Army National Guard Sgt. Kevin C. Martin has arrived in Iraq at a forward operating base to support the mission of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The servicemember will provide security in the theater of operations for the next 12 months. Army National Guard and some Reserve troops from various states and units have deployed to augment or replace troops serving in Iraq.
Operation Iraqi Freedom is the official name given to military operations involving members of the U.S. Armed Forces and coalition forces participating in efforts to free and secure Iraq. Mission objectives focus on force protection, peacekeeping, stabilization, security and counter-insurgency operations as the Iraqi transitional governing bodies assume full sovereign powers to govern the peoples of Iraq. Members from all branches of the U.S. military and multinational forces are also assisting in rebuilding Iraq’s economic and governmental infrastructure, and training and preparing Iraqi military and security forces to assume full authority and responsibility in defending and preserving Iraq’s sovereignty and independence as a democracy.
Martin is a convoy supervisor with nine years of military service. He is the son of Ken Martin of Avon, and Claire T. Martin of Brick. The sergeant is a 1995 graduate of Neptune High School.