Oregon National Guard to deploy at US-Mexico border for ‘security operations’
SALEM Ore. (KPTV) - The Oregon National Guard’s 1249th Engineer Battalion will be sent for a year, starting in October, to “support security operations” along the U.S. and Mexico border, ONG announced Wednesday.
”We’ll be providing a battalion or sector headquarters of about 50 people with specialized skills,” said Maj. Christopher Campbell, the battalion’s operations officer. “There will be somewhere between two to five companies underneath the headquarters, depending on which sector we’re assigned.”
According to ONG, the deployment is being coordinated through the Department of Homeland Security in cooperation with the Department of Defense, and they require personnel with expertise in operations, medical and behavioral health services and contracting.
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ONG said they could be sent to one of four areas along the southern border in California, Arizona or Texas, and will serve as the “command element” for units from other states.
The guard members will start with training in August, followed by two months at Fort Bliss, Texas, and then head to the border.
ONG said its members serve part-time, typically one weekend a month and two weeks a year, while maintaining civilian careers.
“Our Soldiers bring diverse skills from their civilian careers that complement their military training, exemplifying the Citizen-Soldier and demonstrating their capabilities to accomplish this mission,” Campbell said.
No further information or details were released about what they will be doing while on deployment.
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