Oklahoma Soldiers Deploying for Special Farming Mission in Afghanistan

By Jacqueline Sit, NEWS 9

MUSTANG, Oklahoma -- More than 60 soldiers in Oklahoma will deploy Monday morning to join the effort to rebuild Afghanistan. This is the second mission of this type for the Oklahoma Army National Guard and it's one-of-a-kind.

"I get very nervous, especially when you're going to get a phone call or you don't hear from him for a very long time, so you get very nervous," said Amanda Jumpp, whose husband is being deployed.

This is the second time Amanda Jumpp's husband will be deployed overseas and each farewell doesn't get any easier for this mother of two.

"It's very hard when they want their dad and I can't give him to them, so it's hard," she said.

Jumpp's husband is one of 64 Oklahoma Army National guardsmen heading off to train in a special farming mission to help rebuild Afghanistan.

"He's real confident in his mission. And he's real proud about that," Jumpp said.

Friends and families packed The Armed Forces Reserve Center in Mustang for a bittersweet farewell ceremony.

"That's part of this job, that's how I look at it. There's nothing I can do about it. There's nothing he can do about it but I'm proud of him and I'll stand beside him on it."

The special team will replace an Oklahoma team that's already started the agricultural mission. For one year, they will be in charge of dealing with soil sampling, horticulture and bee-keeping, helping the Afghan people be more self-sufficient for food production.

"It just means a lot, instead of going over there and fighting we're going over there to help," said Pvt. Cheryl Baldridge.

Officials say this mission is a tremendous sacrifice but critical because agriculture makes up for 75 percent of the economy.

"So us going over and helping the Afghan people revitalize their economy through agriculture and development, it's very critical to them getting back on their feet," said Col. Robert Roshell.

The servicemen and women will head to Indiana for training before deploying to Afghanistan later this year.