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Afghanistan handover

Although some soldiers from 10th Mountain Division are staying four more months in Afghanistan, the division has turned over control of Combined Joint Task Force 76 to its replacement.

The transfer-of-authority ceremony was Thursday at Bagram Airfield.

“This has been a noble endeavor for the 10th Mountain Division, and we are honored to have been a part of this,” said Army Maj. Gen. Benjamin C. Freakley, commanding general for the task force and 10th Mountain Division. “As we depart, we leave behind 3,200 battle-hardened soldiers to serve with the 201st and 203rd Corps under the great command of the 82nd Airborne Division.”

Maj. Gen. David Rodriguez, the 82nd’s commanding general, is now responsible for the task force.

More than 6,000 soldiers of 10th Mountain Division who are based at Fort Drum, N.Y., have been deployed to Afghanistan since early 2006, serving as the core of Combined Joint Task Force 76. During its deployment, the division’s missions included Operations Mountain Lion, Mountain Thrust, Mountain Fury and Mountain Eagle.

The entire division was expected to be back by early March.

However, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, deployed as Task Force Spartan, will be in theater for 120 days longer than originally planned to help quell violence along Afghanistan’s eastern border.

Freakley and about 60 soldiers were expected to arrive at Fort Drum on Friday, according to a post press release.

More than 800 soldiers with the division’s headquarters, special troops battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade and 10th Combat Aviation Brigade have already returned home.

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