RICHLAND TOWNSHIP -- More than two dozen soldiers are set to deploy to Afghanistan after an emotional ceremony Wednesday morning at John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport.
The local Apache pilots and crew members from the 151st Aviation regiment talked about their deployment and what it means to them to fight for our country.
“I have a little anxious feeling about this,” U.S. Army Sgt. Hugh Trout said. “We've done this before, but the world is changing so much.”
Despite President Trump’s speech Monday, these soldiers said they're not worried about the latest announcement and strategy for Afghanistan.
They said Trump’s speech has nothing to do with their mission.
“This is already a pre-planned thing,” Sgt. Michael Alan Schloski said. “I watched that whole thing. Prior to that, I was watching program on terrorism on history channel.
The world is changing, very much so. We have to be able to accept that change. Our families have to stand behind us and agree with what we're doing.”
Trout's daughter said her bond with her father and his support makes moments like this easier.
“He's always there, always supportive,” Kammi Trout said. “I'm always feeling a little anxious about deployment, but I believe in him.”
“Spending time with family before we go, that's most important thing,” Hugh Trout said.
Schloski said he's excited for the deployment mission and looks forward to working with new soldiers.
“We have plenty of skilled personnel going along, so newer soldiers going with us, any questions, we know we'll be able to give them an answer," he said.
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