101st Airborne 1st Brigade Update

Not much data here but ya never know if one of yours is in the photos!

Four pics here and short blurbs on each.

101st Airborne Update 10/15/07

101st Soldiers Puts Initial Boots on Ground in Iraq
Story by Capt. Jason Waggoner
Posted on 10.15.2007 at 01:12PM

Maj. Jason Waggoner
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division Public Affairs Office

CAMP STRIKER, Iraq — Recently, a group of Soldiers from Kentucky put their boots on the ground in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom VI.

The lead elements of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team “Rakkasans,” 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) out of Fort Campbell, Ky., began arriving to the Baghdad International Airport, Oct. 13, for a 15-month tour in Iraq.

Soldiers from 626 Brigade Support Battalion and Headquarters and Headquarters Company, both from the 101st Abn. Div. were the first of the brigade’s main body to arrive to Iraq from their initial staging area in Kuwait.

“Our reception and integration plan, laid out by our advance party, will make for a seamless transition,” said Maj. Curtis Crum, the 3rd BCT operations officer and native of Richmond, Va. “We look forward to the challenges ahead.”

The brigade, which is on its third deployment in support of OIF, is in the process of assuming authority from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) out of Fort Drum, N.Y, southwest of Baghdad.

This is MJ's TEAM.

101st Airborne Screamin' Eagles Update

The time lines below are estimates. A Brigade has between 3,000 and 4,500 soldiers depending on the mission.

The Leaf Chronicle

About 7,000 soldiers of the the 101st Airborne Division's 1st and 3rd Brigade Combat teams have hit the Kuwaiti desert with plans to move into Iraq soon.

The 2nd Brigade Combat Team is expected to follow, making it a total of 10,500 Fort Campbell soldiers to deploy in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom by late October.

This is the division's third major rotation in Iraq, with the mission of providing security and training Iraqi forces and helping with nation-building projects.

Maj. Frank Garcia of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team said "Strike" soldiers are more than prepared to go.

For nearly a year, the brigade has trained not only for combat and counter-insurgency tactics, but learning Arabic and Iraqi culture.

He said as the brigade gets ready to move, it's good to hear reports that progress is being made with security in Iraq and that violence is subsiding.

"The units in theater seem to be making a positive impact on the situation. We know it can be a volatile region at times," Garcia said. "We'll work closely with the unit we are replacing to learn the area, people, leaders and other environmental aspects of our area of operations. The partnership we establish with the people and their leaders in our area will greatly help in achieving continued progress."

Beginning early next year, about 5,000 Fort Campbell soldiers will deploy to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Those units will be the division staff, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade and 4th Brigade Combat Team.

Both deployments are expected to last up to 15 months.

DEPLOYMENTS

The time lines below are estimates. A Brigade has between 3,000 and 4,500 soldiers depending on the mission.

Iraq (Total 10,500 soldiers)

1st Brigade Combat Team — In Kuwait. 3rd Brigade Combat Team — In Kuwait and in process of leaving. 2nd Brigade Combat Team — In process of leaving. Brigade Color Casing and Award Ceremony to be held 1 p.m., Tuesday, at brigade headquarters. Afghanistan (Total 5,000 soldiers) 101st Airborne Division staff, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, and 4th Brigade Combat Team — about 5,000 soldiers — will leave Fort Campbell in January 2008 for Afghanistan. Approximately 500 Fort Campbell soldiers are deployed in prior OIF rotations. Elements of the 101st Sustainment Brigade will be broken up and deploy to different areas of Iraq and Afghanistan to support various units and missions. In 2009, the 159th Combat Aviation Brigade is slated to replace the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade in Afghanistan.

Rakkasans Have Arrived In Kuwait

Rakkasans filter into Kuwait
by Sgt. 1st Class Kerensa Hardy, 3rd BCT Public Affairs

KUWAIT -- After emotional farewells to friends and loved ones, 12 hours on a plane, three hours on a bus and countless hours of the obligatory “hurry up and wait,” the Rakkasans have reached Kuwait.

The torch and advance parties from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 187th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, are adapting to the heat of the desert and have hit the ground running..

“Many of the Rakkasan Soldiers said their goodbyes, the arriving Soldiers now get to turn their attention to conducting the final required training here in Kuwait prior to moving into Iraq,” said Lt. Col. J.B. Becker, 3rd BCT executive officer.

While brigade and battalion staffs work to get their tactical operation centers up and running and establish a battle rhythm, others have begun attending invaluable training sessions.

Two classes on counter-improvised explosive devices and radio-controlled IEDs marked the beginning of official training at Camp Buehring, Kuwait.

Soldiers were alert in the classes, not wanting to miss any of the information spouted off by subject-matter experts that could potentially save their lives.

The way I look at it is, if I’m here fighting this war now, my kids won’t have to.

— Sgt. Dan Evans, Company B, 3rd Special Troops Battalion

Although the record-high temperatures that hit Fort Campbell a few weeks ago may have made the transition a bit easier, quickly rising temperatures require an “o-dark-thirty” start for ranges in Kuwait to avoid the scorching heat.

The stay in Kuwait is as short as a few days for some and a few weeks for others. It is the last hurdle to be crossed before setting out to accomplish the 15-month mission in Iraq.

Many of the Rakkasans have seen multiple deployments and expressed mixed feelings about being here so soon after the last deployment. The assistant brigade S6 said it feels like she was just here. “I’ve talked to people and we say, ‘It felt like we just had an extended mid-tour leave,’” Capt. Kashe Brooks said.

Another Soldier who’s also on his second deployment said he’s looking at the potential benefits down the road.

“The way I look at it is, if I’m here fighting this war now, my kids won’t have to when they come of age,” said Sgt. Dan Evans, Company B, 3rd Special Troops Battalion.

Evans said the anxiety he felt prior to the first deployment is gone. “I already know what to anticipate and look for.”

One infantryman, also on his second tour, said he’s glad to be here so the mission can begin. “I’m anxious and excited,” said Spc. Ronnie Sopko, Company C, 1st Battalion, 33rd Cavalry Regiment. “As soon as we got in country my motivation kicked up. I’m ready to get started.”

The remainder of the brigade should be here by week’s end.

Rakkasans Deploying For Iraq Today

9/21/2007

We received a call just a few hours ago that the 101st 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 187th Infantry Regiment has deployed.

They are known as the "Rakkasans".

Godspeed MJ. We love you.


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