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

RELEASE: IMMEDIATE

COMMUNITY SENDOFF CEREMONY SCHEDULED FOR IOWA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD UNIT
 

A community sendoff ceremony for an Ottumwa-based Iowa Army National Guard unit mobilized as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom will be held at 11 a.m., Sunday, June 10, Hellyer Student Life Center, Indian Hills Community College, 525 Grandview Ave., Ottumwa. Local officials and Iowa National Guard leadership will participate and the public and media are welcome and encouraged to attend the sendoff ceremony.
 

Approximately 120 Soldiers have been mobilized from the 833rd Engineer Company (formerly known as Company B, 224th Engineer Battalion). They will eventually report to their mobilization station at Fort McCoy, Wis. for additional training and preparation before assignment to a specific location.
 

The 833rd Engineer Company’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 October 2004 to December 2005.
 

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.
 

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 (office), (515) 480-7647 (cell), (515) 251-7335 (home).

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