South Dakota National Guard Will Mobilize for Deployment
South Dakota National Guard unit will mobilize for deployment
RAPID CITY, S.D. - Soldiers from the 235th Military Police Company located in Custer, S.D., with a detachment in Rapid City received a mobilization order Tuesday, June 20, for deployment in support of the Global War on Terror (GWOT).
The South Dakota Army National Guard unit is set to mobilize in mid-October and will report to Fort Bliss, Texas, to begin the deployment process. The unit will spend several months training at Fort Bliss before it deploys in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. The unit's mission is to provide military police support to units in the region.
"The 235th MP Company has a proven record of performance," said Gov. Mike Rounds. "Whether it is a fire, flood or national call-up, the soldiers are always ready."
This is the 235th Military Police Company's second mobilization in support of the GWOT as the unit was activated in February of 2003 and spent approximately 12 months at Fort Carson, Colo., conducting military police support to the installation.
Since the 2001 terrorist attack on America, the South Dakota National Guard has mobilized approximately 2,800 Soldiers and 750 Airmen in support of the Global War on Terror. During the peak of deployments, South Dakota had more than 1,500 Soldiers in Iraq at one time.
Currently, approximately 185 Soldiers and Airmen from the South Dakota National Guard remain on duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. More than 3,500 National Guard men and women still serve in a non-active duty status in South Dakota and continue to provide support for state and national emergencies and homeland defense.
SDNG units currently deployed in support of the GWOT:
Battery C, 1st Battalion, 147th Field Artillery, Yankton - Iraq
147th Field Artillery Brigade, Sioux Falls - Afghanistan
129th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, Rapid City - at Fort McCoy, Wis.
114th Security Forces Squadron, Sioux Falls - Iraq
The following units have individuals currently deployed in support of the GWOT:
Detachment 3, Company A, 249th Aviation, Rapid City - Iraq
Joint Force Headquarters Forward, Rapid City - Afghanistan
Company C, 1st Battalion 189th Aviation, Rapid City - Iraq
Company B, 109th Medical Battalion, Vermillion - Iraq
1742nd Transportation Company, Sioux Falls - Iraq
http://www.state.sd.us/governor/