1100th TASMG DET 2 Soldiers receive AMC combat patch

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan-Soldiers assigned to 1100th Theater Aviation Sustainment Maintenance Group Detachment 2 received the Army Materiel Command shoulder sleeve insignia-former wartime service, also known as the combat patch, during ceremonies here Oct. 10 and at Kandahar Airfield Oct. 15.

"This is a true combat patch," said Col. Brian T. Connelly, 1100th TASMG commander, in remarks prior to the patching at Bagram. "Be proud of that."

Connelly noted that most of the DET Soldiers have deployed before but recognized the Soldiers who are on their first deployment. At least four DET 2 Bagram Soldiers and one Soldier from the 1100th command team are making their first deployment. They include Command Sgt. Maj. Nilsa M. Cruz a San Juan, Puerto Rico native who currently resides in Hanover, Pennsylvania; Capt. Michael S. Bertsch, a maintenance test pilot who is a native of Harrisburg. Pennsylvania; 2nd Lt. Ashley Meister, a Reno, Nevada native currently residing in Vienna, Virginia; Spc. Mervin Allen, a Clinton, Maryland native currently residing in Marbury, Maryland; Spc. Francis Chenui, a Bamenda, Cameroon native currently residing in Baltimore, Maryland; Spc. Gregory W. Hobbs, an aircraft power-train repairer who is a native of Columbia, Maryland currently residing in Westminster, Maryland; and Spc. Shawn D. Reed, Jr., a logistics specialist who is a native of Baltimore, Maryland.

The 1100th TASMG is a Maryland National Guard unit that has deployed three times since 2005. Their mission while deployed is to provide depot to phase level maintenance for all U.S. Army aircraft and to prepare and ship aircraft in accordance with U.S. Army directives. While deployed to Afghanistan, the 1100th is under Army Field Support Battalion-Bagram and AFSBn-Kandahar for administrative purposes.