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, the official name for the effort against
ISIS. They departed from the Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh.
Soldiers say the hardest part of the deployment is being away from family for a year
For many of the soldiers, it will be their first time on deployment.
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 throughout the region,” said Seagriff.
The troops are initially bound for Fort Hood, Texas first to undergo a month of training before heading overseas.
