Photo By Christopher Jelle | The soldiers of 3rd and 4th Brigade Combat Teams, 4th Infantry Division, stand in...... read more read more
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FORT CARSON, Colo. – The 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, unfurled its flag on Fort Carson again as 331 soldiers, who deployed to Afghanistan as part of the Security Force Assistance Teams last spring, returned home, Dec. 8.
After a nine-month deployment, 170 soldiers returned in the early, pre-dawn morning while another 161 soldiers arrived later in the evening, sharing a flight with soldiers from the 4th BCT, 4th Inf. Div., also returning from Afghanistan.
Welcome home ceremonies were held in the special events center on Fort Carson shortly after each planes arrival. As the soldiers entered through the thick cloud of a fog machine, they were greeted by the cheers and applause of families and friends.
Col. Michael Kasales, commander, 3rd BCT, who deployed as part of SFAT 1, took center stage in front of the formation of returning soldiers. Command Sgt. Maj. Doug Maddi, senior enlisted leader, 3rd BCT, who continued to lead the brigade element on Fort Carson joined Kasales and the brigade colors, still wrapped inside the cloth sheath it had worn since the beginning of the deployment.
As Kasales and Maddi uncased the flag, it symbolized a brigade split by opposite sides of the world, finally being reunited and made whole.
Those in attendance of the ceremony received grateful words from speakers including Maj. Gen. Joseph Anderson, commanding general, 4th Inf. Div. and Fort Carson.
“We are very proud of all of you,” Anderson said, speaking to the soldiers on behalf of the Fort Carson and Colorado Springs communities. “And to all of the families here for your service and sacrifice, without your love and support [these soldiers] couldn’t go do what they need to do.”
As the ceremony ended, the soldiers were released from formation and the bleachers quickly emptied as loved ones rushed forward. Many of the soldiers greeted their spouses, children, parents and siblings with warm embraces.
“[I’m] super excited and just really glad,” said Michelle Kleinsorge, spouse of Staff Sgt. Michael Kleinsorge, combat medic, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd BCT, when asked about her husband’s return. Michelle, who is pregnant with twins and due in less than three weeks, said even though this deployment was only nine months long, it felt longer because the soldiers did not take leave normally given during deployments lasting a full year.
The 3rd BCT was one of the first brigade’s to undertake the SFAT mission in Afghanistan, which began in April 2012. Their primary mission was to partner with various Afghan National Security Forces in order to directly advise and assist them in daily operations and routines.
The soldiers were divided into 12 to 18 man teams, each assigned to a single Afghan unit. The teams shared complexes and working areas with their counterparts, interacting with them during both duty and non-duty hours.
According to Kasales, this kind of partnership was very unique and helped to facilitate the trust and accomplishments between the ANSF and U.S. Forces.
“We were really the first guys doing this kind of [mission] and with that we were able to provide a much greater level of detail and understanding,” said Kasales.
Staff Sgt. Michael Kleinsorge, said he deployed with a team to the Zabul province region of Afghanistan to partner with the Afghan National Police in that area and teach them how to act and perform as medics.
“This was a purely advisory mission,” Kleinsorge said. “[My team] advised, we assisted, we mentored; we made it happen.”
With the 3rd BCT’s SFAT mission complete, they leave the friends they have made in the ANSF more capable and confident and pave the way for a more secure Afghanistan.
| Date Taken: | 12.08.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 12.11.2012 17:34 |
| Story ID: | 99105 |
| Location: | COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, US |
| Web Views: | 237 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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