DAEGU GARRISON, Republic of Korea - The 2nd battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment officially assumed the air missile defense mission for the southern part of the Korean peninsula from the 4th battalion, 5th ADA Regiment during a transfer of authority ceremony at U.S. Army Garrison Daegu's Camp Carroll gymnasium Oct. 23.

The 2-1 Battalion, assigned to the 35th ADA Brigade, headquartered on Osan Air Base, is slated to be the last air defense artillery unit to re-station to the Korea Theater of Operations. New personnel will now be individually assigned to the 35th ADA Brigade. Prior to the arrival of 2-1, units of the 35th ADA Brigade have been serving one year deployment tours on the Korean peninsula. Now, ADA Soldiers and their families have the opportunity for command sponsorship and two or three year tours.

Two and a half years ago, the ADA branch initiated the one year battalion rotation for air and missile defense battalions in the ROK. A total of six Patriot battalions have rotated in and out of the KTO; the 2-1 Battalion was one of the first battalions to be rotated out of the ROK, leaving in 2006.

Maj. Gen. Robert J. Williamson, the Eighth United States Army Deputy Commander for Transformation, spoke at the ceremony, recognized the departing Soldiers of the 4-5 Battalion and challenging the 2-1 Soldiers for their new assignment in the Republic of Korea.

Lt. Col. William P. Brooks, the commander of the departing 4-5 Battalion and CSM Gary W. Coleman, cased the battalion's regimental colors during the ceremony in preparation for their redeployment back to Fort Hood, Texas.

Then, Lt. Col. Chad D. Skaggs, incoming 2-1 Battalion Commander and CSM John W. Oley, in turn uncased their regimental colors, having cased the flag at Fort Hood in September.