3rd Stryker Soldiers to receive awards

Ben Sclair | December 17, 2012

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. – On Dec. 18, following a 12-month deployment to Afghanistan, the 7th Infantry Division’s Commanding General, Maj. Gen. Stephen R. Lanza, will be presenting awards to the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) in a brigade-wide formation at 11:00 a.m., at Rose Field on JBLM Main.

The Arrowhead Brigade deployed in November and December of 2011 with the Brigade Headquarters;1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment; 1st Battalion, 23 Infantry Regiment; and the 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment. The 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment deployed as well, but in support of Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force Afghanistan (CJSOTF-A) and were broken down into 8 to12 man teams and task organized with Special Forces and SEAL teams that conducted Village Stability Operations (VSO) separate from the brigade’s mission.

The Arrowhead Brigade focused on the destruction and disruption of insurgent throughout southern Adghanistan. After a year of heavy fighting, the brigade lost 16 Soldiers. The Arrowhead Brigade was relieved by Joint Base Lewis-McChord’s 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team and Fort Stewart’s 3rd Infantry Division.