Nancy Boyda: “I am proud to represent Fort Riley in Congress, and my pride only grew as I saw the professionalism and patriotism of…”

“I am proud to represent Fort Riley in Congress, and my pride only grew as I saw the professionalism and patriotism of Fort Riley's troops. Fort Riley is charged with training Military Training Teams-- small groups of American soldiers who recruit, organize, and train Iraqi forces to take charge of their nation's security. Fort Riley goes to tremendous lengths to prepare soldiers for their tours in Iraq. The fort runs complex simulations of battle conditions-- they engage actors to portray Arab citizens; they encourage soldiers to behave throughout their training as though they are already in Iraq. For transition teams at Fort Riley, the war begins months before they leave American soil. Their war will continue through twelve months of hazardous, exhausting deployment in Iraq. And even when they return home, their war will continue still. Many will bear the scars of the Iraq war--both physical and mental--for a lifetime. Just as Fort Riley has recognized that we cannot drop soldiers into a war zone without adequate preparation, this Congress must realize that we cannot abandon soldiers upon their return to America. We owe veterans nothing less than a lifetime of support.”