Photo By Darriel Swatts | Spc. Gabriela Perez receives a coin from the Maj. Gen. Raymond W. Carpenter, director...... read more read more
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CAMP TAJI, Iraq – The Army National Guard’s acting commander and command sergeant major praised guardsmen for their service during an April 7 visit to Camp Taji.
Maj. Gen. Raymond W. Carpenter, Army National Guard director (acting), and Army National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. Richard J. Burch toured the flight line here where they met with troops from the 40th Combat Aviation Brigade and got a firsthand look at what they do.
“I am extremely proud of what you [the soldiers] are doing here,” Carpenter said to troops from the 640th Aviation Support Battalion, a National Guard unit from Los Alamitos, Calif., that performs maintenance services for the CAB’s helicopters. “With the experiences you are gaining here, you’ll be able to go back home and effectively train the other soldiers in your unit.”
The number of combat veteran soldiers in the Army National Guard is nearing an historic high, Carpenter said.
“More than 60 percent of Army Guard members are wearing right shoulder patches,” Carpenter said. “I am proud to see where the Guard is today, with so much knowledge and experience under its belt.”
With the experience gained through all of the National Guard’s deployments over the past couple of years; should a state emergency happen, the soldiers of the Guard know what to do, Burch said to 40th CAB soldiers during a town hall meeting at the post theater.
Carpenter said that when a state emergency happens back home, people feel comforted seeing soldiers respond “because, they know something good is about to happen.”
“I am honored to be here amongst all of you,” Burch said. “As Guard soldiers, we provide a substantial service to our country. You exemplify what it means to be National Guard soldiers.”
| Date Taken: | 04.07.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 04.15.2011 09:25 |
| Story ID: | 68796 |
| Location: | CAMP TAJI, IQ |
| Web Views: | 86 |
| Downloads: | 5 |
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