Photo By Lt. Col. Ed Shank | Family members of Pennsylvania National Guard soldiers from the Pennsylvania National...... read more read more
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WASHINGTON, Pa. – Nearly 100 Pennsylvania National Guard members from the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division, departed Saturday for a yearlong multinational NATO-peacekeeping deployment to Kosovo.
Maj. Gen. James Joseph, the state’s adjutant general, Maj. Gen. John Gronski, 28th Infantry Division commander and Col. Ros Gammon, brigade commander, were among those present for the departure ceremony that included family and friends of those deploying.
“It’s really great to see the turnout here from both family members and leaders in the community. It just goes to show the amount of support these soldiers will be getting as they prepare to deploy,” Gronski said at the departure ceremony. “The strength of our nation is our Army, the strength of our Army is our soldiers and the strength of our soldiers is our families.”
The soldiers’ mission will be to provide a safe and secure environment and freedom of maneuver for the people of Kosovo, according to Gammon.
“The mission we are about to undertake is complex, yet very rewarding. However, the toughest mission will be for those who we leave behind,” said Gammon. “Our families will miss having their soldiers home to participate in birthdays, graduations and the first day of kindergarten.”
Before deploying overseas the soldiers will receive mobilization training at Fort Bliss, Texas and Germany.
“The combined training, skill and experience found amongst your formation is all that you will need to excel in your mission, get the job done and come home safely,’’ said Joseph. “Your mission is 24/7 and you must stay focused on that.”
Throughout their train up, soldiers will join together with other National Guard and active-duty soldiers from around the country during the mobilization process and finally with multinational partners once they arrive in Kosovo.
“The 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team is truly a team in every aspect. Our team will be joined by our National Guard brothers from Arizona and California. In a little over a month; our team will continue to grow as we join our active-duty brothers in Germany. Finally, in March our team will be complete when we are joined by our multinational partners from Hungary, Poland, Germany, Turkey, Austria and Armenia, just to name a few,” said Gammon.
The deploying soldiers are expected to return home in one year.
Media contact: Maj. Ed Shank, 717-861-8468
| Date Taken: | 01.11.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 01.11.2016 14:42 |
| Story ID: | 186050 |
| Location: | WASHINGTON, PA, US |
| Web Views: | 1,599 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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