The 1st Armored Division is the oldest and most prestigious armored division in the United States Army. From its desert tank battles against Field Marshall Erwin Rommel's Afrika Korps, beach landing at Anzio to the end of the war in the Italian Alps. Maintaining a forward presence in the Cold War in Germany, its stunning victories in the Persian Gulf War to the Global War on Terrorism in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. In peace or war, the "Old Ironsides" Division has amassed a proud record of service to America. The current home of the Division is at Fort Bliss, Texas.
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4/1 AD returned from its Advise and Assist mission in Iraq in November 2012. The brigade received orders to deploy to Afghanistan as a series of Security Forces Assistance Advisory Teams (SFAAT) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in early 2013. In May 2012, the first set of teams from the brigade, predominantly made up of 1-77AR and 2-29FA personnel, deployed to Afghanistan. Eventually nearly 400 of its most senior soldiers, led by brigade commander Colonel Terry Cook, would deploy to Afghanistan in three groups.
With teams embedded at every level from Afghan Battalions to the Afghan Corps Command, the effects of the Highlanders were felt across the entire breadth of Regional Command - East. The Highlanders' experience proved critical as the complexities of the problems they overcame were as unpredictable as they were critical to the efforts of the United States and NATO Forces in Afghanistan. Their challenges ranged from advising Afghan Battalion Commanders in combat, to helping Afghan brigades establish comprehensive training plans. The Highlanders assisted the Army and the Police Force in collaborative planning and joint patrolling. The leadership of the Highlander Brigade was infectious, as the Afghan Army, Police Force, and Border Patrol grew visibly more competent, independent, and professional as the tour drew on.
The brigade began redeploying in May 2013. Colonel Terry Cook returned with the last of the teams and the brigade colors in June 2013.
