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NEWS | Nov. 30, 2010

First Florida Guardsmen return home from Iraq

By Capt. Kurt Van Slooten Florida National Guard

HUNTER ARMY AIRFIELD, Ga., - The 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team's first flight home was greeted here by the commanding general of First Army Division East as well as Florida National Guard leaders with words of encouragement and job well done.

Maj. Gen. Mick Bednarek, Division East commanding general, Air Force Maj. Gen. Emmett Titshaw, Jr., adjutant general of the Florida National Guard, and Maj. Gen. Don Tyre, assistant adjutant general of the Florida Guard, shook hands with each of the 152 Soldiers early on Nov. 28 as they got off the plane stepped foot back on American soil.

After accounting for sensitive items and watching a video providing an overview of the demobilization process the Florida Soldiers would follow, they were bused to Cottrell Field on Fort Stewart for their homecoming ceremony and to start their demobilization.

"Meeting the standard of Focused Soldier Care is our number-one priority throughout the demobilization," said Bednarek. "No Soldier will leave Fort Stewart until all his or her needs have been satisfactorily validated and addressed."

The 188th Infantry Brigade has partnered with Joint Forces Headquarters - Florida, Fort Stewart Garrison Command, Fort Stewart U.S. Army Medical Department Activity, Fort Stewart U.S. Army Dental Activity and Defense Finance and Accounting Service to respond to the 53rd's demobilization requirements.

All of the units involved expressed their commitment to assisting the Soldiers of the 53rd to complete the tasks of the First Army demobilization process.

"We have worked closely with the 53rd IBCT and the Florida Joint Forces Headquarters to clearly assess, understand and prepare for individual Soldier reintegration needs," said Col. Robert A. Warburg, 188th Infantry Brigade commander. "Special emphasis has been placed on medical and behavioral health issues, as well as other potential challenges facing these redeploying Citizen-Soldiers."

Florida's largest National Guard unit, the "Gator Brigade," with about 2,500 Soldiers, served nine months in Kuwait and Iraq under Operation Iraqi Freedom during the drawdown of U.S. forces in Iraq.

 

 

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