As the new year begins, nearly one-third of the entire Utah Army National Guard has been mobilized as part of the effort to rotate forces serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, says the Guard's Maj. Lorraine Januzelli — and hundreds are leaving for training this week.
Officials have said more than 3,000 Utah Reserve and National Guard members have been called to active duty. About 1,600 Army National Guard soldiers have been called up, Januzelli said Saturday. In addition, about 700 members of the Utah Air National Guard have been deployed.
"Our state is really contributing heavily to the global war on terror," she said.
Per capita, state leaders have said, more Utah reserve forces have been deployed than those from any other state.
After a sendoff gathering Saturday at Copper Hills High School, yet another group of Utahns will say goodbye to their families today.
Members of the 211th Aviation Regiment's First Battalion leave for Fort Carson, Colo., this afternoon, where they will undergo final preparations before departing to Afghanistan.
Nearly 3,000 people filled the high school's auditorium Saturday in support of the West Jordan-based regiment, which flies and maintains Apache and Blackhawk helicopters. Those gathered included not only family and friends but a group of retirees from the 211th's First Battalion.
"I'm proud of these soldiers for the work that they've done in the last 2 1/2 months," Col. Gregory Cluff said. "I'm proud that they signed up to serve their country."
Just when the group will leave Fort Carson for Afghanistan is up in the air, Januzelli said. Every pilot must pass a difficult set of training exercises, and when that is accomplished the group will leave the country.
"It's very, very intense aviation training," Januzelli said. "The Apache is an extraordinarily complex aircraft. It takes more time, more energy and more skill than any other aircraft in the Army inventory.
Nearly 500 Utah National Guard soldiers will depart this week for final training before deployment to the Middle East in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.
Another element of the 141st Military Intelligence Battalion departs Tuesday to Fort Hood, Texas, before deployment to the Middle East. Many members of the 141st are already in Iraq.
Other Utah Guard members already mobilized include the 116th Combat Support Engineers Company, the 115th Engineer Group.
The latest Guard members to be mobilized are based in Salt Lake and Utah counties, Januzelli said.
Well-wishers can bid farewell to members of the 141st Military Intelligence Battalion at a luncheon at 5 p.m. Sunday in the West Jordan Aviation Armory.
Also, about 15 Utah Army Reserve Soldiers from the 889th Transportation Detachment depart Monday for training at Fort Carson. The soldiers and their families will gather at 7:30 a.m. at the Uchida Army Reserve Center, 5290 W. 700 South in Salt Lake City.
E-mail: ldethman@desnews.com