Lansing, Mich.?Eaton Rapids resident Michael F. Murray, has joined the Michigan Army National Guard after an official swearing in conducted by his aunt, Brig. Gen. Mandi A. Murray, deputy commanding general, of the Lansing-based 46th Military Police Command, Michigan Army National Guard.

Michael follows in the military footsteps of his aunt, an uncle, Lt. Col. (retired) Martin Murray and his grandfather; Lt. Col. (retired) Stanley Murray all who attended the swearing-in ceremony held last week.

Michael, a 2005 graduate of Eaton Rapids High School is currently attending Ferris State University and plans to graduate in May 2009 with a bachelor's degree in Heavy Equipment Service Engineering Technology.

After graduating from Ferris, Murray will travel to Fort Jackson, S.C. for 11 weeks of basic combat training followed by 26 weeks of advanced individual training to be completed at Fort Eustis, Virginia. His future assignment will be with Company D, 3-238th aviation battalion, Grand Ledge, as an aircraft powertrain repairer.

Today, nearly 1,000 Michigan National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are deployed across the globe in support of the global war on terrorism; however, as the Michigan Guard serves the nation abroad, more than 90 percent of the force is available, trained and ready to respond to a state emergency including a terrorist event.

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