The subject of First Infantry Division troop deployments planned for 2016 arose during a question and answer session between the members of the Flint Hills Regional Council and Fort Riley Garrison Commander, Colonel Andew Cole on Friday.

The Council met in Grandview Plaza.

Cole reported that the 1st Brigade Combat Team, approximately 3,500 to 4,000 troops, is preparing to go to the National Training Center and then to southwest Asia for nine months. “We expect for Asia, because one of our brigades is aligned with United States Army Pacific.”

As the 1st Brigade Combat Team departs the 2nd Brigade Combat Team is expected to be about ready to return to Fort Riley from a nine month deployment to the Middle East. Departing for the Middle East at intervals this year would be approximately half of the Combat Aviation Brigade, about 2,000 soldiers,  and Cole noted by Halloween the 1st Infantry Division Headquarters of about 600-700 troops.  The 1st Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade recently returned to the post.

The authorized strength of the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley is about 16,000 soldiers, but at one point approximately half of those could be deployed in 2016.