181st Engineer Company (Vertical) returns from Afghanistan

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Bonnie Harper
  • Massachusetts National Guard Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  Approximately 130 Soldiers of the 181st Engineer Company (Vertical), Massachusetts Army National Guard returned home at about 10:30 p.m. on July 17 after a ten-month deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

The Soldiers landed at Hanscom Air Force Bases and were transported by bus to their armories in Methuen and Camp Edwards to be welcomed home by their families and friends.

"Our primary mission was to support vertical and horizontal expeditionary construction in support of Base Realignment and Closure," said Capt. Adam Peterson, 181st Engineer Company (Vertical) commander. "We were also heavily involved in Afghan National Army engineer development and mentorship."

During the deployment, the Soldiers of the 181st participated in life, health and safety initiatives throughout regional command south. They had a highly productive tour, patrolling more than 11,000 kilometers during mounted combat logistic controls and retrograding more than $6 million in construction materials and repair parts, Peterson said.

"All of the feedback that we've gotten from theater about this unit is what an outstanding job they've done," said Brig. Gen. Paul G. Smith, commander, Massachusetts Army National Guard. "They are, by nature, masters of their crafts. They're ingenious, and they're problem solvers. They're just a class act."

Many of the Soldiers had already completed three to four previous deployments, Peterson said.

"The Soldiers have a wealth of combat knowledge and expertise," he said. "They are absolute professionals and are dedicated to their job.