Strike Fear Soldiers return home

By Sgt. Neysa CanfieldNovember 9, 2016

Strike Fear Soldiers return home
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Col. James C. Reese, commander of 2nd Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Sustainment Brigade, 101st Abn. Div., is greeted by Command Sgt. Maj. Gabriel Espinosa, acting senior command sergeant maj... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Strike Fear Soldiers return home
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Col. James C. Reese, commander of 2nd Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Sustainment Brigade, 101st Abn. Div., and Command Sgt. Maj. Randy Gray, senior enlisted advisor for 2nd Bn., 44th ADA Regt... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Strike Fear Soldiers return home
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Col. James C. Reese (left), commander of 2nd Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Sustainment Brigade, 101st Abn. Div., and Command Sgt. Maj. Randy Gray, senior enlisted advisor for 2nd Bn., 44th A... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Strike Fear Soldiers return home
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Sustainment Brigade, 101st Abn. Div., wait to be released to their families, Nov. 5, 2016, at Hanger 3 on Fort Campbell, Ky. during their home... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. -- Signs, balloons, Families and friends filled Hanger 3, here, to welcome approximately 250 Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Sustainment Brigade, 101st Abn. Div., home Nov. 5.

The air defense artillery Soldier returned from a nine-month deployment in support of Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq and Operation Freedom's Sentinel in Afghanistan.

Lt. Col. James C. Reese, commander of 2nd Bn., 44th ADA Regt., said their mission was to provide air defense by countering mortar and rocket artillery and provide early warning of incoming attacks.

With the battalion split up in two different locations, Reese said trust and training standards were crucial to their mission's success.

"Standards across the formation are important," said Reese. "Everyone needs to understand what their individual piece is and be able to execute when asked."

Reese added that leaders and Soldiers from the rear detachment also played a crucial part in their success downrange.

"Every time I had to call back for an individual or groups of Soldiers [to go overseas] there was no hesitation," said Reese. "[Leaders] made sure all Soldiers met training requirements and were ready to deploy at any times notice."

With the holiday season approaching, Reese said he felt a sense of pride bringing his Soldiers back to their families after a job well done.

Sgt. Abraham Adger, who served as a part of the sense and warn team in Afghanistan, said although this was not his first time away from his family, this separation was much harder than his time in Korea.

"In Korea the environment was more relaxed and I was able to talk to my family more often compared to a combat environment," explained Adger, who is married with a stepdaughter and baby on the way.

Adger added that he is excited to be back with his family for the holidays and is looking forward to the new addition to his family.

Reese, who has completed three combat deployments, said the last big celebration for the battalion will be in January during their Saint Barbara's Day ball, which will allow Soldiers who deployed and those who stayed as part of the rear detachment to reintegrate.

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