The Department of the Army confirmed today, May 8, the Department of Defense announcement that 10 Army brigade combat teams will begin deploying in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in August 2007 as part of the next routine rotation of forces.
The longest actively serving Cavalry Regiment in the United States Army, the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, will be the first brigade combat team to deploy in this rotation. Also the Army's newest Stryker Brigade, the "Dragoons" completed their transformation in June 2006 and will deploy from Vilseck, Germany in August 2007.
The 3rd Infantry Division's "Vanguard Brigade" was the first brigade formed under the Army's modularity transformation initiative in 2004. The 4th Brigade Combat Team deployed for the first time to Iraq in January 2005 and will deploy again in September 2007 from Fort Stewart, Ga.
Fort Campbell, Kentucky's 101st "Screaming Eagles" Division is the largest division formation in the United States Army, home to seven brigades. The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) will deploy three of these brigade combat teams before the end of the year.
The "Bastogne Bulldogs" of the 1st Brigade Combat Team will deploy in September 2007. In October, the 3rd Brigade Combat Team's "Rakkasans" will deploy followed by the 2nd "Strike" Brigade. The 2nd Brigade Combat Team has the honor of conducting the two longest air assault missions in the division's history supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom during the invasion in 2003.
In November, the Army will deploy three brigade combat teams. The 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment's "Brave Rifles," from Fort Hood, Texas will deploy at beginning of the month. The "Brave Rifles" relocated to Fort Hood from Fort Carson, Col., in July 2006 after their second tour in Iraq as part of OIF III. Following their last deployment, the mayor of Tal Afar, Iraq wrote to Gen. George Casey thanking the "Brave Rifles" for liberating his town and restoring hope to the populace.
At the end of November, the 1st Armored Division will send its 2nd Brigade Combat Team. Deploying from Baumholder, Germany, the "Iron Soldiers" made history during OIF 05-07 becoming the first heavy brigade combat team serving as the CENTCOM theater reserve deployed to Kuwait prepared to respond anywhere in the CENTCOM area of responsibility. With almost no notice, the 2nd Brigade launched elements into Iraq from Kuwait, answering an immediate call to reinforce operations.
After the "Iron Brigade," the 10th Mountain Division will send their 4th Brigade Combat Team, "Forged for War" from Fort Polk, La. This brigade combat team effectively formed on Jan. 16, 2005, and was prepared to deploy in just six months. The Fort Polk brigade is a Light Infantry-based combat team.
In the final month of 2007, the 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii deploys the "Warriors" from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team. The culmination of their last deployment in 2005, saw the "Warrior's" efforts lead to successful execution of the first free elections in Iraq held in over 50 years.
Deploying at the end of December 2007 is the "Raider Brigade," the 1st Brigade Combat Team from the 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. They are an integral part of the Army's most technologically advanced combat division, as the "Ivy Division" is the first digitized division in the U.S. Army.
In support of these brigade combat teams, the U.S. Army Reserves will deploy 504 Soldiers from the 478th Combat Engineer Battalion, based in Fort Thomas, Ky. Also, the 40th Signal Battalion, Fort Huachuca, Ariz. will deploy 430 Soldiers. Both battalions deploy in August 2007.
Transportation assets will dictate the actual calendar day of deployment.
Each of these brigade combat teams will remain in theater up to 15 months. For the units deploying after October, the Army's leadership recognizes that those units will be away from home for two significant holiday periods. The incredible sacrifices borne by Family Members is greatly appreciated and not taken for granted. The Army continues to look closely at all aspects of Family support during this period of unprecedented unit tempo, and every consideration for the Soldier's and Family's exceptional dedication to duty is given during the periods of pre-deployment, deployment and in particular, upon return.
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For more information, contact Lt. Col. Carl S. Ey at 703.614.2487.
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