The Iowa Army National Guard’s 294th Area Support Medical Company based in Washington is no longer being deployed to West Africa for the U.S. Counter-Ebola mission. According to Colonel Greg Hapgood of the Iowa National Guard, the Department of Defense announced changes to scheduled National Guard deployments in support of “Operation united Assistance.”
Due to the completion of Ebola Treatment Unit construction and major training in West Africa, more than 800 U.S. military personnel have been sent home, with more to follow.
In November, the 294th Area Support Medical Company was notified of a pending mobilization of 80 soldiers from the unit. Last month, the number was reduced to 40 soldiers. It was recently announced the deployment has been cancelled.