RAPID CITY, S.D. – The South Dakota Army National Guard mobilized approximately 50 Soldiers from the 109th Engineer Battalion on Oct. 16. They departed to southern California in support of Southwest Border operations and ‘Operation International Drug Trafficking’ as part of a year-long Title 10 federal deployment.
“You’re going to go down and you’re going to do a great job. This is a challenging mission, but you are doing this to protect the homeland and to protect each other,” said Brig. Gen. David Dailey, SDNG Assistant Adjutant General- Army.
The 109th is an engineer headquarters that provides command and control, logistics, finance, and personnel support functions for subordinate units. They will be supporting Customs and Border Patrol agents while also providing direct support for two subordinate companies from Texas and Michigan.
“If you go back to the lineage of the 109th battalion this isn’t the first trip to the Mexican Border. In 1916 the 109th was put on federal activation to the border so here we are 108 years later we are going back to the border to do our job and serve our nation,” said Lt. Col. Roselles, 109th commander.
The unit being replaced by the 109th will conduct a local area orientation and train processes and procedures with the Soldiers before they fully take over the mission.
The 109th was one of the first SDNG units deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in January 2003.
“There has never been a South Dakota unit that has failed in their mission, we expect great things out of you, and I wish you the best of luck!” said Dailey.
The SDNG continues a heritage of excellence and commitment to their communities while providing ready forces to perform their missions and deter aggression.
