Army Taps Combat Units for Korea, Europe, Middle East Deployments

The U.S. Army on Wednesday announced the upcoming deployments of two armored brigades and two headquarters elements to South Korea, Europe and the Middle East.

This spring, the 3rd infantry Division's 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team will deploy to South Korea as part of a regular rotation of forces to the peninsula, according to a Jan. 10 Army press release.

The 1st ABCT, which is stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia, will replace the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.

"The Raider Brigade has a proud history of answering the nation's call. Our unit recently completed a rigorous training cycle that culminated with a decisive action training environment rotation to the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California," said Col. Mike Adams, 1st Armored Brigade commander.

"We are trained and ready to perform our mission as part of a long-standing alliance between the Republic of Korea and the United States."

This deployment marks the historic return of the 3rd Infantry Division to Korea, according to the release. The division supported combat missions of the Eighth Army until 1953, fighting valiantly during the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir and at the Chorwon-Kumwha area, Jackson Heights, and Arrowhead outposts.

The Army's 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, will deploy to Europe this summer, the release states.

The 1st Armored Brigade, stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, will replace 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, as part of a regular rotation of forces to support Operation Atlantic Resolve.

"The Ironhorse Brigade looks forward to returning to Europe to continue working with our NATO and regional partners," said Col. Wilson Rutherford IV, commander of 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team. "We are a trained armored brigade combat team which is fully prepared to conduct a full range of operations in support of U.S. Army Europe. Our professional leaders and soldiers are honored at the opportunity to contribute to this long-standing strategic alliance."

The Army also announced the deployments of two headquarters elements scheduled for this spring.

The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) headquarters, stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, will deploy to Afghanistan to replace the 3rd Infantry Division's headquarters as part of a regular rotation of forces to support Operation Freedom's Sentinel, the release states.

"The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) remains, as it did 75 years ago when it was forged during the maelstrom of World War II, ready to answer the call to fight and win our nation's wars," said Maj. Gen. Andrew P. Poppas, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) commander. "This will be the division headquarters' fourth deployment to Afghanistan in the last decade. We know the terrain, we know our partners and we know our mission."

Also this spring, 10th Mountain Division Headquarters, stationed at Fort Drum, New York, will deploy to Iraq to replace the 1st Armored Division Headquarters as part of a regular rotation of forces to support Operation Inherent Resolve.

"During the last several months, the 10th Mountain Division staff and leaders have worked hard and completed multiple training events to include an intense warfighter exercise in preparation for Operation Inherent Resolve," said Maj. Gen. Walter E. Piatt, commanding general of Fort Drum and the 10th Mountain Division.

"We are honored to be part of the global coalition in support of the Iraqi Security Forces as they consolidate gains from their successful efforts to achieve a lasting defeat of ISIS in Iraq. We will build upon the success of the 1st Armored Division as we look forward to partnering with the coalition forces and the Iraqi Security Forces as they build long-term stability through credible and ready security forces."

-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.