AUGUSTA, Maine — Patrolling the streets of the state’s capital is the day job of the commander of the 488th Military Police Company, which is heading overseas for a year in Afghanistan to provide protection to U.S. and allied forces.
Capt. Eric Dos Santos is leading 122 military police officers from the Maine Army National Guard unit, which is based in Waterville with a detachment in Houlton. Dos Santos is an officer with the Augusta Police Department.
The send-off ceremony for the 488th is at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Augusta Civic Center, 76 Community Drive.
“The unit’s mission is to conduct police, detainment and stability operations in order to enhance security for coalition and Afghanistan forces,” Capt. Shanon Cotta, spokesman for the Maine Army National Guard, said Friday.
The Maine National Guard posted a video a month ago about the unit, nicknamed the “Guardians,” conducting training to prepare for the deployment.
“The Guardians — we’re highly motivated, ready to always jump in, do our job and do it well and come home. Bring everybody home,” Spc. Dustin Goodell says on the video, made by Spc. Jaime Lee Richardson of the 121st Public Affairs detachment.
The civilian soldiers will become active duty when they prepare to leave the states. When the 488th reaches Afghanistan, the number of Mainers serving overseas in harm’s way will nearly double.
“Today, the Maine National Guard has approximately 145 military personnel serving in Afghanistan and the Middle East,” Cotta said.
Brig. Gen. Brent M. Boyles, assistant adjutant general for the Maine Army National Guard, 1st District U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree and representatives from the rest of the state’s congressional delegation have said they plan to attend Saturday’s send-off, which is open to the public.
Be safe!
Bring them all home in one piece. Given how things are going right now, that’s the biggest part of the mission and the most serious of responsibilities.
bill, i’ve had friends and family killed over seas in these middle eastern conflicts. so please keep your name calling, and ignorant comments to your self. these men and women are just doing what they are ordered to do, regardless of their own personal beliefs, with that said. good luck and god speed to all the men and women in the 488th, may you complete your mission and return safely
It is because you have had family killed that caring Americans are bringing the issues to the attention of other caring Americans. So there won’t be more innocent young lives lost. Look into what is going on in Afghanistan. Our people should not be there risking their lives for the purposes they are. No wonder they come home depressed and suicidal. It’s because they aren’t able to tell you about the reality there. It has nothing to do with Bin Laden.
40 million people killed in wars during my lifetime and the conditioned idiots who wear uniforms are still killing and fighting at the orders of a politician who wishes to rule and impose his ways on a portion of the world. WOW, when do the military idiots of the world wake up? Like Albert Einstein said, their spinal cord would suffice for their brain.
I’m not going to flag your post because I want everyone to see what a buffoon you’ve made of yourself making a statement like that. I have spent the last 30 plus years in the military just so you have the privilege to make moronic statements like that. I hope you are enrolled in a farsi foreign language course, because when all the political correctness catches up to this country and sharia law becomes “the law” in this country some day, your going to need it, and us “idiots” will no longer be of any help because our hands will be tied behind our backs.
With a comment like that, you don’t deserve to live in this country.
ignoramous
Crime is on the rise in Maine and we are sending police to Afghanistan??
This is truly insane.
He is also in the military and has an obligation that has nothing to do with civilian police.
wow way to shoe support ungrateful!!!
Good luck!! Thank you so much for your service!