President Barack Obama issued an executive order today that will deploy National Guard and Reserve forces to West Africa to fight the Ebola outbreak on the front lines..
Under the order, which is a mandate, secretaries of defense and homeland security will order to active duty some members of the Selected Reserve and the Individual Ready Reserve mobilization.
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Sources earlier told NBC News that eight engineers and logistical specialists from the Guard, both active-duty and reservists, would probably be included in the first deployment. They are expected to help build 17 Ebola treatment centers, with 100 beds apiece. The sources said no decision had yet been made.
Defense Department officials said the executive order was necessary to speed the deployments, and would allow the president to send additional forces as needed. Health officials have recorded more than 2,400 Ebola deaths in Liberia, the highest of any country.
