KANDAHAR, Afghanistan- The Combined Team Ready First assumed battle space responsibility from 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, "Lancers," from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, Jan. 7. The ceremony was held at Camp Nathan Smith, Afghanistan, and hosted multiple Afghan dignitaries, as well as Maj. Gen. Robert "Abe" Abrams, RC-South commander.
The Lancer brigade has been in Afghanistan since late spring, 2011, stretching across nearly 15,000 square kilometers within northern Kandahar province, including Kandahar City.
"CTF Lancer soldiers mark this deployment by accomplishing some of the most complex and difficult tasks assigned to anywhere in RC-South," said Abrams. "Lancers brought Afghan National Security Forces into the lead this past summer, mentoring and developing all the pillars of the Afghan National Security Forces."
The Lancer colors were cased by Col. Barry F. Huggins, Lancer commander, and Command Sgt. Major Andrew B. Connette, brigade command sergeant major. Following the casing of the Lancer colors, the Combined Team Ready First's colors were uncased by Col. Ken Adgie, CTRF commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Russell Reimers, CTRF command sergeant major.
"To the men and women of Combined Team Ready First, your reputation precedes you," said Abrams. "Ever since our first engagement in the division mission rehearsal exercise, you have done nothing but impress us."
Abrams continued by challenging the Soldiers of CTRF to continue pushing the bar higher every day by reevaluating the complex environment, embracing the partnerships that Lancer has handed off, and continuing to press Afghan partners to be completely independent.
"Today's ceremony marks the change of one brigade for another and an opportunity to reconfirm our commitment to the Afghan people," said Adgie.
CTRF's mission in Afghanistan is to support the government of Afghanistan and enable the Afghan National Security Forces.
"We will not falter or fail in the development of the Afghan National Security Forces and the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan," said Abrams. "Afghans can win, and they will win. Afghanistan will stand on its own, but it will not stand alone."
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