New Armored Brigade Combat Team Deploys In Poland
The 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT) deployment from the 3rd Infantry Division to Poland begins in January 2025. This is a part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, a strategic initiative launched in 2014 in response to growing security concerns in Eastern Europe following Russia’s annexation of Crimea and its destabilizing actions in Ukraine.
Operation Atlantic Resolve is designed to reassure NATO allies in Europe, deter aggression, and enhance the interoperability of U.S. forces with those of NATO. The 1st ABCT’s deployment underscores the U.S. Army’s readiness to quickly reinforce European defenses and bolster NATO’s deterrent posture against potential threats from the east. Moreover, the brigade’s mobility and firepower practically make it a first response to any emerging threats on the alliance flank.
Originally stationed at Fort Stewart-Hunter, Giorgia, the 1st ABCT of the 3rd Infantry Division, commanded by Col. Jim Armstrong consists of: 2 armored battalions, a cavalry battalion, an infantry battalion, an artillery battalion, an engineer battalion, and a support battalion. The role of ABCT is to field Combined Arms Battalions (CAB) which can act as separate task forces equipped with sufficient armored and artillery support. Its most formidable force is represented by 4 tank companies, each equipped with 14 M1A2 SEP v3 main battle tanks.
The brigade arrived on board the SNS Red Cloud on 28th December 2024 in the port of Gdynia. As part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, its components will support the training of the Polish Armed Forces but also temporarily increase NATO Eastern Flank defenses.
The continuous rotation of US forces under Operation Atlantic Resolve is part of a broader strategy to enforce security in Eastern Europe. Especially now the NATO border with Russia is threatened by the actions of the Russian Federation. However, local states do not solely rely on US support but enhance the development and growth of domestic armed forces.