By Gerardo R. Partido
Variety News Staff

GUAM National Guard deployments to the Horn of Africa are likely to continue, according to Admiral William Fallon, commander of the United States Central Command.
Fallon’s disclosure came after Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo, during a hearing held by the House of Representatives Committee on Armed Service, asked Fallon whether service members from the Guam National Guard and their family members can expect to see deployments of Guam Guard personnel to the Horn of Africa in the foreseeable future.
Fallon told the committee that, in general, it is beneficial for units that have acquired familiarity with certain areas to continue to serve in those areas in order to help maintain consistency, continuity, and effectiveness of the mission.
Since three Guam National Guard companies have already been deployed to the Horn of Africa, and another currently on deployment, Fallon said it is very likely that in the future, the Guam Guard would again be sent to the region.
“Our men and women in the Guam National Guard deserve to know if the deployments will continue or if new missions are on the horizon,” Bordallo said in a statement.
“The men and women of the Guam Guard have performed exceptionally well during their assignments to the Horn of Africa. We are proud of our soldiers and their dedication to their mission. I know that for the families back home, removing some of the uncertainty about future deployments is an issue that I hope the Central Command can address in the months ahead,” Bordallo added.
Fallon appeared before the committee to discuss issues related to the Fiscal Year 2008 budget request for the United States Central Command.
The Central Command area of responsibility includes the Horn of Africa, South and Central Asia, and much of the Middle East.
During the meeting, Fallon also responded to committee members’ questions on a wide range of issues, including the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the potential threats that Iran poses to U.S. and coalition operations in the region.