IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 432-10
May 25, 2010

U.S. Department of Defense
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)

On the Web: http://www.defense.gov/Releases/Release.aspx?ReleaseID=13560
Media Contact: +1 (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public Contact: http://www.defense.gov/landing/questions.aspx or +1 (703) 428-0711 +1

DOD Announces Units for Upcoming Rotation in Iraq

The Department of Defense announced today the alert of replacement forces scheduled to deploy in support of Operation New Dawn. Effective Sept. 1, 2010, the U.S. mission in Iraq is renamed from Operation Iraqi Freedom to Operation New Dawn to coincide with U.S. forces’ shift to an advisory, assistance, training, and equipping role. The alert announcement involves one infantry brigade from the Army National Guard consisting of approximately 2,700 personnel.

Specific unit alerted for Operation New Dawn is: 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, Minnesota Army National Guard.

The unit will replace a redeploying unit, with no increase in overall force levels. They are currently scheduled to begin their deployment in the summer of 2011 and are receiving alert orders now in order to provide the maximum time to complete preparations. It also provides a greater measure of predictability for family members and flexibility for employers to plan for military service of their employees.

DoD will continue to announce major unit deployments as they are identified and those units are alerted. For information on the supporting unit for this deployment, please contact Minnesota Army National Guard Public Affairs at 651-268-8961.

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FROM THE ARCHIVES: One Year Ago — May 26, 2009

6 Americans Slain in 2 Wars

One year ago today, I reported that suicide bombings in Afghanistan’s northern Kapisa province and Iraq’s western Anbar province killed six Americans — three in each theater.