(Des Moines, Iowa) – Nearly 80 Iowa Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 209th Medical Company (Area Support) will be honored in a formal welcome home ceremony at the ImOn Ice Arena in Cedar Rapids at 4 p.m. on 12 May.

The 209th MCAS deployed to Poland in July of 2022 in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve and NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence mission which enables the U.S. to provide deterrence to adversaries while supporting our NATO partners.

During their deployment, Soldiers provided medical services for over 5,000 military and civilian patients which included physical therapy, physical exams, x-rays, labs and other routine treatments. The medical support the 209th MCAS provided spanned across five countries, including Poland, Germany, Lithuania and Estonia. Additionally, several Soldiers competed in a multination Norwegian foot march, strengthening our bilateral relationships.

Capt. Alexandria Lee, an Army nurse with the 209th Medical Company Area Support, takes the vitals of a patient during a medical exercise with the Estonian and British Armies in March 2023.

Iowa Army National Guard Soldiers with the 209th Medical Company Area Support participate in a medical exercise with the Estonian and British Armies in March 2023.

One of the most significant medical training events for the company included a joint training exercise in Estonia. The exercise, named Global Health Engagement Sparrow Strike, gave the 209th MCAS an opportunity to collaborate with British and Estonian military members. They worked together to administer initial treatment for patients and then provided long-term care in a field environment