1st Squadron, 131st Cavalry deactivates [Image 6 of 9]

ENTERPRISE, AL, UNITED STATES

09.11.2016

Photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Shanley 

131st Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

ENTERPRISE, Ala. (Sept. 11, 2016) -- Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Till (left), from Clanton, Ala., the senior enlisted member of the 1st Squadron, 131st Cavalry, Alabama Army National Guard, delivers the unit colors to his commanding officer, Lt. Col. James B. Wharton (right), from Arab, Ala., for the final time and is assisted by the reviewing officer for the event, Col. James Matthews (center), Commander, 62nd Troop Command, during the official deactivation of the 131st Cavalry and subsequent activation of the 1st Battalion, 173rd Infantry Regiment, in a ceremony at the Fort Julius Hicks Armory, here, Sept. 11, 2016.

Wharton led approximately 120 Soldiers of the 131st Cavalry when they deployed, to Romania, to take part in Operation Red Dragon 15. Operation Red Dragon was a training exercise conducted between the 131st Cavalry, Alabama Army National Guard and the 528th Light Reconnaissance Battalion, Romanian Land Force in an effort to build stronger ties between American and Romanian Forces. Operation Red Dragon is part of Operation Atlantic Resolve. Operation Atlantic Resolve was a demonstration of continued U.S. commitment to the collective security of NATO and to enduring peace and stability in the region, in light of Russia's illegal actions in Ukraine.

Guests in attendance to commemorate the deactivation of the 131st Cavalry included select leaders of the Alabama Army National Guard, former members of the unit, and families and friends of the Soldiers who began the day as the 1st of the 131st Cavalry, but ended it as the 1st of the 173rd Infantry.

(U.S. Army Photo by Christopher Shanley/RELEASED)

• Date Taken: 09.11.2016
• Date Posted: 09.16.2016 09:54
• Photo ID: 2852616
• VIRIN: 160911-Z-BQ259-006
• Resolution: 3336x4064
• Size: 1.23 MB
• Location: ENTERPRISE, AL, US
• Hometown: ARAB, AL, US
• Hometown: CLANTON, AL, US