LANSING, Mich.--Approximately 47 Guardsmen from the Lansing-based 363rd Personnel Service Detachment, Michigan Army National Guard, will depart today (Sunday, July 30) at 7:00 p.m. for Fort McCoy, Wis., where they will spend approximately 60 days on mission-specific training. They are then expected to deploy to Kuwait for a 12-month tour. The detachment will provide personnel services for Soldiers serving in Iraq and Kuwait in support of the global war on terrorism.  This is the third Lansing personnel services unit to deploy to Kuwait.

Today, nearly 1,600 Michigan National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are deployed across the globe at locations such as Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Bosnia and Kosovo.  Since Sept. 11, 2001, approximately 75 percent of the Michigan Guard has been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom; however, as Michigan troops serve the nation, more than 80 percent of the Michigan Guard remains trained, ready and available to respond to a state emergency including a terrorist event.

 MEDIA ADVISORY

Media is invited to attend a brief departure ceremony, 7 p.m., Michigan National Guard Joint Force Headquarters, 3411 N. Martin Luther King Blvd., Lansing (1/2 mile north of Grand River).  Family and friends of the deploying Soldiers will arrive up to one hour early and are available for interviews.

 To enter the complex:

The security guard will ask for identification (driver's license); tell him you are attending the departure ceremony at the "MURC" which is the second building once you enter the complex-drive past the first building on the right (CSMS).  The road will curve to the right.  Follow it past the pond.  The MURC is then to your right. 

 The point of contact for this event is Master Sgt. Denice Rankin, 517-481-8136 (work).