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    Iron Brigade, ready to deploy

    Standing ready

    Photo By Staff Sgt. Grady Jones | Soldiers from 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, stand arrayed in...... read more read more

    FORT CARSON, CO, UNITED STATES

    02.12.2015

    Story by Capt. Shaun Manley 

    3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

    FORT CARSON, Colo. – Fort Carson’s Special Events Center was an atmosphere filled with pride and appreciation as Soldiers from the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division conducted a casing ceremony.

    "Iron Brigade" Soldiers conducted the time-honored Army ceremony that officially marked the unit’s preparedness and readiness to move into a deployment Feb. 12, 2015.

    “We are a cohesive team, built on trust and focused on the basics,” said Col. Gregory Sierra, commander, 3rd ABCT, 4th Infantry Division, during the ceremony. “I am very proud of our Soldiers and families who have trained hard and are absolutely ready for this mission.”

    The 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team will leave Fort Carson during the next several weeks for a deployment to the U.S. Central Command area of operations to conduct security cooperation, joint exercises and training.

    This deployment is part of the regular rotation of forces and is part of a longstanding bilateral defense relationship between the United States and the region. The U.S. has maintained a brigade in the region routinely since following the first Gulf War in 1991.

    Partnering and training with regional partners along with theater security cooperation activities will be a vital part of the unit's mission during its deployment.

    While the Soldiers are deployed, they will also have the opportunity of exposure to local customs and cultures throughout the region.

    Over the past year, the "Iron Brigade" has conducted extensive training to better prepare their units and families for this deployment. This training focused on ensuring Soldiers and leaders are mentally and physically tough and able to make timely decisions in complex environments while also ensuring the families were taken care of.

    “We have received a lot of support from the division and community to ensure we were able to provide our Soldiers and families great training opportunities,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Todd Sims, command sergeant major, 3rd ABCT. “The time and resources we dedicated to them has better prepared us all for this deployment.”

    As the casing ceremony concluded, the appreciation to the families and communities for their support to the brigade was evident.

    “To our families, the Garrison staff and all of the organizations and people throughout our community, you deserve our biggest thanks,” said Sierra. “We know that we can always rely on each of you to help us get better ... thanks for helping us create a BCT that can fight and win.”

    The 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team has seen service in World War I, Vietnam, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. The unit is now prepared to add Operation Spartan Shield to its lineage.

    “Our subordinate battalions have continuous service since the War with Mexico,” said Sierra. “Our brothers and sisters in arms, and our families, are no strangers to deployments.”

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 02.12.2015
    Date Posted: 02.12.2015 19:49
    Story ID: 154376
    Location: FORT CARSON, CO, US

    Web Views: 499
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN