Communications squadron from Fairchild to deploy to the Middle East

Sometime soon – although the Washington National Guard won’t say exactly when – the 242nd Combat Communications Squadron based at Fairchild Air Force Base will deploy to the Middle East and Africa to assist in military operations.

Capt. Joseph Siemandel said the unit primarily works to provide troops with telephone and internet communications in locations where that type of electronic infrastructure may be lacking.

Locally, the unit helped during the 2015 Carpenter Road fire in Stevens County to set up communications gear that allowed first responders and firefighters to keep in touch with each other, Siemandel said.

“We created big hot spots for those first responders,” he said.

The 242nd is assigned to the Washington Air National Guard’s 194th Wing that is based at Camp Murray near Tacoma. However, the squadron, which includes about 40 citizen-soldiers and airmen, is based at Fairchild west of Airway Heights.

A news release indicated that the upcoming deployment is the largest mobilization in the unit’s history.

“We all know the rough area” where the unit will be deployed, Siemandel said, “but we go with the broad term ‘Middle East.’ It goes back to security.”

Maj. Gen. Bret Daugherty, the state’s adjutant general and commander of the Washington National Guard, said in a news release that he’s proud of the men and women of the 242nd Squadron.

“They’re the backbone of our safety and security,” Daugherty said, “willing to sacrifice time away from loved ones to support a mission to bring hope, freedom and ultimately peace to people around the world.”