Ohio Army National Guard air defense members deployed

MARYSVILLE, Ohio — Around 40 Ohio Army National Guard members are deploying Sunday to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.

The public attended a call to duty ceremony Sunday morning to honor the members’ deployment at Creekview Intermediate School.

Members of the 1st Battalion, 174th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, based in Marysville, will provide air and missile defense operations using the Avenger Air Defense System to protect critical assets and personnel throughout the CENTCOM area of responsibility.

The mission will include short-range air defense against unmanned aerial systems, missile strikes, rotary-wing aircraft and fixed-wing low-altitude threats, according to a release.

Operation Inherent Resolve is the United States military’s operation to combat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

The unit’s previous deployments were in 2010-11 and 2018-19.