The Army confirmed the Department of Defense announcement Oct. 9 sending Soldiers from the 4th Brigade, 4th Infantry Division at Fort Hood, Texas, to Iraq as part of a normal rotation of forces. The "Cobras" will deploy in the summer of 2008 to support Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The 4/4 officially activated as one of the Army's first modular brigades as part of an Army-wide restructuring and transformation in December, 2004. The unit deployed in support of OIF in late November 2005 and was based at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Prosperity. Subordinate units at FOBs Falcon, Honor and Union III, operated in some of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Baghdad.
During that deployment, the Cobra Brigade provided security for many key events, to include the first session of the Iraqi Council of Representatives at the Parliament Center in Baghdad, where 275 representatives were sworn into Iraq's newly elected, four-year government in March 2006.
The brigade combat team also conducted numerous operations - capturing or killing terrorists, finding roadside bombs and IED networks, and developing intelligence used to prevent other attacks. Other operations included important civic projects, helping rid the streets of garbage and showing Iraqi citizens their government is working for a better future.
The 4/4 will be lead by Col. Philip F. Battaglia, and CSM Edwin Rodriguez, both of whom have served in Iraq previously.
The deployment of the Cobra Brigade will provide senior commanders in Iraq the flexibility to maintain the appropriate level of effort based on their assessment of the security situation on the ground.
Prior to its deployment, the brigade will be re-designated as 4th Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division.
The existing 4th Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, is currently deployed in Iraq. That unit, based in Fort Bliss, Texas, will re-deploy in the coming months. After its return to home station, it will re-designate to become part of 1st Armored Division.
As with recent unit deployments to Iraq, the Cobra Brigade Combat Team could remain in theater up to 15 months.
Army leadership does not take for granted the incredible sacrifices borne by Family Members during this period of frequent deployments to combat. The Army continues to look closely at all aspects of Family support during this period of unprecedented operational tempo, and every consideration for the Soldier's and Family's exceptional dedication to duty is given during the periods of pre-deployment, deployment and, in particular, upon return.
