2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (United States)

Last updated

2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division
Shoulder sleeve insignia of the 10th Mountain Division (1944-2015).svg
Insignia of the 10th Mountain Division
Active1985 – present
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States of America
BranchFlag of the United States Army.svg  United States Army
Type Infantry brigade combat team
RoleOffensive, defensive and stability operations
Size Brigade
Part of 10th Mountain Division
Garrison/HQ Fort Drum, New York, U.S.
Nickname(s)Commandos [1]
Motto(s)"Courage and Honor"
Anniversaries2 October 1985 – Activation of the Brigade at Ft. Benning, GA
Engagements War in Southwest Asia
Armed Forces Expeditions – Somalia
War in Afghanistan
Iraq War
Commanders
Current
commander
Colonel Scott D. Wence
Ceremonial chiefColonel Michael Plummer
Command Sergeant MajorCSM Christopher Donaldson

The 2nd 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.

Contents

Activated in 1985, the 10th Mountain Division's second brigade's elements saw numerous deployments to contingencies around the world in the 1990s. With the Global War on Terrorism the brigade has deployed six times: initially deployed to Uzbekistan, Kuwait and Qatar in 2001, elements of the brigade later deployed from Uzbekistan into Afghanistan; the brigade deployed again in early 2003, split across Iraq, Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa; the entire brigade returned to Iraq in 2004–2005, 2006–2007 and 2009–2010 before returning to Afghanistan in 2013 for its sixth deployment.

Organization

The 2nd Brigade Combat Team is a subordinate unit of the 10th Mountain Division. however, its modular nature means it is capable of operating independently of the division's Headquarters and Headquarters Company. [2]

As an infantry brigade combat team (IBCT), the brigade consists of a Headquarters and Headquarters Company or HHC, a squadron, and several subordinate battalions stationed at Fort Drum, New York: [2]

History

On 13 February 1985, the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) was activated at Fort Drum, New York, after several decades inactive. [3] In accordance with the Reorganization Objective Army Divisions plan, the division was no longer centered on regiments, instead two brigades were activated under the division. The 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division was activated at Fort Drum while the 2nd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division was activated at Fort Benning, moving to Fort Drum in 1988. [4] The division was also assigned a round-out brigade from the Army National Guard, the 27th Infantry Brigade. [5] The division was specially designed as a light infantry division able to rapidly deploy. Equipment design was oriented toward reduced size and weight for reasons of both strategic and tactical mobility. [6] The division also received a distinctive unit insignia. [7]

Contingencies

In 1990, the division sent 1,200 soldiers to support Operation Desert Storm. The largest of these units was the 548th Supply and Services Battalion with almost 1,000 soldiers, which supported the 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized) in Iraq. Following a cease-fire in March 1991, the support soldiers began redeploying to Fort Drum through June of that year. [8]

Soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division sweep a Somali village for weapons (1993). 10th Mountain Divsion sweep Somali village.jpg
Soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division sweep a Somali village for weapons (1993).

Hurricane Andrew struck South Florida on 24 August 1992, killing 13 people, leaving another 250,000 homeless and causing damages in excess of 20 billion dollars. On 27 September 1992, the 10th Mountain Division assumed responsibility for Hurricane Andrew disaster relief as Task Force Mountain. [8] Division soldiers set up relief camps, distributed food, clothing, medical necessities and building supplies, as well as helping to rebuild homes and clear debris. The last of the 6,000 division soldiers to deploy to Florida returned home in October 1992. [6]

Operation Restore Hope

On 3 December 1992, the division headquarters was designated as the headquarters for all Army forces (ARFOR) of the Unified Task Force (UNITAF) for Operation Restore Hope. Major General Steven L. Arnold, the division commander, was named Army forces commander. The 10th Mountain Division's mission was to secure major cities and roads to provide safe passage of relief supplies to the Somali population suffering from the effects of the Somali Civil War. [6] Due to 10th Mountain Division efforts, humanitarian agencies declared an end to the food emergency and factional fighting decreased. [8] When Task Force Ranger and the SAR team were pinned down during a raid in what later became known as the Battle of Mogadishu, 10th Mountain units provided infantry for the UN quick reaction force sent to rescue them. The 10th had 2 soldiers killed in the fighting, which was the longest sustained firefight by regular U.S. Army forces since the Vietnam War. [6] The division began a gradual reduction of forces in Somalia in February 1993, until the last soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry returned to the United States in March 1994. [8]

Operation Uphold Democracy

Soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division secure Port-au-Prince International Airport in 1994. Port-au-Prince airfield seizure.jpg
Soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division secure Port-au-Prince International Airport in 1994.

The division formed the nucleus of the Multinational Force Haiti (MNF Haiti) and Joint Task Force 190 (JTF 190) in Haiti during Operation Uphold Democracy. More than 8,600 of the division's troops deployed during this operation. [6] On 19 September 1994, the 1st Brigade conducted the Army's first air assault from an aircraft carrier. This force consisted of 54 helicopters and almost 2,000 soldiers. They occupied the Port-au-Prince International Airport. This was the largest Army air operation conducted from a carrier since the Doolittle Raid in World War II. [8]

The division's mission was to create a secure and stable environment so the government of Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide could be reestablished and democratic elections held. After this was accomplished, the 10th Mountain Division handed over control of the MNF-Haiti to the 25th Infantry Division on 15 January 1995. The Division redeployed the last of its soldiers who served in Haiti by 31 January 1995. [6]

Task Force Eagle

In the fall of 1998, the division received notice that it would be serving as senior headquarters of Task Force Eagle, providing a peacekeeping force to support the ongoing operation within the Multi-National Division-North area of responsibility in Bosnia and Herzegovina. [6] Selected division units began deploying in late summer, approximately 3,000 division soldiers deployed. After successfully performing their mission in Bosnia, the division units conducted a Transfer of Authority, relinquishing their assignments to soldiers of the 49th Armored Division, Texas National Guard. By early summer 2000, all 10th Mountain Division soldiers had returned safely to Fort Drum. [6]

Global War on Terrorism

A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter carries soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division on a mission in Afghanistan. UH-60 in Afghanistan.jpg
A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter carries soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division on a mission in Afghanistan.

Following the 11 September 2001 attacks, elements of the division, including its special troops battalion and the 1-87th Infantry and 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment (4–31 Infantry), deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in late 2001. These forces remained in the country until mid-2002, fighting to secure remote areas of the country and participating in operations such as Operation Anaconda, the Fall of Mazar-i-Sharif, and the Battle of Qala-i-Jangi. [3] The division also participated in fighting in the Shahi Khot Valley in 2002. Upon the return of the battalions, they were welcomed home and praised by President Bush. [9] In 2003, elements of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division returned to Afghanistan to support US forces operating in the western region of the country. [10]

Upon the return of the division headquarters and 1st Brigade, the 10th Mountain Division began the process of transformation into a modular division. On 16 September 2004, the division headquarters finished its transformation. The 1st Brigade became the 1st Brigade Combat Team, [11] while the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division was activated for the first time. [12] In January 2005, the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division was activated at Fort Polk, Louisiana. [13] 2nd Brigade Combat Team would not be transformed until September 2005, pending a deployment to Iraq. [14]

In late 2004, 2nd Brigade Combat Team was deployed to Iraq supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. [14] The 2nd Brigade Combat Team undertook combat operations in Baghdad including the Green Zone and Ahub Grab prison camp, returning to the US in late 2005. [8] Around that time, the 1st Brigade Combat Team deployed back to Iraq, staying in the country until 2006. [11] In August 2006, 2nd Brigade Combat Team began a 15-month deployment to Iraq. [15]

The 1st Brigade Combat Team and the 2nd Brigade Combat Team were scheduled to deploy to Iraq in fall 2009, as a part of the 2009–2010 rotation to Iraq. [10] As of summer 2009, it was one of only a few brigades in the U.S. Army to be deployed 40 months or more in support of the War on Terrorism. [10]

In 2015, about 1,200 members of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team deployed to southern Afghanistan as part of the Resolute Support Mission. It was the brigade's fourth deployment to Afghanistan. [16]

Honors

Unit decorations

RibbonAwardYearNotes
Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army)2004–2005for service in Iraq
Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army)2009–2010for service in Iraq

Campaign streamers

ConflictStreamerYear(s)
Operation Iraqi Freedom Iraq2004–2005

2006–2007

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">82nd Airborne Division</span> Active duty airborne infantry division of the US Army

The 82nd Airborne Division is an airborne infantry division of the United States Army specializing in parachute assault operations into denied areas with a U.S. Department of Defense requirement to "respond to crisis contingencies anywhere in the world within 18 hours". Based at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, the 82nd Airborne Division is part of the XVIII Airborne Corps. The 82nd Airborne Division is the U.S. Army's most strategically mobile division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">4th Infantry Division (United States)</span> Active US Army formation

The 4th Infantry Division is a division of the United States Army based at Fort Carson, Colorado. It is composed of a division headquarters battalion, three brigade combat teams, a combat aviation brigade, a division sustainment brigade, and a division artillery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">10th Mountain Division (United States)</span> Combat formation of the United States Army

The 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) is a light infantry division in the United States Army based at Fort Drum, New York. Formerly designated as a mountain warfare unit, the division was the only one of its size in the US military to receive specialized training for fighting in mountainous conditions. More recently, the 10th Mountain has been conducting operations in Iraq and Syria advising and assisting Iraqi Security Forces and People's Defense Units.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">22nd Infantry Regiment (United States)</span> Military unit

The 22nd Infantry Regiment is a parent regiment of the United States Army. Currently the 2nd Battalion is active, with the regimental colors residing at Fort Drum, New York. The 1st, 3rd, and 4th Battalions have been inactivated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">87th Infantry Regiment (United States)</span> Military unit

The 87th Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment in the United States Army. The regiment's 1st and 2nd Battalions are light infantry units assigned to the 1st and 2nd Brigade Combat Teams respectively of the 10th Mountain Division located at Fort Drum, New York. The 3d Battalion was active in the U.S. Army Reserve in Colorado. The 4th Battalion was a Regular Army unit assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 25th Infantry Division (Light) at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2nd Infantry Regiment (United States)</span> Military unit

The 2nd Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment in the United States Army that has served for more than two hundred years. It was constituted on 12 April 1808 as the 6th Infantry and consolidated with 4 other regiments in 1815 to form the present unit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division</span> Military unit

The 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division is an infantry brigade combat team of the United States Army based at Fort Johnson, Louisiana. Since its activation in 2004, the brigade has deployed four times to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. In 2014, the brigade inactivated at Fort Drum, NY, and its infantry battalions were reassigned to other brigades while its special troops battalion, field artillery battalion, brigade support battalion and cavalry squadron were inactivated. The brigade reactivated at Fort Polk, LA in 2015 by re-flagging the assets of the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, which was inactivated. The infantry, cavalry and field artillery battalions of the 4th Brigade were reassigned to the 3rd Brigade. The brigade deployed to Iraq in 2017 in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. Recently, the brigade deployed to the Southwest Border in 2019 in support of Operation Faithful Patriot.

The 32nd Infantry Regiment is a battalion within the United States Army. Of the original regiment, only the 1st Battalion remains as an active duty unit. The 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment is a light infantry battalion assigned to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, garrisoned at Fort Drum, New York. The battalion was previously assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team at Fort Drum, before this unit was reflagged to Fort Polk, Louisiana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 11th Airborne Division</span> Active US Army formation

The 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 11th Airborne Division is an airborne infantry brigade combat team (BCT) of the United States Army. The unit is stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska and is the only airborne brigade combat team in the Pacific Theater. It is also the newest airborne Infantry BCT and one of only five in the United States Army; the others are the three Infantry BCTs of the 82nd Airborne Division and the 173rd Airborne Brigade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Special Troops Battalion, 10th Mountain Division</span> Military unit

The 10th Mountain Division Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion is a unit of the United States Army headquartered at Fort Drum, New York. It is the organization for the command elements of the 10th Mountain Division. The battalion contains the division's senior command structure, including its headquarters company, as well as communications, intelligence, operational and support elements as well as the Division Band which provide services to any units assigned to the headquarters at a time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (United States)</span> Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the United States Army

The 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division is an active Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the United States Army based at Fort Drum in New York. The brigade headquarters carries the lineage of the 10th Mountain Division's original headquarters company, and served as such in World War II, and in peacetime at Fort Riley, Fort Benning, and West Germany in the 1940s and 1950s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division</span> Military unit

The 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division is an inactive infantry brigade combat team. Based at Fort Polk, Louisiana, the brigade was active from 2005 to 2015. It was a subordinate formation of the 10th Mountain Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division</span> Military unit

The Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division is a combat aviation brigade of the United States Army based at Fort Drum, New York. It is a subordinate unit of the 10th Mountain Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (United States)</span> Military unit

The 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Special Troops Battalion is a special troops battalion of the United States Army headquartered at Fort Drum, New York. It is the organization for the command elements of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. The battalion contains the division's senior command structure, including its Headquarters and Headquarters Company, as well as communication and support elements.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (United States)</span> Military unit

The 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Special Troops Battalion is a special troops battalion of the United States Army headquartered at Fort Drum, New York. It is the organization for the command elements of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. The battalion contains the division's senior command structure, including its Headquarters and Headquarters Company, as well as communication and support elements.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (United States)</span> Military unit

The Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team (BCT), 10th Mountain Division was a special troops battalion of the United States Army headquartered at Fort Drum, New York. It was the organization for the command elements of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. The battalion contained the brigade's senior command structure, including its Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), as well as military police, engineering, intelligence, and communications elements. An inactivation ceremony was held on 24 October 2014 on Magrath Field, Fort Drum, NY to mark the inactivation of the battalion. The 3rd Brigade held its inactivation ceremony on 14 August 2014 to mark its inactivation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">10th Aviation Regiment (United States)</span> Military unit

The 10th Aviation Regiment is an aviation regiment of the U.S. Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">525th Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade</span> Military unit

The 525th Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade (Expeditionary) is a unit of the United States Army specializing in the acquisition and analysis of information with potential military value. On 28 October 2014, the unit was reflagged from the "525th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade" to an expeditionary military intelligence brigade, the first of its kind.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division</span>

The 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division is an inactive Airborne Brigade of the United States Army. The brigade was active from 1968-1969, and from 2006-2014. The brigade conducted three rotations to Afghanistan, in 2007 and 2008, 2009 and 2010, and 2012. The brigade's two infantry battalions deployed for a fourth time in 2013-2014, and became part of other BCTs in the division upon their redeployment.

The 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division is an inactive brigade of the United States Army. Between 1975 and 1984, the brigade served at Fort Carson, CO, and in Germany. The brigade was reactivated in 2004, and deployed four times in support of the War on Terror, once to Iraq and three times to Afghanistan, before being inactivated in 2015.

References

  1. "Special Unit Designations". United States Army Center of Military History. 21 April 2010. Archived from the original on 9 June 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
  2. 1 2 "10th Mountain Division Organization". Fort Drum Public Affairs Office. Archived from the original on 1 August 2008. Retrieved 7 July 2009.
  3. 1 2 "Lineage and Honors Information: 10th Mountain Division". United States Army Center of Military History. Archived from the original on 8 June 2010. Retrieved 6 July 2009.
  4. McGrath, p. 189.
  5. McGrath, p. 232.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Fort Drum Homepage: History of the 10th Mountain Division". Fort Drum Public Affairs Office. Archived from the original on 12 May 2008. Retrieved 6 July 2009.
  7. "The Institute of Heraldry: 10th Mountain Division". The Institute of Heraldry. Archived from the original on 1 September 2009. Retrieved 6 July 2009.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "GlobalSecurity.org: 10th Mountain Division". GlobalSecurity . Archived from the original on 9 July 2009. Retrieved 6 July 2009.
  9. Gilmore, Gerry. "'Be Proud, Strong, Ready,' Bush Tells 10th Mountain Troops". American Forces Press Service. Archived from the original on 31 May 2009. Retrieved 9 July 2009.
  10. 1 2 3 "Army Announces next Iraq Rotation". US Army Public Affairs Office. Retrieved 15 July 2009.
  11. 1 2 "Lineage and Honors Information: 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division". United States Army Center of Military History. Archived from the original on 16 January 2010. Retrieved 9 July 2009.
  12. "Lineage and Honors Information: 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division". United States Army Center of Military History. Archived from the original on 8 June 2010. Retrieved 9 July 2009.
  13. "Lineage and Honors Information: 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division". United States Army Center of Military History. Archived from the original on 8 June 2010. Retrieved 9 July 2009.
  14. 1 2 "Lineage and Honors Information: 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division". United States Army Center of Military History . Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  15. "10th Mountain Division (LI)". United States Army . Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  16. "Troops from Fort Drum's 10th Mountain Division to deploy to Iraq, Afghanistan". NY Daily News. Retrieved 15 September 2018.

Sources