deployment would be dramatically different from the first. Instead of deploying as a brigade combat team, the brigade was tasked with filling 28 unit requests for forces. These taskings involved supplying convoy security companies, force protection companies, base defense operations center and garrison command cells. Additionally, instead of an 18-month mobilization, with 12 months actually deployed to Iraq like the first tour, this mobilization would be for a total of 12 months, with approximately 10 months being deployed to the combat theater. Once again the unit found itself with a shortage of personnel to fill these taskings. Many of these shortages were caused by unresolved medical issues from the first deployment. This time the Arkansas National Guard decided not to ask for outside support, but met the brigade combat team's need for personnel by task organizing the 217th Brigade Support Battalion from the 142d Fires Brigade, and three companies from the 87th Troop Command to the brigade combat team for this deployment. The brigade combat team was placed on duty in October 2007 to prepare for its second deployment to Iraq while still under state control. It began a 90-day pre-mobilization training period at Fort Chaffee Maneuver Training Center on October 1, 2007. This allowed the unit to perform certain tasks in Arkansas and allowed unit members to be closer to their families for a longer period of time. The brigade combat team was placed in federal service in January 2008 and trained at Camp Shelby, Mississippi until it deployed to Iraq beginning in March 2008. Upon reaching their final destinations, most of the brigade combat team elements fell under the tactical command of Regular Army units, primarily the 4th Infantry Division and the 3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary). The brigade combat team and its subordinate battalions retained administrative control (ADCON) of all team elements. While deployed in Iraq from April to December 2008, the headquarters of the brigade combat team assumed the mission as the base defense operations cell for Victory Base Camp (VBC) in Baghdad, Iraq, responsible for the security of over 65,000 coalition soldiers and civilians. With this mission, the brigade combat team headquarters managed and coordinated the security of four subordinate camps and area defense operation centers (ADOCs), to include: Camp Victory, Camp Striker, Camp Slayer, and Camp Liberty. The brigade combat team headquarters managed entry control and personnel processing at four major entry control points and