Michigan National Guard Embedded Training Team to be honored for Afghanistan deployment

LANSING, MICH. - Approximately 10 Soldiers from the Lansing-based Embedded Training Team (ETT) will be honored Sunday, May 2, 2:00 p.m. with a "Freedom Salute" in recognition of their January 2009 to January 2010 deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The celebration will be held at Michigan National Guard headquarters, 3411 N. Martin Luther King Blvd., Lansing.

The Freedom Salute ceremony honors the families, employers, and other "centers of influence" of each Guard member. Each Soldier will receive an encased American flag, lapel insignia, commemorative coin, and a certificate of appreciation. Soldiers on their second deployment will receive a Freedom ring and their spouse will receive a clock in recognition of their service. The remaining spouses will receive a commemorative lapel pin. Employers and other centers of influence will receive a medallion.

Before deploying, the ETT spent about eight weeks engaged in mission specific training at Fort Riley, Kansas. While in Afghanistan, the Soldiers applied their training to a variety of missions throughout the country. Members from the unit received numerous awards for their deployment including Bronze Star Medals and Army Commendation Medals.

Today, nearly 700 Michigan National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are deployed across the globe in support of the global war on terrorism; however, as the Michigan Guard serves the nation abroad, more than 90 percent of the force is available, trained and ready to respond to a state emergency including a terrorist event.

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MEDIA ADVISORY
Media is invited to attend the ceremony. Please be prepared to show identification.

For more information contact public affairs representative Angela Simpson at 517-481-8135.