Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1454211
WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM FEBRUARY 23 - MARCH 1, 2022 UCW 13 COVER STORY Close to 5,000 Fort Bragg troops are in Eastern Europe amidst a Ukraine-Russia stand- off. Many of these soldiers are from the 82nd Airborne Divi- sion - an infantry division that is ready to go anywhere in the world within 18 hours. Last week, the deployment of the second round of 3,000 paratroopers began to leave Fort Bragg. Several hundred soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division Air Assault from Fort Campbell on the Kentucky Ten- nessee border are also headed to Eastern Europe. Several commercial jets graced the runways at Pope Army Airfield last week, waiting to take several hundred sol- diers overseas. While the para- troopers were waiting at Green Ramp, the final springboard for deploying soldiers, pizza, fried chicken and all types of food were being given out. e Religious Support Office had re- ligious texts and books ready to go if anyone wanted, and there was a long line for stations set up to handle last-minute paper- work. Many of the waiting para- troopers were socializing, re- checking their gear or catching a few moments of sleep. Specialist Bryan Flores was laughing with the men next to him. He has been in the Army for almost four years and moved to Fort Bragg three months ago from Joint Base Elmendorf- Richardson in Alaska. Flores said this will be his first deployment and going out and serving on a mission is exciting. "From the human's perspec- tive, I'm really nervous. But as a soldier, I'm prepared, and be- cause I know what to do, I know my job." Flores is stationed at Fort Bragg with his wife, Marta, and her two children - ages 10 and 7 years old. He said he didn't want to tell the two kids he was leaving. "I didn't want to tell them to their faces that I'm leaving because, of course, they would be very upset and really scared," Flores said. "It's hard to tell kids goodbye; I'm leaving some- where, especially if it's in regard to conflict." He says it's especially hard to leave his family as they just moved to Fort Bragg and were still getting adjusted to the base. "I certainly didn't expect it to happen; it was more of a last- minute thing. But of course, that's what we're here to do," Flores said. "When we are ready to go, we're supposed to go and confront the enemy and pro- tect the citizens of the world because that's what the United States is about ; we protect." Flores said that if he could bring something home from his deployment, he would try and find a figurine of a histori- cal monument or something that represents liberation from World War II. On the other hand, 27-year- old 1st Lt. Alex Blankenship said he would want to bring home a magnet for his unadorned fridge doors. Blakenship, who's been serving in the Army for almost three years, says he was able to see his family a week before his deployment orders came in. ey took his cat and wished him a happy birthday before he left. For his family, deployments are just part of the military lifestyle. "My parents went through this stuff with my dad being in the Navy," Blankenship said. "So, it's not anything new." According to White House officials, these soldiers are not being sent to fight in Ukraine of- ficially; they will support the al- lies of the United States. Penta- gon Press Secretary John Kirby said the 82nd Airborne Division was chosen because they were already on heightened alert and multi-mission capable. "I think their versatility, their ability to move quickly and to conduct a range of missions across a range of contingencies which is well-proven, that is why the Secretary has ordered them to go," Kirby said. One of those missions might be to help support American evacuees fleeing Ukraine into Poland. President Joe Biden said last week he is convinced Russian President Vladimir Putin has decided to invade Ukraine. However, Biden did emphasize that diplomacy could still be an option. While in Europe with NATO allies Secretary of De- fense Lloyd J. Austin III repeat- ed these sentiments. "ere is nothing inevitable about this looming conflict. It can still be averted. e path of diplomacy may be difficult, but it is still worth the trek," Austin said while in Europe last week. More troops could be mobi- lized to Europe as the Russia- Ukraine crisis continues. e Pentagon put 8,500 troops on "high alert" in January for pos- sible deployment if NATO's response forces are activated. For the latest on this story and any new developments with Fort Bragg troops, go to UpAnd- ComingWeekly.com. Thousands of Fort Bragg troops deploy by HANNAH LEE Above and below left: U.S. Army Paratroopers assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division walk to their aircraft at Pope Army Airfield, Feb. 14. The 82nd Airborne Division is being deployed to reassure NATO allies, deter any potential aggression against NATO's eastern f lank, train with host-nation forces and contribute to a wide range of contingencies. (Photos by Sgt. Hunter Garcia) HANNAH LEE, Assistant Editor. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomin- gweekly.com. 910-484-6200.