Col. Jen Cinq-Mars formally assumed command of the 219th RED HORSE from Col. Todd Mortag on Jan. 10, though she’s been filling the role since November.

The unit is the Montana Air National Guard’s Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers, an expeditionary engineering unit that provides infrastructure and heavy construction support for disaster response, humanitarian assistance and federal contingency operations.

The 819th RED HORSE is the active duty unit located at Malmstrom Air Force Base.

819th RED HORSE back from Guam deployment [2024]

Cinq-Mars is a longtime Guard member but hasn’t been part of RED HORSE previously.

It’s a little unique, she said, that she’s not a civil engineer, as previous commanders have been.

She has a variety of experiences across the Air Force, previously serving as the A4 director, overseeing logistics and other tasks at the Montana National Guard’s Joint Force Headquarters at Fort Harrison in Helena.

Cinq-Mars also served as a manpower division chief for the Air National Guard at National Guard Bureau in Arlington, Va., just outside Washington, D.C.

Members of 219th RED HORSE constructing temporary medical facility in Billings [2020]

She’s also the first female commander of the 219th, which she said wasn’t a factor for her since they foster a culture of respect regardless of gender.

But, Cinq-Mars is also the first University of Montana graduate to command the unit since engineers typically come from Montana State University.

Some RED HORSE members return from deployment [2020]

She said she’d had some fun with that though it was tough with UM’s recent football loses to MSU.

As 219th commander, Cinq-Mars’ primary focus is preparing the unit for a deployment that’s about two years out.

That sounds like a lot of time, she said, but since the majority of the unit is traditional Guard, meaning they’re only together one weekend a month, with a lot of newer airmen, they have a lot to do.

120th Airlift Wing airmen return from deployment [2025]

The 219th is focusing on horizontal construction, such as runway/ramp construction, she said, and the Air Force has been withdrawing more from Southeast Asia moving more into the India Pacific area of operations.

The 219th’s current authorized manpower is 125, and Cinq-Mars said they’re looking to grow to about 170.

The unit is currently about 10 percent full-time members and 90 percent traditional Guardsmen. Those members come from all over the state, and some from out of state who chose to remain with the Montana Guard.

With the new mission focus of runway and horizontal construction, Cinq-Mars said they did a lot of recruiting so have a lot of new airmen who need training before deployment. The unit includes enlisted leaders and core officers who have deployed previously, helping with that training and finding Montana based projects that provide hands-on training.

120th Airlift Wing airmen deploy to Africa over Memorial Day weekend [2025]

They’ll be deploying with Malmstrom’s 819th RED HORSE unit and Cinq-Mars said it’s helpful that they can train together and already work together and share equipment.

The 219th and 819th will be doing a project together this summer, she said, which will be good training and an opportunity to get to know the airmen they’ll be deploying with.

In October 2025, the 219th mobilized to the Montana State Prison for about two weeks to provide water, showers and facilities as the prison dealt with a major water leak and boil advisory.

219th RED HORSE headed to Puerto Rico to support Hurricane Maria relief efforts [2017]

The broader 120th Airlift Wing of the Montana Air National Guard is “definitely a family outside your immediate family,” she said, and serves alongside her husband, Col. Josh Cinq-Mars, who commands the 120th Maintenance Group.

She said he understands some of the stressors and it’s great to have his support, as well as that of her in-laws, who are bot retired chiefs from National Guard units in other states.

As the 219th prepares for deployment, Cinq-Mars said the new airmen provide inspiration and fresh perspective.

219th RED HORSE support global operations in Slovenia [2017]

Seeing the newer generation work with their existing talent, “is really pretty awesome,” she said, “watching people grow on both sides.”

219th RED HORSE Squadron 2025 highlights, according to the Guard, include:

• executed more than 10 major engineering projects, including rapid airfield damage repair, range tower construction, vertical training facility construction, and concrete pad development supporting training and contingency operations
• completed two demolition blasts and multiple infrastructure revitalization efforts to safely remove and modernize legacy facilities
• trained and developed 62 airmen, upgraded 34 airmen, and advanced eight members through RED HORSE special capability courses, strengthening expeditionary readiness
• expanded the force by 25 new members, improving squadron manning and long-term sustainability
• executed four or more international engineering and disaster response engagements through the State Partnership Program, Indo-Pacific Allies Engineering Summit and Urban Search and Rescue exchanges
• certified eight members for RED Card wildland firefighting, enhancing Montana’s ability to respond to wildfires and state emergencies
• secured approval for a 19.5-acre permanent campus, ensuring long-term infrastructure and operational capacity for the squadron.