Florida Army National Guardsmen from the 3rd Battalion, 116th Field Artillery have been mobilized for a nine-month deployment to Qatar as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.
National Guard Capt. Kyle J. Richardson said the public is invited to attend the unit’s departure ceremony, which will be at 4 p.m. Feb. 21, at the Highlands County Fair Association Convention Center, 781 Magnolia Ave, Sebring. The unit then will depart from Plant City for the mobilization site at 6:30 a.m. Feb. 23.
“Everyone is welcome at the departure ceremony, and it would be great if we could line the streets that Saturday morning, providing a great, final wave good-bye to troops,” Richardson said.
The 3rd Battalion, 116th Field Artillery is headquartered in Plant City. Also stationed in the same armory is a subordinate
firing battery, Charlie. There are approximately 170 Guardsmen stationed in Plant City; 16 full-time. The battalion’s total strength is 475 soldiers.