PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (12/3/10) – The U.S. Army’s 1st Space Brigade welcomed home Army Space Support Team 20, 117th Space Battalion, Colorado Army National Guard, and ARSST 6, 1st Space Battalion, U.S. Army, in a ceremony held at the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command here today.

Both of these six-man teams were deployed separately to Afghanistan. ARRST 20 served supported the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force in Regional Command-Southwest.

ARRST 20 is the first COARNG Space team to complete its entire nine-month deployment in Afghanistan. The team provided more than 1,300 spaced-based products to support RC-SW, which served a critical role in partnering and protecting local national security forces and tribal government leaders.

“Enjoy your 90 days off, but your job isn't over. As the team with the most experience, your job is to mentor the next two deploying teams,” said Lt. Col. Jesse Morehouse, commander of the 117th Space Battalion.

ARRST 20 consists of Maj. Wesley White, 1st Lt. Kent Gneiting, Staff Sgt. Kevin Hardy, Sgt. Kyle Brown, Sgt. Eric Pershing and Spec. Brendan Corey.