This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2007, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A year of record-low call-ups for Utah's military reservists ended this week with the deployment of the largest Utah National Guard unit to receive orders for a tour of duty in Iraq since 2005.
Tuesday's mobilization of 420 Guardsmen, coupled with the recent deployments of two company-size units of other Guard members and Marines, more than doubles the number of Utah-based reservists tapped for active-duty roles in the nation's ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
More than 100 additional troops from active-duty units at Hill Air Force Base and hundreds of additional active-duty service members from Utah also are currently serving in the conflicts.
The recent uptick in Reserve call-ups reflects an overall increase in federalized National Guard and Reserve troops over the past few months. After drawing down the number of mobilized Reserve troops to fewer than 80,000 nationwide in late March, the military has called thousands more reservists to duty during the past few months. The Pentagon reported last week that the number of federalized National Guard and Reserve troops had climbed to more than 86,400.
Not all of those troops are currently serving in Iraq or Afghanistan. Many - such as the 145th Field Artillery Battalion, the 420-member unit which was mobilized Tuesday - remain in training at stateside military bases in preparation for joining the combat.
Utah's commitment of Army reservists and Guard members had fallen to a record low of 602 in May, according to Pentagon figures. Utah Army commanders anticipate having more than 1,300 soldiers mobilized in July. That number does not include personnel of the Reserve components of the Air Force or Navy - or the 140 Marines who deployed Monday out of Camp Williams for duty in Iraq.
The upswing in national and state deployment figures comes amidst a U.S. "surge" in Iraq and a recent modification of rules meant to limit how often reservists can be called to war.
And for Utah National Guard commander Maj. Gen. Brian Tarbet, it brings occasion for pride and worry.
"These are bittersweet days for me," said Tarbet, who was present to send off the 145th at the Utah Air National Guard Base near Salt Lake City International Airport on Tuesday. "I do not worry for one minute about them accomplishing their mission. . . . I just hope that in 12 months, I'm still looking at 420 guys."
This year already has been the deadliest year for Utah-based troops in Iraq and Afghanistan since the beginning of the wars, according to a count of fallen Utahns and former Utahns by The Salt Lake Tribune.
In all of 2005 - previously the deadliest year for Utahns in Iraq and Afghanistan - nine service members were killed. Halfway into 2007, 12 service members from Utah have died, according to The Tribune's count.
Despite the obvious dangers, Tarbet noted he found no shortage of volunteers to deploy with the 145th. "We were looking for 300 soldiers to fill this battalion," he said. "And here I'm looking down at 420."
Many of those soldiers, he added, were on their second and third tours.