Maevers deploys to Afghanistan

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- Spc. Trey Maevers, of Cape Girardeau, is one of nearly 93 Missouri National Guard Soldiers deploying to Afghanistan with the 1138th Engineer Company, of Farmington.

The unit -- which draws Soldiers from the 1140th Engineer Battalion in Cape Girardeau -- is part of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, and will be conducting route clearance missions.

Soldiers spent 29 days training at Camp Crowder and Camp Clark for pre-mobilization training that allowed them to learn necessary skills for deployment. Training conducted there included weapons qualifications, route clearance operations and tactics, battle drills and warrior tasks.

Currently, Soldiers are finalizing appropriate training for deployment at Fort Bliss, Texas, including squad and platoon battle drills and tasks while being in vehicles and environments similar to that in which they will encounter while deployed. After mobilization training, the Soldiers will deploy to Afghanistan in mid-August.

Maevers joined the Missouri Army National Guard in June 2011 and graduated from basic training in November 2011.

This is his first deployment and he's excited about the experience and knowledge he'll gain, said Maevers.

"As combat engineers, our mission is vital to the military operations in Afghanistan and I am so privileged to play such an important role," said Maevers. "I intend to go to Officer Candidate School when we return, and hopefully this deployment will help me to become a great officer one day."

While deployed, the company will fall under the command and control of the 120th Engineer Battalion, Oklahoma National Guard. The Soldiers are scheduled to return in the spring of 2013.

Maevers is a graduate of Saxony Lutheran High School and the University of Missouri -- Columbia. He is supported in his military career by his parents James and Deborah Maevers, of Cape Girardeau.

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