It was a day of beginnings for the 1st Infantry Division Oct. 18 as Maj. Gen. Joseph M. Martin assumed command of the "Big Red One" and Fort Riley while also casing the colors he had just accepted ahead of the division headquarters' nine-month deployment to Iraq.
During the Assumption of Command Ceremony at Fort Riley's Cavalry Parade Field, Martin spoke about the deployment, which will see the 1st Inf. Div. assume the role of Combined Joint Forces Land Component Command -- Operation Inherent Resolve, replacing the 101st Airborne Division.
"I understand Fort Riley," said Martin, who previously served with the division twice, first as a company commander for the "Dagger" brigade in 1990 and later as commander of the 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Inf. Div., from 2008-10. "I know the community; I understand the division; I know the training area; I know the people."
Martin most recently served as commander of the National Training Center and Fort Irwin, California.
"It's very exciting," Martin said after the ceremony. "It's unbelievable that I've been given this opportunity, and I will treat it as such as I continue to lead this great division and its legacy."
About 500 Soldiers from the Division Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 1st Inf. Div., will deploy to the Central Command area of responsibility in the coming weeks.
"It's on the behalf and it's in the name of all those Soldiers who preceded us, and all the family members who supported those Soldiers, that we will do everything that we do there," he said of leading the division in Iraq during the Big Red One's 100th year of service. "That's what the 100th anniversary is all about. It's 10 decades, it's 100 years, but it's hundreds of thousands of people who have been a part of this division and its rich history. We will never forget that when we deploy."
While deployed, the division headquarters will provide command and control of coalition troops' training, advising and assisting Iraqi Security Forces.
"The Fighting First has an unrivaled history of fighting bravely on battlefields around the world," said Lt. Gen. Sean B. MacFarland, III Corps and Fort Hood, Texas, commanding general, who served as the reviewing officer for the ceremony. "The 1st Infantry Division is the oldest continuously serving division in the United States Army and, true to its name, claim the distinction of many firsts throughout our Army's history."
MacFarland said the 1st Inf. Div. was returning to Iraq as the fight against terror there enters its decisive phase.
"The battle for Mosul has begun, and there's no better outfit than this to ensure a victorious result," the lieutenant general said, "nor is there a better commander than Maj. Gen. Joe Martin."
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