Troops Set to Deploy to Afghanistan, Kuwait

As families across the country will be preparing for the holidays, members of the 1/126th and 1/143rd units of the Rhode Island National Guard will be heading to the Middle East.

Soldiers, loved ones, the governor, Congressional delegates and others gathered Saturday for departure ceremonies for the troops at the Quonset Air National Guard Base in North Kingstown.

"I cannot begin to imagine how difficult this is, especially with the coming holidays," Congressman James Langevin told the hundreds of family, friends and soldiers in attendance.

In ceremonies for the 1/143rd, the unit's commander Capt. James Poland received a bronze star for valor in combat. Poland will lead approximately 130 soldiers as they depart for Afghanistan next month for a one-year tour. The unit will be supplying security to the provincial reconstruction team, in what Senator Sheldon Whitehouse called "one of the most important missions we have in Afghanistan."

Major General Kevin McBride, adjutant general of Rhode Island and commanding general of the Rhode Island National Guard, reminded those in attendance that this is not the first tour for many soldiers. To those soldiers, McBride warned that things have changed greatly in the region.

"I caution you that the environment you're stepping into has changed from your first or second deployment," McBride said.

Governor Lincoln Chafee, Lt. Governor Elizabeth Roberts, Congressman David Cicilline, Whitehouse and Langevin all shared a message to the loved ones at the ceremony to reach out to their offices if they should ever need help or assistance.

"That is a sincere offer from each and every one of us," said Whitehouse.

The 1/143rd will depart for training on Nov. 29, just days after Thanksgiving. They will return home for two weeks to spend the holidays with family before departing for Afghanistan for a year.

For Sgt. Shane Brodeur of Warwick, one of the hardest parts of the year deployment will be staying a part of his 15-month-old daughter's life. Brodeur plans to read stories to her with his camcorder and through Skype, when possible.

Along with the troops from the 1/143rd, 140 soldiers from the 1/126th aviation battalion will deploy to Kuwait to provide general support to Army Central Command.