About 3,500 soldiers of the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, are bound for the war there. Again.
They'll be in Afghanistan at the same time as the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division out of Fort Wainwright near Fairbanks. Also due for duty in Afghanistan are 120 troops of B Company, 1st Battalion, 143rd Infantry (Airborne) Regiment of the Alaska Army National Guard. Those troops will provide security for reconstruction projects in the country.
Duty isn't getting less dangerous in Afghanistan. Four soldiers of the 1st Stryker unit were killed recently; at least 20 of the brigade's troops have been killed during their current deployment, which began in April. Relations with Pakistan, the U.S. ally in the region, are at their worst after recent air strikes.
The Alaska-based outfits reflect how much the nation has asked of its volunteer forces since 2001. The 4-25th is beginning its third combat tour, having previously served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Alaskans will pitch in to offer any help they can to families with fathers and mothers, husbands and wives, deployed. There's hard duty on the home front too, and it strengthens those with loved ones abroad to know they can count on community support.
For the soldiers, a prayer for safe passage and missions accomplished -- and a swift return home.
BOTTOM LINE: For all the troops in Afghanistan, may they come home safe and soon.
Important warning about e-mails purporting to be from the adn.com staff.