Gov. Kay Ivey said 191 Alabama National Guard soldiers and airmen on duty in Washington D.C., will be home by Christmas, and about 200 more are preparing to go to the nation’s capital.

The deployments are for President Trump’s initiative that he says is needed to make Washington safer and reduce crime.

Ivey also announced new recruiting incentives for the Alabama State Military Department, which includes the Army and Air National Guard.

Ivey signed an executive order to create the incentives on Friday, one day before the birthday of the National Guard.

Dec. 13, 1656, is recognized as the founding date for the National Guard, the day the first militia regiments in North America were organized in Massachusetts.

“We call on the men and women of the Alabama National Guard often, so to en

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