AUGUSTA - Maine's National Guard chief on Friday said he's received official word that all 24-month deployment limits to Iraq and Afghanistan have been rescinded.

In their place are 12-month continuous deployment goals.

Maj. Gen. Bill Libby, Maine's adjutant general, said the new ruling from the Pentagon means that all Maine Guard members -- including those who've met the previous 24-month maximum -- can be called back for new overseas stints.

As Libby put it, "The clock is back to zero now."

The new orders come amid President George W. Bush's call for a surge of 21,500 additional troops in Iraq.

A Pentagon policy statement distributed by Libby said the 24-month limit no longer makes sense as reserve components are considered part of the pool of forces that the military expects to use for the foreseeable future.

It also said that 12 months over five years' active duty is a goal. Libby said that limit could be exceeded if necessary. Libby said as many as 1,800 Maine Guard troops have previously been mobilized.

Libby said only one unit in Maine has been looked at for possible deployment under the new policy. Charlie Company, the 126th Aviation Medevac unit based in Bangor, could be called up in January 2008.