FORT BRAGG, N.C. - The 3rd Battalion 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment completed an 11 month deployment to Southwest Asia. The unit's advanced echelon personnel returned Apr. 5, while the main body redeployed Apr. 29.
The battalion provided air and missile defense for U.S. Central Command while they enhanced strategic relationships and reassured coalition partners in the area. The unit protected critical assets to enhance regional stability and allow freedom of maneuver for U.S. and coalition forces.
The battalion had four months to prepare prior to their departure in May 2011. Lt. Col. Richard Harrison, commander, boarded a plane for departure within 72 hours of taking command of the battalion.
"For the first time in 20 years, the battalion commander deployed with the battalion's colors," battalion Command Sgt. Maj. Paris Williams said.
One Soldier had to overcome very tough personal complications when she deployed. The house of Spc. Brittany Durant, a medic, was hit and destroyed by a tornado a month before she deployed.
Her mother, Terri Manthei, always a major supporter of her daughter being a Soldier, stepped up the support as Durant deployed with her unit.
"When she deployed, I was at her house trying to salvage the remainder of her belongings that was devastated by tornados; yet she still left entrusting everything to her husband and me to try to piece together," said Manthei.
Durant's story was another example of the strength that families bring to Soldiers.
"I have a great family and because of that my concerns were lessened because I knew my family would take care of it," said Durant.
During the deployment, Soldiers were encouraged to use their time overseas to accomplish as many individual goals as possible.
"We had Soldiers accomplish significant personal goals such as working towards their degrees, financial management, and improving physical fitness. One Soldier was able to lose 71 pounds while deployed," said Harrison. About 25 Soldiers were also motivated to change their financial lifestyles after attending financial management classes that was available for them.
The battalion had to rely on discipline, training and mentorship from Williams in order to take on the roles and positions that they had to operate in while deployed.
"We put our senior noncommissioned officers in key leader positions and took our young specialists and put them in critical positions and they all performed very well," said Harrison.
"We set the bar throughout our area of operation through numerous crew evaluations, displaying professionalism and execution of our mission. We partnered seamlessly with the host nation, and worked jointly with the Air Force during the deployment," said Harrison.
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