Photo By Sharilyn Wells | Spc. Alyssa Malott, receives an encased American flag during the 415th Civil Affairs...... read more read more
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KALAMAZOO, Mich. - After a year-long deployment to Afghanistan, soldiers from the 415th Civil Affairs Battalion located in Kalamazoo, Mich., where formally welcomed home and recognized for their service and sacrifices during a Welcome Home Warrior Ceremony, March 25.
Amongst the putting greens of the Prairies Golf Club, 45 soldiers were honored during the ceremony with an encased American flag, a Welcome Home Warrior Citizen flag, a lapel pin set and a U.S. Army Reserve Commander’s coin for excellence. Their family members were also recognized for their efforts and sacrifices back home while their soldiers were deployed.
The unit left Kalamazoo in July 2010 and trained at Camp Atterbury, Ind., on specific cultural, governance, security, and reconstruction efforts in the particular area of Afghanistan in which they would deploy. Following the training, the group deployed in small teams to different locations spread throughout Afghanistan where they served as members of eight provincial reconstruction teams until July 2011 when they returned to the United States. The ceremony was held eight months after the soldiers’ return in order to allow for full reintegration with families, civilian employment and their communities.
U.S. Congressman Fred Upton (R, MI 6th), State Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker (R, 20th), and State Representatives Sean McCann (D, 60th), Margaret Obrien (R, 61st), and James “Jase” Bolger (R, 63rd) joined military and community leaders during the ceremony to honor these soldiers and family members.
“I’m glad this is my second time welcoming you guys home because my remarks would be standing in the way of you reuniting with your family members. My remarks would pretty much be done now,” joked Upton who met the 415th in July when the unit returned from Afghanistan. “We thank you for your service. It’s an undeniable sacrifice not only for you, but for your family, friends, neighbors and your community, who surely missed you while your were gone.
“As you reflect back on your time in a nation that really is like a step back in time — a country with no infrastructure really … and the quality of life is nothing like here, remember the great things you did,” said Upton. “You showed a nation what America is all about — a nation willing to put a hand out to help another. The bottom line is that you made a difference. I truly thank you and we are so proud of you.”
The Welcome Home Warrior Citizen ceremony was developed by the Chief of the Army Reserve to ensure that every soldier and family was recognized for their deployment service and properly welcomed home in front of both fellow soldiers and the community. These ceremonies have become a tradition in the Army Reserve after Sept. 11, 2001 and recognize the sacrifices of soldiers and families make during deployments.
“At first I didn’t think we needed this type of recognition because we all are volunteers … we signed the papers,” explained Spc. Alyssa Malott. “But now I see that it’s extremely important. Especially for someone like me, the bottom of the totem pole, to see the type of support we have in the higher ranks and the government officials genuinely thanking me for my service. This gives the soldiers the motivation and support we need to continue doing what we are doing It’s amazing.”
The 415th Civil Affairs Bn. is part of the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne) headquartered at Fort Bragg, N.C. USACAPOC (A)’s CA and Military Information Support Operations forces are five percent of the USAR force, but comprise 20 percent of the Army Reserve deployments. CA and Military Information Support Operations soldiers can be found serving in 69 Army Reserve units in 31 states across our nation.
Civil Affairs soldiers are the field commander's link to the civil authorities in his area of operations. With specialists in many areas of the government, they can assist a host government in meeting its people's needs and maintain a stable and viable civil administration.
Civil Affairs soldiers possess unique training, skills and experience. Since 94 percent of the Civil Affairs forces are in the Reserve component, these Warrior-Citizens bring to the Army team finely honed skills practiced daily in the civilian sector as judges, physicians, health inspectors, fire chiefs, police officers and much more.
For more information about civil affairs, USACAPOC(A) or the Army Reserve, please visit www.usacapoc.army.mil.
| Date Taken: | 03.25.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 03.26.2012 14:15 |
| Story ID: | 85804 |
| Location: | KALAMAZOO, MI, US |
| Web Views: | 904 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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