The commanding general of the 42nd Infantry Division (Rainbow) came to Afghanistan on Sept. 25 and 26 to visit deployed members of his command serving in Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix VII.

Brig. Gen. Paul Genereux was accompanied by division Command Sgt. Maj. Richard Fearnside to see members of the New York National Guard’s 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, which falls under the command of the 42nd Infantry Division back in New York. The trip was part of the Joint Monthly Access for Reserve Components program, which supports visits for reserve component leaders to federally deployed units serving inside a theater of operations.

“I am very proud of all of you,” said Brig. Gen. Genereux. “You are doing a terrific job, and the work you are doing here to train the Afghan Army and Police is vital. It is a terrific mission, and you are doing it well."

The general visited troops at Camp Phoenix in Kabul, at Camp Blackhorse at the Pol-e-charki Afghan reservation and Camp Alamo co-located at the Kabul Military Training Center before heading back to Bagram for his return flight. The Rainbow Division commander got the chance to see soldiers that he has served with over the years, as well as greeting the next generation of Guard men and women serving at the leading edge of the global war on terror.

In 2005, Brig. Gen. Genereux served as the deputy commanding general of the 42nd Infantry Division, New York National Guard when it was deployed to Iraq. Some of the soldiers who served with the 42nd then are now serving in Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix.

“We are looking forward to your return and are making plans for some special programs for you and your families,” he said. “You are three months out. Keep your focus. Stay safe. You have been given a tough mission, but you are doing it. We are proud of you. Keep up the good work."

“This is a great visit, and the team appreciates it,” said Col. Gary Yaple, deputy commander of Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix and the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. “The 42nd helped us get ready for this mission. Gen. Genereux came to Fort Bragg to see us train and then ship out. Now he has come over to see us and to tell us they will be waiting for us at the end. That’s a great message to send to these soldiers."

Nearly 1,700 members of the New York National Guard’s 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, with assigned troops from across New York state, were mobilized for this mission. The mission of Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix is to mentor and train the Afghan National Army and Police and provide assistance to the Government of Afghanistan and its people.

More than 230 were called up last September and these troops have recently left Afghanistan for home, having completed their deployment. The main body of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team was called up in January. The mobilization marked the largest single deployment from New York in recent memory.

Lt. Col. Paul Fanning is submitting photos to accompany this blog in a gallery, "Pictures from the Front." To view the most recent photos, which accompany this blog entry, click here. To view the entire gallery, click here.