Another group of Missouri National Guard Soldiers returned to civilian life on Wednesday.

They were part of the continuing series of deployments of special development teams teaching agricultural skills to Afghani farmers. But their tour overseas was definitely not routine.

The five dozen soldiers of Missouri Agriculture Team Four faced a somewhat different mission than Ag teams one through three.

“ADT IV transitioned from a focus on brick and mortar projects to one of increasing capacity and legitimacy of the Afghan government,” said Major Tammy Spicer, Missouri Guard Public Affairs.

Among other things, ADT IV was tasked with ferreting out corruption among local Ag administrators and with getting the government to recognize the value of women in farming.

While not directly involved in the shooting war, these soldiers still faced considerable risk. In January, Sgt. Robert Pharris, of Seymore, was killed by a roadside bomb.

“He, in a life of service, also lay down his life in sacrifice,” Chaplain Col. Gary Gilmore said.

And just last month, Spc. Eric Garcia was wounded, shot in the head by a sniper while on security detail. Garcia credits his safety equipment for saving his life. He hopes for a future in the guard. He’s assured of being able to return to his chemist job in Kansas City.

“My employer came and stopped by and said, ‘Take your time. Whenever you’re ready, you can come back and have your job,’” Garcia said.

Agriculture Team Five is already overseas and there are plans for an ADT VI and ADT VII. Of course, the White House is ready to pull thousands of troops out of Afghanistan.

“I have no reason to believe that it will be the agriculture teams that will come out,” Guard Commander MG Stephen Danner said.

More than a dozen states have followed Missouri’s lead in sending agriculture development teams to Afghanistan.

Governor Nixon takes great pride in pointing out that Missouri was first and is still the best.