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 Iowa City-based Iowa Army National Guard unit mobilized for peacekeeping duties will be held at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 6, at the Iowa City Regina High School gymnasium, 2140 Rochester Ave., Iowa City.  
 

Local officials and Iowa National Guard leadership will participate and the public and media are welcome and encouraged to attend the sendoff ceremony.
 

Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment (HHD), 109th Medical Battalion (Multifunctional) will deploy to the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt as part of the Multinational Force Observer (MFO) mission. Following the sendoff ceremony they will report to their mobilization station at Fort Lewis, Wash. for additional training and preparation before assignment to a specific overseas location.
 

Selected Soldiers from the following Iowa Army National Guard units will provide additional technical and tactical expertise to HHD, 109th Medical Battalion for the MFO mission: 209th Area Support Medical Company (Iowa City); 294th Area Support Medical Company (Johnston); 134th Medical Company (Washington); 67th Troop Command (Iowa City); 135th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment (Johnston); 2133rd Transportation Company (Centerville); and Joint Forces Headquarters (Johnston). A total of approximately 95 Iowa Army National Guard Soldiers are affected by this mobilization.
 

HHD, 109th Medical Battalion (Multifunctional) will provide command and control to various units which provide logistical, medical, aviation and explosive ordinance removal support to all 11 MFO contingents. For additional information about the MFO mission and organization go to www.mfo.org .
 

In 2003, the 109th Medical Battalion was mobilized to support Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom in support of the global war on terrorism. The unit provided medical support and care throughout the Iraqi theater of operations to U.S. and coalition Service members, Iraqi citizens, and detainees. The battalion completed federal active duty and returned to Iowa in April 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 1st 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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