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"Texans Defending Texas"
MEDIA ADVISORY
Members of the media are invited to cover the reactivation ceremony at the Kilgore Armory on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014, at 10 a.m. and must arrive no later than 9:30 a.m. to allow for parking and coordination.
Members of the media are required to RSVP no later than Friday, Dec. 5, 2014, by 5 p.m. with the 19th Civil Affairs Regiment Public Affairs representative, Capt. Esperanza Meza at 817-733-6269.
The Kilgore Armory is located at 1807 Stone Road, Kilgore, Texas 75662.
FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLIC RELEASE:
Texas State Guard Reactivates Unit in Kilgore, Assigns Commander
AUSTIN, Texas (Dec. 3, 2014) – The Commanding General of the Texas State Guard, Maj. Gen. Gerald “Jake” Betty, is pleased to announce the reactivation of the 3rd Battalion, 19th Civil Affairs Regiment, Texas State Guard.
A ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. Dec. 6, 2014, at the Kilgore Armory, 1807 Stone Road, Kilgore, Texas, to officially mark the reactivation of the regiment and to formally install Maj. Sidney Loggins as battalion commander.
“This has been a great year for the reestablished unit in Kilgore,” said Col. Robert Hastings, commander of the 19th Regiment. “Recruiting for this unit began in March of this year and yet by year-end the unit already has 20 members.”
The battalion in Kilgore is part of the 19th Civil Affairs Regiment, which includes additional units in Dallas and Greenville. The mission of the regiment is to provide mission-ready military forces to assist state and local authorities in times of emergencies and disasters; to include mass care sheltering, emergency communications, special needs evacuation tracking, wide area damage assessment and urban search and rescue.
“The Texas State Guard is a great organization for people looking to combine a public service opportunity with adventure and military service,” Hastings added. “Whether you served in the military before and would like to rejoin a military organization, or you’ve never served, but just thought about it, the Texas State Guard provides a unique opportunity for military service within the state.”
The TXSG is the state's volunteer military agency; trained, organized and ready to respond when a disaster strikes and Texans need help. The TXSG is comprised of more than 2,000 volunteers organized into four components – Army, Air, medical and maritime – with individual units assigned throughout the state.
In recent years, the TXSG has been called to state active duty for hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, and wildfires, as well as current operations along the southern border. TXSG is the lead military component for Operation Lone Star in the Rio Grande Valley – the state’s annual humanitarian medical mission – and provides support to the state’s annual Oral Rabies Vaccination Program and the Joint Operations Intelligence Center.
TXSG personnel train one weekend each month and attend a four-day annual training exercise every year.
For more information about the Texas State Guard visit www.txmf.us or www.txsg.state.tx.us.
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The mission of the Texas Military Forces (TXMF) 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 Forces are 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 Forces visit our Website at www.txmf.us.
Texas Military Forces Public Affairs
P.O. Box 5218, Building 10
Camp Mabry (Austin), Texas 78703