Kentucky brigade awaits word on 2011 deployment

[unhappycamper]

Kentucky brigade awaits word on 2011 deployment
By Vince Little, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Saturday, March 7, 2009

SAPPORO, Japan — The Kentucky Army National Guard’s 149th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade will likely mobilize in 2011, its commander says.

Col. Scott Campbell said his unit has been notified but won’t hear about a specific mission or destination until roughly a year out.

There’s speculation it may be headed to Afghanistan, where a buildup of U.S. troops is expected as President Barack Obama moves ahead with his plan to draw down nearly two-thirds of American forces in Iraq by August 2010.

About 300 soldiers from the brigade’s 1st Battalion, 149th Infantry Regiment are here this week for North Wind, a field exercise being conducted alongside 700 troops from Japan’s northern army near Camp Makomanai on Hokkaido.

The entire 1-149th, which now numbers 844, was in Iraq from September 2006 to September 2007, according to Lt. Col. Michael Abell, the unit’s commander.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=61156