FORT BLISS, Texas – Task Force ODIN, which stands for Observe, Detect, Identify and Neutralize, deployed Feb. 28 from the Arrival/Departure Air Control Group, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The unit originally hails from Fort Hood, Texas.
Maj. Joseph Sims, operations officer and senior leader, described the training the unit went through as very intense but necessary to provide continuous effort to help the government of Afghanistan in developing the stability and future control of their government.
“The deployment is a much anticipated deployment for our team [since we were] put together in the last six months, and went through that training during that time frame,” said Sim.
The unit’s deployment can run from six months up to a year depending on the needs of the Army.
“The families have been a huge support,” said Sim. “They have been extremely helpful alongside the [Family Readiness Group]. We are pretty excited to see what they got planned for us while we are downrange. I know they are talking about little goody baskets.”
First Lt. Kathryn Rodriques is a human resources officer and this is her first deployment. She is also a first generation service member in her family.
“We have been talking about this deployment for a very long time, and now that it is finally here, I am anxious to get started,” said Rodriques. “I am excited and I am glad I have this honor to go with my soldiers.”
According to Rodriques, her family is also going through first-time deployment jitters.
“I try to educate them and calm their fears,” said Rodriques. “I want my family to not worry too much. I want them to know that I will be as safe as I possibly can.”
TF ODIN was created in August of 2006 at Fort Hood, Texas, to conduct reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition operations to combat insurgent operators of improvised explosive devices in Iraq.