According to the Office of Student Affairs, six UTM students have been notified that they will be deployed to the Middle East. Most of the students are out of the 1174th Transportation Co., comprised of Tennessee National Guard from Dresden and Newbern.

“We have now had six currently enrolled students walk in and tell us they need to withdraw from school because their unit was being called up,” said Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, Katie High.

“Today, however, something happened that put everything in a different light. A young man came in to say he was headed to the Middle East next week. I asked him how he felt about it. He answered simply that he was doing was his job. Sure, he was apprehensive, but he would rather go than have his brother go, and he was proud to protect his country.”

“I'm proud to be associated with students who are that mature and that patriotic. And I wish him and all his buddies well. May they come back to us very soon,” said High.

The result of this activation nationwide is 15,718 more reservists than last week.