Missouri's fourth Agribusiness Development Team honored before deployment

By: Matthew J. Wilson
Unit Public Affairs Representative

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Looking to build on the successes of its predecessors, the 65 Missouri National Guardsmen from Agribusiness Development Team IV were honored Tuesday during a deployment ceremony at Ike Skelton Training Site.

Following the ceremony, the unit traveled to Camp Atterbury, Ind., where it will complete its training before leaving for Afghanistan.

Just the third joint unit, one made up of Soldiers and Airmen, to deploy from the Missouri National Guard, this unique team will facilitate agricultural reconstruction and development in Afghanistan's Nangarhar Province.

Brig. Gen. Stephen Danner, the Missouri Guard's adjutant general, said to see the different colored boots of Army and Air Guardsmen mixed together in a joint effort was truly great.

"What I notice most is that those are dirty boots and they are dirty because more than half of these Soldiers and Airmen have already been deployed one or more times," Danner said. "Those boots got dirt on them in their training because they are agricultural specialists. That's what farmers do; they get a little dirt on their boots and get dirt under their nails. I know these guys are willing to roll up their sleeves and do their job."

The team will focus on energy, education, resource management, irrigation and water issues, value added enterprises and food safety.

"Your training has prepared you very well for this mission and I know you will complete it with distinction and honor," said Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon. "What you will be doing during your deployment is vital to the security of the United States and Afghanistan. All of you should take pride in what you're doing and we join your families praying for your safe return home."

The team, composed of specialists in agricultural animals, agronomy, hydrology, pest management, soil science, security and marketing, will relieve the third Missouri Agribusiness Development Team, which is currently in the region and set to return to Missouri in August.

"As Agribusiness Development Team IV, you stand on the shoulders of the citizen-Soldiers who have led the way not only from Missouri, but from the country," Nixon said.

Missouri's National Guard pioneered the Agribusiness Development Team model as the first National Guard in the nation to deploy this particular type of unit in 2007, which Danner attributes to the program's continued success.

"The Missouri National Guard bear patch has now been there for four years and is very well recognized in the Nangarhar Province," Danner said. "Our patch is respected. I tell our Soldiers our Missouri bear patch is our tribal patch because the Afghan system is based on a tribal structure. That is something that has been able to transcend differences in nationality. Missouri is very well recognized by the local Afghans and it has helped us make progress in that province as the citizens see that we are making their lives better."

Danner said the team, under the command of Col. Michael Fortune, will build upon the agricultural success of its predecessors and perhaps delve into laying the groundwork for mining operations.

"We're going to be doing some different things with Agribusiness Development Team IV that have yet to be seen," Danner said. "Each team we've built on. We get a little better, we tweak it a little more and we get a little more out of it each time. I think Agribusiness Development Team IV is going to be top of the line so that their shoulders can be stood upon by Agribusiness Development Team V."

As part of the ceremony, an American flag was presented by Danner to the oldest Guardsman to go on the deployment, while Nixon presented one to the youngest.

At 55, Senior Master Sgt. Stephen Counts, of Hazlewood, accepted the flag from Danner. Counts, who has eight years of service in the Air Force and 29 years in the Air National Guard, joked that he was no stranger to being the oldest member of a deployment.

Spc. Phillip Anderson, 18, accepted the flag from Nixon.

"It's kind of cool to receive the flag," said Anderson, who lives at Fort Leonard Wood. "Not a whole lot of people get that, so it's a pretty good honor."

Anderson's job on the deployment will be a as driver for the security team.

"I think this deployment of going to be a good learning opportunity," Anderson said. "I already feel like I've learned a lot from the other guys.
"I hope to get some real-world experience and hopefully I pick up a lot of what the older guys have to teach me."

The Airman and Soldier were both asked to fly their flag while deployed and bring it back, along with the rest of the team, safely.

Spc. Jimmy Blackburn, of Stoutland, also will act as a security vehicle driver during the deployment. He said he was impressed with the turnout for the team's sendoff.

"This ceremony lets me know that people actually care about the guys going over to Afghanistan," Blackburn said.

Blackburn hopes he can use the deployment as a way to make a better life for himself once he returns.

"Everything else is a plus, but my main objective is to save as much money as possible while deployed," he said. "I want to come back, build a house and get out of debt."

Limited contact with friends and Family is what Blackburn said will be most difficult about being deployed.

"I'll miss spending time with them - watching the grandkids grow up, my daughters learn more as they grow older and my mom," he said.