RELEASED BY: LT. COL. GREG HAPGOOD
     PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER
     OFFICE: (515) 252-4582
     CELL: (515) 971-6385
     HOME: (515) 986-5725

RELEASE: IMMEDIATE

TWO IOWA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD UNITS ALERTED
FOR POSSIBLE FEDERAL ACTIVE DUTY IN KOSOVO

The Department of Defense (DoD) and the National Guard Bureau, Washington, D.C., have announced that two Iowa Army National Guard units have been alerted for possible federal active duty. This alert is part of Operation Enduring Freedom and the Global War on Terrorism.
 

Approximately 230 Soldiers have been alerted from the 1st Battalion, 194th Field Artillery, and another approximately 100 Soldiers from Company A, 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry, for a possible active duty peacekeeping mission in Kosovo. The new DoD mobilization policy goal is to mobilize National Guard and Reserve servicemembers for no longer than 12 consecutive months, but if necessary, those servicemembers can serve up to 24 months consecutively on active duty.
 

The 1st Battalion, 194th Field Artillery is comprised of units located in Fort Dodge (Headquarters and Headquarters Battery), Estherville (Battery A), Algona (Battery B), and Storm Lake (Company G, 334th Brigade Support Battalion). Their mission assignment is to provide direct and indirect artillery fires, and coordinate artillery and mortar fires, and close air support for combat units in a theater of operations. This unit previously mobilized in support of Operation Noble Eagle in 2002-03.
 

Company A, 1st Battalion 133rd Infantry is based in Dubuque. Their mission is to conduct close combat with enemy forces and provide security of key terrain, facilities, and installations. This unit last deployed in 2003-04 for the Multinational Force and Observers (“MFO”) peacekeeping mission in the Sinai peninsula, Egypt.
 

For questions concerning this release as well as additional information about the operations, training, and activities of the Iowa Army and Air National Guard, please contact Lt. Col. Greg Hapgood, Iowa National Guard Public Affairs Officer by email at gregory.hapgood@ia.ngb.army.mil or (515) 252-4582 (office), (515) 971-6385 (cell), or (515) 986-5725 (home) or Master Sgt. Duff E. McFadden at duff.mcfadden@ia.ngb.army.mil or (515) 252-4666.

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