Washington troops react to Pentagon deployment preparations

Members of the Washington National Guard take part in pre-deployment drills, including live-fire exercises and Stryker Brigade Combat Team training.

"We are required to maintain certain levels of readiness, which we do, and we are prepared to fulfill any requirements that come to us from the Department of Defense to our National Guard Bureau,” said Washington National Guard Col. Jeff Sabatine.

Soldiers and airmen are always kept on their toes.

The Pentagon announced it’s deploying more than 3,000 troops to the Middle East following the U.S. airstrike that killed a top Iranian general and sent tensions soaring.

Friday, American troops arrived in Kuwait and Iraq.

KIRO 7 asked Col. Sabatine, the Chief of Staff for the Washington Military Department, if local forces will be sent.

“There’s always chances things can change in this business; however, we have no indications at all that anything is going to change for the missions that we’re currently exercising in the Middle East,” he said.

About 500 Washington National Guard airmen and soldiers are deployed around the globe, including in Jordan and Afghanistan, where they’re doing training missions.

Sabatine said troops are prepared, but right now there’s no sign they’ll be sent across the border.

"I think the mood around here is that we’re going to continue on with our mission,” said Sabatine.

KIRO 7 reached out to other bases in the area, including Joint Base Lewis-McChord. One official said he “hasn’t received word they’re deploying forces from JBLM.”

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