(Des Moines)– The Defense Department has announced the call up of 3,500 soldiers of the Iowa Army National Guard.
Members of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team of the 34th Infantry Division will be called to duty next year for service in Afghanistan. The brigade includes the 194th Field Artillery Division which has units in Storm Lake, Spencer, Estherville and Sheldon.
The pentagon announced Tuesday the Iowa brigade will begin deploying in the fall of 2010. It will be part of ongoing operations battling the Taliban. They will also train the Afghan national security forces.
The pentagon says the Iowa brigade is getting its marching orders now to give members the maximum amount of time to prepare their families and employees for their deployment.
In addition to Iowa National Guard members, the pentagon said two active-duty army brigade combat teams with a total of 7,000 soldiers have been designated for service in Afghanistan.
