Alabama Guard Deploys Military Police Company

MONTGOMERY, AL (05/28/2010)(readMedia)-- The Alabama Army National Guard's 214th Military Police Company out of Alexander City and Opelika has been called to active duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

A departure ceremony for the unit will be held in Alexander City at the football stadium of the Alexander City Sportsplex, 1842 Sportsplex Blvd., at 9 a.m., Saturday, June 12, 2010. Gates to the stadium will open at 8 a.m.

The 214th deployed in Operation Desert Storm in 1991 and was awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation. The unit also deployed to Iraq in 2003 for a year-long deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 214th is now deploying to conduct Police Transition Team missions, training Iraqi police officers.

The unit will report to Fort Dix, N.J., for extensive mobilization training before deploying to Iraq.

Local officials and senior Alabama National Guardsmen will attend the ceremony to send off the 214th. The general public is invited and encouraged to attend the ceremony to show their support for the 214th Soldiers and their families.

The Alabama Army and Air National Guard has called more than 16,000 personnel to active duty since 9/11.

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