U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Timothy E. Gowen, the adjutant general of Maryland, visited with deployed Maryland National Guard troops from the 729th Quartermaster Composite Supply Company Feb. 28, 2020, at the 33rd Air Base, in Powidz, Poland. U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Perlisa Wilson, Maryland National Guard senior enlisted leader, accompanied Gowen during this visit of the nearly 200 Soldiers who have been deployed to Poland and surrounding areas in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve since late Dec. 2019.
Prior to their deployment in support of the U.S. European Command’s mission in the region, the 729th CSC’s last activation was in 2017 to assist Puerto Rico in the response and relief efforts following Hurricane Maria.
“We are very proud to have the 729th here representing the MDNG,” said Gowen. “Their presence is a show of force and deterrence. There’s real value in the support they give to Operation Atlantic Resolve involving thousands of Soldiers across 17 different countries.”
During the visit, Gowen and Wilson met with leadership from the 729th, visited various worksites, toured the base facilities, and met with 729th Soldiers.
The tour began with an introductory brief of the capabilities and objectives of the 729th before setting off to tour worksites to include a water treatment facility. Gowen and Wilson dined with Soldiers of the 729th and had the opportunity to speak to junior enlisted Soldiers one-on-one.
“A lot of junior enlisted members don’t have a lot of opportunities to see a two-star general,” says U.S. Army Spc. Mark Hunter, a water purification treatment specialist in the 729th. “The fact that [Gowen and Wilson] took the time to come out to come to Powidz, shows they actually care about the mission and the Maryland National Guard cares about their Soldiers.”
After lunch, the command team then toured through more work sites including supply support areas, maintenance bays, the motor pool, and the operations section.
The visit concluded with a tour of some of the areas where Soldiers spend their time beyond the duty day, which included living quarters, the gym, and Morale, Welfare and Recreation amenities.
The 729th first gained federal recognition in the Maryland National Guard on Sept. 30, 1921, initially as a medical regiment before transforming into a support company. The unit is stationed at the BG Thomas B. Baker Readiness Center in Ellicott City, Maryland.
