Missouri Guard Aviation Group welcomed home in Springfield

Maj. Gen. Stephen L. Danner, adjutant general of the Missouri National Guard, addresses members of the Springfield, Mo. based contingency that made up the Aviation Depot Maintenance Round-out Unit, or ADMRU, who returned from a yearlong deployment to the Middle East. The group of aviation specialists was given a welcome home ceremony before reuniting with Family and friends. (Ann Keyes/Missouri National Guard)

By Ann Keyes
ngmo.pao@us.army.mil

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Sixteen southwest Missouri Soldiers were welcomed home with open arms following a yearlong deployment to the Middle East. The Missouri National Guardsmen, primarily members of Springfield's 1107th Aviation Group, deployed as part of the Aviation Depot Maintenance Round-out Unit, or ADMRU.

"We're absolutely ecstatic," said Chantell Parker, aunt to Branson resident Spc. Josh Reynolds. Parker drove from Harrison, Ark., and waited patiently with the rest of the crowd at the Missouri Guard's Theater Aviation Sustainment Maintenance Group facility for the Citizen-Soldiers to arrive. Suspense built as the group's flight came in a little later than planned.

"I've waited a year, I can wait a few more minutes," said the young son of the eldest deployed member of the group, Sgt. 1st Class Frank Williams, a father of nine.

Not long after the noted start to the welcome home ceremony, the Soldiers filed in to an excited crowd of friends and Family, waving flags and cheering in support, but the Soldiers kept composure during a brief ceremony while sporting broad smiles and searching the crowd for their loved ones.

The Missouri Guard Soldiers joined approximately 140 others from around the U.S. to make up the unit, which consisted of a select group of rotary-wing aircraft mechanics, test pilots and others with various aviation-related military occupational specialties. The group deployed to Kuwait, while some Soldiers with particular skills supported operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Over the deployment, the ADMRU repaired over 208 helicopters while executing 66,500 man-hours of maintenance support. The ADMRU completed more than 880 work orders that resulted in a cost savings of $57 million, and the group sustained an overall equipment readiness rate of over 99.97 percent.

"The unparalleled service of ensuring Army helicopters in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait stayed in the war-fight ready for the next mission has set new standards in aviation logistics and maintenance," said Lt. Col. John Stevens, the strength manager for Headquarters, ADMRU.

In keeping with Missouri Guard tradition, eldest group member Williams left for the Middle East with the American flag. The Springfield Soldier returned the flag to Maj. Gen. Stephen L. Danner, adjutant general of the Missouri National Guard.

The youngest deployed group member, Spc. Eric Snyder, of Strafford, returned the Missouri flag to state Command Sgt. Maj. James Schulte, a particularly proud moment for Snyder's mother, Elaine Montgomery.

For her, Montgomery said the worst part of her son's deployment was when she didn't hear from him as scheduled. But she added that she spoke to him about once a week, most often by cell phone or video chat.

"Skype is a mother's best friend," she said.

Following the welcome home ceremony, the Soldiers headed to various places to celebrate.

Like many others, Montgomery said at least two other welcome home celebrations were on the Family's schedule. But, first things first.

"We're going to lunch, then to the cell phone store," said Montgomery before reuniting with her son.

The ADMRU Soldiers replaced the main body of the 1107th Aviation Group in theater, who did similar work in support of Overseas Contingency Operations from 2009 to 2010.

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