Some 2,000 Fort Drum soldiers are coming home from a long deployment to the Middle East. 

However, for the first time in a few years, soldiers faced significant attacks from the enemy.

What You Need To Know

  • The first few groups of Fort Drum soldiers are home from their Middle East deployment 

  • The soldiers, 2,000 of them from the 10th Mountain's 2nd Brigade, are known as "The Commandos"

  • While serving near Gaza in the areas of Jordan, Syria, Iraq and Kuwait, the soldiers faced more than 100 enemy attacks

“These days are awesome. This crowd is full of parents and spouses, kids excited to see people coming home,” Lt. Col. Mark Gillman said.

Throughout this spring, members of the 10th Mountain Division, 2nd Brigade Combat Team will return home from a nine-month deployment in the Middle East.

“We’re there to defeat ISIS. We're doing it with and through the partner forces. The Middle East, it has been an interesting time to be there. But our guys did great,” Gillman said.

Roughly 2,000 soldiers of the 2nd Brigade – the Commandos – deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. They were there to provide security throughout Jordan, Syria, Iraq and Kuwait. The mission was to advise, assist and enable partner forces to prevent a resurgence of ISIS.

“We weren't really sure what we were walking into because it changed pretty quickly. But, I couldn’t be more proud of the team and everybody else,” Capt. Paul Mirabile said.

Changes caused by tensions flaring in Gaza. The war between Israel and Hamas and other factors led to the soldiers taking over 100 enemy attacks from drones and missiles. It was more than anyone ever imagined.

“So, this was definitely a challenging time to be there. And we learned a lot along the way. We learned how to bond together as a team, and we're coming home feeling a whole lot stronger,” Gillman added.

“A more adverse environment than we expected as well,” Mirabile added. "But it was great. Everybody's coming home and everybody's safe. So, couldn't ask for more than that.”

In all, there will be nine different planes full of 2nd Brigade Combat Team soldiers and nine different ceremonies to welcome them home to friends and family.

“For sure, we're leaving it better than we found it. I think that our successors are going to have a great leg up,” Gillman added.

They'll get a couple of weeks of leave and then get back to work, ramping things up for whatever is next.

Next month, Fort Drum’s commanding general, Major General Gregory Anderson, will head out to his next assignment. Former 10th Mountain Division 1st brigade commander, Major General Scott Naumann will take over.