Forty members of the Arkansas National Guard are getting ready to deploy to the United States’ southwest border. According to the guard, a departure ceremony for the members of the 142nd Field Artillery Brigade will occur Monday morning at 9 at Fort Chaffee Joint Maneuver Training Center near Barling.
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders gave her order on March 19 for the guardsmen to support the Texas National Guard and Operation Lonestar. They reported to Fort Chaffee Joint Maneuver Training Center on Thursday for administrative processing, medical readiness screening, first aid training and deliberate pre-deployment checks and inspections. They will return from their deployment on May 30.
In 2023, 80 Guardsmen were deployed to Texas on state active duty from June 24 through Aug. 5 to support Operation Lonestar to perform look out and observation post duties. Former Gov. Asa Hutchinson also directed 13 Guardsmen to provide vehicle maintenance support to the Texas National Guard in 2021.
The Arkansas National Guard has reportedly been to the Southwest border states numerous times on federal missions. Most recently, the 875th Engineer Battalion from Jonesboro deployed 50 Guardsmen in 2022 and 2023 to Texas for one year to perform command and control of subordinate military companies on Title 10 orders performing look out and observation post duties in support of U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.
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