More than 125 Soldiers from the Tennessee National Guard’s 1175th Transportation Company departed Tennessee Wednesday, October 11, on the first leg of a year-long deployment to the Southwest border.

The 1175th, headquartered in Tullahoma and with a detachment in Brownsville, is a transportation unit comprised of National Guardsmen trained in various logistics, maintenance, and combat functions which enables the Army to maneuver freely by moving personnel and material by trucks.

The unit is deploying to McAllen, Texas, along the U.S.-Mexico border, where they will assist the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency protect the United States, prevent illegal entry, and deter illicit activity or other threats.

“This is a unique mission we have been getting ready for,” said Capt. Everett Miller, commander of the 1175th Transportation Company. “Our Soldiers have been working hard for over a year to prepare for this and anything else needed.”

Some of the tasks the 1175th is prepared to perform is assisting the U.S. Border Patrol with monitoring the border, supporting border patrol stations, and establishing observation posts to help detect illegal entry into the U.S.

“We will be based primarily in the McAllen, Texas, area and will assist border patrol stations as needed,” said Miller. “It will be a dynamic and important mission, requiring our Soldiers to be flexible and able to operate in a critical and stressful environment, but our unit has the best leaders and Soldiers in Tennessee, we couldn’t be more ready.”

On October 11, the Soldiers of the 1175th Transportation Company flew to Fort Bliss, Texas, where they will complete a week of final pre-deployment training before traveling to McAllen.

“We are all looking forward to doing the job we are trained and ready for,” said Miller.