Nikki Haley's husband set for year-long National Guard deployment in Afghanistan

Washington, Aug 1 (ANI): Michael Haley, the husband of South Carolina's Indian-origin Governor Nikki Haley, is moving to Afghanistan for a year-long National Guard deployment in January.

A spokesman for the First Family of South Carolina confirmed that the National Guard first lieutenant would be part of an 'agribusiness team' of up to 200 Guard members in the country, and will serve as a liaison between Guard members and Afghan officials.

"This deployment is the reason I joined the National Guard. It is important to me to be able to give back," the New York Daily News quoted Haley, as saying.

He said his only reservation was leaving his wife and their two daughters.

"The only thing that gives me pause is the year-long deployment away from family. But, in the end, I can't help but to think giving one year along with my fellow soldiers, as many have done before me, to secure a life of freedom for my family is well worth all that comes with it," he added.

Nikki acknowledged that she is worried about her husband.

"Do you worry? Yes, of course, you worry. It's like what I tell all my military spouses when I speak to other deployments; all needs to be well on the home front. And so we will be fine here, and he just needs to take care of himself, when he's there," she said.

Haley's unit will train at the South Carolina Guard's facility outside Columbia, through the end of the year before heading to Afghanistan. His unit will return in December 2013, the report said. (ANI)