The 355th Chemical Company based out of Las Vegas, Nevada, attends Yellow Ribbon

Photo By Maj. Michael Garcia | During the 355th Chemical Company's Yellow Ribbon held in Orlando, Fla., the Soldiers took a group photo with their higher headquarters, 76th ORC Commanding General, Maj. Gen. Ricky Waddell, August 13-14, 2016.  

ORLANDO, FL, UNITED STATES

08.13.2016

Story by Maj. Michael Garcia 

76th Operational Response Command

ORLANDO, Fla. – The 355th Chemical Company (CM CO), 209th Regional Support Group, based out of Las Vegas, Nevada, attended their initial Yellow Ribbon event with their families in Orlando, Fla., August 13-14, 2016.
“You will be the only chemical assets that the U.S. forces have in the Middle East or central Asia. So you guys will be there for emergency response function, but you’re also going to be there training, teaching, whether Iraqis or some of our other coalition allies, or whether it’s our own Soldiers,” said Maj. Gen. Ricky Waddell, 76th Operational Response Command, Commanding General. Since Waddell’s residence is just an hour drive away from the Yellow Ribbon event in Orlando, he made the effort to visit his deploying Soldiers and provided them some guidance and motivational speech. He said that some things to think about during a long 9-month deployment is to fill time. “What I used to find during deployment is that days were really really long. So you’re going to be busy, but you can still meet to fill your time with the right sources of things. While you’re deployed, really falls to you NCOs out there make sure that you master your equipment. Again, you guys are the only chemical assets in theater, you’re going to draw your equipment while you’re over there, master that equipment.”
“We’re going to be like the quick response. We are the mobile decon, as well as recon chemical force. But the main mission that we have there is to train the personnel that’s there, on some of our decon as well as our recon tactics, chemically give them better fit on how to perform their mission as well,” said Staff. Sgt. Erika Edmondson, 355th CE CO, operations noncommissioned officer (NCO). This will be Edmondson’s first deployment, and she’s very excited. She’s been on an active duty operational support (ADOS) with the unit, but will return to her civilian job as a loan officer upon returning home from deployment. When asked about her plans to stay busy while deployed, she said she will be skyping often with her six-year old daughter. “I’ve already assigned two hobbies while I’m there. I want to learn Spanish fluently, and I also want to learn how to play guitar.”
The 81st Regional Support Command, Commanding General, Maj. Gen. Arlan DeBlieck, addressed the Soldiers during the event. He said that the stress that the Soldiers go through doesn’t go away, it’s always there; that the Soldiers learn to manage despite the stress. He said that separation is going to create some issues that the Soldiers probably did not see in their marriage. “The Yellow Ribbon has the people here that will help you cope (during reintegration) and work through those issues so that you have a stronger marriage.”
“I don’t know what I’m going to do during downtime, but we fall on recon strykers, and that’s going to take a lot of our time. But for the most part, I also want to learn a second language. I also want to learn stones, like rubies and diamonds,” said Staff. Sgt. Marinos Kopanos, 355th CM CO, training NCO. Outside of the military, Kopanos works for Southwest Gas. “We do emergency response as far as if there’s gas leak or line breaks, we response to that and shut-off the gas.”
In the end, Waddell encouraged everyone to expand their mind a little, get some books to read which contributes to their profession and knowledge. “Nine months is a long time. So have a plan for yourself, squad leaders. Have a leader development program. Soldier development program, so you expand your knowledge and grow.”
The Yellow Ribbon Program is designed to prepare Soldiers and families for deployment, helping families during deployment, and reintegrating Soldiers into society, into their family upon returning home. During the event, the Soldiers and family members were provided with sufficient information, services and other benefits such as Family Programs, Education Resource Information, chaplain advice, Tricare Programs, USAA banking, Veterans Administration benefits, Employer Support of Guard and Reserve (ESGR), and more.

• Date Taken: 08.13.2016
• Date Posted: 08.20.2016 17:11
• Story ID: 207797
• Location: ORLANDO, FL, US
• Hometown: BELL, CA, US
• Hometown: BELTON, MO, US
• Hometown: LAS VEGAS, NV, US
• Hometown: SALT LAKE CITY, UT, US