Alabama Guard deploys large sustainment command again

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The 135th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) returned from their deployment to Afghanistan less than three years ago.

MONTGOMERY, AL (01/10/2013)(readMedia)-- The Alabama Army National Guard's 135th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), out of Birmingham, has been called to active duty in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

The 135th will have a departure ceremony in Homewood at the Homewood High School auditorium, 1901 S. Lakeshore Drive, at 1 p.m., Saturday, January 12, 2013.

The 135th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) will deploy more than 240 Alabama National Guard Soldiers to Kuwait in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and will be supporting 11 countries in its area of operation.

The 135th will provide operational level sustainment to corps and task force level and components during deployment, employment, sustainment, and redeployment.

The 135th will continue to undergo extensive training at a mobilization station before deploying later this winter.

State and local officials, as well as senior Alabama National Guardsmen, will attend the ceremony to send off the Soldiers of the 135th. The general public is invited and encouraged to attend to show their support for the Soldiers and their families.

This is only the second time a headquarters led by a general officer from Alabama has deployed in the current war. The 135th was also the last one in 2009 when it deployed more than 260 Soldiers to Afghanistan.

The Alabama National Guard has called more than 18,000 personnel to active duty since 9/11 and remains a top contributor among the nation's National Guard organizations.

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POC: Maj. Steven Overby at steven.r.overby2.mil@mail.mil or 334-300-0124