Oregon Cavalry unit deploys to Afghanistan

Photo By Amabilia Payen | On the left, Command Sgt. Maj. Dawn Lepinski from the 2215th Mobilization Support Battalion, Directorate of Mobilization and Deployment, shakes hands with Soldiers assigned to 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment, Oregon Army National Guard, as they made their way to the plane bound for Afghanistan, Aug. 11, at the Silas L. Copeland Arrival/Departure Air Control Group airfield.  

FORT BLISS, TX, UNITED STATES

08.11.2014

Story by Amabilia Payen 

Mobilization and Deployment, DPTMS Fort Bliss

FORT BLISS, Texas - The 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oregon Army National Guard, deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Aug. 11, from the Silas L. Copeland Arrival/Departure Air Control Group airfield after spending over a month of training at McGregor Range, New Mexico, and here.

The 1st Sqdn., 82nd Cav. Regt. will focus on training Afghan Nationals in their military duties. The goals of the command team for 1st Sqdn., 82nd Cav. Regt. were to make sure a successful mission and to bring everyone home safely.

Command Sgt. Maj. Wayne Chastain said the training they received at Fort Bliss/McGregor Range was beneficial to getting the unit to trained status prior to their deployment.

Sgt. Kyle Winship joined the Oregon Army National Guard in 2010 and felt excited to finally deploy for the first time in his career. In the civilian workforce, Winship is a firefighter.

“I feel good. We added new guys to Charlie Troop, and combined two units,” said Winship. “The training we did here went really well and we all meshed together pretty good. I feel like we are truly prepared and ready to take on this mission.”

Charlie Troop was not the only company to deploy under 1st Sqdn., 82nd Cav. Regt. Bravo and Headquarters and Headquarters Troop also boarded the plane bound for the Middle East. The 1st Sqdn., 82nd Cav. Regt. will not only train Afghan Nationals, but also provide base security.

• Date Taken: 08.11.2014
• Date Posted: 08.29.2014 11:18
• Story ID: 140806
• Location: FORT BLISS, TX, US
• Hometown: EL PASO, TX, US
• Hometown: FORT BLISS, TX, US
• Hometown: MCGREGOR RANGE, NM, US