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    Louisiana National Guard at full operational status: Governor calls all available troops to action, neighboring states ready to assist

    Louisiana National Guard at Full Operational Status

    Photo By Staff Sgt. Stephanie Cross | 204th Theater Airfield Operations Group supply sergeant, Staff Sgt. Michael H. Majeau,...... read more read more

    BATON ROUGE, LA, UNITED STATES

    08.30.2008

    Courtesy Story

    Louisiana National Guard

    Louisiana Army and Air National Guard

    BATON ROUGE, La.— 1,500 Louisiana National Guardsmen arrived by convoy to New Orleans on Aug. 29, 2008, to support the New Orleans Police Department and assist in executing civil support missions. These missions will include safeguarding homes and businesses during evacuation and instilling confidence in the citizens.

    Almost immediately following the arrival of these troops, Gov. Bobby Jindal announced the activation of all available remaining LANG forces to assist with emergency operations in preparation for Hurricane Gustav. This brings the total number of troops to more than 7,000 activated, with the final group coming on board Saturday.

    "The Louisiana National Guard is fully prepared for a hurricane disaster and has improved reaction times, communication and equipment resources by learning from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita," said the adjutant general of the Louisiana National Guard, Maj. Gen. Bennett C. Landreneau. "Throughout the year, the Louisiana National Guard, in coordination with other state and local agencies has conducted numerous statewide emergency response exercises testing capabilities and validating plans to improve overall efficiency and reaction time. These coordinated efforts were and continue to be crucial to our current success."

    While state forces have now reached a fully operational capability status, neighboring states have been notified and are preparing assets in the event they are needed.

    The Louisiana National Guard has already requested additional aviation assets and personnel through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact to assist with meeting potential mission requirements, with the Arkansas National Guard responding and moving into place.

    Headquarters 1-114 Aviation Battalion of North Little Rock, Ark., is sending a total of 44 personnel to Esler Field in Pineville, La., to assist with hurricane operations. They are being called in place of Louisiana's 1-244th Assault Helicopter Battalion of the 204th Theater Airfield Operations Group who is currently deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Of the 44 personnel, 10 Soldiers will arrive later tonight, and the remaining Soldiers will report Aug. 30.

    Other neighboring states also have National Guard forces ready to deploy in the event additional support is needed. Additionally, the governor has submitted a request to Congress to change the status of all troops from state active duty to Title 32 status, allowing the Soldiers and Airmen to receive more pay and benefits.

    Around the state

    Of the more than 7,000 Soldiers mobilizing throughout the state, 400 Louisiana Army National Guard Soldiers from the 528th Engineer Battalion in Monroe, La., have been activated to provide assistance to South Louisiana and will head south on Aug. 30.

    The main body of the Headquarters Support Company, located in Monroe, is scheduled to depart the armory some time on Sat., Aug. 30, for the Iowa area. They will provide traffic control for this area and will function in a command and control capacity, according to Capt. Scott J. Malone of Monroe, personnel officer for the 528th.

    "The Soldiers will be staged in South Louisiana in order to provide assistance in a moment's notice," said Malone.

    He explained that the Forward Support Company, located in Monroe, left the afternoon of Aug. 29 and staged in Iowa, La. The FSC will support other units but will also perform humanitarian missions in the wake of the anticipated landfall of Gustav.

    The 830th and 832nd Concrete and Asphalt Companies, headquartered in Monroe, are scheduled to leave the armory at 7 a.m. on Aug. 30. These companies are providing six three-man boat teams for possible damage assessment and Search and Rescue missions. The 830th and 832nd will be attached to the 205th Engineer Battalion of Bogalusa, La.

    The 1023rd Engineer Company, headquartered in Oak Grove, La., is scheduled to leave for the Lake Charles, La., area at 8 a.m., Saturday. They will be staged at Boston High School in Lake Charles and will provide assistance through various engineer work teams. Two three-man Engineer Assessment Teams provided by the 1023rd left for South Louisiana the morning of Aug. 29. They were attached to parish Emergency Operations Centers from Ascension, St. James and St. Charles parishes.

    Also, five fully-manned and equipped medevac helicopters are on standby at Esler Air Field in Alexandria, La., to respond immediately.

    Members of the 204th Theater Airfield Operations Group from Hammond, La., are not taking chances when it comes to Hurricane Gustav. While some have moved south, Soldiers of the 204th gathered Meals Ready to Eat and other essential equipment needed to move further north to the Joint Operation Center located near the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness in Baton Rouge, La.

    "In preparation for the storm, we are repositioning aircraft for the most favorable response time," said Col. George R. Gwaltney, 204th TAOG administrative officer. "Our mission is to provide search and rescue, civilian evacuation and levee repairs by means of air assets."

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 08.30.2008
    Date Posted: 08.30.2008 12:35
    Story ID: 23040
    Location: BATON ROUGE, LA, US

    Web Views: 730
    Downloads: 608

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