1ST INFANTRY DIVISION PRESS RELEASES

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‘Dagger’ brigade set to return to Fort Riley from European deployment — FORT RILEY, Kansas – More than 3,000 Soldiers with the 2nd Armored... read more

‘Dagger’ brigade set to return to Fort Riley from European deployment — FORT RILEY, Kansas – More than 3,000 Soldiers with the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, are set to return to Fort Riley following a nine-month deployment to Europe in support of Atlantic Resolve. The “Dagger” brigade deployed to Europe in September 2017 as the second iteration of heel-to-toe rotations of U.S. armored brigades in Europe, designed to provide a continuous U.S. armored presence for the foreseeable future. While deployed, 2nd ABCT trained closely with NATO allies to build interoperability between their forces and strengthen their collective defensive capabilities to deter aggression in the region. During the deployment, the brigade sustained a high level of readiness by conducting more than 58 combined training events across eight countries, involving more than 140 movements by rail and line haul. The training events included squad-based live-fire exercises, crew gunnery qualification tables for all their major weapon systems, joint direct and indirect live-fire exercises with NATO allies, utilizing land and air assets and multiple multinational force-on-force exercises. One of the special highlights from the deployment are the three deployment readiness exercises the brigade conducted, where units moved company-size elements from Poland and Germany into the Baltic region on a 48-hour notice. This sent a powerful message that they could rapidly respond to crises anywhere, at any time if called upon. The Dagger brigade dedicated significant time and resources demonstrating the capabilities on an armored brigade combat team, expending nearly two million rounds of small arms ammunition, more than 4,800 tank rounds and more than 1,800 artillery rounds while sustaining its readiness to meet any threat. The brigade also sustained an impressive and robust logistical network and line of operations, performing more than 550 logistical missions and traveling over 100,000 miles to support the presence and operations of units spread over several countries in central Europe, including Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Germany, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. -30- Media interested in attending a redeployment ceremony for the 2nd ABCT are asked to RSVP with the 1st Infantry Division’s Public Affairs Office by calling (785) 240-1796 or emailing usarmy.riley.1-id.mbx.1id-pao@mail.mil. Information regarding specific ceremony times will be made available as appropriate.  less

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Secretary of the US Army visits Fort Riley, meets with ‘Big Red One’ Soldiers, spouses, civilians — By Chad L. Simon 1st Inf. Div. Public... read more

Secretary of the US Army visits Fort Riley, meets with ‘Big Red One’ Soldiers, spouses, civilians — By Chad L. Simon 1st Inf. Div. Public Affairs — The Secretary of the U.S. Army, Dr. Mark T. Esper, visited and spoke with Soldiers and spouses of the 1st Infantry Division as he toured Fort Riley, Kansas, May 4. The visit was Esper’s first to the area since he was sworn in as the 23rd Secretary of the Army last November. Esper started his busy day by joining Soldiers of the 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Inf. Div., for a functional fitness PT session. Esper also met with officers, noncommissioned officers and spouses of the 1st CAB for breakfast before joining the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Inf. Div., as the “Devil” brigade conducted live-fire training on one of the vast ranges offered at the post. Esper fielded questions from Soldiers, spouses and civilians during a town hall meeting held at Barlow Theater. He also talked of how the Army is looking to gain approximately 15,000 Soldiers over the next three years. He expects more Soldiers will help improve the quality of life and dwell time for Soldiers between deployments. Esper also spoke about the 1st Inf. Div. and U.S. Army’s continued emphasis to build readiness. “We are now focused on strategic competitors such as Russia and China,” Esper said. “The 1st Infantry Division has a storied history. It is one of our great units and, if called upon in the future, I am confident that it will prevail once again. The 1st Inf. Div. needs to continue to build its readiness and enhance the lethality of the force as we move ahead.” The secretary said training with international allies — something the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Inf. Div., is currently doing in Europe — is important. “The fact that the ‘Big Red One’ can be over in Europe training with our allies not only builds that interoperability and partnership with our allies, but also provides reassurance to them that the United States will be there as a NATO treaty party should a conflict come,” he said. In his day-long tour and visit of the historic 1st Inf. Div. and Fort Riley post, it was evident to Esper that the Soldiers here are willing and able to carry on with the fighting success of the Big Red One Soldiers that came before them. “I saw professionalism, a commitment to service to our country and an interest in the direction of the Army,” Esper said of the Soldiers he met that day. -30- Photos from Secretary Esper’s visit can be found at https://www.flickr.com/photos/sec-army-pao/albums/72157696456136095.  less

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Secretary of the US Army to visit Fort Riley, ‘Big Red One’ Soldiers — FORT RILEY, Kansas – The secretary of the U.S. Army will visit Fort Riley... read more

Secretary of the US Army to visit Fort Riley, ‘Big Red One’ Soldiers — FORT RILEY, Kansas – The secretary of the U.S. Army will visit Fort Riley May 4, meeting with 1st Infantry Division leaders and interacting with “Big Red One” Soldiers. Mark T. Esper, the 23rd secretary of the U.S. Army, was sworn in on Nov. 17, 2017. As secretary, he has statutory responsibility for all matters relating to the U.S. Army, to include the recruitment, organization, training, equipping and care of 1.4 million active duty, National Guard and Reserve Soldiers, Department of the Army civilians and their families. Esper previously served as senior executive at the Raytheon Company as vice president of government relations and was the national security advisor for former Sen. Bill Frist, Senate majority leader from 2003-2007. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1986 and received his commission in the Infantry. Upon completion of Ranger and Pathfinder training, Esper served on active duty for more than decade, including service in the 1990-1991 Gulf War with the 101st Airborne Division. He later commanded an airborne rifle company in Europe. Following active duty, he served in both the Virginia and District of Columbia National Guard and Army Reserve before retiring in 2007. Esper’s priorities for the Army include readiness, modernization, reform, people, values and partners and allies. -30- Secretary Esper will have a limited media engagement to discuss his priorities, his visit to Fort Riley and the future of the Army at 4 p.m. May 4 at the Kansas Jet Center, 1705 S. Airport Road in Manhattan, Kansas. He will be joined by U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran. Space is extremely limited and priority will be given to those media outlets that RSVP first. To RSVP, contact the 1st Infantry Division Public Affairs Office at (785) 240-1796 or via email at jason.p.roberts22.ctr@mail.mil.  less

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: ‘Big Red One’ to bid farewell to senior noncommissioned officer in change of responsibility ceremony — FORT RILEY,... read more

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: ‘Big Red One’ to bid farewell to senior noncommissioned officer in change of responsibility ceremony — FORT RILEY, Kansas – The 1st Infantry Division will bid farewell to its senior noncommissioned officer and welcome the newest division command sergeant major to the “Big Red One” in a 4 p.m. ceremony March 21 at the division’s headquarters building on Fort Riley. Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph Cornelison, the division’s senior noncommissioned officer, will transfer responsibility of the 1st Inf. Div. to Command Sgt. Maj. Craig Bishop during the ceremony. Cornelison assumed responsibility of the Big Red One on Sept. 25, 2015. He entered the Army in January 1990 as an infantryman. He previously served at every level of leadership, including as the command sergeant major for the 2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment in Grafenwohr, Germany, and as the senior enlisted advisor for the Combined Joint Force Land Component Command in Baghdad, Iraq. He was the 28th Big Red One command sergeant major. Bishop enlisted in the Army in September 1992 and is from Sweetwater, Tennessee. He comes to the division from Fort Benning, Georgia, where he served as the 75th Ranger Regiment’s command sergeant major. -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 4 p.m. March 20.   less

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‘Durable’ brigade Soldier dies near Milford Lake — A 1st Infantry Division Soldier was found dead inside a vehicle near Milford Lake March... read more

‘Durable’ brigade Soldier dies near Milford Lake — A 1st Infantry Division Soldier was found dead inside a vehicle near Milford Lake March 18. Spc. Ronald Church Jr. was a Bradley fighting vehicle system maintainer with 541st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 1st Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade. The incident remains under investigation. “Words cannot even begin to express the sorrow of the 541st CSSB as we learn of Spc. Ronald Church Jr.'s passing,” said Col. Jay J. McGuire, 1st Inf. Div. Sust. Bde. commander. “Our thoughts and support will be with his family during this difficult time.” Church joined the Army in November 2015 and arrived at Fort Riley in February 2017. He was 23 years old. He had not deployed. His home of record is Forest Park, Georgia. His awards and decorations include the Army Service Ribbon and the National Defense Service Ribbon.  less

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‘Dagger’ brigade Soldier dies in Junction City, Kansas — A 1st Infantry Division Soldier was pronounced dead at the Geary Community Hospital in... read more

‘Dagger’ brigade Soldier dies in Junction City, Kansas — A 1st Infantry Division Soldier was pronounced dead at the Geary Community Hospital in Junction City, Kansas, Jan. 21. Pvt. Dakota Noah was an infantryman with Company B, 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Inf. Div. The Geary County Sheriff’s Office is investigating Noah’s death. “We are deeply saddened by the death of Pvt. Noah,” said Col. Charles J. Masaracchia, 1st Inf. Div. chief of staff. “The ‘Big Red One’ and the ‘Dagger’ brigade are dedicated to supporting his friends and family in this difficult time.” Noah joined the Army in September 2016 and arrived at Fort Riley in January 2017. He was 21 years old. He had not deployed. His home of record is Wellington, Colorado. His awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Army Service Ribbon. -30- Any queries about the incident should be directed to the Geary County Sheriff’s Office at (785) 238-2261.  less