“It has been a very long process,” said 2nd Lt. Christopher Foster, medical platoon leader and battalion medical officer, 45th Special Troops Battalion, 45th Sust. Bde.

Peterson, a 45-year-old from Montgomery, Ala., spent the past 30 months as the senior enlisted soldier for the Special Troops Battalion with 1st Armored Division Sustainment Brigade.

Spc. Joshua Encinas, of Perkins A member of Company A, 45th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, presents a salute to Col. Joel Ward, commander of 45th Infantry ...