More than half of Nevada Guard to be mobilized

Jace Radke

Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2004 | 9:21 a.m.

More than half of Nevada's Army National Guard soldiers will be mobilized by the middle of the month, ranking Nevada as one of the states with the highest percentage of mobilized troops.

Statewide there are about 2,000 Army Guardsmen, and the mobilization of the Las Vegas-based 221st Cavalry Squadron for an 18-month deployment to Fort Irwin, Calif., later this month will push the number of mobilized soldiers from the state to more than 1,000.

"We have a lot of small companies in the state, but the Cavalry unit is our biggest, so when it gets mobilized it pushes our numbers," Nevada Army National Guard spokeswoman 1st Lt. April Conway said.

Later this month Nevada could have about 1,025 soldiers mobilized, Conway said.

About 600 soldiers with the 221st are scheduled to head to Fort Irwin outside of Barstow, Calif., on Aug. 16. The unit specializes in driving M1A1 Abrams tanks, and will take over the mission of acting as opposing forces in training for the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, which has been called to duty overseas.

While the 221st is based at the Clark County Armory near Nellis Air Force Base, the National Guard's 1864th Transportation Co. is based at the Henderson Armory, and will deploy about 175 soldiers to Fort Lewis, Wash., on Aug. 19.

The 1864th is expected to move on to the Middle East in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom a few weeks after arriving at Fort Lewis. The unit's mission is to drive tractor-trailers full of ammunition, equipment and other supplies.

The deployment of the 1864th could also affect soldiers with the Army Guard's 593rd Transportation Co. in Reno, Winnemucca and Elko. Soldiers from the 593rd could be called to augment the 1864th for the mission, military officials said.

The Reno-based 321st Signal Co. currently has about 100 soldiers deployed to Kuwait. There are also about 75 soldiers with the 221st that are assisting in providing security at Nellis Air Force Base and the Air National Guard Base in Reno.

A helicopter unit based at Stead Airport near Reno has received alert orders and is now just waiting for mobilization orders, Conway said.

The approximately 60-soldier unit flys CH 47 Chinook helicopters used for heavy transport.

Conway said there were 15 other soldiers deployed from other units as well.

Along with the state's Army National Guard soldiers, there are also about 1,000 Air National Guard troops in the state. About 200 of those Reno-based airmen are currently on active duty, with about 60 serving overseas, Conway said.