169th Field Artillery BDE

U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Deborah Manzanares receives the colors of the 3rd Battalion, 157th Field Artillery Regiment, Colorado Army National Guard from 3rd Battalion Commander U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jason Stuchlik, during a change-of-responsibility ceremony at the Regional Training Institute, Fort Carson, Colorado, Jan. 4, 2020. Manzanares assumed the role of battalion command sergeant major from U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. John Assaad, who will move on to serve as the command sergeant major of the 169th Fires Brigade. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Zach Sheely)

Colorado field artillery unit welcomes first female senior enlisted leader

By Staff Sgt. Zach Sheely, Colorado National Guard | Jan. 31, 2020

One of the Colorado Army National Guard’s most distinguished units made history again during a Jan. 4 change-of-responsibility ceremony as it welcomed a new senior enlisted leader.

The Adjutant General of Colorado U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Mike Loh pins a medal on a 5th Battalion 19th Special Forces Group member at a Valor Ceremony, Feb. 10, 2018, following the units recent return.

Local and national leaders will honor Colorado Army National Guard Soldiers from Bravo Company, 5th Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Feb. 10, with valor awards they earned while deployed last year in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel.

The unit returned from a six-month deployment to Afghanistan in October 2017.

The awards approved include seven Purple Heart Medals, 10 Bronze Star Medals with Valor, and eight Army Commendation Medals with Valor. One Silver Star Medal has also been approved, but the member is currently deployed in support of the warfight.

Many of the 59 valor awards submitted are still pending.

(U.S. Army National Guard Photo by Staff Sgt. Warren Wright)

Colorado National Guard presents awards for valor in combat to Special Forces Soldiers

By Colorado National Guard Public Affairs | Sept. 14, 2018

The Adjutant General of Colorado U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Mike Loh pins a medal on a 5th Battalion 19th Special Forces Group member at a valor awards ceremony, Feb. 10, 2018, in Denver, Colorado. The unit returned from a six-month deployment to Afghanistan in October 2017 in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel. In total, 76 valor awards have been approved from this unit during their 2017 deployment

Sgt. Christopher Poquette, a multiple-launch rocket system crew member with the Colorado National Guard’s Battery A, 3rd Battalion, 157th Field Artillery, rappels from a building in a training village at Fort Carson, Colo., Feb. 2, 2013. Eight Soldiers with the Colorado Army National Guard competed in the Best Warrior Competition Feb. 2 and 3, which included both night and day land navigation as well as oral boards, firing both rifles and handguns, and performance in a simulated city designed to offer everything from rappelling to medical evacuation. (Official Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Brandy Simmons/Released)

Colorado’s best warriors compete at Carson

By Army National Guard Sgt. Brandy Simmons | Feb. 9, 2013

Sgt. Christopher Poquette, a multiple-launch rocket system crew member with the Colorado National Guard’s Battery A, 3rd Battalion, 157th Field Artillery, rappels from a building in a training village at Fort Carson, Colo., Feb. 2, 2013. Eight Soldiers with the Colorado Army National Guard competed in the Best Warrior Competition Feb. 2 and 3, which included both night and day land navigation as well as oral boards, firing both rifles and handguns, and performance in a simulated city designed to offer everything from rappelling to medical evacuation.