Continued unrest in the Middle East has spurred the deployment of over 500 National Guard Soldiers from Northeast Iowa.

A total of 2,000 troops from across the United States will be part of the first group.

The Iowa Guard soldiers have been notified that they have been activated, and will initially be sent to Texas for final training and readiness checks in May.

The "Iron Man Battalion" includes soldiers from Waterloo, Oelwein, Charles City, Dubuque, Iowa Falls, Iowa City, and Davenport. They will be deployed to 27 countries, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and more, in what is being called "Operation Spartan Shield".

Iowa National Guard Adjutant General Ben Correll of Strawberry Point, had indicated in his "Condition of the Guard" address last month, that this guard deployment was being planned.

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