Photo By Sgt. Javier Amador | The Spartan Memorial was officially unveiled at a ceremony that was held at Fort...... read more read more
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FORT DRUM, N.Y. - Maj. Gen. Stephen J. Townsend, Fort Drum and 10th Mountain Division (LI) commander officially announced the inactivation of the 3rd BCT during a statement he released June 25 as part of the Army’s restructuring process.
"After a long period of study by the Department of the Army, we now know that the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division will be inactivated by fiscal year 2017,” said Townsend.
The Spartan brigade was constituted at Fort Drum September 16, 2004 as part of the 10th Mountain Division’s transformation into a brigade-centric division. This transformation made the division expeditionary in nature, allowing the ability to continuously deploy forces wherever they are needed.
In the brief time the brigade has been in operation, it has deployed to Afghanistan in support of operation Enduring Freedom three times with a fourth deployment back to Afghanistan scheduled later this year.
For many of the soldiers, the announcement of the brigade’s inactivation was met with mixed emotions, especially for those who have been with the 3rd BCT from the beginning. Soon, the brigade’s accomplishments, their personal experiences and memories are all that will remain.
Sgt. Miguel Solano, now a company medic with the 563rd Military Police Company, 91st Military Police Battalion completed two deployments with 2nd Platoon, A Company, 1st Battalion 32nd Infantry Regiment. He arrived to the unit as a Private fresh out of infantry school and like many new soldiers, deployed within a couple of weeks thereafter.
His company was sent to the Korangal Valley in the Kunar Province where they established Fire base Phoenix in the village of Babeyal, to act as a buffer between the villagers and the anti-coalition militias. “We were just carrying out orders, going on missions, doing what we were supposed to do,” said Solano.
He found himself on his second deployment with 1-32 Infantry as the 3rd BCT returned to Regional Command-East in 2009. Then a grenadier team leader wearing the rank of a Specialist, he was responsible for others besides himself and had to learn the complexities of leadership under pressure quickly. Thankfully, he was able to turn to his platoon sergeant, Sgt. 1st Class Larry North or his squad leader, Staff Sgt. Joshua Lomen for guidance.
“Sgt. 1st Class North kept his cool during the worst moments,” said Solano, “He also looked out for us and he taught me how to mitigate risk.”
With Lomen, his squad leader from his earlier deployment in 2006, he learned the value of trust and how it can empower a soldier when it is given to them.
Solano recalled “I was a Pfc. and Sgt. Lomen was wounded in a firefight we were in and I helped carry him to the helicopter where he gave me his weapon. It was a symbol of trust and a real honor.”
Stories of extraordinary heroism and examples of exceptional leadership are sprinkled throughout 3BCT’s short yet unforgettable history. From a Medal of Honor recipient like Sgt. 1st Class Jared Monti to the many unspoken names who have served in this brigade, the Spartan brigade’s legacy will endure.
For those who have served in this brigade the longest there is a sense of pride and value because the unit has built a culture based on learning and adapting, so they never rest on past successes.
Sgt. Randolph Chong Tim Jr, the 3rd BCT's Personnel Services Non-commissioned Officer in Charge, became a Spartan when 1-32 Infantry was moved from the 1st BCT to the 3rd BCT in 2004 as part of the building of the brigade.
“Since I have been here, we have done some outstanding things,” said Chong Tim who went on to give an example of how the Spartan brigade applied lessons learned from past experiences, which gave birth to one of the most distinctive features of the Spartan combat uniform, the camouflage netting on their combat helmets.
Chong Tim stated “I was out with the Brigade Commander and his personal security detachment when they went out to observe a unit conducting a patrol and he asked me if I saw the unit on the side of the road and I told him I could not. He then pointed them out because the netting broke up their profile.”
The camouflage netting also became a symbol of the respect the enemy forces had for 3rd BCT soldiers according to Solano, who recalled another experience during his second deployment.
“We were listening to enemy radio traffic and we heard them say to watch out for the soldiers with the hair on their helmets, to stay away from them,” said Solano.
This reputation isn’t given lightly, but earned through the tireless work of the Spartans of 3BCT through what is soon to be their fourth deployment to Afghanistan.
Maj. Gen. Townsend said it best, "The soldiers of 3 BCT epitomize the combined spirit of the legendary Spartans of ancient Greece and the courageous 10th Mountain veterans of World War-II. Their history will be recorded and remembered as our history, the heroism, expertise and sacrifice of the Spartan Brigade will not be forgotten."
| Date Taken: | 07.26.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 07.26.2013 13:18 |
| Story ID: | 110886 |
| Location: | FORT DRUM, NEW YORK, US |
| Web Views: | 2,446 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Spartan Brigade Legacy Endures Despite Inactivation, by SGT Javier Amador, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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