2nd Brigade - 10th Mountain Division
"Commandos"
The mission of 2d Brigade is to maintain a light infantry brigade task force manned, trained, and ready to deploy anywhere in the world by air, sea, and land; and win upon arrival. The 2-14, 2-87, and 4-31 Infantry Battalions, and a brigade headquarters company are permanently assigned to 2d Brigade. The brigade serves as the foundation for Task Force Commando-a force habitually task organized with divisional combat, combat support and combat service support units totaling approximately 3,200 soldiers. The mission essential tasks for Task Force Commando are: execute the alert and deployment process; conduct movement to contact, attack, defense, and relief in place operations; conduct force protection; and sustain the task force.
During 1997 2d Brigade deployed 2-87 Infantry to the Sinai for six months and two rifle companies from 2-14 Infantry to Bosnia for eight months. When the Army deploys a unit to a potentially hostile environment where its performance could dramatically effect national policy and prestige, that unit is provided all the resources in personnel and equipment needed to maximize its success. The personnel shortage within these deploying units required cross attachment of personnel throughout the brigade to fill them to their authorized strength. To fill two of 2-14 Infantry's rifle companies for Bosnia, the two non-deploying companies of 2-14 Infantry (one rifle company and the battalion headquarters company) were used to make up the difference. In effect, the entire battalion was rendered non-mission ready for its wartime mission in order to deploy two of its three rifle companies. A similar cross leveling experience was felt within the brigade and division to fill 2-87 Infantry to its authorized strength for their Sinai mission. The cross leveling requirement was demanding on the non-deploying units within 2d Brigade.
Training readiness of these deploying units was a concern. Reorganization of personnel and equipment almost immediately degraded the wartime readiness of both 2-87 and 2-14 Infantry Battalions as they prepared for their peace operation missions. While each unit during their deployments maintained squad and individual training skills, collective mission essential skills above squad level eroded. Upon return from their operations, each battalion again reorganized personnel and equipment and began the retraining process. The total time each battalion was not ready for its wartime mission was approximately eleven months. While the wartime readiness levels dropped in both 2-87 and 2-14 Infantry Battalions, their performance on their respective peace operations was exemplary. Contributing to regional stability and our National interests, the soldiers of 2-87 and 2-14 Infantry Battalions proudly and professionally represented the United States in the Sinai and Bosnia respectively.
1997 began with three separate infantry battalion deployments. The 2-87 Infantry Battalion deployed to the Sinai, Egypt, from January through July 1997 in support of the Multinational Forces and Observer (MFO) mission. The 2-14 Infantry Battalion trained and deployed two reinforced rifle companies to Bosnia in support of Operation Joint Guard from March through November 1997. And finally, the 4-31 Infantry Battalion deployed to the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) in February 1997 with 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry). In the spring of 1997, the brigade conducted expert infantry training and a brigade change of command.
Following the return, recovery and integration of 2-87 Infantry from the MFO mission, the brigade refocused on collective warfighting skills. In October, the brigade participated in Exercise Mountain Peak in preparation for a January 1998 Joint Readiness Training Center rotation. Additionally, in October the brigade staff participated in the United States Atlantic Command's joint training exercise, Unified Endeavor. In November 1997, the two companies from 2-14 Infantry redeployed from Bosnia. After the returning troops took a 3 week block leave at Christmas, 2-14 Infantry began a retraining and recertification process focused on a March 1998 deployment to the United States Army's Jungle Operations Training Center in Panama. The brigade also conducted numerous on-post collective training events and live fire exercises throughout the year.
Major force modernization projects in 1997 included the fielding of the Light-Medium Tactical Vehicle (LMTV) that replaced the brigade's older 5-ton truck fleet enhancing transportation capability. Enhancing soldier effectiveness, the brigade also received PVS 7-Ds night vision goggles and the new multi-layer sleeping bag. All these improvements significantly increased the combat and logistics capability of the brigade.
Task Force Commando began preparing for the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) at Fort Polk, Louisiana six months prior to deployment. In August of 1997, the leaders of Task Force Commando deployed to Folk Polk for a week long seminar with the JRTC cadre and conducted practical exercises on planning and controlling combat operations. Simultaneously, squads and platoons back at Fort Drum trained on small unit collective tasks in a field environment. In September of 1997, the brigade conducted a brigade level exercise at Fort Drum, executing battalion air assaults and a brigade defense in preparation for JRTC. In October 1997, Task Force Commando participated in Mountain Peak--an annual division exercise designed to help prepare a brigade task force for JRTC. The division closely replicated the JRTC scenario including dedicated opposing forces, observer and controllers, and a fire marker system to replicate artillery and close air support during the exercise. Mountain Peak allowed Task Force Commando to train on many of the same task that were executed at JRTC. Following Mountain Peak, the brigade began a series of platoon and company combined arms live fire exercises. In November 1997, the brigade continued staff training and units focused on deployment readiness tasks. December 1997 was spent on final preparation for deployment, block leave, and deployment to JRTC.
Task Force Commando deployed to Fort Polk in early January 1998 with over 2,900 soldiers: two infantry battalions, an aviation task force, an artillery battalion, an armored cavalry troop, and other division and corps combat support and combat service support units. The mission of Task Force Commando was to deploy as a show of force in support of the notional country of Cortina (Fort Polk) and deter aggression. If deterrence failed, the brigade's mission was to seize an airfield and defend in sector to facilitate the unimpeded buildup of follow on forces. Following this mission, the brigade was to attack to secure MOUT City to facilitate the return of the area of operations to Cotinaian control. During our JRTC rotation, we executed several of the brigade's mission essential tasks: execute the alert and deployment process; conduct movement to contact, attack, and defend; conduct force protection; and sustain the task force. Additionally, the task force conducted twenty-one live fire exercises on the range facilities at Fort Polk.
The JRTC rotation began with the disturbing news from Fort Drum that an ice storm had severely damaged the North Country leaving most of our family members without power. After being assured that the remainder of the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) was fully mobilized for this crisis and that their families were being assisted, the soldiers of Task Force Commando set out to complete the task at hand. The performance of our soldiers during this exercise was outstanding. The physical toughness, aggressiveness, willingness to learn, and desire to win of soldiers, ensured Task Force Commando's success.
The deployment, search and attack, and attack against a built up area phases of our JRTC rotation were executed extremely well. The observer/controllers stated that, "The MOUT attack on Shugart-Gordon training village was the best they had observed. It was obvious that the brigade's train-up had paid off." The opposing forces enjoyed some successes (e.g. they were able to breach the lines of the task force during the defense phase), however; several key lessons were learned by Task Force Commando leaders during this phase. Defensive logistical operations and preparing the defense are all areas the brigade will work on in the year ahead. The brigade's rotation at the Joint Readiness Center was truly the capstone training event of the year.
The deployment to JRTC validated and improved the ability to execute mission essential tasks skills and overall combat readiness. As of early 1998 the brigade was ready to deploy and accomplish its wartime mission. To be considered fully combat ready, the brigade required minimal additional training and additional personnel. Low personnel strength in infantrymen and logistic personnel continued to adversely impact unit readiness. The 2-14 Infantry Battalion (the battalion that deployed to Bosnia) still required substantial training over several months in order to be considered fully combat ready. Their capstone training event was a rotation to the National Training Center in November 1998.
Shortages of infantrymen and sergeants had a major impact on readiness as of early 1998. A number of our infantry squads were partially manned and a majority of company anti-tank (Dragon) sections were unmanned or not qualified. The manning shortages of company anti-tank (Dragon) sections within the brigade greatly affected anti-armor capability. Shortages in low density logistical military occupational skills had begun to marginally affect the brigade's logistical, food service, maintenance, and communication capabilities. While the brigade can still accomplish its wartime mission, personnel shortages had the largest negative impact on the brigade's readiness.
The brigade's equipment was mission ready and well maintained. Some equipment shortages, such as night vision devices, within the brigade had a slight affect on readiness. Overall the brigade training readiness was at the necessary level to accomplish its wartime mission. The brigade was fully trained on the mission essential tasks of execute the deployment process, conduct movement to contact, conduct attack, and sustain the task force. The brigade needed minimal additional training to be considered fully trained on the mission essential tasks of conduct relief in place, defense, and protect the force.
The 2-14 Infantry Battalion returned from Panama at the end of March 1998, while the remainder of the brigade participated in a division command post exercise. In April 1998, 4-31 Infantry focused on combined live fire exercises and provided support to the 82d Airborne Division's Warfighter Exercise. May 1998 included expert infantry and medical training and testing for the entire brigade. Also in May, 2-87 Infantry deployed to West Point, New York, in support of the United States Military Academy. In June 1998, the brigade and two of its infantry battalions deployed to the field for two weeks of intense maneuver and live fire training. This two week brigade training density included: a battalion air assault, battalion level attacks on a MOUT training site, and company and platoon level combined arms live fire exercises. Fort Drum conducted company level combined live fire exercises. The brigade took block leave in July 1998 and returned to prepare for Exercise Mountain Peak. Mountain Peak was conducted in August 1998 with 2d Brigade providing the observers/controllers and opposing forces for 1st Brigade's exercise designed to prepare them for JRTC. In September 2-14 Infantry trained at Fort Benning, Georgia with a brigade from the 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized) to prepare for their October 1998 rotation to the National Training Center. The brigade ended the fiscal year with a field training exercise and deployed 4-31 Infantry to Southwest Asia for a 4 month security mission.
Between July 2001 and January 2003, the brigade headquarters and all three battalions deployed at least once in support of combat operations or peacekeeping missions as well as the Joint Readiness Training Center or National Training Center. The brigade headquarters deployed from December 2001 to April 2002 for Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. 2-14 IN and 2-87 IN conducted peacekeeping operations in Kosovo and the Sinai, respectively. 4-31 IN deployed forces to Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kuwait and Qatar.
On May 4, 2004 the Department of Defense and the Army announced that 2nd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division had been ordered to deploy within 70 days to Iraq to relieve elements of the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment. The 2nd Bde., 10th Mountain Division task organization will include two infantry companies from Fort Polk's Joint Readiness Training Center opposing forces; a mechanized task force from Fort Riley, Kan.; an engineer company from Fort Irwin, Calif.; and a military police platoon from Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. The 2nd BCT that will deploy consists of the Brigade Headquarters Company; 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment; 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment; 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment; 210th Forward Support Battalion; B Company, 10th Signal Battalion; and elements of 110th Military Intelligence Battalion. There are also other units from other Army posts that will be attached to 2nd BCT for this mission. Units of the 2nd BCT that have currently redeployed in the past weeks will not be part of this deployment.
In June 2004 Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade continued training as they prepared for an upcoming deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. A four-day battle simulation exercise tested the strengths and weaknesses of the brigade at all levels and ranks. As brigade leaders studied topographical maps and wall charts inside the confines of Nash Gym, Soldiers down range fired weapon systems at pop-up targets.
By mid-July 2004 approximately 2,000 Soldiers from 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division out of Fort Drum, N.Y. had convoyed from Kuwait to Baghdad. The 2-10th will serve with the 1st Cavalry Division for one year at Forward Operating Bases throughout Baghdad. Soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team (Commandos), 10th Mountain Division, were introduced to their new neighborhood through right-seat rides, which are patrols accompanied by units experienced in their area of responsibility (AOR). The right-seat rides are vital to preparing Soldiers for the regions that will eventually become their area of responsibility.
10th Mountain's 2nd Brigade Combat Team is known as Task Force Commando, a light infantry unit designed for mobility and rapid deployment capability. When elements of the brigade recently returned from deployments to Afghanistan and Africa, the Commandos began transforming into a Brigade Unit of Action. The Brigade Unit of Action concept is part of an Army-wide reorganization which changes brigade-sized elements into smaller more modular forces capable of deploying without the rest of its parent division. Though the Commandos won't maintain their traditional organizational structure in Baghdad, it would be a mistake to misjudge them. Some of these soldiers have already completed two tours in Afghanistan, and have been slated to go to Iraq.
As of summer 2006, the Brigade Combat Team is deployed to the CENTCOM Area of Responsibility in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
