TAAC-E celebrates 3rd CR achievements, Rakkasans begin new chapter

By Capt. Jarrod MorrisFebruary 16, 2015

TAAC-E celebrates 3rd CR achievements, Rakkasans begin new chapter
1 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The 3rd Cavalry Regiment commander Col. Cameron Cantlon (left) and 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Commander Col. J.B. Vowell pose for a photo following the casing and uncasing ceremony held at Tactical Base Gamberi Feb... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
TAAC-E celebrates 3rd CR achievements, Rakkasans begin new chapter
2 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. Cameron Cantlon, the 3rd Cavalry Regiment "Brave Rifles" commander, speaks at the casing and uncasing ceremony held between outgoing 3rd CR and incoming 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Tactical Base Gamberi Feb.... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
TAAC-E celebrates 3rd CR achievements, Rakkasans begin new chapter
3 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. J.B. Vowell, the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) commander, speaks at the casing and uncasing ceremony held between outgoing 3rd Cavalry Regiment "Brave Rifles" and incoming 3rd BCT "Rakkasans" at Tactical Base Gam... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
TAAC-E celebrates 3rd CR achievements, Rakkasans begin new chapter
4 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. J.B. Vowell (left), the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Walter Tagalicud, the 3rd BCT senior enlisted leader, uncase the brigade colors at a ceremony held at Tactical Base Gamberi F... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
TAAC-E celebrates 3rd CR achievements, Rakkasans begin new chapter
5 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. J.B. Vowell (left), the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) commander, places the 101st ABN DIV (AASLT) "Sreaming Eagles" patch on the right shoulder of Command Sgt. Maj. Walter Tagalicud, the 3rd BCT senior enlisted l... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
TAAC-E celebrates 3rd CR achievements, Rakkasans begin new chapter
6 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Train, Advise, Assist Command - East commander Brig. Gen. Christopher Bentley speaks at the casing and uncasing ceremony held between outgoing 3rd Cavalry Regiment "Brave Rifles" and incoming 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assa... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
TAAC-E celebrates 3rd CR achievements, Rakkasans begin new chapter
7 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. Cameron Cantlon (left), the 3rd Cavalry Regiment commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Roger Heinze, the 3rd CR senior enlisted leader, carefully fold and case the regimental colors at a ceremony held at Tactical Base Gamberi Feb. 15, 2015. The casin... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

LAGHMAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Train, Advise, Assist Command - East held a casing and uncasing ceremony for the outgoing 3rd Cavalry Regiment "Brave Rifles" and incoming 3rd Brigade Combat Team "Rakkasans," 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Tactical Base Gamberi Feb. 15, 2015.

Col. Cameron Cantlon, the 3rd CR commander, and Senior Enlisted Leader Command Sgt. Maj. Roger Heinze carefully folded and cased the regimental colors, a symbolic representation of a mission completion for the Brave Rifles.

The 3rd CR deployed to Afghanistan in June 2014, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Under OEF the Brave Rifles performed security force assistance, village support, force protection, and the retrograde and closure of seven forward operating bases.

In October, 3rd CR received new orders to join TAAC-E at TB Gamberi and assist with the transition to NATO's new Resolute Support Mission. Under RSM the Brave Rifles assumed responsibility for training, advising and assisting corps-level units of the Afghan National Security Forces in eastern Afghanistan as well as providing force protection for U.S. coalition troops in the region.

Col. J.B. Vowell, the 3rd BCT commander, and Senior Enlisted Leader Command Sgt. Maj. Walter Tagalicud then uncased the brigade colors, an indication the Rakkasans are ready to assume their new role in TAAC-E.

TAAC-E commander Brig. Gen. Christopher Bentley, Cantlon, and Vowell each gave remarks at the ceremony.

In his speech, Bentley thanked the 3rd CR team for their partnership and bid the Brave Rifles troops farewell. Bentley also highlighted the variety of 3rd CR achievements during a nine-month deployment of continuous transition in Afghanistan.

Bentley then turned to the Rakkasans. "Today we continue what began six months ago in the piney woods of western Louisiana at Fort Polk," Bentley said. He was referring to the training conducted between the TAAC-E headquarters and 3rd BCT at the Joint Readiness Training Center in July-August 2014, in preparation for this deployment.

"Welcome back, Task Force Rakkasans," Bentley said.

In his speech, Vowell thanked Cantlon and the 3rd CR team for a smooth and professional transition. Vowell said this is the seventh deployment for the Rakkasans since 2001, and highlighted 3rd BCT was the first conventional brigade to deploy to Afghanistan. Vowell also had a message of partnership for Afghan National Army leaders that attended the ceremony.

"Our commitment to the people of Afghanistan has always been strong."

He added that the advisers will continue to partner each day with the ANSF to help them become sustainable for the long term.

For many of the Rakkasans this is not their first deployment.

"Our regiment has many who have sweat, bled and died for us to be here," Vowell added, emphasizing the importance of the new mission.

At the conclusion of the ceremony 3rd BCT formally assumed responsibility for training, advising and assisting corps-level Afghan army and police forces in eastern Afghanistan under NATO's RSM, as well as protecting U.S. coalition forces in the region.