Salute to Hawai‘i’s troops
A message from The Chamber of Commerce of Hawai‘i
As the Nation enters the fifth year in the war against global terrorism, Hawaii’s military commands continue with plans to train, equip, and deploy to distant lands, leaving behind their families and loved ones
Many of our young troops will deploy for the first time, while others will serve on their second or third deployments. But they all face the same uncertain future, knowing that this mission will require them to engage in actual combat.
Their families never get used to it. How does a child cope with seeing his father or mother deploy? Can a soldier’s wife or husband bear being alone once again, tending to the children, the home, the bills … the cooking, the cleaning, the fixing …. when will this end, they wonder.
The military is enduring this burden for us, fighting and sacrificing their lives to deny a force that threatens the security of our homeland and the loss of our individual rights in a free and open society.
Military forces in Hawaii continue to deploy to all points on the compass, be it in the waters off North Korea or the Malacca Straits in southeast Asia, or off the coast of India and South Africa or the distant mountain ranges in Afghanistan or deserts of Iraq.
Some 5,500 troops from the 25th Infantry Division from Schofield Barracks are currently deployed to Iraq. The division’s second brigade has started its transformation to a Stryker Brigade and is scheduled to deploy in November.
Approximately 1,000 Marines from the 3rd Marine Regiment at Marine Corps Base Hawaii continue to deploy in regular 7-month cycles, with an additional 1,000 Marines during the current cycle to augment U.S. forces in Iraq.
The Navy at Pearl Harbor has submarines and ships on 6-month deployments as far away as the Persian Gulf to the waters off North Korea, while the Air Force rotates its combat aircrews to air expeditionary units on overseas bases.
Hundreds of Hawaii’s National Guard and reserve members continue to deploy to all parts of the world in support of the war against global terrorism.
All the while, the spouses of deployed troops are left to tend to their children and taking care of family business that takes them to school, soccer practice, piano lessons, medical appointments, and many other daily tasks. Many of the spouses are new to military life, and adjusting to living far away from their families. Spouses do receive military family support and are often cared for by others. But it is a lonely time, having to live in constant fear of losing their loved ones.
The troops and their families endure incredible stresses and it is fitting that we care for those that remain back in Hawaii under such difficult circumstances.
The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, led by the Military Affairs Council, recognizes the many sacrifices being made by our military ‘ohana, and hosts a month-long celebration in May to express mahalo and appreciation to Hawaii’s military heroes. This marks the 22nd consecutive year that the Chamber and the business community have joined together in honoring our military ‘ohana.
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