LOCAL TROOPS PREPARE FOR DEPLOYMENT
Friday, August 22nd, 2008 -- 3:01 PM
Despite word of a possible resolution, over 3,000 National Guard soldiers from Wisconsin are training to go to Iraq next year.Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visited Iraq Thursday trying to hammer out a security pact that could lead to U.S. forces moving out of Iraqi cities by as early as June.
In December, officials announced the 32nd Brigade Combat Team, with units in 36 Wisconsin communities, including Neillsville, Eau Claire, Wisconsin Rapids, Mosinee, Marshfield, Stevens Point, Abbotsford and Arcadia, would be deployed sometime next year in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Their duties will likely involve route security in Iraq and Kuwait.
"The 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team continues to train for whatever mission our country may call for it to do, whether it be in Iraq, or here in Wisconsin," says Jackie Guthrie, a spokesperson for the Wisconsin National Guard, "Any decision to change their expected mission is really up to the Department of Defense and the President of the United States."
About 2,700 of the soldiers are just wrapping up a three-week training session at Ft. McCoy.
"The three weeks that they just finished?included everything from weapons qualifications, to convoy operations, urban combat operations and offense and defense operations," Guthrie says.
The Brigade is on alert, but no mobilization orders have been given. They anticipate they will be deployed early next year.
Most of these units have already served a tour of duty in the Middle East. Neillsville's unit was deployed in June 2004 and returned home in November 2005. At that time, they were part of the 128th Infantry. They're now Company F of the 132 Brigade Support Battallion, headquarted in Portage.
"Have their jobs changed? Not substantially. The bottom line is a soldier is still a soldier," she states.
The unit is authorized for up to 80 soldiers.
The 32nd Brigade Combat Team is descended from the famed 32nd "Red Arrow" Division, which gained notoriety during the World Wars I and II. Wisconsin's
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