Bangor-based Maine National Guard unit deploying to Poland

AUGUSTA, MAINE (03/08/2019) (readMedia)-- The Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Douglas A. Farnham, has announced that 69 Soldiers from the 286th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion out of Bangor will be deploying next month to Powidz, Poland in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve.

The mission of Atlantic Resolve is to build readiness, increase interoperability and enhance bonds between ally and partner militaries with multinational training events in Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Romania. U.S. based units have been supporting Atlantic Resolve in nine-month rotations since 2014.

"I am more than confident in the skills and professionalism of these Soldiers," said Lt. Col. John Wilmot, commander of the 286th. "This is one of the best collections of Soldiers I've seen in my 22-plus years in the Army. The unit is made up largely of Soldiers that have specifically volunteered for this mission and they have an authentic commitment to each other, the mission, and their country. The 286 Combat Sustainment Support Battalion has a long history of excellence and achieving superior results, and I believe that the training we have conducted puts us in line to continue that tradition."

As a battalion headquarters unit, the 286th will be assigned to the 16th Sustainment Brigade, which is headquartered in Baumholder, Germany, and will provide administrative support and mission command to five subordinate companies from Georgia, Pennsylvania, South Dakota and New York. These subordinate units, representing both the active Army and Army Reserve, will provide logistical and maintenance support to U.S. forces within the region.

The 286th is expected to return to Maine in late January or early February of 2020. A send-off ceremony in the Bangor area is currently being planned, details will be announced in a separate release.

For information specific to U.S. Army Europe or Operation Atlantic Resolve, please refer to the U.S. Army Europe public affairs office at: https://www.eur.army.mil/PublicAffairs/