MILITARY & VETERANS AFFAIRS
NEWS RELEASE

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:
COL John Dwyer, Public Affairs Officer 
101 EGGERT CROSSING ROAD
LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ 08648
609-530-6939
RELEASE:
IMMEDIATE (24 October 2001)

 

New Jersey National Guard to Augment Security at Bridges and Tunnels

The New Jersey National Guard is deploying troops this week to help enhance security at key bridges and tunnels in the New York metropolitan area. This security force is being put in place to assist the New Jersey State Police and the Port Authority Police and is not based upon any specific threat to these facilities. Armed soldiers will be visible around some of the critical transportation assets starting today. We are announcing this deployment so that the public is not alarmed by the new presence of soldiers at these facilities. 

The soldiers are initially being drawn from the combat units of the 50th Brigade of the New Jersey Army National Guard. The first unit called for this duty is the 2nd Battalion, 102nd Armor, headquartered in Port Murray, Warren County, with subordinate units in Newton, Hackettstown, West Orange and Somerset. Units will rotate security duty every few weeks until the mission is completed. Currently the 2-102 Armor also has 40 soldiers mobilized as part of the task force providing security at Newark Airport. While deployed, the troops will be housed at local National Guard armories.

Currently New Jersey has over 1100 soldiers and airmen on active duty dealing with the consequences of the 11 September attack. Duties range from providing security at airports and nuclear power plants, to flying fighter missions over the Northeast corridor, to managing donations. 

For more information about this mobilization, or other operations of the New Jersey Army or Air National Guard, please contact Colonel John Dwyer at 609-530-6939.


 

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