By Alabama Public Radio
Montgomery AL – The 187th Fighter Wing based in Montgomery will deploy 100 personnel to Iraq Thursday ... 200 additional soliders are expected to be deployed next week. The first group will act as an advance party for the mission before being joined by the second group. Another unit will then rotate in place of the 187th after 50 days. This is the Alabama Air National Guard unit's third combat deployment to support Operation Iraqi Freedom. The latest deployment means the 187th will have about 400 people deployed around the world.