Nearly 335 soldiers from the Tennessee Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 181st Field Artillery Regiment, are scheduled to return home this week after a successful ten-month deployment overseas in the Middle East, according to a press release by the Tennessee Department of Military.
The 1-181st was a part of Task Force Iron Valor and deployed to six different countries in the Middle East under U.S. Central Command, according to the press release. They supported Operations Spartan Shield and Inherent Resolve, departing Tennessee early last March.
“I’ve watched you train in challenging times with COVID-19 and you’ve taken on multiple missions in the past year,” Tennessee’s Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Jeff Holmes said at the time when addressing the unit. “You’re ready, you’re prepared, and you’re professional. I know you are ready and this is your moment.”
The 1-181st is headquartered in Chattanooga with units in Pulaski, Lawrenceburg, Fayetteville, and Dayton. The soldiers are currently at Fort Bliss, Texas, where they are demobilizing and out-processing.
Roughly 195 soldiers are scheduled to arrive on Thursday with an additional 140 scheduled to return on Saturday.
On Thursday, at approximately 12:30 p.m. CST, nearly 115 soldiers will arrive by aircraft at Smyrna’s Volunteer Training Site. Once they land, their families, friends, and fellow service members will welcome them home before completing a short in processing and then being released to their families. A second aircraft with approximately 80 soldiers are scheduled to arrive in Smyrna at 1:30 p.m. CST and complete the same process, according to the press release.
The soldiers returning home on Saturday will also be coming to Smyrna with time of arrival yet to be announced.
– – –
Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected]
Photo “Tennessee National Guard Field Artillery Unit” by Tennessee State Government.
