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FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLIC RELEASE:

Texas Infantry Battalion Deploys to the Horn of Africa

AUSTIN, Texas (September 29, 2017) – With friends and family by their side, the Texas Army National Guard bid goodbye and good luck to members of the 3rd Battalion, 144th Infantry Regiment, 56th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 36th Infantry Division as they mobilized in support of Operation Enduring Freedom – Horn of Africa, on Aug. 30, 2017. The battalion was joined by Company A of 3rd Battalion, 141st Infantry Regiment, 72nd IBCT, 36th Inf. Div.  

While deployed, Task Force Bayonet’s mission is to provide security force protection, quick reaction forces, military to military training and an East Africa Response Force.  The approximately 800 “Arrowhead” Soldiers spent a portion of August training at Fort Hood, Texas, as they prepared to take on the role of security forces for U.S. installations and train foreign military soldiers on tactics learned.

“Through the mission focus of each company command team, and the drive of the NCO corps they were able to complete team live fire, squad live fire, crew gunnery and progress on to the beginning stages of platoon operations,” said Lt. Col. Ross Walker, Battalion Commander. “The key was to exercise mission command to the lowest level and allowing our leaders to learn here so we can establish best practices in order to perform at peak once we arrive in [Africa].”

Upon their arrival in Africa, members of Task Force Bayonet will be joined by a Company of soldiers from the 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division to support the East Africa Response Force.

“The command sergeant major and I are fully confident in the Task Force’s ability to handle any mission it is assigned,” said Walker.

Last month’s mobilization marked the first of back-to-back Texas Army National Guard deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom – Horn of Africa.

Units within the 3rd Battalion, 144th Inf. Reg. last deployed to Afghanistan in 2012 to provide base security for Shindand Airbase and surrounding areas in Afghanistan’s Regional Command – West.  This will be the first time since 2007 that the battalion has deployed as a whole.
 

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The mission of the Texas Military Department (TMD) is to provide the Governor and the President with ready and trained forces in support of the citizens of Texas and State and Federal civil/military authorities at home and abroad.

The Texas Military Department is commanded by the Adjutant General of Texas, the state's senior military official appointed by the governor, and is comprised of the Texas Military Department (formerly the Adjutant General's Department), the Texas Army National Guard (TXARNG), the Texas Air National Guard (TXANG), the Texas State Guard (TXSG) and the Domestic Operations Command (DOMOPS)

For more information about the Texas Military Department visit our Website at https://tmd.texas.gov.