BENTONVILLE, Ark. — The Arkansas National Guard's 142nd Field Artillery Brigade has a new rocket system battery based in Bentonville, The Charlie Battery. One that is already familiar with this area.
"Charlie Battery has been in existence and served through World War II, Korea, and Desert Storm, and it was inactivated in 2011," Michael Henderson, director of Joint Staff for the Arkansas National Guard, said.
Why did they choose to reactivate the battery now?
"We have a gap in our capability, and we need to increase our long-range precision fires and artillery, primarily because of the threat posed by peer adversaries, such as China and Russia," Henderson said. "Charlie Battery coming back online and activating will restore some of that capability that is needed within our force."
Who did they choose to lead this battery? Commander Andrew Stengel, a University of Arkansas graduate who served as the logistics officer for the battalion, said he's ready to be this battery's commander.
"This is a big role. It has big implications for our unit," Stengel said. "This is one of the biggest moments in an officer's career. I'm super excited. This is what you look forward to. Like I said, this is the peak. This is when you have an impact on a lot of soldiers, and you achieve a lot with the unit."
While he's in charge, he has a few goals he wants this battery to accomplish.
"My goals are just to build a culture," Stengel said. "As commander, at best, you're here for two years. There's not a whole lot we can build at that time, but I want to establish the way we treat each other, basic doctrine, basic operations, just getting us off on the on the right foot for the future."
He said Sunday's ceremony was special to be a part of.
"It doesn't happen very often," Stengel said. "I've never seen a ceremony like this, so to be in front of it and to be the one pulling that flag down and bringing Charlie Battery back to the fold, it's awesome."
Henderson said they will be prepared and ready to go for anything.
"We have to be ready at any given point in time to deploy wherever the need may arise, so it's absolutely critical that the capability and readiness of these forces in this state is up to par," Henderson said.
The biggest challenge right now is finding the right people to serve in the Charlie Battery.
"The greatest challenge to Charlie Battery's readiness is we have to fill our ranks with qualified personnel from our community," Henderson said. "We don't need just any, we need the leaders from our community. We need the best and the brightest, the young people who are out there who want to make a difference, who want to serve. I can promise you, you're not going to find a better deal than you would have here in the Arkansas National Guard. You're not going to find better people to serve with."
Stengel said they have almost 80 soldiers already and are currently looking for more.
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