The Michigan Army National Guard’s 1430th Engineer Company is set to deploy to the Southwest border to support U.S. Customs and Border Protection operations. On Friday, about 120 Soldiers and their families will attend a farewell ceremony at Western Michigan University’s Lawson Ice Arena in Kalamazoo before the unit begins its mission, according to the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
The company, previously deployed to Afghanistan in 2010, will operate under U.S. Northern Command and Joint Task Force North. Their mission aims to assist U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents by enhancing operational capacity and supporting federal border security efforts, as reported by the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
Brig. Gen. Ravindra Wagh, assistant adjutant general and commander of the Michigan Army National Guard, will attend the departure ceremony for the 1430th Engineer Company. The unit is preparing for a border deployment that may last up to a year. This is the Michigan National Guard’s sixth border deployment since 2020. The deployments in 2021, 2022, 2024, and 2025 were approved by Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Media representatives have been asked to RSVP with Michael Kroll to cover the event, as stated by the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
