Task Force Ready returns from Afghanistan

By Sgt. Melissa LessardSeptember 26, 2018

Preparation for homecoming
1 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A group of family and friends from the Soldiers Hospitality House, Killeen, Texas, prepare signs in preparation for Sgt. Mylyn Wery's return from deployment, September 23, 2018. Melody Bloker, who runs the home, said that Wery fit in with her family ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Salute to III Corps
2 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Col. Deitra Trotter, 504th Military Intelligence Brigade commander, salutes Maj. Gen. Kenneth Kamper, Maj. Gen. Commanding General III Corps, Fort Hood, Texas, as she walks off the plane, September 24, 2018. The 504th returned from deployme... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Welcome home ceremony
3 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers from the 504th Military Intelligence Brigade stand in formation prior to greeting their loved ones during the welcome home ceremony, Sep. 24, 2018, Fort Hood, Texas. The crowd cheered as they marched in to take their places. (U.S. Army photo... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
At long last
4 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Amy Knodel (Left) and Emily Knodel (right) wait for their loved one prior to the welcome home ceremony for the 504th Military Intelligence Brigade, Sep. 24, 2018, Fort Hood, Texas. The Soldiers were deployed for nearly 12 months. (U.S. Army photo by ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
504th MI BDE uncasing
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Welcoming line
6 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers with the 504th Military Intelligence Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas, walk through a welcoming line during their return from deployment, Sep. 24, 2018.The deployment was in support of Operation Freedoms Sentinel. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Melissa N... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
163rd MI BN uncasing
7 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Col. David Bowers and Command Sgt. Maj. Allen Brook, 163rd Military Intelligence Battalion, 504th MI Brigade, uncase their colors during a ceremony, Sep. 24, 2018, Fort Hood, Texas. The unit was deployed for nearly 12 months to Afghanistan. (U.S.... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
I'll travel for you
8 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – 1st. Lt. Danielle Tinnell, 504th Military Intelligence Brigade, embraces her father Denny Daugherty during the homecoming ceremony, Sep. 24, 2018, Fort Hood, Texas. Daugherty traveled several states to be present for his daughters homecoming, (U.S. A... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Like a sister
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(FORT HOOD, Texas, September 26, 2018)---After nearly a year, 140 Soldiers with the 504th Military Intelligence (MI) Brigade (BDE) return from deployment in Afghanistan Sep. 24.

"Stand tall, and be proud of all you have accomplished," said Col. Deitra Trotter, the 504th commander, to her Soldiers during the welcome home and uncasing ceremony. "It has been a long year and we have touched a lot of people."

The 163rd MI Battalion (BN) with the 504th MI BDE deployed to Afghanistan in October 2017. Their mission was to conduct combat intelligence operations in support of Operation Freedoms Sentinel and the United States Forces-Afghanistan.

During the homecoming ceremony, more than 300 Soldiers and family members filled the West Fort Hood gym. As the deployed Soldiers entered the facility everyone started clapping and cheering for their safe return.

The 504th and 163rd uncased their colors to signify that their mission is officially completed.

"No amount of words from the dictionary can describe how much the Soldiers and families missed each other," said Trotter.

Melody Bloker, who runs the Soldiers Hospitality House in Killeen, Texas, brought her family to meet Sgt. Mylyn Wery, who is with the 504th. She said that Wery fit right in with her family when they first met.

"She is like a sister to my children," said Bloker.

Wery was decorated with many lays and roses.

"It's amazing to be back," said Wery.

During the deployment the unit provided 32 intelligence collections teams, technical intelligence through the mission command of the Afghanistan Captured Materials Exploitation Laboratory, the Biometrics Team, and the Theatre Biometrics Collection-Afghanistan. The 163rd MI BN provided intelligence to all the United States and Coalition Forces combatant commanders in Afghanistan through signals intelligence, human intelligence, counterintelligence, and technical intelligence.

Their operations answered Commander Resolute Support Priority Intelligence Requirements including conventional, Special Operations, and partnered Afghan Army forces during train, advise, and assist missions. They also provided serialized intelligence to the greater intelligence community through timely, accurate, and discoverable reporting.

"More than 8,000 human and counterintelligence reports," said Trotter. "More than 20,000 signals intelligence reports. Mission command of over 68,000 ground and aerial (intelligence support requests) and over 18,000 (counterintelligence screenings). Support of over 900 Security Force Assistance Brigade and training, advise, and assist outside the wire operations, 30 Combat Action Badges, and two Purple Hearts."

The missions that the 163rd MI BN conducted included kinetic strikes that resulted in the death of the Helmand Province Deputy Taliban Commander. The timely deliverance of intelligence triggered a major special operations task force raid and subsequent strike of a Taliban intelligence facility and prison. These actions significantly degraded and disrupted the enemy's capabilities, enhanced force protection, and allowed for the continued safety of the Afghan civilian population.

The intelligence teams integrated with Joint and Multinational Coalition Forces deploying while providing critical support to the Afghanistan National Defense Security Force campaign against the enemy across Southern, Southwestern, and Western Afghanistan. This campaign was critical to secure contested districts, setting the conditions for safe and credible national elections for the Government if the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

Information from Killeen Daily Herald news release is included in this release.

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