An Abrams tank crew with 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, moves to attack an objective during live-fire training at Fort Irwin, Calif., Sept. 8, 2016, as part of the brigade’s train-up for deployment to Europe in support of Atlantic Resolve. (Photo by Capt. Scott Walters)
By Capt. Scott Walters
3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division
The 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, will send roughly 4,000 Soldiers and equipment to Europe this winter and will be the first heavy brigade to serve as part of continuous nine-month armor rotations in support of Atlantic Resolve, the Department of the Army announced Nov. 3, 2016.
“Bringing an entire armored brigade combat team, including all of our heavy equipment, to Europe is a challenging opportunity that 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team is proud to embark upon,” said Col. Christopher R. Norrie, brigade commander. “Thanks to the aggressive training we’ve conducted over the past year in preparation for this mission. I am confident we are the right heavy brigade to continue the armored presence in Europe.”
The brigade began shipping its equipment to Europe this week and will continue those efforts at Fort Carson over the next month. Brigade leaders and planners are currently in Europe conducting site surveys.
As U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announced in Brussels Oct. 26, 2016, U.S. Army Europe is 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.
“Living and training alongside our NATO allies and partners on a daily basis will provide ample opportunities to build a comprehensive team that strengthens defensive capabilities and deters aggression in Europe,” Norrie said.
An Abrams tank crew with 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, conducts an area defense during force-on-force training as part of the brigade’s three-week Iron Strike field training exercise at Fort Carson July 13, 2016. As part of its train-up for deployment to Europe in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, the “Iron Brigade’ trained extensively on decisive-action scenarios against near-peer forces. (Photo by Capt. Scott Walters)
“However, we also are mindful of the sacrifices our Soldiers and Families will make during this deployment. So we ask for the continued support of our extended family — the Fort Carson and Colorado Springs communities — to ensure our foundation at home remains ‘Iron Strong’ as well,” he added.
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.
“Everything we’re about to do — everything we’ve been planning here at U.S. Army Europe for these rotational units — comes from the Alliance’s decisions at the (NATO) Wales and Warsaw summits,” said Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, U.S. Army Europe commander. “These activities are the embodiment of the United States’ commitment to deterring aggression and defending our European Allies and partners.”
The Army also will provide a rotational combat aviation brigade to the European theater to support Atlantic Resolve and other joint and multinational efforts. By the end of March, the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade from Fort Drum, New York, will arrive in Europe for a nine-month rotation. The aviation brigade will be headquartered in Illesheim, Germany, and will forward deploy aircraft in Latvia, Romania and Poland to enhance the Alliance’s ability to deter aggression.
To oversee these rotational forces, the 4th Infantry Division Headquarters, which has been the regionally aligned division headquarters for Europe since 2015, will continue to be the tactical headquarters for all U.S. land forces conducting activities in support of Atlantic Resolve. Based in Baumholder, Germany, the 4th Inf. Div. Mission Command Element is the forward deployed headquarters element that provides U.S. Army Europe a division-level command and control capability.
“The 4th Infantry Division Mission Command Element is integral to Army Europe’s ability to conduct Atlantic Resolve missions,” Hodges said. “They’re a small element — less than 100 Soldiers — but they make a huge impact in the theater by controlling so many moving parts.”
The expansion of rotational forces is separate and distinct from NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence battle groups, battalion-sized elements that also will contribute to the Alliance’s deterrence and defense capabilities. The 3rd ABCT will remain under U.S. command as part of Atlantic Resolve to focus on strengthening capabilities and sustaining readiness through bilateral and multinational training and exercises.