National Guard linguists mobilizing

About 25 or 30 soldiers from the Utah National Guard's 141st Military Intelligence Battalion are mobilizing as part of the Pentagon's latest buildup.

Officers received the mobilization order on Christmas Day for the soldiers, who are linguists, said Lt. Col. Brad K. Blackner, spokesman for the Guard.

Members of the 141st began reporting to Guard headquarters in Draper on Monday. They will continue their preparations there the rest of this week.

They are expected to leave for Fort Carson, Colo., on Sunday or Monday. Their ultimate destination has not been announced.

They are among an additional 599 Reserve and National Guard members nationwide called to active duty this week. According to the Pentagon, the total number of Utah members of the Guard and Reserve who are serving on active duty is 816.

Largest numbers are with the Utah Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 145th Field Artillery, Battery C, Spanish Fork, 101 members called up; Battery B, Manti, 102, and parts of the battalion based in Ogden, 102.

In addition, individual mobilization augmentees — people who are no longer drilling as frequently with their units but are ready for service when needed — make up a substantial number of the Utahns mobilized. In this category are 164 members of the Utah Air National Guard's 151st Refueling Wing, Salt Lake City, and 117 members of the Air Guard's 192nd Fighter Wing, plus 90 members of the Marine Corps Reserve F Co., 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marines, headquartered in Salt Lake City.