3 days ago
More than 600 Wisconsin Guard soldiers ready for deployment with sendoff in Oshkosh
OSHKOSH, Wis. (WFRV) – Over 600 Wisconsin National Guard soldiers received a heartfelt sendoff at the Kolf Sports Center on Friday morning, surrounded by loved ones and state military leadership.
The soldiers, assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 127th Infantry Regiment and Gulf Company, 132nd Brigade Support Battalion, are mobilizing to active duty and will soon deploy to the U.S. Central Command area of operations.
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Their mission will involve working with NATO partners to promote regional security and stability.
'It was a two-year readiness cycle that started on the individual level,' said Spc. Alfonso Cordova of Milwaukee. 'We were graded on our performance to determine our readiness for this upcoming deployment.'
Cordova said the road to deployment has been long and demanding, but he's honored to serve.
'The opportunity to serve my state and serve the nation alongside these great people — it's fantastic,' he said. 'Sometimes you can get a little down in the dumps, but having good family and good friends helps pick you up.'
For many families, Friday's ceremony was a moment of both pride and heartache.
'I'm here for my cousin Tony Jones,' said Kimora Johnikin, who traveled from Milwaukee. 'We grew up together. We are the same age. We wish him nothing but the best. We're honestly beyond proud of him.'
Tony's aunt, Glenda Bennett, echoed that pride. Sharing that he recently graduated from Marquette University with a 3.9 GPA and completed training with the Cedarburg Police Department.
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'He's the backbone of our family,' Bennett said. 'We're going to miss him like crazy.'
The Guard currently includes more than 9,000 soldiers and airmen, who are routinely called to serve both abroad and during emergencies at home.
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