Photo By Lt. Col. Bradford Leighton | First Sgt. Aaron Paus of Streator, Illinois, the first sergeant of Logistics Advisory...... read more read more
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The Illinois National Guard’s 6th Battalion, 54th Security Forces Assistance Brigade (SFAB) based at Rock Island Arsenal welcomed home a logistics advisory team after an 8-month deployment and mobilized two other teams during a combined ceremony at the Marseilles Training Area on April 6.
“The SFAB is one of our youngest units, activated in 2020,” said Brig. Gen. Lenny Williams, the Assistant Adjutant General-Army of the Illinois National Guard and Commander of the Illinois Army National Guard. “They’re pretty small, but mighty. They’ve deployed seven teams already, which explains how they are able to combine a welcome home ceremony with a mobilization ceremony.”
The ceremony welcomed home five Soldiers of the Logistics Advisory Team (LAT) 6612 who deployed to the Philippines in February 2024 where they worked with the Philippine military to increase interoperability and support security cooperation objectives in the region.
Lt. Col. Matthew Kreiter, commander of 6th Battalion of the SFAB thanked the team for their dedication and professionalism throughout the deployment.
“This was a critical mission in an area of the world that is the utmost importance to our national security in a region containing one of our largest military threats,” said Kreiter.
LAT 6612 commander, Maj. Simon Lee thanked the Soldiers’ families for their support and raved about his team’s performance.
“It makes it easier for us to do our job abroad when you have a family taking care of everything at home,” said Lee. “I am proud of my team members, we built relationships, pushed through challenges, and built our professionalism.”
Williams thanked LAT 6612 for their performance and dedication.
“The SFAB teams are so good, and well trained, that we can go advise other militaries and build up their military capacity,” said Williams.
Approximately 5 Soldiers with the SFAB’s Medical AdvisingTeam (MEDAT) 6630, and approximately 9 Soldiers with the Maintenance and Distribution Team 6640 were mobilized during the ceremony.
Kreiter reminded the teams that while they come from a conventional force, they will be operating in an unconventional manner during their deployments to Djibouti, Africa and Iraq.
“We are operating in an environment where it can quickly turn from competition to crisis,” said Kreiter. “You are ready. You were all chosen for a specific purpose.”
Williams told the deploying teams they are carrying the Illinois National Guard brand forward.
“You make the complex look simple,” said Williams. “These are challenging deployments and unique opportunities.”
Maj. Thomas Kadela will lead the MEDAT to Iraq and listed the teams’ qualities during the ceremony.
“I love the fact this team is disciplined, mature, has sound judgement, and a great work ethic,” said Kadela. Team 6630 is the first formal full medical advising advising team to deploy from 6th Battalion, perhaps from all the Army's SFABs, Kadela said.
Capt. Micah Bennett will lead the maintenance and distribution team to Africa. He prepared his team for the challenges and opportunities during the deployment.
“Make the most of this call to service,” said Bennett. “Better yourself, better the organization, build and enrich relationships.”
MEDAT 6630 will perform medical operations for the 54th SFAB headquarters while the Maintenance and Distribution Team will support U.S. Central Command’s security cooperation objectives while building Djiboutian military capacity.
The leaders all thanked the families for their support and sacrifice.
“It’s impossible for our Soldiers to go out the door without everything in order at home,” said Williams.
Kadela told the families the teams will make them proud.
“I confidently say that because of the Soldiers in this unit,” said Kadela.
Bennett called the Soldiers’ families the real heroes.
“You are the ones who truly sacrifice,” said Bennett. “We are extremely grateful, and your sacrifice doesn’t go unnoticed.
| Date Taken: | 04.06.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 04.07.2025 14:26 |
| Story ID: | 494688 |
| Location: | MARSEILLES, ILLINOIS, US |
| Hometown: | ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, ILLINOIS, US |
| Web Views: | 67 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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