The first of five deployment send-off ceremonies for Iowa National Guard units deploying to Kosovo this month was held this morning. Approximately 37 soldiers from Company D, 224th Brigade Engineer Battalion, and Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, were honored in a ceremony held at the Camp Dodge Freedom Center. More than 300 additional soldiers will deploy throughout the month from Boone, Sioux City and Johnston. The deployments are part of the single-largest Iowa National Guard mobilization in support of the NATO Kosovo Force peacekeeping mission since 2004. Units will travel to their mobilization station in Fort Bliss, Texas, to complete final training and readiness checks before deploying overseas. The deployment is expected to last about a year. The Iowa National Guard has already mobilized more than 1,000 soldiers and airmen to support international operations this year. Additionally, nearly 200 service members continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic throughout the state. Due to the pandemic, the send-off ceremonies are being livestreamed only and are not open to the public. To view a video of the send-off ceremony and to see future send-off ceremonies, visit the Iowa Guard Facebook page.