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380AEW Article

Tennessee HIMARS Team Accomplishes 100% Mission Capable Goal at ADAB

  • Published
  • By MSgt Dan Heaton
  • 380th Air Expeditionary Wing

As a Tennessee National Guard unit is preparing to return home after a nine-month deployment to Al Dhafra Air Base, they are proud to pass along a 100 percent mission capable status on all of its equipment to the unit that will replace it.

“It has been an excellent rotation,” said Capt. Ashly McVay, battery commander of Alpha Battery, 1-181st Field Artillery Regiment (HIMARS). “Our maintenance crew, and all of our Soldiers have done an excellent job of being mission ready.”

The unit is a part of the Tennessee Army National Guard. Though headquartered at the armory in Lawrenceburg, the battery-sized element is comprised of Tennesseans from across the state. A security detail from Charlie Troop, 1-152 Calvary of the Florida Army National Guard is also part of the total effort. The unit is equipped with the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), a surface-to-surface artillery system that can fire rockets or missiles.

The battery recently concluded a live fire exercise and McVay said the battery’s Soldiers performed flawlessly.

1st Sgt. Robert Attkisson said a highlight of the rotation has been the opportunity to work in partnership with UAE Soldiers.

“I think it is a true historical partnership, both sides learning from each other and just having the experience of the cultural exchange between the two groups,” he said.

McVay said the deployment by the 1-181st was only the second rotation of a HIMARS unit to ADAB.

“For our Soldiers to come in and perform at the level that they did – they will be able to be very proud when they rotate home,” she said.