39th no longer delaying soldiers getting out

By Amy Schlesing

Arkansas National Guard officials said Thursday that retirements and discharges of 39th Infantry Brigade soldiers are no longer being delayed.

Two days earlier, Col. Kendall Penn, brigade commander, said that he was holding retirement and discharge requests from his soldiers pending clarification of stop-loss - a secretary of defense directive that delays such requests in the months leading up to and during a deployment.

In a news release Thursday afternoon, Capt. Chris Heathscott, spokesman for the Arkansas National Guard, wrote, "The 39th Brigade verified today that the unit has not barred the discharge of any eligible soldiers [for retirement or discharge.]"

For more information see today's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

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