Next week the 128th Military Police Company, based at the Alabama National Guard Armory in Athens, will be activated for training in preparation for deployment to Iraq, a spokesman said.

The 170 men will report for active duty on Tuesday and leave for mobilization stations by Friday, said state National Guard Public Affairs Officer Norman Arnold.

“Once at the mobilization station, they will train for two to four months before actually deploying to Iraq,” said Arnold.

He said during training, officers will determine if the company members need any specialized training, such as if they haven’t had weapons qualification within the past year.

“They will receive training in the country’s customs, get health checkups and be issued clothing and equipment,” said Arnold.

Sgt. 1st Class Don Lee said he is a part of the 128th and would be leaving with them for training next week. He said they will receive training in convoy security and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), the roadside bombs that insurgents have used to inflict heavy losses.

“Some will be leaving in June and the second half will be leaving in July,” said Lee.

Although based in Athens, the 128th is a Huntsville unit, Lee said. Members are mostly from throughout the Tennessee Valley, but there are several members from throughout the state, he said. Members of the headquarters unit, the 203rd Military Police Battalion, are not being mobilized, Lee said.

“We will be deployed for the standard 12 months ‘boots on ground’ plus whatever additional training beforehand,” said Lee. “Some will be deployed for 18 months, depending on what level they are.”

Lee said the company went on alert status in January or February and got the mobilization order a couple of months later.

First Baptist Church member Annette Strickland said members of her church wrote letters of “prayer and encouragement” to the company, collecting some 177 letters, which because of privacy issues had to be addressed to anonymous recipients.