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‘Big Red One’ to deploy as US Army Europe's Atlantic Resolve division-level HQ
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The 1st Infantry Division will replace the 4th Infantry Division... read more
‘Big Red One’ to deploy as US Army Europe's Atlantic Resolve division-level HQ
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The 1st Infantry Division will replace the 4th Infantry Division in March 2018 as U.S. Army Europe's division-level headquarters responsible for mission command of U.S. forces deployed in support of Atlantic Resolve.
Three years ago, in response to increased regional tensions, the 4th Infantry Division formed the first Atlantic Resolve Mission Command Element serving as the intermediate headquarters between U.S. Army Europe and U.S. regionally allocated forces deployed throughout the eight eastern European Atlantic Resolve countries of Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.
“I am very pleased that the Big Red One was selected to replace the 4th Infantry Division for this critical mission,” said Maj. Gen. Joseph M. Martin, the 1st Inf. Div. and Fort Riley commanding general. “We are constantly building readiness so that we can support missions like this and many others across the globe. We look forward to building upon the successes of the mighty 4th ID.”
Located in Poznan, Poland, the MCE provides command and control for more than 6,000 U.S. service members conducting bilateral training and multinational exercises with Allied host nation forces to deter aggression and support regional stability.
The 1st Inf. Div., will deploy about 100 personnel to Poznan, Poland, in March, to take over the Atlantic Resolve MCE mission from 4th Inf. Div.
Leading the MCE mission will be Brig. Gen. Richard R. Coffman, the 1st Inf. Div. and Fort Riley deputy commanding general for maneuver.
“I have the utmost confidence that Richard is the right leader for the job,” said Martin. “As I’ve watched him prepare his team for this upcoming mission, I’m reminded how lucky I am to have him here at the Big Red One – he’s mission-focused and ready. He will be an asset to Atlantic Resolve.”
The Big Red One, the Army’s first and longest serving division, has been in continuous service to the nation throughout the past century, and brings with it a lineage of history in the European theater. In 1918, the 1st Inf. Div. fought and won the Battle of Cantigny, in France – the first American victory of World War I. It was the first U.S. division to return to Europe for World War II, landing in Great Britain in July 1942 and later leading Task Force O in the assault on Omaha Beach during the Battle of Normandy. The division was also based in Wurzburg, Germany, from 1996 to 2006, deploying numerous times throughout Europe in support of peacekeeping missions.
During its tenure as the Atlantic Resolve MCE, the Fort Carson, Colorado-based 4th Inf. Div. led U.S. Army Europe’s efforts in Eastern Europe to demonstrate U.S. commitment to our Allies and partners, enhance U.S. and Allied readiness, deter aggression and enhance freedom of movement.
As the first Atlantic Resolve MCE, 4th Inf. Div. facilitated the first U.S. regionally allocated forces deployments into Europe as well as the first heel-to-toe rotations of regionally allocated armored brigade combat teams and combat aviation brigades. The MCE also relocated from Germany to Poland in order to ensure a more forward and ready headquarters presence in Eastern Europe.
Throughout its time as the MCE, 4th Inf. Div. developed key relationships with Allied and partner military and civilian leaders, managed the movement of thousands of vehicles, pieces of equipment and personnel across international borders in a region the size of the U.S. eastern seaboard, and oversaw numerous multinational exercises culminating in Saber Guardian 17 – with 22 NATO Allies and partner nations participating in the exercise in the Black Sea region.
The 1st Inf. Div. will further strengthen those key relationships and expand upon building readiness with its NATO partners while abroad, said Martin.
For more information about the Atlantic Resolve mission, visit http://www.eur.army.mil/atlanticresolve or https://www.facebook.com/usarmyeurope, or search for the hashtags #AtlanticResolve and #StrongEurope.
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