Deployment ceremony held for soldiers

LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)– A deployment ceremony was held for members of the Michigan Army National Guard Sunday.

The 272nd Regional Support Group will deploy to the Middle East in support of “Operation Inherent Resolution.” It was an emotional day for the soldiers, their friends, and their families.

Captain Daniel Sackmann is the Group’s Company Commander and will be working overseas. He said saying goodbye to loved ones is never easy.

“I was crying last night holding my horse. You know, crying saying goodbye to my wife today. There’s no way to mentally prepare for saying goodbye, even if it’s temporary. “

Around 80 members have been deployed to U.S. Central Command in the Middle East for approximately a year. Within “Operation Inherent Resolve,” the group’s mission is to support the service members over there.

“Life support functions, logistics, Contracting, people have to be fed, people need a bed to sleep in,” Sackmann said.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer was at the ceremony. She’s the Commander In Chief of the State’s National Guard. She said it’s the finest in the nation.

“We need your skills more than ever as we continue to secure our safety through our presence overseas. I have full faith and confidence in your abilities, and I know you’LL get the job done,” Whitmer said.

The Troop’s Group Commander, Colonel Jeff Austhof spoke at the ceremony, then led the group to say their final goodbyes. They later left for pre-mobilization in Texas.

“Not only is their presence and efforts directly enabling operation inherent resolve’s mission by providing crucial life support to those forces, they’re also indirectly enabling the stabilization efforts in the region,” Col. Austhof said.

The ceremony offers a chance to honor the soldiers but also allows their families to see them off.

“It gives the families that temporary closure that they need,” Captain Sackmann said. “You know, there’s people here like Family Readiness Group for resources. All that stuff that they have, that they may not know they even have. That’s why these are so crucial for everybody.”

Captain Sackmann says he wants his family to know it’s not goodbye, it’s just a temporary farewell until they see each other again.

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