82nd Task Force takes authority in Europe
MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU AIR BASE, ROMANIA — The 82nd Airborne Division is reinforcing NATO’s southeastern flank in Europe following a transfer of authority ceremony earlier this month.
The 10th's Mountain Division’s “Task Force Mountain” from Fort Drum, New York, handed over its responsibilities to the 82nd's “Task Force 82” during the Dec. 15 ceremony at Mihail Kogalniceanu Airbase, Romania, the Army announced in a news release.
Fort Liberty paratroopers from “Task Force 82” began arriving at the air base in late November, the release stated.
The 82nd Airborne Division announced in September that about 200 paratroopers from the division’s headquarters would be deploying in support of European and NATO allies and partners.
Purpose of the deployment
The deployment is part of a rotational deployment with a presence in the Black Sea region to support NATO in Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Slovakia with regional security force assistance, while also conducting multinational exercises with allies and partners.
According to the Army’s release, the paratroopers are supporting the Army’s V Corps mission “to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank, assure European allies and partners, and deter aggression.”
Paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division deployed to Poland last year in support of NATO during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In June 2022, President Joe Biden announced that a permanent headquarters for the Army’s V Corps would be established in Poland to “strengthen NATO interoperability across the entire eastern flank.”
Biden also announced in June that the U.S. would send fighter jet squadrons to the United Kingdom, an air defense artillery brigade headquarters to Germany, two more naval destroyers to Spain, a rotational brigade combat team to Romania and an increase of rotational deployments in the Baltic region.
Transfer of authority
The Army’s V Corps hosted the transfer of authority ceremony this month, where Maj. Gen. Gregory Anderson, commander of the 10th Mountain Division and “Task Force Mountain,” handed over authority to Maj. Gen. Pat Work, commander of the 82nd Airborne Division and “Task Force 82.”
“(Maj.) Gen. Work and the mighty 82nd Airborne, with their Army’s historic division, is going to move it even further in 2024 with integrated plans, integrated warfighting, more complex combined arms formations, better infrastructure, from which to fight from and overall better capabilities, they’re going to be great teammates,” Anderson said.
Lt. Gen. John Kolasheski, commander of V Corps, thanked the 10th Mountain Division and wished the 82nd Airborne Division “good luck,” as it accepted its responsibility in “the strategically important part of Europe."
Work also thanked the 10th Mountain Division for setting high expectations and said the 82nd is honored to follow in its footsteps.
He thanked commanders and others for their trust in allowing the 82nd “to represent and support the alliance across Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia and Hungary.”
Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at rriley@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3528.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: 82nd Airborne Division assumes responsibility, deploys to Europe again
