FORT POLK, La. -- The 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) welcomed the newest addition to the Patriot family during a ceremony at Fort Polk's Honor Field on September 3, 2015.
2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment held an activation ceremony to officially allow Lt. Col. Aaron Coombs, their commanding officer, to take command of the battalion.
Although 2-2 Infantry is new to 3BCT, in no way is it new to the Army. The unit was involved in the Indian Wars and every major conflict including Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"The 2nd Infantry traces its origins to 1808, over 207 years ago," said Coombs. "To put that in context, that was 5 years after the Louisiana Purchase and 2 years after the Lewis and Clark expedition. U.S. Soldiers still used tomahawks much like you see us wearing in today's ceremony. Thomas Jefferson was president, and there were 17 states. So it's only fitting that 2-2 is now a part of the Patriot Brigade."
Col. Guy Jones, commander, 3BCT said he is impressed that the unit has come together as a fighting force in such a short amount of time.
"It is simply amazing to imagine that less than three months ago the formation consisted of only a headquarters company with less than 28 personnel," said Jones. "Today, they are over 350 personnel strong and they still have one company deployed in support of Southern Command."
Jones added that although there are many challenges involved with standing up a military unit, there are many rewards that can be reaped by those involved.
"It grows leaders and challenges Soldiers to become familiar with something they might not have been trained for," added Jones. "In the end, it is a crucible that builds a strong unit culture through shared hardships. This crucible is what Lt. Col. Aaron Coombs and Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Abbott are officially seizing today as an opportunity."
It is with that opportunity in mind that Lt. Col. Coombs made a promise to the Soldiers of the Patriot Brigade's newest unit.
"I am honored to have the opportunity to lead and serve," said Coombs. "I would like to pledge my best effort every day to the Patriot team and to the leaders and Soldiers of 2-2 Infantry."
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