FORT EUSTIS, Va. –
The 510th Human Resource Company, Special Troops Battalion, 7th Sustainment Brigade, conducted a farewell ceremony for 3rd Platoon Soldiers as they departed for a nine-month deployment to Kuwait, Dec. 8.
The Soldiers will perform human resource support downrange, providing personnel accountability support as part of the theatre gateway mission.
While the Soldiers said they were excited and prepared to begin their mission, the ceremony was bittersweet, as many had to say goodbye to family and friends in the middle of the holiday season.
Lt. Col. Noah Cloud, the STB commander, shared remarks with departing Soldiers and their families.
"The Soldiers in this platoon are directly supporting the warfighter in Afghanistan," said Cloud. "You must ensure the warfighters, who are hard at work training the Afghan National Army and National Police, are focused on their primary mission and not personnel issues handled at the theatre gateway. You are well trained and experts in your field and will accomplish great things in Kuwait for our Soldiers."
Cloud emphasized key elements to mission success.
"Your mission is important and you need to stay focused and take care of each other," he said. "Make good decisions while you are there so that you can hold your heads up high when you return. Return with honor!"
The battalion chaplain, Capt. Christian Groenendal, closed the ceremony with a prayer for safety and perseverance for the deploying Soldiers and their loved ones. In a final gesture of support, family, friends and fellow Soldiers lined the sidewalk leading to the bus destined for Baltimore-Washington International Airport in Hanover, Md., offering hugs, handshakes and reassurance before they departed.