CONTACT: Eric Durr, 518-786-4581 or (cell) 518-429-5186

FOR RELEASE: Monday, Apr 12, 2010

LATHAM, NY (04/12/2010)-- Soldiers of the New York Army National Guard's 827th Engineer Company have deployed to Afghanistan from their mobilization training station at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin. In February, the 180 Soldiers of the company, whose members come from the Southern Tier and Western New York, arrived at Fort McCoy for post-mobilization training. The Soldiers departed Fort McCoy on Thursday, April 8 for their destination in the combat zone. The unit is a "horizontal" engineer company, which specializes in building airstrips and roads. Its mission in Afghanistan will be to upgrade the roads in that country. The Soldiers, whose home armories are in Walton, Horseheads, and Buffalo, are expected to spend about 10 months in Afghanistan before returning home over the winter of 2011. During their deployment, each Soldier will be entitled to a two week Rest and Recreation (R&R) leave in order to allow them to spend time with their families.