Alabama Guard Deploys EOD Team to Kosovo

MONTGOMERY, AL (01/19/2011)(readMedia)-- The Alabama Army National Guard's 666th ordnance Company, out of Jacksonville, will deploy a small Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team to Kosovo later this week.

The team will act as the NATO Kosovo Force (KFOR) sole EOD force, responsible for the mitigation of explosive hazards and destruction of munitions. The team will train and work with the recently independent Kosovar police forces to clear unexploded ordnance and defeat any improvised explosive devices that may threaten the life and property of the populace. The 666th has deployed to Kosovo twice before.

A departure ceremony for the team will be held at their home armory at 1655A Pelham Road South; Jacksonville, Ala., at 11 a.m., Saturday

The team from Alabama will be joining other NATO partner nations in Kosovo. NATO has been leading a peace support operation in Kosovo since June 1999 in support of wider international efforts to develop a stable, democratic, multi-ethnic and peaceful Kosovo. Alabama's National Guard Soldiers will play an essential part in supporting those efforts.

The team will report to Camp Atterbury, Ind., for extensive mobilization training before deploying to Kosovo.

Local officials and senior Alabama National Guardsmen will attend the ceremony to send off the team. Media are invited to attend the ceremony.

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Release #: 2011011901