Friends, family welcome home 266th FMSC Soldiers

Story and photo by Staff Sgt. Warren W. Wright Jr.
21st Theater Sustainment Command Public Affairs
Maj. Gavin Luher, disbursing officer with the 21st Theater Sustainment Command’s 266th Financial Management Support Center, is greeted by his family Oct. 7 after returning from a nine-month deployment to Kuwait.
Maj. Gavin Luher, disbursing officer with the 21st Theater Sustainment Command’s 266th Financial Management Support Center, is greeted by his family Oct. 7 after returning from a nine-month deployment to Kuwait.

More than 30 Soldiers from the 21st Theater Sustainment Command’s 266th Financial Management Support Center returned home Oct. 7 to their family and loved ones following a nine-month deployment to Kuwait.

The 266th FMSC Soldiers completed a successful deployment, providing all of the financial support services for the U.S. Central Command area of operation, as well as helping to transition the financial support services in Afghanistan.

“The Soldiers have done an incredible job the past nine months,” said Col. Thomas J. Seelig, director of the 266th FMSC. “They played a big part in helping operations in Afghanistan wind down.”

After disembarking their plane from Kuwait, the Soldiers of the 266th FMSC, along with Soldiers from the 7th Civil Support Command’s 406th Human Resources Company and 209th Digital Liaison Detachment (Forward), who were also returning from deployments, received a quick welcome home talk from the deputy commanding general of the 21st TSC and commanding general of the 7th CSC, Brig. Gen. Arlan M. DeBlieck.

“I would like to be the first to welcome you all home,” DeBlieck said to the Soldiers. “I want to extend my gratitude to you for everything you’ve done the past nine months.”

Outside, the families of the 266th Soldiers waited patiently for their loved ones to receive their baggage and come out of the customs area before receiving their first hugs and kisses in months.

“It’s great to be home,” said Maj. Gavin Luher, 266th FMSC disbursing officer. “It’s great to see so many people from the community come out here to support us.”

Prior to the Soldiers’ release, Seelig took a moment to thank the families for the support of their loved ones during their nine-month deployment.

“We want to thank our families for doing such a super job of supporting themselves and for supporting our Soldiers,” Seelig said to the families.  “We are extremely grateful for all that the families have done and all they have endured.”

Following the brief speech by Seelig, the Soldiers of the 266th FMSC were dismissed and went home with their families.

The 266th FMSC provides full-spectrum, responsive finance and accounting services throughout U.S. Army Europe, as well as joint and combined theaters while enhancing capability for the combatant commander through cash management, contracting support and accountability on the battlefield.