Photo By Spc. Jean Sanon | New York National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 222d military police company say...... read more read more
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ROCHESTER, N.Y. – One hundred and sixty New York Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the222nd Military Police Company said goodbye to their friends and family during a deployment ceremony at Monroe Community College on May 16 as they prepared to deploy to Poland.
After the brief ceremony, the Soldiers headed to Fort Bliss, Texas, for post-mobilization training.
The 160 Soldiers will deploy to Poland in support of U.S. and NATO Forces in the Baltic states and Eastern Europe. They are expected to return home in the spring of 2024.
Staff Sgt. Kirk Moon said he would miss his family. But was looking forward to the mission.
“I'm excited to deploy,” Moon said. “It's been over 10 years since the “Triple Deuce] last deployed.”
Moon said he was most excited about having the opportunity to share his knowledge with the unit’s junior enlisted Soldiers, the company’s newest members.
“This will be my first deployment with the unit and I'm looking forward to using MP skills,” he said.
Army National Guard Spc. Piotr Czajkowski said he was excited about the upcoming mission and the challenges that the deployment might bring.
“I’m just excited for the new adventure and the new opportunity provided with a chance to serve my country,” Czajkowski said. “I’m excited to get a chance to see Europe a little bit, if we get the chance.”
Brigadier General Joseph Biehler, the commander of the 53rd Troop command, thanked the Soldiers families for the support they provide to the deploying men and women.
“You are also answering the call of duty,” Biehler said. “Our country is forever grateful for your sacrifice, as you make the sacrifice to take up the slack while your loved one is deployed.”
Capt. Jorge Medina, commander of the 222nd Military Police Company, said his Soldiers have been training hard for the mission and they are excited about it.
“We're a combat support company, so going in and doing a law enforcement task in multiple countries with our partners is an experience that doesn't come along too often,” Medina said.
Medina said he believes in the importance in staying ready to answer the call of duty whenever it may come.
“To a new Soldier who is maybe looking to get deployed, keep striving to improve your tactics, your skills, and proficiencies, because most of the time it's a matter of when, and whether that's a state mobilization or federal mobilization. We just have to be ready to answer the call,” he said.
Following 30 days of training at Fort Bliss, the 222nd Soldiers will deploy to Poland and will provide military police detachments to support NATO forces stationed in the three Baltic states on NATO's eastern border with Russian.
The deployment is part of the European Deterrence Initiative which supports NATO and American forces in order to bolster and increase the security and capacity of U.S. allies and partners."
The company will serve about 10 months in Europe before returning to the United States.
The company is part of the 102nd Military Police Battalion. Military Police Soldiers from across the state have volunteered to deploy for this mission.
In 2013 the company deployed to Qatar for a ten-month deployment.
| Date Taken: | 05.19.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 05.22.2023 12:42 |
| Story ID: | 445134 |
| Location: | ROCHESTER , NY, US |
| Web Views: | 614 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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