OCTOBER 7, 2025 – Nearly 120 Arkansas National Guardsmen and four UH-72 Lakota aircraft from 1st Battalion,114th Security and Support Aviation Regiment, 77th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade, departed Oct. 5 for a 13-month Title 10 federal active duty deployment to the nation’s southern border in Texas to support U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.
Mobilized Arkansas Guardsmen include UH-72 pilots, crew chiefs, mechanics, flight operations personnel, fuelers, and battalion staff from Alpha Company and the Headquarters and Headquarter Company. They are expected to return home in November 2026.
“I am immensely proud of our ready Arkansas National Guardsmen as they answer the call to serve our state and nation,” said Brig. Gen. Chad Bridges, Arkansas’ adjutant general. “As Governor Sanders has often highlighted, their unwavering dedication, exceptional skills, and profound professionalism are a true testament to the strength and commitment of Arkansas. They embody the very best of our state as they undertake this critical mission.”
The deployment to the border is in support of a Department of War requirement under U.S. Northern Command in support of the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. The deployment is a routine rotation to replace National Guard units currently serving along the southern border in support of U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.
The 1-114th has subordinate units in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, and Puerto Rico. The Arkansas Guardsmen will deploy with roughly 170 Guardsmen and more than a dozen other UH-72s from Bravo Company, 1-114, from Texas and Oklahoma, and Charlie Company, 1-114, from Mississippi and Louisiana.
“In a time when it’s all too easy for people to be divided, you guys are showing the nation what unity looks like,” said Col. Shawn Keeter, 77th ECAB commander, told a crowd of hundreds gathered at a sendoff ceremony. “You’re coming together across state lines, across communities, with a single purpose to serve, to protect and to accomplish your mission.”
The UH-72 is a twin-engine, single-main-rotor commercial helicopter. It has seating for two pilots and up to six passengers or two NATO standard litters. The Lakota is to be deployed only to non-combat, non-hostile environments, according to an Army fact sheet.
Arkansas’ deployers will travel to their mobilization station at Fort Hood, Texas. From there, they will disperse to various assigned locations along the border with Mexico.
“You stand in a proud tradition of citizen Soldiers who put service before self” Keeter said.
The 1-114th was formed in October 1986. Its members have deployed to Iraq in 2004 to provide aviation support. Unit members deployed in 2010 to Kosovo to help provide regional security during a peacekeeping operation.
The Arkansas National Guard has been to the Southwest border states numerous times on federal missions. Most recently the 875th Engineer Battalion in Jonesboro, Ark., deployed 50 Guardsmen in 2022 and 2023 to Texas for one year to perform command and control of subordinate military companies on Title 10 orders performing look out and observation post duties in support of U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.
In 2018, the 77th ECAB sent two UH-72 Lakotas and 10 personnel to support U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.
Arkansas governors have sent the Arkansas National Guardsmen in state active duty status to support Operation Lonestar in Texas. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders ordered 40 in 2024 for 60 days to support the Texas National Guard. In 2023, 80 Guardsmen were ordered to Texas for 40 days to perform lookout and observation post duties. In 2021, former Gov. Asa Hutchinson ordered 13 Guardsmen to Texas to provide vehicle maintenance support to the Texas National Guard for 90 days.
Story by John Oldham
Arkansas National Guard Public Affairs Office