(KIWA Staff Photo)
Statewide Iowa (RI) — About 80 Iowa National Guard soldiers are preparing to leave in July for a year-long deployment in Europe.
The Guard says the soldiers are part of the 734th Regional Support Group, based at the Camp Dodge Training Center in Johnston. Iowa’s Adjutant General says the deployment highlights the critical role Iowa soldiers play in supporting global security and strengthening alliances abroad.
The group will be stationed in the Baltic region, supporting U.S. and allied troops who are part of NATO forces defending Ukraine and other European nations against Russia.
Latvia, one of the Baltic nations, borders the Baltic Sea and shares a land border with Russia. Earlier Monday, Latvia’s military announced that two NATO fighter jets shot down a drone that entered the country’s airspace.
