Wyoming National Guard prepares for April deployment
JEFF GEARINO Southwest Wyoming bureau | Posted: Tuesday, November 18, 2008 12:00 am
ROCK SPRINGS - Wyoming National Guard officials believe soldiers, their families and communities must be well-informed long before they deploy to the war theater in Iraq.
With that in mind, the commander of the state's latest Guard unit to deploy to Iraq meets this week with various communities in southern Wyoming to discuss his unit's upcoming deployment.
More than 940 Wyoming National Guard soldiers have been called to serve in Iraq and Kuwait, the largest single deployment of servicemen and women from Wyoming in generations, officials with the Guard said.
Col. Richard Knowlton, commander of the Wyoming Army National Guard's 115th Field Artillery Brigade, will answer questions over the next few weeks from community leaders, business owners, families and concerned residents.
"I believe it is important to talk to community leaders to inform them of our upcoming mission and to seek their support for our soldiers," Knowlton said in a release. "Our mission will only be successful if our support system here in Wyoming is actively engaged and fully informed."
Knowlton met with Afton residents Monday and will be in Evanston today, Rock Springs on Wednesday, Laramie on Thursday and Torrington on Friday.
Guard officials announced the deployment in early October, and the unit is scheduled to begin deploying overseas in April.
Knowlton will command 941 Wyoming soldiers, and more than 2,400 total military personnel, during the one-year deployment to Kuwait as part of the Iraqi Freedom mission.
Officials said the call-up represents the largest single-unit mobilization the Wyoming National Guard has ever received.
The 941 soldiers heading to Kuwait comprise roughly 52 percent of the Wyoming Army National Guard numbers.
Guard spokeswoman Master Sgt. Trudy Woodcock said the mobilization will not affect the Wyoming National Guard's ability to respond to state and local emergencies.
She said during the unit's deployment, brigade personnel will perform missions in and around Kuwait to ensure coalition forces are protected, properly equipped and adequately housed in order to conduct their mission "to the highest degree of excellence."
A total of 2,900 soldiers and airmen serve in both branches of the Guard in Wyoming.
Since Sept. 11, 2001, more than 1,100 Wyoming Guard soldiers and airmen have deployed at least once to the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Officials said 58 Wyoming service personnel are currently serving in the Middle East.
Contact southwest Wyoming bureau reporter Jeff Gearino at (307) 875-5359 or gearino@tribcsp.com.
Want to attend?
Members of the public are invited to attend several meetings with Wyoming Army National Guard 115th Field Artillery Brigade commander Col. Richard Knowlton to discuss the unit's planned deployment to Iraq and Kuwait.
* Today: Evanston, 9 a.m. at the Uinta County Fire Hall; 5:30 p.m. at the Evanston Armory.
* Wednesday: Rock Springs, 9 a.m. at the White Mountain Library; 5:30 p.m. at the Rock Springs Armory.
* Thursday: Laramie, 9 a.m. at the Laramie Recreation Center; 5:30 p.m. at the Laramie Armory.
* Friday: Torrington, 9 a.m. at the city council chambers; 5:30 p.m. at the Torrington Armory.
* Dec. 10: Cheyenne, site and times to be determined.
Last we knew: More than 1,100 Wyoming National Guard soldiers and airmen have deployed at least once to the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001.
The latest: Some 941 Guard members have been called to serve in Iraq and Kuwait beginning in April, nearly half of the Wyoming National Guard force.
What's next: Col. Richard Knowlton, commander of the unit, will travel throughout the state over the next few weeks to discuss the upcoming deployment.]]->
Members of the public are invited to attend several meetings with Wyoming Army National Guard 115th Field Artillery Brigade commander Col. Richard Knowlton to discuss the unit's planned deployment to Iraq and Kuwait.
Today: Evanston, 9 a.m. at the Uinta County Fire Hall; 5:30 p.m. at the Evanston Armory.
Wednesday: Rock Springs, 9 a.m. at the White Mountain Library; 5:30 p.m. at the Rock Springs Armory.
Thursday: Laramie, 9 a.m. at the Laramie Recreation Center; 5:30 p.m. at the Laramie Armory.
Friday: Torrington, 9 a.m. at the city council chambers; 5:30 p.m. at the Torrington Armory.
Dec. 10: Cheyenne, site and times to be determined.]]->