Sunday morning saw the departure of Arkansas National Guard soldiers from Batesville’s B Company for a nearly year-long deployment.
Family members embraced and said goodbye to their loved ones after an 8:30 a.m. departure ceremony at the National Guard Armory on White Drive. Officers from the Batesville Police Department then escorted the company’s procession of motorcoach buses out of town.
The unit will join around 450 other Arkansas guardsmen at Fort Bliss in Texas for mobilization training as part of Operation Spartan Shield. According to the Arkansas National Guard, the mission of Operation Spartan Shield is to build partner capacity in the Middle East to promote regional self-reliance and increase security among partner nations.
In a media release, the Guard said B Company will spend approximately nine months at their deployed location in southwest Asia, serving as a security force by providing convoy and base security of United States military elements and assets friendly to the United States. Including their train-up period, the Guardsmen will be on orders away from their employers for roughly one year.
“These Guardsmen are well-trained and prepared for this mission,” said Maj. Gen. Jon Stubbs, Arkansas’ adjutant general. “While their mission is very important, it’s the easy part. Leaving behind your loved ones and your employer is always the most challenging part. We’ve got patriotic employers in Arkansas, and we recognize their sacrifices in supporting this deployment. For families, we’ve got an excellent support system in place. I encourage the family members of those deploying to reach out if something comes up. The Guard is family, and we’re going to provide support and guidance to ensure families are taken care of so that’s one less thing for our deploying Soldiers to worry about.”
Have a news tip or event to promote? Email White River Now at news@whiterivernow.com. Be sure to like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. And don’t forget to download the White River Now mobile app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
Get up-to-date local and regional news/weather every weekday morning and afternoon from the First Community Bank Newsroom on Arkansas 103.3 KWOZ. White River Now updates are also aired weekday mornings on 93 KZLE, Outlaw 106.5, and Your FM 99.5.
