MONTGOMERY – The Alabama Army National Guard’s 1165th Military Police Company, out of Fairhope, Thomasville and Brewton, has been called to active duty in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

A departure ceremony for the unit will be held in Fairhope Civic Center, located in the Fairhope Municipal Complex at 161 North Section St., at noon, Monday, Jan. 3, 2011.

The approximately 170 members of the 1165th are deploying to Afghanistan to conduct force protection missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

The unit will report to Camp Shelby, Miss., for extensive mobilization training before deploying to Afghanistan.

Local officials and senior Alabama National Guardsmen will attend the ceremony to send off the 1165th. The general public is invited and encouraged to attend the ceremony to show their support for the 1165th Soldiers and their families.

The Alabama Army and Air National Guard have called more than 16,000 personnel to active duty since 9/11 and remains a top contributor among the nation’s National Guard.