Nevada Guard sees biggest mobilization since World War II

By Jeff Pope

Friday, April 17, 2009 | 10:44 a.m.

When 650 soldiers of the Nevada Army Guard’s 1st Squadron, 221st Cavalry begin their deployment to Afghanistan today, they’ll represent the largest single unit the Nevada National Guard has mobilized since World War II.

The unit includes about 450 Nevadans, which raises the total of Nevada Guard members deployed in the combat zone to nearly 750, the largest number activated at one time in the past seven decades.

The Nevadans deployed in the war theater come from four units, three of which are based in the valley, along with individuals assigned to units from other states.

Those deployed represent about 18 percent of the 4,100 civilian troops in the Nevada Army and Air Guard services.

The Nevada Air Guard also is coming off its busiest year ever supporting operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Nevada airmen logged a combined 55,666 days of support in 2008, surpassing its previous record of 38,986 days in 2007.

Nevada’s Guard has benefited from population growth in recent years, adding 1,100 members since 2004 and making it one of the fastest-growing Guards in the nation, according to Nevada National Guard statistics.

In terms of total members, Nevada ranks 43rd among the states and territories, up from 47th in 2004. States with comparable numbers of personnel include: Montana (3,673), Alaska (3,892) and North Dakota (4,174).

Nevada finished the 2008 fiscal year in June already exceeding its authorized strength for 2009. The Nevada Army Guard is 110 percent above its manning level and the Air Guard exceeds its level at 101 percent.

The Nevada Guard also has picked up units previously based in other states.

In the past 18 months, the state has added the 485th Military Police Co. in Fallon, the 100th Quartermaster Co. in Las Vegas, the 140th Military Brigade Liaison in Henderson, the 137th Military Police in Henderson and the 240th Vertical Construction Co. in Henderson. Also, the 777th Concrete Team in Henderson grew from 40 to 100 members.

Conway said Nevada is pursuing more units this year, but she couldn’t release details.

“Any units we actively go after to come to this state, we want to make sure they have an applicable state mission as well,” she said. “That’s why in the past four years we’ve gotten military police units, which are always important when you have a highly visible city like Las Vegas.”

The 12-month deployment the Guard’s 1st Squadron, 221st Cavalry starts today is its third since Sept. 11, 2001.

After spending a month of training in Camp Atterbury, Ind., the unit will head to Afghanistan, where it will provide security for reconstruction teams throughout the country and provide combat support from a forward operating base.

The Nevada Guard did not have a combat-related fatality in 2007-2008. However, the 1/221st Cavalry unit lost Staff Sgt. Mathew Sneck on April 1.

Sneck, 24 of Henderson, died from injuries he sustained when he was thrown from his motorcycle near the Desert Wetlands Park.

The 1/221st deployment ceremony starts at 2 p.m. at Mandalay Bay Events Center, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South.