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Iowa National Guard Leaders Send-Off Agri-Business Development Team

  • Published
  • By Capt. Peter Shinn
  • 734th Agri-Business Development Team
Camp Attterbury, Ind. --  The Adjutant General of the Iowa National Guard, Brig. Gen. Timothy Orr, traveled to Camp Atterbury, Ind., to send-off the 734th Agri-Business Development Team shortly before the ADT deploys to Afghanistan's Kunar Province. Orr didn't come alone. Joining him were Col. Mike Schlorholtz, Commander of the 734th Rear Support Group, Col. Brian Miller, Commander of the 185th Air Refueling Wing and Col. Mark Foreman, Vice-commander of the 185th ARW.

The visit of senior leaders from the Iowa Army National Guard and Iowa Air National Guard made sense because the ADT is a Joint Team made up of both Soldiers and Airmen. In fact the ADT is historic, because it is the Iowa National Guard's first-ever overseas Joint deployment.

Orr and the other senior leaders visited with the Soldiers and Airmen of the ADT and observed their training. Orr also presented his personal coin to eight deserving Soldiers on the ADT.

"This was a chance to come to the mobility station and make sure Iowa's Soldiers and Airmen were being treated right and getting what they need," Orr said. "It also gave me one last opportunity to say thanks for what you do, and good luck and Godspeed."

Miller, the 185th ARW commander, will soon deploy to Afghanistan to serve on the Air Staff supporting the command of General David Petraeus. And seeing the ADT's Joint training first-hand made Miller even more enthusiastic about his upcoming mission.
"Actually, it's really invigorated me and I'm more excited than ever to get going," Miller said.

The mission of the Iowa ADT is to protect the people of Afghanistan by improving the ability of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to provide food security to its citizens. The ADT is expected to arrive in Afghanistan's Kunar Province in August. All the Soldiers and Airmen on the ADT are volunteers. They will be deployed for approximately one year.