JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Governor Tate Reeves (R-Miss.) announced he approved the deployment of 22 soldiers of the Mississippi National Guard (MSNG) to Tallahassee, Florida. The 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 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.”

The members are part of the Mississippi Army National Guard’s 185th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade, headquartered in Jackson. They were deployed to Tallahassee International Airport on Wednesday, October 9.

The MSNG 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.

“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,” said Maj. Gen. Bobby M. Ginn Jr., the adjutant general of Mississippi.

“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.