WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Col. Roy Prepares to Lead Guard in Afghanistan

Col. Roy Prepares to Lead Guard in Afghanistan

Colchester, Vermont - October 29, 2009

The Vermont Army National Guard is on the verge of its largest wartime deployment since World War Two. More than 1,400 Green Mountain Boys headed for dangerous duty in Afghanistan.

One man will command the unit known as Task Force Phoenix. He's Colonel Will Roy.

Just over six years ago, Vermont Army National Guard troops formed up to begin a deployment to Afghanistan. Their mission then was to train Afghan forces to bring security to their own war-ravaged country.

"The men of Task Force Mount stand before you, trained and ready. The men under my command will present the best our country has to offer," said Colonel Roy of the Vermont National Guard.

Will Roy was the commander. He and his men boarded a chartered flight for what would be his second time in Afghanistan.

This time, the plane is larger, and so is the mission. A chartered 747 carried 300 Vermont Guard members off for more training in preparation for another deployment to Afghanistan. And more flights will follow.

This will be Roy's fourth time in Afghanistan.

For years now, the Vermont Guard mountain battalion has trained for the same kind of terrain, something that the commander says he's always liked to do.

"I joined the Mountain Company in New Hampshire, which was part of our Mountain Battalion here in Vermont, and went through the Mountain warfare school. I've been skiing, rock climbing, etc. since I was a youngster," said Roy.

Now as commander of Task Force Phoenix, he expects to oversee a training operation in which the soldiers will be imbedded with Afghan forces in the North, West and capital regions of the country. He says that's the best, and safest, way to train the Afghanis, by working along side them.

"And you also have the safety in working with people who live there, who know the culture, know the people, know who belongs and who doesn't belong," said Roy.

Roy says he'll keep the mission as safe as possible, as a matter of principle.

"One of the things I was taught, a commander has a moral obligation to do everything humanly possible to return their soldier to the family in at least as good condition as they received him,  whether it's a drill weekend, whether it's annual training, or whether it's a deployment into harm's way," said Roy.

Roy says the soldiers will carry an advantage, most are experienced, already having served in Afghanistan and Iraq. They have trained long and hard for this mission. But Roy says he won't sugarcoat the fact that there is danger ahead, for which he, and they, have prepared as well as they can.

Andy Potter - WCAX News