Bismarck Tribune

By TONY SPILDEBy TONY SPILDE

For the first time since the start of the global war on terrorism, a North Dakota National Guard unit likely will be asked to perform a second tour of duty in Iraq.

Kind of.

The Guard announced Friday that about 110 soldiers from the new 817th and 815th engineer companies were alerted for possible mobilization to Iraq this summer; for the majority of them, it would be their second time in the country.

The 817th, based in Jamestown, is largely made up of soldiers from the former 141st Engineer Combat Battalion. That unit, which conducted the "trailblazer"missions that removed hundreds of explosive devices from roadways in Iraq, returned to North Dakota two years ago.

The 815th is comprised of soldiers from the 141st and the 142nd Engineer Combat Battalion. The 142nd was the first North Dakota National Guard unit to be sent to Iraq. It returned in 2004.

Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, commander of the Guard, said individual soldiers have volunteered for multiple tours in the past, but this is the first time since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks that an entire group of North Dakota National Guard soldiers could be asked to return to a combat zone. Roughly 65 percent of the soldiers previously have been sent to Iraq.

The notice for possible mobilization went out Thursday, Sprynczynatyk said. More than 250 soldiers were notified, but the Army has requested just 110 soldiers to fill out its ranks. It wasn't clear how soldiers would be chosen for duty, except that they would be evaluated on their skill set and training, and how those things fit with the mission to be performed. What mission they would join in Iraq is still classified.

Sprynczynatyk said it's not a surprise that more North Dakota soldiers could be needed, nor that some of them would be returning to overseas duty.

"I don't at this point in time expect this will be the end (of Guard call-ups) by any means,"Sprynczynatyk said. "… We certainly will address hardship situations, but keep in mind - each of us volunteered to join the National Guard."

The Guard is aware that a second call-up for some soldiers will be hard on families, Sprynczynatyk said. Shelly Sizer, the Guard's family readiness coordinator, said two full-time social workers and a chaplain are standing by to help Guard families or individuals who need it.

The unit, which would be called up together as the 817th, is expected to be mobilized in June or July. The soldiers' time on active duty would likely be a year.

In addition to Jamestown, the 817th and 815th have soldiers in Edgeley, Wishek and Lisbon.

Since the start of the war on terrorism, the North Dakota National Guard has mobilized more than 3,500 soldiers and airmen.

(Reach reporter Tony Spilde at 250-8260 or tony.spilde@;bismarcktribune.com.)