Posted by
Ron Devito on Friday, June 26, 2009 3:13:00 PM
Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is in Kosovo visiting approximately 140
Alaska Army National Guard aviators who are deployed for 12 months on a
peacekeeping mission (Kosovo, 2009, ¶1).
The 1st Battalion,
207th Aviation Regiment is providing aviation support with UH-60 Black
Hawk helicopters to U.S. forces and coalition forces. This is an air
assault mission in which the unit will be tasked with various duties
including passenger and cargo airlift, external sling load deliveries,
intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. “I am happy to pass on
the message of sincere thanks from all Alaskans,” Governor Palin said.
“We are so proud of their service” (Kosovo, 2009, ¶2.)
A
part of Governor Palin’s duties while she is in country is to inspect
the troops and ascertain how the experience in Kosovo will better
prepare these service members for missions within Alaska and future
deployments overseas (Kosovo, 2009, ¶3).
“As
commander-in-chief, Governor Palin is the one we look to for leadership
and inspiration while serving and defending the sovereign boundaries of
Alaska,” said Lt. Gen. (AK) Craig E. Campbell, Adjutant General of the
Alaska National Guard (Kosovo, 2009, ¶4).
“We thank the commanding general of the Multi-National Task Force East
for the invitation to visit and for his hospitality while in country”
(Kosovo, 2009, ¶4).
The 1st
Battalion, 207th Aviation is the most deployed unit in the Alaska
National Guard, having previously deployed elements to Kosovo in 2004,
as well as fulfilling missions in Iraq, Guatemala, Haiti and Honduras
(Kosovo, 2009, ¶5).
Commentary
The pull-quoted item really says it all.
Governor Palin's troops look to HER for leadership and inspiration.
This trip is probably going to be even more significant than Kuwait.
Governor Palin is inspecting HER troops and assessing how Kosovo prepares them for future missions.
Once photos become available (hopefully, there will be many), they will be posted here.
References
Governor Palin Visits Alaska National Guard in Kosovo. (2009, June 25). State of Alaska, Governor. Retrieved June 26, 2009 from: http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=1937