CATLETTSBURG, Ky. –
Nearly 150 Kentucky Army National Guard Soldiers from the 201st Engineer Battalion joined friends and family for a departure ceremony at the Boyd County Community Center in Catlettsburg, May 30, ahead of their deployment to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Spartan Shield.
Led by Lt. Col. Jayson McDonald and Command Sgt. Major Randy Morris, the battalion will make up Task Force Workhorse. Operating under Task Force Castle, the unit will conduct troop labor and construction support, specializing in critical infrastructure repair, battle damage assessments and battle damage repair, and area shelter improvements.
Based in Ashland, both the Headquarters and Headquarters Company and the Forward Support Company draw their Soldiers from more than 55 counties across the Commonwealth.
The deploying Soldiers received a keynote send-off from Rocky Adkins, senior advisor to Gov. Andy Beshear, who spoke on behalf of the governor.
"I stand here confident before this battalion and before the Kentucky National Guard,” said Adkins. “This is the best, this is the greatest, National Guard in the United States of America. How about you? This battalion is highly skilled. It is highly trained. And, it is ready to complete the mission.”
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Haldane Lamberton, Kentucky’s Adjutant General, opened his remarks by asking for a show of hands, the number of Soldiers who have previously deployed.
“I ask this of you to gain an impression of the vast deployment experience with the National Guard these days,” said Lamberton. “Post-9/11, in the Kentucky National Guard—in your National Guard—we have deployed roughly 20,000 Soldiers and Airmen. In our force structure, we have only about 8,000 uniformed service members. We have folks that have deployed multiple times over the past two decades and we are the beneficiaries of that experience.”
McDonald addressed the families, friends and distinguished guests with confidence and resolve.
“To the distinguished guests and senior leadership, I stand here today without any reservation to proudly report that the 201st Engineer Battalion, the Workhorse Battalion, is prepared to deploy, fight and win in any operational environment,” said McDonald. “We are a lethal, cohesive and adaptable engineer formation capable of delivering innovative solutions that enhance mission success.”
McDonald concluded with the engineer regimental motto.
“’Essayons,’ which means ‘let us try,’” said McDonald. “Our motto is a promise. A promise that we, the engineers, will confront every obstacle with a relentless resolve. That we will forge paths where none exist. Through sheer effort and unwavering commitment, we will deliver victory. That is the spirit of the engineer regiment and that is the spirit of the Workhorse Battalion. Workhorse Battalion, let’s get to work!”
Since 2001, units from the 201st Engineers have deployed overseas eight times in support of numerous missions. The battalion headquarters last deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2008 and 2009, conducting critical route and area clearance. Soldiers who completed that mobilization 17 years ago are now serving in key leadership positions in the battalion today.
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