WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Vt. Army National Guard Mobilized

Vt. Army National Guard Mobilized

Colchester, Vermont - October 15, 2004

The waiting is over. After weeks of speculation 600 soldiers with the Vermont National Guard will be needed to help fight the Iraqi War.

"These soldiers come from Alpha Company in Bradford, Bravo Company in Westminster, Charlie Company in Bennington, Delta in Ludlow and Northfield, and HQ out of Rutland," Maj. Gen. Martha Rainville told the media at an afternoon press conference at Camp Johnson.

The soldiers are not going to Iraq, but they will be deployed to the region. Their mission is providing security.

"Mostly fixed sites. Airbases within the theatre of operations. The company could be in a variety of sites, not necessarily together."

The group trains with tanks, but the tanks are staying here. That is not unexpected because soldiers were training for a similar mission in Bosnia. That mission also focused on security.

"We had just started working our way back in to an armored roll when this mission rolled in, so we have had some pretty extreme training in the last year and a half in that battalion," says Maj. Wes Gould of the Vermont Army National Guard.

Weeks ago the 86th Brigade was put on alert. Half of that group is now preparing to leave. They and their families have until November 15th to tie up any loose ends.

"So families should take a deep breath, know it is going to be hard emotionally, but they will get through this," Rainville said. "We stick together until they come home."

The soldiers head to Fort Dix in New Jersey for training, then head overseas. The entire deployment is scheduled to last 18 months.

Anson Tebbetts - Channel 3 News