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Lorne Scot reservists prepare to deploy to Afghanistan
Sunday June 22 2008
By Priya Ramsingh
On a sprawling ranch in Alton this past Father’s Day, Canadian Forces reservists from The Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment) brought their families, girlfriends and future wives together for a farewell reception held in their honour, as they prepare for deployment to Afghanistan in September.
The day had called for rain, but at the country estate, home to retired Lt.-Col. Ted Lagerquist, the sun took command and allowed the barbecue fires to burn.
 The young soldiers and their loved ones were able to enjoy the afternoon and meet with members of the regiment and a representative from the Toronto Military Family Resource Centre who will provide support for both the troops and their families during the six months they would be apart.  
Many of the young men are no older than 25 and have been members of The Lorne Scots since they were in their late teens. Their dedication is admirable and their mission clear— to assist in the creation and provision of a safe and secure environment for the Afghan people and their government. And as they explained their decisions to represent their country to carry out this mission, it’s evident that these men are among a rare breed of which Canada should be proud.
One soldier is Cpl. Josh Smith who has been a Lorne Scot for more than three years. At 21 years of age, he’s anticipating his eight-month deployment to Afghanistan in the fall and said he is not scared. In fact, he’s adamant that he’s just doing his duty, and stated, “If you’re in the reserves, you should always be ready to step forward and go overseas for your country.”
Once in Afghanistan, Cpl. Smith’s duties will include patrols, providing security for convoys and fellow soldiers and helping the locals. “We’ll be protecting the Afghan people and opening them up to a new world where kids can go to school, and helping to build schools and bridges for them,” he explained. “We’re working hard over there and there’s a lot of differences being made.”
Cpl. Smith’s training in Petawawa included basic language lessons in Pashto, the dialect spoken in many parts of Afghanistan, which will help him converse with the Afghan people. “When we see them, we can open the conversation and say, ‘Salaam.’
The young corporal had two loved ones at the reception that day, showing full support for his decision. His father, Nigel Smith, is a single parent and wore his red shirt in support of his son, a custom established to show support for the military members that are overseas.  
“I’m proud of him for all of his training,” he said and encouraged more people to wear red on Fridays adding, for those who weren’t certain of the message the custom portrayed, “It’s supporting the troops, not supporting the war.”
As far as having his only son deployed overseas, he smiled and said comfortably, “There is a fear, every parent has that. You just say your prayers and hope for the best.”
Brenda Marasco, Cpl. Smith’s girlfriend, had her own fears— and although she isn’t keen on the idea of Cpl. Smith’s deployment, she was by his side, she said.
Cpl. Christopher Varga attended the reception with his mother, sister and girlfriend of two years. The soldier has been a Lorne Scot since he was 18 and this will be his first deployment to Afghanistan. His primary duty will be driving a convoy and doing foot patrols.
The young soldier admits he’s nervous but says he knew it was a good cause so he volunteered to go overseas. Both Cpl. Varga’s girlfriend, Jenna Stoll, and his mother, Shirley Varga, are afraid and have tried to talk him out of it. Shirley, who is also a single parent, admits that she asks him every day to reconsider and although his decision has not wavered, she still supports her son. “I am proud of him,” she said.  “He’s my son and he’s my best friend.”
Cpl. Chris Banks is 25 and will be on his second overseas mission as a Lorne Scot. His first deployment was in Bosnia but he anticipates Afghanistan will be quite different. His role will be similar to Cpl. Smith’s and he will provide security and assistance to the Afghan people.
Tall and serious, he stated frankly that he has no reservations about going overseas. “(It’s) the whole point of being in the army … as long as we’re doing good.”
His father, Stephen Banks is supportive of his son but admits that it isn’t easy. “Even though as a parent you have your wishes that you don’t want to see your children being put in a place of danger, I’m proud of my son for his desire to go over and serve his country. My son is my hero,” he said.
Master Cpl. Martin Boreczek is also on his second mission, having been deployed to Kabul last year. Like Cpl. Banks, he is anticipating a different experience. Kabul, he explained, was quiet, a bit more peaceful than the hostile environment he expects this time around.
And although fiancée, Marijana Redder is not happy about his second mission, his passion for the cause is strong. “There’s good reasons for us to be there,” he said. “It’s a place that needs our help and Canada is in a position to do something.”
Master Cpl. Boreczek and Redder, who plan to wed on Sept. 12, 2009, have already finalized much of the arrangements for their wedding. He has left a few details, he said, to keep her occupied while he’s away.
While Redder is in full support of her fiancé, she’s still having a hard time relating to his decision. “It takes a special kind of person to do that,” she said.
When asked about his plans for the future, Master Cpl. Boreczek, who just completed his degree at York University in Political Science said with a confident smile, “I’ll come back home safely and get married to my beautiful financé.”
Once the soldiers are overseas, family members and partners have access to support and counselling from the Toronto Military Family Resource Centre (TMFRC). Alison Tweedy is a social worker with the TMFRC and helps loved ones manage the anxiety and they might experience once their son or partner is deployed.
The TMFRC runs support groups, provides counselling services, and has a mentor program to match families who’ve experienced the deployment with families experiencing it for the first time.
It’s not an easy situation said Tweedy. “Families do not know what to expect and it can be a roller coaster of fear because they do not know what is going to happen,” she explained.
In addition to social services, the support plan, said Lt.-Col.  Timothy Orange, Commanding Officer of The Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment) includes any type of support the families need.
“If the families are having difficulties and need any assistance, such as a repairman to help with a task that the deployed soldier would normally deal with, our support team can help.”
Lt.-Col. Orange, who donned his civilian casual wear for the event, spent much of the afternoon mingling with the soldiers and the families to show his support for the brave team. He’s proud of his soldiers and said he knows they will do Canada proud.