A team of New York Army National Guard military police soldiers is being deployed to Eastern Europe.

One-hundred-sixty soldiers are preparing to say goodbye to their families. To mark the departure, a military farewell ceremony was held on Tuesday. The event honored not just the Guard members, but also those who support them the most: their families.

“You are also answering the call of duty,” said Brigadier General Joseph Biehler, commander of the 53rd Troop Command. “Our country is forever grateful for your sacrifice, as you make the sacrifice to take up the slack while your loved one is deployed.”

The unit is the New York Army National Guard 222nd Military Police Company, which is trained to conduct security missions, convoy support and law enforcement duties.

It will provide support to NATO forces stationed in the three Baltic states on NATO's eastern border with Russia, to bolster and increase the security and capacity of U.S. allies and partners.

Captain Jorge Medina is the commander of the team.

What You Need To Know

  • New York soldiers are preparing to deploy to Eastern Europe to support NATO forces 

  • One-hundred-sixty soldiers from the New York Army National Guard 222nd Military Police Company will train in Texas for 30 before deploying to Poland

  • A military farewell ceremony was held to mark the departure and to honor not just the soldiers, but also their families

“They know when they signed up for this that it’s a possibility,” he said.

“Ever since I was little I always wanted to join the Army and then, when they told us they had one coming up, I just volunteered,” said Specialist Tory Roysterfears of Lockport. “I want to go overseas. I want to see it. I’m feeling good. I’m feeling motivated [and] ready to get over there.”

But his mom and the rest of the family might not be ready to say goodbye.

“He’s my firstborn,” Roysterfears' mother, Teria Young, said. “I’m trying to hold my nerves together. It’s more of the ‘I’m going to miss him’ type of thing. I know that he’s ready and trained for the mission. It’s just more of the missing part.”

But the families say a ceremony like this helps.

“I tried not to cry through the whole thing,” Young said. “It was emotional, but I think it’s great to honor the soldiers, to prepare them and to prepare us. I really appreciated the ceremony.”

“There’s fear and unknown, but we do our best here to support the families," Medina said.

The company will spend 30 days training at Fort Bliss, T.X., and will then deploy directly to Poland.