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"Texans Serving Texas"
MEDIA ADVISORY
For additional questions and information, please contact the state public affairs office at ng.tx.txarng.mbx.pao@mail.mil or 512-782-5620.
Members of the media wishing to request an embed and/or interview are asked to send their contact information to the state public affairs office. That information will be added to an on-going list.
Texas National Guard deploys to Texas-Mexico Border to enhance border security
AUSTIN, Texas (April 10, 2018) - On Monday, Governor Greg Abbott announced his commitment of additional National Guard troops to the Texas-Mexico border in support of the Trump Administration's call to enhance security along the U.S. border.
"Texas is preparing to increase our National Guard presence to more than 1,000 along our southern border," said Governor Greg Abbott. "The number of people coming across the border has increased more than 200 percent over this time last year. The addition of National Guard on the border has proven to have a meaningful impact to reduce the flow of people and illegal activities coming across the border."
On April 6, 2018, the Texas National Guard activated 250 personnel to support the Department of Homeland Security missions and begin the planning for follow-on forces. This week an additional 300 service members are reporting to armories for required processing and training, prior to being equipped for the mission. Beyond that the Texas National Guard anticipates a growth of approximately 300 personnel each week until all Department of Homeland Security requirements are met.
National Guard units will assist the DHS by executing missions such as surveillance, operating detection systems, providing mobile communications, augmenting border-related intelligence analysis efforts, and providing aviation assets, transportation, training and other vital missions.
"The Texas National Guard is no stranger to the border and has served along the Texas-Mexico border in support of state and federal partner agencies for decades," said Brig. Gen. Tracy Norris, Deputy Adjutant General-Army and Commander of the Texas Army National Guard. "We are a force that is ready, and trained with a first-hand knowledge of this mission, the operating area, and a long-standing relationship with federal, state and local law enforcement."
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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.
Texas Military Department Public Affairs
P.O. Box 5218, Building 10
Camp Mabry (Austin), Texas 78703