1st Theater Sustainment Command (TSC) welcomed home 25 Soldiers from a six-month deployment Dec. 11 at a redeployment ceremony at Sadowski Center on post.
The group, known as the Strategic Operations and Plans (SOaP) White Team, spent six months conducting operations in the Middle East. Every six months, the command deploys a team of Soldiers to the region, which it designates the Red, White, or Blue team.
The ceremony’s host, Col. Rodney Honeycutt, chief of staff, 1st TSC, shared some of the highlights of the team while deployed, including ensuring the successful mission accomplishment of events within 10 countries of the U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility (AOR).
Honeycutt also thanked the Soldiers’ family members and friends for their sacrifices.
“We can’t thank you enough, you have endured a burden during this deployment and have had many aspects of your daily lives placed on hold,” Honeycutt said. “It’s an honor to have you here and may God bless you now and in the future. Your resiliency and determination is a testament to our Army Strong mantra.”
One of the family members, 18-year-old Jatarrius Battle, attended the ceremony with his grandparents. His mother, Sgt. 1st Class Jennifer Battle, strategic plans noncommissioned officer, 1st TSC, was one of the returning Soldiers.
Jatarrius, who completed Army basic training while his mother was deployed, talked about what he missed while she was gone.
“I missed talking to her,” Jatarrius said. “While I was in training, I wasn’t able to talk to her because of the time difference, so I’m really glad she’s home.”
Sgt. Jeffrey Adams, human resources specialist, 1st TSC, said he is looking forward to seeing his daughter.
“I missed her first walk, first words, first birthday,” said the father of two. “I’m looking forward to spending time with my family, just relaxing, going to eat pizza and really catching up with what I missed with my daughter.”
Sgt. Gisela Morales, supply specialist, 1st TSC, said she is looking forward to being able to spend Christmas with her parents and sisters at home in Carpentersville, Ill.
“You kind of forget holidays while deployed,” she said. “We were so excited to get back, so for Thanksgiving we weren’t even thinking about Thanksgiving; we were just thinking that we get to spend Christmas at home.”
Since 2006, The 1st TSC has been perpetually deployed to the U.S Central Command’ AOR to ensure that warfighters have the supplies and transportation capabilities they need to accomplish their missions. The U.S. Central Command AOR includes 20 countries and spans six million square miles.
