Arkansas 142nd Field Artillery Brigade heads to Middle East

The 142nd Field Artillery Brigade of Arkansas has been deployed to the Middle East, US Senator Tom Cotton announced on social media platform X, Caliber.Az reports.

Today, the brave men and women of Arkansas’ 142nd Field Artillery Brigade depart for the Middle East.

Arkansas is thankful for their service. May God protect them.

— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) April 6, 2026

“Today, the brave men and women of Arkansas’ 142nd Field Artillery Brigade depart for the Middle East.

Arkansas is thankful for their service. May God protect them,” Cotton wrote, paying tribute to the troops’ commitment and courage.

The 142nd Field Artillery Brigade traces its roots to 1893, when it was established as the 2nd Arkansas Infantry. The unit has served in nearly every major US conflict, except the Vietnam War.

More recently, the brigade provided security support during the 2021 presidential inauguration in Washington, DC, and later deployed across the Middle East in support of the same missions it will undertake again this year.

Beyond overseas operations, Guardsmen with the 142nd have responded to emergencies across Arkansas, including winter weather events, water distribution missions and disaster relief efforts following Hurricane Harvey in 2017 and the May 2024 tornado in Rogers.

By Vafa Guliyeva