FORT CARSON, Colo. — Leaders from throughout 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, welcome home the Soldiers with 22nd Human Resources Company, 4th Special Troops Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, from a deployment in support of U.S. Central Command Oct.23, 2020, at the Arrival/Departure Airfield Control Group in Colorado Springs, Colorado. (Photo by Sgt. James Geelen)
Story and photos by Sgt. James Geelen
4th Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division
FORT CARSON, Colo. — 1st Sgt. Santora M. Mathis, right, company first sergeant, 22nd Human Resources Company, 4th Special Troops Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, is greeted by his Family Oct. 23, 2020, outside the company headquarters on Fort Carson, Colorado. Mathis helped lead Soldiers throughout a nine-month deployment in support of U.S. Central Command. (Photo by Sgt. James Geelen)
FORT CARSON, Colo. – Friends, family and colleagues welcomed home Soldiers with 22nd Human Resources Company, 4th Special Troops Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, from a nine-month deployment Oct. 23, 2020, at the Arrival/Departure Airfield Control Group in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
The Soldiers deployed earlier this year to provide support for U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). Their mission was to provide accountability through theater gateway operations, mail support and casualty liaison services.
“We had a total of four platoons go forward to support the CENTCOM missions,” said Capt. Jeffrey P. Houser, commander, 22nd HR, 4th STB, 4th SB. “Our team is a highly trained group of human resource subject matter experts who were eager to provide world class sustainment support.”
The Soldiers, NCOs and officers of the 22nd HR were spread across multiple countries during the nine-month deployment.
“We ran 17 Army Postal Offices across six countries spread throughout the CENTCOM area of operations, along with two military mail terminals” Houser said. “We were responsible for keeping the mail flowing into and out of theater.”
Despite the complex mission requirements, the Soldiers provided critical support to help facilitate mission success.
“For the first seven months my team was as at the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center, which is a very strategic asset for that region,” said Sgt. Perry R. Hudicka, squad leader, 22nd HR, 4th STB, 4th SB. “That’s the main terminal for all Department of Defense, foreign nationals, contractors and Soldiers from around the world. My team ran the passenger terminal and helped with the ID card office as well.”
The Soldiers deployed prior to the COVID-19 outbreak but they worked through the obstacle.
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Command Sgt. Maj. Adam Nash, senior enlisted leader, 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson, speaks to approximately 70 Soldiers from 22nd Human Resources Company, 4th Special Troops Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Inf. Div., at the Arrival/Departure Airfield Control Group Oct. 23, 2020, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Outlaw Soldiers performed numerous missions in support of U.S. Central Command while deployed for the past nine months. (Photo by Sgt. James Geelen)
“For the first month of our deployment everything seemed normal, then COVID(-19) hit,” Hudicka said. “Then the next two weeks everything shut down, no flights in or out, the gyms were closed, the dining facility was closed, just like it did here. But after those two weeks, we were back to work but with mask, social distancing and sanitizing everything.”
After being separated from their Families for nine months, the Soldiers are excited to be home.
“When I left, my son was two-months old and now he’s going to celebrate his first birthday next month,” said Staff Sgt. Justin L. Robellard, headquarters platoon sergeant, 22nd HR, 4th STB, 4th SB. “It would be nice if time stopped when we left, but it doesn’t. So we need to reconnect with our children and our loved ones. We all need to readjust to the new routines.”
Houser was impressed by the hard work and dedication of his Soldiers, he said.
“I have great leaders in this company and it shows because we are coming home with no accidents or fatalities,” Houser said. “Some our outpost routinely took contact and my leadership did a fantastic job making sure everyone was safe. In these uncertain times with federal regulations and quarantines, our Soldiers did a great job keeping the mission going.”
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Mark Goodson, left, hugs his daughter, Spc. Kylie Goodson, 22nd Human Resources Company, 4th Special Troops Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, after a welcome home greeting Oct. 23, 2020, outside the company headquarters on Fort Carson, Colorado. Goodson returned home from a nine-month deployment in support of U.S. Central Command. (Photo by Sgt. James Geelen)
FORT CARSON, Colo. — From left: U.S. Air Force Gen. Glen D. VanHerck, left, commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command and the U.S. Northern Command, welcomes home Capt. Jeffrey P. Houser, commander, 22nd Human Resources Company, 4th Special Troops Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, who gives a socially distance elbow bump to U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Paul McKenna, command senior enlisted leader, North American Aerospace Defense Command and the U.S. Northern Command; and Col. Steven E. Putthoff, commander, 4th SB, at the Arrival/Departure Airfield Control Group Oct. 23, 2020, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team returned from a nine-month deployment in support of U.S. Central Command. (Photo by Sgt. James Geelen)