FT. CAMPBELL, Ky. — Soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division out of Fort Campbell will be deployed to NATO countries in eastern Europe this fall.

What You Need To Know

  • Around 3400 soldiers will be sent.

  • The soldiers will be there for around nine months.

  • The soldiers will bridge communication and train with NATO countries.

  • The other brigade will return as the third brigade replaces them in Europe.

The division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team is deploying around 3,400 soldiers. According to Lt. Col. Anthony Hoefler, this will be a way to deter future aggression from Russia against countries in Europe.

“We call it assure, deter, and reinforce,” Hoefler said. “Assuring our NATO partners and allies, deterring further Russian aggression, and then reinforcing NATO’s flank in eastern Europe.”

This will be the third rotation deployment from the 101st Airborne Division. According to Captain Trevon Andrews, the deployed soldiers will bridge communication and performing exercises with NATO countries. 

“What that looks like, is training together with different systems, different ranks, different countries, different headquarters, and working together and understand how we will do this should the need arise, if U.S. policy should ever need us to do that,” Andrews said.

The unit being deployed is known as “Rakkasans.” And will be there for approximately nine months. Many soldiers are eager to help those in need. Specialist Jordan Perez says it gives soldiers to opportunity to help civilians in need.

“It’s almost like history repeats itself,” Perez said. “We have a chance to help our partners in Europe as well as reassure those civilian population which is what I look forward to the most.”

However, some soldiers are having mixed feelings about crossing the Atlantic.

“It’s kind of a mix of multiple different things,” Specialist Jacob Moody said. “Like a shock of ‘Okay, this is gonna be happening.’ And ‘Okay, I’m gonna go help some people out.’”

But regardless of the emotions behind going, Cpt. Andrews said the overall mission is to maintain policies with countries in Europe.

“No matter what, we are going to support the goal of U.S. policy and right now, we are going to be the at forefront of what is happening on NATO’s Eastern Flank in Europe,” Andrews said.

The soldiers will continuously train and prepare until they their board flight in October.

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