Photo By Master Sgt. Kap Kim | Kathy Hochul, New York State’s lieutenant governor, said the state was committed to...... read more read more
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FORT DRUM, N.Y.- For the seventh time during the Global War on Terrorism, the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), prepared for operations in Southwest Asia as Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Bannister, the division’s commanding general, and Division Command Sgt. Maj. R. Ray Lewis cased the division colors during a ceremony at Fort Drum, N.Y., Oct. 16.
Color-casing ceremonies symbolize the official transition of the unit and its Soldiers to a new theater of operations. When the unit arrives to Afghanistan later this month, Bannister and Lewis will uncase the colors in a similar ceremony.
The 10th Mountain Division will replace the 3rd Infantry Division as the National Support Element and Bannister will also assume the role as the deputy commanding general of U.S. Forces-Afghanistan along with several others.
“The 10th Mountain Division has always been entrusted with our nation’s toughest missions around the world,” said Bannister to the attendees. “Since the attacks on 9/11, we were the first to deploy with [1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment] and we remain the most deployed division in the United States Army. … And it’s not likely that will be changing any time soon.”
The division left Bagram Air Field in eastern Afghanistan last November when the regional command headquarters of the International Security Assistance Force transitioned to the Resolute Support and the former Operation Enduring Freedom became Operation Freedom’s Sentinel.
Upon its return from that deployment, the Division and its brigades spent several months together stateside – marking it as the first time since 2002; however, it was short-lived as elements of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team deployed to southern Afghanistan, elements of 1st BCT deployed to Iraq, the Combat Aviation Brigade sent elements to the Republic of Korea, and the 3rd BCT recently sent its Soldiers back to eastern Afghanistan.
“They keep asking the (10th Mountain Division) to go because you are the best,” said Kathy Hochul, New York State’s lieutenant governor. “You are a part of an extraordinary legacy for answering our nation’s call to service.”
Hochul continued her words of praise for the Division and its troops and offered Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s pledge not only honor the troops’ commitment but also their service to the nation by doing as much as they could do for them and their families.
| Date Taken: | 10.16.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 10.16.2015 18:20 |
| Story ID: | 179161 |
| Location: | FORT DRUM, NEW YORK, US |
| Web Views: | 111 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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