Newport News, Va. (WTKR) – About 20 soldiers deployed from Joint Base Langley-Eustis on Monday in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
The soldiers are from the 271st Movement Control Team, 53rd Transportation Battalion, 7th Sustainment Brigade.
That brigade provides logistical support and the majority of the soldiers are expected to be stationed at Bagram Airfield where they’ll be transporting both equipment and soldiers.
Elements of the brigade are currently deployed to support global missions including Kuwait, Haiti, Afghanistan and Iraq.
The deployment comes just one week shy of the 12th anniversary of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
It's a war many of the deploying soldiers admit they did not expect to still be fighting.
"No, I can't say that I thought it would be going this long but until we get the call to pull out, we'll keep marching on," explained SFC Michael Brown.
For 2LT Ryan Waldorf of Long Island, New York, a recent West Point graduate, the deployment will be his first overseas.
"When I'm on deployment, I finally get to do what I've been training to do, so that's what I'm most excited about," Waldorf explained.
His parents, Fred and Kathlen Waldorf, say they are proud of him but can't help but be a little bit nervous.
"I'm just, you know, have butterflies in my stomach would be the best way to put it," Kathlen explained.
The soldiers are expected to be deployed for 9 months.
