Some changes are coming to the Linden unit of the Alabama National Guard.

The group, which is currently an engineering battalion, will become an Explosives Ordinance Detachment in 2008.

“The 200th Engineering Battalion is scheduled to convert to an Explosives Ordinance Detachment headquarters in 2008,” Lt. Col. Robert Horton, public affairs officer for the Alabama National Guard, said. He explained that the conversion is part of a restructuring and downsizing effort being made by the Guard.

“The conversion will not change anything as far as personnel or rank structure,” he said. “Some of the personnel assigned to that unit may have to go through retraining in an EOD specialty, but the number of personnel will not change and the command structure will remain under a lieutenant colonel, like it is now.”

The 200th left in January for a deployment in Iraq, where its members are already assisting an explosives detachment. Horton said the current assignment is giving the 200th experience that will come in handy after the conversion, but said nothing about the deployment will change.

“The conversion will not change the deployment,” he said. “The unit is involved in EOD operations in Iraq already, so they’re gaining experience now which will help in the future.”

Though speculation has arisen about changes being made to the Demopolis unit, Horton said he has no information indicating such changes.

“There are going to be changes in the National Guard in the coming years, but I’m not showing anything about the Demopolis unit.”