CONNECTICUT ARMY NATIONAL GUARD ENGINEER UNIT TO DEPLOY TO SOUTHWEST ASIA FOR SECOND TIME
HARTFORD, Conn., – Maj. Gen. Thaddeus J. Martin, Adjutant General and Commander of the Connecticut National Guard announced that the 247th Engineer Detachment has been mobilized for deployment, and will depart the Army Aviation Support Facility (AASF) located on Route 75 in Windsor Locks, Conn. on Saturday, March 13 at 8 a.m. The eleven person Detachment is headquartered in Norwich and commanded by Sergeant First Class Matthew Collins of Middletown.
The Detachment will travel to its mobilization station at Camp Shelby, Miss. for training and validation. Once validated, the unit will depart Camp Shelby and deploy to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The Detachment specializes in well-drilling and heavy equipment operations. Once overseas, its mission will include well-drilling operations, water resource assessments and humanitarian and civic assistance.
This will be the second deployment to Southwest Asia for the Detachment, which previously served in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from March 2003 to April 2004. This unit has also previously participated in humanitarian missions in Central and South America.
This event will be open to the media beginning at 6:30 a.m.
