Article from KCTV- 5. About 170 Kansas National Guard soldiers will leave to West Africa next spring to help fight the spread of Ebola. The soldiers will build medical facilities as part of Operation United Assistance. The state announced Sunday that the 891st Engineer Battalion Headquarters, which is based in Iola, will deploy for approximately six months with the potential to serve up to a year. The unit was selected because it has the right capabilities to meet the requirements of the mission. According to the Kansas National Guard, the soldiers begin training next month. Our highest priority is the safety of our soldiers while they are deployed to West Africa. We will ensure that they will have everything they need to accomplish this mission without putting themselves at risk, Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback said. Kansas Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Lee Tafanell says this is part of the United States militarys ongoing efforts in the area under the executive order President Barack Obama signed authorizing National Guard troops to supplement active duty forces in Operation United Assistance. Our highest priority is our soldiers safety and well being. And we will ensure that we take all the necessary steps to ensure that they have all the necessary training to accomplish the mission as well as ensure that they have the correct protocols and preventative measures in place to protect them, Tafanell said. The soldiers will train on disease prevention and other medical readiness and will receive more training at their mobilization station before they go to West Africa. The battalion helped clean up after the Greensburg tornado in May 2007 and has served in both the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Major Justin Nusz said the squad will receive a variety of training including preventative medical care whether Ebola, malaria or another regional disease. Its part of the job. Its part of the duty, Nusz said. Its part of the profession were in. He isnt worried about the diseases. Instead, he will miss his wife and two children. Its always rough. Its always hard to leave, Nusz said. They (his family) understand that. Weve been through one before but it doesnt make it any easier. He said he knows how important the mission is. Thats one of the things I love about my job in the National Guard, he said. No matter what, were called to do, were always helping someone.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 03:06:27 +0000
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