Agribusiness Soldiers demobilize at Atterbury

Photo By John Crosby | Indiana Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Robert Anderson, an infantryman from Peru, Ind., and operations sergeant for 2-19th Agribusiness Development Team, teaches his daughter, Nevaeh, to walk after returning home hours earlier from a yearlong deployment to Afghanistan.  

CAMP ATTERBURY, IN, UNITED STATES

10.23.2010

Courtesy Story

Camp Atterbury Indiana

By Staff Sgt. Matt Scotten

CAMP ATTERBURY JOINT MANEUVER TRAINING CENTER, Ind. – Over 150 soldiers from three separate Agribusiness Development Teams, Indiana, Texas and Oklahoma, stepped foot back on American soil Oct. 20 and headed to Atterbury to begin the demobilization process.

When asked how he feels to be home, Sgt. Matthew R. Morgan, a Salem, Ind., native and project purchasing officer for Indiana’s 2-19th ADT, answered with the question, “Can you even put that into words?”

Both units will be spending about five days here, getting physical screenings, dental examinations, several briefs on their benefits as combat veterans, and information on where to go to find help if they have trouble readjusting to life away from the combat zone.

Oklahoma’s 1-45th ADT spent their combat tour operating in Afghanistan’s Patyka province, working with local farmers to help them establish more effective methods and help develop the country’s infrastructure.

According to National Guard News, “I wish we could give them all the training they want,” said Lt. Col. Jackie Sanders, officer-in-charge of the 1-45th ADT, speaking of Afghan farmers. “They are eager to learn.”

Texas ADT 3 operated in Ghazni province. Although happy to be back on American soil, Sgt. Tom Walters, a Lubbock, Texas, native and team leader in Texas ADT 3, said, “I’ll never forget serving with these guys.”

The 2-19th ADT, had a similar mission in Khost province, along Afghanistan’s eastern border with Pakistan.

According to Magner, “When we walked through those doors on Stout Field at our homecoming event, it was awesome. It wasn’t until that moment that I felt like I could finally take my pack off.”

ADT soldiers were all smiles coming off the plane at Indianapolis International Airport. One can only imagine how much bigger those smiles will be after demobilization training here is completed and they can all go home to their families and friends.

• Date Taken: 10.23.2010
• Date Posted: 10.23.2010 18:25
• Story ID: 58679
• Location: CAMP ATTERBURY, IN, US