This week Congresswoman Terri Sewell, a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, met with members of the Alabama National Guard’s 20^th Special Forces unit and received oversight briefings on the current U.S. Department of Defense training mission with Syrian fighters and the Iraqi Army during a four-day trip to Iraq.

“Our brave men and women in uniform play an integral role in Iraq, and my visit to Ebril and Baghdad deepened my appreciation for the sacrifices they have made to protect our country. I was especially honored to meet with members of the Alabama National Guard’s 20^th Special Forces division, and to learn more about their vital mission in Iraq. I want to thank these remarkable Alabama National Guardsmen for their exemplary service to our nation during their deployment in Iraq.  I am especially proud to acknowledge the critical role that Alabama troops are playing in the fight against global terrorism.

 “As a member of the House Intelligence Committee, one of my most sacred duties is to ensure that every vote I make supports and advances our national security. Freedom is not free, and members of the armed forces deserve special recognition for their service and sacrifice. We in Alabama are doing our part.”

About the Alabama National Guard's Special Forces

The Alabama National Guard's 20th Special Forces Group (A), part of U.S. Special Operations Command, is currently deployed in the Kurdish Region of Northern Iraq.  Comprised of U.S. Special Forces advisory teams and support personnel, they are assigned to advise and assist the Iraqi Army and Peshmerga Forces as they conduct operations to combat and defeat ISIL. These teams help the Iraqi and Peshmerga Forces as they plan future operations, to include sharing intelligence and helping develop security strategies and targeting plans.

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