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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, February 22, 1992                   TAG: 9202220411
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

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GUARD UNIT'S DEACTIVATION TO GET REVIEW

The national commander of the National Guard has agreed to review the proposed deactivation of Virginia's 276th Engineer Battalion, Sen. John Warner, R-Va., said Friday.

The battalion is one of the nation's oldest and most highly rated, Warner said.

Lt. Gen. John Conaway assured Warner that the proposed deactivation would be reassessed, the senator said.

The 276th, with about 730 members, is based in Richmond and has units in Vansant, Richlands and Tazewell. The battalion traces its lineage to the First Virginia Regiment that once was commanded by George Washington and Patrick Henry.

Warner said he told Conaway that the battalion is crucial for responding to floods and other natural disasters in Virginia.

Warner said he also reviewed with Conaway recent testimony by Gen. Colin Powell that links Guard cutbacks to active unit cutbacks.

The testimony, made before the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the Pentagon plans to cut Guard units that are linked to active duty units marked for elimination.

During wartime, the 276th Battalion would be assigned to the 18th Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg, N.C. The 18th Airborne is not targeted for cuts. - Associated Press

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