National Guard airmen to build Arizona border hospital THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- Civil engineers and medical personnel from Fairchild Air Force Base are among the first Washington Guard units to deploy for President Bush's effort to beef up U.S.-Mexico border security.
Sixteen members of the 141st Air Refueling Wing left Monday to build a field hospital in Nogales, Ariz., to serve the 6,000 National Guard members assigned to Operation Jump Start.
The Spokane Air National Guard airmen will stay in Arizona for two weeks, setting up and temporarily operating the hospital, which will provide first aid and basic medical care to other troops serving along the border.
The Guard units are patrolling the nation's southern border until additional U.S. Border Patrol agents can be hired and trained to prevent illegal crossings.
"It's an important mission for the states in the border region. There's been an identified shortage of people to perform the mission down there," 141st commander Col. Gary T. Magonigle said.
Another 17 Washington Air National Guard members with the 252nd Combat Communications Group from Camp Murray, near Tacoma, also deployed Monday to Arizona to set up a radio communications network.
It was not known if other Washington National Guard members will be sent to the border.
Gov. Chris Gregoire said in June that she would not force Washington Guard members to deploy to the border, but would allow volunteers to go there.
The unit is setting up a SPEARR hospital, short for small, portable, expeditionary, aeromedical, rapid response.
They were taking supplies found in any minor emergency clinic: treatments for insect bites, sprained ankles, dehydration and other common ailments.
"It's one of the first times we've deployed this medical element for real tasks, operating to provide emergency health care for military personnel," said Lt. Col. Wally Painter with the 141st's medical unit.
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