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Two 1st Cavalry brigades going back to Iraq

By Master Sgt. Dave Larsen
December 19, 2005

FORT HOOD, Texas (Army News Service, Dec. 19, 2005) –The aviation and support brigades of the 1st Cavalry Division have received deployment orders to return to Iraq this summer.

The division returned from Iraq in March after a 15-month deployment.

Maj. Gen. Joseph Fil Jr., commanding general of the 1st Cavalry Division, made the deployment announcement during the III Corps-sponsored quarterly “TV Town Hall” broadcast Dec. 15 on KNCT-TV, the Killeen-area Public Broadcasting System affiliate.

The 1st Air Cavalry Brigade and the 15th Support Brigade are expected to begin deploying in late summer 2006, Fil said. The announcement came in response to a viewer’s question during the call-in show, which allows Fort Hood area residents to air their concerns to senior leaders from the installation.

Though the rest of the division has yet to receive deployment orders, Fil told the caller that the entire division continues to prepare for a return to Iraq next year.

“We have a timeline for the air cavalry brigade and the support brigade, and I have every reason to expect that there will be other deployment orders coming as well,” he said. Fil also said he anticipates a return to Baghdad for the First Team.

“I think it would be fair to expect that we will probably fall in and replace the mighty 4th Infantry Division as they finish their year in theater,” he added.

Fil made the announcement during the PBS program, since the program is aimed at Fort Hood troops and their families.

“We wanted to use the town hall forum because it allowed Maj. Gen. Fil to speak directly to our families,” said Lt. Col. Scott Bleichwehl, division public affairs officer, following the broadcast.

During the 90-minute broadcast, a Soldier from the 2nd “Black Jack” Brigade Combat Team called in to ask when Soldiers and family members in the rest of the division can expect to go back to Iraq. Fil said providing timely notification to his troops and their families is a top priority.

“We don’t have orders for the other brigades, although we do believe they, indeed, will come,” Fil explained. “As soon as they come, and we have it final, we will put those timelines out.”

Fil reminded one caller that preparation for deployment is the division’s focus for the coming year.

“We are preparing as if we are (all) going to deploy, in anticipation of an order,” he said. “We now have deployment orders for two of our units. I have every reason to expect that there will be other deployment orders coming, as well. So, we’re going to continue to get ready as if the whole division were going to deploy.”

(Editor’s note: Master Sgt. Dave Larsen serves with 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs.)