Members of the Army National Guard in Marengo County have been put on alert and could face a possible deployment in America’s war on terrorism.

On the day after Christmas, some members of the Alabama National Guard’s 167th Theater Support Command were sent to Norfolk, Va., to support the National Guard.

Members of the National Guard in Demopolis and Marengo County are also part of the 167th, though they are part of the engineer command.

Lt. Col. Robert Horton confirmed that members of the local Guard have received written instructions about possible deployment.

Horton, however, was quick to warn that an alert letter does not necessarily correlate into a sure-fire deployment order.

Getting an alert is commonplace for members of the Alabama National Guard.

Because of that, Horton said National Guard members in Alabama are often called to duty before other states.

Since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, more than 3,000 National Guard troops from Alabama have been called to duty.

While members of the Demopolis and Marengo National Guards await further orders, the 167th Theater Support Command will serve as a homeland security component and held coordinate the land and maritime defense of the United States.

Another Birmigham-based National Guard unit also has been called to duty. The 1,200th Material Management Center out of Homewood, will leave today for Germany where they will remain for a year.