FORT BLISS, Texas - Battery A, 1st Battalion, 121st Field Artillery Regiment, Wisconsin National Guard deployed May 17 to Afghanistan from the Silas L. Copeland Departure/Arrival Air Control Group on East Fort Bliss in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
The Soldiers assigned to the unit were excited to go on this particular mission, since the unit has not conducted the standard field artillery skills with the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) in several years.
Spc. Alex Wotachek, with 1st Platoon, Battery A, 1-121 FA, is a HIMARS mechanic and had mixed emotions about his first deployment in his military career.
“I’m a little nervous, but yet, I’m a pretty calm person, so I’m not too worried,” said Wotachek. The 21-year-old from Kewaunee, Wisconsin, is also a semi-truck mechanic for America’s Service Lines in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
“My family is very supportive of the whole situation, and I’m pretty thankful that they are. They have been supportive of my whole military career so far as I am the only one in the family that’s in the military,” said Wotachek.
Spc. Gerardo Cerdas is from Kenosha, Wisconsin, but attends the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The 23-year-old plans to major in criminal justice and become a border patrol agent. Cerdas is a fire support specialist with Battery A, and was appreciative of the training he received at Fort Bliss.
“Training was excellent, it got us focused on the mission,” said Cerdas. “My family told me they are very proud of me before I left, so that gives me more motivation to come home safe. I’m thankful for my family and friends for supporting my decision.”
Battery A, 1-121 FA is based in Sussex, Wisconsin. The unit is expected to return in February 2015.