New Amercian Faces in N2KL

CJTF-82's Notes

June 29, 2009
RELEASE # 060
Story and photos by Spc. Eugene Cushing
4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Public Affairs Office

Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan– 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division handed over responsibility for their operational area in eastern Afghanistan to 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division during a transfer of authority ceremony June 26 at Forward Operating Base Fenty, in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan.

The 4th BCT, 4th Inf. Div., or Task Force Mountain Warrior, assumed responsibility for missions to improve security and development in the Nangarhar, Nuristan, Kunar, and Laghman provinces, from 3rd BCT, 1st Inf. Div., or Task Force Duke, who has been conducting operations in the area for the past 15 months.

The ceremony included an uncasing of the brigade colors by Col. Randy A. George, 4th BCT commander, and Command Sergeant Major Charles V. Sasser, 4th BCT command sergeant major, symbolizing the unit’s readiness and authority over the area of operations.
In attendance were provincial governors, local and national media, and the Combined Joint Task Force-82 Commander, Maj. Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti.

Task Force Mountain Warrior is supported by the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, of Fort Drum, New York, the 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment, of the Illinois National Guard, and two companies from the 759th Military Police Battalion, of Fort Carson, Colo.

“We have trained hard in the mountains of Colorado for the demanding terrain of this mission,” said George. “Task Force Mountain Warrior is ready to get to work.”

Col. Randy A. George (center right), commander, Task Force Mountain Warrior, discusses the way ahead with Kunar Provincial Governor Sayid Wahidi (left) and Maj. Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti (right), Commander, Combined Joint Task Force-82 after the Transfer of Authority ceremony at Forward Operating Base Fenty, in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, June 26. (Photos by U.S. Army Pfc. Elizabeth Raney, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Public Affairs Office)

Col. Randy A. George (left), commander, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, and Command Sergeant Major Charles V. Sasser (right), also 4th BCT, 4th ID, unveil the Brigade colors during a transfer of authority ceremony at Forward Operating Base Fenty, in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, June 26. (Photos by U.S. Army Pfc. Elizabeth Raney, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Public Affairs Office)



Lethal Warriors replace Blue Spaders in Kunar

Army Lt. Col. Brian L. Pearl, and Command Sgt. Maj. Darren A. Kinder, of the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, or Task Force Lethal Warrior unveil the unit’s colors at a transfer of authority ceremony at Forward Operating Base Blessing in Kunar province’s Pech district June 27. The Lethal Warriors, out of Fort Carson, Colo., took responsibility of a key region of Afghanistan’s Kunar province, relieving the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment of Fort Hood, Texas. (Photo by U.S. Army Sgt. Michael Masterson, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs)

by Army 2nd Lt. Liz Silver, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Public Affairs Office

KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, of Fort Carson, Colo., took responsibility of a key region of Afghanistan’s Kunar province June 27 in a transfer of authority ceremony at Forward Operating Base Blessing in the Pech district of Kunar province, relieving the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment from Fort Hood, Texas.

The ceremony included an unveiling of the Battalion’s colors by Battalion Commander Army Lt. Col. Brian L. Pearl, of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Army Command Sgt. Maj. Darren A. Kinder, of Lexington, Ky., symbolizing the unit’s readiness and authority over the area.

Pearl thanked the “Blue Spaders” of 1-26 Inf. Reg. for their hard work and sacrifices over the past year in Kunar province, and recognized the achievements they had made in some of Afghanistan’s most dangerous areas.

“Eighteen Blue Spaders gave their lives making Kunar province a better place for Afghanistan,” said Pearl. “Collectively, we will continue to transform Kunar province into the pride of Afghanistan.”

Those in attendance included Task Force Mountain Warrior Commander, Army Col. Randy A. George, Provincial Governor Sayid Wahidi, and several area village elders.

“I know no one has trained harder for this fight and the mission here,” said George.

The Lethal Warriors of 2-12 Inf. Reg. are scheduled to operate in Kunar province for the next 12 months.


3-61 CAV replaces 6-4 CAV in Nuristan

Army Lt. Col. Robert Brown, commander, 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, and Army Command Sgt. Maj. Robert L. Wilson, the senior enlisted advisor for 3-61 Cav., uncase the Squadron’s colors at a transfer of authority ceremony at Forward Operating Base Bostick in Kunar province, Afghanistan, June 20. The 3-61 Cav., part of the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, out of Fort Carson, Colo., took over operations in eastern Nuristan province, Afghanistan. They replaced the 6th Squadron, 4th Cavalry regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, from Fort Hood, Texas. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Eugene Cushing, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office)

by Army Spc. Eugene Cushing, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, assumed responsibility for operations in eastern Nuristan province June 20 during a transfer of authority ceremony at Forward Operating Base Bostick, in Kunar province, Afghanistan, relieving the 6th Squadron, 4th Cavalry regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, from Fort Hood, Texas.

The ceremony included an unveiling of the squadron’s colors by the 3-61 Cav. commander, Army Lt. Col. Robert B. Brown, of Temple, Texas and Army Command Sgt. Maj. Robert L. Wilson, of Orlando, Fla., the squadron command sergeant major.

Brown said the ceremony officially marked the squadron’s responsibility over the area.

“It’s really a milestone that says our training is complete, and we’re ready to conduct our mission in the next 12 months,” he said.

Wilson explained why the transfer of authority between units was important.

“It’s to show our Afghan partners that there has been a change. It’s the official marking of the change,” he said.

Army Sgt. Frank P. Berrios, of Bronx, N.Y., and the support office Non-Commissioned Officer in charge for Troop D, 3-61 Cav., was one of the guests at the ceremony.

“I think it was a nice ceremony,” he said. “I like seeing the countries get together and show their colors and make everybody else proud.”

Berrios said the ceremony meant something else to him as well.

“It’s proof that everything we’re doing here is working,” he said.

During the ceremony, Brown thanked 6-4 Cav., and spoke on the coming year.

“All of our Soldiers look forward to working over the next year with the Afghan Army, the Afghan Security Guards, and our police partners,” he said.