Debora Rocha kisses her husband, Chief Warrant Officer 2 David Rocha, goodbye during a departure event for the 1st Attack/Reconnaissance Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment at the Utah Army National Guard armory in West Jordan on Thursday, May 7, 2020. The battalion, which is deploying in support of Operation Freedom Sentinel, has been tasked to provide combat air support to ground forces during a 12-month deployment in the U.S. Central Command area of operations. Laura Seitz, Deseret News

By Deseret News Photographers

View Comments

Debora Rocha kisses her husband, Chief Warrant Officer 2 David Rocha, goodbye during a departure event for the 1st Attack/Reconnaissance Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment at the Utah Army National Guard armory in West Jordan on Thursday. The battalion, comprised of three companies of AH-64 Apache helicopters, is deploying in support of Operation Freedom Sentinel and has been tasked to provide combat air support to ground forces during a 12-month deployment in the U.S. Central Command area of operations. “The 1-211th Attack/Reconnaissance Battalion has a history of exceptional performance” said Lt. Col. Jon D. Richardson, the battalion’s commander. “We have deployed to Kuwait, twice to Afghanistan, and many rotations through the Army’s combat training centers at Fort Polk, Louisiana, and Fort Irwin, California. Our soldiers are well trained and have been preparing for this deployment to the CENTCOM area of operations for the past two years.”

1 of 8
Lt. Col. John Richardson hugs his wife, Jennifer, during a departure event for the 1st Attack/Reconnaissance Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment at the Utah Army National Guard armory in West Jordan on Thursday, May 7, 2020. The battalion, which is deploying to Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom Sentinel, has been tasked to provide combat air support to ground forces during a 12-month deployment in the U.S. Central Command area of operations. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
2 of 8
Families wave goodbye as the 1st Attack/Reconnaissance Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment departs the Utah Army National Guard armory in West Jordan on Thursday, May 7, 2020. The battalion, which is deploying in support of Operation Freedom Sentinel, has been tasked to provide combat air support to ground forces during a 12-month deployment in the U.S. Central Command area of operations. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
3 of 8
Kendall Wayment comforts her children, Truxton, 9, Macklon, 7, and Vivia, 5, at the Utah Army National Guard in West Jordan as her husband and their father, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Brant Wayment, of West Jordan and a member of the 1st Attack/Reconnaissance Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment, departs for a 12-month deployment in support of Operation Freedom Sentinel. The battalion has been tasked to provide combat air support to ground forces during a 12-month deployment in the U.S. Central Command area of operations. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
4 of 8
A Utah Army National guardsman waves goodbye as the 1st Attack/Reconnaissance Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment departs the Utah Army National Guard armory in West Jordan on Thursday, May 7, 2020. The battalion, which is deploying in support of Operation Freedom Sentinel, has been tasked to provide combat air support to ground forces during a 12-month deployment in the U.S. Central Command area of operations. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
5 of 8
Macklon Wayment cries for his father, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Brant Wayment, during a departure event for the 1st Attack/Reconnaissance Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment at the Utah Army National Guard armory in West Jordan on Thursday, May 7, 2020. The battalion, which is deploying to Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom Sentinel, has been tasked to provide combat air support to ground forces during a 12-month deployment in the U.S. Central Command area of operations. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
6 of 8
Lt. Col. John Richardson waves goodbye to his family during a departure event for the 1st Attack/Reconnaissance Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment at the Utah Army National Guard armory in West Jordan on Thursday, May 7, 2020. The battalion, which is deploying in support of Operation Freedom Sentinel, has been tasked to provide combat air support to ground forces during a 12-month deployment in the U.S. Central Command area of operations. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
7 of 8
The 1st Attack/Reconnaissance Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment departs the Utah Army National Guard armory in West Jordan on Thursday, May 7, 2020. The battalion, which is deploying in support of Operation Freedom Sentinel, has been tasked to provide combat air support to ground forces during a 12-month deployment in the U.S. Central Command area of operations. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
8 of 8
Family and friends of Lt. Col. John Richardson wave goodbye as the 1st Attack/Reconnaissance Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment departs the Utah Army National Guard armory in West Jordan on Thursday, May 7, 2020. The battalion, which is deploying in support of Operation Freedom Sentinel, has been tasked to provide combat air support to ground forces during a 12-month deployment in the U.S. Central Command area of operations. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
Looking for comments?
Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.