| 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division | |
|---|---|
10th Mountain Division shoulder sleeve insignia |
|
| Active | 12 February 1985—Present |
| Country | United States of America |
| Allegiance | United States Army |
| Branch | Active duty |
| Type | Light Infantry |
| Role | Arctic Warfare |
| Size | brigade |
| Part of | 10th Mountain Division |
| Garrison/HQ | Fort Drum, New York |
| Nickname | Spartans |
| Motto | "WITH YOUR SHIELD, OR ON IT!" |
| Engagements | World War II *Kiska *Italian Campaign Korean War War in Southwest Asia Armed Forces Expeditions – Somalia Afghanistan Campaign Iraq Campaign |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Colonel Patrick D. Frank |
|
|
|||||
The 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division is an infantry Brigade Combat Team of the United States Army based at Fort Drum, New York. It is a subordinate unit of the 10th Mountain Division.
Activated in 2005 as part of an expansion of the 10th Mountain Division, the brigade was quickly deployed to Afghanistan as a part of Operation Enduring Freedom, and had its first tour extended during the deployment. The brigade had been planned to deploy to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2009, but it was rerouted back to Afghanistan for a second tour in the eastern regions of the country, in order to prepare for additional troops to move in to the region.
Contents |
The 3rd Brigade Combat Team (3rd BCT) is a brigade in the United States Army.[1]
The brigade consists of six subordinate battalions; its combat element consists of two infantry battalions, the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment and the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment. The 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment provides reconnaissance services to the brigade, while the 4th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery Regiment provides field artillery support. The 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion (3rd BSTB) provides various combat support functions for the brigade, specifically one platoon of military police and one company each of engineers, military intelligence personnel, and communications specialists. All logistics services for the brigade are provided by the 710th Brigade Support Battalion (710th BSB). All of these battalions are located at Fort Drum with the majority of the 10th Mountain Division.[1]
3rd Brigade was activated in 2004[2] as part of the overall Army transformation, and the transformation of 10th Mountain division into a modular division. On 16 September 2004, the division headquarters finished its transformation, with 1st Brigade becoming the 1st Brigade Combat Team,[3] and 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division was activated for the first time. In January 2005, the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division was activated at Fort Polk, Louisiana.[4] 2nd Brigade Combat Team would not be transformed until September 2005, pending a deployment to Iraq.[5]
3rd Brigade Combat Team deployed to Afghanistan in 2006 along with division headquarters, staying in the country until 2007.[6] The division and brigade served in the eastern region of the country, along the border with Pakistan, fulfilling a similar role as it did during its previous deployment.[7] During this time, the deployment of the brigade was extended along with that of the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division; however, it was eventually replaced by the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team which was rerouted from Iraq.[8]
The 3rd Brigade Combat Team was slated to deploy to Iraq in 2009, but that deployment was rerouted. In January 2009, 3rd BCT instead deployed to Logar and Wardak provinces in eastern Afghanistan, as part of a new buildup of US forces in that country.[9] The brigade was responsible for expanding Forward Operating Bases in the region, as well as strengthening US military presence in the region in preparation for additional US forces to arrive.[10] 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment was deployed to Konar province under 4th Brigade, 4th Infantry Division.
The 3rd Brigade Combat Team deployed to southern Afghanistan in March 2011.
After a one-year rest, the headquarters of the 10th Mountain Division was deployed to Iraq for the first time in April 2008, along with the 4th Brigade Combat Team. The division headquarters served as the command element for southern Baghdad, while the 4th BCT operated in North Baghdad. The 1st Brigade Combat Team and the 2nd Brigade Combat Team are scheduled to deploy to Iraq in the fall of 2009, as a part of the 2009–2010 rotation to Iraq.[11] The Army is currently expanding housing at Fort Drum, hoping to relocate the home base of the 4th Brigade Combat Team from Fort Polk to Fort Drum before 2013.[12]
| Ribbon | Award | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) | 2006–2007 | for service in Afghanistan[13] |
| Conflict | Streamer | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Operation Enduring Freedom | Afghanistan | 2006—2007 |
| Operation Enduring Freedom | Afghanistan | 2009 |