FORT CARSON, Colo. — Col. Grant S. Fawcett, left, commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Brian D. Haydt, right, senior enlisted leader, uncase the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, colors during a ceremony at the William “Bill” Reed Special Events Center Nov. 20, 2019. (Photo by Sgt. Liane Hatch)
By Sgt. Liane Hatch
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Mere hours after arriving back in the U.S., 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, leaders — Col. Grant S. Fawcett and Command Sgt. Maj. Brian D. Haydt — uncased the “Iron Brigade” colors at Fort Carson’s William “Bill” Reed Special Events Center Nov. 20, 2019, marking the official end of the nine-month rotation to Kuwait, and signifying the return of the 3rd ABCT command to Fort Carson.
The ceremony also celebrated the return of approximately 300 more Soldiers from the region – the last large bulk of brigade’s Soldiers redeploying to Fort Carson.
The brigade began sending Soldiers to Camp Buehring, Kuwait, in February, and in March former commander Col. Michael J. Simmering assumed authority of the 3rd ABCT mission as part of Task Force Spartan. Soldiers began redeploying to Fort Carson in early October 2019.
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Col. Grant S. Fawcett, left, commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Brian D. Haydt, right, senior enlisted leader, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, stand in formation as about 300 Soldiers march into the William “Bill” Reed Special Events Center Nov. 20, 2019, for a redeployment and uncasing ceremony. (Photo by Sgt. Liane Hatch)
Though the brigade was headquartered in Kuwait, Soldiers from 3rd ABCT supported multiple missions in 23 locations across eight countries, and traveled on temporary duty outside the area of operation in order to compete in Armywide competitions and qualifications. From February to November, more than 4,000 3rd ABCT Soldiers supported the Task Force Spartan mission.
“We’re very proud of the work the Iron Brigade has done in support of Operation Spartan Shield,” said Fawcett. “Our job over there was really to ensure stability and to deter aggression there in the Middle East. We were in a lot of countries all over the Middle East.”
During the brigade’s transfer of authority to the North Carolina National Guard’s 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team, Maj. Gen. Gordon L. Ellis, commander of Task Force Spartan and the commanding general of the Indiana National Guard’s 38th Infantry Division, lauded the 3rd ABCT’s hard work and dedication to the mission over the past nine months.
“To the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, in everything you were asked to do, you executed with strength, dedication and honor,” said Ellis. “As you depart, know that we are proud of you, and we appreciate your service, and although you leave, you will always be in our thoughts.”
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Approximately 300 Soldiers from the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, march into the William “Bill” Reed Special Events Center Nov. 20, 2019, for a ceremony celebrating their redeployment. The brigade, which operated out of Camp Buehring, Kuwait, for nine months, returned in time for Thanksgiving. (Photo by Sgt. Liane Hatch)
During their time in the region, the Soldiers conducted multiple iterations of gunnery qualifications, hosted Expert Infantryman Badge testing, qualified Soldiers as “spur holders” and Excellence in Armor recipients, and participated as the main ground element in the U.S. Army Central Command’s largest multinational exercise, Eager Lion, along with participants from 29 other nations.
“These Soldiers have worked hard, and it’s a great feeling to be coming back to Colorado,” Fawcett said. “We’re going to have pretty much the entire brigade back home in time for Thanksgiving, with only a few still back in country, but we’ll have the entire brigade back for Christmas. It’s a fantastic time to be redeploying.”
During the redeployment and uncasing ceremony, Maj. Gen. Matthew W. McFarlane, commanding general, 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson, thanked the Soldiers and the Family members who supported them.
“To the Soldiers of the Iron Brigade, thank you for your service and sacrifice over the past nine months,” he said. “We look forward to having you back home at the Mountain Post and living a good life with you.”