Oregon National Guard’s Elite Engineers Gear Up to Secure the Mexico Border for a Year
The Oregon National Guard’s 1249th Engineer Battalion is preparing for a year-long mobilization to support security operations along the United States’ southern border, according to operations officer Major Christopher Campbell.
50 Special Skill Members Will Serve
The Oregon battalion will be sending 50 members with specialized skills and will serve as the command element for units from other state National Guards operating on the border.
The mission is coordinated by the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense. The 1249th Battalion has been deployed for its specialized skills in operations, behavioral health services, medical, and contracting. Campbell says the battalion could be assigned to one of four sectors along the southern border in Arizona, California, or Texas.
The 1249th battalion will undergo pre-mobilization training in August, followed by two months of preparation at Fort Bliss, Texas. The engineers expect to be on the ground for nine months, with a total deployment of about 12 months.
Members of the Battalion Serve Part-Time
Members of the Oregon National Guard serve part-time while maintaining civilian careers and stand ready to respond to state emergencies.
On his first day back in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order declaring an emergency at the border and ordered additional servicemen to ‘seal the border.’
Recent official data from Customs and Border Protection reveals that more than 61,000 migrants crossed the border in January.
At present, there are 9,200 troops at the southern border, including 4,200 deployed under federal orders and 5,000 National Guard troops controlled by state governors.
The Pentagon says the latest deployment will expand and reinforce current border security operations, protecting ‘the territorial integrity’ of the U.S. and helping to seal the border.