Story by Sgt. Moriah Addington, 38th Sustainment Brigade
INDIANAPOLIS - 30 members of the Headquarters Detachment, 138th Financial Management Company were joined by friends and families for a departure ceremony to wish them farewell in their upcoming deployment to Kuwait.
The ceremony for the Soldiers of the 138th was held at Stout Field in Indianapolis, on May 19, 2010.
The Soldiers received encouraging words from Brig. Gen. Omer C. Tooley, commanding general of Camp Atterbury-Muscatatuck Center for Complex Operations, and their commander Lt. Col. John Seprodi.
“I am pleased with the quality of Soldiers; we’ve had excellent training and are ready to complete the mission in fine fashion,” said Seprodi, a native of Plainfield, Ind.
The Indiana Guardsmen are headed to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, to be the command and control of three finance detachments from the Active Army and Army Reserve. They will perform financial services throughout the Kuwait area of operations and Qatar. The unit will also have the opportunity to work with local nationals in various roles.
“We will work with the National Bank of Kuwait and the financial industry,” said Seprodi.
“I’m looking forward to the experience and serving the country,” said Pfc. Sean McFadden, a supply specialist, while visiting his wife, Ashley, and daughter, Victoria, after the ceremony.
“We are proud of him, it’s what he wants,” said Ashley, a native of Westfield, Ind.
The Soldiers in the 138th spent the last year training on basic Soldier skills and finance operations in preparation for the deployment.
“I’m ready, let’s do it! The unit is well trained and ready,” 1st Lt. Zachary Richards, the Deputy Disbursing Officer, of Churubusco, Ind.
After the ceremony the unit will travel to Fort McCoy, Wis., for the final stage of mobilization training before heading to Kuwait this summer.