Wisconsin National Guard brigade notified of possible deployment

The Wisconsin Army National Guard's 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, which includes the Detachment 1, Headquarters Company in Merrill, has received a notification of sourcing regarding a potential deployment to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility, possibly as early as the fall of 2013.

The brigade's 3,200 Soldiers were notified this past weekend during a regularly scheduled drill. The location of the potential deployment has not been determined yet. Current Department of Defense policy calls for a 12-month mobilization, which includes nine months overseas. The total number of 32nd Brigade Soldiers that may deploy is not known at this time.

A notification of sourcing gives a unit advance warning that it has been identified for a deployment, which in turn allows additional time and federal funding for training. Notification of sourcing does not mean that the notified unit will definitely deploy.

The 32nd Brigade last deployed in 2009 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The brigade performed multiple missions at numerous locations in Iraq, including base security and detainee operations.