Iowa National Guard readies for deployment

Time on the home front is winding down for the 2,800 soldiers preparing for the Iowa National Guard's largest deployment since World War II.

Though they won't actually ship out for Afghanistan until October, the civilian part of these citizen soldiers' lives will for the most part be interrupted by the end of this month, according to 1st Lt. Tim Halbur, a support platoon leader for the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2/34 Brigade Special Troops Battalion, based in Cedar Rapids.

“Most people just want to hurry up and get going,” said Halbur, 28, a John Deere employee making his third deployment to a combat zone.

Most Guard members are comfortable with the prospect of spending several months in a war zone, said 1st Lt. Laura Walker, executive officer of Company C of the same battalion.

“We all raised our right hand with the understanding that you're probably going to get deployed to a war zone,” said Walker, 27, a 2001 graduate of Prairie High School in Cedar Rapids.

Walker, who has already served in Iraq, said about 75 percent of the troops in Charlie Company have combat experience.

Both Halbur and Walker said the Iowa Guard's transition to active duty has been greatly facilitated by the advance notice of deployment, first mentioned in October.

“That really helps families and employers prepare for the absence,” said Halbur, who had only a week's notice before deploying to Iraq in 2001.

Halbur said the troops will spend all of June training at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin and Camp Ripley in Minnesota before a stint of Afghanistan-specific training at Camp Shelby, Miss. They might get a few days' leave before proceeding to the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, Calif., prior to their overseas departure, Halbur said.

Regular training this weekend focused on inventorying and loading gear needed for their annual training at Camp Ripley, he said.

“The intent is to get all our vehicles ready to travel.” he said.

The Iowa National Guard's 2nd Brigade Combat Team will provide information and answer questions about the upcoming deployment at a town hall meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Coe College, 1220 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids.