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SDNG Public Affairs Detachment formally activated |
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Friday, 15 February 2013 15:55 |
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The Black Hills are preparing to say goodbye to another group of South Dakota National Guardsmen and women, after the 129th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment was formally activated Friday morning. Black Hills FOX reporter Brendyn Medina takes us to the deployment ceremonies.
Hundreds packed the Duke Corning Armory Friday morning at Camp Rapid as the 129th M-PAD was activated with orders to deploy to the Middle East. 11 members of the 129th will be deploying to Afghanistan to assist in providing military media coverage in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. 129th MPAD Commander Maj. Wayne Asscherick says, "We want to highlight those things that are positives there, not that we're going to hide anything, but we want to make sure people know the truth about what is going on and that is the Public Affairs' mission; to get that truth back to the American people. And in turn, it goes out worldwide." Major Asscherick says it's a three tiered mission; first and foremost to tell the Army's story from Afghanistan. Second, the 129th will help facilitate imbedded civilian journalists covering Operation Enduring Freedom from the field. Finally, these soldiers will assist Afghan public affairs and media professionals during the military's security force transition. Maj. Asscherick says, "And then the 3rd part of the mission is security force assistance, which is that advisory role that we're transitioning into so we can accomplish our goals and the president's goals of whatever they've decided we need to do and get that country back out on their own." A 16-year veteran of the Rapid City Police Department, Major Asscherick was among his family and co-workers as he received his deployment orders. While saying goodbye may not come easily, he says he finds comfort in knowing his brothers in blue have got his back, even during this long deployment. Maj. Asscherick says, "They have been utterly fantastic when it comes to making sure I have all the support I need, that everything I have here at home will be taken care of, and they're a very reassuring factor in my life to say, 'Hey, we're going to take care of things while you're gone and so don't worry about it. Go do you mission, then come home and then you can do our mission here again." The 129th will depart Rapid City for several weeks of theater specific training at Fort Dix in New Jersey before flying overseas. The detachment says they anticipate they'll be in Afghanistan for about 9 months. For Black Hills FOX, I'm Brendyn Medina. |
