[Mil.com] The South Dakota National Guard is deploying on mission to the U.S. southern border. And the operation is being funded by a billionaire, not the government, Military.com has learned.Soldiers will serve on state active-duty orders, meaning that traditionally the state would cover the cost of the mission. However, in this case the tab is being picked up by the private Tennessee-based Willis and Reba Johnson's Foundation.
"The border is a national security crisis that requires the kind of sustained response only the National Guard can provide," South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a Republican, said in a statement Tuesday.
Roughly 50 guardsmen will deploy on the mission, according to a South Dakota Guard spokesman. However, the mission is still in its early planning stages. It’s unclear where the troops will deploy on the border, which unit will be sent or what the mission will be.
The National Guard declined to comment for this story or answer questions about the practice of allowing private donors to fund missions. A query to the Pentagon about the mission did not receive a response.
Willis Johnson is the founder of Copart, an online vehicle auction service, and has amassed a $2.2 billion fortune, according to Forbes. He resigned as CEO of Copart in 2010, according to reporting from the Nashville Post.
He is a Republican mega-donor, donating at least $1.5 million to conservative causes, including $50,000 to the "Trump Victory" political action committee, according to reporting from Bloomberg.