ISAF Commander recites oath for re-enlistment ceremony

Photo By Pfc. Cynthia Teears Van Cleve | Gen. David H. Petraeus, the commander of International Security Assistance Force, recites the oath of enlistment as the soldiers in formation repeat after him, for the re-enlistment ceremony at Camp Mike Spann, Afghanistan, Oct. 23.  

CAMP MIKE SPANN, AFGHANISTAN

10.23.2010

Story by Pfc. Cynthia Teears Van Cleve 

1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division

CAMP MIKE SPANN, Afghanistan - The International Security Assistance Forces commander had the honor of re-enlisting 158 soldiers at Camp Mike Spann, Afghanistan, Oct. 23.

Soldiers traveled to the camp from all over Regional Command-North in Afghanistan to re-enlist as one formation. The units represented at the ceremony were 87th Combat Support Sustainment Battalion, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 2nd Engineer Battalion and 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division.

“It is awesome to be with you,” said Gen. David H. Petraeus, the commander of ISAF. “A commander gets to do some wonderful stuff in a mission like this, but there are three tasks that stand out above all else as being truly enjoyable.”

The ISAF general first spoke of the privilege of pinning a medal on someone's chest who has earned it in combat. A soldier performing tough missions for our country and for the world and he spoke of how thrilling it is for him.

“You get to promote people and again it's a special honor to do that in a combat zone,” Petraeus said. “Because they have earned it during that period that they've been out there and it's a pretty wonderful experience, but the most enjoyable, the greatest privilege, I think any commissioned officer can have, is to recite the oath of enlistment with a fellow trooper in combat.”

Many of the soldiers that raised their hand of oath in this ceremony have re-enlisted before and have served in more than one deployment.

"When you raise your hand in a combat zone to re-enlist you know that it is very likely you're going to be asked to redeploy after this particular tour is over and a lot of you have already raised your hand a number of times and been on a number of deployments," Petraeus said. "I think there are three reasons why individuals do what you are doing.”

The first reason is these soldiers realize they are performing a mission of enormous importance to the U.S., Afghanistan, this region and indeed the world, Petraeus said.

“You remember that we are here because we cannot allow this country to become a sanctuary for transnational extremists once again, as it was when the 9-11 attacks were planned here,” Petraeus said.

The second reason the general listed was that fellow American citizens absolutely treasure, honor and appreciate what the soldiers do for them.

“The sacrifices you're making,” Petraeus said. “The sacrifices your families are making because they also are serving and they are certainly also sacrificing, but the real reason I think is to be found on your right and left in the formation of your units, because what really keeps people hanging tough when the going gets difficult, what leads them to continue to fight when the fighting is the thickest and what leads them to do this I think is that we feel very privileged to serve with fellow Americans who are such special individuals.”

Soldiers have struggles and hardships during deployments, but overcome because of their fellow soldiers who live with them day in and day out.

“The fact is when you look back on it you realize they are special individuals, great Americans and you want to stay with them,” Petraeus said. “That's true of just about everybody in here whose a member of the brotherhood of the close fight, which now includes, needless to say, females as well as males, and just about everybody is a member of the brotherhood of the close fight, because everybody who goes outside that wire, and does anything, is potentially in harm's way. So what you're doing today is very special. You are indeed saying send me again and I want you to know how much we appreciate you doing it."

• Date Taken: 10.23.2010
• Date Posted: 10.25.2010 02:04
• Story ID: 58714
• Location: CAMP MIKE SPANN, AF