4,000 Fort Hood Troops Deploy To Bolster European Security Efforts

Fort Hood soldiers are heading to Europe.

Operation Atlantic Resolve

The 9-month rotation to Europe will be made up of four thousand troopers in the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, known as Greywolf. Since Russia’s actions in Crimea in 2014, Operation Atlantic Resolve  provided stability at a time of instability in Europe.  In 2022, the mission expanded to include broader security, economic, and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine in response to Russia's invasion.

What the Mission Entails

While the mere presence of U.S. troops will help deter aggression, the mission will also include training with U.S. allies to develop interoperability.

Preparation

The soldiers at Fort Hood have been training for this mission for the last couple of years. Gunnery and communications training was undertaken at Fort Hood, while large-scale combat training took place at the National Training Center in California. The last time Greywolf deployed to Eastern Europe was their previous rotation in 2022.

The History of Fort Hood

In 1942,the War Department (now the Department of Defense), announced that Fort Hood would serve as a location for the training of World War II tank destroyers, due to its sheer size. Around 100,000 acres were originally planned for the base due to the vast amount of land in Texas. An additional 51,000 acres were added in 1943.By the end of the war, there were only about 11,000 troops at Hood. In 1967, Fort Hood became a two-division post, housing both the 1st and 2nd Armored Divisions.

1990’s to Today

A modernization of Fort Hood occurred in the 90’s with an expansion into technology.
In 2003, the 4th Infantry Division, based in Fort Hood, played a role in the capture of Saddam Hussein. Fort Hood is currently one of the largest active-duty posts in the US Armed Services.