thedrifter
05-12-09, 07:16 AM
218th Brigade receives national military honor
By Chuck Crumbo · CCI Newsgate Feed
Updated 05/12/09 - 7:00 AM |
One of the nation's highest honors for a military unit has been awarded to the S.C. National Guard's 218th Brigade Combat Team for its role in Afghanistan.
The Joint Meritorious Unit Award, presented by the Defense Department's Joint Chiefs of Staff, went to members of the brigade's Headquarters Company.
That unit was the command element of Task Force Phoenix VI, which was responsible for advising and training the Afghan army and police from May 2007 through April 2008.
The honor is awarded to units that distinguish themselves in performing their duties with U.S. armed forces the Army, Air Force, Marines and Navy in missions of great consequence, according to the Defense Department.
It is the second-highest award a U.S. military unit can receive, said Maj. Gen. Bob Livingston, the task force commander.
“This award is a tribute to the great efforts by the men and women of Task Force Phoenix,” Livingston said. “I am especially proud of the great soldiers from South Carolina that formed the cohesive core” of the task force.
The task force took on the duty of advising the Afghan police without additional troops. The unit had only 53 percent of the troops it needed to cover the police and army training missions.
The task force troops enabled the Afghan police to prevent takeover of their district outposts by Taliban forces, Livingston said.
The achievements, though, didn't come without loss. Twenty-two members of the task force, including three S.C. National Guard soldiers, were killed while the 218th was in command of the task force. A fourth guardsman, who extended his tour, died just days after the 218th returned home in May 2008.
The 218th's achievements in Afghanistan will be remembered, said Maj. Gen. Stan Spears, commander of the S.C. National Guard.
“There is deep admiration for these soldiers and all the soldiers of the 218th Brigade Combat Team and all they accomplished,” Spears said.
Ellie
By Chuck Crumbo · CCI Newsgate Feed
Updated 05/12/09 - 7:00 AM |
One of the nation's highest honors for a military unit has been awarded to the S.C. National Guard's 218th Brigade Combat Team for its role in Afghanistan.
The Joint Meritorious Unit Award, presented by the Defense Department's Joint Chiefs of Staff, went to members of the brigade's Headquarters Company.
That unit was the command element of Task Force Phoenix VI, which was responsible for advising and training the Afghan army and police from May 2007 through April 2008.
The honor is awarded to units that distinguish themselves in performing their duties with U.S. armed forces the Army, Air Force, Marines and Navy in missions of great consequence, according to the Defense Department.
It is the second-highest award a U.S. military unit can receive, said Maj. Gen. Bob Livingston, the task force commander.
“This award is a tribute to the great efforts by the men and women of Task Force Phoenix,” Livingston said. “I am especially proud of the great soldiers from South Carolina that formed the cohesive core” of the task force.
The task force took on the duty of advising the Afghan police without additional troops. The unit had only 53 percent of the troops it needed to cover the police and army training missions.
The task force troops enabled the Afghan police to prevent takeover of their district outposts by Taliban forces, Livingston said.
The achievements, though, didn't come without loss. Twenty-two members of the task force, including three S.C. National Guard soldiers, were killed while the 218th was in command of the task force. A fourth guardsman, who extended his tour, died just days after the 218th returned home in May 2008.
The 218th's achievements in Afghanistan will be remembered, said Maj. Gen. Stan Spears, commander of the S.C. National Guard.
“There is deep admiration for these soldiers and all the soldiers of the 218th Brigade Combat Team and all they accomplished,” Spears said.
Ellie