S.C. Army National Guard troops deployed for NATO-support operation

Feb. 27 (UPI) -- The South Carolina Army National Guard's 742nd Support Maintenance Company has been deployed to train in Texas before being sent to eastern Europe as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve to support NATO.

The company's 140 soldiers, who are based at McEntire Joint National Guard Base, departed Sunday and will train in Texas for about one month before leaving to support the U.S. Army's 16th Sustainment Brigade in Europe.

The soldiers will provide repair and maintenance for military vehicles, electronics and small firearms while mobilized in Europe for about a year, the U.S. Department of Defense said in a statement.

"Thanks to the families of our soldiers for being supportive and for being understanding, but most importantly for being strong," U.S. Army Capt. Taurus Gardin, commander of the company, said in a statement. "To the 742nd, we are trained, we are motivated, and we are ready."

Under Operation Atlantic Resolve, the United States has deployed troops in Europe that will train in Poland, Germany, Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania and Slovakia for the next eight months as a show of force to directly respond to what the alliance sees as increased Russian aggression, particularly after Moscow's intervention in Ukraine and annexation of Crimea.

"The 742nd has a very important role joining other units as they safeguard our allies from threats to Eastern Europe. I am so proud of these men and women who have trained hard and are ready to do their mission," South Carolina adjutant general U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Robert E. Livingston, Jr. said.

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story described Operation Atlantic Resolve as a NATO operation. It is a U.S.-funded operation intended to support NATO.