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 Guam National Guard members continue Operation Enduring Freedom mission By Sgt. Edward Siguenza
                1-294th Infantry Regiment
 CAMP EGGERS, Afghanistan - Seventy-five days into the Guam Army National Guard's historic Operation Enduring Freedom mission, the pace has been arduous. More than 2,000 missions completed. More than 25,000 miles logged. More man-hours produced in about three months, than the past two years gearing up for this mission. Equally important, the harrowing death of two members of the Guam Guard's 1-294th Infantry Regiment within a month of arriving in theater. "We expected this, but it just seems like the pace just keeps picking up," said Maj. Rick Flores, commander, Charlie Company, 1-294th. "We're busier than the company we relieved [in April]. It's the summer season now. More activity has picked up." The Guam Guard has previously supported OEF in Afghanistan and South Africa, but has never committed more than a company-sized unit. This round, there are multiple companies. Guam Guard members are dispersed throughout all Regional Support Groups-Afghanistan, covering thousands of square miles, with a mission of providing security forces, guardian angels and personal security details. Its overall mission is to follow the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan's effort of sustaining an Afghan-led security force. "Soldiers of the 1-294th Infantry Regiment are making an impressive contribution to the overall effort of the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan," Task Force Guam commander Lt. Col. Michael Tougher said. "I am extremely proud of each and every one of them.” The Guam Guard officially relieved Task Force Centurion Prime, 1-167th Infantry, Fourth Alabama, in early May. It commenced mission as Task Force Guam-Chamorri. In early June, Guam forces provided personal security for Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel's executive leadership. Hagel met Afghan Minister of Defense Bismillah Khan Mohammadi  then. Charlie company soldiers, led by Staff Sgt. Mike Palacios, escorted top enlisted advisers to places around Kabul, Afghanistan's capital, and Bagram Air Field. Palacios' personal security detachment regularly escorts command staff from NTM-A and Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan. Command Sgt. Maj. Gabriel Cervantes, NTM-A and CSTC-A command sergeant major, commended the Guam group, stating, "They've been professional soldiers from the start. They know how to do their jobs and I'm lucky to have them." The 1-294th Soldiers continue escorting military and civilian dignitaries in both tactical and non-tactical vehicles. These dignitaries contribute to the Afghan National Security Force sustainment. Their efforts, along with Guam's early assistance, reached a critical milestone June 18 when ANSF assumed the lead for combat operations throughout Afghanistan. "This is a tribute to the determination of the people of Afghanistan to take responsibility for their country's future," Hagel said. "This achievement keeps us and our coalition partners on track to bring our combat mission to a close next year and transition to a non-combat, train, advise, and assist mission that will help ensure Afghans can sustain security into the future." Most of Guam's forces are stationed around or near Kabul, the country's capital. Flores leads the busiest of the 1-294th's unit. They run missions every day - sometimes more than a dozen per day - to where getting together for unit cohesion is more than difficult. "We're in the capital. We're in the heart of Afghanistan," Flores said. "It's a busy place." Sadly, the Guam Guard lost two members May 16 when an improvised explosive device killed Sgt. Eugene M. Aguon and Spc. Dwayne W. Flores. They were Guam's 22nd and 23rd OEF casualties since 2003. The Guam Guard members have incredibly united since then. Tactics and attitudes have dramatically changed. "The guys have been great. They're much more resilient now," added Flores. They're not just more alert. They've developed more [tactics, techniques and procedures] on how to respond to situations. With the disasters we normally get back home, the guys know how to bounce back." Flores also credits the support given by families on Guam. Families send care packages and gifts, and unknown associations are also donating items to lift soldiers' morale. "What's keeping up the motivation of the guys are care packages," said Flores. "Little things like that make a big difference. Look at my first sergeant. He's stocked up." Guam is still months away from returning to its Pacific home. The Guam guardsmen continue their commitment to assist Afghan security forces. Even though 75 have passed, no one is counting the days remaining. "Everyone, from every company, takes this mission seriously and performs professionally," Flores said. "They're always in harms way, but they continue to do their missions. That's what makes them so unique."
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