Hoosier Soldiers headed to Afghanistan for security

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Approximately 170 Indiana National Guard Soldiers with Company A, 2nd Battalion, 151st Infantry Regiment and six Soldiers with the 319th Forward Support Company will be combined to deploy to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. 

Indiana's adjutant general, Maj. Gen. R. Martin Umbarger received notification of the units' requirement for duty in October 2008.

The units, which are based in Hammond, Ind., and South Bend, Ind., will report to Camp Shelby, Miss., in mid-June for training to enhance their specialized skills before arriving in country.

"I'm proud of all the Soldiers deploying in this unit, and I thank they and their families for their sacrifices," said Maj. Gen. Umbarger. "I know we will get the highest performance from this team of Citizen-Soldiers in Afghanistan."

The unit's commander, Capt. Nathan Harlan, and top enlisted Soldier, 1st Sgt. Steven Bishop, will lead this team of specialized Soldiers through the next year of their deployment supporting the Global War on Terrorism.

The company's main mission will be to perform force protection and security operations at a military camp in Afghanistan.