STEWART GUARD BASE – Over
300 soldiers from the 101st Expeditionary Signal Battalion of the New
York Army National Guard were seen off by their families, friends and
superiors Saturday as they departed for a year-long overseas tour in support
of Operation Inherent Resolve.
For many of the soldiers, it will be their first time on deployment
Members of the 101st Expeditionary Signal Battalion
are sent off by family and friends
Sgt. Bennett of 101st, who was being deployed for the first time, said
he’s excited, but is going to miss his wife and children.
“It’s kind of like a bitter-sweet moment because I’m
excited to go out and serve the country and see other places; at the same
time, I’m sad because I’m leaving the family behind for a
while,” said Bennett.
The Expeditionary Signal Battalion provides technological support to American
troops in a number of countries overseas, said Commander of the 101st
Lt. Col. Ian Seagriff.
“Our job is to provide communications support to the commands that
are serving in the Middle-East right now. So, we’ll be operating
at about two dozen locations providing technology type support across
the region,” said Seagriff.
The troops are initially bound for Fort Hood, Texas first to undergo a
month-long training before being sent overseas.
