(Radio Iowa) – The first of 24 community send-off ceremonies for some 18-hundred Iowa National Guard soldiers who are deploying to the Middle East starts today (Wednesday). Iowa National Guard Adjutant General Stephen Osborn says the reality of joining any branch of service right now is that you’re going to deploy at some point. Major General Osborn says recruits know from the very beginning what is expected. Osborn says today’s soldiers are more up to date on what’s happening as they want to know. and want to understand what they’re training for, why they’re training.

Locally, sendoffs set for today (Wednesday) include those in:

Carroll (168 IN A Co) 4:00 PM – Carroll High School Stadium**, 90 troops deploying  (Change from earlier announcement!)
Red Oak (334 BSB H Co) 4:00 PM – Red Oak Armory, 60 troops deploying.

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The full schedule includes, today:

Boone (Brigade Headquarters) 3:00 PM – Boone Speedway, 92 troops deploying
Camp Dodge (113 CAV A & B Co) 3:00 PM – Pool Pavilion 113 troops deploying
Le Mars (113 CAV C Co) 3:00 PM – Le Mars High School, 45 troops deploying
Sioux City (113 CAV HHT & D Co) 3:00 PM – Bishop Heelan High School, 84 troops deploying
Dubuque (133 IN A Co) 5:45 PM – Dubuque Armory, 67 troops deploying
Iowa City (133 IN B Co) 5:30 PM – Melrose Readiness Center, 103 troops deploying
Iowa Falls (133 IN C Co) 5:00 PM – Iowa Falls Armory, 86 troops deploying
Davenport (133 IN D Co) 3:30 PM – Davenport Armory, 60 troops deploying
Waterloo (133 IN HHC & G Co) 6:00 PM – Cedar Falls High School, 218 troops deploying
Carroll (168 IN A Co) 4:00 PM – Denison High School, 90 troops deploying
West Des Moines (168 IN B & C Co) 4:30 PM – West Des Moines Readiness Center, 214 troops deploying
Council Bluffs (168 IN HHC & D Co) 4:00 PM – MidAmerican Center, 178 troops deploying
Red Oak (334 BSB H Co) 4:00 PM – Red Oak Armory, 60 troops deploying

Sendoffs on Thursday, May 29:
Estherville (194 FA A Co & Det 1) 1:00 PM – Estherville Armory, 76 troops deploying
Camp Dodge (194 FA B Co & Det 4) 1:00 PM – Pool Pavilion 64 troops deploying
Fort Dodge (194 FA HHB, D2, & F Co) 1:00 PM – Fort Dodge Armory, 81 troops deploying
Mount Pleasant (224 BEB A Co) 2:30 PM – Theatre Museum of Repertoire Americana, 46 troops deploying
Cedar Rapids (224 BEB C Co) 2:00 PM – Cedar Rapids Armory, 9 troops deploying
Johnston (224 BEB D Co) 2:30 PM – Joint Force Headquarters’ Motorpool, 9 troops deploying
Davenport (224 BEB HHC, B & E Co) 2:30 PM – Mississippi Fairgrounds Speedway, 101 troops deploying
Sendoffs for Friday, May 30th:
Camp Dodge (334 BSB C Co) 5:00 PM – Freedom Center, 16 troops deploying
Cedar Rapids (334 BSB HHC, A & B Co) 5:00 PM – Cedar Rapids Armory, 105 troops deploying