{"id":25713,"date":"2021-02-06T20:52:29","date_gmt":"2021-02-06T20:52:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2021\/02\/06\/long-field-exercises-deployments-led-to-low-morale-in-missing-soldiers-unit-investigators-say\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T02:39:18","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T02:39:18","slug":"long-field-exercises-deployments-led-to-low-morale-in-missing-soldiers-unit-investigators-say","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2021\/02\/06\/long-field-exercises-deployments-led-to-low-morale-in-missing-soldiers-unit-investigators-say\/","title":{"rendered":"Long field exercises, deployments led to low morale in missing soldier\u2019s unit, investigators say"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The leaders of a Patriot missile battalion<\/a> at Fort Bliss, Texas<\/a>, where a soldier has been missing since July, were cleared by an investigation of allegations that their command climate pushed troops to go AWOL.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But investigators did determine that soldiers were pushed to their limits and had poor morale due to a high training tempo that began after events in the Middle East necessitated the unit be ready for deployment earlier than originally expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The investigation, which included interviews with 52 soldiers and data from four command climate surveys, was launched after Pvt. Richard Halliday<\/a> went missing in July. Despite months of searching, he has still not been found.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Halliday\u2019s family requested the senior commander at Fort Bliss, Maj. Gen. Sean Bernabe, investigate the 1st Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery, due to alleged toxic leadership, criminal activity and unequal punishment of enlisted members, according to post spokeswoman Lt. Col. Allie Payne.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Investigators did not substantiate allegations that the battalion\u2019s command climate was \u201ccounterproductive, destructive or toxic,\u201d according to the findings, which were signed off by Bernabe last month. Investigators also did not find evidence that soldiers felt they \u201chad no choice but to go AWOL\u201d to escape the command climate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patriot missile units, like this battalion, are some of the most frequently deployed troops in the Army. They\u2019re routinely tapped by the Pentagon to guard \u201ccritical infrastructure across the world,\u201d the investigation noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOverall, the actions conducted by this command team did impact the climate of the unit but based on the situation and events across the world<\/a>, I did not see it as unreasonable nor unrealistic,\u201d concluded the investigating officer, whose name was redacted.<\/p>\n\n\n\t