Signal Soldiers welcomed home

By Staff Sgt. Ashley M. Armstrong, 35th Signal Brigade (Theater Tactical)January 23, 2015

Soldiers of 518th TIN welcomed home
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT GORDON, Ga.— Staff Sgt. Kyle D. Jones information technology specialist for 518th Tactical Installation and Networking Company, 67th Signal Battalion (Expeditionary), 35th Signal Brigade (Theater Tactical), holds his daughter Sofia for the... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Soldiers of 518th TIN welcomed home
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT GORDON, Ga.— Cassie Mitchell and Candace Rennert find their husband's among the more than 100 Soldiers of 518th Tactical Installation and Networking Company, 67th Signal Battalion (Expeditionary), 35th Signal Brigade (Theater Tactical), as... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Soldiers of 518th TIN welcomed home
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT GORDON, Ga.— More than 100 Soldiers of 518th Tactical Installation and Networking Company, 67th Signal Battalion (Expeditionary), 35th Signal Brigade (Theater Tactical), were welcomed back to Fort Gordon, Georgia, by family and friends who... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Soldiers of 518th TIN welcomed home
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT GORDON, Ga.— Sgt. Sean M. Owens, cable systems installer-maintainer, 518th Tactical Installation and Networking Company, 67th Signal Battalion (Expeditionary), 35th Signal Brigade (Theater Tactical), holds his son Ian for the first time at... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT GORDON, Ga.-- All seats were full, walls lined and corridors packed as the happy chatter of eager 518th Tactical Installation and Networking Company family and friends filled the U.S. Army Reserve Center of Fort Gordon, Georgia, Jan. 18.

After nine months and several thousand miles, nothing but a door separated the Soldiers from the crowd and ceremony celebrating an end to their deployment to the Middle East.

Finally the wait was over; the doors opened and out marched more than 100 Soldiers of 518th TIN presenting themselves in front of their cheering loved ones, some holding handmade signs and balloons, wearing custom shirts or waving American flags.

As soon as three-year-old Emma Jones laid eyes on her father in the front of formation she ran to his side unwilling to wait a moment longer.

"It was awesome," said Staff Sgt. Kyle D. Jones, Emma's father, and information technology specialist for 518th TIN. "It was cool that she was right there by me. It was different because she's bigger and even her voice changed. She's always liked to be right there by me."

That wasn't the only significant moment for the Jones family, as it was also Jones's first time holding his youngest daughter Sofia who is only a few months old.

"It's been a long time coming," said Jones's wife Cynthia. "I couldn't believe it that he's finally here. It's great to have him back."

The ceremony was also a first for Sgt. Sean M. Owens, cable systems installer-maintainer, 518th TIN, who held his two-month-old son for the first time.

"I've been looking forward to this for a very long time," said Owens, smiling at his son cradled in his arms.

During their deployment the Soldiers of the 518th TIN, a company in 67th Signal Battalion (Expeditionary), 35th Signal Brigade (Theater Tactical), supported Operation Enduring Freedom in Kuwait, Afghanistan and other locations under Central Command.

Their mission was to provide network installation utilizing a user-provided bill of materials, troubleshooting, quality assurance testing and hand-off coordination to enable transition from tactical to semi-permanent automation support for Army Service Component Commands, Geographic Combatant Commanders, Signal Command (Theater) Commanders and Joint Task Force or Coalition Headquarters.

"The Soldiers of the 518th TIN grew tremendously personally and professionally during this deployment and were the sole reason for the success of the company," said 1st Lt. Jason Merten

executive officer, 518th TIN. "Whether it was in Kuwait assisting the 40th Expeditionary Signal Battalion and the 160th Signal Brigade or in Afghanistan supporting the 335th Tactical Theater Signal Command and the 25th Signal Battalion, the Soldiers went above and beyond what was expected to accomplish the mission."

The 518th TIN's Family Readiness Group also received recognition at the event for sending consistent care packages for the Soldiers and providing support to their fellow 518th TIN company families.

"We wouldn't have been successful without the support of all of the families here at Fort Gordon and back home," said Merten. "We would like to extend our thanks to all of them."

Once the Soldiers complete their 10-day reintegration, they will be granted an opportunity to take leave and will return to normal training mid-February.

After nearly a year supporting and defending each other from afar, the 518th TIN family is reunited and able to find comfort in a mission well-done.

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