Budget cuts stop 293rd Infantry deployment

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Indiana National Guard's 1st Battalion 293rd Infantry joins a couple more units that will not be deploying this summer.

The cancel in deployment is due to federal budget cuts and military downsizing. The soldiers have been in combat training for two years in Indiana, Michigan, and Kentucky. Over 500 soldiers were preparing for the Horn of Africa mission.

Even though the soldiers are not being deployed, their training is not a waste of time. It makes them better prepared for other missions, said Lt. Col. Jeff Hackett, Battalion Commander for the 293rd Infantry.

Soldiers are still on standby to be deployed at any moment to assist overseas.

Many soldiers have left their jobs to get ready for training and deployment. Indiana National Guard officials said since there's no deployment, this will take a financial strain on some soldiers. Many of them have left their jobs to get ready for deployment, others rely on the deployment for compensation.

"What we have to do now is work with those employers to get our guys back employed, those who already left," said Lt. Col. Hackett. "We're going to have some unemployment we have to tackle."

An active duty battalion will take on the Horn of Africa mission. Unlike the 293rd Infantry that had two years to train, this active duty battalion has only had a week and a half.

"The best thing we can do for them is offer them our assistance since we've actually been on ground over there twice," said Command Sergeant Major David Routson, with the 293rd Infantry.