The 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division ("Raiders") is an inactive Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) of the United States Army. The brigade was activated at Fort Lewis, Washington on 1 June 2006 by reflagging the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment. The 4th Stryker Brigade was the last U.S. Army combat brigade to serve in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The brigade deployed three times in support of the war on terror, to Iraq from 2007–2008 and from 2009–2010, and to Afghanistan from 2012–2013 before deactivating in March 2014.
Formation The unit was originally formed at Fort Lewis in February 2005 as the 2nd Cavalry Regiment (Stryker), when the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment (Light) moved from Fort Polk, Louisiana, after a 15-month deployment in Iraq. The original command team of 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment was COL Jon S. Lehr and CSM John W. Troxell. In June 2006, the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment's colors were cased (to be uncased in Vilseck, Germany, along with a new batch of personnel from Fort Lewis's former 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division).
Units The brigade consisted of the following units: Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), an engineer company, an anti-tank company, a military intelligence company, a signal company, a logistics and support battalion, a field artillery battalion, three infantry battalions, and a cavalry or RSTA (reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition) squadron.
HHC, 4th SBCT "Manchus" 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment "Tomahawk" 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment "Rock" 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment "Blackhawk" 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment "Vikings" 2nd Battalion, 12th Field Artillery Regiment "Forge" 702nd Brigade Support Battalion (originally 202nd Brigade Support Battalion) 38th Engineer Company F Company, 52nd Infantry Regiment (Anti-tank) 45th Military Intelligence Company "Digital Dogs" 472nd Signal Company
History While the brigade was one of the Army's newest, its subordinate battalions had long records of service. The six battalions and four separate companies that composed the brigade have received honors from the Civil War through the First Gulf War that include some twenty Presidential Unit Citations, eight French Croix de Guerre, and nine Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citations.
Upon activation, the brigade assumed the nickname of "Dragoon Raiders" as a way to highlight the unique capabilities that the Stryker brigade brings to the battlefield. Like the dragoons of our Army's past, the soldiers of the 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team are mounted infantrymen possessing superior mobility and the versatility to successfully accomplish a wide range of divergent missions. The unit further adopted the moniker of raiders because of the Stryker brigade's self-sufficiency and ability to strike the enemy quickly and where least expected.
Garrison operations While preparing for its first deployment, the 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team made significant contributions to the Army. In addition to supporting the Reserve Officer Training Corps Warrior Forge Program and deploying elements of the 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment in support of wild-land fire fighting, the brigade was also at the forefront of fielding new systems to enhance Army capabilities. The brigade was the first unit to field the Land Warrior, a digital, man portable system that enhances soldier communications, tracking of friendly forces, and improves overall situational awareness.
Iraq 2007–08 In April 2007, the brigade deployed to Iraq as part of President George W. Bush's "surge" strategy and became the first Stryker brigade to deploy with all ten variants of the Stryker combat vehicle. During their 15 months deployment of which saw continuous, full-spectrum combat operations, the Raider Brigade successfully conducted nine brigade-level operations and more than 550 battalion- and company-sized operations throughout the Baghdad Northern Belt and in Diyala Province. The brigade's actions, in conjunction with Iraqi Security Forces, defeated Al Qaeda-affiliated insurgents in the brigade's battle space, suppressed Shia extremist militias, bolstered Iraqi civil government and security force capabilities, and protected critical infrastructure. These efforts provided space and time for the Iraqi people to take control of their own destiny and begin the process of reconciliation, rebuilding, and self- government.
Initially, the brigade headquarters, along with the 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, 12th Field Artillery Regiment, 202nd Brigade Support Battalion, and Brigade Troops Battalion was located at Camp Taji, north of Baghdad. The 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment remained under Brigade control but operated out of Forward Operating Base Warhorse. The 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment and 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment were detached conducting operations in Baghdad and later in Baqubah. The brigade area of responsibility included the city of Tarmiyah and the critical Main Supply Route Tampa, the densely populated Sadr City suburb of Husayniyah, and the Khan Bani Sa’ad and canal regions of Diyala Province. Upon the Raider Brigade's assumption of this battle space, Al Qaeda in Iraq basically controlled both Tarmiyah and Khan Bani Sa’ad. In Tarmiyah, insurgents had driven out the local police and destroyed the police station. Militant elements affiliated with Jaysh Al Mahdi strongly influenced Husayniyah to include the Iraqi Police. Around September 7, 2007, the brigade conducted operations to destroy old train station used by the enemy to attacked our Soldiers and were hit by IED during their follow-on mission in the Diyala Province. Safe travel on even major routes required deliberate route clearance because of the scope of the improvised explosive device threat.
From mid-May 2007 through January 2008, the brigade destroyed Al Qaeda affiliated insurgent cells in Baghdad's Northern Belt while keeping Shia extremists under control. Fully utilizing the robust intelligence collection and analysis capabilities organic to the Stryker brigade, Raider Brigade soldiers targeted and dismantled terrorist cells throughout the battle space. Simultaneously, the brigade used sensor-to-shooter operations to conduct surveillance on known IED hotspots and kill the IED emplacement teams.
Operation Raider Isolation The brigade also conducted major operations to take control of key terrain across the Northern Belt. During OPERATION RAIDER ISOLATION in June 2007, the Brigade, spearheaded by 2–1 Cavalry, prevented the exfiltration of Al Qaeda fighters from the critical city of Baqubah. These efforts contributed to the success of 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division's clearance of Baqubah in Operation Arrowhead Ripper. In July 2007, 2–12 Field Artillery put down a Shia extremist uprising in Husayniyah, effectively quarantining the city and ending the uprising with many casualties. Injuries and death had become a very real nightmare within Husayniyah.
Operation Raider Riviera Finally, in September 2007, 4–9 Infantry spearheaded Operation Raider Riviera, the deliberate clearing of Tarmiyah, which eliminated Al Qaeda's stranglehold on this city and allowed the establishment of long-term security.
By the time the Raider Brigade transferred control of Tarmiyah and Husayniyah in December 2007, IED activity on Route Tampa had decreased from eight incidents per day to less than three incidents per week. The city of Tarmiyah was clear of terrorists and Al Qaeda's influence on Khan Bani Sa’ad was significantly reduced. The brigade had detained more than five hundred persons, removing insurgents from the region and giving Iraqis a chance to solidify civilian government and security infrastructure. The brigade then shifted its focus to Diyala Province.
As the brigade assumed responsibility for all of Diyala Province, it regained control of 1–38 Infantry and 2–23 Infantry and had attached the 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment and eventually the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment. In assuming a province, the brigade had to take a much greater role in transitioning Iraqi security forces and partnering with the Government of Iraq. Despite these added responsibilities, the brigade continued to keep the pressure on the enemy, replicating the same intelligence-driven targeting methodology that had proven so successful previously.
Operation Raider Reaper and Harvest Additionally, the brigade followed up on previous clearing operations in the Baqubah region by seizing additional areas from Al Qaeda's control. In December 2007, elements of 2–1 Cavalry, 1–38 Infantry and the 5th Iraqi Army Division executed Operation Raider Reaper in the "Iron Triangle" region northwest of Baqubah. This operation freed several villages from Al Qaeda control and allowed for the standup of Sons of Iraq groups. The brigade then shifted focus to the "Bread Basket" area of the Diyala River Valley between the major cities of Dali Abbas and Muqdadiyah. The deliberate clearing of the "Bread Basket" – Operation Raider Harvest – saw 2–23 Infantry and 2/3 Armored Cavalry conducting shaping operations while 3/2 Stryker Cavalry and 5th Iraqi Army Division assets conducted clearing. This operation drove Al Qaeda from the area and freed dozens of villages from terrorist control. The Brigade followed up the success of Operation Raider Harvest with additional operations to clear the regions south of Buhriz and in the Turki region south of the city of Balad Ruz. The brigade further supported Iraqi Army operations to open Route Vanessa in between Baqubah and Khan Bani Sa’ad, a route that had been impassable to security forces.
Return to Fort Lewis After 13 months, on 1 June 2008, the Raider Brigade completed its mission in Iraq and transferred authority of Diyala Province. Brigade operations resulted in 1,700 personnel detained and more than 600 insurgents killed or wounded. The brigade's intelligence-driven raids removed more than 200 high-value individuals from the battlefield. Brigade route clearance operations resulted in more than 11,250 kilometers of routes being cleared and the discovery and reduction of 1,295 IEDs. Brigade soldiers found and reduced more than 550 enemy weapons caches.
Upon return from Iraq in June 2008, the brigade began repairing, replacing and fielding new equipment in preparation for their next deployment.
Iraq 2009–10 On 1 March 2009 Col. John Norris announced that the brigade would be deployed to Iraq in the Fall of 2009, nine months earlier than expected. This acceleration was in response to President Barack Obama's new Afghanistan policy which diverted 5/2 SBCT from Iraq to Afghanistan. The brigade had been accelerated for its last deployment. General Odierno and his staff had identified the need for a Stryker brigade to facilitate the responsible drawdown of American combat forces from Iraq and to leave Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) trained, equipped and capable to protect their people.
Once notified that they would deploy nine months earlier than expected, the Raiders started an intensified training program starting at the individual soldier level and culminating with a company-focused JRTC rotation in June 2009.