WASHINGTON, - The Department of Defense announced today the alert of replacement forces scheduled to deploy in support of Operation New Dawn.
The alert announcement involves the Minnesota Army National Guard's 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 34th Infantry Division, which consists of about 2,700 personnel.
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.
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.