Fort George G. Meade: The First 100 Years

218 THE FIRST 100 YEARS
light weapons, civil disturbances and demolitions. The
Fort Meade commander assisted by making building
T-384 available as a weekend training site. The first BOC
students graduated in November 1986.
Based on the success of the initial BOC, the Maryland
Adjutant General approved creation of a permanent
“School Brigade” in August 1987. Colonels Cook and
Gillette were assigned as commandant and deputy
commandant, respectively. A November working
conference firmed up Training Command details by
preparing tables of organization; BOC, Advanced Course,
and Command and Staff Course content; and first and
second year development goals.
The new command was fortunately staffed by motivated,
high-quality Guardsmen who “hit the bricks running.”
Lt. Col. Mike Mulqueen directed the first Advanced
Course in November 1988. And 1989 proved a banner
year. The Training Command was activated on Jan. 1,
officially designated Detachment 1 (Training Command),
Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, MDDF.
Then Lt. Col. Chuck Chambers kicked off the first C&S
Course in February. Sessions were held at the Henson
Scout Reservation near Sharptown, in addition to the
usual T-384 and Pikesville Military Reservation venues.
Colonel Gillette replaced Cook as commandant in
1990, and additional BOC and Advanced Courses were
presented at Fort Meade.
But in February 1993, the MDDF was notified that
it would have to vacate T-384, which was scheduled for
demolition as part of a post-wide razing of outdated
structures. There being no other facilities readily available
on the installation, Training Command lost its Fort
Meade connection and switched its home to Pikesville
Military Reservation. A year later, Training Command
was subordinated to the HHD G-3, and eliminated as a
separate unit in an October 1995 reorganization.
Meanwhile, back at the fort, demolition of old T-384
had been completed in September 1994.
***
(Pg. 215) Soldiers stand in formation during the 704th
Military Intellligence change of command ceremony, Sept.
1993. (Pg. 216 above) 1st Lt. Bob Cassilly (left) drilling
Basic Orientation Course students in 1986. (Pg 216 lower)
Headquarters element, 5th Battalion (Infantry), Maryland
State Guard, at Fort Meade encampment in 1945. At left is
Lt. Col. Bill Jones, battalion commander. 1st Sgt. Charles
Barton stands in front. The 5th was an Eastern Shore outfit.
(Below) Col. Bill Gillette, deputy commandant; Lt. Col.
Mike Mulqueen, advanced course director; and Col. Bob
Cook, commandant. (Right) 10A and 10B: Having served
its purpose faithfully, T-384 was finally demolished during
FGGM renovation activity in August-September 1994.