STATEN ISLAND, New York (WABC) -- It was an emotional send-off Saturday on Staten Island as 230 New York-based soldiers said goodbye to their loved ones, as a New York division of the National Guard departed in advance of long-term deployment.
The guardsmen will spend some time training in Texas before heading to the Middle East - a region that is growing more and more hostile by the day with U.S. and Iranian airstrikes.
[Ads /]
Command Sergeant Major Corey Cush has been through this before. He entered active duty back in 1986 and has been deployed to Afghanistan.
"It's mixed emotions, right. There's a lot of excitement associated with this mission we are about to do. But there is, of course, sadness for leaving your family for a year," he said.
Command Sergeant Cush had advice for those deploying for the first time.
[Ads /]
"Be focused, pick a goal, stay with that goal, and you'll see how fast time will go by," he said.
----------
* More Staten Island news
* Send us a news tip
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts
* Follow us on YouTube