An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | June 28, 2010

Carpenter praises Guard efforts in the Gulf

By Spc. Tarell J. Bilbo, Louisiana National Guard

NEW ORLEANS - Maj. Gen. Raymond W. Carpenter, acting director of the Army National Guard traveled here June 24 to attend a National Guard strength and maintenance conference and visit with Louisiana Guardsmen working the oil spill response mission in Grand Isle, La.

Carpenter, escorted by Army Brig. Gen. Owen W. Monconduit, commander of the 225th Engineer Brigade, got a close look at the Tiger Dam water diversions system that has been constructed on the beach at Grand Isle.

Monconduit explained the importance of the Guard's effort to protect the marshlands and coastal areas of Louisiana while the two flew from Jackson Barracks to Grand Isle in a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.

"If any oil were to come into these marshlands, it would greatly disrupt the marine life, as well as the lives of the citizens of these communities," Monconduit said.

At Grand Isle, Carpenter praised Guardsmen from the 1022nd Vertical Engineer Company, 527th Engineer Battalion, after watching them perform maintenance on the Tiger Dam system.

"These Guardsmen are doing great work," he said. "The sheer size of what they are protecting just takes you back a bit."

Besides viewing the Tiger Dam system, Carpenter also visited a LANG operations center in Grand Isle and observed military float bridge operations and civilian vacuum barge systems.

In addition to the projects Carpenter visited, the Louisiana Guard has completed land bridges on Elmer's Island and Thunder Bayou, as well as Hesco barrier walls in Port Fourchon.

 

 

Related Articles
Maj. Gen. Thomas Friloux, adjutant general of Louisiana, discusses briefing details with Col. Augusto Villalaz, director of the Joint Staff for the Louisiana National Guard, during the annual Hurricane Rehearsal of Concept (ROC) Drill at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, May 21, 2025. The drill helps synchronize plans and strengthen coordination across LANG’s senior leadership ahead of hurricane season.
Louisiana Guard Rehearses Emergency Plans for Hurricane Season
By Capt. Peter Drasutis, | May 28, 2025
NEW ORLEANS – The Louisiana National Guard conducted its annual Hurricane Rehearsal of Concept (ROC) Drill at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Baton Rouge May 21, uniting key personnel across multiple commands to refine...

U.S. Soldiers assigned to 3rd Battalion, 197th Field Artillery Regiment, New Hampshire Army National Guard, sling load a reduced range practice rocket to a Moroccan CH-47 Chinook during a multinational sling load operation at African Lion 2025 (AL25), May 17, 2025, in TanTan, Morocco. AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, brings together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF,) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations - preparing forces to deploy, fight, and win.
New Hampshire Guard Teams with Morocco for Sling Load Training at African Lion 2025
By Sgt. 1st Class Jessica Forester, | May 28, 2025
TAN TAN, Morocco – Soldiers assigned to the 744th Forward Support Company (744TH FSC), 3rd Battalion, 197th Field Artillery Regiment, New Hampshire Army National Guard partnered with the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces (FAR), for...

From left, Sgt. Edward Acda, Lt. Col. Vern Perez, Sgt. 1st Class Celine Taitano, Capt. Ryan Arellano, Staff Sgt. Jovencio Mortera, and Sgt. Avery Tyquiengco of the Guam National Guard participate in Balikatan Cyber Defense Exercise, Manila, April 27, 2025. Balikatan is a longstanding annual exercise between the U.S. and Philippine armed forces designed to strengthen the alliance, showcase the capable combined force, and demonstrate the commitment to regional security and stability. (Courtesy asset)
Guam Guard Participates in Balikatan 2025 Cyber Defense Exercise
By Mark Scott, | May 28, 2025
MANILA, Philippines – A team of cyber professionals and an intelligence analyst from the Guam National Guard attended Balikatan 2025, participating in the three-week Cyber Defense Exercise alongside teams from various...