278th Armored Cavalry Regiment destined for Iraq in February
By Robert Norrisof The Daily Times Staff
Originally published: November 05. 2009 3:01AM
Last modified: November 04. 2009 11:00PM
Tennessee's largest combat unit — including Maryville-based Howitzer Battery, 1st Squadron — is preparing to mobilize to Camp Shelby, Miss., before deploying to Iraq in February 2010.
The Army National Guard's 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, headquartered in Knoxville, will move about Dec. 5 to the south Mississippi post on the first leg of its scheduled deployment, the Tennessee Guard announced Wednesday.
The 278th ACR, with about 3,300 soldiers in Guard units from Kingsport to Henderson, will spend about two months in mobilization training at Camp Shelby. Most units of the 278th have been back at home for the past two or three weeks after completing three weeks of annual training in Mississippi, said Randy Harris, Tennessee National Guard spokesman.
The Tennessee regiment last served in Iraq in 2004, when its duties included training Iraqi security forces and assisting with provincial elections.
With this latest deployment of the 278th ACR, the number of Tennessee Guard men and women deployed since Sept. 11, 2001, will reach about 17,000.
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