The 48th goes back to war... without me... // December 4, 2007
This morning, as I was steeling myself for the long day ahead (it started off with a lovely Command and Staff meeting at 0800) sipping my coffee and listening to the news, my heart stopped for a moment.
“In Georgia news today, the 48th Infantry Brigade will be deploying to Afghanistan in the summer of 2009.”
See, I knew that was coming, I just was not expecting to hear it this morning – one of those, it’s a secret till its not, kind of things. Since its in the news I guess I can talk about it.
Excerpt from the article in macon.com
The National Guard's 48th Brigade Combat Team, based in Macon, is scheduled for deployment to Afghanistan in 2009, the Department of Defense said Monday.
Col. Lee K. Durham, who took over as commanding officer of the 48th Brigade in October, said the long lead time before deployment was part of the Defense Department's way of adjusting to using Guard units in combat areas.
"The (National Guard) has proven itself as a competent force," he said. "They are standardizing training for a lot of Guard units. ... It makes it more predictable and lets the troops learn the tasks they are training for."
The 48th Brigade's mission in Afghanistan will be to train Afghan National Security Forces. Also scheduled for deployment to Afghanistan is the 53rd Brigade Combat Team out of Florida, which will assume "battle space" in Afghanistan, performing the full spectrum of operations there.
The 48th Brigade was deployed to Iraq for more than a year, with the last members of the unit returning home in May 2006. During that deployment, 26 members of the brigade were killed.
Durham said the unit has had a record number of soldiers join the unit since that return, thanks to high retention numbers as well as a good rate of enlistment.
Now, the brigade is at 4,200 members - the highest in its history, Durham said. The brigade is required to have 3,456 members."
I confess that I am a bit conflicted about hearing my BDE will be going back. I accessioned into Active Duty service back in August so I’m locked into going to Ft. Leonard Wood come February but I still feel a strong pull toward my old unit. Its just one of those things I guess – I still love my soldiers in the 2-121 but now, due to my own choices – they’ll be off to war and I’ll be back home. Its way ironic that I finally went Active Duty and now I won’t be deploying!
Its weird. Just weird. I guess I kinda feel guilty that I’m not going.
I’m thrilled to be home and with my wife and baby on the way but still… This last Sunday, my unit that I am on OWT with here at Stewart had a Remembrance Ceremony on Warrior’s Walk here at Stewart. I prayed the invocation and then, I walked the long walk. I stood with several other 2-121 vets and cried with them. I don’t think I’ve cried about Iraq for over a year now. Sunday, surrounded by men I went to war with, the dam broke loose.
And then its official, they are going back… without me…
…is what it is, I guess…
“In Georgia news today, the 48th Infantry Brigade will be deploying to Afghanistan in the summer of 2009.”
See, I knew that was coming, I just was not expecting to hear it this morning – one of those, it’s a secret till its not, kind of things. Since its in the news I guess I can talk about it.
Excerpt from the article in macon.com
The National Guard's 48th Brigade Combat Team, based in Macon, is scheduled for deployment to Afghanistan in 2009, the Department of Defense said Monday.
Col. Lee K. Durham, who took over as commanding officer of the 48th Brigade in October, said the long lead time before deployment was part of the Defense Department's way of adjusting to using Guard units in combat areas.
"The (National Guard) has proven itself as a competent force," he said. "They are standardizing training for a lot of Guard units. ... It makes it more predictable and lets the troops learn the tasks they are training for."
The 48th Brigade's mission in Afghanistan will be to train Afghan National Security Forces. Also scheduled for deployment to Afghanistan is the 53rd Brigade Combat Team out of Florida, which will assume "battle space" in Afghanistan, performing the full spectrum of operations there.
The 48th Brigade was deployed to Iraq for more than a year, with the last members of the unit returning home in May 2006. During that deployment, 26 members of the brigade were killed.
Durham said the unit has had a record number of soldiers join the unit since that return, thanks to high retention numbers as well as a good rate of enlistment.
Now, the brigade is at 4,200 members - the highest in its history, Durham said. The brigade is required to have 3,456 members."
I confess that I am a bit conflicted about hearing my BDE will be going back. I accessioned into Active Duty service back in August so I’m locked into going to Ft. Leonard Wood come February but I still feel a strong pull toward my old unit. Its just one of those things I guess – I still love my soldiers in the 2-121 but now, due to my own choices – they’ll be off to war and I’ll be back home. Its way ironic that I finally went Active Duty and now I won’t be deploying!
Its weird. Just weird. I guess I kinda feel guilty that I’m not going.
I’m thrilled to be home and with my wife and baby on the way but still… This last Sunday, my unit that I am on OWT with here at Stewart had a Remembrance Ceremony on Warrior’s Walk here at Stewart. I prayed the invocation and then, I walked the long walk. I stood with several other 2-121 vets and cried with them. I don’t think I’ve cried about Iraq for over a year now. Sunday, surrounded by men I went to war with, the dam broke loose.
And then its official, they are going back… without me…
…is what it is, I guess…
Categories
General Interest Military Stuff , Reflections
Chaplain Jon Fisher
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