OLYMPIA — Officials say a Washington state National Guard unit could soon return to Iraq.
The Defense Department alerted the Guard’s 81st Heavy Brigade Combat Team on Friday about a possible Iraq assignment.
There would have to be separate federal orders before the Guard unit is put on active duty and sent overseas.
Gov. Chris Gregoire says there’s no guarantee the Guard unit will head to Iraq. But she says the citizen soldiers are well-trained and ready to serve.
Guard officials say the 81st has about 3,800 members. About 2,800 of them are based in Washington. Another 1,000 are aligned with the California Army National Guard.
The unit previously served in Iraq from March 2004 to March 2005.
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