CAMP JOSEPH T. ROBINSON, NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A departure ceremony for 40 Guardsmen from the 142nd Field Artillery Brigade will occur at 9 a.m. April 1 at Fort Chaffee Joint Maneuver Training Center near Barling, Ark.
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on March 19 ordered 40 Arkansas National Guardsmen on state active duty to the Southwest border to support the Texas National Guard and Operation Lonestar.
The Guardsmen reported to Fort Chaffee Joint Maneuver Training Center on March 28 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.
The Guardsmen will remain under the control of Gov. Sanders for the duration of the mission, but they will perform duties on the ground on behalf of the Texas National Guard.
Last year, 80 Guardsmen were deployed to Texas on state active duty June 24 – Aug. 5 to support Operation Lonestar to perform look out and observation post duties.
Additionally, former Gov. Asa Hutchinson directed a 13 Guardsmen to support Operation Lonestar in 2021. They deployed July 27, 2021, and returned Oct. 24, 2021. Their mission was to provide vehicle maintenance support to the Texas National Guard.
The Arkansas National Guard has been to the Southwest border states numerous times on federal missions. Most recently the 875th Engineer Battalion out of Jonesboro, Ark., 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.
The Arkansas National Guard assumes support roles to augment civil authorities, where needed and directed by the Governor, to help in a crisis.