FORT RUCKER, Ala. (January 22, 2015) -- Families and friends of 14 Soldiers with the 164th Theater Airfield Operations Group gathered at Fort Rucker's Spiritual Life Center Jan. 16 to say farewell before the Soldiers deployed to Kuwait.
The Air Traffic Services Standardization Element and 597th Maintenance Detachment consists of a specialized group of Soldiers, and among them, Col. Douglas Van Weelden, 164th TAOG commander, said the best were selected for the nine-month mission.
"They are a phenomenal group of Soldiers," Van Weelden said. "We really chose among the best and brightest amongst us to fill out this team. They are well-led and well-prepared. I have every confidence in their ability to conduct this mission."
While the United States military continues to pare down its role in Southwest Asia, Van Weelden said the area still has a lot of requirements that need to be fulfilled by the U.S. military and the 164th TAOG.
"It is a place of dynamic unrest," he said. "We are going through periods right now of what are typically drawdowns, but then again with some trepidation. We send these Soldiers forth to do our nation's bidding in that effort."
The group will be in charge of air traffic control operations, as well as maintenance operations, not only in Kuwait, but all over Southwest Asia.
Maj. Michael Shannon, the team's officer in charge, said the team going over is a very unique group of Soldiers who specialize in the operation of Army airfields.
"We're the only unit of our kind in the Army," Shannon said. "Seven of us are experts in air traffic control and running airfields … and the other seven of us are experts in fixing air traffic services equipment like radars and radios."
One of the most difficult tasks the Soldiers will face during their deployment is leaving behind loved ones; however, technology has played a big role in closing that distance.
This is the fifth deployment for Shannon, who said now more than ever the Soldiers are better able to keep in touch with their families.
Staff Sgt. Corey Madden, who is on his second deployment, said this will be his first one having to leave his children.
"It's going to be rough. The first (deployment) was just me and my wife, but now we have two kids," Madden said. "We're going to (video chat) while I'm gone and that will be our means of communication."
Spc. Edward Pearson and his wife, Spc. Deiby Pearson, were married just six months ago and are expecting their first child.
"It's really sad missing your firstborn, especially since it's going to be a boy," Edward said.
One of the things he said the couple did together before he left was pick a name, Ares Alexander.
Deiby said it's upsetting to have to say goodbye to her husband and handle pregnancy and childbirth on her own, but it makes her feel better to think of the reason behind it.
"I won't be the first one to do it alone and I won't be the last," she said. "I've had some friends who've also had to do it alone, and if they can do it, so can I."
Van Weelden thanked the families for their sacrifices as the Soldiers set out on their deployment.
"Gen. (Raymond) Odierno (Army chief of staff) states that 'the strength of our Army is our Soldiers. The strength of our Soldiers is our families and together that makes us Army strong,' and I couldn't agree with that more," he said.
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