SC National Guard Battalion Departs Saturday From Lexington

Here is the full release from the S.C. National Guard:

The South Carolina National Guard’s 122nd Engineer Battalion will hold a departure ceremony and casing of the colors for approximately 150 deploying Soldiers Saturday, Feb. 23, at Lexington High School, Lexington, S.C.  The ceremony will begin in the gymnasium promptly at 10 a.m. 

From South Carolina, the unit will travel to Texas for training prior to departing for Afghanistan.  The 122nd Engineers will be mobilized and deployed for approximately 12 months.

The 122nd Engineers mission is to train Afghan National Army (ANA) Engineer units, perform construction and deconstruction operations, and conduct route clearance in order to support the drawdown of U.S. Forces.

“Elements of the 122nd Engineer battalion have answered the call time and time again deploying to Iraq in 2003, 2005 and 2009 and then to Afghanistan in 2010,” said Maj. Gen. Robert E. Livingston, Jr., the Adjutant General of South Carolina.  “Having commanded this unit both at the company and battalion level, I am extremely proud of the dedication and sacrifice of these Soldiers and their families.”