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3,500 Oklahoma guardsmen may be going to Iraq

OKLAHOMA CITY — The 45th Infantry Brigade, comprising 3,500 Army National Guard soldiers, has been picked for possible deployment to Iraq next year on a security mission, Maj. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt, Oklahoma’s adjutant general, said Wednesday.

Wyatt said Oklahoma is one of four states selected for the mission. The 45th Infantry Brigade is made up of citizen soldiers from across the state.

“This is a historic day in the history of the Oklahoma National Guard,” he said, referring to the fact that it would be the largest mobilization of Oklahoma soldiers since the old 45th Infantry Division was mobilized for the Korean War.

Wyatt said he received a memorandum from the National Guard Bureau last Thursday notifying him of the possible deployment of Oklahoma troops, probably in June of 2008. He said mobilization could occur as early as January, however.

Brig. Gen. Myles Deering, commander of the brigade, said his soldiers, some of whom are members of infantry and artillery units, are currently undergoing a transition to a combat team.

“The combat team makes us a little leaner but much more effective and also aligns us with other infantry brigades within the Army,” Deering said.

“I can say with confidence that the soldiers of this organization, if called, will serve with great honor and distinction. In the interim, it is my job and I will ensure that our soldiers and units are trained and ready to execute any mission they are called on to perform.”

“We are making plans to ramp up training” for deployment,” Wyatt said. He said it is rare that states are notified to prepare for deployment, then troops are not deployed “but it does happen.”

He said training for the Oklahoma troops will initially take place at Camp Gruber in eastern Oklahoma and later at Army bases if mobilization occurs.