New York Army Guard's 204th Engineer Battalion mobilizes Soldiers for southern border mission
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. – One hundred and twenty New York Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 204th Engineer Battalion mobilized for a federal deployment to the southern border on October 8 and 11 at the State Armory in Binghamton.
A mobilization ceremony was held for the battalion’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company on October 8, while families of the Forward Support Company held their official send off on October 11.
The two ceremonies marked the beginning of a yearlong mobilization as the Soldiers prepare to deploy to Texas in support of the Border Patrol, according to Lt. Col. Kevin O’Reilly, the commander of the 204th.
Called Operation Ardent Vanguard, the U.S. Northern Command mission supports the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Army forces provide support through border defence, detection, monitoring and infrastructure support along the nation's southern border.
The Forward Support Company provides logistics support, including maintenance and transportation of fuel, supplies and materials to the 204th Engineer Battalion.
The Headquarters and Headquarters company will provide mission command for the Army task force operating in the region, with O’Reilly as the task force commander.
Soldiers in both companies have spent 12 months preparing for the deployment, O’Reilly said.
Speaking to the Headquarters Company Soldiers and families, O’Reilly said the Binghamton-based National Guard units had a history of service going back to the Civil War.
O'Reilly connected that legacy of service to the battalion's upcoming mission, emphasizing the importance of supporting national security efforts along the southern border.
"This is a long mission. Stressors will come up on mission and at home," O'Reilly said. "Look to your left and right. We are a team and we are going to help each other."
O'Reilly urged members of the unit to remain connected and support one another through difficult circumstances.
"Don't internalize and think you are alone," O'Reilly said. "I charge you to look out for each other. No matter what we face, we will overcome."
During the Forward Support Company ceremony, O’Reilly said that these ceremonies are important for both Soldiers and families.
Families heard once again about the importance of this sacrifice and heard high-ranking National Guard officer assure them that there will be support for them, O’Reilly said.
“There’s a very large community of support for these soldiers and their families,” said Forward Support Company 1st Sgt John Pietrowski.
A significant moment in the Headquarters Company ceremony came as O'Reilly and Command SGT Major Jay Symonds, the battalion's senior enlisted leader, cased the battalion colors.
The military tradition symbolizes the unit's transition to a deployed status while preserving the history, honors, and legacy represented by its colors.
The 204th Engineer Battalion has 700 Soldiers located at armories in Binghamton, Kingston, Horseheads, Walton, and Cortlandt Manor.
In 2025, the New York National Guard deployed the Headquarters Detachment of the 104th Military Police Battalion, headquartered in Kingston, and the 442nd Military Police Company, based at the Jamaica Armory in Queens, New York City, on a similar support mission.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
