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Miami Valley soldiers ready to go to Afghanistan

Area’s congressional delegation reacts to president’s plan for Afghanistan.

Army Reserve Sgt. Steve Springston has already served two tours in Iraq and the military policeman from Kettering has been notified that he will be leaving in February or March for Afghanistan.

Chris Stewart/Staff photographer Army Reserve Sgt. Steve Springston has already served two tours in Iraq and the military policeman from Kettering has been notified that he will be leaving in February or March for Afghanistan.

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President Barack Obama poses for a picture with cadets after speaking about the war in Afghanistan at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., on Tuesday, Dec. 1. Associated Press photo by Charles Dharapak

Charles Dharapak/STF President Barack Obama poses for a picture with cadets after speaking about the war in Afghanistan at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., on Tuesday, Dec. 1. Associated Press photo by Charles Dharapak

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Blog: Lawmakers, candidates react to Obama Afghanistan speech

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By William Hershey and Margo Rutledge Kissell
Staff Writers Updated 7:04 AM Wednesday, December 2, 2009

KETTERING — Army Reserve Sgt. Steve Springston has been to Iraq twice and will deploy to Afghanistan in February or March.

“I actually volunteered to go. I’m just ready to go and help more people,” the 2003 Fairmont High School graduate said Tuesday, Dec. 1, before President Barack Obama outlined his new Afghan war strategy in a nationally televised speech.

Springston, 24, a military policeman with the 377th MP Company, said he supports the president’s decision to send 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan, with a goal of training Afghan troops to take over the fighting.

“That would be a lot better for them than us,” Springston said, “and that would get us out quicker.”

It could be weeks before the 445th Airlift Wing, an Air Force Reserve unit at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, receives direction from its command as to how the president’s decision will affect its operations.

Several airmen from the base are serving in Afghanistan, and others have had orders for some time to deploy there.

“Right now, we have about 100 airmen in Afghanistan out of some 350 or so who are deployed,” base spokesman Derek Kaufman said.

Senior airman Rusty Moreno, 24, of Dayton, a member of the 88th Security Forces Squadron, is preparing to leave for Afghanistan in January or February.

After the president’s speech, members of the Miami Valley’s congressional delegation weighed in with their reactions.

“Our troops on the ground are vulnerable because they do not have the support necessary to achieve their mission,” said U.S. Rep. Michael R. Turner, R-Centerville. “The president’s delay has caused our allies and the Afghanis to question his commitment and resolve to fighting al-Qaida and the Taliban.”

Rep. Steve Austria, R-Beavercreek, applauded the president for finally making a decision on issue. “Now we need to move forward with a clear mission, winning strategy and get our servicemen and women home safely,” Austria said.

U.S. Sen. George V. Voinovich, R-Ohio, said, “Our strategic plan must include all instruments of American power — humanitarian, diplomatic and military. Military force alone cannot do it all in Afghanistan, but we can help create a secure environment in which the Afghan people can work to achieve a stable government and viable economy.”

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, said that while he was encouraged that the president laid out clear goals and a responsible timeline for completion, “I remain skeptical about a commitment of 30,000 of our service men and women. I do not want a long commitment of troops in the region and I am concerned with the dramatic costs to human life and to military families.”

House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-West Chester Twp., said the most fundamental of the complex issues “is whether this plan will help us achieve success. I’m pleased that Secretary (Robert) Gates, Secretary (Hillary Rodham) Clinton, Admiral (Michael) Mullen and General (Stanley) McChrystal will be providing more answers in the coming days.”

U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt, R-Loveland, said, “I place my trust in the commanders on the ground.”

U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Urbana, said, “I am troubled by the prescribed timelines announced by the president. Our goal is to win, not to announce to the enemy the day we are leaving.”

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