Oklahoma guard unit prepares to head overseas

Some local citizen soldiers are on alert this past weekend. They've been told to get ready for a possible mission to the Middle East.<br><br>News on Six reporter Patrina Adger visited the soldiers

Sunday, September 15th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Some local citizen soldiers are on alert this past weekend. They've been told to get ready for a possible mission to the Middle East.

News on Six reporter Patrina Adger visited the soldiers of the 180th Infantry. They have been alerted for possible duty in the Sinai Desert in the Middle East.

If mobilized, he and his fellow comrades will be called away on a six-month peacekeeping mission.

Colonel Pat Scully of the Oklahoma Army National Guard says," Their duties would be to merely observe and report activities within the boundaries of what they're suppose to observe."

The Oklahoma National Guard is processing more than 500 soldiers for possible duty in the Sinai. Each soldier will go through a series of checks to make sure everything's in order before deployment.

Kevin McNeely is the Battalion Commander, "That's everything from medical review shots to financial, making sure their paychecks are deposited so their families can access it."

Their equipment is thoroughly inspected to make sure it's serviceable and up to date. And each soldier will also go through security and legal checks.

These soldiers have civilian jobs, too. They're attorneys and bankers, office clerks and mechanics.

Some work at Williams Communications and say that company has a history of working with employess who are away for long periods of time on guard duty.