Currently, post-9/11 veterans make up less than 1 percent of the U.S. population. This is what we look forward to. Commanding MNBG-E was Colonel Clint Baker, who previously served as U.S. Army Alaska's operations officer; Col. Baker's senior enlisted advisor was Command Sergeant Major Mitchell Rucker followed by Idelfonso Barraza. Upon its return home in early May 2014 from a Joint Readiness Training Center rotation, the brigade was given short notice to prepare for a deployment to Kosovo in September in support of Operation Joint Guardian, the U.S. Army's contribution to NATO's Kosovo Force mission. Serving under the 1st Cavalry Division, then the 1st Infantry Division, the brigade conducted counter-insurgency operations for 10 months in partnership with Afghan National Security Forces and supervised governance, development, and agriculture projects in coordination with the Afghan government. “Hopefully we’re gonna shoot some stuff,” she said. 2nd Lieutenant Morgan French, left, prepares for deployment to Iraq with Alaska’s 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. Her husband, as well as many other elements of the battalion, was already at Q-West. Being there for them is my biggest concern.”, Webb has one child, a 3-year-old son, and this will be the longest she’s been away from him.Â, “I feel pretty good about it,” she said. In the fight against ISIS, artillery units have played a key role though. I don’t see people talking or thinking much about it.”, But despite the increasingly volatile situation, many of the soldiers say they’re ready to get on the ground as quickly as possible. I’m actually going to put my skills into action somewhere where it matters.”, His mother, Misti Visser, said that her father, brother, cousins, and grandfather all served before her son. “Because that’s all we’ve got through this cold winter coming up — each other’s all we got.”. “She’s got a stable job and friends and stuff, she’ll be alright, Today, the situation remains as complex and volatile as ever. In December 2011, the brigade deployed again to eastern Afghanistan as a part of Regional Command East, International Security Assistance Force. DivArty Redesignated 1 February 1957 as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 25th Infantry Division Artillery 5. In December 2015, the Harvard Institute of Politics released the results of a survey of Americans aged 18 to 29. Over the summer, he made a trip to Iraq to meet with Iraqi forces and the American unit his troops would be replacing. He’s the co-author of the graphic novels The ‘Stan and Machete Squad, and he currently writes the Acts of Valor comic series for Naval History magazine. “This is the worst part.”, U.S. Army’s 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division. It's been busy around the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade! Many have since been heavily damaged or destroyed by years of battle. The brigades organic units, formed five separate battalion task forces: 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment (Task Force 1 Geronimo) which exercised tactical control of a small Polish Army contingent and the Police Advisory Team, 3rd Battalion, 509th Infantry (Airborne) (Task Force 3 Geronimo), 2nd Battalion, 377th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment (Task Force Steel), 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment (Task Force Denali) and augmented by 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment (Task Force Summit) from 10th Mountain Division. The 1-25th Stryker Brigade Combat Team uncases its colors following return from deployment. Total task force strength was approximately 4,500 personnel. 668 talking about this. Twitter But when Iraqi forces took back the facility in 2016, it became a major staging point for the campaign to retake Mosul and a prime location from which to launch artillery. Constituted 26 August 1941 in the Army of the United States as Headquarters, 25th Infantry Division, based on a Cadre Force from the former Hawaiian Division. Task Force Denali Paratroopers synchronized efforts across the warfighting functions to establish initial security for joint engineering efforts, build combat power from a Troop to a 1,500 person Task Force and ultimately enable the employment of the 1st SFAB across the seven provinces of Task Force Southeast. In February 2009, just 14 months after returning from its 15-month deployment to Iraq, the brigade deployed to eastern Afghanistan as a part of Regional Command East, International Security Assistance Force. is deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, working by, with, and through the ISF and Coalition partners to defeat ISIS in areas of Iraq and Syria. The Army family is my family,” Rhoades told Coffee or Die. Kimberly Westenhiser is a freelance writer, photographer, and illustrator living on Vashon Island, Washington. Although the brigade had trained in conventional and direct action missions prior to deployment, the brigade conducted many traditionally unconventional operations, specifically the training of foreign internal defense forces and the support and utilization of irregular forces in combat and intelligence operations. The brigade deployed to eastern Afghanistan as part of Operation Resolute Support to conduct the Train, Advise, and Assist mission and Operation Freedom Sentinel and to provide needed support to Special Forces and operators within the region. In late September and early October the brigade began deployment in support Operation Iraqi Freedom V for a 12-month rotational deployment. ISIS has lost most of its physical strongholds but remains dangerous — a, released last month found that ISIS was already resurgent in parts of Syria and continues to regroup in Iraq. Strykers from the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, cross Jarvis Creek in the Alaska's Donnelly Training Area Oct. 19, 2018, during Arctic Anvil 19-01. Task Force Denali, as part of Task Force Southeast, spearheaded the expansion of Advisory Platform Lightning in Gardez, Paktiya and the re-establishment of Forward Operating Base Shank in Baraki Barak, and Logar. JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- Two hundred and ninety Soldiers from the U.S. Army Alaska's 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, boarded a McDonnell-Douglas MD11 Nov. 28, at the Joint Mobility Center en route to Afghanistan. Dawson now represents an old guard of sorts that will be leading troops in a series of sprawling, increasingly challenging operations that America has taken on since 2001. “It’s kind of weird to be the old guy now,” Dawson said, adding that he feels a huge sense of responsibility knowing that younger soldiers look up to him. While elite operators like U.S. Navy SEALs and Army Green Berets have captured the American public’s imagination and have been the focus of countless books, TV shows, and recent big-budget Hollywood films, conventional troops continue to play a central but more quiet role in the fight against ISIS as they conduct operations ranging from force protection to clearing roads of explosives. Touring Mosul, Brown saw neighborhoods and buildings that he had fought in and lived in back in 2003, during his first overseas tour as an infantry company commander with the 101st Airborne Division. Sheila deVera) The 4th Brigade was first activated on 6 December 1969 at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, to replace the 29th Infantry Brigade, a Hawaii Army National Guard unit that was being released from active duty, but inactivated on 15 December 1970 and reflagged as the 1st Brigade when that unit returned from Vietnam. All this continues to unfold as local Iraqis and Syrians attempt to rebuild towns and cities destroyed in the conflict and displaced people return to their homes — for those lucky enough to have homes to return to. The brigade deployed paratroopers to 25 different locations throughout Afghanistan to support and further legitimize the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) and its partners to secure the Train, Advise, Assist Command-East region and the seven provinces of Task Force Southeast against terrorist threats from the likes of the Taliban and Islamic State Khurasan. Coalition forces set up shop there. “I’m ready at this point — I’m ready to get on that plane and get over there. Today, less than half of American civilians report knowingly interacting with an active duty service member or military spouse in their lifetime. On 28 September 2014 approximately half of the brigade's headquarters staff along with the brigade's 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment deployed from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson to Nuremberg, Germany and was transported to the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels for a two-week validation exercise prior to onward movement to Kosovo. Kevin Knodell is a freelance journalist and author. “She’s got a stable job and friends and stuff, she’ll be alright. Over 14 months of combat and civil operations in the brigade area of operations resulted in improvement of the security situation, a period that coincided with the Iraq Surge and Sons of Iraq movement. ... 25th Infantry Division — will now live on indefinitely at JBER. The brigade established the foundation and planned the integration of the first Security Force Assistance Brigade in the TAAC-E and Task Force Southeast regions, further improving the capabilities of both the coalition and host nation forces throughout GIRoA. The brigade, along with 1st Brigade Combat Team (Stryker), 25th ID, which is also stationed in Alaska, share in the history of the 25th ID, but are not subordinate to the division; the chain of command goes direct from United States Army Alaska to United States Army Pacific. Known as Task Force Yukon, the brigade was augmented with eight battalion-sized units: Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment (HHD), 709th MP BN from United States Army Europe augmented with an infantry company (Company B, 2nd Battalion, 151st Infantry Regiment from the Indiana Army National Guard), an infantry battalion (1st Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment)from the Georgia Army National Guard, an aviation battalion from the 101st Airborne Division (replaced mid-tour with an aviation battalion from the 3rd Infantry Division), three Provincial Reconstruction Teams, and two Army National Guard Agri-Business Development Teams. COL Howard's next assignment was with NATO headquarters in Belgium. Her photography has been featured on Foreign Policy and Playboy. In 2010, then-Secretary of Defense Robert Gates warned about this phenomenon in a speech at Duke University. “I’m ready at this point — I’m ready to get on that plane and get over there.  Coffee or Die’s coverage of the Arctic Wolves’ deployment will continue this fall when we join them in Iraq. He deployed in September 2019 with the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, and returned in July 2020. The military announced in April that the Anchorage-based 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, known as the … This was the first major departure for the brigade. “We should not ignore the broader, long-term consequences of waging these protracted military campaigns employing — and re-employing — such a small portion of our society in the effort,” Gates said. The transition to an all-volunteer force after the Vietnam War, coupled with the isolated nature of many bases like Wainwright, has meant fewer and fewer Americans ever see — let alone interact with — service members or their families in a meaningful way. Thirteen brigade Soldiers were killed in action during the deployment; they are honored with a black granite memorial located in front of the brigade headquarters at Fort Richardson. Forces to Hand Control of Karbala Over to Iraqis on Monday", "Bittersweet return: The 4th Brigade Airborne", "Taliban video thought to show captured spc", "Spartan ceremony formally honors unit for deployment to Kosovo", "Soldiers and cadets build relationships through medical training event", "MNBG-E and Kosovo first responders come together for Operation Stonewall II", "4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division History", "Lineage and Honors Information: Headquarters, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division (Sparta Brigade Combat Team)", "Afghanistan Campaign Medal or Iraq Campaign Medal", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=4th_Brigade_Combat_Team_(Airborne),_25th_Infantry_Division&oldid=1006628617, Airborne brigades of the United States Army, Brigade combat teams of the United States Army, Infantry brigades of the United States Army, Military units and formations established in 2005, Articles with dead external links from July 2016, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Constituted 6 December 1969 in the Regular Army as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Brigade, 25th Infantry Division and activated at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, Inactivated 15 December 1970 at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, Headquarters, 4th Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, redesignated 16 July 2005 as Headquarters, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, and activated at Fort Richardson, Alaska (Headquarters Company, 4th Brigade, 25th Infantry Division – hereafter separate lineage), War on Terrorism: Campaigns to be determined, Afghanistan: Consolidation II, Consolidation III, Transition I, Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered AFGHANISTAN 2009–2010, Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered AFGHANISTAN 2011–2012, COL Jason J. Jones (August 2017 – June 2019), COL Christopher Landers (June 2019 – present), This page was last edited on 13 February 2021, at 22:31. Facebook The unit is stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska and is the only airborne brigade combat team in the Pacific Theater. She admitted that she was unsure of pursuing a combat position when she first joined. “Right now my mind is really just focused on getting over there,” said Webb, who was slated to ship out a week later. “[Americans] don’t know what [soldiers] give up until they come and watch these families say goodbye to their soldier and these kids say goodbye to their daddies and watching these kids and their heart-wrenching sobs — they have no idea,” Rhoades said. Welcome to the 25th Infantry Division's website The 25th Infantry Division deploys to conduct Decisive Actions in support of Unified Land Operations. Just love each other,” Rhoades said. [1][2], In 2004, the United States Army announced the Army Modernization Plan, intended to restructure the U.S. Army by creating new modular brigade combat teams. American, Turkish, and Syrian Kurdish leaders are currently negotiating on the creation of a “safe zone” along the border between Turkey and Northeast Syria. ANCHORAGE, ALASKA & AUSTIN, TEXAS (February 22, 2018) /For immediate release/ — Soldiers of United States Army 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, currently deployed to Afghanistan, are the recipients of OSD “Supply Drop” to boost morale on deployment currently scheduled into the summer. With the brigade already identified for deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom IX-X, COL Howard led a rapid train-up including a month-long rotation at the National Training Center in October–November 2008. So while the majority backed sending troops to fight, that left only 15 percent of young Americans that would actually consider going into harm’s way themselves to support such a mission. The PMF militias fight against ISIS but often have ties to Iran, and lately the Iraqi government has made efforts to exercise more control over them. When ISIS swept into Northern Iraq and seized Mosul in 2014, it also seized the base and used it to support its own operations.Â. Even just the sight of them,” Rhoades muttered. The 4th Brigade was first activated on 6 December 1969 at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, to replace the 29th Infantry Brigade, a Hawaii Army National Guard unit that was being released from active duty, but inactivated on 15 December 1970 and reflagged as the 1st Brigade when that unit returned from Vietnam. Most of the brigade deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel and Resolute Support Mission from September 2017 to June 2018. MG William Troy, commanding general of United States Army Alaska, hosted the change of command ceremony, which included a traditional pass and review with the brigade's six battalions represented by large formations on the field. Some PMF leaders accused the Americans of allowing the attacks and have threatened attacks on U.S. troops in response.Â. Eight brigade Soldiers were killed in action during the deployment.[12]. I know that they’re properly trained, I know that he’s ready and he’s looking forward to it. The 3rd Cav. “I’ve honestly known he was going to do this since he was 9,” she said. COL Mark Colbrook, U.S. Army Alaska Deputy Commander, hosted the casing of the colors with guest speaker Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) providing motivating words about the brigade. US Army SSG Terry P. stated, “We are an Airborne Infantry company … On September 8, 2017, COL Jason Jones and CSM Robert Duenas cased the colors signaling the brigade's return to Afghanistan. In five months on the ground around Raqqa, U.S. troops fired more artillery rounds than any Marine or Army battalion since the Vietnam War.Â, Coalition artillery units have continued to back local allied forces in Iraq and Syria. [4] However, in January 2007, a battalion task force headed by 3rd Battalion, 509th Infantry Regiment (Airborne) was detached for service in Anbar Governorate with the II Marine Expeditionary Force. [8], The brigade began redeployment to Fort Richardson beginning in November 2007 and was completely redeployed by December. Twitter. DivArty designated as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 25th Division Artillery 2. The 3,500-member “Spartan” brigade completed a 10-month deployment … Allotted 27 June 1949 to the Regular Army 4. “For most Americans, the wars remain an abstraction. LTC Mosakowski served as commander until August 2010 when COL Morris T. Goins assumed command. United States Army Alaska is the brigade's next higher command, not the 25th Infantry Division which is headquartered in Hawaii. The unit is home-stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska and is a subordinate unit of U.S. Army Alaska. American and French firebases lob ordnance at ISIS cells conducting operations while, “They’re my own family. During this period, the geographic disparity of 1st Squadron (Airborne), 40th Cavalry Regiment located just eight miles south of Baghdad brought about their detachment from the brigade and attachment to 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division for the duration of the deployment. The fighting reduced many towns and communities to rubble, and the dead are still being counted. He cited “getting out of Alaska” for somewhere warmer as the thing that most excited him about the deployment. But an almost equal number — 62 percent — said they would “definitely not” consider joining the military, and an additional 23 percent said they would “probably not” sign up to serve. He was, the second servicemember to die in combat during Operation Inherent Resolve, During the fighting for Raqqa in Syria, artillerymen “, ” two howitzer barrels during the intense shelling of ISIS positions in support of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters as they launched their offensive into the city. “It’s not written in any contract or anything of the sort.” She said she feels a sense of duty to look out for the spouses of younger soldiers. Shari Rhoades, the wife of the 2-8’s sergeant major, was stocking the battalion HQ with coffee, lemonade, and snacks while they waited. The battalion served as a flagship unit, providing senior personnel and a training cadre for the other units of the brigade. The training is fine, but actually getting to do what we all want to do is rather exciting.”. The 2nd Battalion of the 8th Field Artillery Regiment is a U.S. Field Artillery unit under the 25th Infantry Division currently at Fort Waingright, Alaska. The first airborne brigade combat team activated since World War II, the 4-25 IBCT (ABN) serves as the only airborne brigade in the Pacific Theater and was … Regt. We are truly looking forward to your arrival and becoming a … ISIS has lost most of its physical strongholds but remains dangerous — a Pentagon Inspector General report released last month found that ISIS was already resurgent in parts of Syria and continues to regroup in Iraq. [4] The 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment (Airborne) then operating as a battalion task force and located at Fort Richardson was consolidated with the new brigade. Initially, the brigade was subordinate to Multi-National Division-Baghdad under the 1st Cavalry Division and was responsible for an area of operations comprising north Babil Governorate, Karbala Governorate and Najaf Governorate. I just have a little worries from past experience from family who have served but didn’t come home. Gyasi Thomasson), For some, it’s a return to familiar territory. A new airborne brigade combat team at Fort Richardson, Alaska was included as part of the restructuring. Total task force strength was approximately 5,500 personnel. On 1 July 2010, COL Howard relinquished command to LTC Shanon Mosakowski, the brigade's deputy commander. In fact, U.S. Marine artilleryman Staff Sgt. He’s the Associate Producer of the War College Podcast and a former contributing editor at Warisboring. The detailed synchronization plan laid out by Task Force Spartan set the conditions for the future of the advising mission in Afghanistan and potential areas of conflict for years to come. Photo by Kimberly Westenhisen/Coffee or Die. He recognized some of the outstanding Artic Attack Soldiers for their hard work and dedication. As American leaders seek to keep local forces in the lead, they often need to call on fire support. Fairbanks, Alaska — the city just outside of Fort Wainwright — is a small community with a population of just over 31,600 people. “This time I’ve got two kiddos, and I’m staying up here,” she said. The complexity of the mission required a diverse staff and organization of units, thus Task Force Spartan was formed to accomplish both unique mission sets. Louis Cardin was killed in action in 2017 during an ISIS rocket attack on an American firebase that killed him and wounded eight other troops as they were supporting Iraqi soldiers in the push toward Mosul. As American leaders seek to keep local forces in the lead, they often need to call on fire support. Streamer embroidering is an estimate. The welcome home ceremony was held on 25 March 2010 at the Sullivan Arena in Anchorage with Alaska Governor Sean Parnell in attendance. On December 7th 1941 the 25th Infantry Division and its sister division the 24th Infantry Division, had the distinction of being the first U.S. Army divisions to see combat in WWII when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and other military installations including Schofield Barracks on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. I just have a little worries from past experience from family who have served but didn’t come home. Paratroopers assigned to the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, U.S. Army Alaska, jump from a C-17 Globemaster III out of … For Mason’s wife, Samantha, this is the first real deployment.Â, “He was supposed to deploy a bunch of times back at [Fort] Campbell (Kentucky) but never went,” she said, adding that while training frequently keeps military families apart for sometimes months at a time, this nine-month deployment will be a much different challenge. Even just the sight of them,” Rhoades muttered. Thank goodness for FaceTime so I’ll be able to see them — and hopefully my son won’t grow up too much while I’m gone.”, When the Arctic Wolves begin operations in Iraq, they’ll be entering a years-long conflict. Last year marks the first year that Americans born after 9/11 began joining the U.S. military. Dorman had returned from deployment to Iraq earlier this year. Col. Michael L. Howard assumed command in July 2008. “[In a military family], you have to be very independent because you’re away from your family a lot.”, “I’m not worried about her,” Mason said of his wife. SPC Bowe Bergdahl, assigned to B Company, 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment (Airborne), was held captive by the Taliban from June 2009 to June 2014.[11]. “I hate those buses. He recalled the Iraqi soldiers as rough around the edges but ultimately doing their best with what they had. Many more civilians who got caught in the crossfire were killed as local Iraqi and Syrian forces pushed into their strongholds while coalition special operations troops, artillery, and aircraft supported their advance.Â. (22 April 2016). U.S. Army 1st Lt. Derek Zuchowski, with the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, gathers his belongings before boarding a plane for his deployment to Afghanistan on September 22, 2017 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. Paratroopers from the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, United States Army Alaska, parachuted onto Guam early in the morning as part of their Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska today. The 25th Infantry Division’s Rock Band, Improvised Entertainment Device (I.E.D.) It is also the newest airborne IBCT and one of only five in the United States Army; the others are the three IBCTs of the 82nd Airborne Division and the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team. Stay tuned for more stories about Americans at war. The official Facebook Page for the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division "Arctic Wolves" By the time he arrived, Al Qaeda in Iraq had suffered major defeats at the hands of U.S. and Iraq forces as well as Sunni tribal militias that had taken up arms against them. American and French firebases lob ordnance at ISIS cells conducting operations while actively regrouping in disputed territories along borders, in the mountains, and in the countryside of Iraq and Syria. Though an artilleryman, he spent his tour on dismounted patrols and guarding facilities alongside Iraqi troops. In July, the, facilities under the control of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF, or Hashd al-Shaabi), a group of militias in Iraq. One big vehicle for change during deployment is Soldiers going on leave. What can you say? The brigade redeployed to Fort Richardson in February–March 2010. The Alaska-based soldiers died during the 4-25′s most recent deployment in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. The researchers found that 60 percent of the people interviewed supported committing U.S. combat troops to fight ISIS in Iraq and Syria. Perhaps ironically, the “average joes” who make up most of the military are now almost living in the shadows of the covert shadow warriors. FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - With temperatures hovering around -20°F, around 150 soldiers from 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, “Spartan Brigade,” boarded C-130s and C-17s to prepare for a jump into the subzero air. [15][16][17] After nine months of sustained operations the brigade and its attachments were relieved in place by the 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team on 9 July 2015.[18]. Mason felt a similar pull toward military service. His mother, Misti Visser, said that her father, brother, cousins, and grandfather all served before her son. COL Morris T. Goins assumed command in August 2010 with the brigade once again identified for deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom XII-XIII, COL Goins led a rapid retrofit and train-up prior to the deployment. But then she started to really get into the training.Â, “Once I joined, I loved it, and I decided I wanted to do something really awesome,” she said.Â, “We got a lot of young guys, so it’ll be a learning curve for them,” said Sergeant Corbin Mason, a 22-year-old infantrymen who will be providing force protection for the artillery troops. In 2015, the Army announced the brigade would be downsized and converted to an airborne task force. Soldiers from 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division participate on their deployment ceremony at Sullivan Arena, Anchorage, Alaska, Nov. 29, 2011. It will take decades to truly assess the human cost of the ongoing conflict. Sergeant First Class Matthew Dawson’s first deployment was in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2008. Last month, U.S. officials had to convince Turkish leaders to halt a threatened invasion in parts of Northeast Syria controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces, which would have likely included towns such as Manbij, where U.S. troops are present and working closely with the SDF to hunt ISIS cells. Perhaps ironically, the “average joes” who make up most of the military are now almost living in the shadows of the covert shadow warriors. Airborne Infantry brigade combat Team uncases its colors following return from deployment to Afghanistan passing decade, fewer and Americans... 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