WASHINGTON (Army News Service, May 19, 2008) -- The 25th Infantry Division headquarters has been scheduled to deploy back to Iraq later this year along with one of its brigades and six other brigade combat teams.
The deployment for these units will begin in late Fall and continue until the end of the year, officials said, adding that about 25,000 active-duty Soldiers will be involved.
In addition, four Army National Guard brigade combat teams will deploy next year in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and a Vermont National Guard brigade will deploy in 2010 to Afghanistan, DoD and Army officials announced today.
The seven active brigade combat teams confirmed as part of the regular rotation to Iraq are:
Aca,!Ac 3rd (Bronco) Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, from Schofield Barracks, Hawaii;
Aca,!Ac 2nd (Warhorse) Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, from Fort Carson, Colo;
Aca,!Ac 2nd (Dagger) Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan;
Aca,!Ac 3rd (Panther) Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C;
Aca,!Ac 172nd (Blackhawk) Infantry Brigade, Schweinfurt, Germany;
Aca,!Ac 3rd (Grey Wolf) Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas and the
Aca,!Ac 1st (Lancers) Brigade (Stryker) Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska.
The four Army National Guard brigade combat teams alerted for planned rotations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom next year are:
Aca,!Ac The 72nd Brigade Combat Team, Texas National Guard
Aca,!Ac 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division (Iron Soldiers), Pennsylvania National Guard
Aca,!Ac The 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Tiger Brigade), of the Louisiana Army National Guard
Aca,!Ac 278th Brigade Combat Team (I Volunteer, Sir) Tennessee National Guard
The 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain Brigade) of the Vermont National Guard has been dubbed for deployment to Afghanistan in 2010.
Though increasingly a challenge, officials said the Army remains committed to carving out the critical 12 months of dwell time for units, Soldiers, and families between combat rotations. They said this dwell time is required to properly organize, re-train, and re-equip forces, as well as allow Soldiers and their Families well-deserved rest.
Beginning Aug. 1, all active Army units and Soldiers deploying to a named operation will deploy for not more than 12 months "Boots on the Ground," Army officials sadi. Those units deploying prior to Aug. 1, will complete their scheduled deployment. In accordance with the established policies, these units and Soldiers, however, will not be deployed again for at least 12 months, officials said.
The 25th Infantry Division, "Tropic Lightning" served a one-year tour of duty in Afghanistan from March 2004 to March 2005. Based at Bagram Airfield, the Tropic Lightning Division was responsible for security and stability operations, assuming the role as Headquarters, Combined Joint Task Force 76. The Tropic Lightning Division next deployed to Iraq in August 2006, headquartered at Contingency Operating Base Speicher in the northern Iraq city of Tikrit. The Division completed a 15-month tour of duty and returned to Schofield Barracks in October 2007. This will be the third deployment for the Tropic Lightning Division.
The Warhorse Brigade of the 4th Infantry Division completed its second tour in support of Iraqi Freedom in January 2006. The brigade's mission was to train Iraqi security forces to conduct operations independent of coalition assistance. The brigade supported Iraqi security forces in Najaf, Karbala and the northern Babil province.
The Broncos of the 25th Infantry Division served a one year tour of duty in Afghanistan from April 2004 - April 2005. Based at Kandahar Airfield, the Broncos were responsible for security and stability operations for the Regional Command South. In July 2006 the brigade began a tour of duty in northern Iraq. The 3rd Brigade Combat Team was based at Forward Operating Base Warrior in the northern Iraq city of Kirkuk. The brigade completed a fifteen month tour of duty and returned to Schofield Barracks in October, 2007.
The 2nd (Dagger) Heavy Brigade Combat Team is once again based at Fort Riley, Kan. The colors and lineage were returned from Schweinfurt, Germany in March. What was the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division reflagged March 28 as the 2nd (Dagger) Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division. The Dagger Brigade's most recent deployment was August 2006 to November 2007 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Upon its return, the brigade cased its colors and was reflagged as the 172nd Infantry Brigade, clearing the way for the Brigade's colors to return to Fort Riley.
The Panthers of the 82nd Airborne Division recently returned from their third deployment in support of the Global War on Terror. The Panthers deployed to Afghanistan July 2002 to January 2003 and to Iraq August 2003 to April 2004 and August 2006 to October 2007.
The 172nd (Blackhawk) Infantry Brigade is now based in Schweinfurt, Germany, where the brigade was activated March 16. The brigade's most recent deployment was in August 2005, when the 172nd Infantry Brigade deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The deployment lasted from August 2005 to November 2006, which concluded the longest consecutive tour of duty as the 172d Stryker Brigade since Vietnam (16 months). As a result of the unit's action in Iraq, the brigade was awarded the Valorous Unit Award. Having returned from its extended tour in Baghdad, Iraq, the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team inactivated and was officially re-designated as the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division on December 14th, 2006.
The Grey Wolf Brigade will deploy for the third time in support of Iraqi Freedom. In 2004, the Brigade deployed to the Middle East for a year-long tour in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II. The Grey Wolf Brigade again deployed to Iraq in 2006 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 06-08.
The 1st (Arctic Wolves) Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, activated at Fort Wainwright, Alaska in December 2006. The Arctic Wolves began the conversion in early 2002 from a light infantry brigade to a Stryker brigade as the 1st (Lancers) Brigade, 25th Infantry Division at Fort Lewis, Washington. They achieved combat-ready status in mid-2004 and began a one-year tour of duty in Iraq in October 2004. The brigade returned to Fort Lewis in September 2005. The Lancer's personnel and equipment was assigned to the 2nd Cavalry Regiment (Stryker) and moved to Vilseck, Germany in June 2006. The 1st Brigade was temporarily inactive from June-October 2006 and reactivated in December 2006.
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