Family members, friends and supporters of Charlie Troop give them a warm send-off as they make their way to the interstate and eventually Fort Stewart, near Hinesville, for the next stage of their training. They are expected to spend nine months in Afghanistan.

DALTON, Ga. — Pfc. David Sandridge is leaving behind four-month-old twins on his way to Afghanistan.

Sandridge, a member of Charlie Troop — formally Troop C, 1-108th Cavalry, a Dalton-based unit of the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the Georgia Army National Guard — noted, “It’s hard. But this is what we have been training for.”

His wife Lauren said she’s nervous but her husband’s family lives nearby and she’ll have plenty of help.

During the past several weeks, the training has intensified for members of Charlie Troop. Along with about 1,900 soldiers from the 48th Brigade, they will spend about another month in training before leaving for a nine-month deployment to Afghanistan. Some 100 soldiers from Charlie Troop left Dalton for Fort Stewart, near Hinesville, Monday afternoon. 

“It has been a lot of long days, very long days, and long weeks,” said Sgt. Trevar Nations. “This year, they tried something new by bringing us home on the weekends for the first half of our training. That was certainly a treat after doing 17- to 21-hour training days Monday through Friday.”

Nations said the training will get even more intense at Fort Stewart.

Charlie Rosenquist, chair of Charlie Troop’s family readiness group, promised the families the group will be there for them.

“We help support wives and families,” she said. “We give them moral support. If they have needs, we try to get them to the right person to address those needs. We want the soldiers to be able to focus on their mission without worrying about their families. My son’s first deployment was in 2009, so I’m really looking out for those whose sons or husbands have never deployed. We are very fortunate in Charlie Troop because the first sergeant’s wife is not only the wife but also the mother of one of our soldiers.”

Trevar Nations’ father Phillip is the first sergeant of Charlie Troop.

“I’m just proud of them, so proud of them,” said Mitzi Nations, Trevar’s mother and Phillip’s wife.

But she said she was also nervous.

“I’ve been through this before, but not with both of them at the same time,” she said.

It will be the first deployment for Trevar’s wife Natasha. 

“It has been nerve-wracking,” she said. “I’m so proud of him and his father. I haven’t been through this before. It’s going to be a new experience, and I’m sure I’ll be leaning on my mother-in-law. We’ll make it through this.”

Before Charlie Troop left, residents of the city gave them a warm send-off. Friends, family, veterans and others packed Rock Bridge Community Church for a ceremony Monday morning.

“We appreciate the service and sacrifice of our local soldiers,” said Matt Evans, lead pastor of Rock Bridge Community Church. “Any way we can support them and encourage them on the mission they are about to undertake, it is important to us to do that, and we are behind them all the way. It is great to see the community come out like this.”

A number of people were signing a poster that read “God Speed 108th Cavalry” provided by Shaw Vets, an organization of military veterans who work for Shaw Industries.

“As a former Air Force reservist myself, I know how important it is to have community support, and we do absolutely support these young men and women who are going out to protect our country,” said Carla Clark with Shaw Industries.

Mayor Dennis Mock thanked the soldiers and their families for their sacrifice.

“I want you to know you have the complete support of the community,” he said.

Members of the Dalton High School Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) posted the flags at the start of the ceremony.

“It was very emotional,” said Lorena Francisco. “I am very proud to have been part of this.”

After a reception at the unit’s armory on West Crawford Street, the Charlie Troop members boarded buses to travel to Fort Stewart. They were led by vehicles from the Dalton Police Department as well as motorcycles ridden by members of the Patriot Guard Riders, a volunteer organization that among other things supports those serving in the military.

As the buses turned onto Walnut Avenue from Thornton Avenue, they were met by a giant American flag suspended from two Dalton Fire Department trucks.

And as the buses passed by the Shoney’s on their way to I-75, they were met by about a dozen people waving American flags.

“We are here to tell them goodbye,” said Dalton Tea Party coordinator Naomi Swanson. “I’m going to be home in a few weeks enjoying my Christmas. They are going to be away from their families, training, or maybe on their way to Afghanistan, so I thought it was the least I could do to come out here and show how much I appreciate their sacrifice, how much I appreciate them protecting us and our freedom.”