Family and friends see soldiers leaving for Kuwait off

Friends and family got to bid farewell to soldiers departing for Kuwait Sunday morning. The ceremony at the Army Aviation Flight Facility recognized 250 New York Army National Guard Soldiers who are starting an 11-month deployment.          

“It’s huge for the families. It’s the last opportunity for them to support their soldiers, support the group as a whole and to give them an opportunity to say goodbye and let them know that everybody is supporting them and their soldiers,” said Capt. Robert Smith, the company commander of HSC 642.

Before deploying to Kuwait, they’ll complete training in Pennsylvania and Texas. In Kuwait the soldiers will support Task Force Spartan, a 10,000-soldier army presence in the middle east.