LEXINGTON, Okla.-- More than 30 members of the Oklahoma Army National Guard gathered with their families and friends during their departure ceremony at the Army Aviation Support Facility in Lexington, Oklahoma on Sunday.
Guard members of the 1st Airfield Operations Battalion, 245th Aviation Regiment received a patriotic send-off before they head to the Middle East, where they will be provide air traffic control operations for civilian and military aircraft.
"This is a big deal for us," said Capt. Scott Collins, Commander of the AOB and Perry, Oklahoma native. "We have had to go through several iterations of vigorous training to get to this point and it doesn't stop today."
During the ceremony, speakers praised the Soldiers for their bravery and dedication to the
organization as well as their country.
"What you do is very significant," said Brig. Gen. Michael Thompson, assistant adjutant general of Oklahoma. "There are certain things in life that are important enough to fight for, and that's why we're here today. When duty calls, you always answer."
Collins also spoke highly of the group of men and women on their professionalism and resolve.
"This unit stands tall and is proud of its mission and its people," said Collins. "These Soldiers have gelled together to make an unstoppable team that I couldn't be more pleased and satisfied with as we move forward."
All of the leaders who spoke recognized the importance of the family and community who support the Soldiers.
"These families are such a crucial piece to the mission in itself," said Collins. "The families have just as an important job as these Soldiers during these deployments."
Following the ceremony, the beloved Soldiers boarded buses headed to their final training site at Fort Hood, Texas to complete their last iteration of pre-deployment exercises.
"Today, we move forward to complete our mission, but we will be back," said Collins. "And until then, we will be doing what we do best; providing safe, orderly and expeditious flow of air traffic in the most Okie, War-bird fashion we can possibly muster."
Families sent their Soldiers off with long-held hugs and tiny kisses from their children. The unit will deploy for about a year.
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