Photo By Spc. Julia Dennard | Sgt. Ron Shirley of the 2nd Battalion 43rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment at Fort...... read more read more
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FORT BLISS, Texas -- Families and friends came out to say farewell to the soldiers of Echo Battery, 2nd Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment as they headed for deployment to Afghanistan recently.
It had been just over 90 days since Echo Battery received the order to send more than 20 soldiers on the deployment.
When 2/43 received their orders, “we were under manned, under skilled, and without appropriate equipment needed to support such a mission,” said Capt. Jason L. White, commander of the 2/43 Echo Battery.
The unit was specifically requested to provide support because, “we are a well trained, short range air defense unit and there are not many units who that can accomplish the task to train these Soldiers as quickly and professionally as we did,” said White.
1st Lt. Ryan Cook and Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Oak, according to White, only had three months to work with, train, motivate, and incorporate the soldiers into the Echo Battery.
“The command and soldier’s hard work and dedication to be the best trained, most disciplined fighting force has not only been proven in their success, but it has also served to inspire the rest of the Battery to be better, everyday,” said White. “Today, our Soldiers stand tall, well trained and ready to fight.”
Spc. Jerry Henderson, from Kilgore, Texas, is on his second deployment. Henderson is a communications and operator maintainer of Air Defense Artillery networks. He will be monitoring aircraft in the region to determine if they are friendly, enemy, or commercial.
He said he was impressed that in three months they were able to compile the data for their mission, get equipment, unify, and train.
“The command successfully got our training together and gave us 2 weeks leave to be with our families,” said Henderson. “The training was thorough and accurate’
‘I’m leaving here confident in my job,” said Henderson. “Echo did an outstanding job of getting us ready in such short notice. They really look out for us and our families as well.”
The unit will be in Afghanistan for a 12 month deployment where they will be providing support to Mission Freedom Skies.
As the Soldiers go forth in their mission abroad, it will be a long year for the families and loved ones they have left behind. But the families are proud of their Soldiers and trust in their training as they await their return.
| Date Taken: | 11.08.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 11.24.2010 13:17 |
| Story ID: | 60827 |
| Location: | FORT BLISS, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 189 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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