ESTHERVILLE, IA (Northwestiowanow.com) – The Estherville National Guard held a meeting yesterday to discuss their upcoming mission as part of Operation Inherent Resolve.

Soldiers from Estherville and surrounding areas in Iowa will be deploying to the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) in Louisiana for training in large-scale combat operations. This rigorous training involves active duty, National Guard, and Reserve units, and includes a reception and staging phase, a live fire exercise, and a force-on-force scenario against a near-peer threat, lasting about two weeks.

After the training, soldiers will either transition to federal active-duty orders for deployment or return home.

The deployment mission involves joining coalition forces, providing security support, and maintaining stability in the Middle East, with the main headquarters in Iraq. The deployment will last approximately 365 days, with soldiers remaining in-country for the entire period.

A farewell event is scheduled for May 29th from 10 AM to 2 PM at all stations, where soldiers will board buses to leave for Louisiana. For more information, visit www.inherentresolve.mil.