Courtesy Photo | The 425th Brigade Special Troops Battalion (Airborne), 4th Brigade Combat Team...... read more read more
By U.S. Army Spc. Eric-James Estrada
RC-East PAO
KHOWST PROVINCE, Afghanistan- Alaska-based paratroopers formally took over operations in a transfer of authority ceremony here, Dec. 24.
The 425th Brigade Special Troops Battalion (Airborne), Task Force Warrior, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Task Force Spartan, assumed responsibility of security and training operations in the province from the 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, Task Force Valiant, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Task Force Duke.
Task Force Warrior joins the rest of the 4th BCT (Airborne), 25th Inf. Div., in assuming responsibility of Khowst and Paktya provinces in Regional Command-East.
Afghan Brig. Gen. Abdul Atrofi, 2nd Zone Afghan Border Police Commander, attended the ceremony and thanked TF Valiant for their aid and partnership in helping to bring so many accomplishments to the Afghan people. Atrofi said he looks forward to continued success with TF Warrior.
The outgoing commander from Akron, Ohio, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Ryan Janovic, bid farewell to Afghanistan as another chapter closed in the unit’s celebrated history. The battalion originally stood up in 1917 when it was constituted in the Regular Army as Headquarters Troop, 1st Expeditionary Division.
“Saying good-bye to our brothers of the 2nd Zone Afghan Border Police is truly difficult after a year of meaningful friendship and shared sacrifice,” said Janovic in his closing speech. He added as the unit leaves Afghanistan, its soldiers could take comfort as they see the bonds of friendship already forming between the 2nd Zone Afghan Border Police and TF Warrior.
The incoming commander expressed his readiness to work alongside the 2nd Zone Afghan Border Police.
“After roughly 18 months of training and hard work, I know I speak for all of you when I say, it’s good to finally be here,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Frank Smith, the commander of TF Warrior, who hails from Houston, Texas.
The changing of responsibility also brought a sense of accomplishment for the outgoing Valiants. “The first thing that comes to my mind is mission complete. We did what we came here to do and we ended up doing more then we thought we could do,” said U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Richardson, of 3-1 BSTB, 3rd BCT, 1st Infantry Division, from Walden, N.Y.
“I have all the confidence in the world that 425 BSTB will not miss a beat. They’ve already started where we left off.”
U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Keith Devos, from the 425th Brigade Special Troops Battalion (Airborne), TF Warrior and a native of Walden, N.Y., said, “I’m excited to get started. Task Force Valiant left a great blue print and we hope to continue the success.”
| Date Taken: | 12.24.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 12.30.2011 19:58 |
| Story ID: | 81926 |
| Location: | KHOWST PROVINCE, AF |
| Web Views: | 509 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Task Force Warrior takes over for valiant warriors, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
