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Brigade to deactivate early
Acceleration to eliminate 2nd ABCT up to two years sooner than planned
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Brig. Gen. John Hort, 3rd ID commanding general-rear, talks Tuesday to members of the Fort Stewart/Hunter Growth Management Partnership. - photo by Pat Watkins

The 3rd Infantry Division’s 2nd Brigade likely will be deactivated up to two years earlier than previously announced.
The movement of units and equipment will start next summer, Brig. Gen. John Hort, 3rd ID commanding general-rear, said Tuesday.
“And by January ’15, we believe, based on the current timeline, we will inactivate the 2nd Brigade,” he said.
He qualified the statement some, saying the start of 2015 is the middle of a window during which the unit will be disbanded.
Hort was speaking at what was supposed to be a meeting of the Fort Stewart/Hunter Army Airfield Growth Management Partnership. A quorum did not attend the meeting, but those present asked that Hort make his presentation.
In June, the Pentagon announced the largest organizational change for the Army since World War II, cutting troop strength from 570,000 to 490,000 and the number of brigade combat teams from 45 to 33. All that was to be done by 2017.
Hort, however, said he understands the plan is being accelerated Army-wide to assure the remaining troops have the resources to train as much as possible under budget constraints.
A brigade normally has 3,000-3,500 soldiers. Because of the restructuring of remaining brigades and addition of other units to Fort Stewart, the troop loss here is expected to be around 1,400.

See more in the Aug. 24 edition of the News. 

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Exchange Service salutes Vietnam vets with custom truck design
Army and Air Force Exchange Service redesigned logo 2011

To thank Vietnam veterans for their sacrifices, the Army and Air Force Exchange Service is debuting a new truck design, part of the Department of Defense retailer’s efforts alongside the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration to honor veterans during the 50th anniversary of the war.

“The Exchange is privileged to have the opportunity to recognize Vietnam veterans through our fleet,” said Exchange Director/CEO Tom Shull, who served in the Army during the Vietnam era. “These trucks will serve as rolling billboards, expressing gratitude for all who served during this era.”

The truck design features the silhouette of a lone service member set against the background of a faded horizon with a call to “thank a Vietnam veteran for service to our nation.” The single military member represents the warfighters who served during this time.

Three trucks in the fleet feature the commemorative design and will deliver merchandise to Exchange stores from the organization’s distribution centers in the continental United States.

The West Coast Distribution Center at Sharpe Army Depot in California; Dan Daniel Distribution Center in Newport News, Va.; and the Waco Distribution Center in Texas will each have a truck in service on their standard delivery routes, serving the whole country.

Air Force veteran Pat Thompson served in Vietnam before coming to the Exchange as a truck driver and mechanic. In his 18 years with the Exchange, he has deployed four times to support the troops. The new design means a lot to him.

“They remember,” said Thompson, who is based at the Exchange’s Waco Distribution Center. “We want to be remembered.”

The trucks also highlight the veteran online shopping benefit, which launched in November. The lifelong online military exchange benefit authorizes all who served honorably to enjoy tax-free shopping and exclusive military pricing at ShopMyExchange.com.

The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration is a program administered by the Office of the Secretary of Defense to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. The U.S. began commemoration of the Vietnam War’s 50th anniversary in 2012 and will continue through Veterans Day 2025.

The Exchange is a 50th Anniversary Vietnam War Commemorative Partner, planning and conducting events and activities that recognize Vietnam veterans and their families for service, valor and sacrifice in conjunction with the commemoration.

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