FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (WKRN) — Hundreds of Fort Campbell soldiers are headed for Europe Wednesday as part of a regular rotation of forces to Europe.
"Strike" soldiers of the 2nd Mobile Brigade Combat Team with the 101st Airborne Division are on their way to replace the 3rd Brigade Combat Team with the 10th Mountain Division as part of a regular rotation of forces to support U.S. commitment to NATO allies and partners. Flights started Wednesday and will continue through March. Soldiers will be stationed in Germany, Romania, Poland and elsewhere.
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Soldiers with the 2nd Mobile Brigade Combat Team conducted a change of command ceremony and a colors casing ceremony Wednesday. The colors casing ceremony is a visual representation of the unit's readiness and marks the moment when a unit's colors are temporarily removed from their home station until their return.
The full Mobile Brigade Combat Team will support the U.S. Army Europe and Africa and U.S. Army V Corps for a range of international training events meant to build readiness, enhance interoperability and strengthen relationships.
"This rotation marks an important moment in 'Strike' history,” commander of the 2nd Mobile Brigade Combat Team Colonel James Stultz said. “This brigade built incredible bonds with our European brothers and sisters in arms during our last rotation, and we are excited to continue to build on those bonds and continue to increase our combined readiness. Under the Army’s Transformation in Contact initiative, we are returning as a more mobile, more lethal, more resilient force and we look forward to applying that to training events alongside our fellow NATO forces.”
Wednesday's change of command ceremony marked a transition between commanding officers, with community members bidding farewell to Stultz and welcoming Colonel Duke Reim. Reim will join soldiers heading to Europe in the coming days.
“It is with profound humility and immense pride that I stand here before you today,” Reim said. “I'm excited for the honor of leading the sons and daughters entrusted to us by the families across this nation.”