LAGHMAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Twelve soldiers from the U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Division, home stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia, and assigned to Train, Advise, Assist Command - East earned their combat patches at a ceremony held at Tactical Base Gamberi Nov. 21, 2014.
For those 12 soldiers, this is their first deployment to combat zone. In a practice commonly held in deployed units across the Army, the soldiers received their 3rd ID combat patches after serving on the ground in Afghanistan for 30 days.
TAAC-E commander U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Christopher Bentley presented the soldiers with their combat patches at the ceremony.
In a symbolic gesture the youngest recipient in the formation, Pfc. Vincent Conyer, removed Bentley's combat patch from his previous deploying unit and replaced it with a 3rd Infantry Division combat patch.
The combat patch is formally called the shoulder sleeve insignia indicating former wartime service. It is authorized for wear by soldiers who meet the established criteria in Army regulation 670-1 including assignment to Army units serving in a declared hostile environment.
Capt. Jeff Benedict, the TAAC-E operational law attorney, was one of the 12 soldiers who received a combat patch. When asked what this first deployment meant to him, Benedict said this marks an important milestone because he is the first member of his family to deploy in the Army since his grandfather fought in World War II.
Benedict talked about his grandfather's service as an infantry runner in the war. He proudly spoke about how his grandfather carried messages between units while serving in the Pacific.
Benedict's grandfather passed away in 2005, but remains an important figure in his life. He speaks of his grandfather with great pride, and even carried a picture of him on deployment.
Another combat patch recipient, Sgt. Addran Johnson, a geospatial intelligence specialist assigned to TAAC-E, also talked about what this deployment means to him.
"I believe it's a great opportunity to be on this deployment. We've got some great leadership that's in front of us," Johnson said.
Johnson added, "To be able to get on one of these final deployments is an opportunity I wanted to take, and will help with my career progression."
Approximately 60 soldiers from 3rd ID are assigned to TAAC-E and have now completed their first 30 days in Afghanistan. The group is expected to serve 12 months on this deployment.
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