By Pfc. Shawn Denham
FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. – A unit's colors represent its past, present and future and holds great importance for the Soldiers serving under its waving banner.
The 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), cased its colors in a ceremony at Strike Field here April 30.
The flag was placed inside an Army Combat Uniform camouflaged case for protection while in transit during the unit's upcoming deployment to Afghanistan. The colors will be uncased once the battalion reaches its final destination in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
"We are called upon once again to deploy early in support of Operation Enduring Freedom to assume the mission as the main effort of Regional Command South and to set the conditions for the arrival of the Strike Brigade," said Lt. Col. Johnny Davis, commander of the 1st Bn., 502nd Inf. Regt.
"Our battalion's going to be the main effort over there," said 2nd Lt. Philip Ficken, a platoon leader with 1st Bn., 502nd Inf. Regt. "We'll be just north of Kandahar city, but we're prepared to go wherever we need to go."
This is the battalion's fourth deployment in support of the Global War on Terrorism.
This will be Spc. Jeffrey Cole's second deployment to Afghanistan, with his last being in 2006.
"[I'm] looking forward to serving with this unit, ready to deploy and looking forward to making it home," said Cole, a radio and telephone operator with the battalion.
Ficken said he has full faith in his unit and its abilities, because of the training leading up to this point and the non-commissioned officers serving beside him.
"We're prepared to win the hearts and minds of the people while we're over there," Ficken said. "We're ready to go get the job done. I'm excited to learn the culture as well. I'm excited to see a country I've never been to and go do my job."
Originally, the battalion focused their training toward a deployment to Iraq; however, once they received word they were deploying to Afghanistan they quickly changed their focus.
It wasn't a difficult transition for the battalion, said Sgt. 1st Class Nathan Stone, a platoon sergeant with "First Strike," as the building blocks and foundation were already set.
"We did change our training up a little bit just to suit the scenario but the foundation was always there," he said.
News from Afghanistan's front lines doesn't alter his perception either. The history of Afghanistan and serving there is appealing to him.
The few remaining days before deployment are hectic, Stone said, but the Soldiers of First Strike are ready for the challenge that lies ahead.
Assisting the local population and establishing conditions before the remainder of the brigade's arrival in Afghanistan are critical to mission success, Stone said.
"We will protect the people, stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our partners and we will help build a stronger local and district government," said Davis. "Strike six, be there no doubt – First Strike will accomplish the mission."