Oklahoma Guardsmen deploy to OEF

Photo By Amabilia Payen | Brig. Gen. Robbie Asher, director of the Joint Staff for the Oklahoma National Guard (in the gray uniform), shakes the hands of Soldiers assigned to Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 158th Field Artillery Regiment as they make their way onto the aircraft bound for Afghanistan, June 16, at the Silas L. Copeland Arrival/Departure Air Control Group in East Fort Bliss. (Photo taken by Amabilia Payen, DoMaD Public Affairs)  

FORT BLISS, TX, UNITED STATES

06.16.2014

Story by Amabilia Payen 

Mobilization and Deployment, DPTMS Fort Bliss

FORT BLISS, Texas - Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 158th Field Artillery Regiment from the Oklahoma Army National Guard deployed June 16 from the Silas L. Copeland Arrival/Departure Air Control Group to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

The battery is specialized in the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), which is light multiple rocket launchers mounted on a standard Army tactical truck.

Capt. Randy Wright, battery commander, is excited that his unit will be conducting their core military occupational specialty.

“In the past, our battalion has done (personal security detachment) missions,” said Wright. “I think it is going to be a first for a lot of the guys to do their original MOS task.”

Brig. Gen. Robbie Asher, director of the Joint Staff for the Oklahoma National Guard, has been on both sides of the fence when it comes to a deployment. His daughter recently deployed and returned from Afghanistan, as well, and he can relate to the family members of Bravo Battery.

“It is a lot easier there than to be back here as family and friends,” said Asher. “While these Soldiers are deployed, they need to stay in touch with their families, and that’s what I tell Soldiers when I talk to them. My thoughts and prayers are always with the Soldiers and their families.”

As the war efforts in Afghanistan are now minimizing, Asher still reminds his troops that the risks are still the same. With the efforts of the Directorate of Mobilization and Deployment, the deployment process is the one thing that Bravo battery doesn’t have to stress over.

“The DoMaD folks are incredibly good at what they do,” said Wright. “They accommodated us well. As an incoming commander, to have all those resources already ready for you when you get here, it makes it a lot easier.”

Asher agreed.

“They do everything they possibly can to make a painful process good,” he said.

Bravo battery, 1-158th FAR is based out of Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

• Date Taken: 06.16.2014
• Date Posted: 06.26.2014 18:06
• Story ID: 134579
• Location: FORT BLISS, TX, US
• Hometown: FORT SILL, OK, US