Task Force Spartan leaders uncase brigade colors

By Sgt. Melissa StewartMarch 29, 2012

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1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. Patrick D. Frank, left, commander of 3rd Brigade Combat Team, Combined Task Force Spartan, and Command Sgt. Maj. Jimmy Carabello, senior enlisted adviser of CTF Spartan, uncase the unit colors March 27at Magrath Gym, officially resuming garrison... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. Patrick D. Frank, left, commander of 3rd Brigade Combat Team; New York State Lt. Gov. Robert Duffy, and Maj. Gen. Mark A. Milley, Fort Drum and 10th Mountain Division (LI) commander, speak at the Task Force Spartan uncasing ceremony March 27at M... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Soldiers with 3rd Brigade Combat Team (Task Force Spartan) officially resumed garrison operations during an uncasing ceremony Tuesday at Magrath Gym at Fort Drum after a yearlong deployment to Kandahar Province, Afghanistan.

At the ceremony, the brigade's six battalions stood behind their unit colors while the battalion commanders and command sergeants major uncased the colors. The brigade colors were uncased after the uncasing of the battalions' colors.

TF Spartan began preparations for deployment last spring, remaining focused on basic military tasks, standards and discipline. The combat deployment officially began April 18, when they assumed responsibility of the Zharay and Maiwand districts from 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division.

"As the BCT arrived in southern Afghanistan last year, the Taliban had freedom of maneuver throughout the districts, families had moved to Kandahar City, and violence levels were the highest of any region in Afghanistan," said Col. Patrick D. Frank, Spartan Brigade commander.

Throughout the past 12 months, Spartan Soldiers made tremendous gains in the security and development of the Zharay and Maiwand districts, leading to a better way of life for the Afghan people.

"The Spartans of 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain (Division) had the toughest fight in the harshest conditions in the most complex social and political environment in Afghanistan," said Maj. Gen. Mark A. Milley, Fort Drum and 10th Mountain Division (LI) commander. "History will record the Spartans' hard-fought victory and sacrifice contributed directly to the security and stabilization of southern Afghanistan."

The Spartan Brigade's operational tempo was unparalleled throughout the region. With 77 air-assault operations, six major combat operations, 18 school open

ings and countless high-value individual and improvised explosive device cache seizures, the brigade re-established public confidence in security for the districts' residents.

"These Soldiers did what had not been accomplished in a decade of fighting," Frank said. "They defeated the Taliban in Mullah Omar's home district, providing the (people) the opportunity to seize freedom."

The brigade's operational strategy was divided into three major phases: "To the River," "To the Core" and "To the Summit."

Through these phases, Spartan Soldiers worked hard with Afghan National Security Forces and Af-ghan government leaders in the area while partnering extensively with soldiers in 3rd Brigade, 205th Afghan National Army Corps to defeat insurgents and improve the Afghan way of life.

"Not only are these aggressive, offensive-minded Soldiers, but they partnered effectively with the Afghan (National Security Forces)," Frank said. "They were highly adaptive, standards-based and could interact as ambassadors with the local people."

During the initial phase, Soldiers sought out insurgent networks by conducting offensive operations while pushing the enemy south to the Arghandab River. Task Force Spartan advanced the farthest south in the region of any coalition forces unit.

Once the majority of the insurgency in the area was pushed past the river, the task force transitioned to the "To the Core" operational phase. While conducting these operations, Spartan Soldiers focused heavily on partnering with ANSF members to repair the damage done by the Taliban in villages that had recently been cleared and to continue pushing the enemy farther from the people.

During the last main phase -- "To the Summit" -- Soldiers also focused on nonlethal initiatives, such as improving schools, health care and Highway 1 and developing the Afghan Civil Service Department.

Soldiers from the Spartan Brigade have officially returned from their deployment and reunited with their Families and friends at Fort Drum.

At the uncasing ceremony, Frank and Command Sgt. Maj. Jimmy Carabello uncased the unit colors, marking the official return of the brigade and the beginning of garrison operations, but their efforts in Afghanistan will not be forgotten.

"The contributions that each and every one of you made over the past 12 months will have a lasting impact on the people of Afghanistan," Milley said.

Spartan Soldiers return to the North Country knowing that they made a difference in the Zharay and Maiwand districts through their hard work and dedication, and that their efforts have been recognized by the division.

"Zharay and Maiwand today are undeniably in better shape than they were when you arrived a year ago," Milley said.

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