Tennessee Guard's Largest Unit, the 278th, Put on Alert

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The Tennessee National Guard has put soldiers of the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment on alert.

Members of the state's largest military unit, with about 4,000 soldiers, were last in Iraq in 2004 and 2005. Military officials have said the regiment could go back again by 2010.

Guard spokesman Randy Harris says the alert does not necessarily speed up that timetable.

Harris says this week's alert means the unit has the capacity to perform a mission but does not mean they are about to deploy.

The alert gives units a chance to train, check equipment and prepare in case they're called up.

The 278th's last alert notice came in 2004, shortly before mobilization orders for duty in Iraq.