Kentucky Ag News

Agribusiness Development Team 5 departs for Afghanistan

Kentucky National Guard

 

FRANKFORT, Ky. Approximately 39 members of the Kentucky National Guards Agribusiness Development Team 5 departed for Afghanistan Oct. 23, 2012.

Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini, adjutant general for Kentucky, and the Kentucky National Guard Command Staff joined friends and families of the team members at the Kentucky State University Demonstration Farm in Frankfort to send the unit off.

 

This mission is certainly unique, said Tonini. The ADT mission was designed to rebuild Afghanistans economy and give stability to its government.

Because of our background in agriculture and the stellar reputation of the Kentucky Guard, weve led the way in providing these skillsets to the Afghan people.

 

ADT 5 will take the reins from Kentuckys ADT 4 who has been in Afghanistan since February. The mission of this team is to continue the work set forth by the previous four Kentucky units in assisting local Afghans in becoming agriculturally self-sufficient and develop their agriculture marketplace.

In addition to agriculture activities, ADT 5 will also be instrumental in coordinating an effort with the Kentucky F.F.A. (Future Farmers of America), Kandahar University in Afghanistan and non-profit organizations to create programs to improve the incomes of Afghan farmers.

The team is made up of Airmen, Soldiers and civilian agricultural specialists with a variety of skills and backgrounds in agriculture matters.

Col. Bob Hayter is the commander of ADT 5 and feels fully prepared for the mission theyre about to embark on.

We have 5 more weeks of training before we put boots on the ground in Afghanistan and I know we could go today. Were that ready.

Follow the activities of the Kentucky National Guard in Unbridled Service, the KNG's blog.