Alaska US Army National Guardsmen Prepare for Deployment to Kuwait.

Washington D.C., United States, October 2, 2023 - The United States Department of Defense (DoD) has announced that approximately 100 Alaska U.S. Army National Guardsmen from Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment, are set to deploy to Kuwait in November 2023. This deployment is part of Operation Spartan Shield (OSS), a USCENTCOM (United States Central Command) operation in the Middle East.
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Alaska Army National Guardsmen with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment, and their families are honored during a deployment ceremony at the Alaska National Guard Armory on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Sept. 29, 2023. (Picture source U.S. DoD)

Bison Company's mission, under the aegis of U.S. Central Command, will focus on building partner capacity and bolstering regional security. The unit is scheduled to depart Alaska next week, heading to Fort Bliss, Texas. There, they will undergo final preparations and training for their overseas deployment.

OSS, commanded by the United States Army Central, is a comprehensive operation that includes units from all U.S. service branches. Task Force Spartan, the U.S. Army component of OSS, plays a pivotal role in this operation.

The 1-297th is a geographically dispersed unit that falls under the Hawaii ARNG's 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT). This brigade has a widespread presence, with battalions stationed in Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, and Arizona.

Earlier this summer, in anticipation of their upcoming deployment, the 1-297th collaborated with the 29th IBCT at the Joint Readiness Training Center in Fort Polk, La. During this month-long rotation, they engaged in extensive large-scale combat operations training.

Infantry Brigade Combat Teams (IBCTs) represent the Army's "light" ground forces and play a crucial role in the U.S.'s overseas force projection capabilities. However, recent conflicts and the Army's strategic outlook indicate that IBCTs face operational limitations, particularly in terms of transport, reconnaissance, and firepower against fortified and armored targets.

There are three distinct types of IBCTs: Light, Airborne, and Air Assault. Each type has its unique capabilities, from footmobile operations of Light IBCTs to the parachute assaults of Airborne IBCTs and helicopter assaults of Air Assault IBCTs.

For many Guardsmen in the 1-297th, this upcoming deployment is not their first. In 2020, over 150 members of the unit returned from a year-long mission in Kosovo. During their time there, they were tasked with monitoring the nation's administrative borders and ports of entry, ensuring freedom of movement and safety for the Kosovar population.

Defense News October 2023