Nevada National Guard head to border

More than 130 Nevada National Guardsmen, including as many as 30 from the Carson City area, have been deployed to patrol the southern border of the United States.

The members of the Nevada National Guard and Nevada Air Guard will leave Saturday for Arizona as part of a two- and three-week rotation assisting U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

"The soldiers are excited about going. This is not like spending two weeks taking apart engines in the maintenance shop," said First Sgt. Bud Chattin of the 150th Maintenance Company, based in Carson City.

The 150th will be deployed in five locations in Arizona as part of Task Force Phoenix, and will be charged with repairing and servicing the fleet of ATVs, SUVs and patrol cars used by the border patrol.

"This is a real mission," Chattin said. "These vehicles are going back out on the line."

The 150th will also serve as a recovery section, going into the field to fix vehicles or bring them back for more in-depth repairs.

In addition to the 150th, About 30 airmen of the 152nd Civil Engineering Squadron, based in Reno, will perform construction and engineering projects in support of the border patrol, including repairing fences and road maintenance for about two weeks.

The guardsmen are being tasked at the request of President Bush to participate in Operation Jump Start and were authorized by Gov. Kenny Guinn and state Adjutant General Brig. Gen. Cindy Kirkland.

"Our National Guard members are being asked to help with the important task of assisting in our nation's efforts to curb the flow of illegal immigration," Guinn said. "I am equally proud of the commitment these men and women are showing in volunteering to protect our borders."

A third unit, the 777th Engineering Company, Nevada Army National Guard, based in Henderson, arrived in San Diego on Saturday. About 35 soldiers in the 777th are working as part of Task Force Grizzly with the California National Guard.

They will return home the first week of August.

Nevada joins 40 states in pledging support for Operation Jump Start.

• Contact reporter Jarid Shipley at jshipley@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.