Sparta Army National Guard Unit mobilizes for mission in Afghanistan

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ A deployment ceremony is scheduled for approximately 160 Soldiers who are scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan this fall. The ceremony for the 661st Engineer Company of Sparta will be Sept. 22 at 3 p.m. at the World Shooting and Recreation Complex, 1 Main Event Lane, Suite 510 in Sparta.

The Soldiers will train for a brief time at Fort Bliss, Texas, before deploying to Afghanistan for approximately 10 months in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

The 661st Engineer Company will be conducting horizontal engineer missions within Afghanistan to include both building and repairing roads, as well as site preparation for future buildings. The unit is capable of building low-water crossings, ditching and culvert emplacement, grading, scraping, fill material emplacement, hauling, stockpile management and pond restoration. The 661st capabilities will increase the overall mobility of coalition forces, as well as the people of Afghanistan.

The unit will be mobilized for approximately one year, returning home in fall 2012.