Brewer infantry unit identified for potential Africa deployment

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AUGUSTA, MAINE (09/10/2019) (readMedia)-- Maine National Guard officials announced today that B Company, 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain) has been identified for a potential 2021 deployment supporting U.S. Africa Command.

The Brewer-based unit is made up of approximately 140 Soldiers from across Maine and is part of the multi-state 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT), a National Guard brigade headquartered in Vermont. In total, the 86th will provide around 2,500 Soldiers to a variety of locations in U.S. Central Command, U.S. Africa Command, and U.S. European Command.

"For the past three years, Bravo Company has experienced a strenuous operational tempo with a heavy focus on training and personnel readiness," said Capt. Lane Wiggin, the former commander of B Company. "Their hard work culminated with a very successful collective training exercise at the Joint Readiness Training Center this past spring. I am confident Bravo Company is well prepared for any mission they are asked to accomplish."

The Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) at Fort Polk, Louisiana hosts one of the Army's premiere national level exercises. Both B Company and the 251st Engineer Company (Sapper) represented Maine there in May 2019 and received praise from the 86th IBCT commander for their performance.

"With the sourcing of B Company, and the 286th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion already serving overseas, the Maine Army National Guard is consistently doing its part in ensuring global security," said Brig. Gen. Donald Lagace, Maine's assistant adjutant general. "We have full confidence in the unit's leadership and are proud of these Soldiers and their families."

The 86th also has elements in Colorado, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Massachusetts and is aligned with the active Army's 10th Mountain Division out of Fort Drum, New York.

Information on U.S. Africa Command can be found at africom.mil.

For media inquiries, please contact the Maine National Guard public affairs office at 207-430-5759, or ng.me.mearng.list.public-affairs@mail.mil.

Caption:

Soldiers of B Company assemble for a group photo on the last day of training at the Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, Louisiana in May 2019. (Photo courtesy of Sgt. 1st Class Nathaniel McCray)