The Louisiana National Guard’s 1021st Vertical Engineer Company will deploy to Asia with more than 40 guardsmen who will assist with construction operations. Captain Emily Anthony says for most of the unit this is their first overseas deployment and their occupations range from crane operator, correctional officer to electricians.
“Our guys are going to be deploying to the CentCom area of operation in support of Operation Spartan Shield and they will be conducting a variety of construction projects
This is the 1021st Vertical Engineer Company’s second deployment since 9/11 and the last time they were deployed overseas was to Kuwait in 2013. But Anthony says they’ve had several missions in Louisiana following hurricanes and other weather events.
“We’ve actually had to respond to two tornados in the last year and a half and last summer we actually were on orders for a month responding to wild fires just west of the Lake Charles area. So yeah its been very busy.
The deployment is set for almost a year and the platoon will have pre- deployment training at Fort Bliss, Texas.
“There going to be attached to a unit from another state which is an interesting situation, but they are going to do great and represent Louisiana well.”
The primary objection while overseas will be to provide construction engineering expertise to work on critical infrastructure.
