(Undated)– The Iowa National Guard says its numbers are holding steady despite continued call-up of Iowa soldiers to fight in Iraq.
The guard has 77-hundred members. That’s 200 more than its authorized strength.
The Iowa Air National Guard has about two-thousand members.
Nationally, the Army National Guard reached its goal of 350-thousand soldiers on April 1st.
Iowa Guard spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Greg Hapgood says today’s enlistees tend to be a bit older than those who signed up before the September 11th terrorist attacks. He says they better understand who they are and understand the risks.
About 120 soldiers of the 833rd Engineer Company based in Ottumwa will be returning for a second tour of Iraq. Also on alert are 230 soldiers from the First Battalion, 194th Field Artillery, based in Fort Dodge, Estherville, Algona and Storm Lake; and about 100 soldiers from the Dubuque-based Company A, 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry.
(Story from the Associated Press.).
