By Tiffeny Fields
Features Editor

Three UNCP students, members of Company B, 105th Engineer Battalion, participated in a farewell ceremony Feb. 12 for the North Carolina Army National Guard’s 30th Heavy Separate Brigade (Mechanized) who will be departing for Iraq later this month. The ceremony, which was attended by over 4,000 troops and their friends and families, featured remarks by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Richard B. Myers and Gov. Mike Easley.

“This is your moment in history,” Myers said. “This is your chance to rewrite the course of history and I believe you are going to do it.”

Senior history major Spc. Bill Alsobrook, physical education graduate student 1st Lt. Robert Earl Chavis, Jr. and junior history education major Sgt. John Craft, all of the Laurinburg unit, were ordered to report for active duty on Sept. 20, 2003. In order to do so, they had to withdraw from the university.

Shortly thereafter, they were mobilized at Ft. Stewart, Ga. for training to prepare for ‘Operation Iraqi Freedom.’ The soldiers also spent several weeks training at Ft. Polk, La., the Joint Readiness Training Center, and a week in Camp Blanding, Fla. for MOUT training (military operations in urban terrain).

“I feel my unit and myself are very well prepared to go to Iraq,” Alsobrook said.

Never has a unit had so much training before deploying into combat, according to Brig. Gen. Dan Hickman, Brigade Commander.

However, nothing can prepare these men for what they are about to face. They have to do their job to the best of their ability.

“Try and concentrate,” Craft said. “And keep your head in the ballgame.”

The 30th Heavy Separate Brigade, based out of Clinton, includes troops from North Carolina, as well as Alabama, California, Illinois, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Texas and West Virginia, representing 14 units.

The Laurinburg unit also includes students from other schools-Capt. Jonathan Hester, Spc. Carlilse Hughes and Sgt. Jason Jones-and there are more students with the armories in Raeford, Rockingham, St. Pauls and other towns.

According to the North Carolina National Guard Web site, this “activation marks the largest call-up of North Carolina National Guard soldiers since World War II.”

Among family members in attendance at the ceremony at the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville was UNCP public administration graduate student Bethany Alsobrook.

“Naturally, I worry about his safety, but I know his unit has trained very hard over the last four months,” said Alsobrook of her husband. “And I look forward to his safe return.”

Easley ended the ceremony by presenting Hickman with the North Carolina flag to be flown at brigade headquarters in Iraq.

“You have answered your country’s call to action,” he said. “You put your words and beliefs into action by serving North Carolina and your country. ‘Entrusted to protect, committed to excellence,’ you lived that motto.”

The brigade - also considered the 30th Brigade Combat Team, will be deployed to Iraq for at least one year, but not to exceed two. Most likely, it will be fall of 2005 before Alsobrook, Chavis and Craft are able to return to school.

It will be thoughts of friends and loved ones at home that will get them through the months ahead, and they would like for their fellow students to remember them.

“Keep us in their prayers while we’re over there,” Chavis said.

Anyone who would like to keep in touch with these soldiers should contact the Rear Operation Commander at the armory who will put them in touch with the Family Readiness Group.

For more information the number to call is (910) 276-0578.