For Saint Patrick's Day the soldiers of the 250th Signal Battalion will all wear green this year. Green camouflage, that is. The unit, based in Westfield, will assume the duty of guarding the George Washington Bridge, Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel, and selected PATH facilities on Sunday, March 17th. They will be relieving the 50th Main Support Battalion, which has been on duty since February 23rd. The tour of duty for more than 200 soldiers will last several weeks. The 250th Signal Battalion is based in Westfield, with individual companies in Flemington, Cherry Hill, and Somerset.

The 250th Signal is being mobilized to augment New Jersey State Police and Port Authority Police who are currently on duty in those same locations. The Guard soldiers provide a highly visible armed presence to deter acts of terrorism on these key transportation facilities. While deployed, the troops will be housed at local National Guard Armories in Bergen and Hudson Counties.

Currently New Jersey has over 1650 soldiers and airmen on active duty dealing with the consequences of the 11 September attack on America. Duties range from providing security at airports and nuclear power plants, to flying fighter missions over the Northeast corridor, to refueling coalition aircraft in Southwest Asia.

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.