Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        National Guard Office of Special Victims' Counsel

    Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Vermont's Delta company finally sees a few familiar faces By Staff Sgt. Whitney Hughes, Combined Joint Task Force 101
 AFGHANISTAN, - At a kulat in Forward Operating Base Gardez, home to the battalion headquarters of the 3rd Battalion of the 172nd Infantry Regiment, a wooden sign hangs engraved with a play on the old adage, “Home is where the Army sends us.” Nobody has experienced or embraced this mentality more than the battalion’s Delta Company, who, until recently, had never seen their battalion headquarters. During their first six months in Afghanistan, the company was serving in three different locations in Paktika Province, only about 30 miles from the rest of the 3-172 but still a world away from the close-knit Vermont National Guard mountain infantry unit. Recently, the company was ordered to move to a newly constructed joint combat outpost in the village of Rahman Kheyl in Paktya Province and return home to their parent unit. “It will be like a homecoming of sorts,” said U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Eric Duncan of Northfield, Vt., the senior non-commissioned officer for Demon Company. “The move north has been a major stepping stone in the deployment. I saw an immediate increase in the spirit and morale of the soldiers.” Although their location changed, their mission remains very similar to the ones they performed in Paktika, working out of small bases and providing security for the outlying villages. In Rahman Kheyl, this means they will have to build relationships with locals and village elders in an area where coalition forces haven’t operated in about four years. But with the six months of experience from Paktika under their belt, they enter into the new mission with confidence. “I have experience with the customs, culture, and how to develop a working relationship with the Afghan village elders,” said U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Dan Silver from Dover, N.H., a platoon leader with the company. During their mission in Paktika, two of the company’s platoons were at remote district centers and although they were still in daily contact with the company’s command, the distance was a constant strain. “Not having that daily interaction with the soldiers was mentally trying,” said Duncan, who added that he was glad to have the majority of the company back together but was quick to mention that their second platoon was still serving a separate mission in Khowst Province. “Having the unit together in one place instead of split up all over western Paktika makes it much easier to support the Afghan National Security Forces,” he added. Their new JCOP also puts them in a better position because they are physically co-located with a Kandak (a company-sized element) of Afghan National Army soldiers, and a platoon of Macedonian Rangers. “It doesn’t get more joint than that,” said U.S. Army Maj. Gregg Langevine, the 3-172 battalion operations officer from Gibsonia, Pa. Their new home at the JCOP, which they have lived at for about two weeks and was only constructed about two month ago, defines "forward" living conditions. Unlike soldiers at more established forward operating bases, the Demon Company soldiers are truly “roughing it.” For the time being, the soldiers have no access the Internet or television. Their mail comes whenever the battalion’s support company can drive it out to them; they share a single satellite phone to call home and they work, live and eat in tents. “Our living conditions are more austere, but it’s worth it to have the unit together as a whole,” said Silver. With the lack of connection to the outside world, the Soldiers have to rely on each other for entertainment whether it’s their daily flag football games, dinner-time debates, or trips to “The Pit,” where their wrestling matches take place. “For the first six months we were kind of fractured, so (being secluded at the JCOP) has brought us all together, and with less distraction it helps us keep our mind on the mission. Anything that's a physical activity is good to keep us in shape, and it's also a good outlet to relieve stress,” said U.S. Army Sgt. Paul Jardine, a medic from Fair Haven, Vt., with the company. Though some might see the companies living conditions as harsh, Duncan, who’s on his sixth deployment, sees it as an advantage and combat multiplier. “My deployments have given me the opportunity to see that the more connectivity that soldiers have, every one of those comforts, is a distraction from the esprit de corps and the camaraderie that comes naturally in a combat arms unit. "Having the Soldiers’ undivided attention reinvigorates those human relationships with their teammates and battle buddies,” said Duncan.
 SHARE
 PRINT
 
 NY Army Guard Band Performs for Netherlands King and Queen
 By Eric Durr,
  Air National Guard Conducts Sentry Savannah Exercise
 By Master Sgt. Caila Arahood and Senior Airman Victoria Coursey,
  Hawaii Air National Guard Hosts Sentry Aloha Joint Exercise
 By Tech. Sgt. John Linzmeier,
  More
 Air National Guard Conducts Sentry Savannah Exercise Guard News • 6 hours ago
 Hawaii Air National Guard Hosts Sentry Aloha Joint Exercise Guard News • 7 hours ago
 National Guard, US Army North, FEMA Train for Hurricane Response Guard News • 8 hours ago
 Cal Air Guard F-15 Pilots Train with Marine Corps F-35 Pilots Guard News • 9 hours ago
 Tennessee Guard Rescues Hiker in Great Smoky Mountains Park Guard News • 3 days ago
 2024 (193)  2023 (427)  2022 (526)  2021 (697)  2020 (936)  2019 (387)  2018 (323)  2017 (346)  2016 (245)  2015 (356)  2014 (399)  2013 (469)  2012 (556)  2011 (533)  2010 (1071)  2009 (357)  2008 (638)  2007 (295)  2006 (188)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil