36 Tennessee National Guard soldiers heading to Afghanistan

October 24, 2017 at 1:00 a.m. | Updated October 24, 2017 at 3:44 p.m.

by Jake Lowary

Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Warren, left, and Lt. Col. Brooke Grubb, Battalion Commander, prepare the 30th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion colors for casing prior to their deployment to Afghanistan during a ceremony on Oct. 21, 2017 in Humboldt, Tenn. More than 30 personnel will provide logistical combat support to U.S. Forces in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel.
Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Warren, left, and Lt. Col. Brooke Grubb, Battalion Commander, prepare the 30th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion colors for casing prior to their deployment to Afghanistan during a ceremony on Oct. 21, 2017 in Humboldt, Tenn. More than 30 personnel will provide logistical combat support to U.S. Forces in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel.

For the first time in nearly a decade, a unit in the Tennessee National Guard is deploying to Afghanistan.

Announced Monday, 36 soldiers with the 30th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 230th Sustainment Brigade, will head to Afghanistan for a yearlong deployment supporting logistics operations.

It's the first time since August 2008 the unit has deployed.

"Personally, I am looking forward to operating in a new position with a new unit and operating under a different mission in a new area of operation I have not deployed to before," said Sgt. 1st Class David Winstead, the noncommissioned officer-in-charge of the unit.

The unit ceremoniously began its deployment Saturday in Humboldt by casing its colors, or the unit's flag.

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