BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — As the war in Ukraine continues, many troops are being deployed to NATO-allied countries. Some of them will be from Kentucky’s Fort Campbell.

The brigade combat team is known as “Rakkassans.” According to Colonel Ricardo Turner, the commander of the Third Brigade, the deployment of soldiers is known as Operation Assure Deter and Reassure. The mission is to deter Russian aggression from NATO countries. 

This is the first time the Third Brigade is being deployed to Europe since 1976 during the Cold War.

Public Affairs Officer Zane Adams said, “We’re there to reinforce the Eastern European area that if something happens, we are ready and able and capable of handling that situation to the best of our ability.”

Around 3,500 soldiers are being deployed. Specialist Henry Ephrem is one of the soldiers who will be deployed.

This will be his second deployment after serving in Kuwait in 2019 and 2020. He says deterrence can go a long way.

“When I was in Kuwait a few years ago, it wasn’t to shoot people,” Ephrem said. “I was an armored brigade on the other side of the border. Walking softly with a big stick, like ol’ Teddy Roosevelt use to say.”

And while based in the Europe, not only will they be deterring potential attacks, they will also participate in concerted training.

“We’re going to be training with our allies, we’re going to be training with ourselves,” Adams said. “We’re going to be even more proficient on weapons to ensure that we are able to win our nation’s wars when the time comes.”

The brigade will be leaving at different times, and will be landing in NATO countries such as Romania.