COLUMBUS, Ohio—Maj. Gen. Gregory L. Wayt, Ohio adjutant general, will honor approximately 30 soldiers from the Ohio Army National Guard’s 174 Air Defense Artillery Brigade (Task Force Phoenix), as they return from a yearlong deployment to the National Capital Region as part of the Integrated Air Defense System and liaison officer duties at various continental U.S. locations in support of Operation Noble Eagle.
The public is invited to the unit’s welcome home ceremony at 5:00 p.m., Friday, Sept. 3, at the Hastings Middle School, 1850 Hastings Lane, Upper Arlington, Ohio 43220.
The Integrated Air Defense System in the NCR, consisting of sensors, alert fighters, and ground based air defense weapons systems, was established shortly after Sept. 11, 2001 at the direction of the Secretary of Defense. Originally manned by active duty forces, the NCR has been manned by Air and Army National Guardsmen since 2003. The mission stands today as a prime example of the National Guard fulfilling its “Defense of the Homeland” mission.