~ 100 Soldiers from the 142nd Field Artillery Brigade to support D.C. National Guard civil security mission
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has approved the deployment of approximately 100 Arkansas Army National Guard Soldiers to Washington, D.C., to support the D.C. National Guard’s ongoing civil security operations.
The Soldiers are from the Arkansas Army National Guard’s 142nd Field Artillery Brigade. They will assemble at Fort Chaffee Joint Maneuver Training Center in Barling in the coming weeks to complete administrative processing, medical and dental readiness screening, pre-mobilization training, and mission-specific preparation. Following the Thanksgiving holidays, the Soldiers will move to the National Capital Region. The mission is projected to last several months.
“Arkansas’ Guardsmen are there when we need them – whether it’s to deploy overseas, help secure the Southern Border, respond to a natural disaster, or keep our nation’s capital safe. I have no doubt that in this mission, they will show the same skill and discipline that makes them such valuable public servants and will help bring law and order back to the streets of Washington, D.C.,” said Governor Sanders. “I am thankful to the Guardsmen and their families, and to President Trump for cleaning up crime.”
“I am proud of our Soldiers and their continued commitment to serve when called,” said Brig. Gen. Chad Bridges, Adjutant General of Arkansas. “These Guardsmen bring exceptional training, discipline, and professionalism. They will be well-prepared and ready to integrate with the D.C. National Guard and accomplish the mission. The Arkansas National Guard stands ready to serve our state and our nation when called — at home, across the country, and overseas.”
This is a federally funded mission, and the Soldiers will conduct security presence patrols and provide law enforcement support in designated areas. This deployment is part of a routine rotational relief of National Guard units currently assigned to the mission.
The Arkansas National Guard maintains trained and ready forces prepared to deploy worldwide in support of federal missions and U.S. national security objectives. The Guard also supports civil authorities within the state when directed by the Governor, including security operations, disaster response, and emergency assistance.
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