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Over a thousand soldiers activated by storm Laura

With over a thousand soldiers already activated across the island, the United States Army Reserve in Puerto Rico, the largest permanently established command of the United States Army at the federal level in the Caribbean, reported that is ready to provide assistance to the civil authorities if necessary, as a consequence of the
tropical storm Laura.

Just yesterday, the General Jeffrey W. Jurasek, commander of the Army Reserve Forces in the region, rreceived the visit of Major General Greg J. Mosser, chief of the 377th Logistics Support Command, with whom he coordinated for a possible response to a local emergency.

“We have taken concrete steps to ensure that we have more capabilities to help the people of Puerto Rico in an emergency,” Jurasek said in a press release.

Even though there are over 1,000 Reserve soldiers on active duty on the island, as part of their annual training, It is important to note that the responsibility of providing first response services rests with the state authorities and the National Guard.l, they stressed in written statements.

The state government can request the assistance of Army Reserve forces through the federal government chain of command.

“In the event that the state civil authorities and the National Guard need a federal military response, we must not wait for outside resources to come. Our command is now here in Puerto Rico, pre-positioned and ready to assist immediately, ”said Jurasek.

As part of their regular mission, Soldiers assigned to the Army Reserve in Puerto Rico are deployed around the world to supplement active duty resources. There are currently approximately 300 Reserve soldiers deployed off the island, between Poland, Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Our men and women in uniform are ready to support agencies in charge of emergency response, under our mission of Defense Department Support to Civil Authorities. Our capabilities include search and rescue, logistical support, Civil Affairs units. , and public information, as well as robust engineering capabilities As the largest federal Army command in the Caribbean, Title 10 of the United States Code, Section 12304a, authorizes us to provide assistance during a disaster or major emergency in the United States. United States, if the
governor of the state or territory requests it through authorities
corresponding federals, ”Jurasek added.

With approximately 5,000 soldiers, the United States Army Reserve in Puerto Rico has units in Aguadilla, Mayaguez, Yauco, Ponce, Juana Diaz, Ceiba, Salinas, Puerto Nuevo, the Virgin Islands and its headquarters at Fort Buchanan.

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