3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (United States)
Encyclopedia
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.
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.
3rd Brigade was activated in 2004 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
, 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
. 2nd Brigade Combat Team would not be transformed until September 2005, pending a deployment to Iraq
.
, fulfilling a similar role as it did during its previous deployment. 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.
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. 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. 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.
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
Brigade Combat Team
Brigade combat team
The brigade combat team is the basic deployable unit of maneuver in the US Army. A brigade combat team consists of one combat arms branch maneuver brigade, and its attached support and fire units. A brigade combat team is generally commanded by a colonel , but in rare instances it is commanded by...
of the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
based at Fort Drum
Fort Drum
Fort Drum is a United States Army base in New York near the Canadian border.Fort Drum may also refer to:*Fort Drum, Florida, a nearly-uninhabited town in the United States*Fort Drum , Philippines...
, 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
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
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
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
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.
Organization
The 3rd Brigade Combat Team (3rd BCT) is a brigade in the United States Army.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
2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment
The 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment is a United States Army infantry battalion. Originally formed during World War II, the battalion took part in the Aleutian and Italian campaigns before being deactivated after the war...
. 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)
Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (United States)
The 3rd 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 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division...
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.
History
Transformation of the United States Army
Army Transformation describes the future-concept of the United States Army's plan of modernization. Transformation is a generalized term for the integration of new concepts, organizations, and technology within the armed forces of the United States....
, 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
Brigade combat team
The brigade combat team is the basic deployable unit of maneuver in the US Army. A brigade combat team consists of one combat arms branch maneuver brigade, and its attached support and fire units. A brigade combat team is generally commanded by a colonel , but in rare instances it is commanded by...
, 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
4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (United States)
The 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division is a mountain warfare infantry Brigade Combat Team of the United States Army based at Fort Polk, Louisiana...
was activated at Fort Polk
Fort Polk
Fort Polk is a United States Army installation located in Vernon Parish, approximately 7 miles east of Leesville, Louisiana and 20 miles north of DeRidder, Louisiana....
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. 2nd Brigade Combat Team would not be transformed until September 2005, pending a deployment to Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
.
Recent deployments
3rd Brigade Combat Team deployed to Afghanistan in 2006 along with division headquarters, staying in the country until 2007. The division and brigade served in the eastern region of the country, along the border with PakistanPakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, fulfilling a similar role as it did during its previous deployment. 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
173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team
The 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team is an airborne infantry brigade combat team of the United States Army based in Vicenza, Italy...
which was rerouted from Iraq.
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
Logar
Logar may refer to:* Logar Province, Afghanistan* Logar River in Afghanistan* Logar Valley, Slovenia-People:* Eva Logar , Slovenian ski jumper* Lojze Logar, Slovenian artist* Tine Logar, Slovenian linguist...
and Wardak provinces in eastern Afghanistan, as part of a new buildup of US forces in that country. 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. 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.
Recent division history
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. 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.Unit decorations
| Ribbon | Award | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Meritorious Unit Commendation Meritorious Unit Commendation The Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the United States military which is awarded to any military command which displays exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, heroic deeds, or valorous actions.... (Army) |
2006–2007 | for service in Afghanistan |
Campaign streamers
| Conflict | Streamer | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Operation Enduring Freedom | Afghanistan | 2006—2007 |
| Operation Enduring Freedom | Afghanistan | 2009 |