1-17th FAR to soon return home to loved ones

Courtesy Photo | Soldiers of Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 17th Field Artillery Regiment, 75th Fires Brigade, 1st Infantry Division of Fort Sill, Okla., stand in formation at Camp Stone, Afghanistan, May 7. The 1-17th FAR was deployed to Camp Stone from July 2010 to June 2011. (Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Samara Scott)  

HERAT, AFGHANISTAN

06.22.2011

Courtesy Story

NATO Training Mission Afghanistan

By Tech Sgt. Samara Scott
Regional Support Command-West/NTM-A Public Affairs

HERAT, Afghanistan -- After one year of mentoring the Afghan National Army and providing security for the members of Regional Support Command-West, 50 soldiers from Fort Sill, Okla., will soon return home to their families.

Soldiers from Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 17th Field Artillery Regiment, 75th Fires Brigade, 1st Infantry Division will leave this month and return home. The 1-17th FAR deployed to Herat, Afghanistan beginning in July 2010.

“The RSC-W mission could not have been completed without the help of the 1-17th FAR, they are a well- trained and disciplined unit who can accomplish any mission set before them”,” said Lt. Col. Matthew Rauscher, deputy commanding officer of RSC-W.

The soldiers mentored the ANA on courses such as NATO weapons training, up-armored Humvee drivers training course, regional basic warrior training, noncommissioned officer course, team leaders course, and combat medic course.

“I am so proud of my soldiers and their performance out here,” said Sgt. 1st Class Miguel Rodriguez, 1-17th platoon sergeant. “The 1-17th soldiers performed well beyond their expectations in helping with the transition in handing over the leadership to the Afghans. We have served proudly and now I am glad to say that it is time for us to go home.”

The 1-17th also served a unique purpose for RSC-W. They provided a mobile weapons training team that can move to different locations throughout the western region of Afghanistan and team with the ANA soldiers already deployed forward on the battlefield. The team included 27 soldiers and worked shoulder-to- shoulder with the 2nd Brigade, 207th Corps, which has approximately 900 soldiers.

“The mobile training team trained the ANA soldiers on several different weapons systems,” said Rodriguez. “Through the soldiers efficient training the ANA soldiers are now assets to their perspective units conducting patrols and providing security down south.”

“The 1-17th FAR played a major role in assisting with the transition of the ANA taking ownership and leading their country into the future,” said Rauscher. ““Without them, the ANA forces in the west would not be nearly as effective as they are today.”

• Date Taken: 06.22.2011
• Date Posted: 06.22.2011 05:43
• Story ID: 72524
• Location: HERAT, AF