875th receives word of possible deployment

Tribune News Staff

"We can not sit down and wait to act when, and if, an alert is actually published," Maj. Gen. Bill Wofford, Arkansas National Guard adjutant general said in a written statement concerning the possible deployment of the 875th Engineering Battalion to Afghanistan. "Since we are facing a potential short-fused alert, we are proactively taking steps to prepare the battalion so they will be ready when the time comes."

Word of the possible deployment was received Saturday while annual training was going on at Fort Chaffee near Fort Smith. A written alert order has yet to be received, even though officials said it was anticipated.

The deployment, if it occurs, is expected to take place sometime in fiscal year 2010 which begins Oct. 1. Also, only a portion of the battalion's 700 soldiers are expected to be 'called up.' The entire battalion, however, is being prepared.

The battalion, which is headquartered in Jonesboro with other units in North Little Rock, Paragould, Harrisburg and Marked Tree. Early word was that the Jonesboro and Paragould were the most likely to begin deploying first with other units used as needed.

Wofford added in his statement that the priority at the present time was to inform the troops and their families so they could make preparations in case they are indeed deployed.

It's been nearly two years since the 875th returned from Iraq where they were stationed for a year. In that time, the soldiers cleared 1,244 roadside bombs. There success at that time is just one of the reasons they are being considered for deployment.

According to Wofford, the unit will now receive readiness training to aid the troops in being medically, legally and administratively prepared for mobilization. The training will also include a stronger focus on the basic soldier skills of shoot, move and communicate.

See next week's Democrat for further details on the deployment of the 875th.