Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont greets soldiers assigned to the 192nd Military Police Battalion during a deployment ceremony on April 28, 2026. (Emmanuel Gibson/U.S. Army)
Approximately 150 Connecticut Army National Guard soldiers have been sent on a short-notice overseas deployment to help in the U.S. war with Iran, according to the service.
Members of the 192nd Military Police Battalion gathered at the Bradley Air National Guard Base in East Granby on Tuesday for a sendoff that included dozens of family members as well as Gov. Ned Lamont and Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz.
The service did not specify where the unit will be sent. It is scheduled to support Operation Epic Fury through activities including mission command, staff planning, security, personnel services and logistical support.
The battalion was issued orders to report to active duty for mobilization training on March 20, according to the Army.
“These soldiers didn’t hesitate, didn’t ask for more time and didn’t look for a reason to say, ‘no,’” Maj. Gen. Francis Evon Jr., Connecticut National Guard adjutant general, said in a statement. “They said, ‘yes’, packed their gear and got ready to move.”
The deployment comes amid a lull in the war, which began on Feb. 28. Fighting has paused as the parties seek to reach a permanent ceasefire, but President Donald Trump is locked in a standstill with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran has continued to restrict virtually all traffic moving through the waterway, while the U.S. is seeking to pressure Iran by imposing its own blockade on vessels coming in and out of its ports.
Despite the deadlock, officials in Washington have framed the mission as a victory and, at various points over the past several weeks, indicated that they’re prepared to wind down the war.
The USS Gerald R. Ford will soon be heading home after a record-setting deployment, bringing the number of aircraft carriers in the Middle East down from three to two, The Associated Press and The Washington Post reported Thursday.
Both Iran and the U.S. have indicated they’re prepared to resume fighting if necessary. On Wednesday, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform an apparently AI-generated image of himself holding a high-powered rifle while standing in front of explosions. It was captioned, “NO MORE MR. NICE GUY!”
“Iran can’t get their act together. They don’t know how to sign a nonnuclear deal,” he wrote. “They better get smart soon!”
