Gen. Casey visits the Falcon Brigade

82nd Airborne Division Public Affairs Office
Story by Sgt. Kissta DiGregorio

Date: 04.21.2010
Posted: 04.21.2010 18:03
News ID: 48482
Gen Casey Visits the Falcon Brigade

FORT BRAGG, N.C. – While visiting Fort Bragg, United States Army Chief of Staff, Gen. George W. Casey Jr., spoke with leaders of 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, and conducted a small reenlistment ceremony April 21.

Upon arrival to 2nd Brigade Headquarters, Casey congratulated Spc. Jordan Dahl, an infantryman with C Troop, 1st Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 2nd BCT, on becoming the division's Paratrooper of the Year. He also recognized medics, Spc. Benjamin Brown, Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1/73rd, and Pfc. Freddy Hook, C Company, 407th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd BCT, for earning the coveted Expert Field Medics Badge.

Along with the congratulations, Casey conducted a reenlistment ceremony for six 2nd BCT Paratroopers, taking time to speak to each soldier individually as well as the family members present. He presented the soldiers with Oath of Reenlistment certificates, as well as Certificates of Appreciation to their wives.

"Because of our values, because of our ethos, and because of our people, there is no other army in the world who can hold a candle to us, and it's because of folks like you and your leaders," Casey said to the reenlistees.

Following the ceremony, 2nd BCT leadership briefed Casey on their work in Haiti as part of Operation Unified Response, their resumption of the Global Response Force mission as the Forced Entry Component, and their plans for future training and operations.

Casey spoke of the importance of the Paratroopers' work in Haiti, and commented on their quick response to the disaster in Port-au-Prince, as well as their professionalism working with foreign militaries, non-government organizations and Haitian citizens.

"You just happen to be the only brigade in the Army that could have done that," he said.