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(Host) Hundreds of Vermont National Guard soldiers will begin mobilizing in two months for deployment to Afghanistan.

As they do, Vermonters will be called on to support the family members who will be left behind.

VPR’s Ross Sneyd reports.

(Sneyd) Connecticut soldiers shipping out to Afghanistan with the Vermonters will be the first to be mobilized for active-duty training. They leave on November 18th.

About two-and-a-half weeks later, two contingents of soldiers based in Vermont will mobilize, followed by other units.

All of them will spend roughly two months training and then they’ll head to Afghanistan.

The mission Colonel Will Roy describes could be dangerous.

(Roy) "Our primary focus is going to be working with the fielded force, the Afghan national security forces that are already out in the provinces."

(Sneyd) That means the Vermont forces are likely to be in the provinces where there’s been increasing violence in recent weeks.

The National Guard is trying to prepare the soldiers – and their families – for what to expect and how to cope during the year-long deployment.

Colonel Roy spoke at a "Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program." That’s one of six meetings that the 1,500 soldiers have to participate in before they can go to Afghanistan.

(Roy) "The event today basically is to start providing the families all the information they need on the soldiers’ pay, the benefits they have available to them, the systems that are there for support for them."

(Sneyd) The event in a hotel ballroom in South Burlington was also designed to reassure soldiers they’ll be well cared for while they’re deployed – and so will their families.

Vermont’s two U.S. senators were on hand to deliver those messages.

Senator Bernie Sanders told the soldiers there will be a debate about the proper role for American forces in Afghanistan.

(Sanders) "But the point that every one of you has got to know in your hearts, is that while that debate takes place, as to what the best course of strategy is, every person in this state and every person I suspect in this country, is behind you 100 percent."

(Sneyd) Sanders says that includes advanced military equipment, wise political strategy – and support for families back home.

Senator Patrick Leahy says all the families have to do is ask.

(Leahy) "It’s not like you’re deploying from a fort where you’ve got all the infrastructure around. You’re deploying from towns that can range from 50 people to 40,000 people. And you’re going to need your neighbors and friends. … You can call us anytime. And we will follow up."

(Sneyd) Leahy says the help will cover whatever’s needed – even finding someone to shovel the snow.

For VPR News, I’m Ross Sneyd.

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