FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Capt. Eugene Lee and Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Enghusen cased the Delta Company, 10th Aviation Regiment, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade colors Thursday at Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield in preparation for their deployment to Afghanistan.
The company of unmanned aerial systems operators is the first 10th Mountain Division (LI) unit to return to Afghanistan in support of the Resolute Support Mission. They will provide intelligence and surveillance assets with their Gray Eagle drones.
"I find it fitting that the newest company in this storied division (should) be called upon to etch their mark in the history book of our involvement in Afghanistan," said Col. Michael McCurry, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade commander.
Delta Company was formed at Fort Drum last summer, and with a mixture of experienced noncommissioned officers and new Soldiers fresh out of training, Lee, the company commander, said he's confident that was the perfect situation for the unit headed to Afghanistan.
"There is a lot of experienced leadership in this unit from the UAS community," Lee said. "They are level-headed and make good decisions -- that will make my life easier when down range."
Staff Sgt. Joshua Desilet, who came to Fort Drum from another Gray Eagle unit, recently returned from a combat tour in Afghanistan and has helped train many of the younger Soldiers who have never deployed before.
Despite their inexperience, he said they have been nothing short of "great" through their train-up and certifications since the unit formed.
"Each has their own set moxie," he said of his Soldiers. "This is by far the most intelligent group of Soldiers I've had since I've been in Gray Eagle."
Soldiers such as Spc. Meagan Belen and Spc. Lacey Sanor would spend a lot of personal time
in preparation for the deployment. The two said they were eager to learn from their leaders, and they are excited about the mission of supporting Soldiers on the ground.
"I know if I was down on the ground, and I had some eyes in the sky, I would feel a lot better at the end of the day," Belen said.
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