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)