Deployment ceremony for Illinois service members
NORMAL, Ill. – (25 News) – A deployment ceremony was held Saturday as hundreds of Illinois servicemen and women head to Africa Sunday as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.
The ceremony was held at Heartland Community College to honor about 200 members of the 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, which will head to the Republic of Djibouti for one year as part of the Horn of Africa Combined Joint Task Force.
“(My family has) been critical,” Lieutenant Aaron Deal said. “Throughout this entire process, they’ve done a great job of reaching out to my commanders – my leaders throughout the 404th. They’ve done a good job of asking a lot of questions to make me feel at ease.”
“This year-long mission will be significant for family members that will have to say goodbye to their soldiers,” said Major General Richard Neely, Adjutant General for the Illinois National Guard.
The Combined Joint Task Force was established in response to the Sept. 11 attacks, and military leaders say it aims to strengthen security forces and respond to transnational threats.
The Bloomington Pantagraph reports the 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade is a relatively new Illinois National Guard unit based in Normal.
The 404th will serve alongside U.S. Navy and Air Force units, along with French and other coalition members, securing U.S. interests in the country on the northeast coast of Africa.
