Guard units in Utah 'on call' again

Any Utah National Guard unit, regardless of how many times it has been deployed since the Iraq war began in 2003, could in theory be called up again as soon as President Bush boosts troop numbers in Iraq by about 20,000.

"The clock has been reset, folks," said Maj. Gen. Brian L. Tarbet, adjutant general of the Utah Guard. "All soldiers (and airmen) are available again today — all of them, every soldier, again, in the Guard can be remobilized and sent."

That's in theory. In practice, according to Tarbet, a soldier who has recently returned from an 18-month tour of duty might not be tapped for another tour for at least a few years.

Tarbet said he was not surprised by President Bush's announcement Wednesday evening, calling for an additional 21,500 U.S. troops in Iraq in the coming months.

"We're going to back off defense, go back onto offense," Tarbet said. "We're going to take and hold — we're not going to pay for the same real estate twice. That's good news."

Currently, about 400 Utah National Guard soldiers are deployed overseas, with about 100 in Iraq, 100 in Afghanistan and 100 in The Philippines. More than 4,000 Guard members (some with multiple deployments) have served in Iraq since the war began in 2003, according to Utah Guard spokesman Maj. Hank McIntire.

Some soldiers currently deployed may find out they'll be away from home longer than expected. At least seven Utah soldiers who specialize in military intelligence and who were due home in March or April have already been told they'll be in Iraq up to an additional 125 days. Their job is to intercept enemy communications for a Minnesota-based combat brigade.

The soldiers' families were informed of the tour extension Thursday. Lt. Col. Derek Tolman spoke with their spouses, who he said were initially "disappointed," but they are trying to be positive and to move forward.

Tarbet added, "When you wear this uniform, you realize you can be subject to call any time. That's just a fact." An extended stay in Iraq, he said, is "tough" on families. "Nothing's easy about this business."

The positive news Tarbet heard this week is that, effective in about one month, volunteer soldiers will serve only up to a one-year tour, which includes "train up" time and about nine months "boots on ground" wherever they're going. And soldiers can expect to be deployed for one year out of every six. That's a switch from the typical 18-month tour every four years that the government expects in some cases.

"Do the math. That's a good-news story," Tarbet said.