Almost two years after returning from the Iraq War, approximately 49 members of local National Guard unit, Company A, 1st Battalion, 293rd Infantry, were given their notice Thursday to mobilize to assist with the Hurricane Katrina disaster.

They reported to the armory at 7:30 a.m. today for a meeting.

The deployment is for approximately 60 days, according to Indiana Army National Guard SFC Denny J. Harlan, Recruiting and Retention NCO, Thursday afternoon, to Mississippi.

Harlan said the entire 1st Battalion 293rd Infantry was called up. The battalion includes approximately 600 to 650 guardsmen from Kosciusko, Noble, Whitley, Allen, Steuben and Huntington counties.

According to a press release from Joint Forces Headquarters Indiana National Guard Office of Public Affairs, Indianapolis, Maj. Gen. R. Martin Umbarger, the Adjutant General of Indiana, received orders from the governor's office and at the direction of the National Guard Bureau to provide personnel and equipment in support of the relief efforts in Mississippi.

The operation is "Task Force Indiana." By order of the governor and through Emergency Management Assistance Compact, Indiana units from around the state will deploy to Camp Shelby, Miss., to begin its humanitarian relief mission on the Gulf Coast.

The primary mission is a joint effort by both Indiana Army and Air National Guard where service members will provide assistance in the form of transportation, medical, security forces, logistical support, aviation assets and support through the Joint State Task Force command and control.

Command staff members from within the Joint Forces Headquarters will provide overall command and control of Task Force Indiana and will be led by Brig. Gen. Michael Kiefer, Land Component Commander, Indiana National Guard. Units called to duty will report to home station and convoy through Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center to receive rations and supplies for their mission.

Units called to state active duty include Company A, 205th Medical Battalion (Area Support Ambulance); soldiers from the 638th Division Aviation Support Battalion; aviation support units from the 2nd Battalion, 238th Aviation Bn; logistical capabilities from units within the 38th Division Support Command with subordinate units; support from the 181st Fighter Wing and the 122nd Fighter Wings; transportation units from the 1638th Transportation Company and 1538th Transportation Company; 2nd Battalion, 150th Field Artillery; the 3rd Battalion, 139th Field Artillery and subunits; 190th Quartermaster Battalion; and soldiers from 113th Support Battalion.

The press release indicates security forces will be led by the 38th Division Artillery, whose subordinate units include the 1st Battalion, 293rd Infantry and the 2nd Battalion, 152nd (Mechanized) Infantry Battalion; the 293rd Infantry (Light Anti-Tank) Battalion, the 151st Infantry Battalion and the 38th Military Police Company.

Harlan said Company A previously was called up in October 2002 and served in Kuwait and Iraq until October 2003. They were part of the initial invasion in Iraq. The 1st Battalion, 293rd Infantry was the first National Guard battalion to receive the Combat Infantryman's badge since the Korean War. About 95 percent of the local National Guard unit are combat veterans.

Most of the Guardsmen, Harlan said, look forward to doing something for their own country and to help the hurricane victims. Harlan said the unit is going to assist on the national disaster level and help wherever they can.

"There's a lot of work to be done down there," he said.

But it's what the National Guard has been trained to do. "This is our duty," he said. "This is what we are trained to do. We will help out any way we can. The National Guard is about service to the community and country."

According to the press release, the National Guard has the unique dual mission of providing forces at both the state and federal levels and is the only service that abides by two Oaths of Office, one to the governor and one to the U.S. president.

Thursday, Readiness NCO/Platoon Sgt. 1st Class Jeff Bennett said, "A lot of our mission is to support people during this and help as much as possible." [[In-content Ad]]