Uncasing ceremony officially welcomes unit 'home'

By Maj. Jennifer ButlerJanuary 25, 2013

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1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – From left, Col. Patrick Dedham, brigade commander, 11th Signal Brigade, and Command Sgt. Maj. Earl Allen, commander sergeant major, 11th Signal Brigade uncase the brigade colors on Brown Parade Field, Jan. 17. The ceremony symbolizes the unit's offic... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – From left, Col. Patrick Dedham, brigade commander, 11th Signal Brigade; Maj. Gen. Gregg Potter, commander, U.S. Army Intelligence Center and Fort Huachuca; and Command Sgt. Maj. Earl Allen, commander sergeant major, 11th Signal Brigade, prepare to re... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Fort Huachuca, AZ. - The 11th Signal Brigade Colors Uncasing Ceremony, officially welcoming deployed members of the brigade back to Fort Huachuca, was held Jan. 17 on historic Brown Parade Field. The unit is led by Col. Patrick Dedham, commander, 11th Signal Brigade and Command Sgt. Maj. Earl Allen. Unit command sergeant major.

The uncasing of the colors is an Army tradition that symbolizes the return of a unit to its home installation. Maj. Gen. Gregg Potter, commander of the U. S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence and Fort Huachuca, presided over the ceremony.

Potter said, "Through hard work and a commitment to excellence, these Soldiers were able to prove themselves in battle and earn the gratitude of our Army and our nation. We are here today to conclude a successful mission."

Dedham echoed these sentiments as he thanked the Families for supporting the troops while keeping the homefront moving forward.

Dedham said, "Just like General Potter, I would be remiss if I did not thank the Families of all the 11th Signal Brigade Soldiers who put up with the long hours prior to deployment and the long hours during the deployment. Without their support -- without the confidence we have in them -- we could not do our jobs in Afghanistan."

The Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 11th Signal Brigade, deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from January 2012 to December 2012. Over the past 11 months, while deployed, 11th Signal Brigade transformed itself into Task Force Signal, responsible for executing network operations across Afghanistan. Through the development of the Network Transition and Optimization Plan, Soldiers established robust and reliable networks which gave current and future commanders the flexibility and freedom of movement to continue retrograde operations through 2014 and beyond.