Bragg troops deploy to Afghanistan

Members of the 82nd Airborne Division's 4th Brigade Combat Team left Fort Bragg early Friday to head to Afghanistan for a 12-month deployment.

Posted 7:31 p.m. Aug 21, 2009 — Updated 7:31 p.m. Aug 21, 2009

FORT BRAGG, N.C. — Members of the 82nd Airborne Division's 4th Brigade Combat Team left Fort Bragg early Friday to head to Afghanistan for a 12-month deployment.

This is the second deployment to Afghanistan for the unit, which includes 3,300 soldiers. The brigade returned from a 15-month deployment in April 2008.

"I give great credit to the Army for picking the 4th Brigade to go back to Afghanistan," Col. Brian Drinkwine, commander of the brigade, said in a statement. "It's hard leaving our families, but we are excited about our mission as it's a critical time in Afghanistan, and it's

important for us to go back as there is still more work to be done."

The brigade will provide security assistance for the Afghanistan National Security Forces. Drinkwine said the troops will help train Afghanistan's forces and help them improve their country's internal security.

"The people have to have trust in the Afghanistan National Security Forces, the enemy has to fear and respect them and the Afghanistan National Security Forces have to have confidence in themselves," he said.

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