4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (LI), Soldiers line up moments after arriving at Forward Operating Base Gamberi, Afghanistan, as Spc. Terrance Burgess, 4th Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, gathers their information. The Fort Polk, La.-b...
LAGHMAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan (July 24, 2013) -- The 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Security Forces Assistance Brigade "Patriot" Soldiers arrived in eastern Afghanistan earlier this month for what is expected to be a nine-month deployment.
"The SFAB's [Security Forces Assistance Brigade] primary mission is to continue the outstanding gains our predecessors have achieved while advising our Afghan partners across all Afghan National Security Force [ANSF] pillars," said Maj. Keith Madere, operations officer for 4th BCT.
Madere said the SFAB's mission places primary focus on the ANSF.
"Our goal is to advise and assist the ANSF as it continues to increase its combat capacity and to integrate its efforts with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan's intent," Madere said.
The Patriot Brigade, based out of Fort Polk, La., began deploying Soldiers in late June. The entire element arrived over a three-week span. The brigade headquarters staff, mostly assigned to Forward Operating Base Gamberi, is replacing the 4th BCT, 1st Cavalry Division "Long Knife."
Elements of the Patriot Brigade also are replacing 1st BCT, 101st Airborne Division "Bastogne."
Other members of the 4th BCT, 10th Mountain Division SFAB are pairing up with their Afghan National Security Force counterparts across the rest of Regional Command, East to transfer skills and knowledge.
During the initial weeks of deployment, Patriot Soldiers will conduct relief in place with their Long Knife and Bastogne counterparts leading up to the official transfer of authority. During this time, 4th BCT, 10th Mountain Division's predecessors will provide lessons learned.
Some Soldiers of the Patriot Brigade have never been to Afghanistan, so they rely heavily on the training they received at the Joint Readiness Training Center, which simulates real-world combat scenarios.
"Because this is my first deployment, the only knowledge base I have to work from is the brigade's Joint Readiness Training Center rotation at Fort Polk, La.," said 2nd Lt Elizabeth Patarcity, an intelligence officer with 4th BCT, 10th Mountain Division.
Patarcity said the non commissioned officer she is replacing has been at FOB Gamberi for nine months.
"This isn't his first deployment; he's bringing a lot of information and experience to what I don't have," she said. "He's helping me do my job better."
Assimilation in the work place is not the only focus; Patriots also are getting settled into their new homes.
"The beds aren't that bad and the air conditioning is as cold as it can be for 100-degree weather," said Sgt. Jonathan Kelley, medical operations non commissioned officer for 4th BCT, 10th Mountain Division.
As Patriot Brigade Soldiers take over their RC-East mission, the training they received at Fort Polk's JRTC and the information passed by their predecessors will prove to be essential to operations in Afghanistan.
Related Links:
Army.mil: Current Operation News
Joint Readiness Training Center/Fort Polk
4th Brigade, 10th Mountain Division
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