FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- The 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (LI) was inactivated during a late morning ceremony Thursday on Fort Drum's Sexton Field.
The atmosphere was one of solemnity as approximately 2,500 Soldiers -- representing all six of the battalions making up the Spartan Brigade -- lined up for the last time in their 10-year history. The Soldiers bearing their unit colors, also known as guidons, along with the commanders and command sergeants major representing those units marched forward and came together in the foreground, behind the group bearing the Spartan Brigade's colors.
In unison, all six guidons were lowered, and the leaders carefully rolled them around their staffs and cased them before raising them once again to their previously vertical position.
In turn, the Spartan Brigade's guidon was then lowered by its bearer, and Col. Sam Whitehurst and Command Sgt. Maj. Sean Watson, Spartan Brigade commander and senior enlisted adviser, with help from Brig. Gen. Michael L. Howard, 10th Mountain Division (LI) senior acting commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. David Martel, his senior enlisted adviser, carefully rolled and folded it around its staff and cased it before it, too, was raised again to its upright position.
The pivotal moment in the inactivation ceremony came immediately after, as Watson took pos- session of the Spartan Brigade's guidon. Watson passed the guidon to Whitehurst, who in turn passed it to Howard. This handover signified Whitehurst's relinquishment of his responsibility for the 3rd BCT. Howard then passed the guidon back to Watson for him to direct its being marched off the field at the conclusion of the ceremony.
With the handover complete, the ceremony came to its conclusion with the singing of the 10th Mountain Division Song and Army Song. The ceremony ended with Soldiers of the six battalions all marching by the audience, passing in review as they proceeded off the field as a brigade for the last time.
Among the honored guests attending the ceremony were Maj. Gen. John Nicholson and retired Command Sgt. Maj. James Redmore, the brigade's first command sergeant major. Nicholson now serves as commander of 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C.
Nicholson was the first commander of 3rd Brigade Combat Team when it was activated in 2004, and he led the Spartan Brigade during its first deployment to Afghanistan in 2007.
During his remarks as the key-note speaker, Howard praised the Spartan Brigade's Soldiers standing in the formation for their accomplishments, giving them cred- it for the impact the 3rd BCT has made on history.
"The brigade served America well for over 10 years," he said. "It did so because of the Soldiers standing before you."
Howard went on to mention one of 3rd BCT's more recent but remarkable achievements: The Spartan Brigade replaced four brigades in the Regional Command-East's area of responsibility in Afghan-istan during its final deployment.
He also acknowledged the bri- gade's success over its history was due not only to its Soldiers and leadership, but to those no longer among their ranks, many of whom made the ultimate sacrifice in accomplishing their missions.
"The Spartan Brigade deployed to Afghanistan four times in 10 years, for 47 months. That is a lot of combat," Howard said. "They earned two Meritorious Unit Commendations.
"Ninety-eight outstanding Soldiers gave their lives fighting in this brigade combat team, and many, many more were seriously injured," he added.
Howard completed his remarks by reminding everyone present that the inactivation ceremony is not necessarily about the end, but rather, the beginning of a new chapter.
"The Spartan Brigade has made the 10th Mountain Division for the past decade, just because it's one of the BCTs in our ranks, and that isn't going to change. Yes we are inactivating a unit, but 90 percent of those guys out there are being absorbed into other units in the division," Howard said. "We asked the Army for that and the Army let us do it because we just couldn't afford to lose all these great Soldiers, and since we're keeping them, the Spartans will continue to keep the division strong for years to come."
Col. Sam Whitehurst, the final commander of the Spartan Bri-gade, closed the ceremony by delivering his remarks. In doing so, he expressed what he feels is the legacy the Spartans leave behind after their 10 years as a unit.
"While today closes the final chapter of the Spartan Brigade here at Fort Drum, it marks the end of 10 years of selfless and dedicated service to our nation," Whitehurst said. "Today we case the colors for the last time, confident in the belief that the 3rd Brigade has done what has been asked of it and confident that the ranks of the Spartans have made their mark on history.
"As a brigade born of war, especially of the war in Afghanistan, it is fitting that the brigade closes its colors as the war in Afghanistan is drawing to a close," Whitehurst said. "Places like Nuristan, Kunar, Wardak, Logar, Maiwand District and Zhari District in Kandahar Province, and Khost, Paktika and Paktya will forever be associated with the Spartans."
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