1ST INFANTRY DIVISION PRESS RELEASES

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‘Big Red One’ to bid deputy commanding general farewell with Victory with Honors ceremony — FORT RILEY, Kan. – The 1st Infantry Division will... read more

‘Big Red One’ to bid deputy commanding general farewell with Victory with Honors ceremony — FORT RILEY, Kan. – The 1st Infantry Division will honor retiring Brig. Gen. William A. Turner, the division’s deputy commanding general for support, and welcome Col. Richard R. Coffman, the incoming deputy commanding officer for maneuver, with a Victory with Honors ceremony at 4 p.m. Sept. 27 at the “Big Red One” headquarters building. Turner joined the division command group in July 2016 and previously served with the Big Red One as commander of Battery B, 6th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized) Artillery, from December 1991 to August 1993 and as current operations officer for the 1st Inf. Div. Artillery from January to December 1991. Coffman comes to the division from the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California, where he served as commander of the operations group. His education includes multiple bachelor’s degrees from Centre College, a Master of Business Administration from Embry Riddle University and a graduate fellowship at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. -30- Members of the media interested in attending the Victory with Honors will need to RSVP by noon, Sept. 26 by calling (785) 240-1796 or emailing jason.p.roberts22.ctr@mail.com.   less

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‘Dagger’ brigade Soldier dies on Fort Riley — A 1st Infantry Division Soldier died on Fort Riley, Kansas, the afternoon of Sept. 21. Spc.... read more

‘Dagger’ brigade Soldier dies on Fort Riley — A 1st Infantry Division Soldier died on Fort Riley, Kansas, the afternoon of Sept. 21. Spc. Kashyap Bhakta, a combat engineer with Company B, 82nd Brigade Engineer Battalion, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Inf. Div., was found deceased in his car in the Warner-Peterson neighborhood on post. "The Soldiers, families and friends of the 1st Infantry Division are deeply saddened by the loss of Spc. Bhakta," said Col. Charles Masaracchia, 1st Inf. Div. chief of staff. "This great division is only great due to the Soldiers and families who comprise it. When we lose one of those fine Soldiers, it strikes the heart of the entire formation. But what's more heartbreaking are the loved ones left in the wake of this tragedy. Our sincerest condolences go out to his family whom we'll continue to support as they move through this difficult time." Bhakta joined the Army in March 2015 and arrived at Fort Riley in July 2015. He was 21 years old. He deployed to Kuwait from October 2015 to July 2016. Bhakta’s home of record is Prescott Valley, Arizona. His awards include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and Overseas Service Medal. The incident remains under investigation by the Fort Riley Criminal Investigation Command office. For questions about the investigation, please contact U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command Public Affairs Office at (571) 305-4041.  less

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First Infantry Division Artillery to host change of command ceremony — FORT RILEY, Kan. – The 1st Infantry Division Artillery will host a change of... read more

First Infantry Division Artillery to host change of command ceremony — FORT RILEY, Kan. – The 1st Infantry Division Artillery will host a change of command ceremony at 10 a.m. Sept. 22 on Fort Riley’s Cavalry Parade Field. Col. Thomas R. Bolen will relinquish command to Col. Rory A. Crooks after nearly two years in command of DIVARTY. Bolen has been leading the DIVARTY since its reactivation in October 2015. Bolen will now go to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to serve as the assistant deputy commandant of the Command and General Staff College. Crooks comes to DIVARTY from the U.S. Army War College, where he served as the director of the International Fellows Program. DIVARTY was one of 10 artillery units reactivated throughout the Army in 2015. The unit inactivated 10 years prior when the 1st Inf. Div. was headquartered in Germany. -30- Media interested in attending the ceremony should contact the 1st Infantry Division Public Affairs Office at (785) 240-1796 or via email at jason.p.roberts22.ctr@mail.mil. The deadline to RSVP is noon, Sept. 21.  less

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‘Demon’ brigade Soldier dies at Fort Hood, Texas — A 1st Infantry Division Soldier died during a training exercise at Fort Hood, Texas, Sept. 12.... read more

‘Demon’ brigade Soldier dies at Fort Hood, Texas — A 1st Infantry Division Soldier died during a training exercise at Fort Hood, Texas, Sept. 12. Staff Sgt. Sean Devoy, a medic with Company C, 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Inf. Div., died after falling during hoist training near Robert Gray Army Airfield. The cause of the accident is under investigation. “We extend our heartfelt condolences to Staff Sgt. Sean Devoy’s family and friends during this difficult time,” said Lt. Col. Khirsten T. Schwenn, 2nd GSAB, 1st Avn. Regt., commander. “The unexpected death of a family member is profoundly tragic. Staff Sgt. Devoy touched countless lives as a flight paramedic. We are deeply saddened by the loss of an extraordinary noncommissioned officer and teammate.” Devoy joined the Army in March 2010 and arrived at Fort Riley in December 2012. He was 28 years old. He was posthumously promoted to staff sergeant. Devoy’s home of record is Ballwin, Missouri. His awards and decorations include the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Valorous Unit Award, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with four campaign stars, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Combat Medical Badge and the Aviation Badge. Devoy deployed to Germany in 2010 and to Afghanistan in 2011, 2013 and 2016. -30- A Centralized Accident Investigation team from the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center, headquartered at Fort Rucker, Alabama, is leading the accident investigation. For queries on this process please contact Michael Negard, U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center, at michael.j.negard.civ@mail.mil or (334) 255-3770.  less

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‘Devil’ brigade Soldier dies in Junction City, Kansas — A 1st Infantry Division Soldier was found dead in Junction City, Kansas, Sept. 4.... read more

‘Devil’ brigade Soldier dies in Junction City, Kansas — A 1st Infantry Division Soldier was found dead in Junction City, Kansas, Sept. 4. Staff Sgt. Garett Swift, a fire support specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Inf. Div., was found deceased in his home by the Junction City Police Department. The JCPD and Fort Riley Criminal Investigation Command are investigating Swift’s death. "The Soldiers of the 1st Bn., 5th FA Regt., mourn the loss of Staff Sgt. Swift," said Lt. Col. Richard J. Ikena Jr., commander of the 1st Bn., 5th FA Regt. "The battalion will continue to fully support Staff Sgt. Swift's family and teammates through these challenging times." Swift joined the Army in October 2006 and arrived at Fort Riley in November 2013. He was 37 years old. Swift’s home of record is Charlotte, Michigan. His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Meritorious Unit Award, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two campaign stars, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Korea Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon and the NATO Medal. Swift deployed to South Korea in 2007, Afghanistan in 2009, Germany in 2010 and again to Afghanistan in 2011. -30- Any queries about the incident should be directed to the JCPD at (785) 762-5912.  less

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‘Dagger’ brigade to case colors for upcoming deployment — FORT RILEY, Kan. – The 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, will... read more

‘Dagger’ brigade to case colors for upcoming deployment — FORT RILEY, Kan. – The 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, will case its colors Sept. 6 ahead of a planned nine-month deployment to Europe in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve. The casing ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. in Victory Park, located next to the division’s headquarters building. About 3,300 Soldiers assigned to the “Dagger” brigade will deploy as part of the regular rotation of forces in that region, replacing the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, based out of Fort Carson, Colorado. "The color casing ceremony marks another momentous landmark in our brigade’s history, as it signifies our deployment to central Europe in support of our NATO allies and partners," said Col. David Gardner, commander of 2nd ABCT, 1st Inf. Div. The Dagger brigade, led by Gardner and Command Sgt. Maj. Craig A. Copridge, will uncase the brigade’s colors in theater once it officially takes over the mission from the 3rd ABCT, 4th Inf. Div., at the end of September. -30- Media interested in attending the ceremony can contact the 1st Infantry Division Public Affairs Office at (785) 240-1796 or send an email to jason.p.roberts22.ctr@mail.mil. The deadline to RSVP for the event is 4 p.m., Sept. 5.  less