CAMP CASEY, South Korea - Approximately 300 Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 13th Field Artillery Regiment, based in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, were welcomed into the 210th Field Artillery Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division/ROK - U.S. Combined Division during a Transfer of Authority ceremony held at Carey Fitness Center, Camp Casey at 11 a.m. Feb. 10.
The 3-13 Field Artillery Regiment Commander, Lt. Col. Will B. Freds, and the 3-13 Field Artillery Regiment Command Sgt. Maj., Command Sgt. Maj. James Atchison, uncased the colors of the "Red Dragons" battalion, signifying the assumed responsibility for the current mission to provide timely, accurate and safe Multiple Launch Rocket System fires in support of the 2nd Infantry Division/ROK - U.S. Combined Division.
"The Transfer of Authority means that we are ready to fight and that we have the mission under control," said Lt. Col. Freds, commander of the "Red Dragons" battalion.
The 3-13 Field Artillery Regiment is the second MLRS battalion to be sent to augment the 210 Field Artillery Brigade within the last year.
In preparation for deployment to the ROK, the "Red Dragons" battalion partook in extensive training to be ready to "Fight Tonight."
"We focused on primary MOS skills and individual and crew-served weapons training," said Freds. "We then ramped up [our training] with a culminating training event with the Singapore Army to certify our MLRS crews, ammo teams, and fire direction centers to be able to provide accurate, predictable fire."
Arriving ready to "Fight Tonight," the "Red Dragons" battalion was ready to put their hard training to work, confident in their ability to support the 210th Field Artillery Brigade's MLRS fires mission.
"Each Soldier comes here and gets to experience a real world situation," said Atchison. "All the realistic training we did at our home station prior to deploying will be able to be put into use here on the peninsula."
"The 'Red Dragons' are focused and able to respond quickly to any type of nK threat," said Freds.
While the ceremony marked the welcome for 3-13 Field Artillery Regiment's arrival as a rotational unit on the peninsula, it is not the first time "Red Dragons" battalion has defended the Republic of Korea against nK aggression.
The "Red Dragons" battalion first landed in Korea in July of 1950. The 3-13 Field Artillery Regiment supported the 24th Infantry Division's delaying action mission to allow time for other units to be assembled and sent to Korea.
The unit was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation for its efforts in the defense of Korea.
"The 3-13 FAR supported the 24th Infantry Division during the Korean War beginning in June of 1950. Now, 66 years later, we're back," said Freds. "We arrive and uncase the colors ... and it's the return of the 'Red Dragons.'"
With the MLRS mission under control of the 3-13 Field Artillery Regiment, the 2-20 Field Artillery Regiment was able to begin traveling home to Fort Hood, Texas, completing their nine-month rotation to the ROK.
"It has been an excellent opportunity as a rotational battalion to come and join the 2ID team as part of the most forward-deployed, lethal field artillery brigade in the world," said the 2-20 Field Artillery Regiment Commander, Lt. Col. Jonathan M. Velishka. "I think the Soldiers, NCOs, and officers have done a tremendous job integrating into the 'Thunder' brigade and also taking care of each other. I couldn't have asked for more on a day-to-day basis as a war-fighting team as well as ambassadors to our ROK alliance."
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