Sendoff ceremonies planned for two Wisconsin National Guard units

Two sendoff ceremonies will be held Saturday (Feb. 4) for nearly 200 Wisconsin National Guard members headed overseas.

The first ceremony, for approximately 130 Wisconsin Army National Guard Soldiers of the Oshkosh-based 1157th Transportation Company, will be held at 11 a.m. at the Experimental Aircraft Association’s Eagle Hangar, 3000 Poberezny Road, Oshkosh, Wis.

Prior to their deployment overseas, the Soldiers will train for several weeks at Camp Shelby, Miss. Once their mobilization training at Camp Shelby is complete, the Soldiers are scheduled to deploy to the U.S. Central Command theater of operations. While the unit was preparing to deploy to Kuwait, due to reallocation of forces, the 1157th may be considered for other Central Command missions, pending approval by the Secretary of Defense.

 The second sendoff ceremony, for approximately 60 Wisconsin National Guard members of the 82nd Agribusiness Development Team, will be held at 2:30 p.m. at Hartford High School, 805 Cedar St., Hartford, Wis.

During their deployment to Afghanistan, the 82nd ADT — comprised of Wisconsin Army and Air National Guard members — will employ their individual military occupational specialties along with the their specific civilian skills, knowledge and abilities to teach Afghan farmers how to effectively farm and herd to expand their agribusiness, create jobs and reduce poverty.

Projects that other agribusiness development teams have undertaken include training Afghans in beekeeping, advising grape farmers in the use of trellises to increase yield, educating livestock owners in the use of vaccines to improve herd health, and establishing demonstration farms to highlight various agriculture techniques.

 The members of the 82nd ADT consist of various administrative and technical staff, including forestry specialists, agronomist, agricultural marketing specialist, a hydrologist, a pest control specialist, engineers, a veterinary technician, mechanics, medics, communications specialists and security personnel.

Both ceremonies are open to the public.

EDITORS AND NEWS DIRECTORS: News media are welcome to cover the sendoff ceremonies Saturday, Feb. 4.

 1157th Transportation Company at EAA: From U.S. 41, take Exit 116 east (Wis. 44/South Park Road). Turn right on Knapp Street Road, and right again on Poberezny Road. Follow traffic signs to EAA general parking. Eagle Hangar is attached to the EAA Museum.

82nd ADT in Hartford: From Milwaukee, take U.S. Highway 41 north to State Highway 60. Travel west on State 60 and take Exit 64B; turn left onto County Road K. Turn right on E. Monroe Avenue, and left on Cedar Street. From Madison: Take U.S. Highway 151 north to Exit 115, and turn right onto State Highway 60/State 16. Continue traveling east on State 60 when 60 separates from 16. Turn right onto Cedar Street.