.200 Wahiawa Soldiers To Join Afghanistan Surge
HONOLULU -- The number of United States troops in Afghanistan has surpassed the number in Iraq for the first time since the Iraq invasion in 2003. The Department of Defense said 94,000 troops are now in Afghanistan compared to the 92,000 in Iraq.
Soon 200 soldiers 307th Integrated Theater Signal Battalion based at the Helemano Military Reservation in Wahiawa will be joining the military surge and on Monday they held a deployment ceremony. The soldiers said their military creed as part of the pomp and circumstance of a traditional military deployment ceremony.
"We are getting ready to deploy. Now the colors are cased and that's the last act we take prior to deploying, said Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Jacqueline Brown.
Brown leads her battalion like any other for the most part.
"I'm a mother. I have two sons. I'm married and I'm a daughter. That would be the biggest difference and all these soldiers, they are my children," she said.
The 307th will provide telephone, internet and skype communications in Northern and Southern Afghanistan. The 307th got its deployment orders in February and had only three months to get ready when typically they would have 18 months.
The military also had a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Yellow Ribbon Room in Building 300. It's a room for the spouses and their children. there are computers for skype and a teleconferencing monitor so families can keep in touch with their loved ones for free.
"It's a good place for spouses to meet too. When I deployed, we didn't have anything like this," said SFC Kenneth LaFleur, who set up the Yellow Ribbon Room.
For these soldiers of the 307th, communication will be key to their success both on the front lines and here at home.
ABC
Soon 200 soldiers 307th Integrated Theater Signal Battalion based at the Helemano Military Reservation in Wahiawa will be joining the military surge and on Monday they held a deployment ceremony. The soldiers said their military creed as part of the pomp and circumstance of a traditional military deployment ceremony.
"We are getting ready to deploy. Now the colors are cased and that's the last act we take prior to deploying, said Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Jacqueline Brown.
Brown leads her battalion like any other for the most part.
"I'm a mother. I have two sons. I'm married and I'm a daughter. That would be the biggest difference and all these soldiers, they are my children," she said.
The 307th will provide telephone, internet and skype communications in Northern and Southern Afghanistan. The 307th got its deployment orders in February and had only three months to get ready when typically they would have 18 months.
The military also had a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Yellow Ribbon Room in Building 300. It's a room for the spouses and their children. there are computers for skype and a teleconferencing monitor so families can keep in touch with their loved ones for free.
"It's a good place for spouses to meet too. When I deployed, we didn't have anything like this," said SFC Kenneth LaFleur, who set up the Yellow Ribbon Room.
For these soldiers of the 307th, communication will be key to their success both on the front lines and here at home.
ABC
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