Nearly two weeks after Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida, National Guard and active duty troops in North Carolina are working together under the command of Army Brig. Gen. Charles Morrison as a dual-status commander to provide relief to the citizens of the state. With over 3,300 military personnel, including both National Guard and active duty forces, on the ground in North Carolina, the joint task force is equipped with 918 vehicles and over 41 aircraft to aid in the relief efforts. Additionally, engineering task forces from Michigan and Virginia have been deployed to assist in the critical relief missions in the state.
Brig. Gen. Morrison spoke highly of the collaboration between active duty and National Guard forces, emphasizing the seamless integration of the active Army into the relief efforts. Task Force Castle, originating from Fort Liberty in North Carolina, has been actively engaged in conducting route clearance missions and delivering essential commodities to those in need. As a dual-status commander, Morrison is leading both Title 10 active duty forces and Title 32 National Guard forces in North Carolina to ensure a coordinated and effective response to the disaster.
In addition to providing relief efforts, soldiers from both the National Guard and active duty forces are also working to organize donations from across the nation to assist in the humanitarian relief efforts in North Carolina. This partnership between active duty and National Guard forces has been crucial in facilitating a unified response to the disaster. Air Force Gen. Gregory Guillot, commander of United States Northern Command, commended the leadership of Brig. Gen. Morrison in his dual-status role, which allows for the effective coordination of state and federal forces to provide aid where it is needed most.
The active duty 18th Airborne Corps, based out of Fort Liberty, is leading the Title 10 response in North Carolina, with support from Navy helicopters and aircraft from Tennessee conducting search and rescue missions in the western part of the state. The dual-status leadership model in North Carolina has proved to be effective in ensuring a cohesive and organized response to the disaster. With the combined efforts of active duty and National Guard forces under the command of Brig. Gen. Morrison, the citizens of North Carolina are receiving the necessary aid and assistance to recover from the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
