Updated 02/10/2008 09:07 AM
Local airmen head to Albania
GLENVILLE, N.Y. -- Five of Stratton Air National Guard's own are headed to Albania for a six day stint. The call to head overseas came from their colleagues in New Jersey, who realized they needed assistance from their neighbors in New York.
"They were looking for our support due to their heavy involvement, actually the whole Air National Guard's involvement and our deployment," said Col. Ed Kinowski, Vice Commander of the 109th Airlift Wing.
"Once we get on the ground we're going to be hooking up with an Albanian medical platoon over there and they're be going out with us and we'll giving immunizations to children, ages one to fifteen," said Master Sgt. David Morrison of the 109th Airlift Wing.
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A thousand kids will be getting his Hepatitis A vaccine and while the kids obviously benefit, the airmen and training they get will be invaluable.
"This is a peace keeping event," Kinowski said. "And so to go to another nation and help out is such a career broadening event that they can use in the civilian sector as well as in the military."
"Just show that the military's not all shoot ‘em up bang bang. We're not trying to take nothing, we're gonna go over and give a little back. Take the training and expertise that we have and give it back another community," Morrison said.
"I have a niece and a nephew and if they needed to be vaccinated, I would hope that someone would go and help them as well," said Staff Sgt. Maureen Moffett of the 109th Airlift Wing.
"It's giving from the heart and this is how we can do it both peace time and in war," Kinowski said. "And we'd much rather be at peace."
Kinowski says the trip is a hands-on way to bring a positive message of the States and its military worldwide.
"It isn't just what is carried from one leadership to another leadership, as much as it is from people to people, and we're dealing with the people at the local levels and that's what going to inspired other nations as well as ourselves in better partnerships," Kinowski said.
…Which could mean healthier international relations down the road.