35th Signal Brigade Soldiers leave for Africa Ebola response mission

By Staff Sgt. Ashley M. Armstrong, 35th Signal Brigade (Theater Tactical) Public AffairsNovember 13, 2014

35th TTSB Soldiers leave for Africa OUA mission
1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – First Lt. Korey R. Flinton, native of Leesburg, Va., and executive officer, B Company, 50th Signal Battalion (Expeditionary), 35th Signal Brigade (Theater Tactical), native of Leesburg, Va., is hugged goodbye by his wife Courtney J. Flinton, before b... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
35th TTSB Soldiers leave for Africa OUA mission
2 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Spc. Alysia N. Phipps, native of Jacksonville, Fla., and a multichannel transmission systems operator-maintainer, B Company, 50th Signal Battalion (Expeditionary), 35th Signal Brigade (Theater Tactical), comforts her niece Aiyanna C. Franklin, before... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
35th TTSB Soldiers leave for Africa OUA mission
3 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Master Sgt. Joseph Linder, frequency manager, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 35th Signal Brigade (Theater Tactical), hugs his wife Marilyn J. Linder, and father-in-law Boanerge Jimenez, before departing Fort Gordon, Ga., Nov. 9, 2014, to Fort... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
35th TTSB Soldiers leave for Africa OUA mission
4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Spc. Chadvis K. Cabbagestalk, native of Columbia, S.C., signal support systems specialist for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 35th Signal Brigade (Theater Tactical), holds his son Tyrin K. Cabbagestalk, at the company headquarters before depar... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
35th TTSB Soldiers leave for Africa OUA mission
5 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Capt. Zachary J. West, native of Cincinnati, Ohio, and network engineer, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 35th Signal Brigade (Theater Tactical), holds his son Micah W. West, and talks with his wife Melonie A. West, before departing Fort Gordon... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT BRAGG, N.C. (Nov. 13, 2014) -- On the eve of Veterans Day about 70 Soldiers from the 35th Signal Brigade (Theater Tactical), began their journey to Monrovia, Liberia, to serve in the battle to contain the Ebola virus outbreak.

The Soldiers left Fort Bragg on Monday, for an estimated nine-month humanitarian mission to provide signal and communications expertise and equipment in support of Operation United Assistance.

The team is comprised of 20 Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 35th Signal Brigade (Theater Tactical), out of Fort Gordon, Georgia, and about 50 from B Company, 50th Signal Battalion (Expeditionary), 35th Signal Brigade (Theater Tactical), out of Fort Bragg.

The Soldiers from HHC, 35th Signal Brigade (Theater Tactical), will provide network operations support and the 50th ESB Soldiers will install, operate and maintain satellite communications.

"It's going to be a real experience for me," said Spc. Chadvis K. Cabbagestalk, native of Columbia, South Carolina, signal support systems specialist for HHC, 35th Signal Brigade (Theater Tactical). "I'm excited to get this experience. It makes me feel good as a person and as a Soldier knowing that I'm doing something to help out with something bigger than myself."

The Soldiers and their families prepared for Operation United Assistance for nearly two months in anticipation for the official departure date.

"I feel a little sad and a little relieved," said Cabbagestalk's wife Vernica S. Cabbagestalk about saying goodbye. "I'm relieved that the time has come for him to go and come back. I know that he's going to help people who need help. I'm excited and honored to be a part of it. I'm honored to be a military wife supporting him like he supports others."

Soldiers of other specialties, including human resource specialists and mechanics, were also a part of the team and will provide support to the 35th Signal Brigade (Theater Tactical) Soldiers.

"I'm 100 percent confident in our Soldiers. Everybody who is going volunteered," said 1st Sgt. Felix L. Perez, native of Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico, and first sergeant for B Company, 50th ESB. "We will be ambassadors for the United States there, and that's the greatest thing we could do right now. I want to give back. That's my purpose in life. I'm here to serve my Soldiers."

The team will fall under the operational control of the Joint Force Command-United Assistance. The JFC-UA will be headquartered in Monrovia, Liberia, with U.S. Africa Command serving as the interim lead agency, until the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) military support reaches full planned capability.

The 35th Signal Brigade (Theater Tactical) Soldiers will be among the approximate 4,000 members of U.S. military forces the Pentagon intends to send to add to the comprehensive U.S. government effort, led by the U.S. Agency for International Development.

U.S. military focus is coordination of military support efforts in conjunction with the interagency, providing logistics, training and engineering support.

"The most important asset to the brigade is our Soldiers. It is my primary focus to bring them home safely," said Maj. Jason A. Foreman, who will be the network operations director in charge of the 35th Signal Brigade (Theater Tactical), in West Africa.

Leading up to their departure, all Soldiers received personal protective equipment and thorough training on proper wear, decontamination and disposal.

"It's good for them to get the training, because it provides them education on precautionary preventive measure," said Foreman a Brooklyn, New York, native, who added that the Soldiers will most likely stay in environments with low-risk of Ebola virus exposure. "The Soldiers will not be close to, or taking care of, any patient [infected with] Ebola. But, they will be ready and prepared, in case something unexpected happens or an emergency."

All troops must receive regionally specific training on Ebola prevention, malaria prevention and other medical threats. They must also have immunizations, ranging from chickenpox, influenza and hepatitis, to yellow fever and pneumococcal vaccines, according to a DOD official.

All troops returning from West Africa will be required to enter a 21-day isolation at one of the designated locations including: Joint Base-Lewis McChord, Washington; Fort Bragg; Fort Hood and Fort Bliss, Texas; and Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, and Army garrisons in Baumholder, Germany, and Vicenza, Italy, according to Pentagon Press Secretary, Rear Adm. John Kirby.

Soldiers, families and friends, lined the sidewalk at the 50th ESB headquarters, waving as the buses departed, many with eyes swollen with tears, as they experienced and witnessed the same kind of sacrifice and service that Veterans Day honors.

Related Links:

Wi-Fi, 4G LTE hits battlefield

U.S. Army news, information about Army's response to Ebola threat

35th Signal Brigade Soldiers prepare to aid in Africa Ebola response mission

Army network connects Soldiers, NGOs in Ebola response mission

Army sets 21-day quarantine for Soldiers leaving West Africa

Dempsey, Battaglia explain rationale for post-Africa deployment Ebola Virus Disease monitoring

Controlled monitoring procedures, post-deployment housing location identified for Germany

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