Fla. National Guard readying for huge deployment

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS | The Tampa Tribune
Published: April 25, 2009

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HOMESTEAD --

Florida is preparing for one of its largest National Guard mobilizations in history.

More than 4,000 soldiers will be called to duty in the next few months. Guard spokesman Lt. Col. Ron Tittle says most will be deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, but others could go to domestic security missions.

Tittle told Highlands Today Friday that it's unclear if local National Guardsmen would be part of the mobilization, but said there's a good possibility they would, depending on what the National Guard determines in the coming weeks and months.

Local Guardsmen were deployed to Iraq in the past.

President Barack Obama is quickly ramping up troop levels in Afghanistan as drawdowns continue in Iraq.

Florida's National Guard members are leaving just as the Atlantic hurricane season starts. One-third of all troops could be out of the state by next January.

Guard officials insist the state will remain able to respond to emergencies, with 8,000 troops remaining.