Most Deployed Brigade Comes Home
The road warriors are coming home. The most deployed brigade in the US Army is now returning home from its latest 15 month tour in Iraq where it has been supporting the Global War on Terror.
10th Mountain Division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team “Commandos” (2-14th Infantry, 4-31st Infantry, 1-89th Cavalry, 2-15th Field Artillery plus support troops) It is fitting that the brigade combat team contains the only remaining battalion of the 31st Infantry Regiment. The 31st (who carry a Polar Bear on their unit crest due to a deployment in Siberia in 1918 during the Russian Civil War) were known as the “American Foreign Legion” due to the fact that it was formed, and spent most of its life, outside of the United States.
The 3,600 man brigade has suffered more than 300 casualties in Iraq. Since September 11th the brigade has spent more than 40 months deployed. This includes two full tours in Iraq as a brigade, two partial tours in Afghanistan, and excursions to Ethiopia and Djibouti.
The brigade motto is Vigor et Dignitas (Strength and Honor) and they show it