Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (United States)
Encyclopedia
The 3rd Brigade Combat Team (BCT), 10th Mountain Division Special Troops Battalion is a special troops battalion
of the United States Army
headquartered at Fort Drum, New York. It is the organization for the command elements of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. The battalion contains the brigade's senior command structure, including its Headquarters and Headquarters Company
(HHC), as well as military police, engineering, intelligence, and communications elements.
The battalion consists of five companies; both the brigade's and the battalion's HHCs, as well as Alpha Company, a combat engineer company; Bravo Company, a military intelligence
company; Charlie Company, a communications company; and a military police (MP)
platoon incorporated into the battalion HHC. These companies provide combat support functions for the maneuver battalions of the BCT. As such, all of the formations are mountain warfare qualified.
Upon the return of the division headquarters and 1st Brigade from a deployment to Afghanistan
, the 10th Mountain Division began the process of transformation
into a modular division. On 16 September 2004, the division headquarters finished its transformation. The 1st Brigade became the 1st Brigade Combat Team
, while the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division was activated for the first time. In January 2005, the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division
was activated at Fort Polk
, Louisiana
. 2nd Brigade Combat Team would not be transformed until September 2005, pending a deployment to Iraq
.
, fulfilling a similar role as it did during its previous deployment. During this time, the deployment of the brigade was extended alond with that of the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, however, it was eventually replaced by the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team
which was rerouted from Iraq.
After a one-year rest, the headquarters of the 10th Mountain Division was deployed to Iraq for the first time in April 2008, along with the 4th Brigade Combat Team. The division headquarters served as the command element for southern Baghdad, while the 4th BCT operated in North Baghdad. The 10th Mountain participated in larger scale operations such as Operation Phantom Phoenix
.
The 3rd Brigade Combat Team was slated to deploy to Iraq in 2009, but that deployment was rerouted. In January 2009, the 3rd BCT instead deployed to Logar
and Wardak, Nangargar and Kunar Provinces in eastern Afghanistan to relieve the 101st Airborne Division
, as part of a new buildup of US forces in that country. The brigade was responsible for expanding Forward Operating Bases in the region, as well as strengthening US military presence in the region in preparation for additional US forces to arrive.
Special Troops Battalion
A Special Troops Battalion is an organic unit of a modular brigade, Division , corps or higher echelon United States Army organization...
of the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
headquartered at Fort Drum, New York. It is the organization for the command elements of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. The battalion contains the brigade's senior command structure, including its Headquarters and Headquarters Company
Headquarters and Headquarters Company
In United States Army units, a headquarters and headquarters company is a company sized military unit, found at the battalion level and higher. In identifying a specific headquarters unit, it is usually referred to by its abbreviation as an HHC...
(HHC), as well as military police, engineering, intelligence, and communications elements.
Organization
The 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion (BSTB) is a subordinate battalion of the 3rd BCT, 10th Mountain Division, and is a permanent formation of the brigade; additionally, the BCT's command elements are contained within the BSTB.The battalion consists of five companies; both the brigade's and the battalion's HHCs, as well as Alpha Company, a combat engineer company; Bravo Company, a military intelligence
Military intelligence
Military intelligence is a military discipline that exploits a number of information collection and analysis approaches to provide guidance and direction to commanders in support of their decisions....
company; Charlie Company, a communications company; and a military police (MP)
Military police
Military police are police organisations connected with, or part of, the military of a state. The word can have different meanings in different countries, and may refer to:...
platoon incorporated into the battalion HHC. These companies provide combat support functions for the maneuver battalions of the BCT. As such, all of the formations are mountain warfare qualified.
History
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, the 10th Mountain Division began the process of transformation
Transformation of the United States Army
Army Transformation describes the future-concept of the United States Army's plan of modernization. Transformation is a generalized term for the integration of new concepts, organizations, and technology within the armed forces of the United States....
into a modular division. On 16 September 2004, the division headquarters finished its transformation. The 1st Brigade became the 1st Brigade Combat Team
Brigade combat team
The brigade combat team is the basic deployable unit of maneuver in the US Army. A brigade combat team consists of one combat arms branch maneuver brigade, and its attached support and fire units. A brigade combat team is generally commanded by a colonel , but in rare instances it is commanded by...
, while the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division was activated for the first time. In January 2005, the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division
4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (United States)
The 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division is a mountain warfare infantry Brigade Combat Team of the United States Army based at Fort Polk, Louisiana...
was activated at Fort Polk
Fort Polk
Fort Polk is a United States Army installation located in Vernon Parish, approximately 7 miles east of Leesville, Louisiana and 20 miles north of DeRidder, Louisiana....
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. 2nd Brigade Combat Team would not be transformed until September 2005, pending a deployment to Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
.
Recent deployments
The division headquarters and 3rd Brigade Combat Team redeployed to Afghanistan in 2006, staying in the country until 2007. The division and brigade served in the eastern region of the country, along the border with PakistanPakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, fulfilling a similar role as it did during its previous deployment. During this time, the deployment of the brigade was extended alond with that of the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, however, it was eventually replaced by the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team
173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team
The 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team is an airborne infantry brigade combat team of the United States Army based in Vicenza, Italy...
which was rerouted from Iraq.
After a one-year rest, the headquarters of the 10th Mountain Division was deployed to Iraq for the first time in April 2008, along with the 4th Brigade Combat Team. The division headquarters served as the command element for southern Baghdad, while the 4th BCT operated in North Baghdad. The 10th Mountain participated in larger scale operations such as Operation Phantom Phoenix
Operation Phantom Phoenix
Operation Phantom Phoenix was a major nation-wide offensive launched by the Multinational Force Iraq on January 8, 2008 in an attempt to build on the success of the two previous corps-level operations, Operation Phantom Thunder and Operation Phantom Strike and further reduce violence and secure...
.
The 3rd Brigade Combat Team was slated to deploy to Iraq in 2009, but that deployment was rerouted. In January 2009, the 3rd BCT instead deployed to Logar
Logar
Logar may refer to:* Logar Province, Afghanistan* Logar River in Afghanistan* Logar Valley, Slovenia-People:* Eva Logar , Slovenian ski jumper* Lojze Logar, Slovenian artist* Tine Logar, Slovenian linguist...
and Wardak, Nangargar and Kunar Provinces in eastern Afghanistan to relieve the 101st Airborne Division
101st Airborne Division
The 101st Airborne Division—the "Screaming Eagles"—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France, Operation Market Garden, the...
, as part of a new buildup of US forces in that country. The brigade was responsible for expanding Forward Operating Bases in the region, as well as strengthening US military presence in the region in preparation for additional US forces to arrive.
Unit decorations
| Ribbon | Award | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Meritorious Unit Commendation Meritorious Unit Commendation The Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the United States military which is awarded to any military command which displays exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, heroic deeds, or valorous actions.... (Army) |
2006–2007, 2008–2009 | for service in Afghanistan |
Campaign streamers
| Conflict | Streamer | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Operation Enduring Freedom | Afghanistan | 2006—2007 |
| Operation Enduring Freedom | Afghanistan | 2009–2010 |