U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal's son, Matthew, is among a contingent of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves that will serve in Afghanistan later this year.
This would be his first tour there.
Fox CT reporter Ayana Harry spoke with Lt. Matthew Blumenthal, 25, during a sendoff party in Plainville for the 176 reservists from throughout the Northeast. They will deploy first to Camp Pendelton in California and then to Afghanistan.
"I'm just getting ready with all the staff officers and other leaders of the company to give these Marines the best possible training they can to be prepared for the challenges they will face going abroad in support of Operation Enduring Freedom ," Blumenthal said.
The reservists are part of Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment.
At Camp Pendleton in California, the reservists will go through six months of intensive predeployment training, including exercises in mock Afghan villages and counter-insuregency education, before leaving for Afghanistan with a larger contingent.
Matthew Blumenthal, the oldest of four children, joined the senator at this year's State of the Union Address in Washington, D.C.
