The Alabama Army National Guard’s 1156th Military Police Detachment (Criminal Investigation Division) out of Clanton has been called to active duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

A departure ceremony for the unit will be held in Clanton at Fort Ivan Smith, 406 Airport Road, at 2 p.m., Friday, March 19, 2010.

The 1156th deployed some agents to Washington, D.C., in 2003, but has not deployed the unit in the current war until now.

The 1156th is now deploying to conduct general crimes investigation in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The small criminal investigations unit will attend an in-processing and train-up period at Fort Hood, Texas, before deploying to Iraq.

Alabama National Guard officials will attend the ceremony to send off the 1156th. The general public is invited and encouraged to attend the ceremony to show their support for the 1156th Soldiers and their families.

The Alabama Army and Air National Guard has called more than 16,000 personnel to active duty since 9/11.