FORT CARSON — Scores of enlisted soldiers bade farewell to much of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team’s top brass Tuesday, days before about 300 of the brigade’s officers begin deploying to southern Afghanistan for nine months.
“What is truly amazing about this formation to your front is that a little over 14 weeks ago, none of us knew we’d be executing this mission,” said Col. Michael Kasales, the brigade’s commander.
The deployment marks the “Iron” brigade’s first trip to Afghanistan. The 3rd Brigade last deployed to Iraq for 12 months, returning in March 2011.
It figures to be “unlike any in the past,” Kasales said.
In a new strategy to train Afghan security forces, the Army decided to send 1,460 officers and noncommissioned officers to Afghanistan to work in small teams of eight to 18 people.
About 300 Defense Department civilians will also deploy.
