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 | Jan. 12, 2011

Nevada National Guard battalion enjoys huge turnout for Afghanistan deployment ceremonies

By Sgt. Mike Getten Joint Force Headquarters Public Affairs

RENO - The largest deployment in the history of the Nevada Guard’s signal corps began January 9 for the 422nd Expeditionary Signal Battalion.

More than 350 Nevada Soldiers marked the start of the deployment with a ceremony at the Reno Ballroom before they departed for their final training before leaving for Afghanistan.

One hundred Soldiers from Arizona belonging to A Company will join the Nevada Soldiers this week.

This deployment marks the first time a National Guard signal battalion will use the Warrior Information Network – Tactical in Afghanistan.

The 422nd will provide communications to dozens of forward operating bases and combat outposts throughout south and southwest Afghanistan.

The new equipment provides voice, data, video teleconferencing and other data transmission capabilities, both secure and non-secure, to a wide area in the battalion’s area of operations.

A ceremony for the Soldiers based in southern Nevada was held Thursday at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.

Thousands of family, friends and well-wishers attended both ceremonies, including U.S. Sen. John Ensign in Las Vegas and Gov. Brian Sandoval in Reno and Las Vegas.

Both elected official praised the Soldiers and their families for stepping forward on behalf of the Silver State. The 422nd Signal Battalion commander, Lt. Col. Jeff Hanson echoed those sentiments.

“I have no worries about the job we are deployed to do,” said Hansen. “The Soldiers in this unit have trained well and are prepared for this deployment.”

The signal Soldiers from Nevada spent their pre-mobilization annual training at Camp Roberts, Calif. Simultaneously, A Company trained at Florence Military Reservation, Ariz.

The far-flung companies within the battalion kept in continuous contact utilizing its WIN-T equipment.

In late December, the Soldiers took a short break and spent time with families and friends during the holidays. They departed Monday for Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., for their final preparation before moving to Southwest Asia to conduct the mission.

 

 

Related Articles
Photo of medical training during a Port Subject Matter Expert Exchange at the Port of Laem Chabang, Thailand, August 20, 2025. (Courtesy Photo)
Washington Guard Continues Strengthening Relationship at Thailand’s Port of Laem Chabang
By Joseph Siemandel, | Sept. 30, 2025
CAMP MURRAY, Wash. - Four members of the Washington National Guard partnered recently with more than 170 employees from the Port of Laem Chabang, Thailand, to continue improving the port’s all-hazard response as part of the...

Leaders and attendees from the Hawai‘i National Guard, Guam National Guard and Armed Forces of the Philippines gather for a group photo during the 25th anniversary celebration of the State Partnership Program between the Hawai‘i National Guard and the AFP at Clark Air Base, Philippines, Sept. 25, 2025. The Hawai‘i Guard and AFP launched the Indo-Pacific’s first State Partnership in 2000, marking 25 years of cooperation in training, disaster response and regional security.
25 Years Strong: Hawai‘i Guard and Philippines Celebrate Enduring Partnership
By Master Sgt. Mysti Bicoy, | Sept. 30, 2025
CLARK AIR BASE, Philippines — Cheers, handshakes and shared stories filled the air Sept. 23–25 as the Hawai‘i National Guard and Armed Forces of the Philippines celebrated 25 years of partnership — a bond that has endured...

Oklahoma National Guard leaders and Italian representatives unveil a plaque at the former headquarters of the 45th Infantry Division during WWII in Venafro, Italy, Sept. 8, 2025. A delegation of Oklahoma National Guard members and veterans toured key locations from the 45th Infantry Division’s campaign in Italy against German forces during World War II, continuing the development of the Thunderbird Trail. The initiative is aimed at preserving the Division's role in World War II through a memorial trail tracing its footsteps through Italy, France and Germany, ensuring their sacrifices are never forgotten. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Danielle Rayon)
Thunderbird Trail: Preserving Sacrifice, Strengthening Connection for Oklahoma Guard
By Sgt. Danielle Rayon, | Sept. 29, 2025
ITALY – Standing among rows of white marble headstones at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial, Soldiers of the Oklahoma National Guard bent to place sand from the beaches of Anzio into the carved names of...