Page 11 - The Dispatch July 2019

TEXAS MILITARY DEPARTMENT TEXAS MILITARY DEPARTMENT

complete this important mission with honor,” said you to weaponize hope and optimism by looking to
Liesmann. the small things that will help carry you through the
tough days.”
Many Soldiers recognize the difficulty of the mission
that lies ahead, and the journey for these Soldiers Liesmann presented a pillow case to the Task Force
began months ago with many looking forward to the Athena commander and entrusted him to return the
opportunity to employ their skills. pillowcase at the end of their nine-month deploy-
ment.
“The train-up was tough, but it helps us build rela-
tionships and get to know each other better,” said Liesmann added that the pillowcase, which read,
Spc. Makayla Slater, intelligence analyst, Task Force “Love Mel,” helped carry him through difficult days
Athena. during his deployment as a military intelligence offi-
cer in Afghanistan. He added that the pillowcase rep-
Slater is looking forward to the experience she will resented hope and optimism while he navigated set-
gain while deployed and working with her team to backs on his recent deployment and hoped it would
complete the mission and defeat the enemy. do the same for the members of Task Force Athena.

“This ceremony with our visiting higher-ups helped Family members stood by and watched in anticipation
motivate us and encourage us and let us know we are as their Soldiers were honored during the ceremony
backed up when we are deployed,” said Slater. for their dedication to make Texas and the nation
proud as they embark on their important mission.
During the ceremony, leaders spoke directly to the
Soldiers and offered words of advice to help them as “I’m very proud of her because I’m glad she’s going to
TEXAS MILITARY INTELLIGENCE they prepared for their departure. be keeping us safe here,” said Slater’s mother, Heath-

er. “I’m going to miss her.”
SOLDIERS DEPLOY TO MIDDLE EAST “I want you to be able to do two things,” said Lies-
mann. “I want you to bet your rank early, meaning Task Force Athena will be deploying to multiple loca-
I want you to be confident in your intelligence gath- tions across the Middle East this summer in support
Story & Photos By: Capt. Maria Mengrone Soldiers deploying attended more than 30 courses ering methods and not be afraid to brief your com- of Operation Inherent Resolve. -D
71st Expeditionary Military Intelligence spanning 380 man days and logging 550,000 training mander about what you know. And secondly, I want
Brigade Public Affairs Officer hours at nine different locations.

FORT SAM HOUSTON – Family and friends gathered “We are very proud of these teams of intelligence
at Freedom Park at Fort Sam Houston during a de- Soldiers who have stepped forward to defend their
ployment ceremony to bid good luck and farewell country,” said Col. Michael Liesmann, commander,
to a group of approximately 60 Texas Guardsmen of 71st EMIB. “The Texas Army National Guard has a
Task Force Athena, the largest group of military in- well-established reputation for having ready, le-
telligence Soldiers to deploy to the Middle East since thal Soldiers and this deployment builds on that
2009, May 25, 2019. long-standing tradition.”

Task Force Athena is from the 636th Military Intelli- Task Force Athena will provide multi-discipline intel-
gence Battalion, 71st Expeditionary Military Intelli- ligence support to a joint task force while operating
gence Brigade and falls under 71st Troop Command. from multiple locations, focused on providing solu-
tions in the most dynamic and complex region of the
“Their mission is an important one, and they will world.
make the nation proud,” said Brig. Gen. Charles K.
Aris, commander, 71st Troop Command. “They are “This is a particularly tough mission our folks are go- (PAGE 10) The Task Force Athena commander is presented the of- (PAGE 11) Family and friends gathered at Freedom Park at Fort Sam
prepared and have demonstrated through intense ing to do, but I have great confidence that each of- ficial task force colors during a deployment ceremony at Freedom Houston during a deployment ceremony to bid farewell to a group of
pre-mobilization training that they are ready and pre- ficer, non-commissioned officer and Soldier will do Park at Fort Sam Houston, May 25, 2019. Task Force Athena is a approximately 60 Texas Guardsmen of Task Force Athena, the largest
group of approximately 60 Texas Guardsmen and the largest mili-
group of military intelligence Soldiers to deploy to the Middle East
pared to tackle the challenges.” their duty, take care of each other and successfully tary intelligence deployment since 2009. since 2009, May 25, 2019.
10 TheDISPATCH July 2019 www.tmd.texas.gov 11