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Readying for war Fort Riley-based infantry division goes through desert training in California before possibly leaving for Iraq

Division has long history

The Big Red One has participated in virtually every Amerian conflict since World War I

Thousands of troops have served in the 1st Infantry Division. Based in large part in Germany for decades, the division is in the process of relocating its overseas units to Fort Riley, where a part of the division has been based for many years.

The 1st Infantry Division has been active in every major conflict since World War I. The division is preparing, once again, to deploy to Iraq.

Vehicles of the Big Red One

Originally the 1st Infantry Division, or Big Red One, was a light infantry division consisting mainly of ground troops and support personnel. Today, the division is considered a mechanized infantry division, equipped with everything from helicopters to tanks.

Soldiers from 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, position their M2A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle at a traffic control point south of Samarra, Iraq. The Bradley Fighting Vehicle serves as an armored scouting vehicle and also transports infantry squads to and from critical points on the battlefield.

More information about this training

  • Fort Irwin
    Fort Irwin is home to the Army's National Training Center - and looks a lot like Iraq. It's a must-stop place for units about to deploy.
  • Fort Riley
    The 1st Infantry Division is based at Fort Riley.
  • 5th Squad, 4th Regiment, 1st Infantry Division
    Jerad Hall and other soldiers in this special report are primarily members of the 5-4 Cavalry.
  • Strategic Operation
    Strategic Operations is responsible for many of the special effects that are used to make this training as real as possible.
  • KU Army ROTC
    Jerad Hall graduated from KU and was a member of the university's Army ROTC.

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  1. ddayot (anonymous) says…

    thanks to everyone who volunteers for our country, to protect us all.........even idiots like rockchalk_ku_sucks