Coast Guard unit returns from Kuwait

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — Lt. James Cullen, the Coast Guard Redeployment Assistance and Inspection Detachment training officer, and his wife hold up a banner in the Norfolk International Airport, Feb. 25, 2012, for the reserve RAID members returning from a year deployment to Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait. Eleven reserve members are scheduled to deploy to Kuwait to take the place of the team that returned to the country. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Brandyn Hill.

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — Vice Adm. Robert Parker, Lt. John Parsons and Master Chief Petty Officer Steve Cantrell, members of Coast Guard Atlantic Area, stand with nine reserve members of the Coast Guard Redeployment Assistance and Inspection Detachment in the Norfolk International Airport, Feb. 25, 2012. A group of Coast Guardsmen came to the airport to welcome the team home following their year deployment to Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Brandyn Hill.

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard Redeployment Assistance and Inspection Detachment patch is shown, Feb. 25, 2012. The detachment personnel deploy for a year to Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait assisting military personnel with the redeployment of containerized Department of Defense cargo and hazardous materials. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Brandyn Hill.

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — Vice Adm. Robert Parker, the commander of Coast Guard Atlantic Area, greets Petty Officer 1st Class Nelson Del Valle, a reserve member of the Coast Guard Redeployment Assistance and Inspection Detachment, at the Norfolk International Airport Feb. 25, 2012. Del Valle returned from a year deployment where he worked in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait assisting military personnel with the redeployment of containerized Department of Defense cargo and hazardous materials. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Brandyn Hill.

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — Members of a Coast Guard unit returned from Kuwait Saturday, following a year deployment.

Vice Adm. Robert Parker, the commander of Coast Guard Atlantic Area, greeted nine reserve members of the Coast Guard Redeployment Assistance and Inspection Detachment at the Norfolk International Airport.

"I am very proud of the accomplishments and sacrifices of these Coast Guardsmen returning from deployment overseas," said Parker. "RAID members provide specialized and unique capabilities in support of the combatant commander—they are a shining example of the Coast Guard’s significant value as a strategic national asset."

RAID members are assigned to various camps and forward operating bases in Kuwait and Afghanistan and previously operated in Iraq. Since the RAID team’s inception in 2003, the mission has been to assist Army Surface Deployment and Distribution Command units assigned to U.S. Central Command with redeployment of containerized Department of Defense cargo and hazardous materials. The detachment members assist Army SDDC units by conducting hazardous material inspections and aiding the redeployment of DOD containers, equipment and personnel.

"This has been the most fulfilling mission that these nine Coast Guard reserve personnel have participated in," said Chief Warrant Officer Michael P. Cleary, a reserve RAID member. "All members are proud that they assisted more than 50,000 military personnel departing from Iraq and assisted in the redeployment of military personnel from Afghanistan."

A replacement reserve RAID is scheduled to deploy to Kuwait Saturday.

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