Soldiers from 52nd Theater Gateway, 10th Headquarters and Special Troops Battalion, 10th Mountain Division Sustainment Brigade, case their colors during a ceremony Oct. 17, 2019, in preparation for their upcoming deployment in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, Operation Spartan Shield, and Operation Freedom Sentinel. (Photo by Sgt. Brandon Cox, 10th Mountain Division Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs Office.)
Guardians deploy to support Theater Gateway operations
Sgt. Brandon Cox
10th Mountain Division Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs Office
FORT DRUM, N.Y. (Oct. 17, 2019) – Soldiers from 52nd Theater Gateway, 10th Headquarters and Special Troops Battalion, 10th Mountain Division Sustainment Brigade, cased their colors during a ceremony held Oct. 17, in preparation for their upcoming deployment in support of Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR), Operation Spartan Shield (OSS), and Operation Freedom Sentinel (OFS).
The ceremony symbolizes the start of the deployment. The colors will not be uncased until the transfer of authority takes place and the unit has assumed its position in theater.
“You are joining a long line of ‘Workhorses’ who have carried our standard of freedom to the ends of the earth,” said Lt. Col. Ronald Stewart, 10th Headquarters and Special Troops Battalion commander. “I trust that you will continue to ‘Climb to Glory’ while deployed.”
Second Lt. Nicole Futch, 52nd TG deputy chief, spoke a little about the preparation for the deployment.
“We have been preparing through working our personnel accountability functions in major exercises like Mountain Peak and at the Rapid Deployment Facility on Fort Drum,” Futch said. “I am so excited, I could not have been given a better mission.”
The 52nd TG will provide support to the theater of operations by ensuring accountability of transient personnel entering, departing or transitioning within theater.
“We are excited for the challenge in front of us, and I know we will make the 10th Mountain Division proud,” said Capt. Joel J. Natalie Jr., 52nd TG commander. “The ‘Guardians’ are ready.”
Approximately 10 Soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division Sustainment Brigade will replace the 9th Theater Gateway, 82nd Airborne Division from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, according to Futch.
One of the young Soldiers of the unit said he is ready for the challenge in front of him.
“I’m very excited,” said Pfc. William Oliver, a human resources specialist. “I’ve been preparing by staying focused on the mission, and I am ready to experience something new.”
Stewart offered final words of encouragement to the Soldiers of the 52nd TG before their departure.
“I know you are confident in your mission and ability to pull the heavy load,” Stewart said. “Keep your faith, celebrate your patriotism, care for one another, relish the opportunity to make a mark on the world, return to Fort Drum with honor and do an exceptional job representing the 10th Mountain Division, and we’ll see you at the top.”