“The complexity and ambiguity of the threats that face us today demand a vigilant, capable and interoperable force to meet them …”
— Maj. Gen. Randy A. George
1st Lt. Michael Fischer, signal officer, 588th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, hugs his children, Andrew, 1, and Sophia, 4, at a homecoming ceremony for about 250 Soldiers from the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, at the William “Bill” Reed Special Events Center at 12:15 a.m. Sept. 29, 2017. This was the first of many welcome home ceremonies for the approximately 3,500 Soldiers who deployed in January to Eastern Europe to support U.S. Army Europe and participate in Atlantic Resolve as the regionally allocated heavy brigade for Europe. (Photo by Dani Johnson)
By Sgt. Scott J. Evans
Mission Command Element Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division
ZAGAN, Poland — Soldiers with 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, relinquished responsibility of the Atlantic Resolve mission to 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas, during a ceremony Sept. 29, 2017, at Market Square in Zagan, Poland.
The transition of authority is in keeping with the U.S. government’s commitment to provide a rotational presence to assure NATO allies and deter aggression by potential adversaries against allies and partners in eastern Europe.
“The complexity and ambiguity of the threats that face us today demand a vigilant, capable and interoperable force to meet them,” said Maj. Gen. Randy A. George, commanding general, 4th Inf. Div. and Fort Carson. “The ‘Iron’ Soldiers of 3rd ABCT were the first armor brigade to meet these challenges.”
George pointed out that the military and diplomatic relationship with the people of Poland has been strong since the time of the founding of the United States.
The cooperation of the 3rd ABCT with units such as the Polish 11th “Lubuska” Armored Cavalry Division was instrumental in building the Iron Brigade’s state of readiness and guided its mission success not only with Polish troops, but also elements from other allied nations and partners over the course of the last nine months.
During their time in Europe, the Soldiers participated in 13 multinational missions involving 25 allied and partner nations. Each partner is vital in ensuring collective readiness throughout the region.
Maj. Gen. Randy A. George, right, commanding general, 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson, talks with Polish officers while at a transfer of authority ceremony in Market Square, Zagan, Poland, Sept. 29, 2017. (Photo by Army Staff Sgt. Ange M. Desinor)
“The training we conducted was fast and it was furious — in total, we fired more than 1 million rounds of ammunition from tanks, artillery, small arms, you name it,” said Col. Michael J. Simmering, commander, 3rd ABCT. “We demonstrated daily how the lethality of a U.S. armored brigade is magnified when we train as part of a greater NATO force.”
The brigade was also heavily involved in building relationships by participating in numerous community activities in Poland and throughout Europe, which included town cleanup projects in Poland and teaching English to local nationals in the countries in which they operated, George said.
During the course of its deployment, 3rd ABCT moved three combined arms battalions throughout eastern Europe and moved the brigade headquarters and more than three battalions from Poland to Germany for Combined Resolve VIII in April. During the summer, it also moved five of its seven battalions during Operation Saber Guardian.
“I can’t thank our partners enough for their continued support of our armored brigades and our Mission Command Element, whose tireless efforts make these exercises possible,” George said. “We are proud to be a part of this historic mission and are ready to fight alongside of our allies.”
Families cheer at a homecoming ceremony for approximately 250 Fort Carson Soldiers from the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, at the William “Bill” Reed Special Events Center at 12:15 a.m. Sept. 29, 2017. (Photo by Dani Johnson)
“Iron Brigade” Soldiers salute during the national anthem at a homecoming ceremony Sept. 30, 2017, for approximately 250 Soldiers from 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, at the William “Bill” Reed Special Events Center.
Col. Michael J. Simmering, right, commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Samuel C. Rapp case the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, colors during a transfer of authority ceremony at Market Square, Zagan, Poland, Sept. 29, 2017. The brigade relinquished responsibility of Atlantic Resolve operations to 2nd ABCT, 1st Inf. Div., from Fort Riley, Kan. (Photo by Army Staff Sgt. Ange M. Desinor)
“Iron Brigade” Soldiers salute during the national anthem at a homecoming ceremony for approximately 250 Soldiers from 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, at the William “Bill” Reed Special Events Center at 12:15 a.m. Sept. 29, 2017. Approximately 3,500 Soldiers deployed in January to Eastern Europe to support U.S. Army Europe and participate in Atlantic Resolve as the regionally allocated heavy brigade for Europe. (Photo by Dani Johnson)
About 250 Soldiers with the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, march into the William “Bill” Reed Special Events Center during a homecoming ceremony just after midnight Sept. 29, 2017. (Photo by Dani Johnson)