Maj. Gen. Kevin D. Admiral and Command Sgt. Maj. LeVares J. Jackson Sr. of the 1st Cavalry Division at the color casing ceremony at Fort Cavazos on April 25, 2024. (photo by Sgt. Alex Romey/U.S. Army).
By The Smartencyclopedia Newsroom with Agencies
Fort Cavazos, Texas – The U.S. Army’s esteemed “First Team” is gearing up for an overseas mission as the 1st Cavalry Division Headquarters prepares to support the NATO mission in Europe. This deployment sees the division taking over from the 3rd Infantry Division Headquarters, which is rotating out. Ahead of their departure, a ceremonial casing of the colors was held at Fort Cavazos, Texas.
This deployment marks the first time in four years that the 1st Cavalry Division Headquarters will operate overseas, and it is also the inaugural deployment under the leadership of Maj. Gen. Kevin Admiral, commander of the 1st Cavalry Division.
Speaking at the ceremony on Thursday, April 25, Maj. Gen. Admiral highlighted the rigorous training the soldiers have undergone over the past several months, preparing them to work effectively with brigades from other divisions already deployed overseas. In his brief speech, he commended the dedication and readiness of his troops.
“We are going over to reassure our NATO allies and work with partners,” Maj. Gen. Admiral stated at the color casing ceremony.
Accompanied by Command Sgt. Maj. LeVares J. Jackson, the two leaders carried out the traditional ceremony of folding and casing the division’s colors. This symbolic act signifies the division’s readiness to deploy.
In total, approximately 5,500 soldiers from the 1st Cavalry Division are being sent to Europe, along with more than 2,000 pieces of equipment. The division’s deployment is part of a broader rotation of U.S. forces aimed at bolstering NATO’s presence and readiness in the region.
In addition to the division’s headquarters and artillery, the deployment includes the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team (Ironhorse) and the 1st Combat Aviation Brigade (Air Cav). These units will replace counterparts from the 3rd Infantry Division. The 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, is also being deployed to support the NATO mission.
This rotation of forces aligns with the U.S. Army’s strategy of maintaining a robust presence in Europe, deploying new equipment, and rotating units to enhance readiness in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The 1st Cavalry Division previously participated in the Atlantic Resolve mission in Europe, underscoring its commitment to NATO and regional security.
“Now more than ever, it is critical that we reassure our allies in Europe that America’s First Team will provide combat-ready formations to deter aggression, and should deterrence fail, our adversaries will see what it means to be CAV ready,” Maj. Gen. Admiral affirmed.