"Army Division Loses its 'Light'"

[akd]

Thought this deserved its own post:

Army Infantry Division Loses its 'Light'

Name change reflects the overall Army transformation efforts that impact the 25th Infantry Division.

By Troy Griffin / 25th Infantry Division Public Affairs

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii , Jan. 17, 2006 – The New Year brings yet another change to the Tropic Lightning Division – the elimination of the designation "Light" from the 25th Infantry Division's name.

This change is but the latest of many impacting the 25th Infantry Division as part of the Army's overall transformation efforts that, when complete, will result in an Army modular force that involves the total redesign of the operational Army into a larger, more powerful, flexible and rapidly deployable force.

"We are in the midst of rebuilding our existing brigades that returned from deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan into modular brigades -- smaller, more independent and powerful units able to plug into theater-level logistics anywhere around the world," said Maj. Gen Benjamin R. Mixon, commander, 25th Infantry Division. "In addition, we are continuing our efforts to transform the 2nd Brigade to a Stryker Brigade Combat Team."

"When completed, our historic division will scarcely resemble the force that returned from Iraq and Afghanistan in 2005," Mixon added.

Creating an Army modular force is the Army's major force transformation initiative. The Army is restructuring from a division-based to a brigade-based force, consisting of self-sufficient, brigade-based modules that will greatly improve strategic responsiveness.

Brigade combat teams, the center of the redesign, are stand-alone, self-sufficient and standardized tactical units that consist of between 3,500 and 4,000 soldiers, organized the way they fight.

The headquarters of the 25th Infantry Division and the 3rd Brigade will complete transformation to the restructured, modular design prior to deployment later this year.

Modular supporting brigades will provide aviation, fires, logistics and other support to the brigade combat teams, and they will create greater operational autonomy and enhance joint, interagency and multinational operations.

The new division headquarters will be able to execute command and control of any combination of Army capabilities and will also be capable of serving as the core of joint or multinational task force headquarters.

But the changes to 25th Infantry Division units in Hawaii are only part of the story. The Tropic Lightning Division increases in size by two new brigades; however, these brigades will not be based in Hawaii and will not fall under the daily command and control of the division headquarters.

The 4th Brigade Combat Team at Fort Richardson, Alaska, which activated last summer, is an airborne brigade with capability for forced-entry operations.

These additions will give the 25th Infantry Division a total of four brigade combat teams, including 1st Brigade at Fort Lewis, Wash., the Army's second Stryker brigade combat team; however, the 1st Brigade is slated to move to Germany to form the core of a new Stryker brigade, the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, at an unspecified date in the future.

The 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team stationed at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, but currently deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom, will be redesignated the 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division in the future.

"Here in Hawaii, we're training our soldiers on new equipment and getting them used to being part of modular, self-contained, deployable teams. Soldiers need to be focused and involved in these ongoing changes," Mixon explained.

"Our soldiers have the right mindset; they are prepared for anything that will come their way. "Our training here in Hawaii is tough, realistic ... and it will prepare them for what they will face in Iraq," he emphasized.

"The Tropic Lightning Division is proud to have been selected for this challenging mission," Mixon added.

Question: any possibility that the 25th ID's airborne 4th Brigade will be included in CM:SF?

[hellfish]

You'd probably be more likely to see the 173rd Airborne Brigade based out of Italy.

[akd]

Originally posted by fytinghellfish:

You'd probably be more likely to see the 173rd Airborne Brigade based out of Italy.

Based on their location or operational capabilities?

Anyways, sounds like an interesting unit, especially considering that the 25th's 3 other brigades will constitue half of the total (desired) Stryker employment.

4th Brigade, 25th Infantry Division "Spartan"

The mission of the 4th Brigade, 25th Infantry Division is to build, transform, train, deploy, and employ an Airborne Brigade Combat Team that is capable of conducting forcible entry and full spectrum operations anywhere in the world. The brigade consists of the 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry, 3rd Battalion, 509th Infantry, 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry, 2nd Battalion, 377th Field Artillery, Special Troops Battalion 4th Brigade, 167th Support Battalion and Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), 4th Brigade. All units are on Airborne (parachute) status.

The 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), United States Army Alaska at Fort Richardson, is the newest airborne formation in the Army. The 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division (Light) was stood up in an activaiton ceremony 14 July 2005.

As part of its largest restructuring since World War II, the Army announced its plan for stationing its active component modular Brigade Combat Teams 27 July 2005. The plan includes new organizations being formed and other units being returned from overseas locations. The return of the overseas units adds up to 50,000 Soldiers and 150,000 family members being brought back to bases in the United States. In the end state, the number of active modular BCTs will increase from 33 to 43, enhancing the active Army’s combat power by 30 percent.

Fort Richardson’s fast growth has led to a shortage of barracks space for single Soldiers assigned to Alaska, a situation the Army is addressing with temporary modular structures while new buildings are being constructed. Although Fort Richardson saw the departure of the approximately 700 Soldiers who make up the 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment in 2005, the post had a net gain of 2,000 Soldiers by the fall of 2005.

The 4th Bn. 23rd Inf. joined the rest of the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team at Fort Wainwright when they returned from their deployment to Operation Iraqi Freedom. The new personnel will be part of the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division. The entire airborne brigade is stationed at Fort Richardson.

The 1st Battalion, 501st (Airborne), already at Fort Richardson, is the nucleus for the 4-25th, which by 2006 will encompass more than 3,500 Soldiers. To accommodate this influx of new personnel, Fort Richardson will have the first of 129 temporary modular barracks and offices in place by this fall. Seventy-six of the buildings, which are expected to be in use up to seven years, will be for six-Soldier barracks.

Units

Headquarters Company

1st Battalion, 501st Infantry

3rd Battalion, 509th Infantry

2nd Battalion, 377th FA

Brigade Special Troop Battalion

1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry

167th Support Battalion

Facilities

Fort Richardson

I find the cav squadron particularly interesting:

1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment (Airborne)

The 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment (Airborne) officially activated 13 October 2005 at Buckner Fitness Center as part of the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division (Light), one of the Army’s newest brigade combat teams. The 360-paratrooper “Denali” squadron was the fourth of the six battalions in the brigade to be activated, closing in on becoming the largest airborne presence in the Pacific in 30 years.

The unit is the first ever airborne reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition, or RSTA, squadron. The squadron performs information gathering and intelligence processing, painting a picture of the battlefield allowing the brigade commander to make timely tactical decisions. Unique to this unit is the marriage of light infantry airborne and armor and scout operations.

the squadron is facing the challenge of preparing for war in a short amount of time as the military did in World War II and Korean War. The difference today is the great number of competent junior and senior non-commissioned leaders in the squadron. When activated, the squadron had only half of its authorized Soldiers assigned to it and signed for its first two rifles on the day of activation. In terms of technical and tactical competence, the NCOs in this formation, and our Army as a whole, were peerless in the history of the military.

The 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment (Airborne), instituted a somewhat different approach to the physical fitness test that makes it unique to be a Cav Soldier. The test is only one of the three components of the unit’s physical fitness program. The physical fitness test consists of five events: bench press, 40-yard dash, 10-mile run, obstacle course and 440-yard dash. This inherently recognizes that each individual has different strengths and weaknesses. The objective for the test is that at least 30 percent of the organization, not 100 percent, can meet the objectives. The optimum requirements for five events are 300 pounds or greater in the bench press, a 40-yard dash time of five seconds or less, a 10-mile run time of 70 minutes or less, obstacle course completion within five minutes or less and the 440-yard dash in 90 seconds or less. Just to make things a little more interesting, the obstacle course and 440-yard dash are completed wearing combat equipment, individual body armor and carrying a weapon. The other two components of the Calvary Fitness Program are Table II and III, both of which must be completed by the entire organization. Table II has a four-mile run to be finished in 36 minutes or less and a 1.5-mile snowshoe march to be finished with in 90 minutes or less. Table III is a 25-mile road march that is to be completed with an average of 17 minutes and 30 seconds per mile.

[hellfish]

Very interesting indeed - especially the fitness test.

One other thing that struck me as a "what the..." moment was "this unit is the marriage of light infantry airborne and armor and scout operations."

Armor?

I'd recently (yesterday, actually) heard that the Army was about to reactivate the XM-8 "Buford" Armored Gun System to provide firepower to the light infantry and airborne units. I've always been a huge proponent of that vehicle and I think it's FAR more capable than the Stryker MGS. I'd really like to see that program resurrected. I think it'd be a huge boost to airborne and light infantry units.

[hellfish]

Oh, and the 173rd just because of proximity. On paper, they should be the exact same as the 4/25th. The 173rd is the guys that made the combat jump into Iraq back in OIF. The 4/25th will probably be a contingency force for the Pacific Rim area.

The 2nd ACR is also supposed to be setting up as the Army's last combat unit in Germany, so I wonder if that's the Stryker brigade we'll play with in the game (again, a proximity, not capability thing).

[Bruce70]

Is it just me or does 300 pounds seem really excessive?

[hellfish]

Thats for a max. Minimum is probably something like 50-75% of your bodyweight or something. In all honesty, it's not a bad thing. I know a lot of guys that were power lifters who'd get no respect at all. They were massively strong but often failed the weight standards because of their muscle bulk. It's nice to see the Army starting to recognize that not everyone has the same physical strengths and weaknesses.

For example, I can/could sprint like a mofo, but when I first enlisted it was all distance running. That took a lot to get used to. Last I checked, you don't ever distance run in exercises (or combat AFAIK). I always thought road marching would have been a better PT test, even though it eats your feet.

[Bruce70]

So when they say 30% of the organisation needs to meet the requirements, it could be that 30% are good at the benchpress and a different 30% are good at the 10-mile run, and so on...?

Or does it mean that 30% have to be good at everything?

[hellfish]

I read it as 30% score 100% in every event.

[civdiv]

Wow, couple of thoughts here. They say that's the optimum score, so you aren't required to meet those standards. Those are like the max scores on the chart. And I'll bet a week's pay that less than 1/10th of 1% will max all of those categories. 300 lb benchpress, 5 second 40 time and the 90 second 440! Never happen, period. I was an allstate HB in HS and I only ran a 4.7.

But then a big percentage will have profiles, which the Army passes out like candy. I trained once with the 7th Light before it was deactivated. We would go and do PT, but only one hard core 2nd Lt from the 7th would ever come with us. All the rest were like; 'Pushups! I have a profile.' 'Flutter kicks! I have a profile.' 'Running on the beach! I have a profile.'

And it's sort of dumb putting the standards so high. It will only dilute the manpower in the rest of the units. But I guess it's sort of like my old USMC unit. We were an amphibious raid company. So anytime we didn't like a Marine, we just said he couldn't swim well enough, and he was gone, and we got someone else.

And I've always wondered why they kept the 25th around anyways. It has a pretty dismal historical record. Maybe it's sort of like Fort McClellen. Someone explain why they named a base after that idiot.

[ January 19, 2006, 04:41 PM: Message edited by: civdiv ]

[civdiv]

(repeat, deleted)

[akd]

Originally posted by civdiv:

And I've always wondered why they kept the 25th around anyways. It has a pretty dismal historical record.

Why would you say such a thing?

Born of elements of the famous Hawaiian Division in 1941, the 25th was about two months old when Japanese planes launched their attack on Pearl Harbor, Oahu, on December 7, 1941. Division soldiers set up and manned defensive positions around Honolulu and the Ewa plains. The 25th was then ordered to deploy to Guadalcanal to relieve U.S. Marines there. Only 31 days were required to accomplish the mission and earned the Division its official designation, "Tropic Lightning" (adopted as the official title of the Division on August 3, 1953). Division soldiers were then dispatched to the Solomon Islands, headed for New Zealand and New Caledonia. It was during this time that the Division shoulder patch of a lightning bolt superimposed on a taro leaf was adopted. From early January 1945 until June 30, 1945, the Division fought in the Philippines. At the end of the war, the Division moved to Osaka, Japan, where they performed occupation duty until 1950.

Open warfare once again flared in Asia, now the Division's primary area of concern, on June 25, 1950. The North Korean People's Army crossed the 38th Parallel on that day in an unprovoked attack on the Republic of South Korea. Acting under United Nations orders, the Tropic Lightning Division moved from it's base in Japan to Korea between July 5 - 18, 1950. The Division, then under the command of MG William B. Kean, successfully completed its first mission by blocking the approaches to the port city Pusan. For this action, the Tropic Lightning received its first Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation. But other battles later in the conflict further enhanced the Division's reputation for exceptional combat effectiveness.

The Division participated in the break-out from the Pusan perimeter and the successful drive into North Korea in October 1950. Task Force Dolvin, the 89th Tank Battalion under LTC Dolvin on November 24 and together these units successfully drove the enemy to the Yalu River. In a sudden and unexpected reversal, however, an overwhelming number of Chinese Communist troops crossed the Yalu and pushed back United Nations forces all along the front. The Division was grudgingly forced to carry out a systematic withdrawal and ordered to take up defensive positions on the south bank of the Chongchon River November 30, 1950. Eventually, these lines failed. However, after a series of short withdrawals a permanent battle line was established south of Osan.

After a month and a half of planning and reorganization, a new offensive was launched January 15, 1951, and was successfully completed by Feb 10 with the recapture of Inchon and Kimpo Air Base. This was the first of several successful assaults on the Chinese/North Korean force, which helped turn the tide in the United Nation's favor. The Division next participated in Operation Ripper, during which it drove the enemy across the Han River. Success continued with Operation Dauntless, Detonate and Piledriver in the Spring of 1951. These offensives secured part of the famous "Iron Triangle" which enhanced the United Nations' bargaining platform. With leaders of four nations now a the negotiating tables in the summer of 1951, Division activity slowed to patrol and defensive actions to maintain the line of resistance. This type of action continued into the winter of 1952.

When negotiations began to fail, the Division assumed the responsibility of guarding the approaches of Seoul May 5, 1953. 23 days later, a heavy Chinese assault was hurled at it. The Division held its ground and the assault was repulsed; the brunt of the attack was absorbed by the 14th Infantry, "Golden Dragons". By successfully defending Seoul from continued attack from May to July 1953, the Division earned its second Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation. Again negotiators moved toward peace. In July, the Division again moved to reserve status at Camp Casey where it remained through the signing of the armistice July 27, 1953. Fourteen Tropic Lightning soldiers were awarded Medals of Honor during the Korean Conflict, making the Tropic Lightning Division the most decorated Division of that War.

After the armistice, the Division stayed as an occupation force until September 1954, then returned to Hawaii, concluding more than 12 years of duty in the Southwest Pacific and Asia. From then until early 1963, the 25th established and conducted extensive training programs in jungle warfare techniques and Asian languages. The 25th was the only counter-guerrilla trained division in the Army.

In response to a request from the U.S. Military Assistance Command in Vietnam, the Division sent 100 helicopter door-gunners to the Republic of South Vietnam in early 1963. By August 1965, further Division involvement in the coming Vietnam Conflict included the deployment of Company C, 65th Engineer Battalion, to South Vietnam to assist in the construction of port facilities at Cam Ranh Bay.

By mid 1965, 2,200 men of the Tropic Lightning Division were involved in Vietnam. The Division was again asked to contribute combat forces in December of that year. In response to a MAC-V request, the Division deployed 4,000 3rd Brigade infantrymen and 9,000 tons of equipment from Hawaii in 25 days to the Northwest sector of South Vietnam to firmly establish a fortified enclave from which the Division could operate. Operation Blue Light was the largest and longest airlift of personnel and cargo into a combat zone in military history before Operation Desert Shield. The Brigade deployed its first soldiers from Hickam Air Force Base, Honolulu, to the central highlands at Pleiku. These men arrived in Vietnam December 24, 1965. By mid-January, the deployment operation was complete - giving combat planners in Vietnam a favorable balance of power.

The Division was heavily engaged from April 1966 until 1969 throughout the area of operations in Southeast Asia. During this period, Tropic Lightning soldiers fought in some of the toughest battles of the war. During the Tet offensives of 1968 and 1969, Tropic Lightning soldiers were instrumental in defending the besieged city of Saigon. Due to its success in fending off that attack, the 25th Infantry Division spent most of 1969 more involved in the Vietnamization Program than in actual combat. During a three-month period, from April through June 1970, Tropic Lightning soldiers participated in Allied thrusts deep into enemy sanctuaries located in Cambodia. In these operations, the Division units confiscated thousands of tons of supplies and hundreds of weapons. This operation crippled the Cambodian efforts against American units. Following its return from Cambodia to South Vietnam, the Division resumed its place in the Vietnamization Program. The war was winding down.

By late December 1970, elements of the 25th Infantry Division were able to begin redeployment to Schofield Barracks. Second Brigade was the last element of the Tropic Lightning Division to depart Vietnam. It arrived at Schofield Barracks in the early days of May 1971. During the war in Vietnam, 22 Medals of Honor were awarded to Tropic Lightning soldiers - more than any other Division in the war.

[Dogface]

Thanks akd

I had a good friend who was in the electric grape. Its nice when its so easy to point out that someone is talking out of their ass.

[civdiv]

Sorry, don't want to smear the many veterne's out there, but in terms of history, I'd pick a lot of units before I picked the 25th. They were a disaster at Guadacanal, and some elements of the 1st Marine Div that had to be sent back ashore after being relieved, to again support the 25th. The 25th couldn't handle a few thousand starving Japanese that were still wandering around the island.

In Korea they were overrun by the initial NK invasion and basically broke and ran.

In Vietnam they were considered one of the poorer units in terms of discipline and drug use. They tended to be ranked down with the 173rd and the 4th ID.

Yes, they can't be blamed for being a poorly led, trained, and equipped unit such as the version of the 25th ID that led off the Korean Conflict, but all units are a product of training and leadership.

But they certainly don't have the lineage of units such as the 1st or 2nd Armored Division, or the 1st Infantry Division. Or the 82nd or 101st. Or 1st or 2d MarDiv.

When I was stationed in Hawaii in the mid to late '90's, I trained with them a lot. And they certainly didn't impress me.

And I spent a tour in Afghanistan with them in 2002-2003 and let's just say they weren't that great.