Estancia - “I heard some of you joking about how I’m going to go over there and kill someone,” Capt. Michael Calhoon said. “I hope I don’t have to. We’re there to help the Iraqi government sustain themselves.”
Calhoon, an Estancia Middle School math teacher and National Guardsman about to deploy to Iraq, was talking to the Elementary and Middle School students at the school gym in Estancia on Tuesday, May 5. A special assembly was held for him and Specialist Jordan Brock, an Estancia high school graduate and Guardsman about to deploy to Afghanistan.
Calhoon may not want to have to use lethal force, but he told the students that, “there are people who don’t appreciate us being there.”
Calhoon had to finish the school year off early so he can take part in pre-deployment training before leaving for Mosul, Iraq. Calhoon is an infantryman deploying with the 515th Combat Service Support Batallion. He said his duties as a captain have changed and he is not sure exactly what role he will have in the batallion, but he did say he will be working out of forward operating bases’ headquarters.
Calhoon will spend 15 months away from family, friends, coworkers and students in a volatile and hostile region, but he is confident in the ability of his command saying, “We are the best trained, best equipped military on the planet.”
Although it will be difficult to leave his family, he said it is important for thing at home to be going smoothly.
“Our ability to do the job while deployed has a lot to do with what’s going on back home,” Calhoon said. “We have to have a clear mind.”
Brock, an engineer in the Guard’s 920th Engineering Company, said it is important for family and friends to write to the deployed soldiers. The unit, which is slated to help clear roads and minefields, will be on its first combat deployment. Brock will help with building and rebuilding the infrastructure in Afghanistan. He said because he will be back before Calhoon, also his former coach, he will have a dinner arranged upon his return.
The 920th was scheduled to deploy on Monday.
Captain Jason Pete, also a Guardsman, asked students who knew someone who had been deployed, is deployed or will be deployed. About a quarter of the students in the gym stood up.
He told the students how important of a job the military has in protecting their freedoms, but he also emphasized the importance of everyday heroes like teachers and nurses.
“We leave and fight on foreign soil if necessary to defend our way of life,” Pete said. “As soldiers we do what we do because of each one of you here today.
During the assembly students waved American flags and yelled hooahs in support of the soldiers. The high school quartet sang American Tears and the student council presented a gift to Calhoon. A tree will be planted in his honor and a group of students will record everything that goes on at the school while he is gone. Students and teachers will also where red shirts as a respect to the deployed soldiers.
County Commissioner Vanessa Chavez and Estancia Mayor Ted Barela attended the event at which Superintendent Carolyn Allen-Renteria introduced the guests.
“All of us in the crowd support you. We’re blessed to have you serving,” Renteria said. “We’ll miss you.”
Calhoon, an Estancia Middle School math teacher and National Guardsman about to deploy to Iraq, was talking to the Elementary and Middle School students at the school gym in Estancia on Tuesday, May 5. A special assembly was held for him and Specialist Jordan Brock, an Estancia high school graduate and Guardsman about to deploy to Afghanistan.
Calhoon may not want to have to use lethal force, but he told the students that, “there are people who don’t appreciate us being there.”
Calhoon had to finish the school year off early so he can take part in pre-deployment training before leaving for Mosul, Iraq. Calhoon is an infantryman deploying with the 515th Combat Service Support Batallion. He said his duties as a captain have changed and he is not sure exactly what role he will have in the batallion, but he did say he will be working out of forward operating bases’ headquarters.
Calhoon will spend 15 months away from family, friends, coworkers and students in a volatile and hostile region, but he is confident in the ability of his command saying, “We are the best trained, best equipped military on the planet.”
Although it will be difficult to leave his family, he said it is important for thing at home to be going smoothly.
“Our ability to do the job while deployed has a lot to do with what’s going on back home,” Calhoon said. “We have to have a clear mind.”
Brock, an engineer in the Guard’s 920th Engineering Company, said it is important for family and friends to write to the deployed soldiers. The unit, which is slated to help clear roads and minefields, will be on its first combat deployment. Brock will help with building and rebuilding the infrastructure in Afghanistan. He said because he will be back before Calhoon, also his former coach, he will have a dinner arranged upon his return.
The 920th was scheduled to deploy on Monday.
Captain Jason Pete, also a Guardsman, asked students who knew someone who had been deployed, is deployed or will be deployed. About a quarter of the students in the gym stood up.
He told the students how important of a job the military has in protecting their freedoms, but he also emphasized the importance of everyday heroes like teachers and nurses.
“We leave and fight on foreign soil if necessary to defend our way of life,” Pete said. “As soldiers we do what we do because of each one of you here today.
During the assembly students waved American flags and yelled hooahs in support of the soldiers. The high school quartet sang American Tears and the student council presented a gift to Calhoon. A tree will be planted in his honor and a group of students will record everything that goes on at the school while he is gone. Students and teachers will also where red shirts as a respect to the deployed soldiers.
County Commissioner Vanessa Chavez and Estancia Mayor Ted Barela attended the event at which Superintendent Carolyn Allen-Renteria introduced the guests.
“All of us in the crowd support you. We’re blessed to have you serving,” Renteria said. “We’ll miss you.”
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