Iowa National Guard Units Doing Time in the Sinai

About 95 Iowa Army National Guard soldiers will be deployed to Egypt as part of a one-year activation, military officials said, but their service could be extended by another year, the DoD press release said.

The 109th Medical Battalion, based in Iowa City, will be deployed to Egypt in February. The unit includes 95 soldiers.

Military officials said the battalion will be part of a multinational observer mission and will provide logistical, medical, aviation and explosive ordinance removal for 11 units on this mission.

Soldiers from other Iowa Army National Guard units will be joining the company for this mission, including the 294th Area Support Medical Company based in Johnston, the135th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment based in Johnston, the 2133rd Transportation Company based in Centerville and the Joint Forces Headquarters based in Johnston.

Three Iowa City-based units will deploy to the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. The Multinational Force & Observers was established in 1981 as an international peacekeeping force that oversees the terms of the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel.