Command team visits deployed Mainers over Thanksgiving

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POWIDZ, POLAND (12/03/2019) (readMedia)-- The Adjutant General of Maine, Maj. Gen. Douglas Farnham, paid a holiday visit to the 286th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion last week. The unit is deployed in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve.

"The most important thing I can say is thank you," said Farnham, addressing the unit. "We all know when we put the uniform on that there will be times spent away from family, to include the holidays, but that doesn't make it any less difficult. Thank you for all the hard work you've put in. We've enjoyed hearing about your successes thus far, and we look forward to welcoming you all home soon."

Farnham was accompanied by Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Smith, his senior Army enlisted advisor, and Chief Warrant Officer 4 David Cheney, the command chief warrant officer. During the visit the command team served Thanksgiving dinner, toured the base area, received a mission update brief, presented command coins to standout performers and cheered on the 286th in the base's Turkey Bowl flag football playoff.

"We felt very strongly about putting this visit together," Smith said, regarding the importance of the trip. "The Soldiers of the 286th knew when they went out the door that they would not be home for the holiday season, but they also knew they had a job to do. It's fitting that we as leaders acknowledge theirs and their families' sacrifice by being here to spend some time with them, serve them, and thank them for their service."

The mission of Atlantic Resolve is to build readiness, increase interoperability and enhance bonds between ally and partner militaries with multinational training events in Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Romania. U.S.-based units have been supporting Atlantic Resolve in nine-month rotations since 2014.

The 286th deployed in the spring of 2019 and is expected to begin redeployment to Maine during the winter of 2020.

For media inquiries, please contact the Maine National Guard public affairs office at 207-430-5759, or ng.me.mearng.list.public-affairs@mail.mil.

Captions:

191128-Z-ZZ999-01: Maj. Gen. Douglas Farnham, flanked by Chief Warrant Officer 4 David Cheney (left) and Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Smith (right), tours the base in Powidz, Poland during his Thanksgiving visit to the 286th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion (CSSB). Photo submitted by 286th CSSB

191128-Z-ZZ999-02: Maj. Gen. Douglas Farnham addresses Soldiers of the 286th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion after their Thanksgiving meal. Members of the Maine National Guard command team visited the deployed unit in Powidz, Poland over the holiday weekend. Photo courtesy, Chief Warrant Officer 4 David Cheney

191128-Z-ZZ999-03: From left to right, Chief Warrant Officer 4 David Cheney, Maj. Gen. Douglas Farnham, 1st Lt. Myrtil and Lt. Col. John Wilmot, commander of the 286th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, prepare to serve Soldiers their Thanksgiving meal during the Maine National Guard command team's visit to Powidz, Poland. Photo courtesy, Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Smith

191128-Z-ZZ999-04: Maine National Guard command team members visiting Powidz, Poland, cheered on the 286th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion flag football team during the Turkey Bowl Playoff prior to the unit's Thanksgiving meal. Photo courtesy, Chief Warrant Officer 4 David Cheney

191128-Z-ZZ999-05: Chief Warrant Officer 4 David Cheney highlights Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Salvato's accomplishments prior to presenting him with a command coin. Maj. Gen. Farnham and Command Sgt. Maj. Smith also presented coins to selected enlisted Soldiers, non-commissioned officers, and officers to recognize their standout performances during the 286th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion's (CSSB) tour in Powidz, Poland. Photo submitted by 286th CSSB

191128-Z-ZZ999-06: From front to back, Chief Warrant Officer 4 David Cheney, Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Smith, and Maj. Ian Hepburn, executive officer for the 286th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, prepare to serve Soldiers their Thanksgiving meal. Members of the state command team visited the unit in Powidz, Poland over the holiday weekend to thank them for their service and accomplishments during their deployment. Photo courtesy, Maj. Gen. Douglas Farnham