The majority of the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team will be deploying from Fort Riley to Kuwait for nine months in support of Operation Spartan Shield.  This deployment is part of a scheduled rotation.

A check with the 1st Infantry Division Public Affairs Office revealed the number of troops deploying will total between 2,500 and 3,000.  The soldiers will be leaving from Fort Riley on a staggered basis, with the first group departing Wednesday ( June 18 ).

Ahead of the deployment to Kuwait, the Brigade conducted a ceremony Wednesday in which leaders cased the Brigade colors, inactivated the Special Troops Battalion, and reflagged the 1st Engineer Battalion to the 1st Brigade Engineer Battalion.   The Soldiers of the inactivating Brigade will bolster the ranks of the new Engineer Battalion.