Eleven Soldiers from Detachment C, 106th Finance Management Support Unit here, deployed Feb. 16 to Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, to support U.S. Army National Guard units.
The Soldiers will be in Kosovo for approximately nine months, according to Capt. Timothy Johnson, detachment commander. Their mission: to provide area finance support within the Balkans area of responsibility during KFOR 21.
Keeping finances well taken care of is crucial to a Soldier's morale and well-being, said two military pay clerks in the detachment who are dedicated to the mission at hand.
"We are going to Kosovo to make sure Soldiers get paid correctly and on time," said Pfc. John Mayer, MilPay clerk from Williamstown, N.Y., who has been stationed in Vicenza for six months. "Our job is to make sure we take care of Soldiers and their families. If we don't do our jobs correctly, it can affect birthdays and Christmas for a family. A Soldier's personal life can suffer if there are pay issues."
Pfc. Patrick D. Green, MilPay clerk from Virginia Beach, Va., agreed. "It's important that we take care of Soldiers who are arriving and disembarking. Our goal is to make sure there are no issues with someone's pay and, if there are, to correct those issues right away."
The group is well trained and ready to go, said their commander.
"The fact that our Soldiers were fully prepared for this mission when they departed is a testament to everyone's individual readiness and dedication to duty," Johnson said.
As the Soldiers will be confined to the installation during their time at Camp Bondsteel, Green said he will use his free time to pursue self-development. The Soldier said he plans to work on college courses to complete his degree in general studies. That's not the only opportunity he'll be taking advantage of during the deployment, however.
"I'm looking forward to working with other members of NATO forces and building multinational relations," he said.
Mayer concurred.
"I'm excited about the deployment," he said. "I'm really looking forward to working with (people from) other nations."
That's the general feeling of the detachment Soldiers who are deploying, Green said. "We're excited about the opportunity," he said.
"My advice to the deployed Soldiers is to work hard, improve your surroundings, take care of Soldiers and last, but not least, use this time downrange to improve yourself. This is an opportunity that should be taken for what it's worth," said Johnson.
The Soldiers will spend time in Germany for training on the way and are expected back in Italy by Christmas.
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