878TH Engineer Company is on the move

Photo By Staff Sgt. Jonathan Shaw | A packed auditorium applauds as soldiers from the 878th Engineer Company take their seats during the unit’s mobilization ceremony February 17, 2018 at King’s Mountain High School in King’s Mountain, N.C. The 878th has a long history of service to its state and country including hurricane relief operations at home and deployments overseas.  

KINGS MOUNTAIN, NC, UNITED STATES

02.18.2018

Story by Staff Sgt. Jonathan Shaw 

130th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The North Carolina Army National Guard conducted a deployment ceremony for the 130th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade’s 878th Engineer Company February 17, 2018 at King’s Mountain High School, King’s Mountain, N.C..
More than 150 soldiers from the 878th are slated to deploy for nine to twelve months in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.
The King’s Mountain High auditorium was standing room only as the official party and soldiers from the 878th filed in and took their seats. After a brief invocation, the soldiers and civilians in the crowd were addressed by the N.C. Speaker of the House Time Moore, Honorable Scott Neisler, mayor of King’s Mountain, Brig. Gen. Allen Boyette, NCARNG’s assistant adjutant general of sustainment, and Capt. Chavous Nichols, commander of the 878th.
“The National Guard has answered the call of duty in defense of our country with professionalism, dedication, patriotism, and courage and must continue to do so,” said Neisler. “We’d like to express our appreciation and pledge our support to the 878th engineering company during their deployment...and further offer our prayers for their safe return.”
Other distinguished guest in attendance included Maj. Gen James Ernst, Deputy Adjutant General,, City Manager Marilyn H. Sellers, and N.C. Senator Warren Daniel.
The 878th is a vertical engineering company. Their primary specialization lies in the construction of base camps and internment facilities as well as construction, repair, and maintenance other vertical infrastructures in support of corps or division level forces.
“We’re going to be doing base expansions and other construction projects involving anything from carpentry to plumbing and electrical work,” explained Sgt. Marcus Meeks, a carpentry and masonry specialists that’s been with the 878th for ten years. “I feel excited about it,”
The 878th has a long history of service to its state and country. It’s soldiers were mobilized in 2002 to support the National Security Agency during Operation Noble Eagle and again in 2005 during Operation Iraqi Freedom. They’ve also supported state emergency services with flood relief and repairs during 2015 and 2016 in Georgetown and Columbia, S.C. and Fayetteville and Kinston N.C.

• Date Taken: 02.18.2018
• Date Posted: 02.18.2018 15:54
• Story ID: 266462
• Location: KINGS MOUNTAIN, NC, US