Soldiers of the 301st Chemical Company based in Morehead joined members of the 299th Chemical Company at the National Guard Armory Saturday to prepare for their upcoming deployment to Iraq.
Captain Travis Huber said the gathering was to mobilize soldiers and secure soldier readiness before actual deployment.
“We got the alert notice in November that this unit is going to Iraq,” Huber said. “The purpose is to make sure that they (soldiers) have everything in order before leaving for Iraq.”
Commanding officers set up stations to process soldiers from both companies. Processing helps make sure that each individual has their affairs in order before deployment. Those affairs ranged from getting information about religion preferences to obtaining proper life insurance details.
One station included a legal room where lawyers worked with individual soldiers to double check ranks, date of ranks, dates of retirement and secret clearance ranks.
At another station soldiers could confirm personal insurance information such as beneficiaries.
Another room was devoted to a soldier’s personal finances, such as confirmation of rate of pay.
The overall physical health of soldiers was confirmed through physical exam booths located in the Armory’s gym. Medical professionals performed eye exams, gave immunization shots or performed EKGs.
Trailers behind the Armory housed health professionals who pulled and filled teeth, or checked hearing.
“Our job is to get our soldiers from one station to another,” Huber said. “We will actually have 167 soldiers that will be deployed to Iraq.”
Soldiers will leave Morehead for Camp Shelby, Miss. for training sometime in March.
Huber is excited about the upcoming mission. He hopes his men and women will increase leadership as well as other military skills.
Huber, who has been in the Army for 21 years, has been part of many successful missions, he said. It is this success that causes him to be excited about this mission.
“I have half or more of my soldiers who are going that have combat experience,” Huber said. “I am excited about the people who are going with us.”
Most soldiers said they were just doing their job.
“I’m kind of excited, but nervous,” said Private First Class (PFC) Aaron Barbour from Maysville. “My mom does not want me to go. My dad is in this unit. He is a specialist.”
Specialist Justin Tucker is being deployed for the second time.
“I think there is still a lot of work to do in Iraq. Someone has to do the work,” Tucker said. “I hope President Obama will speed things up so that we all will live happily together in peace in this world.”
Jessica Dean, Sergeant of the 299th Chemical Company, said she is just doing her job.
“I’ve been deployed before and I will go again,” Dean said. “That is the Army and that is what we do.”
Local News
Related Photos
-
Vanessa Overholser photo
Preparing for deployment
- Local News
-
-
Morehead woman pleads guilty to incest, sodomy
A Morehead woman pleaded guilty Wednesday in Rowan Circuit Court to five crimes involving the sexual abuse of her young son. Brittany Henson, 22, pleaded guilty to incest, sodomy first degree, promoting a sexual performance by a minor, and possession and distribution of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor.
-
KSP, corrections stage exercise in Clearfield
Residents of KY 519 and McBrayer Road in Clearfield were surprised Thursday morning to find groups of state corrections officers and state police troopers walking through their neighborhoods.
-
Stacy: UPIKE proposal would threaten Rowan economy
There was a decidedly different tone Thursday at the normally-jovial monthly luncheon meeting of the Morehead-Rowan Chamber of Commerce. “If I sound agitated, that’s because I am,” Rep. John Will Stacy said to a roomful of business and civic leaders.
-
Blevins won’t challenge Stivers in new district
After more than 30 years in the Kentucky General Assembly, Sen. Walter Blevins, D-Morehead, knows a politician has to be flexible. The veteran lawmaker did not file this week to run for reelection in the newly-aligned 25th District.
-
Two Rowan schools win Get Fit challenge
Students at Clearfield and McBrayer elementary schools hopped, skipped and jumped their way to a live dance party hosted by Radio Disney. They were among eight Kentucky schools with the highest participation in the Get Active, Get Fit School Challenge.
-
Alleged cyber sexual predator arrested
An alleged online sexual predator was arrested in Morehead yesterday at 1:10 a.m. after he arranged a meeting with what he thought was a 12 year-old female.
-
29 indicted by grand jury
Eight people were charged with engaging in a criminal syndicate among the 29 indicted by a Rowan County grand jury Jan. 20.
-
Medical e-record use mandate drawing nearer
Technology will be playing a bigger role in patient care than ever before.
-
MCTC cosmetology program opens doors for clients
The Cosmetology Program salon at Maysville Community and Technical College (MCTC) is now open for business. The salon is housed in MCTC’s new Downtown Extension located in the old Rowan County Middle School building.
-
KSP responds to KY 7 accident Saturday morning
Kentucky State Police at Morehead responded to a single-vehicle collision on KY 7 in the Wrigley community of Morgan County Saturday morning, January 28.
- More Local News Headlines
-
