News from New York State Division of Military & Naval Affairs

For more information contact: paul.a.fanning@afghan.swa.army.mil

Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix Has Produced a 9-11 Public Service Message from Afghanistan

New York National Guard Soldiers, 9-11 veterans, reflect from Afghanistan combat deployment

CAMP PHOENIX, AFGHANISTAN (09/09/2008)(readMedia)-- Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix has produced a short video message to remind Americans about the terrorist attacks of 9-11, 2001 and the significance of Patriot Day.

Colonel Brian K. Balfe, the task force commander and commander of the New York Army National Guard's 27^th Infantry Brigade Combat Team based in Syracuse delivers a task force 9-11 "Never forget" message flanked by a team of New York National Guard, active duty service members from all branches and Romanian allies from Camp Phoenix in Kabul. The video includes footage of New York National Guard personnel at the World Trade Center site on 9-11 and members serving in Afghanistan. The transcript of the message is printed below.

Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix, is part of Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan and is comprised of more than 9,500 service members from all four U.S. service branches, coalition partners and civilian professionals with the mission to train and mentor the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police and support the government of Afghanistan and its people.

Task force personnel are serving as embedded trainers and mentors, security force and logistical support staff and are distributed at more than 240 forward operating bases and combat posts throughout Afghanistan. The New York National Guard's 27^th Infantry Brigade Combat Team took command of the task force on 26 April 2008 and deployed with 1700 troops including many who served at "Ground Zero" and performed considerable home land defense missions following the 9-11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Interested news organizations can contact the Digital Video and Imagery Distribution System to arrange for a feed by contacting www.dvidshub.net or (678) 421-6626.

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Message transcript:

Greetings from the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Soldiers of New York's 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. I am Colonel Brian K. Balfe, commander of Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix, Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan.

Thousands of New York National Guard warriors responded to the terrorist attacks on 9-11, 2001 at the World Trade Center and performed search and rescue, and recovery and security operations in New York City.

Today, 1700 New York Army National Guard Soldiers are serving in Afghanistan with thousands of other American service men and women of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and coalition military forces.

Together, we are Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix VII. Our mission is to train and mentor the Afghan National Security Forces and support the government and people of Afghanistan.

As America and the world pause this September 11^th to remember the tragic events that unfolded that day seven years ago, we are honored and privileged to be serving our nations in the quest to defeat the forces of terror.

On Patriot Day 2008, let us all "NEVER FORGET."