WATERLOO - The Waterloo-based Iowa Army National Guard "Ironman Battalion's" mission won't change during its extended duty in Iraq, but there may be more of the mission, the battalion commander said Thursday.

Lt. Col. Benjamin Corell of Strawberry Point said the Iowa Army National Guard 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry will continue providing supply convoy security in western Iraq, and its activity could pick up due to the projected "surge" of 21,500 troops outlined by President Bush in a speech last week.

The 1/133rd was expected to return in April but will now be in Iraq up to an additional 125 days, through August, as a result of the buildup.

"I expect our mission to remain the same. I can say we're the best in the world at what we do," Corell said. "Our soldiers have the latest equipment available. We have almost a year of combat experience under our belts."

The unit has conducted more then 500 combat logistical patrols, driven more than 1.7 million miles and escorted more then 90 million gallons of fuel along with other commodities.

Additionally, Corell said, over half the soldiers have re-enlisted over that time.

Most of the 1/133rd have already exercised their option to take a two-week rest and relaxation leave back home to visit family once during the deployment, Corell said. "We're looking at some options down the road, a plan to rotate soldiers through a four-day pass policy," which soldiers could spend at a safe area with recreational activities, but still in the theater of operations.

The battalion has incurred no additional casualties since early December. Two soldiers have been killed in combat during the deployment and five have been wounded by roadside bombs.

The battalion's initial general reaction to the extension was one of disappointment. "I'll be very honest with you. My soldiers were disappointed along two levels: Disappointed the way the message was delivered; and disappointed by the new challenge," he said. Press releases were issued by authorities in the U.S. about the deployment before the soldiers themselves were officially notified, leaving the troops to hear about it from media contacts or from family members who had seen the reports.

"We were unable to confirm the extension for four days," Corell said. It was a breakdown in communication, at whatever level, that needs to be addressed, he said. "That is not the way I do business, not the way good leaders do business. And our soldiers deserve better than that, and our families deserve better than that," he said.

Battalion officers have to re-orient soldiers' mindset "180 degrees." Corell said.

"I want you to know we are all disappointed by this delayed homecoming, but I also want you to know we are committed to rising to this new challenge and complete what we have been asked to do," he added.

The extension is an imposition on soldiers' families, particularly spouses with young children, and civilian employers who have already gone without their soldiers for more than a year.

"I have a lot of young soldiers, some of whom joined the National Guard for the college money. We've kind of held them back from achieving their educational goals," Corell added.

Members of at least one soldier's family said they, too, were disappointed at the extension but supportive of him.

Barbara Montgomery Strong of Waterloo said her son, Leon Montgomery, a soldier in the 1/133rd, was planning to get married July 14 but those plans have now been delayed.

"Every mother knows her son. I could hear the disappointment in his voice," she said, but her son is determined to perform his duty. "There isn't anything anyone can do about it," Strong said.

Evetta Montgomery, Leon's sister, said, "I feel they should send other soldiers over there and send our soldiers home. But as far as complaining about it, it's not going to make things better, and won't make them feel any better at all. It'd just add stress on them."

Information about the 1/133rd may be obtained on its Internet site, {M7www.redbullweb.com/21

Contact Pat Kinney at (319) 291-1484 or Pat.Kinney@wcfcourier.com.