As nation celebrates independence, 熟女少妇students, employees prepare for Middle East deployment with Mississippi Army National Guard
Contact: James Carskadon
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擜 year ago, Keanna Rush was preparing to enroll at 熟女少妇 after taking time off from school to go through basic training and join the Mississippi Army National Guard and its 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT). Shortly before the 2017 fall semester began, Rush learned her education would once again be placed on hold as her unit would be deploying to the Middle East in support of Operation Spartan Shield.
A Philadelphia native and Neshoba Central High School graduate, Rush was able to complete one semester toward her business administration degree before heading to Fort Bliss, Texas, in March to train for the deployment. In late June, she left for the Middle East.
鈥淚 always wanted to find out for myself what joining the military would be like,鈥 Rush said. 鈥淭his may be my first overseas deployment, but I know the National Guard will take care of you. I want to get this under my belt and then come home to finish school.鈥
Rush is one of dozens of 熟女少妇students, faculty and staff members putting their education and careers on hold to serve their country during the 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team鈥檚 deployment.
鈥淭hroughout all branches of the military, 熟女少妇students, employees and alumni are fighting to keep our country safe and secure,鈥 熟女少妇President Mark E. Keenum said. 鈥淭hese men and women, along with their families, make tremendous sacrifices that we all greatly appreciate. We will certainly miss these valued members of the 熟女少妇community while they are deployed with the 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team, and we will do everything in our power to support them during and after their deployment.鈥
In early 2018, the team began mobilizing approximately 4,200 soldiers from the Mississippi and Kansas Army National Guard for a deployment to the Middle East. As part of Operation Spartan Shield, the 155th ABCT will serve in the Central Command鈥檚 theatre of operations over the next year. Before leaving the U.S., the soldiers spent several weeks at Fort Bliss, where they conducted intensive training exercises to further prepare them for potential missions while stationed overseas.
Brian Locke, director of MSU鈥檚 G.V. 鈥淪onny鈥 Montgomery Center for America鈥檚 Veterans, said the university spent several months assisting students, employees and dependents as the 155th ABCT prepared for deployment.
鈥淭his past semester we set up a military withdrawal process, which allows service members to withdraw from school without having to re-apply when they come back to Mississippi State,鈥 Locke said. 鈥淲e have and will continue to open up our facilities at Nusz Hall for Skype sessions, so if a family doesn鈥檛 have that capability at home, they can come here and use our computers to talk to their loved ones overseas. In the past, we have assisted service members with registering for classes even when they鈥檙e in another country and can鈥檛 make it back to register.鈥
Locke, a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army, said it is important to support the families of deployed service members in both big and small ways.
鈥淲hen I was deployed, people would come by periodically and cut our grass,鈥 Locke added. 鈥淭hrough one of the deployments I lived in Kansas, so when it snowed someone would come shovel the snow. There鈥檚 a lot of small things you can do for the family to say you appreciate their loved one鈥檚 service, so I would encourage everyone to find a way to say thanks.鈥
Among those deployed with the 155th ABCT is 1st Lt. Scott Edwards, a chaplain in the unit. At MSU, Edwards is an Extension instructor in the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture. He also is the training coordinator for the Wildlife Services National Training Academy, housed in the department. This is his first deployment since joining the National Guard three years ago.
鈥淭he chaplain plays an important religious support role in the military because soldiers need someone they can trust,鈥 Edwards said. 鈥淏eing away from home can add tremendous amounts of stress. Soldiers will come back from deployment emotionally and physically spent. If they know they鈥檝e been supported emotionally and spiritually, they鈥檙e more likely to plug back in to the community when they get back.鈥
Both Edwards and Rush said the university has been supportive as they prepared for deployment. Veterans center staff encouraged Rush to complete a semester of school before the scheduled deployment and assisted with Veterans Administration paperwork. Human Resources employees helped Edwards maintain benefits for his family.
鈥淚t鈥檚 clear we鈥檙e not just walking away from MSU,鈥 Edwards said. 鈥淭hat eases my concern and stress as we get ready to deploy.鈥
MSU鈥檚 Center for America鈥檚 Veterans assists veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces and their dependents. Through the center鈥檚 efforts, the university is nationally-recognized for its support of veterans. For more, visit .
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