TRAILBLAZERS mark deployments to Afghanistan, Kuwait

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Blake Mize
  • JBER Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  As many of us on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson enjoy the long-awaited Alaska summer and our biggest worry is figuring out where the salmon are biting or which cookout to attend this weekend, it is easy to forget we are still sending men and women into harm's way.

The 2nd Engineer Brigade on JBER did just that June 6 as they hosted deployment ceremonies to bid farewell to two of their companies, the 109th Transportation Company and the 95th Chemical Company.

"The men and women standing before you have answered the call," said Army Lt. Col. Brian Formy-Duval, 17th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion commander, to those attending the ceremony for the 109th Trans. "They stand ready to do their duty, and their families take on burdens that no one else can ever imagine unless they have done it themselves."

The 109th Trans. will be going to Afghanistan for nine months to support the transportation needs of U.S. and allied forces there.

"Anything that needs to be moved, whether it's on post or off, that's the main mission of the 109th Trans.," said Army 1st Sgt. Richard Bullard, the company's first sergeant.
Formy-Duval had a broader description of the deployment which may yield its true significance.

"The company's mission in Afghanistan is a difficult, yet vital step toward bringing American troops home from more than a decade of war," he said.
Soliders of the 95th Chem., who will spend nine months in Kuwait, will provide a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear reconnaissance, decontamination, detection, surveillance and consequence management capability to the U.S. mission in that country.

"I think this is an awesome opportunity," said Army Capt. Steve Deleon, 95th Chem. commander. "Our company hasn't deployed since 2005, so I think we're overdue. We'll be one of the few chemical companies in the [area of responsibility], so it's an awesome opportunity for all of us."

Both companies made strides to ensure they equipped their troops with the skills and knowledge necessary for the rigors each of their deployments will bring.

"Our training started back in January. We are very prepared for this mission," said Bullard, an East Chicago, Ind. native. "We're ready to go down there and do what the Army has called us to do. We look forward to the return trip, but first we want to handle this mission and do what we've been called to do."

In addition to the training the troops of each company completed to get themselves ready, their families also had the opportunity to prepare for the absence of their loved ones.

"We have a very active family-readiness group that has put on some programs and some classes for the families," said Army Capt. Nicole Fredrick, 190th Trans. commander.

Deleon, of Yorktown, Va., said he and the other leadership of the 95th Chem. tried to make sure their troops got to spend as much time as possible with their families before they left.

"We tried to cut out the unnecessary things. If we're at work later than we have to be, we tried to find ways to get guys home on time," he said.

Each of these companies has prepared to represent JBER well and serve the U.S. with distinction, and they have no doubt about their ability to complete whatever tasks they may face.

"I can assure you that the Soldiers of this company are trained, confident and ready to take on our next mission," Fredrick said.