FORT CARSON, Colo. (Jun 11, 2018) - Members of the 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division cased their colors during a June 11 ceremony at the Arrival/Departure Control Group in preparation for deployment to the European and Central Command areas of operation.
The casing of the colors is an Army tradition that symbolizes the movement of a unit to a new area of operations. The colors, with battle streamers attached, signify a unit's participation in past campaigns.
"I am extremely proud of the men and women in our formation," said Col. W. Scott Gallaway, the commander of the 4th CAB, who cased the colors with Command Sgt. Maj. Marty H. Book, the senior noncommissioned officer in charge. "We have been training incredibly hard to be ready for the mission that we now step off to today, and I have no doubt that our Soldiers are ready to execute the mission set that we have received, both in EUCOM and CENTCOM."
The 4th CAB, originally assigned to Fort Hood, Texas, and known as the Iron Eagles, have deployed twice since relocating to Fort Carson. This will be the brigade's first deployment as the Ivy Eagles.
"We are proud to be part of the Ivy Division," Gallaway said.
Approximately 2,200 Soldiers from the 4th CAB will deploy, providing aviation support, strengthening capabilities and sustaining readiness in their assigned areas of operation.
About two-thirds of the deploying Soldiers will replace the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, based out of Fort Hood, Texas, in the EUCOM area of operation in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve. The rest will go to the CENTCOM area of operation in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.
Over the past nine months, the Soldiers completed intensive training to prepare for the deployment, including a warfighter exercise and culminating training at the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site in southeastern Colorado.
"We have accomplished a lot over the last nine months, but none of it would have been possible without the support of our division leadership, the Fort Carson community and the families," Gallaway said.
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