An Iowa Army National Guard unit that’s been on standby has been called to federal active duty. Guard spokesperson, Colonel Robert King, says the detachment 34 operational support airlift command unit haedquartered in Boone will leave for Fort Benning, Georgia on Monday.It’s a unit comprised of five pilots and two flight engineers, and he says they don’t know where their mission will be. King says the pilots fly a two-engine aircraft that can hold seven passengers.He says they’re trained to fly commanders and VIPs around the country. King says these airmen join the other Iowans who’re on active duty. He says there are about 725 soldiers on fedarl active duty, including those from the 132nd fighter group in Des Moines that’re on duty in the no-fly zone in Iraq. King says the Boone unit is scheduled to be on active duty for one year.
Iowa's Radio News Network
