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Jed Boal Reporting More Utah soldiers today loaded up and headed out from Fort Douglas to support Operation Iraqi Freedom.
These members of the U.S. Army Reserves may not take part in any raids or military offensives, but they play a critical role in the war. They make sure all soldiers get paid.
The 21 soldiers of the Bravo Detachment of the 395th Finance Battalion will not see their families again for 18 months. They deployed to Iraq, Kuwait and Qatar. They all expected this day would come.
Pfc. Joseph Nelson/395th Finance Battalion: "Excited to go. I know I have to do it and I'm excited to serve my country."
Jaclyn Nelson/Soldier's Wife: "Sad that he's leaving, but we'll pull through it."
These soldiers will support commanders by financing military operations, but primarily they make sure everyone gets paid.
1st Lt. Jerimiah Bennett/395th Finance Battalion: "We make sure their pay is squared away, so it's just one less stress for them while they're over there fighting those battles. They don't have to think about that."
For the next few months, the unit will train in Wisconsin with a special focus on their combat skills. Any unit can come under fire, and every unit must be ready to defend themselves.
1st Lt. Jerimiah Bennett/395th Finance Battalion: "We're going to learn some battlefield skills to make sure that if we are put in a position where we have to be soldiers, that we're able to save our own lives and the lives of our peers."
As a finance unit, they'll move around in convoys, which can make them vulnerable. Sgt. Tien Thai deployed once before, and knows what to expect.
Sgt. Tien Thai/395th Finance Battalion: "The Army says, 'Stay alert. Stay alive.' So we never really had our guard down."
It's a desk job, but a desk job in an often dangerous environment.
Spc. Nathan Stevens/395th Finance Battalion: "It's kind of exciting, yet unnerving, saying goodbye to family. But [we're] also looking forward to new adventures and new experiences."
One detachment from the 395th deployed two weeks ago. Three more detachments will deploy next month.
