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Lt. Col. Bryan Babich, commander of 1st Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment folds up a flag case after unfurling the battalion's colors on the flight line upon the brigade's redeployment to Fort Bragg, N.C., Sept. 21, 2015. The Paratro...
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Col. Curtis Buzzard, commander of 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division leads his Paratroopers across the flight line upon their redeployment to Fort Bragg, N.C., Sept. 21, 2015. The Paratroopers returned from a nine-month deployment to Ira...
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Family members of Paratroopers assigned to 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division wave miniature American flags as they wait patiently for their loved ones to redeploy to Fort Bragg, N.C., Sept. 21, 2015. The Paratroopers returned from a nin...
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A family member of a Paratrooper assigned to 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division fights back tears upon his Paratrooper's redeployment at Green Ramp on Fort Bragg, N.C., Sept. 21, 2015. The Paratroopers returned from a nine-month deployme...
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A Paratrooper assigned to 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division meets his baby for the first time upon redeploying at Green Ramp on Fort Bragg, N.C., Sept. 21, 2015. The Paratroopers returned from a nine-month deployment to Iraq in support ...
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FORT BRAGG, N.C.--Col. Curtis Buzzard and Command Sgt. Maj. Daniel Gustafson, command team for 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division redeployed to Fort Bragg with more than 300 Paratroopers assigned to 3rd BCT, Sept. 21.
The Paratroopers completed a nine-month tour in Iraq in support of Combined Joint Forces Land Component Command -- Iraq during Operation Inherent Resolve.
In Iraq, Task Force Panther provided Security Force Advise and Assists Teams across multiple Iraqi Army echelons and locations, and the unit's Paratroopers worked with its partner nations to help train more than 12,000 Iraqi Security Forces.
"What was unique about us was not only were we there to train the Iraqi Army and advise them but we were the utility infielder that did anything else that was required, from flying [aerial reconnaissance] to providing logistics," Buzzard said.
Buzzard said his Paratroopers helped stand up multiple IA units that went on to have successes on the battlefield, namely during the Ramadi counterattack.
Upon completion of the mission, Paratroopers returned home to cheering crowds holding handmade signs and supporters proudly waving miniature American flags.
"It's an overwhelming feeling of emotion all at once seeing my family again," said Sgt. 1st Class Brandon Coronado, a platoon sergeant assigned to Alpha Troop, 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment. "We [feel] a true sense of accomplishment; we went above and beyond to succeed."
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