National Guard Sendoff Ceremonies Scheduled

[j4state]

As you all know, the Iowa National Guard is about to leave on a historic, 2800 member deployment to Afghanistan. All units will be departing Iowa within the next month for a duration of one year. For many of the soldiers and their families this will be the most demanding and stressful deployment they have faced.

While we are enjoying ourselves at Jack Trice Stadium and Hilton Coliseum, they could be stationed miles from base in the 100+ degree heat without running water or electricity. From what I've heard, many may not be able to contact their families for weeks on end.

Please make an effort to show support for the best this state has to offer by attending a ceremony and lining the streets in your community. It means so much to these men and women and their families to see a community who appreciates the sacrifices they will endure. A community who will miss them greatly and will be waiting for their safe return.

Thank you to all the active service members and veterans out there. Our freedom will never be taken for granted.

Here is the schedule of sendoff ceremonies, starting July 18 and ending August 9:

Sunday, July 18
Johnston
185th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion (approximately 50 Soldiers) 10 a.m., Camp Dodge Freedom Center, 7105 NW 70 th Avenue, Johnston
Fort Dodge
Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 194th Field Artillery (approximately 60 Soldiers) 3:30 p.m., Iowa National Guard armory, 1659 Nelson Ave., Ft. Dodge
Friday, July 30
Algona
Battery B, 1st Battalion, 194th Field Artillery (approximately 45 Soldiers)
11 a.m., Iowa National Guard armory, 1511 N. POW Camp Road, Algona
Boone
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade Combat Team (approximately 110 Soldiers)
10 a.m., Des Moines Area Community College (Boone campus), 1125 Hancock Dr., Boone
Eagle Grove
Detachment 1, Battery B, 1st Battalion, 194th Field Artillery (approximately 40 Soldiers)
11 a.m., Iowa National Guard armory, 216 S. Park Ave, Eagle Grove
Mt. Pleasant
832nd Engineer Company (approximately 50 Soldiers)
10 a.m., Mount Pleasant High School, 2104 S. Grand Avenue, Mount Pleasant
Keokuk
Detachment 1, 832nd Engineer Company (approximately 55 Soldiers)
10 a.m., Keokuk High School, 2285 Middle Road, Keokuk
Storm Lake
Company G, 334th Brigade Support Battalion (approximately 80 Soldiers)
11 a.m., Storm Lake High School, 621 Tornado Drive, Storm Lake
Sunday, August 1
Carroll
Company A, 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry (approximately 100 Soldiers)
10 a.m., Carroll High School, 2809 N. Grant Road, Carroll
Council Bluffs
- Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry
- Detachment 2, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry (Spencer unit)
- Detachment 1, Company B, 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry
- Detachment 1, Company F, 334th Brigade Support Battalion
10 a.m., Mid-American Center, 1 Arena Way, Council Bluffs
Davenport
Company A, Brigade Special Troops Battalion (approximately 75 Soldiers)
10 a.m., Modern Woodmen Park (River Bandits), 209 S. Gaines Street, Davenport
Denison
Company D, 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry (approximately 50 Soldiers)
10 a.m., Denison High School, Fine Arts Center, 819 N. 16th Street, Denison
Estherville
Battery A, 1st Battalion, 194th Field Artillery (approximately 80 Soldiers)
11 a.m., Estherville Armory, 1704 3rd Avenue South, Estherville
Johnston
- Detachment 1, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry
- Company C, 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry
- Detachment 1, Company C, 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry (Newton unit)
10 a.m., Camp Dodge Freedom Center, 7105 NW 70th Avenue, Johnston
Red Oak
Company F, 334th Brigade Support Battalion (approximately 110 Soldiers)
10 a.m., Red Oak High School, 2011 N. 8th Street, Red Oak
Shenandoah
- Company B, 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry
- Detachment 2, Company B, 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry (Corning unit)
10 a.m., Shenandoah High School, 1000 Mustang Drive, Shenandoah
Monday, August 2
Charles City
Detachment 1, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry
8 a.m., Iowa National Guard armory, 2003 Clark Street, Charles City
Clinton
Detachment 1, Company A, 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry (approximately 35 Soldiers)
2 p.m., Iowa National Guard Armory, 1200 13th Avenue North, Clinton
Tuesday, August 3
Cedar Falls
- Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry
- Company E, 334th Brigade Support Battalion
- Detachment 2, Company E, 334th Brigade Support Battalion (Iowa Falls unit)
10 a.m., UNI Dome, 2501 Hudson Road, Cedar Falls
Dubuque
- Company A, 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry
- Company D, 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry
- Detachment 1, Company E, 334th Brigade Support Battalion
10 a.m., Peosta Community Center, 7896 Burds Road, Peosta
Iowa City
Company B, 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry (approximately 100 Soldiers)
10 a.m., City High School, 1900 Morningside Drive, Iowa City
Iowa Falls
Company C, 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry (approximately 75 Soldiers)
10 a.m., Iowa Falls High School, 1903 Taylor Avenue, Iowa Falls
Oelwein
Detachment 1, Company C, 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry (approximately 40 Soldiers)
10 a.m., Oelwein Middle School, 300 12th Avenue SE, Oelwein
Thursday, August 5
Johnston
- Troop A, 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry
- Troop B, 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry
10 a.m., Ankeny High School, 1302 North Ankeny Blvd., Ankeny
LeMars
Troop C, 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry (approximately 80 Soldiers)
9 a.m., Le Mars High School, 921 3rd Avenue SW, Le Mars
Sioux City
- Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry
- Company D, 334th Brigade Support Battalion
10:30 a.m., Sioux City East High School, 5011 Mayhew Drive, Sioux City
Friday, August 6
Marshalltown
Detachment 1, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Brigade Special Troops Battalion
10 a.m., Marshalltown Community College, 3700 S. Center St, Marshalltown
Saturday, August 7
Cedar Rapids
- Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Brigade Special Troops Battalion
- Company B, Brigade Special Troops Battalion
- Company C, Brigade Special Troops Battalion
10 a.m., US Cellular Center, 370 1st Ave NE, Cedar Rapids
Sunday, August 8
Cedar Rapids
- Detachment 1, Company A, 334th Brigade Support Battalion
- Detachment 2, Company A, 334th Brigade Support Battalion (Oelwein unit)
- Company B, 334th Brigade Support Battalion
2 p.m., US Cellular Center, 370 1st Ave NE, Cedar Rapids
Monday, August 9
Des Moines
- 334th Brigade Support Battalion
- Detachment 1, Company C, 334th Brigade Support Battalion (Corning unit)10 a.m., Veteran's Memorial Auditorium, 703 3rd Street, Des Moines

Links:
IowaPolitics.com: Iowa National Guard: Community sendoff ceremonies planned for Iowa National Guard soldiers
Send off ceremonies set for 2,800 National Guard soldiers - KWWL.com - News & Weather for Waterloo, Dubuque, Cedar Rapids & Iowa City, Iowa |

If anyone is aware of additional ceremonies or any edits to the above, please post.

 

[Stewo]

*checks list*

Whew! I thought I was....wait! HHC 1/168th?! I'm getting deployed?!! Oh crap.

I kid. Thank you for putting that list together. Are you in the 2BCT?

 

[ISUAgronomist]

I was just thinking about this beause a good buddy of mine (sniper) will be shipping out around Aug. 2.

 

[DeereClone]

Stewo and j4state, I assume you both have served/are currently serving?

If so, thank you. And thanks to everyone on here who has served, I think it is the most honorable thing someone can do.

 

[cstrunk]

Wish I could attend, but I'm stuck in Texas.

I've got a great friend / college roommate that is getting deployed.

Thank you to all who are serving.

 

[cyeah]

Does that leave any National Guard troops in Iowa? That list is huge.

For all who are deploying be safe and GET SOME! Wish I was young enough to be there with you. It seems really odd to be "one who went before" now rather than one trying to uphold that tradition.

To those who know or live near someone deploying - help out the family anyway you can. Mow for them, scoop snow for them, babysit for a mom who is now a single mom etc. Help out, help out, help out.

I have my 14 year old mowing and babysitting for our neighbor who is deployed to Kosovo as a platoon sergeant and he is starting to understand the why.

 

[swiacy]

My nephew is an Army Ranger and will be deployed to Afghanistan in August. Mountain Division. Serious, intense, high risk what he does. Was "Mr. Basketball" his senior yr. in H.S in his home state & 4.0 gpa. Full ride to college in BB but was bored and entered Army program that would pay for law school after committment. In basic, scored #1 in accuracy on range and was sent to Iraq as machingunner sitting on top of Hummer. Told my brother if the kid was so smart couldn't he have missed the target a few times? Anyway, he is now career Army and is very happy. We are all very proud of him and understand what the military does for all of us. Only the best serve!

 

[j4state]

*checks list*

Whew! I thought I was....wait! HHC 1/168th?! I'm getting deployed?!! Oh crap.

I kid. Thank you for putting that list together. Are you in the 2BCT?

I was a member of A Btry 1/194 FA. About 80% of the guys I deployed with two years ago are going again. So much for the four or five year rule.

Of course they are taking it in stride as honorable soldiers would, but the burden of three or four 12-18 month deployments in an eight year period will undoubtedly take its toll.

Keep these men and women in your thoughts and prayers daily, as well as the families they leave behind.

 

[j4state]

Does that leave any National Guard troops in Iowa? That list is huge.

For all who are deploying be safe and GET SOME! Wish I was young enough to be there with you. It seems really odd to be "one who went before" now rather than one trying to uphold that tradition.

To those who know or live near someone deploying - help out the family anyway you can. Mow for them, scoop snow for them, babysit for a mom who is now a single mom etc. Help out, help out, help out.

I have my 14 year old mowing and babysitting for our neighbor who is deployed to Kosovo as a platoon sergeant and he is starting to understand the why.

A little under half of the Iowa Army National Guard will be in Afghanistan for this deployment. Definitely enough. The preliminary numbers were closer to 3,500 so maybe someone finally stepped in a said "maybe we're going a little overboard here".

Great advice, cyeah. If you are fortunate enough to be in a position to help a single parent or child on the home front, you are making a positive impact on the success of the mission.

Maybe because of you a family will feel a little less overwhelmed and in turn decrease the chance of common negative residuals such as transition issues, divorce or even PTSD. At the very least you can take some pride in helping a family in a time of great need.

 

[MidwestZest]

A little under half of the Iowa Army National Guard will be in Afghanistan for this deployment. Definitely enough. The preliminary numbers were closer to 3,500 so maybe someone finally stepped in a said "maybe we're going a little overboard here".

Was just about to address that question. I think the Iowa Guard is close to 8,000 strong, but only 6500 or 7000 are deployable. Meaning, not in basic training or advanced training, and not on any sort of medical profile where they are currently unable to perform duties.

 

[Stewo]

Stewo and j4state, I assume you both have served/are currently serving?

If so, thank you. And thanks to everyone on here who has served, I think it is the most honorable thing someone can do.

I am currently. This will be my second deployment, both times to Afghanistan. The last time I went, I was barely 20 years old, single and still lived at home and this time I'm 27 and married (not living at home :wink. Thank you for the kind words. We do it because we love what we do. That's the great thing about having a 100% volunteer military.

As a side note, the numbers (of Soldiers) have dropped quite a bit. We're now somewhere between 2,600 and 2,700 as another company was just dropped off. We are attaching a field artillery company out of Nebraska as well. Speaking from a 1/168th perspective, it's going to be a great mission. Everyone is pumped up and ready to get boots on ground.

 

[j4state]

I am currently. This will be my second deployment, both times to Afghanistan. The last time I went, I was barely 20 years old, single and still lived at home and this time I'm 27 and married (not living at home :wink. Thank you for the kind words. We do it because we love what we do. That's the great thing about having a 100% volunteer military.

As a side note, the numbers (of Soldiers) have dropped quite a bit. We're now somewhere between 2,600 and 2,700 as another company was just dropped off. We are attaching a field artillery company out of Nebraska as well. Speaking from a 1/168th perspective, it's going to be a great mission. Everyone is pumped up and ready to get boots on ground.

Outstanding. Thank you for continuing to serve.

You will have to keep us updated throughout the training phase and once you get settled on the other side of the globe.

Hopefully they will let you go home for a couple weeks so you can get some much needed R and R. Maybe even a chance to swing through Ames to watch Coach Hoiberg and the boys!

 

[Al_4_State]

Good luck everyone! I've had several friends deployed over the past few years, and it really puts things into perspective when you know people who are deployed, both in terms of your friendship, and the job being done. I can't imagine what it would it be like for a significant other, or what it would be like to be deployed. Hopefully everyone takes care of themselves over there, and comes back in one piece.

We all appreciate the hard work and personal sacrifice.

 

[Stewo]

Outstanding. Thank you for continuing to serve.

You will have to keep us updated throughout the training phase and once you get settled on the other side of the globe.

Hopefully they will let you go home for a couple weeks so you can get some much needed R and R. Maybe even a chance to swing through Ames to watch Coach Hoiberg and the boys!

That would awesome!

Good luck everyone! I've had several friends deployed over the past few years, and it really puts things into perspective when you know people who are deployed, both in terms of your friendship, and the job being done. I can't imagine what it would it be like for a significant other, or what it would be like to be deployed. Hopefully everyone takes care of themselves over there, and comes back in one piece.

We all appreciate the hard work and personal sacrifice.

I do it for you Al....