The 294th Area Support Medical Company of the Iowa Army National Guard based in Washington has been notified of a pending mobilization in response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. By order of the Secretary of Defense, approximately 80 soldiers from the unit will be affected by the mobilization as part of Operation United Assistance. The deployment for the humanitarian mission is expected to begin in the spring of 2015 and last for about six months.

The 294th Area Support Medical Company will only provide direct patient care to U.S. Department of Defense personnel and coalition members and will not take part in direct patient care with the local population.

KCII News will bring you more information as it becomes official.