Follow the troops

View video of Farewell Salute:

FORT DIX — Marching smartly in review under a blazing sun, soldiers from the New Jersey National Guard’s 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team got a rousing and heartfelt sendoff today from state officials and a crowd of nearly 10,000 at Doughboy Field.

The brigade – 2,850 strong – will be leaving for Fort Bliss, Texas, next week for two months of “theater immersion” training before spending nine months in Iraq in the largest deployment of state troops since World War II.

“This is a historic deployment ceremony,” said Maj. Gen. Glenn K. Rieth, the Guard’s adjutant general.

“It has been almost three generations and three major conflicts since the state of New Jersey has sent sons and daughters in these numbers,” Rieth said.

Rieth, who called the soldiers’ families the “unsung heroes,” noted that the brigade includes five father-son pairs, two mother-son sets, eight brother-sister pairs, 13 married couples and 15 brothers. About 250 of the troops are women.

The official farewell salute featured a New Jersey Army National Guard parachute team and an F-16 flyover by the 177th Fighter Wing of the New Jersey Air National Guard.

The infantry brigade — nicknamed the “Jersey Blues” — has a wealth of experienced soldiers. Thirty percent have deployed to Iraq previously.

“This is a powerful hometown team from all 21 counties,” Rieth said.

Governor Corzine assured the troops their families would not be forgotten during the deployment.

“We must make sure to provide for your families,” the governor told the troops who stood at ease in a formation that stretched the length of three football fields.

He also called upon employers to ensure the soldiers have their jobs when they return.

“We pray for you. … God bless each member of the 50th and their families,” Corzine said. “All of New Jersey anxiously awaits your safe return home.”

The governor was joined by Sens. Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez among the dignitaries.

To combat the 87-degree temperature and high humidity, family members fanned themselves with programs, and soldiers handed out bottles of water.

Ivan Ordonez of North Bergen said he wasn’t nervous about his first overseas deployment with Foxtrot Company, 250th Brigade Support Battalion, based in Teaneck.

“I just go with the flow,” Ordonez said.

His parents, Jose Ordonez and Carina Estrella of North Bergen, weren’t as confident.

“We are nervous. … It’s very concerning,” Estrella said. “They are so young.”

Ordonez’s sister Karina of North Bergen, also is in the Guard.

“My concern is Karina might be deployed in December,” Estrella said. “It’s not a fact yet, just a rumor, but they might send her unit.”

Arnaldo Rodriguez, 21, of Fort Lee, also in Foxtrot Company, did not want his mother to attend the ceremony.

“My mom is very sensitive about this [the war],” Rodriguez said. “I told her not to come.”

“That was the hardest thing, telling her I’m going to Iraq,” he added.

Rieth was upbeat, drawing a long applause when he said, “Each and every soldier on this parade ground is an American hero. … There’s no question in my mind that you will make New Jersey proud.”

The long applause of the day, though, went to the soldiers who passed in review before dignitaries and family members.

And as he returned to the grandstand, Corzine got into the act too, clapping as he urged on the cheers and applause.

E-mail: bautista@northjersey.com