34th Combat Aviation Brigade gears up for year-long deployment to Kuwait

Photo By Master Sgt. Paul Santikko | More than 220 soldiers from the Minnesota Army National Guard's St. Paul-based 34th Combat Aviation Brigade are preparing for a year-long deployment to Camp Buehring, Kuwait, this June in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Paul Santikko)  

ST. PAUL, MN, UNITED STATES

05.02.2014

Courtesy Story

34th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade

By Tech. Sgt. Paul Santikko

ST PAUL, Minn. - More than 220 Soldiers from the Minnesota Army National Guard's St. Paul-based 34th Combat Aviation Brigade are preparing for a year-long deployment to Camp Buehring, Kuwait, this June in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. To kick things off, Soldiers from the unit met at Holman Field in St. Paul for a formation before heading up to Camp Ripley, where they will conduct pre-mobilization training.

"This pre-mobilization training is important because it brings the whole unit together to train and finalize our deployment plan," said Lt. Col. Greg Fix, commander 2nd Battalion, 147th Assault Helicopter Battalion.

One of the key parts of this pre-deployment training is focused on family readiness and resiliency. “The Minnesota National Guard really sets the pace for the nation as far as working with service members and their families with the plans that we have set in place,” said Fix.

For many of the Soldiers that are deploying with the 34th Combat Aviation Brigade, this is a new experience for their family and friends they leave behind.

“This is our first time going through this so it will be a learning experience and I have a lot of mixed emotions; I am sad that he is leaving, but also very proud of him,” said Sara Kessler, wife of Black Hawk pilot, 1st Lt. Adam Kessler of the 34th Combat Aviation Brigade.

“We have an incredible support system with our family and friends and also with the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Network in our community,” Sara said.

Although Camp Buehring, Kuwait, has the capabilities to stay in touch via phone and video-conference, Kessler and his wife plan on also staying in touch by writing letters to each other the old-fashioned way as well throughout his deployment.

• Date Taken: 05.02.2014
• Date Posted: 05.06.2014 11:18
• Story ID: 128875
• Location: ST. PAUL, MN, US