The 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team "Raiders," 4th Infantry Division, officially assumed operations for Train, Advise and Assist Command-East (TAAC-East) during a transfer of authority ceremony in Laghman Province, Afghanistan, May 20.
TAAC-East is one of six commands falling under the NATO-led, noncombat mission, Resolute Support, performing this type of mission in Afghanistan.
Col. Monté Rone, commander, 1st SBCT, assumed authority as the TAAC-East deputy commander from Col. Jason Jones, commander, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, headquartered at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.
Brig. Gen. John W. Brennan Jr., commander TAAC- East, reviewed the ceremony and thanked the 4th BCT for its hard work and diligence during its tour and expressed confidence in the 1st SBCT's ability to carry on the mission.
"It is clear that Col. Rone and Command Sgt. Maj. (Charles W.) Tennant (1st SBCT command sergeant major) have honed the Raider team to a fine edge and they are well-prepared to take the fight to the enemy," he said.
The 1st SBCT's mission will focus 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 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 with 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 for their professionalism, commitment to the mission and setting up 1st SBCT for success.
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