NASHVILLE-Major General Gus L. Hargett, Jr., Tennessee’s Adjutant General, today announced that Tennessee’s largest National Guard unit, the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, headquartered in Knoxville, has received mobilization orders effective later this year.  

Tennessee National Guard officials are working with the Department of Defense on the specific mission, number of soldiers, deployment date and deployment location which will be announced at a later date.  

The Regiment is composed of more than 3,000 soldiers from across the entire state of Tennessee.  

“The world situation is constantly changing after seven years of deployments, and the current situation will determine how and where the regiment is utilized as part of the Global War on Terror.” said Brigadier General Max Haston, Assistant Adjutant General, Army. 

Colonel Jeffrey Holmes, 278th Commander, said, “The Regiment has anticipated the order and conducted individual and collective training for the deployment over the past six months.  Our soldiers and families are prepared, and we’re ready to get it started.  We began this process three years ago and it will be gratifying to have the opportunity to finish the job.”

The 278th last deployed in June 2004 during which the unit trained Iraqi security forces and assisted with provincial elections and the National Constitutional Referendum.  The regiment will mobilize through Camp Shelby, Mississippi, for an unspecified period of time before deploying to their final locations.