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Stewart security force assistance teams to deploy to Afghanistan
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The 3rd Infantry Division recently was notified by the Department of the Army that approximately 100 soldiers from the 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team will deploy 18-person security force assistance teams to Afghanistan in the fall to support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

The brigade’s security force assistance teams are composed of soldiers and leaders from various elements from within the brigade, according to a press release from the 3rd ID’s Public Affairs Office. Their mission will be to advise and assist their Afghan national security force partners as well as provide logistical coordination and civil, administrative and infrastructure support to their area of operation.

The teams will have the means to defend themselves, but their primary role is to advise and assist Afghan units and help them achieve levels of proficiency where they can lead and conduct independent security operations, the release states.

The brigade’s teams will train and deploy together as cohesive units. Teams will begin training in mid-March in preparation for a training exercise prior to their deployment in the fall. The teams are expected to deploy for nine months under the new deployment period policy that was announced by the Secretary of the Army in August and took effect Jan. 1.

The 3rd ID’s 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team has two battalions that received deployment orders to support Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan this year, according to the release. The 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, consisting of approximately 900 soldiers, deployed in early February in support of Operation Enduring Freedom to provide security to units conducting contingency operations in Afghanistan, as well as support for stability operations.

Additionally, the 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, consisting of 700 soldiers, will deploy later this year in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

The soldiers and leaders of the Spartan Brigade are focused on this new mission and diligently are preparing for the new opportunities and challenges that they will face with this upcoming deployment, according to the release.

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