LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced Monday the deployment of approximately 100 soldiers from the Arkansas Army National Guard’s 142nd Field Artillery Brigade to Washington, D.C., to support the D.C. National Guard’s ongoing civil security operations.
The federally funded mission, part of a routine rotational relief for National Guard units, will see the troops assemble at Fort Chaffee Joint Maneuver Training Center in Barling for administrative processing and training after Thanksgiving. The deployment is expected to last several months.
“Arkansas’ Guardsmen are there when we need them—whether it’s to deploy overseas, help secure the Southern Border, respond to a natural disaster, or keep our nation’s capital safe,” Sanders said in a statement. “I have no doubt that in this mission, they will show the same skill and discipline that makes them such valuable public servants and will help bring law and order back to the streets of Washington, D.C.”
Brig. Gen. Chad Bridges, Arkansas’ Adjutant General, praised the soldiers’ readiness. “These Guardsmen bring exceptional training, discipline, and professionalism to every mission they undertake,” he said. “We are proud to support our nation’s capital and grateful for their commitment to service.”
The deployment comes amid heightened security needs in the nation’s capital, with Arkansas troops joining efforts to maintain public safety. Sanders expressed gratitude to the Guardsmen, their families, and President Donald Trump for initiatives addressing urban crime.
This marks a continuation of Arkansas’ contributions to national missions, including recent border support and disaster responses. Families of the deployed can access resources through the Arkansas National Guard’s Family Readiness Program at 501-212-5000.