Signal Battalion on Oahu returns from Afghanistan
HONOLULU, Hawaii -- Approximately 200 Soldiers assigned to the 307th Expeditionary Signal Battalion (ESB) Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) and Bravo Company are redeploying home after their year-long deployment in Afghanistan providing communications support as part of the Presidential Force Uplift supporting Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).
The families of the 307th HHC and Bravo Companies will greet their returning Soldiers during a welcome home ceremony in Wheeler Gulch on Wheeler Army Airfield in Wahiawa at approximately 5 p.m. Saturday June 1.
While deployed supporting OEF the 307th ESB split and supported two regions in Afghanistan simultaneously. HHC, 307th ESB supported Regional Command (North) [RC (N)] in the northern region of Afghanistan and B Company, 307th ESB deployed to the southern region of Afghanistan and was headquartered in Kandahar.
During this wartime mission the 307th ESB established tactical communications for 16 newly established Forward Operating Bases (FOB); trained Afghan National Army Soldiers on proper communication equipment usage; built a computer laboratory to expedite training for IT certifications, and established the largest MWR facility in Regional Command-South (RC-S).
This mission was a great success for the unit as well as for the Soldiers. Within battalion, more than two dozen Soldiers decided on continued service in the Army as they reenlisted and seven non-commissioned from the battalion were inducted into the highly esteemed Sergeant Audie Murphy Club for outstanding leadership achievements.
This was the 307th's first deployment into combat since the Vietnam War. The 307th received notification in February 2010 that they would deploy HHC and Bravo Companies as part of the Presidential Force Uplift for Afghanistan.
While the 307th’s Headquarters element deployed to the Middle East, the battalion was still responsible for providing command, control, communications, computers, and information management (C4IM) support to three theaters of operation as part of their peacetime mission. To accomplish this task, Alpha Company, 307th was attached to the 59th Signal Battalion in Alaska; and Charlie Company, 307th was attached to the 30th Signal Battalion in Hawaii.
To provide vital support to the Families of their deployed Soldiers, the 307th established a robust Rear Detachment of Soldiers to help facilitate communication, and built a fully-furnished Yellow Ribbon Room at Helemano Military Reservation. The spouses and children of the 307th regularly gathered there to visit and support each other while their Soldiers were away.
The battalion leadership team is Lt. Col. Jacqueline D. Brown and Command Sgt. Maj. Stephfon Watson. The 307th is one of five battalions in the 516th Signal Brigade, at Fort Shafter. The 516th is one of two Signal brigades in the 311th Signal Command (Theater), also headquartered at Fort Shafter.
Videotaping and flash photography are allowed.
Parking is located in the parking lot in front of the welcome facility in Wheeler Gulch on Airdrome Rd.
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