SS,
Have you heard anything about the 980th Eng Bt going over to Iraq?
My X sob son in law says they are going also, but it now not later. He is a reservists, and hasnt been through the training yet to go there.
I got some info from StarTelegram stating all kinds of quotes, but this sob doesnt match any except for the fact that he had to report for his two duty in Nov.
Iraq, Afghanistan
By Chris Vaughn
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
The Army has begun tapping more reservists in Texas to provide support for the Iraqi operation, announcing the impending mobilization of close to 1,500 part-time soldiers from 11 units.
Although some of the soldiers will not have to report until the new year, more than 1,000 have learned that they will spend the Christmas holidays preparing for the rigors of Iraq.
The announcement was made Friday afternoon from the Army Reserve's regional command in Little Rock, Ark.
Like those on active duty, reservists and National Guard members are expected to serve 12 months in the Middle East, plus the weeks or months of training required before they deploy.
The largest unit called up is the 980th Engineer Battalion, with 630 soldiers, who report for duty today and leave for Fort Hood on Wednesday.
The battalion has its headquarters in Austin but has significant elements that train in Dallas and Seagoville.
"We do everything a construction company does," said Maj. Scott Gustafson, the battalion's executive officer. "We build roads, buildings, do electrical, plumbing. We have all the specialties for vertical and horizontal construction."
An additional 90 soldiers from the 354th Medical Company in Seagoville will mobilize Jan. 3 and report to Fort Sam Houston.
Two months later, the 75-soldier 312th Medical Company, also from Seagoville, will be sent to Fort Sam Houston. The 312th is the only Texas unit that will serve in Afghanistan rather than Iraq.
From the Army Reserve's facilities in Grand Prairie, two platoons of 20 soldiers each from the 350th Adjutant General Company will be activated in January and sent to Fort Sill, Okla.
The Army also announced the activation of 130 soldiers from a quartermaster company in McAllen, 80 reservists from a support unit in San Marcos, 150 soldiers from an engineer company in San Antonio and 110 soldiers from an engineer brigade in Bryan.
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Chris Vaughn, (817) 390-7547
cvaughn@star-telegram.com
enough..........