By Associated Press
Oklahoma City, OK – Okla. National Guard to deploy 3,500 to Afghan
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The Oklahoma National Guard says it has received orders for 3,500 soldiers with the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team to deploy to Afghanistan in 2011.
It will be the largest Oklahoma National Guard deployment since the Korean War. About 2,600 brigade troops deployed to Iraq for one year in October 2007.
The commander of the 45th, Col. Joel Ward, said Friday the troops were initially notified in December about a likely deployment.
Most of the brigade's troops are trained in general combat operations. Ward says the troops will liked be involved in a variety of tasks that include security and combat missions and civil support operations.
The Guard says the soldiers will receive extensive training before deployment.