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Casing of the Colors: The Iron Brigade Begins Deployment to Europe

By Maj. Arturo RodriguezJuly 20, 2023

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FORT BLISS, Texas – On a cool breezy morning with overcast skies, over 4,000 soldiers stood proudly on the 1st Armored Division parade field as the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team (2ABCT) held a casing of the color’s ceremony signaling the commencement of their long-awaited rotation to Europe in support of Atlantic Resolve on July 13, 2023.

The casing of the colors is a time-honored ceremonial tradition dating back to the origins of the United States Army. Units brandished banners to rally troops on the battlefield and served as a symbol to rally around to maintain unit cohesion. Modern warfare no longer calls for a rallying point during battle; instead, the colors, with combat streamers attached, now join their unit in formations during ceremonies to signify their presence during past conflicts.

Today’s Army cases the colors, solidifying the movement of a garrison organization’s headquarters and that of its subordinate units to a forward operating station in a deployment environment. This ceremony symbolizes the organization’s relocation from Fort Bliss, Texas to the U.S. Army European Command area of operations supporting Atlantic Resolve.

The 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team displayed the full array of their ceremonial might as soldiers, families, and leaders gathered to mark the occasion, in true 1st Armored Division fashion. 2ABCT battalions also cased their colors in unison with the brigade, fulfilling their resolve to join the deployment and ensure its success.

Maj. Gen. James P. Isenhower III, commander of the 1st Armored Division, stood proud and optimistic as his opening remarks to confidence now placed in the most lethal formation in the Army.

“You fought in the desert reaches of North Africa in WWII. You stood in the face of communism in Georgia where you received the reputation as “The Iron Brigade” during the Cold War. You defeated the toughest of Iraqi forces in Desert Storm. And you stood firm in Iraq again protecting freedom not once but twice. Now you are being called again to Europe to show U.S. resolve and commitment to deter aggression and protect freedom.”

Following Isenhower’s remarks, Col. Dwight D. Domengeaux, commander of the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, took the speaker’s podium and delivered his own remarks that demonstrated his confidence in his formation.

“Today’s casing ceremony marks yet another historic chapter for this remarkable brigade. Now, and for the next nine months, the nation needs “Strike” forward deployed in Europe, for three reasons: One, to deter, keeping our adversaries at bay or if they dare challenge us, to ensure that the Old Ironsides patch is the last thing they ever see; two, to assure our allies, by training alongside them and building readiness while simultaneously reinforcing America’s commitment to the NATO alliance; three, and finally, to demonstrate U.S. resolve to defend the European continent because when an ABCT from America’s tank division arrives, the world knows we mean business.”

Since April 2014, the U.S. Army Europe and Africa has led the Department of Defense’s Atlantic Resolve land efforts. Atlantic Resolve provides rotational deployments of combat-credible forces to Europe to show our commitment to NATO while building readiness, increasing interoperability and enhancing the bonds between ally and partner militaries.

For more information about Atlantic Resolve, email atlanticresolve.army.mil.

For more information about the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, please contact Maj. Arturo Rodriguez, Brigade Public Affairs Officer, at arturo.rodriguez94.mil@army.mil.