By KENDALL PIERSON
WISH-TV | wishtv.com
Ten Indiana National Guard soldiers who specialize in firefighting techniques have deployed to Romania.
On Tuesday, soldiers with the 819th Firefighter Detachment, said goodbye to friends and family during a departure ceremony at Indianapolis National Airport.
This nine-month mission is in support of Operation European Assure Deter and Reinforce. The Hoosier Guard soldiers will join other National Guardsmen with firefighter detachments from Ohio, Nebraska, Puerto Rico, and Montana.
Over the last year they’ve been planning and preparing for the deployment. Within the last two weeks, the Hoosier Guardsmen conducted training and soldier readiness activities with the troops from the other states at Muscatatuck Training Center, located in Jennings County.
“Staff Sgt. Tyler Putnam, along with leadership from the 219th Engineer Brigade, briefed Indiana National Guard leadership on the training and personnel preparations conducted to reach this point in the mobilization,” Brig. Gen. Cathy Eaken, the 38th Infantry Division deputy commanding general for sustainment said.
Eaken says she has no doubt that each and every one of the soldiers will help support the United States’ goal of deterring aggression and maintaining stability in the European theater.
This is the second deployment for the 819th, the first was to Afghanistan in 2011.
This story was originally published by WISH-TV at wishtv.com/news/local-news/indiana-national-guard-soldiers-deploy-to-romania-for-firefighting-mission.