Squadron sent on first combat assignment

  • Published
  • By Ryan Stark
  • Nucleus writer
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  Dozens of members of the New Mexico National Guard and their family members gathered at the Air National Guard's main hangar Saturday to bid farewell to members of the 210th Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers -- RED HORSE for short.

The 65-member squadron deployed to Southeast Asia for its first-ever combat assignment. National Guard officials did not give a specific location for the deployment, but the location was termed as a "combat zone" in a Sept. 10 press release.

The emotional "yellow ribbon" ceremony was highlighted by a rousing speech by New Mexico National Guard Adjutant General Brig. Gen. Andrew Salas.

"Don't fail. You must not fail," Salas said. "We are a team because we have to be a team to defend this great nation and the state of New Mexico. We are the ones in uniform that stand between us and the evil in the world."

The squadron's commander -- Lt. Col. Thomas Benton -- told those assembled that the squadron's mission is straightforward.

"Our mission is a simple one: we step up to build anything to serve the warfighter," he said.

Salas and Benton spoke to the Airmen's families.

"When the guardsman answers the nation's call, it's not just the guardsman that answers," Benton said. "Your sacrifices make it possible for your loved one to train and serve with a clear mind," Salas said. "Thank you for your sacrifice."

The 210th was chartered in 2014. Its members have built houses in Gallup, N.M., disaster relief in areas around New Mexico, built military facilities in Iraq and more.

RED HORSE personnel are tasked with quickly building roads, base facilities and anything else needed for military personnel.

The squadron includes structure engineers, who build or repair buildings and their component systems; pavement engineers who build roads or runways; electrical-power- generation personnel, who get electrical systems up and running; and electricians, who keep the power going. The 2

10th can also handle armed forces' transportation and heating and cooling needs. The squadron maintains prepackaged shipping containers with kits of tools and materials for building tents, generating electricity or any number of needs for establishing a remote working area.

The RED HORSE sums up its job with its motto: "Build, destroy, repeat."