Outgoing Guam Gov. Eddie Baza Calvo attended a send off ceremony for 34 of Guam’s sons and daughters who will be on deployment for the next six months.
The 34 Air Guardsmen and women come from the Guam National Guard’s 254th Security Forces Squadron, the 254th Force Support Squadron, and the 254th Air Base Group’s Cyber Flight, Communications, and Headquarters. These units preparing for deployment have received multiple awards for their performance while deployed overseas to places like Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Korea, and Qatar. These citizen airmen and women hold positions on the island within the local government, federal government, and private sector, and some are college students. Of the 34, 11 are deploying for the first time. Gov.Calvo praised the Guam National Guard for its many achievements, and noted that Guam’s National Guard airmen and soldiers have earned the high regard of national leaders as well as military officers from other countries, “You all represent the highest levels of commitment, bravery, and honor – a legacy that has been forged in the fires of our history.” Calvo shared the gratitude of thousands of Guamanian Americans for the sacrifice military service members make year round – to include the Christmas seasons. “You will be away from home, and away from your families. Even as we stand here today, we have Guard personnel from the 254th RED HORSE and the Security Forces Squadrons on deployment during this holiday season supporting missions around the world,” the governor said. "God bless you, God bless Guam and the United States of America.”