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Col. Gary Johnston, 504th BfSB commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Dennis Eger uncase the brigade colors during a ceremony Friday at West Fort Hood. The uncasing marks the return of the brigade from Afghanistan. Dawn Pandoliano, Sentinel Staff

Family members greet returning Soldiers from the 504th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade at their motor pool May 28 on West Fort Hood after being deployed to Afghanistan for a year. Dawn Pandoliano, Sentinel Staff

Col. Gary Johnston, commander, 504th BfSB, speaks during the uncasing ceremony held Friday at West Fort Hood. The uncasing marks the return of the brigade from a one-year deployment to Afghanistan. Dawn Pandoliano, Sentinel Staff

“Always Ready” Soldiers from the 504th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade officially marked their return to Fort Hood during an uncasing ceremony Friday at West Fort Hood.

The unit returned in June from a yearlong deployment to Afghanistan where the Soldiers conducted counterinsurgency and stabilization operations.

III Corps and Fort Hood Commanding General Lt. Gen. Don Campbell Jr., who served as reviewing officer for the ceremony, congratulated the Soldiers and leaders.

“You set the example for III Corps and Fort Hood of a professional team and unit,” Campbell said.

The general said the Soldiers of the 504th BfSB went to Afghanistan at a crucial point in the nation’s history, and they helped shape the future for the people of that nation.

“Through your adaptive approach, your diligent and aggressive application of well-trained skills and your commitment to mission success, you became an integral part of the future of Afghanistan,” Campbell said. “You helped make the nation a safer place for children to grow up, families to make a living and for freedom to prosper.”

As part of Combined Task Force Viper, the brigade deployed to Kandahar province and took over more than 10,000 square miles of battle space along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

As Task Force Tracker, Soldiers assigned to 2nd Squadron, 38th Cavalry Regiment conducted patrols and interdictions in southern Kandahar province, resulting in a 71-percent decrease in casualty-producing attacks, Campbell noted.

Brigade Commander Col. Gary Johnston said 2-38th Cav.’s success is especially impressive after watching the unit build, certify, train and deploy its teams over the past two-and-a-half years.

During the deployment, TF Tracker was responsible for capturing 111 detainees, conducting 25 air assault missions and collecting more than 2,900 biometric fingerprints, Johnston said.

The brigade commander credited Lt. Col. Dave Jones, 2-38 Cav. Regt. commander, and his team of teams approach for the squadron’s success.

“You saw the battlefield like no one else, you collaborated like no one else and you acted first and got ahead of the enemy like no one else,” Johnston said.

Task Force Blue Watch Soldiers from the 163rd Military Intelligence Battalion operated in Regional Command – South and helped remove 250 high-value targets from the battlefield, participated in more than 1,500 combat operations and conducted more than 90 air assault missions, Johnston said.

Once of the battalion’s keynote achievements for the deployment was the relationship they helped cultivate between the Kandahar Inland Customs Depot and Kandahar International Airport.

“You significantly enhanced the customs process and increased revenue by 57 percent,” Johnston said.

Soldiers with the 303rd Military Intelligence Battalion Task Force Longhorn conducted more than 1,600 combat operations, generated 25,000 intelligence reports, captured 45 high-value targets and located 48 weapons caches, Johnston said.

“Task Force Longhorn also strongly supported the Afghan reintegration program, a top priority for the government of Afghanistan,” he added.

Already members of the most decorated intelligence battalion in the Army, Soldiers from the 303rd MI Bn. “certainly added to the unit’s legacy over the past year,” Johnston said.

Campbell said the Soldiers of the 504th BfSB all contributed to a better tomorrow for Afghanistan, but also farther reaching than there.

“That translates into stability in the region, in the world and a safer place for all of us,” the general said.

The brigade also said farewell to some leaders and welcomed others during the ceremony.

“Today truly marks a transitional change for this outstanding unit,” Campbell said.

In addition to uncasing the brigade’s colors, the 504th hosted a brigade-level change of responsibility and two battalion changes of command.

Johnston thanked outgoing Command Sgt. Maj. Dennis Eger and welcomed incoming Command Sgt. Maj. Anthony Whitney.

Johnston thanked Eger for his work and dedication to the unit and Soldiers, and said he looks forward to working with Whitney.

Lt. Col. Mark Johnson assumed command of the 163rd MI Bn. from Lt. Col. Christopher Mitchiner.

Lt. Col. Jan Rueschoff assumed command of the 303rd MI Bn. from Lt. Col. Todd Berry.

“You’re taking over awesome units,” Johnston told the incoming battalion commanders.