Birmingham based Guard unit returns

MONTGOMERY, AL (11/14/2013)(readMedia)-- The Alabama National Guard will welcome home the Soldiers of the 135th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, out of Birmingham, at noon, Nov. 16, at the Sumter Smith Air National Guard Base, Army Aviation Support Facility #2, 5401 East Lake Blvd. in Birmingham. Ala.

The approximately 240 Alabama Army National Guard Soldiers deployed in January 2013 as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. The unit mobilized at Fort Hood, Texas, for additional training before departing for duty in Kuwait.

The 135th provides oversight and planning for all sustainment efforts in an area of operations including air, sea and ground operations.

During their deployment, the Soldiers of the 135th commanded logistics operations in 10 countries. They restructured logistics operations to save taxpayers millions of dollars each year. The command also reorganized and aligned logistics units to increase efficiencies in supplying resources to U.S. service members.

In 2009, the unit was mobilized to support Operation Enduring Freedom. It served as the Joint Sustainment Command – Afghanistan and returned to Alabama in October 2010.

National Guard leadership will participate in the homecoming, and families and the media are encouraged to attend.

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