Florida Guard deployment to Iraq now on the increase

"PLANT CITY - Cynthia Thomas, 22, a mother of two, coffee shop manager and UPS worker, is among more than 150 West Central Florida National Guard soldiers who will leave soon for eventual deployment in Iraq -- at a time when recruiting is lagging.

''If you take your training seriously and you do what you're supposed to do, you're coming back fine,'' Thomas said. ``But of course you have concerns. Some stuff you can't control.''

Her move toward Iraq comes as officials are making changes designed to try to boost recruiting, which is down statewide, but on target in South Florida, officials say."
Miami Herald