SILER CITY — The N.C. National Guard held a deployment ceremony for nearly two dozen soldiers of the 112th Financial Management Support Detachment of the 113th Sustainment Brigade on Sunday at the NCNG armory in Siler City.
The soldiers will deploy for Operation Inherent Resolve in 2023, which continues to work by, with and through regional partners to militarily defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, in order to enable whole-of-coalition governmental actions to increase regional stability.
“I am nervous, I am proud of him,” said Beth Pattman, girlfriend of Spc. Nathan Pope, a soldier assigned to the detachment.
The crowd of friends, family, community leaders, and fellow soldiers cheered as those being deployed marched into the armory at the beginning of the ceremony.
“You (the soldiers) excelled in training, you have done an amazing job,” said Capt. Corey Richardson, commander of the detachment.
Senior NCNG leaders praised the unit for all the training and drills they accomplished before deploying.
“Thank you — I have great pride and honor in how you have prepared,” said Col. Zaire McRae, commander of the 113th.
Each of the deploying soldiers received Christmas gifts from the unit leaders and members of the community including Creations2Adoor, a local business.
“It is nice to know there are so many people willing to support us,” said Pattman.
The soldiers are Financial Management Technicians, experts in managing resources, financial operations, auditing and performing payments for units to purchase services and supplies, military pay, overseeing commercial vendors, accounting, and banking operations.
“I am excited,” said Spc. Erin Barrett, a soldier assigned to the detachment. “I love this unit and love these people.”
This deployment will be the first for about one-third of the unit. Most of the soldiers are veterans of prior deployments with several having multiple deployments during their NCNG career.
“I have been before, but this is my first rodeo as a sergeant taking care of people,” said Sgt. Jovaun Johnson, a recent graduate of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke and a leader with the detachment.
The soldiers will continue to train until a Christmas break later in the month and are scheduled to deploy early next year.
Operation Inherent Resolve advises, assists, and enables partner forces to secure the lasting defeat of ISIS and to enable the establishment of enduring security cooperation framework.