The Maine National Guard was short of its recruiting goal

for the first time

in years.

BANGOR (AP) – The continuing deadly attacks and long deployments of troops in Iraq could make it more difficult for the Maine National Guard to meet its recruiting goals in the coming months.

During the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, the Maine National Guard came up just shy of its recruiting goals for the first time in several years.

The coming year may pose even more challenges, according to Col. Rob Carmichael, chief of staff for the Maine Army National Guard in Augusta. “We are seeing a bit of effect (from the conflict in Iraq) but it’s hard to tell just how big of an effect yet. We’ll know more by next summer, I think. But it’s going to be a challenge, and it’s going to impact us,” he said.

Last week, nearly 500 members of the 133rd Engineering Battalion were mobilized, probably to the Persian Gulf.

That’s in addition to scores of others already deployed. Among them: 128 members of the 112th Medical Company are in Kuwait and Iraq; 141 members of the 1136th Transportation Company are in Kuwait; 27 members of the 133rd Engineer Fillers are in Kuwait and Iraq.

A number of smaller units also have been deployed. Those include 15 members of E Company 120th Aviation Air Traffic Control in Afghanistan; six members of the Operational Support Airlift Command in Afghanistan; and seven members of the 169th Military Police detachment in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Carmichael said the Maine National Guard is looking to try to hire more recruiters to beef up efforts during the next year.

“And you’d probably be surprised at the number of people who want to join up or stay on because of the conflict. There are a number of people stepping forward and volunteering to go over there.”

It’s not all doom and gloom,” he said.

As for the 133rd Engineering Battalion, morale is good as its members prepare to be deployed on Dec. 7, said Capt. Michael Mitchell, commanding officer of Company C in western Maine.

Members were expecting to be deployed, so the news that they were going to the Persian Gulf came as no surprise.

“I think they knew deep down that they were going to go,” said Staff Sgt. Eric Richardson, who works at the Company C armory in Norway. “With everything going they have been preparing themselves.”

The battalion specializes in constructing buildings, bridges, roads and airfields. They’re also equipped to hunt for land mines and to defend themselves if they’re attacked.

AP-ES-11-15-03 1403EST

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