional details for the hometowns of the Airmen, by state and city, will be provided on or before March 4. The Delaware ANG has 1,100 members, and continually deploys personnel and subordinate units around the globe. This release is in the public domain, and any part may be used as written. Delaware Air National Guard: Celebrating 65 years of Citizen-Airman service to our state and nation, 1946-2011 - 30 -