Friends, family and community members who would like to keep current with the happenings of Pennsylvania National Guard soldiers who recently departed with fanfare from their Cambridge Springs base may do so through a new Internet blog.

Sgt. Dan Miller, a vehicle commander and assistant administrative officer, launched the Web log Sept. 26.

In his first entry, Linesville native Miller wrote that soldiers were getting “moved in and accommodated” in their new Camp Shelby, Miss., homes.

Many of the troops arrived in Mississippi on Sept. 23 and 24.

The goal of the blog is to promote communication and to keep soldiers and their families in touch.

Each day Miller said he hopes the blog will highlight a different member of the Stryker Battalion 112th Infantry unit. As of Oct. 2, five soldiers had been featured.

In addition to writing a brief bio and giving them “a space to tell you how they are doing,” Miller said the blog will include photographs and updates on events while everyone “trains-up” for their 2009 deployment to the Middle East for Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Miller said soldiers have had “a good amount of down time” in between sessions where groups are “sent to Al Khut, a mock city, to complete some Urban Ops training.”

It is unclear if the Web site will be available for daily access to the troops when they reach their overseas destination, but Miller was hopeful that it would continue being active throughout their estimated 12-month assignment.

Penni Schaefer can be reached at 724-6370 or by e-mail at pschaefer@meadvilletribune.com.

YOU CAN PARTICIPATE

To read the personal entries, or to become a blog member, visit: http://bravocompany112th.blogspot.com.

In addition to encouraging people to become bloggers, Miller provided an address for people who wish to send packages or communicate with soldiers through traditional mail: