For 3rd Brigade Combat Team Rakkasans, 101st Airborne Division, 2018 was a year focused on preparation for a new and ever-changing battlefield.

A number of innovation conferences, complex training exercises and validations ensured that the Rakkasans continued to be the brigade Screaming Eagles call upon to get the job done.

Beginning with a Joint Forcible Entry exercise early in the year, leading through battalion and brigade live-fire exercises throughout a sweltering summer, conducting an expert infantryman badge testing phase in September and finishing off with a field training exercise that spread the brigade across three states in December, the Rakkasans pushed themselves to the limit.

The year also was notable for the brigade’s outreach, with Rakkasans participating in several Armywide and international competitions. From the Sgt. Maj. Gainey Cup Cavalry Squad Competition early in the year, a Rakkasan Bushido training event at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, winning first place at the Lt. Gen. Robert Flowers Best Sapper Competition, the Canadian Armed Forces Small Arms Concentration, the Fort Benning International Sniper Competition, and sending teams to the Best Medic and Best Ranger competitions, the Rakkasans continued to display the torii proudly across the Army.

Leader Rakkasans of 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment began the year focused on collective training. This training culminated with the battalion being selected as the decisive operation for the Joint Forcible Entry exercise in January. The battalion was then selected to serve as the augmentee unit for Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana, and was recognized as the best augmentee attachment in 21 rotations by the commander of JRTC Operations group.

Upon return from JRTC, Rakkasans focused on the execution of company level operations resulting in an outstanding performance by the battalion during company exercise evaluations and live-fire exercises.

After serving as the post Eagle Guard in the summer, the battalion focused on EIB set up and execution. By November, Leader Rakkasans had begun a new collective training cycle to maintain readiness and lethality.

Throughout the past year, the Iron Rakkasans of 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, trained in all conditions in preparation for future operations. They conducted EIB training, trained the Wisconsin National Guard at an Exportable Combat Training Capability rotation at Camp Grayling, Michigan, conducted platoon and company live-fire exercises and culminated with a battalion Joint Forcible Entry Exercise in November.

Throughout the year, Iron Rakkasans took part in the Iron Warrior Challenge that included a 3,187-stair run, 1.87-mile swim and a 31.87-mile movement across Fort Campbell.

In May, the battalion welcomed back Vietnam War veterans who fought in the battle of Hamburger Hill with a weeklong anniversary highlighted by the Hamburger Hill Dinner.

White Currahee of 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, conducted a rigorous training cycle within the Fort Campbell and Fort Knox training areas throughout 2018.

The training cycle started with a company field training exercise and a battalion FTX supported with live opposition forces from 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Abn. Div.

White Currahee Soldiers provided support to 2nd BCT’s JRTC rotation, deployed one company to Fort Knox for combat support training exercise opposition force support, and provided live opposition force support for 1st BCT’s FTX within the Fort Campbell training area.

White Currahee Soldiers also went on to complete advanced weapons training, mounted gunnery training, a company combined arms live-fire exercise, EIB testing and a battalion FTX.

They closed out the 2018 training schedule by participating in 3rd BCT’s FTX supported by live opposition forces from a battalion in 2nd BCT.

The War Rakkasans of 1st Squadron, 33rd Cavalry Regiment began the year by assisting the Army in modernizing the force. In March, a contingent from across the squadron deployed to Twenty-nine Palms Marine Corps Base, California, where B Troop, 1-33rd Cav. Regt., tested the joint light tactical vehicle.

In June, the War Rakkasans’ collective training cycle culminated with troop combined arms live-fire exercises. In the fall, the squadron focused on EIB and excellence in armor and mounted crew gunnery training.

The Rak Solid Rakkasans of 21st Brigade Engineer Battalion continued their mission of supporting the Brigade with engineer tasks, chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive response, and obstacle demolition.

Taking part in multiple combined arms live-fire exercises, the engineers of 21st BEB cleared enemy obstacles with packed explosives and created defensive perimeters used by Soldiers during training.

In April, the Rakkasan team for the U.S. Army Best Sapper competition brought home the championship after a rough three-day training exercise covering dozens of engineering and Soldier Tasks.

Soldiers of the 3rd BCT Signal Intelligence Team received recognition from the National Security Agency for their work in Afghanistan, earning the NSA Director’s Trophy of Excellence above teams from across the Department of Defense.

Assurgam Rakkasans of 626th Brigade Support Battalion continued to put their best forward in supporting Rakkasans through fielding culinary teams, certifying their medical company on Role 2 Field Hospital treatment, and conducting live fire exercises to ensure every Soldier can fight, regardless of their military occupational specialty.

In May, Assurgam conducted a brigade support area 360 live-fire exercise to certify Fort Campbell post defense capabilities. In September, 626th BSB conducted a gunnery exercise to certify gun crews on weapon systems in preparation for JRTC and future missions. Also in September, Soldiers of the battalion brought the Rakkasan dining facility to full operating capability providing greater service to the 3rd BCT footprint.

Red Knight Rakkasans from 3rd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment provided timely and accurate fires in support of 3rd BCT. In February the Red Knights deployed B Battery to JRTC rotation to provide observer and trainer support.

The Red Knights continued the spirit of support and camaraderie within the 101st Airborne Division Artillery Brigade by providing support to 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment’s readiness tests. This included four deployment readiness exercises, two battery artillery readiness tests, an internal DIVARTY artillery readiness test and a brigade level field training exercise.

The Red Knights also conducted several live-fire training exercises to enhance lethality and to provide prompt fires support.