Bismarck Tribune - North Dakota News - N.D. guard notified of upcoming mission in Kosovo

N.D. guard notified of upcoming mission in Kosovo

Dec 01, 2007 - 04:05:24 CST

By DAVE KOLPACK
Associated Press Writer

FARGO - A National Guard unit that was given under a week to prepare for its last deployment has received nearly two years' notice this time.

The North Dakota Guard announced Friday that about 700 of its members from the state are preparing to deploy to Kosovo sometime in 2009. That includes members of the Fargo-based 142nd Engineer Battalion, which received its alert and mobilization orders at the same time when it was called up to Iraq in 2003.

"The notice is a good thing for the families because they can do more long-range planning for a deployment," said JoAnn Czerwinski, the family assistance adviser for the Fargo Guard.

The call-up also is expected to include the Fargo-based 426th Signal Company, the Valley City-based 231st Brigade Support Battalion and the Bismarck-based 68th Troop Command, 112th Aviation Battalion, 285th Aviation Battalion and 957th Engineer Company.

North Dakota National Guard members are expected to lead a 1,400-member task force on the peace enforcement mission, said Brig. Gen. Alan Dohrmann, the deputy adjutant general of the North Dakota Guard.

"We have a proven record," Dohrmann said. "I think we have the organizations within the Army National Guard that fit this mission very well."

Recent reports about rising tensions in Kosovo have nothing to do with Friday's announcement, Dohrmann said.

"Everything is cyclical over there, but for the most part things are stable," Dohrmann said. "The United States and Serbia have been trying to come to a resolution since the 1999 bombing campaign."

The 142nd also served in Kosovo in 1999.

The order is officially known as a notification for training. The new system was put in place this year after Guard leaders complained about the lack of advance notice about deployment.

"This early notification is exactly what we have been asking for," said Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, the Guard's adjutant general.

Further details will be released closer to the date, but Dohrmann said the deployment would likely occur in last half of 2009. The soldiers would serve up to one year on active duty.

"Soldiers won't be planning a wedding a year out only to find out six months from the date that they will be unable to attend due to a deployment," Czerwinski said. "That has happened before."

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Comments

Nicole wrote on Jan 23, 2009 4:22 PM:

" I see this article was ran a while ago, have we had any updates lately? When are they leaving other than around August 09. "

Also in the guard..... wrote on Dec 2, 2007 11:35 AM:

" I understand where you both are coming from. I was also in the 141 and now I am in one of the units listed to go to Kosovo. I think the reason they used the 142nd's "old" unit number is so they could convey to the public that this unit has already been deployed and that last time they only had 1 week to get ready unlike this time where they will have 2 years. I think that if they had used the new unit numbers most people would not be able to appreciate the fact that this unit has already been deployed to both Kosovo and Iraq. Of course we know the difference, but a majority of the public is unlikely aware of the unit reorganizations occuring in the state. "

Wife of Soldier wrote on Dec 1, 2007 8:27 PM:

" To: In the guard. My husband was in the 141st that was deployed to Iraq. The unit has now split up. I am not sure about the 142nd but I know the 141st is no longer a unit which is why he had to switch units. "

In the guard wrote on Dec 1, 2007 10:20 AM:

" You probably should re-check your sources. The 142d is no longer a unit in the ND Guard - the 141st CSB is the unit being tapped. Also, the Joint Force HQ (JFHQ) is actually the lead element in the alert and you said nothing about them. "

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