Maine Guardsmen Deploy to Support Hurricane Efforts in the Virgin Islands

AUGUSTA, ME (09/22/2017) (readMedia)-- Brig. Gen. Douglas Farnham, Adjutant General for the Maine National Guard, announces that seven Air National Guard members from the 265th Combat Communications Squadron mobilized late Thursday evening to provide communications support to the U.S. Virgin Islands in the wake of Hurricane Maria.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the people of the Caribbean as they respond to the aftermath of another devastating hurricane," Farnham said. "Our Maine National Guard service members are prepared to provide critical communications support to help restore normalcy to the region."

The 265th will establish and maintain communications links for military, and if necessary, for civilian response authorities using their Joint Incident Site Communications Capability, a modular communications package.

These abilities are limited across the nation, and are primarily assigned to Air National Guard Combat Communication Squadrons or Communications Flights at Wings. The equipment and personnel assigned to these units have a unique skill set and are in high demand, specifically its ability to work with both military and civilian authorities.

The 265th has provided communications support during hurricane relief operations before, including a deployment to Vermont to assist Maine Army National Guard Engineers with Hurricane Irene response efforts in August of 2011.

"Deployments such as this one are reminders of what makes the National Guard so important to our homeland mission," Farnham said.

For additional information, please contact the public affairs office at 207-430-5322, or ng.me.mearng.list.public-affairs@mail.mil