JACKSON, MS - Governor Reeves today announced he approved the deployment of 22 Soldiers of the Mississippi National Guard (MSNG) to Tallahassee, Florida. The 22 Soldiers will support emergency response missions in Florida in the anticipated aftermath of Hurricane Milton.

“Mississippi stands ready to assist Florida as they brace for Hurricane Milton,” said Governor Tate Reeves. “Our state is no stranger to hurricanes, and we’ll always be grateful for the assistance we’ve received in the past from people across the country. It’s only right that we now help our fellow Americans in their time of need. I know the Mississippi National Guard will do an excellent job assisting Floridians.”

Twenty-two members of the Mississippi Army National Guard’s 185th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade, headquartered in Jackson, Miss. deployed to Tallahassee International Airport, Florida today, October 9, 2024, in preparation for recovery operations in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton. The Mississippi National Guard aviation response team consisted of 22 soldiers, aviators, and crewmen, flying two HH-60M Blackhawks from Jackson and one CH-47 Chinook helicopter from Meridian to aid in hurricane response missions.

Maj. Gen. Bobby M. Ginn Jr., the adjutant general of Mississippi, explained the diverse and dual-hatted mission of the Mississippi National Guard and how its service members are always ready, and always there, “Mississippi National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are always training for emergency response missions along with their military readiness training. The talented professionals of the Mississippi National Guard stand ready to support our neighbors in Florida with lifesaving resources in the anticipated aftermath of this devastating storm.”

“Today, the Mississippi National Guard deployed three rotary wing aircraft along with 22 aircrew and maintenance personnel to the State of Florida for Hurricane Milton response efforts. This included two HH-60M Blackhawk helicopters with hoist capability and one CH-47 Chinook helicopter. The Blackhawks are capable of life-saving search and rescue missions and the Chinook is capable of moving emergency response personnel and equipment into an isolated area and the evacuation of stranded citizens. The Mississippi National Guard aviation team will serve as part of Florida’s Aviation Task Force and will fly into the impacted area as soon as weather conditions permit. The Mississippi National Guard responded to a similar mission following Hurricane Ian in 2022, creating an ‘air-bridge’ for movement of people and critical cargo to Sanibel Island, Florida,” said Col. Jeremy Parker, director of military support for the Mississippi National Guard.

Today, 22 members of the Mississippi National Guard’s 185th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade, headquartered in Jackson, Miss. deployed from Meridian and Jackson to Tallahassee International Airport, Florida, in preparation for recovery operations in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton. Their role will involve conducting search and rescue operations while also delivering essential supplies.