Three members of the South Dakota National Guard’s 216th Fire Fighting Team were honored during a deployment ceremony at the Range Road Armory in Rapid City (March 16, 2023) as the unit departs for a year-long federal deployment to Romania in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Family, friends, fellow soldiers and airmen, and community supporters came out to bid farewell to the Rapid City-based unit as they depart on their mission to provide fire fighting and base support operations in Romania.
“Working with other countries and making sure that we know what they do and they know what we do. This creates a shared understanding if we have to help them or have them help us” said First Lt. Christian Trainor, commander of 216th Fire Fighting Team. First Lt. Trainor has been the commander for only five weeks and went through an accelerated training program to prepare for the deployment.
This will be the unit’s fourth federal mobilization since 9/11. The unit previously deployed in support of Iraqi Freedom in 2004, Enduring Freedom in 2011, and Freedom Sentinel in 2017.
The ceremony included remarks from Gov. Kristi Noem, Rapid City Mayor Steve Allender and South Dakota National Guard Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Jeff Marlette.
Maj Gen Marlette spoke to the families and stated, “families are the rock that allows all of us as Soldiers to do what we do.” He further added, “thank you to our Soldiers who never falter. You go where your country tells you to go and we are blessed to have you in our ranks.”
The unit will report to Fort Bliss, Texas for two additional weeks of training prior to the unit’s overseas deployment.
Family, friends and fellow service members attended the 216th Fire Fighting Team’s deployment ceremony on March 16, 2023 at Range Road Armory in Rapid City, SD.
U.S. Army National Guard photo by Lt. Col. Scott Linquist.
A Soldier holds a child during a deployment ceremony for the 216th Fire Fighting Team at Range Road Armory, Rapid City, SD, on March 16, 2023.
U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Austin Pearce.
Comments