Air Defence Troops Being Deployed to Washington

[Hei Hu Quan]

Something is definitely wrong with this, and there is some serious shit about to go down. Anybody with military expertise care to comment on the ramifications of this? The sticking phrase for me is that they are to be deployed for a year. What are they expecting or planning to have such a short duration deployment?


Link: Local Troops Deploy to Nation's Capital

Story:
Local Troops Deploy To Nation's Capital
POSTED: 12:20 pm EDT August 22, 2007
UPDATED: 11:54 am EDT August 24, 2007
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Members of the 1st Battalion 265 Air Defense Artillery have mobilized and are on a plane headed first to Ft. Bliss, then for federal active duty in the capital region.

The troops will be deployed for a year.

"It's going to be all right It's OK if he helps people and everything, and it's his job. He’s got to do it. He just got to do it," Jessica Ward said, whose father is being deployed.

Jessica speaks for many when she talks about her father's deployment.

Michael Ward and company are leaving for a year, and that weighs heavy on families.

The 265th is part of Operation Noble Eagle.

They are ordered by the president to the nation's capital, where they will operate high-tech weapons systems against any potential air threat.

Yolanda McCormack is relieved husband Charles isn't headed to Iraq, but there is always a risk.

"Doesn't mean he won't be in the line of fire in Washington, D.C., but it does give me a little comfort," Yolanda McCormack said, whose husband is being deployed.

Families may get one or two opportunities to see loved ones during this year-long deployment, but it’s not encouraged. Though the solders are staying in the states, they are on serious business.

Staff Sgt. James Todd said duty at home is just as important as the mission overseas.

[solar]

Quote:[...] Members of the 1st Battalion 265 Air Defense Artillery have mobilized and are on a plane headed first to Ft. Bliss, then for federal active duty in the capital region [...] The 265th is part of Operation Noble Eagle.

They are ordered by the president to the nation's capital, where they will operate high-tech weapons systems against any potential air threat [...] Families may get one or two opportunities to see loved ones during this year-long deployment, but it’s not encouraged. Though the solders are staying in the states, they are on serious business.

Staff Sgt. James Todd said duty at home is just as important as the mission overseas.

Thanks, for posting this article and link, Hei Hu Quan !

My understanding is that the 1st Battalion 265 Air Defense Artillery is part of the Florida Army National Guard ...

... which is curious, in my opinion, though our members with more "military expertise" may think otherwise.

The other curious thing is that "Families may get one or two opportunities to see loved ones during this year-long deployment, but it’s not encouraged."

This is very odd since the distance between Washington, D.C. and Florida is minimal in this day and age of transportation.

Given that relatively short distance, leaves to one's family are "not encouraged" ?

It seems to me that even a short three day leave could be facilitated given the minimal distance (relatively speaking) between D.C. and Florida.

Operation Noble Eagle is mandated by W's executive order on Sept. 14, 2001 (text at this link).

[Hei Hu Quan]

Thanks Solar, very good observations. I was thinking along those same lines, and the length of deployment seems to have a definitive end, like they expect something to occur, and then be managed by that time. Of course military spans of deployment aren't written in hard stone as indicated by the lines of bullshit used to sell the invasion of Iraq to the public-at-large. Also, as you pointed out, families are discouraged from seeing those deployed and may only get one or two opportunities. One thinks that considering the suspiciousness of this op, these would be once at the beginning and once (maybe) at the very end to secure secrecy.