Lee sending 100 Tennessee National Guard members to border with Mexico
Gov. Bill Lee is authorizing the deployment of 100 Tennessee National Guard members to Texas to help patrol the border with Mexico.
Here’s the release from the governor’s office:
Gov. Lee Authorizes Tennessee National Guard Deployment to Secure Southern Border
100 Tennessee troops to curb ongoing border crisis, support Operation Lone StarNASHVILLE, Tenn. – Today, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee authorized the deployment of 100 Tennessee National Guard troops to secure the U.S. Southern border amid an ongoing national security crisis and surging drug crisis being fueled by an open border.
The announcement follows a joint statement from Gov. Lee and fellow Republican governors last week and a border security briefing in Austin on Monday, where Texas Governor Greg Abbott invited states to support ‘Operation Lone Star’ to secure the U.S. Southern border following the end of Title 42.
“America continues to face an unprecedented border crisis that threatens our nation’s security and the safety of Tennesseans,” said Gov. Lee. “The federal government owes Americans a plan to secure our country, and in the meantime, states continue to answer this important call to service. I am again authorizing the Tennessee National Guard to help secure the Southern border, and I commend these troops for providing critical support.”
The Tennessee National Guard members will deploy at the end of May to provide critical support along the U.S. Southern border, including:
• Patrolling and providing additional security presence along the border
• Assisting road and route clearance, barrier placement and debris removal
• Staffing outpost operations
The Tennessee National Guard has supported border security efforts in the past. In December 2021, Gov. Lee authorized 50 additional troops to respond to the surge in illegal crossings and drug-related activity along the U.S. Southern border. Lee also visited more than 300 Tennesseans stationed at the border in July 2021.
“The men and women of the Tennessee National Guard are always ready to serve their country anywhere, anytime,” said Brigadier General Warner Ross, Tennessee’s Adjutant General. “These troops are a capable contingent that will continue our long-standing tradition of responding to the call to aid our fellow Americans. The Tennessee National Guard is proud to serve and support our state partners in safeguarding the United States along the U.S. Southern border.”
Lee to visit Tennessee National Guard troops on Texas-Mexico border
Gov. Bill Lee is headed to Texas on Saturday to visit with Tennessee National Guard members deployed along the border with Mexico.
Here’s the release from the governor’s office:
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Today, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced he will travel to the U.S. Southern border this weekend to meet with Tennessee National Guard troops and evaluate needs in securing the border.
“The men and women of the Tennessee National Guard are playing a significant role in quelling the most severe border crisis we’ve seen in 20 years,” said Gov. Lee. “I want to personally commend the more than 300 Tennesseans who are serving our country and on the front lines of this crisis.”
Currently, there are 300 Tennessee National Guard members stationed at multiple sites throughout the border region of Texas to provide support to Customs and Border Protection. These personnel are members of three units:
— 269th Military Police Company – Routinely augments law enforcement by conducting training and providing a presence along the border
— 913th Engineer Company – Capabilities lend to myriad road building efforts and border wall projects
— 2-151 Aviation Battalion – Provides an aerial platform to assist Customs and Border Protection with a number of their logistical and operational priorities
Gov. Lee will be accompanied by Maj. Gen. Jeff Holmes, Adjutant General of the Tennessee National Guard. Upon their return, Gov. Lee and Holmes will provide more details about the visit
Lee extends school closure recommendation, corporate tax filing deadline
Gov. Bill Lee speaks at a press conference on Tennessee’s coronavirus response in Nashville on March 16, 2020. (Erik Schelzig, Tennessee Journal)
Gov. Bill Lee is extending his recommended school closure period to April 24 amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The Republican governor also announced Tuesday that the state’s deadline for filing corporate franchise and excise taxes will be extended from April to July 15.
State workers who have been working from home have been instructed to keep doing so until April 24. They had previously been scheduled to return to work at the end of the month. About 23,000 state employees have been working from home.
The governor mobilized the National Guard to assist with the state’s pandemic response. Lee said 250 guard members have been called up, including 150 who are medically trained. They will be assigned to assist with 35 remote assessment sights around the state as the virus spreads to more rural counties.
TN National Guardsman dies in training accident
Press release from Tennessee National Guard
Fort Irwin, Calif.—The Tennessee National Guard has suffered a fatality at the National Training Center. Private First Class Tara Turnage of Memphis, Tenn. was killed Monday morning in an accident at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, Calif.
TN National Guard disapproves of taking oath of office with a dinosaur puppet
Excerpt from a Washington Post article:
It’s unclear why Master Sgt. Robin Brown, a public affairs officer with the Tennessee Air National Guard, recited her oath of re-enlistment last week using a dinosaur puppet. Or why the colonel conducting the ceremony allowed her to do so, stifling his laughter as the puppet mouthed the oath.
But the two have been let go from the Guard after a video of the incident went viral, garnering about 2.4 million views on Facebook by Wednesday (Facebook Post HERE) and upsetting many in the military community who felt Brown and the colonel’s actions were disrespectful. Brown has been removed from her full-time job with the Tennessee Joint Public Affairs Office and the yet-to-be-identified colonel has been demoted and immediately retired, according to Army Maj. Gen. Terry Haston, the adjutant general for the Tennessee National Guard.
National Guard Uses Dino Puppet During Oath
This member of the National Guard lost her title after she used a dinosaur hand puppet to take her official oath
Posted by NowThis on Thursday, April 19, 2018
TBI accuses man of theft from TN National Guard and sheriff’s office
News release from Tennessee Bureau of Investigation
NASHVILLE – An investigation by Special Agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Army National Guard Joint Force Headquarters has resulted in the arrest of a Linden man on charges of theft and official misconduct.
At the initial request of 21st District Attorney General Kim Helper, in August 2015, TBI Special Agents began working with the Army National Guard Joint Force Headquarters in investigating then-Army National Guard Sergeant Dave Pendleton on allegations of theft. At that time, Pendleton was working with the Army National Guard, and was stationed at the National Guard Armory in Perry County.
During the course of the investigation, Agents developed information that between July 2014 and August 2015, while serving as a supply sergeant, Pendleton was responsible for the theft of approximately $129,369 worth of government property, including aviation and vehicle fuel, and equipment. The investigation further revealed that while employed as a deputy with the Perry County Sheriff’s Office, Pendleton used his county-issued gas key in July and August 2015 to purchase gas that was used in his private vehicle.
Agents also learned that while employed as a deputy, Pendleton arrested an individual on May 18, 2015, and confiscated a weapon. That weapon was never entered into evidence and was last seen in Pendleton’s possession. Pendleton is no longer an employee of either the Perry County Sheriff’s Office or the Army National Guard.
On Monday, the Perry County Grand Jury returned indictments charging Pendleton (DOB 8/27/1977) with one count of Theft over $60,000 and five counts of Official Misconduct. Pendleton was arrested Tuesday and booked into the Perry County Jail on a $25,000 bond.
