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'Vanguard Swarm' Highlights Multiple Milestones: New Light Infantry Brigade Ready For Any Mission

Sep 24, 2009

By Staff Sgt. Tanya Polk, 4th IBCT Public Affairs

FORT STEWART, Ga. - September 15 marked a historic day for the 3rd Infantry Division's Vanguard Brigade. The once heavy brigade combat team stood together as a new light-infantry unit in a ceremony dubbed Vanguard Swarm.

The 'Swarm' showcased more than 2,700 light-fighters as they'd now arrive onto the battlefield - weapons in hand, ruck sacks on their backs and patrolling on foot. The former heavy, up-armored team stood tall as the brigade commander announced the end to their Infantry Brigade Combat Team conversion and the beginning of preparation for the next deployment.

"September 15 is by Army order the last day of the conversion and reset process," said 4th IBCT Commander, Col. Louis Lartigue. "Where tomorrow, we enter the train-ready pool and begin collective training for our combat mission."

Colonel Lartigue explained that the major difference between a heavy brigade and light brigade is the equipment and personnel that make up that formation, and ultimately the unit's role in combat.

"In our case, an infantry brigade combat team is largely dismounted infantry who are able to deploy and perform a combat mission in any terrain, in any weather, without regard to traffic ability or terrain or support to heavy vehicles," he said. "So from an infantry standpoint, that light brigade provides the nation those sorts of assets that maybe, in some places, a heavy brigade would not."

He added that the 4th Brigade's conversion fits perfectly into the Army's plan to balance the force between heavy and light-infantry capability, which allows the nation to be better prepared for worldwide contingencies.

The 4th IBCT's assembly at Vanguard Swarm also provided a venue to farewell the 3rd ID commanding general, Maj. Gen. Tony Cucolo; Division Command Sgt. Maj. Jesse Andrews and Deputy Commanding General for Maneuver, Brig. Gen. Patrick Donahue, who are all slated to deploy with the 3rd ID Special Troops Battalion to Iraq next month.

Colonel Lartigue said the Vanguard Brigade will continue to support the Division Headquarters throughout their deployment.

"We're months behind the Division based on our redeployment timeline, but our number-one mission to support them is going to be to get ourselves ready," he said. "Should the nation call for additional troops, or in our case an infantry brigade combat team, to perform the nation's mission in either Iraq, or Afghanistan, or somewhere else, we will be prepared to do that on the timeline the Army expects.

"While we're back here we'll also be prepared to, under the current deployment plan, meet them (Division Headquarters) in theater to provide combat power to their ongoing mission, possibly as early as next summer."

An official deployment plan for the Vanguard Brigade has not yet been determined, but Col. Lartigue said he and his team will be ready to support any mission in any theater of operations.

Major General Cucolo thanked the 4th IBCT for their hard work and highlighted individual and unit achievements before departing the ceremony. He awarded Sergeant John Huggins, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th IBCT, the Soldier's Medal for the actions he took to save a fellow Soldier, April 13.

"Sergeant Huggins would never leave a fallen comrade," the commanding general said as he presented the generator mechanic with the distinguished decoration in front of his brigade counterparts and Family Members.

The Marne Division commander also awarded two troops and three companies within the 4th IBCT each a 180-day, alcohol-free incident streamer. He said it was the first time he's ever awarded five companies within one brigade at one time.

Streamer recipients include Company B, 703rd Brigade Support Battalion; Company C, 4-3 Brigade Special Troops Battalion; Company A, 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment; Troop A, 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment; and Troop B, 6/8 Cav.

"It's a very difficult milestone as it takes a lot of leadership and individual attention," added Col. Lartigue. "It's a great acknowledgement to those companies and troops' efforts to keeping their Soldiers safe and doing the right thing."