TROOPS COMING HOME AND BEN BROWN, WHAT A GUY!

My good friend Scott Spurr from 14 Wing Greenwood sent me this press release today and I was so happy to see it.

14 WING GREENWOOD – Seventy-six personnel from 14 Wing Greenwood will be returning to the Wing on Thursday, 17 June, 2010 after a six month deployment to a forward operating Base in Southwest Asia with the Theatre Support Element in the Persian Gulf region. The members were part of the Wing’s Mission Support Squadron (MSS) and deployed overseas at the beginning of December of last year.

The 14 MSS was made up of personnel from a variety of support occupations which included airfield engineers, supply technicians, cooks, resource management clerks and many other specialized technical occupations. The deployment was incredibly busy and challenging for the 14 MSS as they had to deal with several issues such as aircraft maintenance, regular re-supply flights from Kandahar, visits as well as the various troops that were coming and going from the Base back to Canada and onto Afghanistan.

The six month deployment was in support of Operation ATHENA, Canada’s participation in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. Focused on Kandahar Province in southern Afghanistan, Op ATHENA has one over-arching objective: to leave Afghanistan to Afghans, in a country that is better governed, more peaceful and more secure.
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Coming from a military family, I know the sacrifices you have to make to serve your country. You can never really belong to any community except for the military community because you move so much. This community is behind you and believe me when I say we all wish you the best and an amazing reunion with your family.

I met a guy named Ben Brown when I was working in the AVR Cruiser when I went to learn to play wheelchair basketball. It wasn't his skill as an athlete that got me, it was his attitude, and how positive he was. We kept in touch over the last 3 years and finally we matched schedules and events, and he came in to the studio. The conversation you heard on the AVR Mrning Show was a short peice of this interview. Ben is truely a remarkable guy and his spirit and attitude are nothing short of amazing! Take a listen to this and be inspired.

Another full day tomorrow, so get some rest and get ready to jump started in the morning!
-Jerry