The Florida Times-Union February 3, 2003
180 more reservists, Guardsmen called up Florida and Texas have most activated
By Scott Butler, Times-Union staff writer
About 60 Army reservists from Palatka and 120 National Guardsmen from St. Augustine and Live Oak have been ordered to join the ranks of thousands deployed in support of a possible war with Iraq.
The Army reserves' 228th Transportation Company will fill vacancies for troops based out of Livingston, Ala., to transport military supplies and equipment. The soldiers specialize in long-haul fuel delivery in 18-wheel tankers. A farewell ceremony will be at 10 a.m. today at the Army reserve center on Stillwell Avenue in Palatka. The soldiers then report to their mobilization stations at Fort Benning, Ga., for processing and training.
For the Florida Army National Guard, the Live Oak-based 269th Engineering Company with more than 100 soldiers and the 107th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment with about 20 soldiers in St. Augustine have been activated. They will depart for Fort Stewart later in the week for additional processing and training.
The 269th specializes in construction support that includes utilities, asphalt and concrete paving, electrical, structural and support functions such as administration and supply. The large majority of unit members live in Northeast Florida, Guard officials said.
The 107th is a unit consisting of public affairs specialists who facilitate media coverage of activities and provide their own documentation of military activity. Journalists and broadcasters make up the majority of the unit. Most live in Central and North Florida, according to the Guard.
Units are expected to be at Fort Stewart for a short time, but more specific departure times and eventual destinations were not disclosed.
Soon, many of the 1,500 reservists from the 84th Fighter Wing of F-16 jets at Homestead Reserve Air Base will be activated for a three-month stint over the Iraqi southern no-fly zone, The Miami Herald reported.
Hundreds more from the Florida Air National Guard's 125th Fighter Wing based in Jacksonville could be deployed for a similar mission soon afterward.
Nationwide, escalating tension with Iraq is hitting home for many families, agencies and companies as nearly 95,000 reservists and National Guard members have reported to active duty, with more likely to be called up.
Numbers released by the Pentagon last week show about 5,500 reservists and Guardsmen in Florida have been called up, more than any other state except Texas.
Many have more training than their counterparts in other states, and Florida has several 'critical units,' Patrick Garrett, analyst for GlobalSecurity.org, a non-profit organization that studies defense issues, told the Herald.
Staff writer Scott Butler can be reached at (904) 359-4566 or via e-mail at sbutler@jacksonville.com.
Copyright © 2003, The Florida Times-Union
