FORT EUSTIS, Va. –
Friends and families gathered to say farewell to Soldiers assigned to the 511th Dive Detachment, Special Troops Battalion, 7th Sustainment Brigade, during a deployment ceremony at Fort Eustis, Jan. 18.
The Soldiers left for a deployment to Kuwait in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Their mission is to provide engineer dive support to theater commanders in the areas of ports, harbors, inland waterways and littoral zones, which is the part of a body of water closest to the shore.
The Soldiers will support a theater asset available to complete tasks ranging from hull inspections on Army, Navy and Coast Guard vessels to port openings, maintenance and salvage operations. The unit is prepared to perform multiple tasks that support waterborne operations.
The 511th Engineer Dive Detachment falls under the 30th Engineer Battalion, based out of Fort Bragg, N.C.
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Paul Kremer, 30th Engineer Battalion commander, spoke to new members of the team.
"For some, this is your first deployment; follow your leaders and you will be fine," said Kremer. "Enjoy the dives in a new body of water. For the experienced leaders, remember to take care of your battle buddy so that you all cross the finish line as one team."
Kremer ended the ceremony with a final message to the Soldiers of the 511th.
"We go to bring home the trophy. That's what America expects. Do your mission [and] be professional," said Kremer. "Make us proud. In the U.S. Army there is only one end state - and that is to win."