March 21, 2004
Forwarded by Joseph Stefula
Source: Official news release No. 138-04
Secretary of
Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld approved the alerting of approximately 18,000
National Guard soldiers for likely inclusion in the rotation of forces to
support operations in Iraq. If needed, these forces would replace
deployed units starting in late 2004 and early 2005.
The Central Command
commander continually evaluates the need for U.S. and coalition forces and
makes recommendations and planning projections as to the appropriate size and
composition of the force in Iraq. The National Guard soldiers being
alerted now will be mobilized over the next several months to conduct necessary
training prior to deployment. Mobilized National Guard forces could be
deployed for up to 12 months in theater. The total length of mobilization
is dependent on training requirements and the requirements of the Central
Command commander.
The major commands
being alerted are the 42nd Infantry Division Headquarters from New
York, the 256th Separate Infantry Brigade from Louisiana, the 116th
Separate Armored Brigade from Idaho and the 278th Armored Cavalry
Regiment from Tennessee.
This early alert
notification provides soldiers time to plan for their deployment, providing as
much predictability as possible for service members, their families,
communities and employers. As planning continues, it should be expected that
additional forces will be identified, alerted, and mobilized.