Maine Guard unit prepared for return to Iraq

[unhappycamper]

Maine Guard unit prepared for return to Iraq
The Associated Press
Posted : Saturday Feb 14, 2009 11:35:17 EST

PORTLAND, Maine — Maine's largest Army National Guard unit will be training aggressively this year in preparation for its return to Iraq in 2010.

The 133rd Engineer Battalion is scheduled to spend three weeks in Germany this summer, where it will build simulated Iraqi villages as part of its training.

There will be a lot of younger faces who weren't with the unit five years ago during its initial deployment to Iraq, which was the largest mobilization of Maine Guard members since World War II.

Lt. Col. Dwaine Drummond, battalion commander, said his biggest concern is the loss of technical experience resulting from the retirement of soldiers with decades of construction experience. Offsetting that loss, however, is a gain in youthful enthusiasm and combat skills.

“There are just a huge number of those 17- to 23-year-old men and women in the ranks,” Drummond said. “God, it makes you feel good, because you know when they signed up, they knew what was coming.”


Rest of article at: http://armytimes.com/news/2009/02/ap_maine_guard_021409/%2e