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

RELEASE: IMMEDIATE

IOWA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD UNIT MOBILIZED FOR ACTIVE DUTY IN IRAQ

The Department of Defense (DoD) and the National Guard Bureau, Washington, D.C., have announced that the Iowa Army National Guard’s 833rd Engineer Company, Ottumwa, Iowa, has been ordered to federal active duty. This mobilization is part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and the Global War on Terrorism.
 

Approximately 120 Soldiers have been mobilized from the 833rd Engineer Company (formerly known as Company B, 224th Engineer Battalion), with an effective date of active duty anticipated for June 2007. Information regarding the unit’s sendoff ceremony will be provided at a later date. They will eventually report to their mobilization station at Fort McCoy, Wis. for additional training and preparation before assignment to a specific location. 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.
 

Based in Ottumwa, Iowa, the unit’s mission is to increase the combat effectiveness of United States and coalition forces by removing physical obstacles, identifying and reducing minefields and explosive devices, executing mobility missions, emplacing barriers, constructing protective positions, and performing infantry missions as required. This unit was last deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from October 2004 to December 2005.
 

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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