Raiders assume mission in Afghanistan

LAGHMAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan -- The 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team (Raiders), 4th Infantry Division officially assumed operations for Train, Advise and Assist Command -- East during a transfer of authority ceremony in Laghman Province, Afghanistan, May 20.

TAAC-E is one of six commands falling under the NATO-led, non-combat mission, Resolute Support, performing a train, advise and assist mission in Afghanistan.

Col. Montè Rone, commander, 1st SBCT, based out of Fort Carson, Colorado, assumed authority as the TAAC-E deputy commander from Col. Jason Jones, commander, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, headquartered at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.

TAAC-East Commander Brig. Gen. John W. Brennan Jr. reviewed the ceremony and thanked the 4th BCT for their hard work and diligence during their tour and expressed confidence in the 1st SBCT's ability to carry on the mission.

"I want to thank Col. Jones and his talented team who have collectively set TAAC-East on the road to success," said Brennan. "It is clear that Col. Rone and Command Sgt. Maj. Tennant (1st SBCT command sgt. maj.) have honed the Raider team to a fine edge and they are well-prepared to take the fight to the enemy."

The Raiders' mission focuses primarily on training, advising and assisting security-related Afghan ministries and the senior ranks of the 201st Afghan National Army Corps and 202nd Afghan National Police Zone to enable them to be self-sustaining and capable of preventing terrorist safe havens.

"The Raiders are fit, inspired, disciplined, trained and ready for the upcoming mission," said Rone. "We look forward to serving as members of the TAAC-East team alongside our Afghan partners and NATO allies to achieve complementary effects in accordance with the commander's intent. Although this signifies the changing of units, our mutual desire to win remains steadfast."

This marks the second deployment to Afghanistan for Soldiers of the 1st SBCT with the brigade having fought and trained side-by-side with the Afghan National Security Forces and the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in 2009.

Rone thanked Jones, his leaders and Soldiers of the Spartan Brigade for their professionalism, commitment to the mission and setting up the Raider Brigade for success.

For the 4th BCT, the ceremony marked the end of a successful campaign in which Jones said that he appreciated everything that his soldiers accomplished during their deployment.