Photo By Thomas Wheeler | Col. James W. Danna III, left, commander, 191st Infantry Brigade (Training Support),...... read more read more
JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. — As part of the Army’s required drawdown, First Army Division West’s 191st Infantry Brigade cased its colors during a deactivation ceremony here Thursday at Soldier Field House.
As the 191st Infantry Brigade (Training Support) cased its colors, its sister brigade, the 189th Infantry Brigade (Combined Arms Training Brigade), assumed the role as Division West’ sole training representative on the West coast.
“The inactivation of the 191st headquarters becomes the first significant act and event in Division and First Army’s multi-year reorganizational effort called Bold Shift,” said Maj. Gen. Jeffrey N. Colt, commanding general, First Army Division West.
In accordance with Operation Bold Shift, First Army’s Department of the Army directed plan to reduce force structure, First Army will reduce its training brigades from 16 to nine by 2016.
“At an institutional level, our Army must constantly assess the strategic and operational environments and make the adjustments as appropriate, force design and force structure in order to best address the security needs of the nation,” said Colt.
Colt went on to say that consolidation under Bold Shift is a nested effort that will ultimately enhance First Army resources and training capabilities.
"We'll also standardize — to the highest degree possible — our training formations that are essential to the enhancement of the Army's collective readiness," he said. "This is a multi-component effort with a concerted shift to pre-mobilization focus, rather than post. Our support will be focused on the total Army's readiness."
“Today marked, as General Colt mentioned, the transition and inactivation of the 191st Brigade and our transition to the 189th Combined Arms Training Brigade as part of First Army’ Operation Bold Shift,” said Col. James W. Danna III, commander, 191st Infantry Brigade (Training Support).
“Today gives us a chance to look at the brigade, the 191st that stands in front of you here, as it merges with the 189th and we mark another year and another milestone in the 42-year history of mutli-component AC/RC training here at Joint Base Lewis-McChord,” added Danna.
Danna went on to compliment the Soldiers of the 191st and applauded their hard work and dedication to their mission.
“You are the proud standard bearers today of all those that came before you,” he said.
“It has been my honor to serve as your commander over the past 20 months. Your professionalism, excellence and dedication to duty, which you do every day, comes through. I cannot think of a better way to go out than to lead the great outfit that you see here,” he added.
In the absence of its sister brigade, the 189th Combined Arms Training Brigade will continue its mission of mobilizing, and demobilizing RC units while shifting its primary focus to providing pre-mobilization support and training to RC units.
First Army will refocus its capabilities to advise, assist, and train Reserve Component units during pre-mobilization all while improving and maintaining its ability to support RC unit readiness, maintain the necessary structure and know-how to support unit mobilization and post-mobilization training, and ensure First Army remains qualified in accordance with the 1993 National Defense Authorization Act.
The 191st Infantry Brigade was established Jun. 24, 1921 in the Organized Reserves as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 96th Division. The 191st Infantry Brigade was organized in December 1921 in Portland, Oregon and on March 23, 1925, was re-designated as HHC, 191st Brigade. On Aug. 24, 1936, they were re-designated as HHC, 191st Infantry Brigade. Through multiple re-designations, inactivations and reactivations over the years, the 191st was activated Dec. 1, 2006, at Fort Lewis, Washington, receiving a change of mission to assist in the activation of the Fort Lewis Mobilization and Force Generation Installation. From 2006 to 2011, the 191st mobilized and demobilized more than 25,000 Soldiers, receiving the Army Superior Unit Award.
| Date Taken: | 01.08.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 01.12.2015 17:25 |
| Story ID: | 151834 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, US |
| Web Views: | 89 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, DIVWEST deactivates first brigade under Bold Shift, by Thomas Wheeler, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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