KAILUA-KONA — Approximately 1,000 Hawaii Army National Guard soldiers have been notified they should be prepared to deploy to the Middle East and Europe starting next spring.
The Department of Defense notified HIARNG on Thursday about the deployment of six units including one based on the Big Island. They are:
• Company B, 1st Battalion, 171st Aviation Regiment (CH-47 Chinook helicopter)
• All HIARNG detachments of 1st Battalion, 189th General Support Aviation Battalion (HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter, Medical Evacuation)
• Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 29th IBCT (Brigade Staff)
• 227th Brigade Engineer Battalion
• 1st Squadron, 299th Cavalry Regiment (based in Hilo)
• 1st Battalion, 487th Field Artillery
Lt. Col. Charles Anthony, with the Air National Guard Public Affairs Office, told West Hawaii Today in an email that the notice is related to deployments of National Guardsmen across the U.S. in recent months.
“Most of these deployments would be to the Middle East in support of various operational contingencies, which could include operations combating ISIS,” he wrote.
However, exact dates, locations, numbers or missions have not been finalized. The notice gives the HIARNG sourcing to plan and coordinate future training necessary for deployment.
Soldiers from the affected units have been informing family and their civilian employers about the possibility of an upcoming deployment. It is not guaranteed that every unit named on a NOS list will be alerted to mobilize and then deploy.
According to the National Guard, since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, guard members have deployed more than 850,000 times. On any given day, the National Guard has approximately 18,000 Soldiers and Airmen mobilized in support of combatant command missions overseas.