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 CEREMONIES SCHEDULED FOR TWO IOWA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD UNITS
 

Community sendoff ceremonies for two Iowa Army National Guard units mobilized as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom will be held Wednesday, June 6, at Denison and Camp Dodge. Local officials and Iowa National Guard leadership will participate and the public and media are welcome and encouraged to attend the sendoff ceremonies.
 

Denison -Company D, 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry
 

Noon at the Denison High School Football Field. In the event of inclement weather, the sendoff ceremony will be held in the Denison H.S. gymnasium, 819 N. 16th Street, Denison.
 

Camp Dodge -Troop A, 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry
 

3 p.m. at the 734th Maintenance Armory, 7105 N.W. 70th Avenue, Johnston (directly adjacent to the Camp Dodge main gate).
 

Approximately 120 Soldiers have been mobilized from Company D, 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry based in Denison, and another 120 Soldiers have been mobilized from Troop A, 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry based at Camp Dodge in Johnston. They will eventually report to their mobilization station at Camp Shelby, Miss. 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.
 

Co. D, 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry is based at Denison. The unit’s core mission is to conduct close combat with enemy forces and provide security of key terrain, facilities, and installations. Members of this unit previously deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom February 2004 to June 2005.
 

Troop A, 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry is based at Camp Dodge, Johnston. The unit performs reconnaissance and surveillance missions to assist commanders in planning and executing combat operations. This unit was last deployed in support of peacekeeping operations in Kosovo September 2003 to September 2004.
 

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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