316th Psychological Operations Company deploys Published Aug. 26, 2015 By Tech. Sgt. Douglas Hays 434th ARW Public Affairs GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind., -- Twenty soldiers gathered at Grissom Aug 24 to begin a long journey to participate in the war on terror. Soldiers from the 316th Psychological Operations Company gathered for deployment processing as part of a nine-month tour supporting the Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa. As the soldiers stood in formation, they received words of encouragement and gratitude from a variety of speakers including Col. Doug Schwartz, 434th Air Refueling Wing commander and their own deployment commander Army Capt. Glenn Laws. "Grissom has a wealth of resources right here on base to help families and loved ones during the deployment," said Schwartz. "Our Airman and Family Readiness Center staff is here to provide care for you as well." This isn't the first time the unit has deployed to Africa. The unit had members there as recently as 2013. "It doesn't matter if it's your first or your fifth deployment it's never easy to say goodbye to families or friends," Laws said. "These men and women standing in formation could not perform their duties if it was not for the love and support of their families, and for that we are grateful." Schwartz added that those deploying multiple times can help the younger folks during the process to make it easier. "You younger folks can help make sure those that have done it before don't become complacent as well," Schwartz said. "We all work together." "The troops standing before you today are trained and ready to perform their mission," Laws added. "We have spent the last few weeks, months and even years preparing for this mission." From Grissom the soldiers will go to Fort Hood, Texas for further training before departing overseas. The 316th PSYOP Co. provides world-wide military information support operations to conventional and special operations units, both in peace and war. Grissom is not only home to the 434th Air Refueling Wing, the largest KC-135 Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command, but also three Army Reserve units and a Marine Corps communications detachment. Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines routinely deploy from Grissom in support of the Department of Defense missions and U.S. strategic objectives. Stay connected with Grissom on Facebook and Twitter.
