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Afghanistan elections spur Paratrooper deployment

By Pfc. Mike Pryor
July 11, 2005

Fort Bragg, N.C. (Army News Service July 11, 2005) - More Paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division are headed to Afghanistan, the Division’s commander announced during a press conference July 8.

Between 700 and 800 Paratroopers from 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment will deploy within several weeks to Afghanistan to bolster security there in advance of the upcoming provincial elections in September, said Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV.

The Division already has about 1,500 Paratroopers from its 1st Brigade Combat Team deployed to the country, which has seen a spike in violence against coalition forces in recent months.

Paratroopers from the 82nd have deployed four times within the last ten months to Iraq and Afghanistan, Caldwell said. Two of those deployments were directly in support of national elections in the two countries. Because of that history and because of the division’s role as the nation’s strategic response force, the current mission was not unexpected, he said.

The battalion’s mission set in Afghanistan will be tied to support for the legislative process, but may include humanitarian aid, civilian support, and combat operations, said its brigade commander, Col. Jeff Bailey. He added that he was confident in his Paratroopers’ ability to successfully complete any mission they may be given in Afghanistan.

“I feel exceptionally good about sending (this) battalion off to war right now.” Bailey said. “They are extraordinarily well-led, they are fully equipped and manned for this mission, and they have a lot of combat experience.”

Paratroopers on hand for the announcement said they felt positive about the deployment.

“It feels good. We’re doing something for a country that wasn’t free to do it before,” said Sgt. Michael Flavin of C Co, 1st Bn, 325th AIR.

Even though this deployment isn’t part of a regular rotation, it doesn’t come as a surprise, either, said Sgt. 1st Class Jason Nelson, a platoon sergeant with C Co.

“In the 82nd Airborne, we’re paid to be ready to go,” Nelson said.

The deployment is expected to last until at least November.