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NEWS | Oct. 28, 2019

Pennsylvania Guard finance Soldiers honored at deployment ceremony

By Staff Sgt. Zane Craig 109th Public Affairs Detachment

LEBANON, Pa. - Approximately 20 Soldiers from the Pennsylvania Army National Guard’s 828th Finance Management Support Detachment, 28th Finance Management Support Unit, 728th Combat Support Sustainment Battalion, 213th Regional Support Group were honored in a deployment ceremony at the Lebanon Readiness Center Oct. 27.

The 828th FMSD will be deployed to the Middle East in support of Operations Spartan Shield, Freedom’s Sentinel and Inherent Resolve.

“I understand that this departure is not easy, but the Soldiers of the 828th are prepared,” said Maj. Scott Buckmaster, 28th FMSU commander. “This detachment is comprised of intelligent, driven and dedicated professionals who have been training and working together for the past year to ensure mission readiness and continue the tradition of our company’s previous 13 deployments.”

Soldiers from the 28th FMSU are the most deployed of any in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, with 24 deployments since Sept. 11, 2001 in support of Kosovo Forces, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan), Operation New Dawn and Operation Spartan Shield.

While the unit has deployed many times, it will be the first deployment for some Soldiers.

“I’m extremely excited to go. I think it’s going to be a good experience,” Sgt. Ryan Dietz, a disbursing manager with the 828th FMSD. “Finally, after nine years in the military I’ll have the chance to get a deployment in and experience a new culture too.”

He added that while it’s sad to leave home and loved ones, the unit forms a cohesive team and he is confident they will pull each other through.

The Soldiers will be handling military pay and providing banking support to forces.

“I can confidently say we are strongly prepared due to the dedication of our NCO corps and the work ethic of our junior Soldiers,” said 1st Lt. Rajvir Singh, 828th FMSD commander.

Singh recognized and thanked the unit members by name and thanked their families and friends for their support.

The Soldiers were joined at the send-off by Maj. Gen. Anthony Carrelli, Pennsylvania’s adjutant general, other senior leaders with the Pennsylvania National Guard, friends, family and other members of the community. Coffee, donuts and other refreshments were provided, which allowed the Soldiers and family members to enjoy the morning together.