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842nd to support Arizona border patrol

BY WENDY PITLICK, Black Hills Pioneer January 06, 2007

That's what Captain Dana Limbo, of the 842nd Engineering Co. said of the risks involved with the company's latest mission to support the Arizona Army National Guard in doing border patrol along the Arizona/Mexican border in Tucson. Starting this month, troops from the local National Guard unit will work for two weeks at a time at Operation Jumpstart, an Arizona Army National Guard operation conducted in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. The 842nd members will support Operation Jumpstart as part of Task Force Diamondback, which utilizes engineering units to construct tactical infrastructure along the U.S. and Mexico border.
"We will be working for the Army National Guard providing engineering support to enhance the customs and border patrol to secure the international boundary," Limbo said.
Specifically, Limbo explained that the 842nd would be building roads, fixing drainage, and building culverts to assist the Arizona National Guard with its border patrol.
On Jan. 24, Limbo said the 842nd would send 30-40 soldiers who will serve until Feb. 14. The second group of about 30-40 will then leave for Tucson Feb. 14 and will return March 7. The final group of about 50-60 soldiers will leave May 30 and return on June 20.
"These times worked out good for us because a lot of times our annual training is in the summer," Limbo said. "Some soldiers have jobs in the summer weather, so this winter (training) works better for some soldiers. Then we also have the summer and that works good for our college kids because they can't go during their winter months. So this gives them a little flexibility."
Overall 130 soldiers from the 842nd company will serve in Task Force Diamondback. That includes members of the 854 Quartermaster Detachment, of Lemmon, which is merging to become a detachment of the 842nd Engineering Company.
According to Limbo, the 842nd Engineering Unit actually volunteered to serve in Arizona, as it offers a good opportunity to get real, hands-on training in a desert setting, while serving the country.
"What this mission has really allowed the national guard to do is conduct their annual normal training missions, which they can do anywhere in the U.S., but to actually focus it on supporting a national mission in the southwestern states," said Army National Guard Public Affairs Officer Major Orson Ward.
While they are in Tucson, Limbo said his soldiers would stay in motels while they work. Currently, he said two 842nd soldiers; Staff Sergeant Blaine Anderson and Staff Sergeant Dennis Schweitzer are in Arizona on a reconnaissance mission to work out the final details of the trip. One major difference between this training and more homeland training missions, Limbo said, is the 842nd equipment will not be traveling with the soldiers. The equipment, Limbo said, will stay in South Dakota so it can be used if the state calls on the unit for any kind of assistance.
According to Limbo, this is not the first time South Dakota has sent troops in support of Operation Jumpstart. Ever since the operation began in July 2006 the state has been sending members of the S.D. Air National Guard to support the mission. Last year the 155th Engineering Attachment of Rapid City was the first S.D. Army National Guard unit to serve in support of Operation Jumpstart. As a vertical engineering unit, Limbo said their primary mission was to build vehicle barrier fences and other protective fences around the border.
While this mission will be safer for soldiers than serving in Iraq or Afghanistan, Limbo said there are some safety precautions and concerns relating to climate changes and hydration.