Families and friends of Soldiers with 3rd Squadron, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, bid farewell to the 55th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade unit during a departure ceremony held Mach 16, 2019 in Milton, Pa. Approximately 500 Pennsylvania National Guard members assigned to the 3/278th are mobilizing this spring in preparation for deployment to Poland as part of NATOs Enhanced Forward Presence mission.
The unit will lead Battle Group Poland, a multi-national task force comprised of Soldiers from the U.S., the United Kingdom, Croatia, and Romania.
The 3/278th Soldiers will travel to Texas to complete a culminating exercise and preparation for movement overseas. Upon completion, 3rd Squadron will deploy to Poland. While in Poland, Soldiers will support the interest of NATO allies and have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of training exercises with NATO partners.
Lt. Col. Mark O’Neill, the regiment’s commander, said that when he assumed command two years ago his vision for the regiment was that it would be a tactically and technically proficient unit that prides itself on being fully prepared to fight and win in a complex operational environment.
“I can assure you that the unit has achieved that vision,” he said. “The traditional Guardsman in this unit has done an average of 84 training days this past year.”
“I want to thank the Soldiers for their hard work and dedication,” O’Neill added. “And I especially want to thank the families for sacrificing the time required for these soldiers to meet mission requirements.”
Col. John Pippy, commander of the 55th MEB, noted that approximately 40 percent of the regiment has deployed before and said the deploying soldiers represent the Guard’s best. He encouraged the Soldiers and family members to keep in touch with each other and reach out to the unit for help with any challenges during the separation.
“We’re proud of you. You represent what’s best about us,” Pippy said. “If you’re having issues, if your family is having issues, you’re not alone. The great thing about the Pa. Army National Guard is we’re one big family.
The unit has been preparing for this mission for over a year. They completed many training events, including a rotation at the National Training Center at Ft. Irwin, Calif. in summer 2018.
Spc. Trista Rustin of Topton, Pa., with Hotel Troop, is among the mobilizing Soldiers and is deploying for the first time. She serves as a wheeled vehicle mechanic and has been in the Pa. Guard for five years.
“I’m excited, a little nervous,” she said. “I know it’s an important mission. My role is to make sure vehicles are up to par so other Soldiers can do their jobs.”
Sgt. Karahn Bellamy was recently attached to the 3/278th for the deployment. He normally drills with the 1067th Transportation Company in Philadelphia as a truck driver. This is also his first deployment.
“I feel pretty confident about the deployment,” said Bellamy. “We’re going to work hard and get the mission done.”
The 3rd Squadron (formerly designated as the 3rd Battalion, 103rd Armor Regiment) is a Pennsylvania Army National Guard unit assigned to the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment of the Tennessee Army National Guard. Approximately 300 Soldiers from the Tennessee National Guard will be joining the Pennsylvanian Soldiers on this mission.
The Squadron Headquarters and Headquarters Troop is located in Danville, Pennsylvania with subordinate units in Williamsport (I Troop), Wellsboro (K Troop), Lewisburg (L Troop), and Lock Haven (H Troop/278th Regimental Support Squadron).