Grissom Army Reserve Unit headed to Africa

Photo By Master Sgt. Benjamin Mota | Soldiers from the 316th Psychological Operations Company out of Grissom board an aircraft at Indianapolis International Airport Dec. 7 shortly after a departure ceremony was held to honor their service. The soldiers will be supporting Operation Enduring and are expected to be gone for 10 months. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Ben Mota)  

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, IN, UNITED STATES

12.10.2012

Courtesy Story

U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne)

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. – Words of encouragement and gratitude filled the air as airport travelers and awaiting family members thanked Grissom soldiers preparing to deploy to Africa.

Twenty-four soldiers from the U.S. Army Reserve's 316th Psychological Operations Company at Grissom Air Reserve Base departed from the Indianapolis International Airport Dec. 7, on their way to conduct additional training at Fort Dix, N.J. There they will complete their final training before deploying to the Horn of Africa in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

The 316th PSYOP Company provides worldwide military information support operations to conventional and special operations units, both in peace and war.

"Our primary responsibility is to conduct military information support operations and allow for the truthful dissemination of information to foreign audiences to support foreign policy and national objectives," said Maj. Glenn Baugh, 316th PSYOP Company tactical detachment officer in charge. "We do this by disseminating media to the local population that supports national objectives and the units in the area."

Preparation is an essential part of any deployment, especially when the deployment is overseas. Members of the company were notified of the deployment in January, started initial training in March and were mobilized a month ago to conduct essential training.

"For the last month we have been conducting culture training consistent to the area we will be deploying to," explained Baugh. "We also conducted combat life saver courses and numerous online training courses to prepare us for our deployment."

While soldiers of the company have strenuously prepared for their future task at hand, the looming idea of being away from family still seemed to weigh heavily on their minds.

"You can prepare for a deployment, but you can't prepare for leaving a loved one," said Sgt. 1st Class Warren Seegers, 316th PSYOP Company tactical detachment acting first sergeant. "Being away is always the toughest part of the deployment."

Seegers spent his last moments in Indiana with his wife, who joined him at the airport to participate in a departure ceremony just before the soldiers boarded the plane.

Sen. Dan Coats, Senator-elect Joe Donnelly and Indiana State Rep. Kevin Mahan were present at the ceremony to thank the soldiers for their service to their country and to offer words of encouragement to family members.

"When we travel around the world, people often come up and say 'Your country is so extraordinary, how did that happen?'” said Donnelly. "And the answer is easy; because of you, the dedication you have, the love for the country, and the example you set for all of us.

"So thank you, God bless you and the families, and God bless America."

Grissom is not only home to the 434th Air Refueling Wing, the largest KC-135 Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command, but also three Army Reserve units and a Marine Corps communications detachment. Airmen, soldiers, sailors and Marines routinely deploy from Grissom in support of the Department of Defense missions and U.S. strategic objectives.

• Date Taken: 12.10.2012
• Date Posted: 12.12.2012 15:32
• Story ID: 99162
• Location: GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, IN, US
• Hometown: PERU, IN, US