XVIII Airborne Corps Headquarters returns from Europe

By Sgt. Maj. Alex LiceaOctober 31, 2022

XVIII Airborne Corps Soldiers Welcome Home
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A Soldier assigned to the 35th Corps Signal Brigade holds his baby and greeted by his family at Green Ramp after returning home from deployment to Europe Oct. 28 at Fort Bragg N.C. Elements of the XVIII Airborne Corps completed a nine-month deployment to Germany in support of the NATO Alliance. America’s Contingency Corps rapidly deployed in February 2022 with 300 personnel from the Corps headquarters element to provide a Joint Task Force-capable headquarters in Wiesbaden, Germany. The deployment was directed by the Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III as a response to a heightened security environment in Eastern Europe and to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank. (Photo Credit: Sgt. Daniel Ramos) VIEW ORIGINAL
XVIII Airborne Corps Soldiers Welcome Home
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A Soldier assigned to the 35th Corps Signal Brigade holds his baby has he is greeted by his family at Green Ramp after returning home from deployment to Europe Oct. 28 at Fort Bragg N.C. Elements of the XVIII Airborne Corps completed a nine-month deployment to Germany in support of the NATO Alliance. America’s Contingency Corps rapidly deployed in February 2022 with 300 personnel from the Corps headquarters element to provide a Joint Task Force-capable headquarters in Wiesbaden, Germany. The deployment was directed by the Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III as a response to a heightened security environment in Eastern Europe and to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank. (Photo Credit: Sgt. Daniel Ramos) VIEW ORIGINAL
XVIII Airborne Corps Soldiers Welcome Home
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, XVIII Airborne Corps arrive on Fort Bragg N.C Oct. 28. After completing a nine-month deployment to Germany in support of the NATO alliance. America’s Contingency Corps rapidly deployed in February 2022 with 300 personnel from the Corps headquarters element to provide a Joint Task Force-capable headquarters in Wiesbaden, Germany. The deployment was directed by the Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III as a response to a heightened security environment in Eastern Europe and to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank. (Photo Credit: Sgt. Daniel Ramos) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT BRAGG, N.C. — The XVIII Airborne Corps headquarters has officially returned from Europe following a nine-month deployment where America’s Contingency Corps rapidly deployed to Germany in support of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and to assure our European Allies and partners.

In February 2022, over 300 personnel from the Corps headquarters deployed from Fort Bragg to provide a joint task force-capable headquarters in Wiesbaden, Germany. This deployment was directed by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III as a response to a heightened security environment in Eastern Europe and to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank.

“It’s an incredible honor to serve alongside the men and women of the XVIII Airborne Corps,” said Lt. Gen. Christopher T. Donahue, the commanding general of the XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg. “Our Soldiers answered the nation’s call by supporting our European Allies and partners during a historic period. We thank them and their Families for their sacrifice and welcome them back home to the place that is the beacon of liberty.”

XVIII Airborne Corps in Europe
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The XVIII Airborne Corps staff, led by Lt. Gen. Chris Donahue and Command Sgt. Maj. T.J. Holland, gather in front of the Joint Task Force-Dragon Headquarters in Wiesbaden, Germany Oct 21 to commemorate the completion of the command's nine-month deployment to Europe. America’s Contingency Corps was rapidly deployed to Germany in support of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and to assure our European Allies and partners.

In February 2022, over 300 personnel from the Corps headquarters deployed from Fort Bragg to provide a Joint Task Force-capable headquarters in Wiesbaden, Germany. This deployment was directed by the Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III as a response to a heightened security environment in Eastern Europe and to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank. The Corps' mission evolving during their time in Europe serving as the centerpiece for the train-and-equip mission to support Ukraine in the defense of its nation. (Photo Credit: Lt. Col. David Olson)
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XVIII Airborne Corps Soldiers Welcome Home
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A Soldier assigned to the 35th Corps Signal Brigade greets his dog after returning home from deployment in Europe at Green Ramp on Fort Bragg N.C. Oct. 28 in support of the NATO Alliance. America’s Contingency Corps rapidly deployed in February 2022 with 300 personnel from the Corps headquarters element to provide a Joint Task Force-capable headquarters in Wiesbaden, Germany. The deployment was directed by the Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III as a response to a heightened security environment in Eastern Europe and to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank. (Photo Credit: Sgt. Daniel Ramos) VIEW ORIGINAL
XVIII Airborne Corp Redeployment From Europe
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Equipment returns from Europe from a C-17 Globemaster aircraft, Oct. 17 at Fort Bragg, N.C. The XVIII Airborne Corps headquarters is beginning to redeploy from Europe following a nine-month deployment where America’s Contingency Corps rapidly deployed to Germany in support of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and to assure our European Allies and partners. In February 2022, over 300 personnel from the Corps headquarters deployed from Fort Bragg to provide a Joint Task Force-capable headquarters in Wiesbaden, Germany. This deployment was directed by the Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III as a response to a heightened security environment in Eastern Europe and to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank.

(U.S. Army Photo By Pfc. Austin Robertson) (Photo Credit: Pfc. Austin Robertson)
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In the face of Russia’s aggressive actions and unprovoked and unjust invasion of Ukraine, the United States temporarily deployed approximately 20,000 additional forces and now has approximately 100,000 U.S. service members throughout Europe.

The XVIII Airborne Corps’ mission was vital and ever changing, deploying to bolster capabilities inside NATO’s eastern flank and evolving by serving as the centerpiece for the train-and-equip mission to support Ukraine in the defense of its nation.

“This was a historic mission for America’s Contingency Corps”, said Command Sgt. Maj. T.J. Holland, senior enlisted advisor for the XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg. “This was the first time the Corps has deployed to the European continent since World War II, and the commander and I are proud of every one of our Soldiers who rapidly deployed to reassure our Allies and partners, and showing the American people the Army’s standards of readiness and perseverance this organization embodies.”

The U.S. maintains significant numbers of combat-capable forces in Europe and if deterrence fails, stands shoulder-to-shoulder with our Allies.

The XVIII Airborne Corps is America’s strategic response force, capable of deploying on short notice anywhere in the world by air, land, or sea to conduct unified land operations as an Army, Joint, or Combined Task Force Headquarters.