The Missouri National Guard is getting a new unit that could help it provide better response to a natural disaster. The Pentagon has approved formation of the 1138th Transportation company, which will have headquarters at Jefferson Barracks, with a detachment in Jefferson City. The new unit will have 177 members. Guard Captain Tammy Spicer says it will give the Guard off-road capabilities, which would be important if the worst comes to pass in southeast Missouri. She says the Adjutant General is working the unit’s off-road capability into the Guard’s contingency plan for disaster response if the New Madrid Fault triggers a massive earthquake. She says the creation of the new unit let Guard leaders examine demographic needs…and add more flexibility to Guard operations while getting elements of the 12-21st transportation company in a more compact area. The 1221st, which lacks off-road capability, has headquarters in Dexter and is moving a detachment to Portageville from St. Peters. Its detachment in Sikeston remains as-is.
