The Dragonslayer Battalion, under the 17th Field Artillery Brigade, cased their colors during a ceremony held at the Wilson Gym on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Oct. 18.

The 17th Field Artillery Brigade, "most notably known as the HIMARS Brigade" or High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, is an artillery brigade in the United States Army, currently based on JBLM as the Force Field Artillery Headquarters for I Corps.  

The 17th Field Artillery Brigade's mission is to provide readily trained units capable of deploying to any theater to plan, synchronize and execute strike, counterstrike and close supporting fires in support of shaping operations throughout the spectrum of decisive operations.

The Dragonslayer Battalion last deployed in 2015, also in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.

"Thunderbolt soldiers of the Dragonslayer Battalion cased their colors today in preparation for their deployment to provide theater air defense operations in Southwest Asia," said CPT Peter Mrvos, a spokesman for the 17th Field Artillery Brigade.

In attendance for the ceremony was Col. David Doyle, the chief of staff for the 7th Infantry Division, Command Sgt. Maj. Jack Love, the 7th Infantry Division's senior enlisted advisor, and Col. Janice Chen, the commander of the 31st Air Defense Artillery Brigade.

The 5th Battalion, 5th Air Defense Artillery Regiment will soon deploy to southwest Asia in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, the coalition's joint task force conducting operations against ISIL.

"The unit colors are cased in a ceremony prior to the deployment as a symbol that the soldiers are ready for their mission and that soon the battalion will be operating in a new environment," said Mrvos.

While deployed, the soldiers of the Dragonslayer Battalion will perform a vital force-protection mission across the region.

"The air defense systems they operate are necessary to foster stability in the region and protect our soldiers," said Mrvos.

Over the last six months, the unit has trained extensively for this mission.

Each soldier has demonstrated the high level of technical skill, physical fitness and mental toughness required for success in austere environments.

"The unit is ready because of the hard work and dedication of its leaders," said Mrvos.  "They are an agile and adaptive group of NCOs and officers capable of meeting any challenge they face."