Wyoming says farewell to soldiers with the 115th Field Artillery Brigade

The Wyoming National Guard said farewell to more than 120 soldiers assigned to the 115th Field Artillery Brigade at a ceremony conducted at Cheyenne’s Storey Gymnasium on Nov. 30.

The send-off ceremony formally recognized the deploying soldiers and their families and demonstrated the admiration and support they will carry with them from the greater Wyoming community, military and civilian leadership and their loved ones. 

The 115th is deploying to the Southeast Asia to support Operations Spartan Shield and Inherent Resolve. Once there, they will link up with military personnel already deployed with the Cowboy Guard’s 2nd Battalion, 300th Field Artillery Regiment.

Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon presided over the ceremonies, joined by Maj. Gen. Greg Porter, Wyoming adjutant general, Chief Master Sgt. Josh Moore, command senior enlisted leader for the Cowboy Guard, Col. Alexander Fisher, commander of the 115th, and finally Command Sgt. Maj. Deborah Manzanares, the 115th’s command senior enlisted leader. 

The 115th has a storied past that began 130 years ago in 1894 when Wyoming formed its first artillery unit. The command earned honors in operations throughout the U.S.’s history, from the Spanish American War through the Global War on Terrorism. 

Earlier this year, the U.S. Army awarded the 115th the Meritorious Unit Citation in recognition of their outstanding contributions during deployments across the Central Command area of responsibility. 

The 115th provided long-range precision fire support for conventional and special operations forces in Iraq, Jordan, and Syria, while conducting host nation operations in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, and Egypt in support of Operation Spartan Shield, Operation Inherent Resolve, and Operation Freedom Sentinel.