On March 19, 2019, the U.S. Army Europe Public Affairs Office announced the deployment of the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT), 1st Armored Division, to Europe. This operation was conducted under the direction of the Secretary of Defense as part of a Dynamic Force Employment strategy. The deployment aims to test the U.S. Army's capability to quickly alert, recall, and deploy forces in emergency situations.
The Dynamic Force Employment initiative is designed to make military activities unpredictable to potential adversaries while signaling commitment to NATO allies. It involves participation from allied nations and contributes to NATO's deterrence objectives.
The deployment includes 1,500 soldiers from Fort Bliss, Texas, who arrived in Berlin and are traveling to Drawsko Pomorskie Training Area in Poland. They will use over 700 pieces of equipment sourced from the Army Prepositioned Stock site located in Eygelshoven, Netherlands.
Before their arrival, elements of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command prepared and transported this equipment to Poland via line haul and rail. Over the coming weeks, these soldiers will engage in reception and integration procedures followed by live-fire training with Polish counterparts. The training will conclude with a gunnery exercise and combined live-fire operations.
Once completed, both personnel and equipment will return to their respective locations—Fort Bliss for soldiers and Eygelshoven for APS equipment.
APS sites play a critical role by reducing deployment timelines and improving deterrence capabilities through stored equipment that can support armored units when additional combat power is required by commanders.
Imagery and video related to this deployment are available at www.dvidshub.net/USAREUR.