Staff Sgt. Chad Lawrence, financial management technician, Detachment A, 230th Financial Management Support Unit, 4th Special Troops Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, greets his wife and daughter, Dec. 9, 2016, at the Army Reserve Center upon his return from a nine-month deployment in Afghanistan. Detachment A, 230th FMSU, provided financial management support to more than 20,000 U.S. military service members, Department of Defense civilians and contractors. (Photo by Sgt. David Freydin)

Soldiers from Detachment A, 230th Financial Management Support Unit, 4th Special Troops Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, stand in front of Family, friends and loved ones at the Army Reserve Center, Dec. 9, 2016, upon their return from a nine-month deployment in Afghanistan. The FMSU operated at several forward operating bases and conducted nearly 100 Financial Management Support Team missions. (Photo by Sgt. David Freydin)

By Sgt. David Freydin

4th Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division

Brightly-colored signs and anxious foot-tapping filled the Army Reserve Center on Fort Carson with an anticipation one could expect at a welcome home ceremony.

Families and friends welcomed home 18 Soldiers from Detachment A, 230th Financial Management Support Unit, 4th Special Troops Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Dec. 9, 2016.

The Soldiers returned from a nine-month deployment in support of military operations in Afghanistan.

“I am deeply honored to stand here before you,” said Maj. Ricardo Ortiz, commander, 230th FMSU, during the welcome home ceremony. “Most of you are young Soldiers on your first unit assignment and have just finished completing your first combat tour. Fifteen years ago, when this war started, most of you were young children growing up in this privileged nation. You had no obligation to serve, and yet you still had the courage to sacrifice any comfort you might have had to join the one percent of Americans who serve and defend this nation. I am proud of you, and I am honored to serve alongside you.”

During their time in Afghanistan, the detachment provided financial management support to more than 20,000 U.S. military service members, Department of Defense civilians and contractors. The FMSU operated at several forward operating bases, conducting financial management support team missions.

Maj. Ricardo Ortiz, commander, 230th Financial Management Support Unit, 4th Special Troops Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, welcomes home Soldiers from Detachment A, 230th FMSU, during a Dec. 9, 2016, at the Army Reserve Center. (Photo by Sgt. David Freydin)

Staff Sgt. Chad Lawrence, financial management technician, 230th FMSU, said it was great to be back home with his wife and daughter in time for the holidays.

“It was a long nine months, but I am happy to be back in time for Christmas,” said Lawrence. “I plan on spending as much time with Family as possible.”

Lawrence’s wife shared the sentiment.

“I’m just happy that he’s back for the holidays and our daughter’s birthday,” she said. “Her birthday party is tomorrow, so he made it just in time. … it’s the best gift that she could receive.”

Ortiz highlighted some of the detachment Soldiers’ accomplishments during the deployment that included promoting five Soldiers to the rank of sergeant, re-enlisting one Soldier and awarding two Soldiers the German Armed Forces Badge.

Soldiers from Detachment A, 230th FMSU were also awarded an Army Commendation Medal, 24 Army Achievement Medals, two Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medals and 12 certificates of achievement during the deployment.

Ortiz noted that the most important feat was that each member of Detachment A came home safe and sound.

Spc. Julius Bor, center,financial management technician, Detachment A, 230th Financial Management Support Detachment, 4th Special Troops Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, reunites with Family and friends at the Army Reserve Center Dec. 9, 2016, after a nine-month deployment in Afghanistan. (Photo by Sgt. David Freydin)

Spc. David Kiplagat, third from left, unit supply specialist, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, shakes hands with then-Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond T. Odierno at the 2014 Army Ten-Miler ceremony in Washington, D.C. Kiplagat joined the 1st Bn., 8th Inf. Reg., in 2014 after completing advanced individual training. (Photo courtesy of Spc. David Kiplagat)

By 2nd Lt. Gunbold Ligden

3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

When Spc. David Kiplagat joined the Army, he did so with a specific purpose in mind, to give back to the nation that he feels has given him so much.

Born in Kapsabet, Kenya, in 1984 and raised in a family of 11 siblings, he has seven brothers and three sisters.

When he arrived in the U.S. in 2004, he attended the University of Alaska-Anchorage on an athletic scholarship for running and earned bachelor’s degrees in finance and economics, graduating in 2009. He followed that up with a master’s degree in public administration in 2011.

During his time in college, Kiplagat won a number of marathons in Alaska and his brother, Solomon Kandie, ran for Tulane University in New Orleans.

Although Kiplagat’s education qualified him for a variety of career choices, he chose to enlist.

He enlisted in the Army in 2013 through the Military Accessions Vital to National Interest (MAVNI) program. Authorized by the Department of Defense in 2009, the MAVNI program is a recruiting resource that allows legal non-citizens with in-demand skills to join the Army in exchange for expedited U.S. citizenship. The DOD emphasized the need for qualified personnel who have language and/or medical skills.

Spc. David Kiplagat, left, unit supply specialist, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, runs with brothers Paul Rottich, middle, and Solomon Kandie in the 2015 Mayor’s Midnight Sun Marathon in Anchorage, Alaska. Kiplagat, a three-time champion of the marathon, used a running scholarship to the University of Alaska-Anchorage as a means to come to the U.S. After earning three degrees and his U.S. citizenship, Kiplagat decided he needed to earn his way further through service in the U.S. Army. (Photo courtesy of Spc. David Kiplagat)

Kiplagat joined the 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, in 2014 after completing advanced individual training at Fort Lee, Virginia.

For Kiplagat, unit supply specialist, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, military service was his realization of the American dream and a means to give back to the U.S. once he obtained his citizenship.
“I wanted to give back to the nation because it paid for my education,” said Kiplagat. “I love this country. I saw an opportunity to give back, and I took it. It is so hard to get employed in Kenya.”

As an immigrant, Kiplagat wanted to not only serve in the U.S. military but also exchange his gratitude for citizenship and green cards for his family. His family still resides in Kenya but is coming to stay with him next year.

Capt. William J. Whelan, commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, said Kiplagat remains active as a long-distance runner.

“This year he finished seventh overall at the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C., and third in his division,” Whelan said. “He regularly runs between 60 and 80 miles a week for training and it is not uncommon for him to run 20 miles for physical training and then come for a full day of work with little to no loss of productivity. Kiplagat is always happy and his attitude is contagious.”

Kiplagat said Fort Carson’s high-altitude training resources are priming him for further goals.

“I am now training for the tryout for the World Class Athlete Program here on Fort Carson,” he said.

Command Sgt. Maj. Michael A. Crosby, right, 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson, and Staff Sergeant Michael Spears, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 4th Inf. Div., unveil the new 4th Infantry Division Centennial logo at the 4th Infantry Division headquarters Dec. 16, 2016. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jason Epperson)

By Sgt. 1st Class Jason Epperson

4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office

Maj. Gen. Ryan F. Gonsalves, commanding general, 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson, speaks at the 4th Infantry Division centennial celebration at the 4th Infantry Division headquarters Dec. 16, 2016. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jason Epperson)

Maj. Gen. Ryan F. Gonsalves, commanding general, and Command Sgt. Maj. Michael A. Crosby, command sergeant major, 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson, hosted a 4th Infantry Division centennial celebration at the 4th Infantry Division Headquarters Dec. 16, 2016.

The ceremony signified the start of a yearlong celebration in honor of the 4th Inf. Div.’s 100 years of service in defense of the nation. The Iron Horse Division commemorated its 99th anniversary Dec. 10, 2016, the day Maj. Gen. George Cameron assumed command of the historical Army unit in 1917.

“Over the course of the next calendar year, we will showcase and celebrate our legacy on the parade fields at Fort Carson to our prominent battle grounds in Europe,” Gonsalves said. “Whether it’s participation in local community events, re-dedicating monuments in France, historical seminars, or hosting our (4th Infantry Division Association) reunion in conjunction with our annual Iron Horse Week next August, the “Ivy” Division’s heritage will be evident and our veterans will be proud.”

Gonsalves said that the division is both made by its history and a maker of history.

“Those past veterans entrusted us with our heritage the day we donned the Ivy patch, but it’s a legacy that must be continually earned and perfected.”

Former 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson commanding general, Lt. Gen. Joseph Anderson, deputy chief of staff, G-3/5/7, Headquarters Department of the Army, speaks during the 4th Inf. Div. centennial celebration at the 4th Infantry Division Headquarters Dec. 16, 2016. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jason Epperson)

Former 4th Inf. Div. and Fort Carson commanding general, Lt. Gen. Joseph Anderson, deputy chief of staff, G-3/5/7, Headquarters, Department of the Army, spoke as the guest speaker during the ceremony.

“The 4th Infantry Division has served with distinction at home and abroad over the past century,” Anderson said. “Whenever the nation called, the division was an effective combat unit while battling through a variety of intense campaigns in World Wars I and II, through Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan.”

Anderson said the 4th Inf. Div. has had a long and proud history over these last hundred years.

“This unit has met every challenge and accomplished every mission set before (it),” he said. “I can’t envision that changing anytime soon. They must look to the next hundred years and prepare for the fights and the trials yet to come, so that (they) can remember your accomplishments a century from now just like those from the past whose we celebrate today.”

Crosby unveiled the new logo on a podium and banners depicting 4th Infantry Division Soldiers dressed in historical uniforms from different conflicts dropped from the division’s third floor balcony, showcasing the legacy of the 4th Inf. Div. as it entered 100 years of “Steadfast and Loyal” service.

Guests at the event included Colorado Senator Michael F. Bennet, Colorado Springs Mayor John W. Suthers, retired Gen. Charles H. Jacoby Jr., retired Lt. Gen. Ed G. Anderson, members of the 4th Infantry Division Association, local retired military officers and enlisted and other distinguished guests.

Banners, depicting 4th Infantry Division Soldiers dressed in historical uniforms from different conflicts, were dropped from the division’s third floor balcony during the 4th Infantry Division centennial celebration at the 4th Infantry Division headquarters Dec. 16, 2016. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jason Epperson)

Retired Lt. Col. Nathan Watanabe, left, portrays a Vietnam War-era 4th Infantry Division Soldier and shows vintage weapons to Soldiers of the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, during a ceremony marking the kickoff of the unit’s centennial year of service, Dec. 9, 2016, at the William “Bill” Reed Special Event Center. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Ange Desinor)

Retired Staff Sgt. Bob Burrows, World War II veteran who served alongside 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, speaks to the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Soldiers during a ceremony marking the kickoff of the unit’s centennial year of service, at the William “Bill” Reed Special Events Center Dec. 9, 2016. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Ange Desinor)

By Staff Sgt. Ange Desinor

3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division

The 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, marked the beginning of its centennial year of service Dec. 9, 2016, with a brigade run followed by a ceremony at the William “Bill” Reed Special Events Center that featured veterans of the division from as far back as World War II.

“We talked a lot this morning as we started our run about the importance of connecting ourselves as Soldiers, as citizens serving today, to each other in this great team and to the legacy of this great division,” said Col. Christopher R. Norrie, commander, 3rd ABCT, during his opening remarks at the ceremony. “This is an incredible division — 99 years (Saturday) — of continuous service to our nation. Today is about connecting ourselves to that great legacy.”

The 3rd Brigade was organized Dec. 10, 1917, as Headquarters, 8th Infantry Brigade, as an element of the 4th Division at Camp Greene, North Carolina. By June 1918, the entire division was in France and fought with distinction during the Aisne-Marne Offensive, St. Mihiel and the Meuse-Argonne campaigns.
During World War II, the brigade also joined the division in leading the landing at Utah Beach on D-Day, June 6, 1944.

Reflecting on the heritage, Norrie introduced guest speakers to share their legacy with the Iron Brigade; three veterans of World War II, the Vietnam War and the Cold War.

Taking a seat in the middle of a packed auditorium, the first guest speaker was retired World War II veteran Staff Sgt. Bob Burrows, who enlisted in the U.S. Army on his 18th birthday and began his service on Feb. 20, 1943.

“It’s an honor to be here,” said Burrows, joking as he looked around the room. “You’re a great looking bunch of kids.”

He reflected on fighting with Gen. George S. Patton’s 3rd Army in the Ardennes region in southeast Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge.

He then spoke of being in locations of central Europe that the 3rd ABCT will again serve in during its nine-month rotation for Atlantic Resolve beginning in January.

“You fellas have got a big, heavy duty ahead of you. You’re heading to the near east (border) of Europe, and you’re going to be ambassadors as well as a fighting force in their minds. Best wishes, and may God bless you,” Burrows told the 3rd ABCT Soldiers.

Burrows’ great-grandson, Sgt. James Brendlinger, con­tinues the family’s legacy in the Ivy Division by serving with the 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team.

Burrows was followed by Retired Capt. Herbert Gagne, who commanded Company C, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, during the Vietnam War and Retired Sgt. Maj. Dick Foxworthy, who served in Germany with the 68th Armor Regiment during the Cold War.

Each veteran talked about his experiences and offered words of encouragement and appreciation for the roughly 4,200 Soldiers now serving in 3rd ABCT.
Prior to the brigade run earlier in the morning, the unit’s youngest Soldier, Pvt. Anna Zilka, 17, of 588th Brigade Engineer Battalion, read the unit’s history to Soldiers standing in formation. The brigade has been reorganized and redesignated several times over the years and was activated at Fort Carson as 3rd Brigade, 4th Inf. Div., on Dec. 15, 1970, according to Zilka.

Along the way, the 3rd Brigade Soldiers have also fought alongside the rest of the division in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan.

“I am convinced, without a doubt, that this is the greatest division in the U.S. Army,” Norrie added. “It has the greatest Soldiers and the greatest leaders. It does more than any other division in the U.S. Army.”

Col. Christopher R. Norrie, left, commander of 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, shakes the hands of his Soldiers after completing their brigade run marking the kickoff of the unit’s centennial year of service Dec. 9, 2016. The 3rd Brigade was organized along with the rest of the “Ivy” Division Dec. 10, 1917, to fight in Europe in World War I. (Photo by
Staff Sgt. Ange Desinor)

4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office

The proud heritage of the 4th Infantry Division begins in World War I with the creation of active-duty divisions in the regular Army, rather than calling up units from states as had been done in the Mexican, Civil and Spanish American Wars.

The story begins as America, which had been neutral during the Great War in Europe in 1917, decided to enter the war to support the Allies.

Filled with draftees, the 4th Division, whose insignia had been adopted by its first commanding general, Maj. Gen. George H. Cameron, became known as the “Ivy” Division.

World War I

In April 1918, the Ivy Division embarked to fight in France in World War I. By the time the Great War ended some months hence, the Ivy Division would serve with distinction. It was the only American combat force to serve with both the French and the British in their respective sectors, as well as with all corps in the American sector.

When the war ended, Nov. 11, 1918, the Ivy Division had earned five battle streamers. Over 2,000 division men had been killed in action; total casualties were almost 14,000.

Sgt. William Shemin would be posthumously presented the Medal of Honor for his actions while serving as a rifleman during the Aisne-Marne Offensive, earning the 4th Inf. Div.’s only Medal of Honor during World War I.

The 4th Division inactivated at Camp Lewis, Washington, as part of the Army Reorganization Act of 1920.

World War II

As war clouds engulfed Europe prior to World War II, the 4th Division reactivated June 1, 1940, at Fort Benning, Georgia. Chosen as the spearhead amphibious division of the D-Day landing on the Normandy coast of France, the men of the reflagged 4th Infantry Division stormed ashore at H-Hour (6:30 a.m.) on a stretch of the French coast named — for this operation and forever after — Utah Beach. It was for his actions that day that the assistant division commander, Brig. Gen. Theodore Roosevelt Jr., earned the division’s first Medal of Honor for actions in World War II.

4th Infantry Division troops leave landing crafts onto Utah Beach, France, June 6, 1944. (Photo courtesy of 4th Infantry Division Museum)

On Sept. 11, 1944, a patrol from the 4th Inf. Div. became the first Allied ground force to enter Germany. Fighting in the Siegfried Line followed. Mid-November found the division in the bloodiest battle of its history. The most grueling battle in Europe was fought in the Hürtgen Forest. Fighting in the cold rain and snow and in a forest of pine and fir trees 150 feet in height, the Ivy Soldiers slugged it out yard-by-yard and day-by-day against determined German artillery and infantry resistance.

By the end of the war, May 8, 1945, the 4th Inf. Div. had participated in all of the World War II campaigns — from the Normandy Beach through Germany. Five more battle streamers were added to the division colors and Ivy Soldiers who served during this period were authorized to wear the five campaign stars of Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe.

The division suffered almost 22,000 battle casualties and more than 34,000 total casualties, including more than 5,000 who were killed or died of injuries during the 4th Inf. Div.’s 11 months of fighting across Europe. For 199 straight days, the 4th Inf. Div. was in constant contact with the Germans, and five division Soldiers were presented the Medal of Honor for their actions above and beyond the call of duty.

Cold War

The Cold War found the 4th Inf. Div. again standing tall in defense of freedom. While America’s armed forces fought the Communists in Korea, the Ivy Division returned to Germany in 1950, and for the next six years stood strong against the Com­munist threat to Western Europe. After returning to the U.S. in 1956, the division trained at Fort Lewis, Washington, for the next time they would be called into battle: Vietnam, in the late summer of 1966, 22 years and two months after the Ivy Division landed on Utah Beach.

Vietnam

In August 1966, led by the 2nd Brigade, the Ivy Division headquarters closed into the central high-lands of Vietnam. On Sept. 25, 1966, the division began a combat assignment against the North Vietnamese that would not end until Dec. 7, 1970.

With the largest assigned area of operations of any division in Vietnam, the Ivy Division was charged with screening the border of South Vietnam as the first line of defense against infiltration down the Ho Chi Minh trail through Laos and Cambodia, and to pre-empt any offensive on the more populated lowlands. Triple canopy jungles, extreme heat and seasonal monsoons were constant challenges to the division as were the North Vietnamese Regulars and Viet Cong. By the time the Ivy Division completed its assignment in Vietnam and arrived at Fort

Carson at the end of 1970, 2,497 Ivy Soldiers had been killed and 15,229 had been wounded. Twelve Ivy Division Soldiers would be presented the Medal of Honor for their bravery during this period.

Resuming training and Cold War missions, the 4th Inf. Div. remained stationed at Fort Carson from 1970 through 1995. During this period, the division was converted to a mechanized organization and frequently sent units to Europe to continue the Cold War mission of standing against the Communist threat. It was during its time at Fort Carson that the division assumed the nickname “Iron Horse.” The 4th Inf. Div. relocated to Fort Hood, Texas, in 1995, where it joined the Task Force XXI Advanced Warfighting Experiment to modernize Army warfare.

Operation Iraqi Freedom

On Jan. 18, 2003, under the leadership of Maj. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, the 4th Inf. Div. was given the deployment order for movement to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).

During the yearlong deployment from March 2003 to April 2004, the division and other Task Force Iron Horse units carried out aggressive offensive operations designed to hunt down the last holdouts of the old regime. At the same time, the mighty 4th had the massive job of rebuilding the infrastructure of the many villages within their area of operations and re-establishing a governmental structure. During Operation Red Dawn, conducted Dec. 13, 2003, in coordination with a special operations unit, the 4th Inf. Div. captured Saddam Hussein, the former president of Iraq. His capture has been described by the news media as the No. 1 news story of 2003.

The 4th Inf. Div. returned to Iraq starting in the fall of 2005, this time to Baghdad in support of OIF 05-06 where Maj. Gen. James D. Thurman led Multi-National Division-Baghdad (MND-B), with the 4th Inf. Div. as the command component. With attached units, MND-B numbered more than 30,000 personnel and was responsible for the largest population area of Iraq, including the always volatile city of Baghdad. In December 2006, the division again returned home.

On Dec. 19, 2007, Task Force Iron Horse again assumed command of MND-B with a 15-month mission to exploit the gains made during the “surge” in 2007. The mission in support of OIF 07-09 was defined as clear, control, retain and transition. In a Christmas letter, 4th Inf. Div. Commanding General Maj. Gen. Jeffery W. Hammond explained the challenge for the 4th Inf. Div.’s mission was “to continue to build upon the momentum built by Soldiers of Multi-National Division-Baghdad. To do this we must, first and foremost, in partnership with the Iraqi Security Forces, continue to protect the

Iraqi people, aggressively hunt the enemy down, and build upon the partnerships with the Iraqi people, their security services and the local and provincial governments …”

Through the summer, fall and winter, work continued to transition the lead from coalition to Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and the 4th Inf. Div. and MND-B prepared to turn over the lead to the ISF Jan. 1, 2009. This was accomplished on schedule with the ISF taking the lead as the new year arrived. On New Year’s Eve 2008, Baghdad conducted successful provincial elections without a significant enemy attack, and a few months later, the 4th Inf. Div. again returned to Fort Hood, ending their its deployment to Iraq since 2003.

In the three deployments to Iraq, 84 Task Force Iron Horse Soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice in 2003-2004, 235 4th Inf. Div. Soldiers lost their lives in 2005-2006 and 113 were killed in 2007-2009.

Operation New Dawn

In July 2009, Maj. Gen. David G. Perkins took command of the 4th Inf. Div. With this change of command, the Iron Horse Division completed 14 years calling Fort Hood home and returned to Fort Carson, where the Iron Horse Division began to prepare for its fourth deployment to Iraq in less than eight years.

As the sole commanding general in northern Iraq, Perkins and the Iron Horse Task Force were charged with maintaining the momentum of Iraq’s security forces and setting conditions for the smooth transition to an embassy-led mission, advising and training Iraqi security elements on intelligence collection, medical training and counterterrorism tactics. The 4th Inf. Div. furled and cased its colors Oct. 20, 2011, at Contingency Operating Base Speicher, Iraq, signifying the end of its 13-month mission in support of Operation New Dawn.

Spc. Jon Sweatt, infantryman, Company C, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, pulls security in Morghan Kachah, Afghanistan, while on a joint patrol with the Afghan Uniformed Police, Aug. 18, 2014. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Whitney Houston)

Operation Enduring Freedom

Upon the division’s return to Fort Carson, Maj. Gen. Joseph Anderson assumed command, Nov. 16, 2011, and the 4th Inf. Div. began resetting, refitting and training to deploy as required to serve the nation for its next mission.

During this time, the division’s newly reflagged and reorganized 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (BCT) deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Two Soldiers from the “Warrior” Brigade were presented the Medal of Honor for their valor in the 2009 Battle of Kamdesh. Staff Sgts. Clinton L. Romesha and Ty Michael Carter received the nation’s highest military award for extraordinary gallantry and selfless actions during the Battle of Kamdesh at Combat Outpost Keating, Afghanistan, Oct. 3, 2009.

Another Warrior Brigade Soldier, Capt. Florent Groberg, also received the Medal of Honor, for his actions in Afghanistan, Aug. 8, 2012.

Maj. Gen. Paul LaCamera, assumed command of the 4th Inf. Div. and Fort Carson March 14, 2013. Under the watch of LaCamera, the Iron Horse Division took control of Regional Command-South at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, from July 8, 2013, until July 7, 2014, and since 2013, three 4th Inf. Div. BCTs have deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Spartan Shield.

Atlantic Resolve

On Feb. 13, 2015, nearly 100 Soldiers from the Iron Horse Division arrived in Grafenwöhr, Germany, in support of Atlantic Resolve, and Maj. Gen. Ryan F. Gonsalves assumed command of 4th Inf. Div. and Fort Carson, May 14, 2015.

The Mission Command Element (MCE) serves as the intermediate headquarters for U.S. Army Europe under the Army’s new Regionally Aligned Force concept. The MCE is a headquarters element designed to provide command and control for all U.S. ground forces participating in the Atlantic Resolve footprint spread throughout eastern Europe.

100 years of service

As the 4th Inf. Div. celebrates its 99th anniversary, Iron Horse Soldiers are looking forward to the division’s 100 years of distinguished service to the nation. In 2016, the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team and 4th Combat Aviation Brigade returned home from deployments in Afghanistan, Iraq and

Europe, having completed nine-month rotations providing dedicated training support to their host nations. A team of combat-focused Soldiers and resilient military Families, the 4th Inf. Div. continues to answer the nation’s call, whenever and wherever called.

The 4th Inf. Div. and Fort Carson Soldiers are the standard bearers for contingency operations around the world. From the origins of the Roman numeral IV, to the transitional nickname “Iron Horse,” in recognition of readiness for contingency deployments worldwide, 4th Infantry Division remains “Steadfast and Loyal.”

Campaigns and decorations

Campaigns

World War I

Aisne-Marne

St. Mihiel

Meuse-Argonne

Champagne 1918

Lorraine 1918

World War II

Normandy

Northern France

Rhineland

Ardennes-Alsace

Central Europe

Vietnam

Counteroffensive, Phase II

Counteroffensive, Phase III

Tet Counteroffensive

Counteroffensive, Phase IV

Counteroffensive, Phase V

Counteroffensive, Phase VI

Tet 69/Counteroffensive

Summer-Fall 1969

Winter-Spring 1970

Sanctuary Counteroffensive

Counteroffensive, Phase VII

Iraq War

Liberation of Iraq, 2003

Transition of Iraq, 2003-2004

Iraqi Governance, 2004-2007

National Resolution, 2005-2007

Iraqi Surge, 2007-2008

Division decorations

Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for Plieku Province (1st Brigade)

Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for Dak to District (1st Brigade) Belgian Fourragere, 1940

Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action in Belgium

Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action in the Ardenes

Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm for Vietnam, 1966-1969

Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm for Vietnam, 1969-1970

Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class for Vietnam, 1966-1969

Army Superior Unit Award (selected units) for Force XXI Test and Evaluation, 1995-1996

Valorous Unit Award (1st Brigade Combat Team and supporting units) for Operation Red Dawn, Iraq, 2003

Medals of Honor

World War I

Sgt. William Shemin

Company G, 47th Infantry

World War II

Staff Sgt. Marcario Garcia

Company B, 22nd Infantry

Lt. Col. George L. Mabry Jr.

2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry

1st Lt. Bernard J. Ray

Company F, 8th Infantry

Brig. Gen. Theodore Roosevelt Jr.

4th Infantry Division

Pvt. Pedro Cano

Company C, 8th Infantry

Vietnam

Pfc. Leslie Allen Bellrichard

Company C, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry

Cpl. Thomas W. Bennett

2nd Platoon, 14th Infantry

Spec. 4 Donald W. Evans Jr.

Company A, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry

Platoon Sgt. Bruce Alan Grandstaff

Company B, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry

Spec. 5 Dwight H. Johnson

Company B, 1st Battalion, 69th Armor

Pfc. Phill G. McDonald

Company A, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry

Sgt. Ray McKibben

Troop B, 7th Squadron (Airmobile), 17th Cavalry

1st Sgt. David H. McNerney

Company A, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry

Staff Sgt. Frankie Z. Molnar

Company B, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry

Sgt. Anund C. Roark

Company C, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry

Staff Sgt. Elmelindo R. Smith

1st Platoon, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry

Pfc. Louis E. Willett

Company C, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry

Afghanistan

Staff Sgt. Clinton Romesha

Troop B, 3d Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team

Staff Sgt. Ty Michael Carter

Troop B, 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team

Capt. Florent A. Groberg

Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team

Col. Irene Rosen is presented the 2016 Military Health System Female Physician Leadership Award (Senior Physician) by Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Dr. Karen Guice. (Photo courtesy of AMSUS)

By Jeff Troth

U.S. Army Medical Department Activity-Fort Carson Public Affairs Office

Two Evans Army Community Hospital health care practitioners were recognized for their career accomplishments during the AMSUS (The Society of Federal Health Professionals) annual meeting Dec. 1, 2016, at National Harbor near Washington, D.C.

Col. Irene Rosen was selected as the top senior female physician in the Military Health System (MHS) and presented the 2016 MHS Female Physician Leadership Award. Registered nurse Lydia Kreighbaum was recognized as the Junior Army category winner of the 2016 MHS Federal Civilian Nursing Excellence in Leadership Award.

“I was very honored to be nominated for this award, and the fact that I was selected was very unexpected and humbling,” said Rosen, who graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1987, and from 1995 to 1999 attended medical school at the Uniformed Services University for the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. She currently serves as the U.S. Army Medical Department Activity-Fort Carson deputy commanding officer and chief medical officer.

Registered nurse Lydia Kreighbaum is presented the 2016 Military Health Service Federal Civilian Nursing Excellence in Leadership Award (Nursing Junior Army) by Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Dr. Karen Guice. . (Photo courtesy of AMSUS)

“It was an extreme honor, and I did not expect to win it at all,” said Kreighbaum, who has been a nurse for the Army for eight years, the past seven at the Evans Pain Clinic. “When I got the email stating that I had won I was speechless.”

Unlike most awards, these weren’t just for a single year or a single accomplishment. These awards recognize what individuals are currently doing to improve health care and what they have done in the past.

Rosen’s award nomination included her time at Fort Belvoir’s Family Medicine Residency program, where she taught and mentored many future family physicians. The packet also talked about her part in creating the Warrior Transition Care clinic at Madigan Army Medical Center, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. It also mentioned her time as the deputy surgeon for U.S. Forces-Afghanistan, where she worked in transferring authority of Kabul Role III hospital from French to U.S. authority.

“I couldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t done these jobs and many others,” Rosen said. “They all really build upon each other over the course of a career. I have been really lucky to have had a great progression of jobs that has gotten me to where I am now.”

Kreighbaum also credited her opportunities for earning her the award.

“Part of the submission was what I have done during my career as a nurse, both at work and in the community,” she said. “This included my time as a co-ambassador for the patient caring touch system and my participation on nurse practice councils.”

While at the Pain Clinic, Kreighbaum developed and directed an intensive out-patient program designed to improve function and quality of life by reducing opioid use. The program has had over 200 graduates who have decreased their utilization of opioids by more than 50 percent.

“This recognition by the Military Health System for Lydia and me is a credit to the great team we have at Evans,” said Rosen. “Because of our team, we are able to accomplish outstanding results for our patients.”

Col. Christopher Norrie, commander, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, speaks to Soldiers and families about the Iron Brigade’s upcoming deployment to Europe in support of Atlantic Resolve at McMahon Auditorium Dec. 7, 2016. The predeployment town hall gave leaders a chance to tell Families about the importance of the mission to Europe, answer questions and provide resources to help prepare for deployment. (Photo by Capt. Scott Walters)

Col. Christopher Norrie, commander, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, explains to Soldiers and Families the nature of the Iron Brigade’s upcoming deployment to Europe in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve during a pre-deployment town hall at the William “Bill” Reed Special Events Center Dec. 2, 2016. The forum gave leaders a chance to explain the importance of the deployment and gave Families a chance to ask questions while receiving information to help them prepare for deployment. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Ange Desinor)

By Staff Sgt. Ange Desinor

3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division

Providing information to Families was a priority for the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, during predeployment town hall meetings held Dec. 2 and Dec. 7, 2016.

The town halls included brigade leaders and installation Family advocates who spoke directly to Soldiers and Family members about the upcoming “Iron” Brigade deployment in January in support of Atlantic Resolve.

“The purpose of the town hall meeting was to communicate to Families the purpose of our mission,” said Capt. Chase Rham, family readiness liaison, 3rd ABCT. “Also to show them what resources are available to them on and off post while their Soldiers are deployed. We had multiple agencies who came to talk to them.”

The agencies participating in the town hall included Army Community Service, American Red Cross and Fort Carson Housing.

“This helps keep the Families’ minds at ease knowing that they have a support system to help cope with deployment and Family separation,” said Rham.

“Everyone was thankful to hear from the agencies, brigade leaders and, most importantly, from the brigade commander.”
Col. Christopher Norrie, commander, 3rd ABCT, discussed the purpose of the unit’s nine-month mission, which includes movement of armored equipment through Europe. The brigade will also perform integration tasks before sending battalions to NATO countries.

“I am convinced this is the greatest brigade in the United States Army because we have the best Soldiers,” said Norrie. “Usually when Soldiers arrive in country, they get settled in and then start their mission. This time it will be a little different. We will first test out our equipment and weapons, verify and inspect them to ensure they’re ready for operation.”

The arrival of the Iron Brigade to Europe marks the beginning of continuous rotations of U.S.-based armored brigade combat teams to strengthen NATO defenses while deterring acts of aggression.

The brigade will operate in Poland, Germany, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary.

1st Lt. Scott Ratzer, executive officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Engineer Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, uses a Broco torch to cut a rebar during the 4th Inf. Div. Best Sapper Competition held Dec. 14-15, 2016. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Diandra J. Harrell)

Staff Sgt. Antonio Hatcher, squad leader, 299th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, assesses Capt. Ryan O’Connor, commander, 62nd Sapper Company, 4th Engineer Battalion, and 1st Lt. Scott Ratzer, executive officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Eng. Bn., prepare a poncho raft during the 4th Inf. Div. Best Sapper Competition, Dec. 14-15, 2016. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Diandra J. Harrell)

By Staff Sgt. Diandra J. Harrell

4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office

Fourteen Army engineers from the Mountain Post competed in a grueling competition Dec. 14-15, 2016, to determine which two-man teams would represent Fort Carson in the annual U.S. Army Best Sapper Competition at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, in April 2017.

“The selection competition is used to ensure that the 4th Infantry Division sends the best qualified teams,” said Capt. Timothy A. Sybert, engineer officer, 4th Inf. Div.

Sgt. Cairo Prisco and 1st Lt. Daniel Butensky, Company A, 299th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, conduct a poncho raft swim during the 4th Inf. Div. Best Sapper Competition, Dec. 14-15, 2016. The teams swam laps for 10-minutes while attached to 50-pound rucks sacks and M16 A2 rifles. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Diandra J. Harrell)

The 36-hour competition consisted of 11 events which tested mental and physical abilities and included a non-standard physical fitness test, drown proofing and poncho raft building, Talon tracked-wheel military robot and signal operations, knot tying, 15 1/2-mile ruck march, shooting tests, written exam, land navigation, demolitions and a 10-mile run.

“These are squad battle drills that we have to execute in wartime and we must be physically fit to accomplish our mission,” said Lt. Col. Carl Dick, commander, 4th Engineer Battalion. “This competition is very taxing and I think we have the right teams here to compete at the annual competition.”

Sgt. Cairo Prisco, Company A, 299th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, ties a required knot during the knot-tying event as part of the 4th Inf. Div. Best Sapper Competition, Dec. 14-15, 2016. At this station, each team member created seven knots within a two-minute window. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Diandra J. Harrell)

The teams selected were: Capt. Ryan O’Connor and 1st Lt. Scott Ratzer representing the 4th Eng. Bn.; Staff Sgt. Rodney Boemer, Sgt. Jonathan Wild, 1st Lt. Daniel Butensky and Sgt. Cairo Prisco representing the 299th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div.

This will be Prisco’s second time competing in the annual competition.

“We (Prisco and former teammate) competed this April and placed 17th in the annual competition,” said Prisco. “So when 1st Lt. Butensky asked me if I wanted compete this year, I said of course. Soon after, we started preparing for the competition…we want to show that we are the best team to represent the division at the annual competition.”

The three two-man teams will represent Fort Carson and the 4th Inf. Div. during the six-day event in April 2017 as they compete against 47 other teams from across the Army and Marine Corps.

Engineers from across Fort Carson conduct a non-standard Army Physical Fitness Test during the 4th Infantry Division Best Sapper Competition held Dec. 14-15, 2016. The test included five minutes of pushups and situps, three minutes of pullups and a three-mile run wearing improved outer tactical vests. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Diandra J. Harrell)

Sgt. Cairo Prisco and 1st Lt. Daniel Butensky, Company A, 299th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, conduct an urban building breech using a battering ram during the 4th Inf. Div. Best Sapper Competition, Dec. 14-15, 2016. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Diandra J. Harrell)

Cedric Woodyard, an Army Community Service (ACS) financial readiness advisor, discusses the importance of balancing money and planning for a future at a financial workshop hosted by the unit ministry team of 6th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, at the Religious Education Center, Dec. 14, 2016. (Photo by Sgt. Gregory T. Summers)

6th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

The unit ministry team of 6th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, hosted a financial stewardship workshop to train and develop Soldiers and spouses with successful and sound financial readiness capabilities at Fort Carson’s Religious Education Center, Dec. 14, 2016.

The chaplain-led workshop included a round-robin fashion of classes with guest speakers from Army Community Service (ACS), financial readiness planners Dallas Shrawder and Cedric Woodyard, and financial advisors from Fort Carson’s Security Service Federal Credit Union.

“Financial stressors and hurdles can affect Soldiers in multiple areas of their lives,” said Capt. Matthew S. Burden, squadron chaplain, 6th Sqdn., 17th Cav. Reg. “A Soldier’s mental health, resiliency, strength of relationships and the abilities to adapt, overcome, fight and win can greatly be affected if financial obligations are not in order.”

“We held this workshop to help them relieve some of these financial stressors and give them the tools to succeed financially, in the Army and in life,” Burden said.

The half-day classes focused on a variety of financial aspects including basics of banking, understanding credit scores, tips for car buying and other major purchases as well as how money can affect the strength of relationships.

The content and discussions reinforced common financial struggles, including investing in a future, personal finance balancing and first-time buyers misconceptions.

“We want our Soldiers and Families to be prepared and have a better understanding on how to control their finances,” Pvt. 1st Class Nicholas M. Carlyle, chaplain assistant, Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 6th Sqdn., 17th Cav. Reg., said. “I think these classes are very important and are extremely helpful regardless of age or rank.”

Throughout the classes, Soldiers learned about various benefits and drawbacks of bank accounts, credit cards and maintaining credit scores, while also building solid budgeting and spending plans.

Information and strategies to tackle personal debt were abundant as group discussions brought about plenty of ideas to balancing and saving money and becoming more financially stable.

“We are extremely appreciative of the professionals who came to assist and advise our Soldiers and families,” added Burden. “I know that (the Soldiers) are all better for what they’ve learned and the tools they have gained.”

Banners depicting majorconflicts the 4th Infantry Division has participated in hang from the divisionheadquarters’ third floor balcony during the division’s centennial celebration Dec. 16, 2016. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jason Epperson)

By Sgt. 1st Class Jason Epperson

4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office

Commanding General Maj. Gen. Ryan F. Gonsalves and Command Sgt. Maj. Michael A. Crosby hosted a 4th Infantry Division Centennial Celebration at the division headquarters Dec. 16, 2016.

Maj. Gen. Ryan F. Gonsalves, commanding general, 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson, shares highlights of the division’s history during a centennial celebration at the division headquarters Dec. 16, 2016. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jason Epperson)

The ceremony, led by the 4th Inf. Div. and Fort Carson command team, signified the start of a yearlong celebration in honor of the “Iron Horse” Division’s 100 years of service in defense of the nation. The division commemorated its 99th anniversary Dec. 10, 2016, the day Maj. Gen. George Cameron assumed command of the unit in 1917.

“Over the course of the next calendar year, we will showcase and celebrate our legacy on the parade fields at Fort Carson to our prominent battlegrounds in Europe,” Gonsalves said. “Whether it’s participation in local community events, rededicating monuments in France, historical seminars or hosting our 4th Infantry Division Association Reunion in conjunction with our annual Iron Horse Week next August, the ‘Ivy’ Division’s heritage will be evident and our veterans will be proud.”

Lt. Gen. Joseph Anderson, former 4th Infantry Division commanding general, serves as the guest speaker during the 4th Infantry Division centennial celebration at the division headquarters Dec. 16, 2016. Anderson currently serves as deputy chief of staff, G-3/5/7, Headquarters Department of the Army. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jason Epperson)

Gonsalves said that as a division, “we are both made by our history and makers of history. Those past veterans entrusted us with our heritage the day we donned the Ivy patch, but it’s a legacy that must be continually earned and perfected.”

Former 4th Inf. Div. commanding general, Lt. Gen. Joseph Anderson, deputy chief of staff, G-3/5/7, Headquarters Department of the Army, was the guest speaker during the ceremony.

“The 4th Infantry Division has served with distinction both at home and abroad over the past century,” Anderson said. “Whenever the nation called, the division was an effective combat unit while battling through a variety of intense campaigns from World Wars I and II, through Vietnam, to Iraq and Afghanistan.”

Anderson said the division has had a long and proud history over the last 100 years.

“This unit met every challenge and accomplished every mission set before it,” he said. “I can’t envision that changing anytime soon. We must look to the next hundred years and prepare for the fights and the trials yet to come, so that we can remember your accomplishments a century from now just like those from the past who we celebrate today.”

Command Sgt. Maj. Michael A. Crosby, right, command sergeant major, 4th Inf. Div. and Fort Carson, and Staff Sgt. Michael Spears unveil the centennial logo during a celebration Dec. 16, 2016, at the division headquarters. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jason Epperson)

Crosby unveiled the new logo and banners depicting division Soldiers in period uniforms were unfurled from the headquarter’s third floor balcony, showcasing the legacy of the 4th Inf. Div. as it enters its 100th year of “Steadfast and Loyal” service.

The event was attended by Colorado Senator Michael Bennet, Colorado Springs Mayor John W. Suthers, Retired Gen. Charles H. Jacoby Jr., Retired Lt. Gen. Ed G. Anderson, members of the 4th Infantry Division Association, local retired military officers and enlisted, and other distinguished guests.

Soldiers of the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, pile up toys, food and clothing after arriving at the Marian House Soup Kitchen Dec. 15, 2016. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Nancy Lugo)

By Staff Sgt. Nancy Lugo

1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division

COLORADO SPRINGS — Soldiers of the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, delivered holiday cheer from their rucksacks to the Marian House Soup Kitchen Dec. 15, 2016.

Now in its seventh year, “Operation Stryker Christmas” originated from three “Raider” Brigade Soldiers who volunteered at the Marian House Soup Kitchen and thought hauling donations in rucksacks would be fun.

“It’s the Soldier who got up on a freezing cold morning to donate to those families. I think it was important to those Families to receive the goods and to see what we are willing to do for them … to brave the cold, carry a heavy load and then give it all away,” said 1st Lt. Lucas Werner, Family readiness liaison, 1st SBCT. “Now that I have a son, donating clothes and giving to those who are a little less fortunate … that means a lot more to me now. I am thinking I would do anything to provide for him, and that is what these people are doing — everything they need to do to provide for their families — that has a huge impact on me.”

Soldiers of the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, pile up toys, food and clothing after arriving at the Marian House Soup Kitchen Dec. 15, 2016. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Nancy Lugo)

Marching in ahead of schedule, more than 1,500 Fort Carson Soldiers brought Christmas cheer to downtown Colorado Springs, along with food, blankets, clothes, camping gear and lots of toys.

“It’s awesome! I really do think it is awesome. My father-in-law and my grandpa are both Soldiers so they used to do a lot of community work for everybody. I just think it is sweet of them to help out,” said Colorado Springs resident Ali Domitrovich while waiting in line to pick out clothes and toys for her five children.

The donation drive not only provided assistance for those in need but also demonstrated the overall resiliency of the community, said Rochelle Blaschke.

“This is one of those events that you just stand back in awe,” said the Catholic Charities chief communications officer. “Generosity at its core is an amazing thing.”

Soldiers from 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, head to the Marian House Soup Kitchen Dec. 14, 2016, as part of “Operation Stryker Christmas” after completing an overnight 25-mile “Manchu Mile” road march. (Photo by 1st Lt. John F. Kistler)

By 1st Lt. John F. Kistler

4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

The Manchu Mile is one of the Army’s most well-known ruck marches, having been conducted by thousands of 9th Infantry Regiment Soldiers in Alaska, Korea and Colorado.

From the night of Dec. 14, 2016 until early morning Dec. 15, 2016, “Manchus” with the 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, marched to the tune of 25 miles from the tanks trails of Fort Carson to the Pikes Peak Greenway of Colorado Springs.

Aided by a full and bright super moon, the Soldiers withstood the cold temperatures, sore and cramping muscles and blistering feet to complete the march to Dorchester Park in downtown Colorado Springs. There the battalion linked up with the rest of the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, to walk an additional 2 miles to the Marian House Soup Kitchen as part of the seventh annual “Operation Stryker Christmas.”

“The Manchu Mile is a historic event for us and represents a significant piece of our history,” said 1st Sgt. Nathan Hepfer, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Bn., 9th Inf. Reg.

The Manchu Mile is held on a biannual basis as a commemorative event honoring the 85-mile forced march the 9th Inf. Reg. Soldiers undertook in 1900 to rescue besieged foreign diplomats and missionaries in Tientsin, China, during the Boxer Rebellion. The grueling road march places emphasis on unit cohesion and esprit de corps rather than the speed of march, he noted.

“I felt pretty accomplished. It’s important to remember what Soldiers in the past have done. I was proud to have finished with the rest of the guys,” said Pvt. Andrew Eoff, Company C, 4th Bn., 9th Inf. Reg., who had only been at the unit for a week when he was told about the march. The longest road march he had completed previously was 12 miles during infantry basic training.

All finishers of the Manchu Mile are awarded the coveted Manchu belt buckle, which features a dragon encircling the number nine and the words “Keep up the fire,” and is the only buckle authorized for wear by the Department of the Army under General Order No. 5. A total of 364 Soldiers completed the foot march, including a handful of participants from outside the battalion.

Staff Sgt. Cory Pagliara, platoon sergeant, Company A, 4th Bn., 9th Inf. Reg., completed his fourth Manchu Mile with his platoon.

“What I’ve always liked about the Manchu Mile is that it is a great team event,” he said. “To be able to take your platoon through it and complete it with them is more satisfying than just completing it yourself.

It’s physically demanding but it’s even more mentally demanding. Mentally, the Manchu Mile is a great test of resiliency.”

A 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Soldier gives hand signals to an approaching UH-60 Black Hawk crew assigned to 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, preparing to hook up a 500-gallon water blivet during sling load training conducted in the Fort Carson training area Dec. 6, 2016. (Photo by Capt. Shaun Manley)

By Capt. Shaun T. Manley

4th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division

Getting food and equipment to austere environments can be challenging, but using aircraft to assist combats that challenge.

An UH-60 Black Hawk assigned to 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, carries a 500-gallon water blivet during sling load operations training conducted with Soldiers assigned to 10th Special Forces Group in the Fort Carson training area, Dec. 6, 2016. (Photo by Capt. Shaun Manley)

An aircrew assigned to Company B, 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, used a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter to conduct sling load training with Soldiers of 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in Fort Carson’s training area Dec. 6, 2016.

“We were excited to support this training and put our aircraft skills to work for the ground Soldiers,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christopher Coughlin, Black Hawk pilot, Company B, 3rd AHB. “Conducting air-assault operations is a timely and effective way to move equipment around the battlefield.”

Members of 10th SFG(A) practiced on how to safely sling, or hook up, various loads to the utility helicopter in addition to how to communicate with the aircrew using hand and arm signals and radios.

The team moved palletized equipment, 500 gallon water blivets and snowmobiles, using the sling ropes, cargo nets and aircraft.

An UH-60 Black Hawk aircrew assigned to 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, approaches awaiting 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Soldiers preparing to hook up a 500-gallon water blivet during sling load training Dec. 6, 2016, in the Fort Carson training area. (Photo by Capt. Shaun Manley)

“It’s important that we continue increasing our capabilities and figure out how to best support the ground units,” said Coughlin. “Being able to successfully sling load the snow machines increases the capabilities for 10th Special Forces Group and the Army.”

Prior to the event, air assault-qualified leaders trained the Soldiers on where to position themselves as the aircraft approached the load and how to properly secure the equipment to the aircraft.

As the aircraft maneuvered above the equipment, the Soldiers successfully completed their mission of communicating and hooking up the ropes so that the aircraft could move the load to another location and circle back for another load.

A UH-60 Black Hawk aircrew assigned to 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, approaches Soldiers and a sling load consisting of two snowmobiles assigned to 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) during a training event conducted in the Fort Carson training area Dec. 6, 2016. (Photo by Sgt. Gregory Summers)

“These Soldiers were very motivated and did a great job,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Adam Garrison, Black Hawk pilot, Company B, 3rd AHB. “I could see that they had received prior training and were comfortable despite some of them never conducting this type of training before using actual aircraft.”

As the final sling load movement consisting of two snow­mobiles was completed, the aircrew and ground Soldiers completed an after-action review of the operation to ensure they captured lessons learned for the next training event.

“This training ensured the Soldiers were trained and ready to execute air-assault operations,” said Coughlin. “They now have a better understanding of one of the capabilities the aviators bring to the fight, and we look forward to our future operations and training events together.”

An UH-60 Black Hawk assigned to 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, hovers as 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Soldiers hook up palletized equipment during sling load training conducted in the Fort Carson training area Dec. 6, 2016. (Photo by Capt. Shaun Manley)

An UH-60 Black Hawk aircrew assigned to 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, sling loads two snowmobiles during a training event with 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Dec. 6, 2016, in the Fort Carson training area. (Photo by Sgt. Gregory Summers)

Maj. Gen. Douglas Chalmers, right, deputy commanding general for support, III Corps, Fort Hood, Texas, observes as Soldiers at the 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, demonstrate their Preventive Maintenance Checks and Services on an M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle and provide a capabilities overview Dec. 15, 2016. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Ange Desinor)

By Sgt. David Freydin

4th Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division

Col. Ronald Ragin, commander, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, briefs Maj. Gen. Douglas Chalmers, right, deputy commanding general for support, III Corps, Fort Hood, Texas, in the Talent Management Room at the 4th SB headquarters Dec. 15, 2016. (Photo by Sgt. David Freydin)

The deputy commanding general for support of III Corps, Fort Hood, Texas, visited Fort Carson Dec. 14-16, 2016, to discuss ways to increase sustainment readiness for the 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson.

Maj. Gen. Douglas Chalmers, along with III Corps G4 Col. Joe Dixon, met with Fort Carson top officials; toured the headquarters of the 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Inf. Div.; and visited with Soldiers and command teams from 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div.; and 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div., during their trip to the Mountain Post.

During their visit to 4th SB, Chalmers and Dixon received an in-depth tour of the brigade headquarters, including the Division Sustainment Operations Center and Talent Management Room and participated in an operations, intelligence and logistics brief conducted by 4th SB’s commander Col. Ronald Ragin.

Maj. Gen. Douglas Chalmers, second from right, deputy commanding general for support, III Corps, Fort Hood, Texas, visits with Soldiers at the 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, motorpool Dec. 15, 2016. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Ange Desinor)

Topics discussed included creating an environment of shared intelligence; agility on the battlefield; linking strategic, operational and tactical methods; excess equipment; property accountability; solving readiness problems in real time and analyzing possible threats.

“This is what a sustainment brigade should look like,” Chalmers said. “4th Sustainment Brigade is ahead of the curve and is allowing us to be better predictive as a force. What is the most impressive is that nobody asked you guys to do it, you just did it on your own.”

Chalmers assumed his role at III Corps in July. The command is responsible for rapidly deploying and conducting the full range of military operations to seize, retain and exploit the initiative in order to deter or defeat any adversary. Chalmers has been visiting division installations that fall under III Corps command to conduct assessments of sustainment warfighting functions.

Sgt. 1st Class Patrick Bush, center, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Special Troops Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, briefs Maj. Gen. Douglas Chalmers, left, deputy commanding general for support, III Corps, Fort Hood, Texas, at the Division Material Readiness Center Dec. 15, 2016. (Photo by Sgt. David Freydin)

“I asked to come here (and visit the 4th Sustainment Brigade) to make sure this actually exists, plus to make sure it works; but this is beyond my belief,” Chalmers said. “I am actually learning from 4th SB, rather than the other way around. What you guys are doing here is absolutely brilliant.”

By Capt. Scott Walters

3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division

Pfc. Traven Friend, left, tank mechanic, and Spc. Larry Bradford, Bradley fighting vehicle mechanic, both with Forward Support Detachment, 4th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, perform a maintenance check on an M88 recovery vehicle during seaport operations to offload the brigade’s heavy equipment from a cargo vessel at the port of Bremerhaven, Germany, Jan. 6, 2017. (Photo by Capt. Scott Walters)

BREMERHAVEN, Germany — The first Soldiers from 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, arrived in Europe Jan. 5, 2017, and hit the ground running a day later by assisting with the initial offloading of the heavy brigade’s equipment from boats in the German port city on the North Sea.

A “torch party” of about 250 Soldiers from across the 3rd ABCT’s seven battalions landed in Hamburg, Germany, after departing their home station of Fort Carson Jan. 4, 2017. They are the first of about 4,000 Soldiers from the “Iron” Brigade to kick off contin­uous nine-month rotations of ABCTs to central and eastern Europe in support of U.S. Army Europe’s Atlantic Resolve.

The first order of business is moving the brigade’s approximately 2,800 pieces of equipment, including tanks, Bradley fighting vehicles and Paladin self-propelled howitzers, off of three supercargo ships and on to Poland, where the brigade will initially organize before disbursing its battalions to eight countries ranging from the Baltic to the Black seas.

An M88 recovery vehicle belonging to the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, is loaded onto a rail car at the port of Bremerhaven, Germany, after arriving via a cargo ship. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Micah VanDyke)

It’s a logistical endeavor spearheaded by USAREUR’s 21st Theater Sustainment Command that will move by rail, line haul and military convoys, with the Iron Brigade initially serving in a support role.

“Right now we’re helping fix any vehicles or identify maintenance issues and make fixes where we can as our equipment rolls off the ships,” said Sgt. Michael Sansaver, tank mechanic, Troop D, 4th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd ABCT.

Before dawn had broken over the icy port, Sansaver was climbing onto an M88 recovery vehicle to check what port workers thought might be tight steering, an issue he deemed was caused by the cold weather. It was just one example of spot checks he and other Iron Brigade mechanics performed on tracked vehicles once they rolled off the supercargo ship Resolve.

Pfc. Traven Friend, right, tank mechanic, and Pfc. Jeremy Lambert, track vehicle repairer, both with Forward Support Detachment, 4th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, perform a maintenance check on an M88 recovery vehicle during seaport operations to offload the brigade’s heavy equipment from a cargo vessel at the port of Bremerhaven, Germany, Jan. 6, 2017. (Photo by Capt. Scott Walters)

“The (4th Sqdn., 10th Cav. Reg.) is working the mission command piece for the brigade here at the port of Bremerhaven, helping 21st Theater Sustainment Command manage the flow of our equipment into the European theater,” said Maj. Travis Tallman, squadron executive officer. “We’re attempting to identify any vehicles that have malfunctions or issues, so once they reach their final destination there are no surprises and we’re ready to go to work as soon as everything arrives in Poland.”

Maj. Joshua Smith, support operations officer, 64th Brigade Support Battalion, has overseen the movement of the complete set of armored equipment from Colorado and ultimately to Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Bulgaria and Germany.

Pfc. Traven Friend, tank mechanic, Forward Support Detachment, 4th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, conducts maintenance on an M88 recovery vehicle during seaport operations to offload the brigade’s heavy equipment from a cargo vessel at the port of Bremerhaven, Germany, Jan. 6, 2017. (Photo by Capt. Scott Walters)

“It’s an endeavor we haven’t done in a while as an Army, moving this much equipment into an established theater,” Smith said. “It’s definitely going well, so far there are no hiccups. We were able to move our equipment from Fort Carson ahead of schedule and all of the sea vessels have arrived on time.

“We could not do something like this by ourselves; this is a team effort across all levels of the Army to get this done,” he said. “We’re ready to go. It’s exciting and monumental to do a theater-opening process here in Europe, and we’re collectively figuring out the best way to do things to help the next ABCT rotation.”

Tanks, Bradley fighting vehicles and other equipment and containers belonging to the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, are lined up at the port of Bremerhaven, Germany, after being offloaded from a cargo ship. The equipment was then loaded onto trains and line-haul vehicles destined for Poland, where the brigade will initially organize before disbursing its battalions to eight countries ranging from the Baltic to the Black seas. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Micah VanDyke)

The Soldiers of 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, case their unit’s colors during a colors casing ceremony at the William B. Reed Special Event Center, Jan. 4, 2017. The ceremony symbolizes the unit’s movement of operations from its home station to central and eastern Europe, in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Ange Desinor)

By Staff Sgt. Ange Desinor

3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division

Col. Christopher R. Norrie, right, commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher David Gunn case the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, colors during a ceremony at the William “Bill” Reed Special Events Center Jan. 4, 2017. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Ange Desinor)

The 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, command team cased its unit’s colors during a Jan. 4, 2017, ceremony at the William “Bill” Reed Special Events Center.

The ceremony symbolized the unit’s movement of operations from its home station at Fort Carson to central and eastern Europe in support of Atlantic Resolve.

“Just over a year ago many of the Soldiers and leaders in our formation … were in the Middle East — in Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Iraq,” said Col. Christopher R. Norrie, commander, 3rd ABCT. “Those same Soldiers will start to arrive in Europe and will shortly join our friends in Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Germany in a combined effort to deter potential aggression in a critical part of the world.”

The ceremony began with an inspection of the formation followed by the traditional casing of the colors of the brigade headquarters and each subordinate battalion.

“The prospect of fighting a near-peer adversary today, not just here but anywhere in the world, is concerning,” Norrie said.

He noted the increased access to technology, an emphasis on combined arms doctrine and the ability to simultaneously exploit vulnerabilities across multiple domains offset the brigade’s capabilities in ways that are difficult to anticipate.

Col. Christopher R. Norrie, right, commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher David Gunn case the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, colors during a ceremony at the William “Bill” Reed Special Events Center Jan. 4, 2017. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Ange Desinor)

“No one wants conflict in this part of the world, and we look forward to doing our part to help prevent it (by) assuring our allies of our commitment to them and our shared interests, and deterring aggression through our physical presence as well as our demonstrated lethality. And when you have a task like that, there is no team that I would rather be a part of than this team — not just our 3rd Brigade team, but the great 4th Infantry Division team and the tremendous Fort Carson community team.”

Operations Sgt. Maj. Christopher Williams said the brigade has operated well during the nine months of training leading up to the deployment.

“We’ve had a phenomenal train-up period,” he said. “One thing I can say about this unit is how quickly it persevered when faced with challenges. One of the challenges we’re having is a compressed timeline with getting our equipment overseas after coming back from the National Training Center (Fort Irwin, California).”

He said Families have also contributed to the unit’s success.

“We have a lot of resilient Families,” said Williams. “The support of the Families, who are the true heart and soul of our organization, is truly remarkable.”

Williams is confident the Army is sending its best to support Atlantic Resolve.

“I truly believe that they are getting the finest combat arms lethal brigade in the Army,” said Williams. “I think it will show in so many different ways, not only in partnership but social interactions.”

The Soldiers of 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, load on a bus to head over to the Arrival/Departure Airfield Control Group to fly out to central and eastern Europe, in support of Atlantic Resolve, Colorado Springs, Colo., Jan 4, 2017. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Ange Desinor)

“Cyber operations is an enabler, another tool, in the commander’s kit bag, along with fires, joint fires, information operations, (psychological operations).”

— Chief Warrant Officer 4 Thomas O’Neill

By Spc. Anthony Bryant

14th Public Affairs Detachment

Col. Michael T. Oeschger, commander of the Division Artillery, 4th Infantry Division, hosted the 4th Inf. Div.’s Fires Symposium at the Elkhorn Conference Center last month.

The purpose of the Dec. 14, 2016, event was to engage in critical dialogue about future warfighting functions the division may face within the scope of United Land Operations-Decisive Action.

Dr. Lester W. Grau, research coordinator for the Foreign Military Studies Office at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, discusses weapons buildup of adversarial armies during the 4th Infantry Division Fires Symposium Dec. 14, 2016.

“(The 4th Infantry Division) has a brigade going over (to Europe) in support of Atlantic Resolve; we’re going to be operating in that environment,” said Oeschger. “It makes sense to be educated on what the threat might be, what their capabilities are, how we address those threats, how we observe those threats, how we identify those threats … it makes sense that we get smarter.”

The symposium covered in detail the changing scope of enemy military capabilities on a multifaceted battlefield.

Artillery is called the “King of Battle” and mass fires create psychic terror, said Dr. Lester Grau, research coordinator for the Foreign Military Studies Office (FMSO) at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

“It’s one thing to have a couple of rounds lobbed your way; it’s another thing to be under an intense barrage for 20, 30, 40, 80 minutes,” he said. “At the end of that time, when you’re deaf from the blasts and crawling to the top of what used to be your fighting position to meet what’s coming for you, you realize artillery is dangerous. Artillery enables maneuvers.”

Artillery has various missions, and annihilation is one of them, said Grau. Potential adversaries to U.S. allies are after the mathematical probability of destruction to 80 percent of targets in an area by artillery.

Speakers also briefed on the modernization of enemy military weapons systems and vehicles.

Opposing armies are trying to reduce the human component in a vehicle, said Charles K. Bartles, linguist and military analyst at the FMSO.

“Compared to the amount of personnel in an Abrams (tank), adversaries have reduced to three guys in their tank because there is nobody in the turret,” he said. “Their new turret is unmanned. What they’re trying to do is get less people and more electronics in that vehicle.”

Chief Warrant Officer 4 Thomas O’Neill, senior targeting officer, U.S. Army Cyber Command, answers questions from the audience about cyber operations during the 4th Infantry Division Fires Symposium Dec. 14, 2016.

The integration of fires and cyber capabilities to achieve certain effects on the battlefield were discussed.

“Cyber operations is an enabler, another tool, in the commander’s kit bag, along with fires, joint fires, information operations, (psychological operations),” said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Thomas O’Neill, senior targeting officer, U.S. Army Cyber Command. “They are all enablers to achieve effects.

“There are so many stakeholders in everything that happens inside of the cyber realm, one wrong move in cyberspace can completely mess up treaties we have with multiple nations,” said O’Neill. “In cyber, there’s a serious vetting process before a target ever goes to action to ensure that we don’t violate treaties with our partners and with other nations.”

The symposium is a forum to talk about fighting in a multidomain environment, said Oeschger.

“You have to understand how all the pieces work and how you have to put it all together. The goal here, really, is to expose Soldiers … to understand what’s available, what the threat is, and to give them an understanding of what happens at the national strategic level.”

The fires symposium will be an annual event with the goal of educating Soldiers from the 4th Inf. Div. on how to do this in an ever-changing environment.

By Staff Sgt. Corinna Baltos

24th Press Camp Headquarters

1st Lt. Kyle T. Esparza, left, scout platoon leader, and Cpl. Aaron Clark, cavalry scout, both with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, help a child out of a Bradley infantry fighting vehicle during a Safe Poland Day celebration Jan. 14, 2017, in Zagan, Poland. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Tarr)

ZAGAN, Poland — The citizens of Poland formally welcomed American Soldiers during a ceremony at Gen. Stanislaw Maczek Park here Jan. 14, 2017.

Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo welcomed Soldiers from the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, to her country, saying it was a “great day” that would ensure Poland’s freedom and security.

“It’s a great day today when we can welcome, here in Zagan, American Soldiers who represent the best and the greatest Army in the world,” Szydlo said.
The ceremony was part of a much larger Safe Poland Day celebration, which included displays of U.S. and Polish vehicles and equipment. Soldiers from 3rd ABCT along with their Polish counterparts had the opportunity to mingle with and meet the local citizens.

“Everybody’s super welcoming. They’re excited Americans are here,” said 1st Lt. Kyle Esparza, scout platoon leader, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment. “The Polish Soldiers are swapping patches with me and my Soldiers. It’s awesome. It’s nice to be part of an allied force.”
Nearly 4,000 U.S. Soldiers from the “Iron” Brigade out of Fort Carson have rotated to eastern Europe as part of continuous, “heel-to-toe” troop rotations to bolster ties with NATO allies. U.S. forces have been training in Poland as part of Atlantic Resolve since 2014.

Along with the Soldiers, more than 2,700 pieces of military equipment, transported via ship, rail and road from Fort Carson, have also been deployed to Poland.
Maj. Gen. Timothy McGuire, deputy commander of U.S. Army Europe, said that the presence of the Americans was a sign of the continued commitment to the defense of Poland and to the NATO alliance.

Prime Minister of Poland Beata Szydlo and Maj. Gen. Jaroslaw Mika, commander of Poland’s 11th Armored Cavalry Division, conduct a review of 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, and Polish troops during a ceremony Jan. 14, 2017, in Zagan, Poland, to welcome the U.S. Soldiers. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Timothy Hughes)

“The 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team is a highly capable and ready force with the best equipment, leadership and training of any combat force in the world,” he said.

This marks the first time in several years, that the United States has rotated both troops and equipment to the region.

U.S. Ambassador to Poland Paul Jones said that the Soldiers arriving in Poland were “America’s most capable force,” and their presence in Poland embodied an “iron-clad commitment” to defending its NATO allies.

The U.S. forces will spend the remainder of the month assembling and training at Polish military bases in Zagan, Boleslawiec, Switoszow and Skwierzyna before dispersing across seven locations in eastern and southern Europe for training and exercises with its European allies.

“As it has been for more than 70 years, our common goal is to keep the peace by always being prepared. America will always stand with Poland to defend freedom,” said McGuire.

By Sgt. David Freydin

4th Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division

Maj. Kelly Pajak, battle captain, 7th Mission Support Command, right, discusses operations with Capt. Julius Price, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Jan. 7, 2017, inside the 21st Theater Sustainment Command’s forward command post in Garlstedt, Germany. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Chlosta)

GARLSTEDT, Germany — The 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, and 16th Sustainment Brigade, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, partnered together to provide mission command and logistical and maintenance support for the nine-month deployment to Europe of the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div.

The sister brigades joined forces Jan. 5, 2017, to provide support for approximately 4,000 Fort Carson Soldiers and 2,800 vehicles and equipment from 3rd ABCT as they traversed from Colorado to Germany and into Poland.

“This is historic,” said Col. Ronald R. Ragin, commander, 4th SB. “I’ve never seen two sustainment communities come together like this — it’s a beautiful synchronization. The two sustainment brigades complement each other very well and collaborate information and resources to execute the mission expeditiously and efficiently.”

The sustainment brigades’ main respon­sibility was to ensure that all the vehicles and equipment were successfully transported by cargo ships, rail, commercial line-haul and military convoy. 4th SB also executed mission command while in Germany, providing fuel, rations, medical, security, mechanics, communications and tracking services while 16th SB took control of all sustainment functions in Poland.

“One of the things that enabled the success of the two brigades is that 16th SB is German-based and we have familiarity with German regulations and unique characteristics of the environment,” said Lt. Col Gregory Fend, G4, 21st TSC. “We were able to plan ahead in a foreign environment and shorten the learning curve for 4th SB.”

Even though operations began in January, Fend said that the real key to success was communicating with 4th SB months prior to the start of movement.

“We were able to obtain the training plan of events for 3rd ABCT and develop and rehearse a plan of action with key leaders,” explained Fend. “Communicating with 4th SB allowed us to stay ahead of the curve while refining our team effort.”

Col. Ronald R. Ragin, second from left, commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Demetrius Brown, right, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, discuss staging operations with Soldiers from 16th Sustainment Brigade, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, at the Port of Bremerhaven, Germany, Jan. 11, 2017. (Photo by Sgt. David Freydin)

The two major movements in Germany occurred at the Port of Bremerhaven and Bergen Honne, Germany, which included staging and moving87 tanks, 18 Paladins, 419 multipurpose Humvees and 144 Bradleys.

“It’s been great working with 16th SB,” said Staff Sgt. Bruce Burrus, convoy NCO, 152nd Movement Control Team, 4th Special Troops Battalion, 4th SB, who was responsible for the movement of vehicles from the Port of Bremerhaven.

“The joint effort makes it possible for me to do what I do. I wouldn’t be able to do my job, getting these vehicles to Poland, without them.”

The 4th SB personnel were professional and easy to work with, said Maj. Kelly Pajak, battle captain, 7th Mission Support Command.

“Their Soldiers have been very proactive in finding a combined solution, setting the stage as we progress forward,” he said.

The 16th SB will continue to support the “Iron” Brigade over the next nine months as it participates in multinational training exercises across eastern Europe.

The 3rd ABCT deployment is in support of Atlantic Resolve, which began in April 2014 with the intent of defending NATO territory against any possible aggression. The arrival of 3rd ABCT in Poland marks the beginning of the continuous presence of an ABCT and back-to-back rotations of U.S. troops and equipment.

3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division

U.S. Soldiers assigned to 1st Battalion, 66th Armored Regiment, and 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, disembark at Wroclaw, Poland, Jan. 8, 2017. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Timothy Hughes)

The 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, has sent roughly 4,000 Soldiers and equipment to Europe as the first heavy brigade to serve as part of continuous nine-month armor rotations in support of Atlantic Resolve.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announced in Brussels Oct. 26, 2016, that U.S. Army Europe was preparing for an increased presence across the European theater to contribute to and strengthen the Alliance’s deterrence and defense. Although Atlantic Resolve has been ongoing since 2014, 3rd ABCT’s deployment marks the beginning of what is being termed “heel-to-toe” rotations of heavy brigades sent from the United States.

1st Sgt. Ernest Ramirez, senior noncommissioned officer in charge of HHC, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division places German and American flags on a Humvee to show the cohesive relationship between the two allies before crossing into Poland from Germany, Jan. 12,2017, for their nine-month deployment training alongside multinational partners. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Tarr)

The 3rd ABCT brigade command team cased the unit’s colors during a Jan. 4 ceremony at the William “Bill” Reed Special Events Center, symbolizing the unit’s movement of operations from its home station at Fort Carson to central and eastern Europe.

“No one wants conflict in this part of the world and we look forward to doing our part to help prevent it (by) assuring our allies of our commitment to them and our shared interests, and deterring aggression through our physical presence as well as our demonstrated lethality,” Col. Christopher R. Norrie, commander, 3rd ABCT, said during the casing ceremony.

The brigade will be headquartered in Zagan, Poland, however it will disperse its armored battalions across seven countries, from Estonia to Bulgaria, plus another in Germany beginning in February. Over the course of its nine-month rotation, the brigade will routinely move units across the region to participate in multinational training events and exercises.

A round is fired from a U.S. Army M1A2 tank belonging to 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, during the first Live Fire Accuracy Screening Tests at Presidential Range in Swietozow, Poland, January 16, 2017. The arrival of 3rd Arm. Bde. Cmbt. Tm., 4th Inf. Div., marks the start of back-to-back rotations of armored brigades in Europe as part of Atlantic Resolve. The vehicles and equipment, totaling more than 2,700 pieces, were shipped to Poland for certification before being deployed across Europe for use in training with partner nations. This rotation will enhance deterrence capabilities in the region, improve the U.S. ability to respond to potential crises and defend allies and partners in the European community. U.S. forces will focus on strengthening capabilities and sustaining readiness through bilateral and multinational training and exercises. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Tarr)

1-68 Armor fires first rounds in Poland

By Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Tarr

24th Press Camp Headquarters

A round is fired from an M1A2 Main Battle Tank belonging to 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, during the first live-fire accuracy screening tests at Presidential Range in Swietozow, Poland, Jan. 16, 2017. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Micah VanDyke)

ZAGAN, Poland — Tank and Bradley crews from 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, conducted their first zero and live-fire accuracy screening tests Jan. 16, 2017, at Presidential Range in Swietozow, Poland.

After traveling approximately 6,400 miles, transporting 3,500 personnel and 2,700 vehicles, 3rd ABCT is actively training to ensure its combat vehicles and crews are certified before deploying across Europe for use in training with partner nations.

According to Staff Sgt. William Gunther, battalion tank master gunner, the Soldiers worked diligently, day and night, to ensure the tanks were off-loaded and properly maintained to be able to conduct the live-fire training.

The Soldiers were required to conduct preventive maintenance, checks and services as well as gunnery skills testing including loading rounds, bore-sighting, fire drills and many others, all in a compressed time frame.

“If you look at the amount of time, we’ve only been on the ground less than 10 days, and we’re already conducting a live-fire accuracy screen table showing that we are building combat power rapidly and the speed of assembly that comes with it,” said Lt. Col. Stephen Capehart, commander, 1st Bn., 68th Armored Reg.

Soldiers assigned to 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division fuel up an M1A2 Main Battle Tank during the first Live Fire Accuracy Screening Tests at Presidential Range in Swietozow, Poland, January 16, 2017. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Tarr)

The unit trained at Fort Carson prior to a 30-day training rotation at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California, to prepare for this mission.

“We have been training for this mission for the last year, and I think it shows the agility of an armored brigade that can be able to push combat power forward, build it and get it out here firing within 10 days,” said Capehart. “It’s amazing to be able to see that and the support that we’ve received at echelon made this happen.”

According to Capehart, within the next month, his battalion will be positioned in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, training alongside multinational allies.

“Readiness doesn’t end, we will build combat power, get validated, get ready to fight and then continue the mission,” he said.

The arrival of the 4th Inf. Div. marks the start of back-to-back rotations of armored brigades in Europe as part of Atlantic Resolve. This rotation will enhance deterrence capabilities in the region, improve the U.S. ability to respond to potential crises and defend allies and partners in the European community. U.S. forces will focus on strengthening capabilities and sustaining readiness through bilateral and multinational training and exercises.

German and Poland Border – Col. Christopher R. Norrie, center, commander, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, speaks with his Soldiers before leaving to cross the German and Polish border Jan. 12, 2017. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Micah VanDyke)

Soldiers from the 3rd Armored Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, right, and the Polish 34th Armored Cavalry Brigade, 11th “Lubuska” Armored Cavalry Division, render honors during a welcome ceremony for the American troops Jan. 12, 2017, in Zagan, Poland. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Corinna Baltos)

U.S. Army M1A2 Abrams Tanks assigned to armored units with the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, are in position at the railhead in Swietozow, Poland, Jan. 9, 2017. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Timothy Hughes

U.S. Soldiers, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, prepare Bradley Fighting Vehicles after unloading it from the railhead in Zagan, Poland, January 11, 2017. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Timothy Hughes)

A M1A2 Abrams Tanks commanded by Lt. Col. Jason Sabat, commander, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, moves into place Jan. 16, 2017, prior to beginning the day’s Live Fire Accuracy Screening Test (LFAST) and zero gunnery range in Zagan, Poland. The LFAST process consists of a common or fleet zero for each type of main gun ammunition. Tanks must go through the LFAST process prior to live-fire gunnery training. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Corinna Baltos)

M1A2 Abrams tank crews with 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, line up Jan. 16, 2017, prior to beginning the day’s live-fire accuracy screening test and zero gunnery range in Zagan, Poland. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Corinna Baltos)

Soldiers assigned to 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, stage military vehicles Jan. 11, 2017, in Brucke-Lehnin, Germany, prior to beginning the third day of their convoy to Poland. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Tarr)

A tanker from 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, waits to engage his target Jan. 16, 2017, in Zagan, Poland, during a Live Fire Accuracy Screening Test and zero gunnery range. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Corinna Baltos)