Army brigade says goodbye to Team Travis

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Shaun Emery
  • Staff Sgt. Shaun Emery
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE,Calif. --  With a cry of "saddle up," the Rough Riders from the 402nd Field Artillery Brigade Division West bid farewell to Travis Air Force Base during a flag casing ceremony June 11.

The ceremony marked an end to a 12-year stay for the brigade, whose mission is executing post-mobilization training for select Department of Defense forces for deployment in support of their wartime mission.

"It's fitting that an Army fly-away team would be located at an Air Force Base," said Col. Tracy Smith, 402nd FAB commanding officer.

Colonel Smith also noted that those on hand were witnessing a piece of history, as the ceremony would be the last time the brigade's colors would be flown at Travis.

"The unit's colors represent its people," he said. "Although you cannot see them, behind those colors are several hundred Soldiers and volunteers who are dedicated, tough, proud and what they are doing today matters."

The colonel took his time at the podium to thank Team Travis and the surrounding communities.

"We will always have a link to this community," he said. "We are truly blessed to be part of communities like Vacaville, Fairfield and Suisun."

The unit's re-location takes them to Fort Bliss, Texas, as part of a reorganization effort to consolidate training currently being done at Fort Lewis, Wash., and Fort Hood, Texas.

"The re-stationing will improve the effectiveness of the way we train Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen," said Maj. Gen. Charles Anderson, 1st Army Division West commanding general, who served as the ceremony's presiding officer.

The 402nd FAB has trained more than 9,000 individuals from 134 units since locating to Travis in 1998.

"For the past 12 years at Travis, the 402nd has provided world-class mission readiness exercises for servicemembers going to Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait and, most recently, Haiti," said General Anderson. "They did this with leadership, dedicated Soldiers and caring families. The 402nd has done and will continue to do a fantastic job training our nation's finest."

The first part of the decade was a violent, chaotic and costly one, said Colonel Smith. He said the unit was strengthened, hardened and toughened.

"As this decade ends with us moving out, I want to assure you we are ready. God bless you," he said.

To conclude the ceremony, with Command Sergeant Major George Manning, 402nd FAB command sergeant major, Colonel Smith gave the cry "Rough Riders" and one last time members of the 402nd FAB gave a resounding "saddle up."