National Guard Troops Leave to Protect Bases

California Army National Guard troops will leave their civilian jobs and families today for a yearlong mission protecting California air bases, as the nation prepares for a possible war with Iraq.

More than 500 soldiers from two Southern California battalions will spend the year augmenting existing security forces as part of the nation’s homeland defense initiative, officials said.

Soldiers are scheduled to depart today for additional training at Ft. Lewis, Wash., before heading to nine U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard air bases: Edwards, March, Los Angeles, Travis, Beale, Vandenberg, Port Hueneme, Fresno and Mountain View.

Although the servicemen and women will be close to home, officials said they still feel the stress that comes with disruption of their lives.

The California National Guard provides families with health and dental insurance, psychological and spiritual counseling and financial assistance.

“We are lifting these people up out of their routines and asking them to give of themselves for their country,” said 144th Battalion commander Col. Philip Butch, whose troops are from armories in Azusa, Burbank, Culver City and Van Nuys.

Soldiers who are assigned to bases near their hometowns will most likely commute to work, Butch said.

Others who are deployed to more distant bases will either live on base or in off-base military housing.

“In one respect, it is tough that they will be gone for a year, but in another respect, it’s a relief” that they’re assigned in California, said 578th Battalion commander Col. Tony Marraccino, whose soldiers are from armories in Glendale, Long Beach and Brawley in the Imperial Valley.

“But they understand that we can be relocated anywhere in the country,” he said. “Anything can happen.”