BANGOR, MAINE (02/07/2020) (readMedia)-- On Feb. 7, after nearly 10 months overseas, and with a little Maine weather to assure them they were truly home, the Soldiers of the 286th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion were released into the arms of waiting family members at the Army Aviation Support Facility.

The unit originally departed for their final pre-mobilization training in mid-April 2019 before reporting to Poland for their tour in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve.

"I am honored to welcome our brave service members home," said Gov. Janet Mills in a statement. "On behalf of the people of Maine, I offer my deepest gratitude to them and their families for their service and sacrifice in support of our country and our allies. Maine is proud of you."

Multiple senior leaders were on hand to welcome the unit home including The Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Douglas Farnham, Brig. Gen. Donald Lagace, Brig. Gen. Dean Preston, Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Smith and Chief Warrant Officer 4 David Cheney.

"Deployments like this are an example of how the National Guard has transitioned to an operational reserve, as opposed to merely a strategic one," said Farnham. "It is truly impressive how in this operational role, a citizen-Soldier from a town in Maine can make an international impact with our NATO allies."

As a battalion headquarters unit, the 286th was assigned to the 16th Sustainment Brigade and provided administrative support and mission command to five subordinate companies from Georgia, Pennsylvania, South Dakota and New York. These subordinate units, representing both the active Army and Army Reserve, provided logistical and maintenance support to U.S. forces within the region.

Among their list of accomplishments, the task force led by the 286th completed over 750 transportation missions, traveling over 750,000 miles. They also completed nearly 2,900 maintenance work orders, distributed over 2 million gallons of fuel and supported multiple exercises involving no less than 21 nations.

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.

Additional photos and footage of units involved in Atlantic Resolve can be found by searching the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS) at: https://www.dvidshub.net/

For more information specific to U.S. Army Europe or Operation Atlantic Resolve, please refer to the U.S. Army Europe public affairs office at: https://www.eur.army.mil/PublicAffairs/

Captions:

IMG_0045: Soldiers of the 286th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion stand in formation prior to being released to their families at Bangor's Army Aviation Support Facility on Friday, Feb. 7, 2020. Photo courtesy of 1st Sgt. Bear Parker.

IMG_0044: Sgt. Raven Parker greets her mother, Carrie Ann Parker, after arriving at the Army Aviation Support Facility in Bangor on Feb. 7, 2020. The 286th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion was returning from nearly 10 months in Poland in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve. Photo courtesy of 1st Sgt. Bear Parker.

200207-Z-SE977-0002: Two little fans await the arrival of their favorite Soldier. The 286th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion returned to Bangor Feb. 7 after nearly 10 months in Poland. Maine National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Jon Duplain / Released

200207-Z-SE977-0013: Donning a uniform of their own, Capt. Jacob Pelletier's family prepares for the arrival of the 286th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion. The unit returned to Bangor on Feb. 7 after nearly 10 months in Poland in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve. Maine National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Jon Duplain / Released

200207-Z-SE977-0036: A Soldier from the 286th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion greets his family after arriving at the Bangor Army Aviation Support Facility on Feb. 7, 2020. The unit was returning from nearly 10 months in Poland in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve. Maine National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Jon Duplain / Released

IMG_0008: Maj. Gen. Douglas Farnham shakes hands with 1st Lt. Nicholas Knight as the 286th CSSB Soldiers deplane at Bangor's Army Aviation Support Facility. Photo courtesy of Chief Warrant Officer 5 Jon Campbell.

IMG_0005: 286th CSSB Soldiers deplane to find a long line of senior leaders waiting to welcome them home. Photo courtesy of Chief Warrant Officer 5 Jon Campbell.

Posted Friday February 07, 2020 at 08:20 pm by Maine National Guard
Last Updated Friday February 07, 2020 at 09:28 pm