Soldiers with the 278^th Armored Cavalry Regiment deployed this morning at 8:30 a.m. from the Crossville National Guard Armory for their journey to Poland.

Major General Max Haston, Tennessee’s Adjutant General, said the 278^th will be part of the joint multi-national training group. More than two hundred 278^th soldiers will assist the Ukrainian armed forces with the continued development of a premier combat training center. The 278^th will assist at the center in the development of ranges and training areas, equipment and instrumentation requirements, and a realistic operational training environment.

Just 24 hours before leaving Crossville, the time of the departure was moved from 6 to 8:30 a.m. No reason was given for the time change, but crowds turned out lining parts of Elmore Road, North Main Street and overpasses on Interstate 40 in Cumberland and Roane counties, waving American flags and showing their support for the troops.

One couple, Marvin and Judy Hall of Crossville, came out to show their support not only to the 278^th but one soldier in particular. Their son, Private First Class Cory Hall, is with the unit that left Crossville this morning.

“I support our military because I served for years. It is a privilege and honor to serve,” said Marvin Hall.

“I am very proud of him. We will miss him very much while he is away serving,” added Judy Hall.

Around 8:25 a.m. the two tour buses with the troops inside left the armory with a procession in front of them that included officers with the Crossville Police Department and Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department. Veterans group representatives and individual veterans on motorcycles also joined the line-up that extended to Interstate 40. There the buses headed east toward Roane County and were met by several on overpasses wishing the troops well.