McClatchy Washington Bureau

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The Washington National Guard confirmed Wednesday that its 81st Brigade Combat Team will be called up in August for another tour in Iraq.

The mobilization order came a couple days ago, but officials delayed a public announcement in order to notify soldiers and their families and clarify the details, the brigade commander, Col. Ronald Kapral, said Wed-nesday.

The order comes as no surprise. The Department of Defense placed the 3,800-soldier brigade on alert last October.

“I think it brings a sense of reality,” Kapral said. “When the unit is put on alert there’s always that possibility that things could change.

Read the story at the Tacoma News-Tribune.