RICHMOND, Va. –
Approximately 40 Soldiers assigned to the Virginia National Guard’s Virginia Beach-based 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group returned to the United States Nov. 19, 2024, after serving federal active duty in Poland since January 2024. The Soldiers will conduct administrative tasks at their de-mobilization station of Fort Cavazos, Texas, to begin transitioning back to a traditional National Guard status, but an exact date for their return has not been finalized.
A group of about 20 529th Soldiers already returned home, and a small contingent of Soldiers are conducting transportation support in Poland and will return later this month.
Brig. Gen. Charles B. Martin, Commander of the Virginia Army National Guard, Col. Juanita F. Rohler and Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph R. Viera, the 329th RSG command team, and Col. Gregory J. Geiger, commander of the Mobilization Support Brigade, greeted the Soldiers and thanked them for their service. The 329th command team also presented challenge coins to select Soldiers for outstanding duty performance.
The 529th conducted a transfer of authority ceremony with the Georgia National Guard’s 110th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion Nov. 6 in Zagan Palace in Zagan, Poland.
“Task Force Cavalier, the day has finally arrived for us to hand over this mission,” said Lt. Col. Carlos Maldonado, commander of TF Cavalier at the TOA. “While January 28, the day we left Virginia, seems like a lifetime ago, it also feels like time flew by. I cannot express how grateful I am to you for making this an absolute success for the 529th as we continue to add to the history of our unit and the Virginia National Guard on NATO’s Eastern Flank.”
The 529th took responsibility for logistics, maintenance, and supply missions based at Forward Operating Site Karliki, Poland, in March 2024 and acts as the headquarters element for Task Force Cavalier. They oversee operations and training for more than 550 Soldiers from four different subordinate units from active-duty Army, Army Reserve and Army National Guard.
“You showed tremendous resiliency,” Maldonado said in regard to the challenges the unit faced early on in the mission. “You overcame and absolutely crushed the mission. Through it all, Cavalier you persevered.”
Maldonado said TF Cavalier conducted 261 missions covering more than 260,000 miles, which he said is roughly one round trip to the moon. The task force moved 316 20-foot containers of ammunition, and he said if those were stacked end to end, they would stretch the length of three football fields. They also transported 227,000 gallons of fuel, which he said is enough to power a standard car for about 6.8 million miles or enough to drive around the Earth 270 times.
Conducting the TOA at Zagan Palace symbolized the TF Cavalier commitment to community involvement during their deployment.
“I am especially proud of our community engagements, conducting visits to schools, orphanages and participating in local events and festivals, Maldonado said. “TF Cavalier took our role as a part of the Zagan community seriously and enjoyed interacting with the Polish people and Polish Army, who were always respectful, kind and helpful. I am especially proud of TF Cavalier supporting flood response operations in September, further cementing the trust and friendship that we have built with the town of Zagan.”
In addition to the 529th CSSB Headquarters, TF Cavalier also consisted of active U.S. Army transportation and ordnance companies, a transportation company from the U.S. Army Reserve and a transportation company from the Missouri National Guard.
Maldonado said he would like to thank every Soldier individually, he said he would be remiss if he didn’t recognize some of the people who made the deployment a success.
“We were blessed to have the absolute best noncommissioned officer corps of any unit in the United States Army,” he said. “NCOs are the backbone of any Army organization, and these individuals proved it every single day. Thank you for being professionals and living the Army Values.”
Maldonado recognized his personnel, operations, support operations and information technology sections for their tireless efforts supporting the mission.
He also recognized Maj. Brandon Harding, the task force executive officer, and Command Sgt. Elliott, the task force senior enlisted leader.
“Brandon was the force behind Cavalier getting the mission accomplished,” he said. “My trust in him allowed me to travel and do circulation for about 45 days leaving him in charge of the forward operation site. Thank you for your candor, your commitment, your friendship, and your dedication to mission success.”
He acknowledged Elliott as his road warrior partner during their circulation throughout Eastern Europe and the Baltics visiting troops.
“We spent tens of thousands of miles together on the road,” he said. “The calm to my storm sometimes, and an excellent sounding board and battle buddy. Thank you for just being you.”
Maldonado closed wishing the incoming command team for Task Force Liberty his best and acknowledged they were ready and able to take over the mission as the only combat sustainment support battalion in theater.