Alabama National Guard deploys large unit for Operation Enduring Freedom

MONTGOMERY, AL (10/25/2011)(readMedia)-- The Alabama Army National Guard's 115th Expeditionary Signal Battalion (ESB), out of Florence, with its subordinate units, has been called to active duty in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

The 115th held a ceremony in September for the entire battalion to case its colors in preparation for deployment. As the unit departs, there will be several departure ceremonies for the units within the battalion.

Company A, 115th ESB, out of Florence, will have a departure ceremony in Florence at the Florence High School gymnasium, 1201 Bradshaw Drive, at 9 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011.

Company B (minus detachment 1), 115th ESB, out of Sheffield, will have a departure ceremony in Sheffield at Sheffield High School, 2800 19th Avenue, at 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011.

Detachment 1, Company B, 115th ESB, out of Haleyville, will have a departure ceremony in Haleyville at the National Guard armory, 1717 Armory Road, at 10 a.m., Friday, Oct. 28, 2011.

Company C, 115th ESB, out of Huntsville, will have a departure ceremony in Huntsville at Grissom High School auditorium, 7901 Bailey Cove Road, at 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011.

Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 115th ESB, out of Sheffield, will have a departure ceremony in Florence at the Florence High School gymnasium, 1201 Bradshaw Drive, at 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011.

In all, the 115th ESB will deploy nearly 500 Alabama National Guard Soldiers to Afghanistan and Kuwait in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The 115th will provide communications and information technology support to units throughout the area of operations.

The 115th will continue to undergo extensive mobilization training at a mobilization training station before deploying.

Local officials and senior Alabama National Guardsmen will attend each ceremony to send off the Soldiers of the 115th. The general public is invited and encouraged to attend each ceremony to show their support for the Soldiers and their families.

The Alabama National Guard has called more than 17,000 personnel to active duty since 9/11 and remains a top contributor among the nation's National Guard.

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