600 Indiana Nat’l Guard Soldiers To Deploy To The Middle East

Source: (Photo provided by Camp Atterbury.)

CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind. — The Indiana National Guard says around 600 soldiers will head to the Middle East to support Operation Spartan Shield.

They will leave this week for Fort Cavazos in Texas where they will train for about a month. Operation Spartan Shield is a U.S. operation “to strengthen defense relationships and build partner capacity through leader engagements, multinational exercises, and response planning.”

The Hoosier soldiers with the 38th Infantry Division will be deployed for 12 months. It’s the same mission in which National Guard soldiers were sent to the Middle East back in 2019. Many soldiers who were on that last deployment will be deployed again.

Part of the mission is to train others in warfighting and tactics.

“This exercise prepares you like nothing else can,” said Maj. Gen. Dan Degelow, the division’s commanding general. “This is a learning laboratory. Don’t stop learning, and make your organization better.”

Gov. Eric Holcomb and Indiana National Guard Adj Gen. Dale Lyles are set to speak at a send-off tomorrow at Camp Atterbury.