The Alabama Army National Guard’s 152nd Military Police Company, out of Hartselle and Scottsboro, has been called to active duty in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

The 152nd will have a departure ceremony in Hartselle at the Sparkman Civic Center, 406 Nanceford Road, at 2 p.m., Sunday, June 24, 2012.

The 152nd Military Police Company will deploy more than 140 Alabama National Guard Soldiers to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The 152nd will provide security forces support to units based there.

The 152nd previously deployed to Iraq from 2006-2007 and conducted detention operations, as well as responded to numerous state domestic operations in times of need following natural disasters.

The 152nd will continue to undergo extensive training at a mobilization station before deploying later this summer.

State and local officials as well as senior Alabama National Guardsmen will attend the ceremony to send off the Soldiers of the 152nd. The general public is invited and encouraged to attend to show their support for the Soldiers and their families.

The Alabama National Guard has called more than 18,000 personnel to active duty since 9/11 and remains a top contributor among the nation’s National Guard.