Alexander City National Guard unit to deploy

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MONTGOMERY, AL (10/07/2015)(readMedia)-- The Alabama Army National Guard's 214th Military Police Company, out of Alexander City, has been called to active duty.

The company will have a departure ceremony in Alexander City at Benjamin Russell High School auditorium, 225 Heard Boulevard, at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015.

The company will deploy approximately 140 Alabama National Guard Soldiers to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

The 214th will perform external security of detainees and force protection for personnel located on the base.

The 214th previously deployed for Operation Desert Shield / Desert Storm in 1990-1991, and Operations Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn in 2003-2004 and 2010-2011.

During its time in Iraq in 2003-2004, the unit was awarded the Valorous Unit Award and suffered the combat death of one its Soldiers. Since 9/11, unit members have also been awarded a total of 40 Purple Hearts for wounds sustained in combat while serving overseas.

The Soldiers of the 214th will continue to undergo extensive training at a mobilization station before deploying overseas.

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

The Alabama National Guard has called more than 22,000 personnel to active duty since 9/11 and remains a top contributor among the nation's National Guard organizations.

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