Marines , part of initial wave of Obama 's surge plan , to head to Afghanistan this week . `` I 'm absolutely ecstatic about the situation , '' says Sgt . Last week , the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , Adm. Mike Mullen , gave some of the deploying Marines an impassioned speech about what they will face . Chris Smith from 1st Battalion 2nd Marine Regiment. Questions remain on how Marines without Afghan combat experience can jump right in . `` When we actually say goodbye , it 's going to be hard , but we 'll get through it , '' wife of Marine says .
Marines , part of initial wave of Obama 's surge plan , to head to Afghanistan this week . `` I 'm absolutely ecstatic about the situation , '' says Sgt . Chris Smith from 1st Battalion 2nd Marine Regiment. Questions remain on how Marines without Afghan combat experience can jump right in . `` When we actually say goodbye , it 's going to be hard , but we 'll get through it , '' wife of Marine says .