Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (United States)
Encyclopedia
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.
Tracing its lineage back to the mountain warfare training command activated during World War II, the battalion received credit for participation in two World War II campaigns. Formally activated in 2004, it has since seen two deployments supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in support of the 1st Brigade Combat Team.
The battalion consists of four companies; the brigade's Headquarters and Headquarters Company
, as well as A Company, a Combat Engineer company; B Company, a Military Intelligence
company; C Company, a Signal company; and a generic Military Police
platoon. These companies provide services for the other battalions of the 1st Brigade Combat Team. As such, all of the formations are mountain warfare qualified.
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
, while the 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
.
In late 2004, 2nd Brigade Combat Team was deployed to Iraq supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 2nd Brigade Combat Team undertook combat operations in western Baghdad
, returning to the US in late 2005. Around that time, the 1st Brigade Combat Team deployed back to Iraq, staying in the country until 2006.
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.
Special Troops Battalion
A Special Troops Battalion is an organic unit of a modular brigade, Division , corps or higher echelon United States Army organization...
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...
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
Headquarters and Headquarters Company
In United States Army units, a headquarters and headquarters company is a company sized military unit, found at the battalion level and higher. In identifying a specific headquarters unit, it is usually referred to by its abbreviation as an HHC...
, as well as communication and support elements.
Tracing its lineage back to the mountain warfare training command activated during World War II, the battalion received credit for participation in two World War II campaigns. Formally activated in 2004, it has since seen two deployments supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in support of the 1st Brigade Combat Team.
Organization
The 1st Special Troops Battalion is subordinate to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, and is a permanent formation of the brigade, as the 1st Brigade Combat Team's command elements are all contained in the STB.The battalion consists of four companies; the brigade's Headquarters and Headquarters Company
Headquarters and Headquarters Company
In United States Army units, a headquarters and headquarters company is a company sized military unit, found at the battalion level and higher. In identifying a specific headquarters unit, it is usually referred to by its abbreviation as an HHC...
, as well as A Company, a Combat Engineer company; B Company, a Military Intelligence
Military intelligence
Military intelligence is a military discipline that exploits a number of information collection and analysis approaches to provide guidance and direction to commanders in support of their decisions....
company; C Company, a Signal company; and a generic Military Police
Military police
Military police are police organisations connected with, or part of, the military of a state. The word can have different meanings in different countries, and may refer to:...
platoon. These companies provide services for the other battalions of the 1st Brigade Combat Team. As such, all of the formations are mountain warfare qualified.
History
Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division traces its lineage back to the 10th Mountain Division's original Headquarters element, which was constituted with the rest of the division in World War II. It was activated 17 September 1942 as the 10th Mountain Training Center. After the training of the Division's soldiers was complete, the Training Center became the division headquarters. The division headquarters then fought through the Italian campaign, earning two campaign streamers during its service.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....
into a modular division. On 16 September 2004, the division headquarters finished its transformation. The 1st Brigade became 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...
, while the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (United States)
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...
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....
.
In late 2004, 2nd Brigade Combat Team was deployed to Iraq supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 2nd Brigade Combat Team undertook combat operations in western Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
, returning to the US in late 2005. Around that time, the 1st Brigade Combat Team deployed back to Iraq, staying in the country until 2006.
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.
Honors
The Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division was awarded two campaign streamers in World War II and two campaign streamers in the War on Terrorism for a total of four campaign streamers and two unit decorations in its operational history. Note that some of the brigade's battalions received more or fewer decorations depending on their individual deployments.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) |
2003–2004 | for service in Afghanistan |
|
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) |
2005–2006 | for service in Iraq |
Campaign streamers
| Conflict | Streamer | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|
| World War II World War II World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis... |
North Apennines | 1944 |
| World War II World War II World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis... |
Po Valley | 1945 |
| Operation Enduring Freedom | Afghanistan | 2003—2004 |
| Operation Iraqi Freedom | Iraq | 2005—2006 |