Soldiers of 2nd Battalion,
174th Air Defense Artillery Regiment to deploy
Photos by Sgt. Andrew Kuhn, Ohio Army National Guard
MCCONNELSVILLE, Ohio (04/01/17) — About 280 Soldiers from the Ohio National Guard’s 2nd Battalion, 174th Air Defense Artillery Regiment are deploying overseas in support of Operation Inherent Resolve and Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. Soldiers were honored during a call to duty ceremony April 1 at Morgan High School. Before deploying to their overseas duty locations, the Soldiers will undergo mobilization training at Fort Bliss, Texas and Fort Sill, Oklahoma. While deployed, the unit’s primary duty will be to conduct a Counter-Rocket, Artillery, Mortar (C-RAM) mission in Iraq and Afghanistan. C-RAM is a set of systems used to detect and/or destroy incoming artillery, rockets and mortar rounds in the air before they hit their ground targets, or simply provide early warning. Elements of the battalion have deployed four times prior since the beginning of the War on Terrorism, including twice to the National Capital Region (2006 and 2012) in support of air defense operations.
Maj. Gen. Mark E. Bartman, Ohio adjutant general, speaks to Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 174th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, during the unit’s call to duty ceremony. |
Spc. Michael Knisley, a power generator equipment specialist, kisses his wife goodbye. |
A Soldier assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 174th Air Defense Artillery Regiment says goodbye to a loved one. |
A Soldier spends time with his Family after the ceremony. |
Chief Warrant Officer 2 William Wahler, a systems integrator, hugs his daughter after the ceremony. |
Sgt. Brian Laws, a radar repairer, holds his wife after the ceremony. |
Spc. Cailin Hoskins, an AN/TWQ-1 Avenger Air Defense System crew member, hugs a loved one before loading the bus. |
