Local National Guard troops headed to help along Arizona/Mexico border
Adam Linhardt
April 18, 2008 - 5:51PM

GASTONIA - A contingent of troops from the North Carolina National Guard 505th Engineer Battalion leave for the Mexican border in Arizona today to help the border patrol build roads and fences.

About 678 soldiers will build about seven miles of road for the border patrol as well as help build fencing as part of "Operation Jump Start," said Maj. Matt Handley, a public affairs officer.

About 300 soldiers leave today, Handley said. The battalion will leave in three, three-week rotations. The first being today, another on May 10 and the last on May 31.

Those leaving are doing so on a voluntary basis, the major said, as part of ongoing Army/occupational training. The Army did not call the entire battalion on the mission, Handley said.

"This is part of training we offer to guardsmen to further their occupational skills," Handley said. "For instance if we need forklift drivers out there we ask for forklift drivers or welders or plumbers or wherever the need is."

Soldiers from 505th armories in Charlotte, Kings Mountain, North Wilksboro, Mocksville, Taylorsville, Mount Airy, Mooresville and other areas are leaving today as well, he said.

The 505th worked along the Mexican border in southern
California near San Diego back in 1994 as part of "Joint Task Force 6." The soldiers will assist U.S. Customs and border patrol in security while they are constructing the roads and fences, Handley said.

National Guard troops from across the country are taking turns serving along the border, Handley said.

The 505th returned from a 14-month deployment to northern Iraq in September 2006.

The unit reported no fatal casualties during that tour.

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