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3rd ID's 1st Brigade to head back to Europe early next year
Soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division’s 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team
Soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division’s 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team return the unit’s colors to Fort Stewart after a deployment to Europe for Operation Atlantic Resolve. The brigade is headed back to Europe in early 2025.

The 3rd Infantry Division’s 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team was the first to be sent to Europe following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The Raider Brigade has orders to return to Europe and will begin its redeployment for a nine-month mission in January. The brigade is going back to Europe as part of the U.S.’ enduring mission to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank and engage in multinational exercises with partners across the European continent.

“Raider is ready and willing to take on this vital mission,” said Col. James Armstrong, 1ABCT commander. “We have trained hard, and we have no doubt in our ability to answer the nation’s call.”

Approximately 3,500 soldiers from the Raider Brigade will deploy throughout January 2025 to various locations across Europe to support NATO allies, deter further aggression against NATO member states and train with host-nation forces. The Raider Brigade will replace similar elements of the 1st Cavalry Division in Poland as part of a regular rotation of forces to support the United States’ commitment to NATO allies and partners in Europe.

The brigade will fall under the command and control of the 1st Cavalry

Division for this mission and will focus on support of multi-national exercises and enduring support to our allies and partners in the European Theater. Elements of the 1st Brigade include 2/7 Infantry Battalion, 1/64 Armor Battalion, 3/69 Armor Battalion, 5/7 Cavalry Squadron, 1/41 Field Artillery Battalion, 10th Brigade Engineer Battalion and 3rd Brigade Support Battalion.

This deployment will be the second rotation to Europe that Raider Brigade has undertaken since 2022. To prepare for this deployment, 1st Brigade conducted multiple complex field training exercises, modernization, and a culminating training event at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California. Units have validated their training readiness to support the upcoming rotation.

“We are incredibly proud of the work Raider Brigade has done in preparing for this deployment,” said Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, the 3rd ID commander. “They are an outstanding team, and I am fully confident they will accomplish their mission with distinction.”

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