http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/L/LA_...EMPLATE=DEFAULT

Feb 26, 3:39 PM EST

Army looks at disbanding 256th Infantry Brigade

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- The Army is considering to disband the Louisiana Army National Guard's 256th Infantry Brigade to save money, but the state's elected officials and Guard leaders are vowing to fight the proposal.

The brigade recently returned from a yearlong combat tour in Iraq, where 22 of its members were killed. Disbanding the brigade could cost 1,400 soldier positions, officials said.

"Our reputation, our demonstrated performance, the extent of our sacrifice and our contributions bear more consideration than what we've been given," said Brig. Gen. John Basilica, who led the Lafayette-based brigade in Iraq. "Taking down the (brigade's) flag like this is very, very disappointing."

While details of the Army's proposal have not been completed, the service announced its intent last month to "rebalance" the mix of combat and support brigades in the Army National Guard. For Louisiana, that could mean a conversion to a combat support role.

Under the plan, four of the 256th Infantry Brigade's six battalions would be eliminated as combat units, leaving only the 1st Battalion, 141st Field Artillery Regiment in New Orleans and the 3rd Battalion, 156th Infantry Regiment in Shreveport in combat roles, Basilica said.

Gov. Kathleen Blanco has lashed out at the proposal, saying in a letter to Louisiana's congressional delegation that the brigade had an 83 percent re-enlistment rate during a two-year period leading up to and including its Iraq deployment, which speaks "volumes for the patriotism of our soldiers."

"To suggest now that we simply stand down the 256th is an insult and desecrates the memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice under its proud flag," Blanco wrote on Feb. 8.

Hoping to retain the combat brigade, Louisiana's Guard leaders are "still in negotiations" with the Army, Louisiana National Guard spokesman Col. Pete Schneider said.

"Louisiana is fighting for it to stay a combat brigade," Schneider said, not only for its federal wartime role, but for the "mobility and speed" such a force could bring to homeland security missions.

"When you want a fast-moving force, that's what combat brigades are for," Schneider said.

The 256th is a heavy-armored brigade, equipped with Abrams tanks, Bradley fighting vehicles and Paladin mobile howitzers that support its infantrymen. It is authorized to have 4,200 members but currently has less than 4,000, Basilica said.

Unlike the active duty and Reserve military, the National Guard answers to governors during peacetime and frequently is called upon to respond to natural disasters such as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and homeland security operations. But the Guard has a federal role, in that it can be sent overseas to fight the nation's wars.

U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., a member of the Senate's National Guard caucus, said she is perplexed by the Pentagon plan, coming on the heels of Katrina and Rita, and vowed "to fight it every step of the way."

Sen. David Vitter, R-La., said the fiscal 2007 defense budget included slashing 17,000 positions from the National Guard nationwide and added that he is concerned that some Guard missions could be changed, particularly the 256th.

Landrieu and Vitter were among 77 senators who wrote Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Feb. 2 to say they oppose the cuts. They argued that 40 percent of the ground troops in Iraq are from the National Guard and offered to work with Rumsfeld "to ensure the Guard maintains a robust capability to meet its responsibilities as a dual-purpose force."

The Army's goal is to reduce the number of planned National Guard combat brigades nationwide from 34 to 28 and increase the number of combat support brigades, such as engineers, military police and civil affairs.

Basilica said the Army's apparent rationale for targeting the 256th is based on the 1,400 vacancies existing throughout the Guard in the state, and that four of the six combat brigades selected for conversion to support roles are heavy armor outfits like Louisiana's.

Also, after spending a year in Iraq, the 256th isn't scheduled for another deployment, and 90 percent of its equipment remains in Southwest Asia, he said. By changing the 256th's mission now, the Army would not have to re-equip it, Basilica said.

The proposal comes at a time when the 256th is converting to a "brigade combat team," which would streamline the fighting force and bring new combat technology to the state, Basilica said.

"We were looking forward to what that meant to the brigade," he said, adding that the latest Army plans muddy the brigade's transformation. "This is about reducing the number of brigade combat teams in the Army, particularly the National Guard."

He said the Army proposal should not affect the state Guard's ability to respond during hurricane season.

Katrina struck on Aug. 29, when the brigade was still in Iraq. He said about 300 members of the brigade remain on active duty in New Orleans assisting in security missions.

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Information from: The Times-Picayune, http://www.timespicayune.com
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http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/age...y/256in-bde.htm



The federal mission of the 256th Infantry Brigade is to, on order, mobilize, deploy to designated theater and executes combat operations in support of national military objectives. The state mission of the 256th Infantry Brigade is to, on order, provide trained individuals and units capable of accomplishing State missions.

The history of the units of the 256th Infantry Brigade (Mechanized) date back to 1769 when the Regiment which today is known as the 156th Infantry was organized in New Orleans as The Regiment of City Militia by General Don Alejandro O'Reilly, Governor of the Spanish Province of Louisiana.

The 156th Infantry Regiment performed in several conflicts since 1769; the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Battle of New Orleans, the Mexican War, the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, Operation Desert Storm, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

During the Civil War the 2nd Louisiana Regiment fought well with Lee during the Seven Day Battle near Richmond in 1862. The night before Pickett's valiant charge up Cemetery Ridge at Gettysburg, the 2nd fought to within 100 yards of the enemy positions, atop the ridge. The 3rd Louisiana Regiment fought equally well. In 1862 after the Battle of Luka, General Price said of them . "No men fought more bravely or more victoriously than they." After participating in such historic campaigns as Second Manassas, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and Appomattox, the 2nd Regiment disbanded along with the Army of Northern Virginia in April 1865 while the 3rd Regiment was deactivated in May 1865 at Shreveport.

Louisiana's militia forces reorganized slowly after the Civil War and by 1890 there were 15 militia companies outside New Orleans known as the Special Militia Force. The following year the force was reorganized into the First and Second Infantry Battalions of the Louisiana State National Guard.

By 1904, with additional companies created the unit was reorganized as the 1st Infantry Regiment. The 1st was re-designated as the 156th Infantry Regiment in September 1917 and became part of the newly formed 39th arrived in France and became a replacement division with many of its members joining combat units. The 39th returned to the States in 1919 and the 156th Regiment was officially deactivated at Camp Beauregard in June.

Reorganization of the 156th Infantry Regiment began once again in 1921. In February 1940, the 156th (less the 2nd Battalion) reorganized in the Southern part of the State. The 2nd Battalion expanded and reorganized in the Northern area of the State as the 204th Coast Artillery. The 156th was introduced into Federal Service in February 1941 at Shreveport and underwent several re-designations during the war. The 156th was deactivated in 1946 while the 204th deactivated a year earlier. In May 1946 the 156th was reorganized with headquarters in Lafayette and the 204th was re-designated as the 199th Infantry Regiment. Both units were assigned to the 39th Infantry Division.

In July 1959, the 156th and 199th were consolidated and designated as the 156th Infantry, a parent regimental under the Combat Arms Regimental System and consisted of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battle Groups of the 39th Infantry Division.

Another reorganization took place in May 1963 when the Battle Groups were re-designated as the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Infantry Battalions. Then in December 1967, these four Battalions were reorganized into the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions, concurrently relieved from assignment to the 39th Infantry Division and assigned to the newly formed 256th Infantry Brigade, headquartered in Lafayette. At the same time, the 39th S & T Battalion, an element of the 39th Infantry Division was re-designated the 199th Support Battalion was also assigned to the 256th Infantry Brigade. This historic Washington Artillery, first organized in September 1838, was designated as the 1st Battalion 141st Artillery and assigned to the 256th in December 1967. Troop E 256th Cavalry was organized and federally recognized 29 July 1948 as Battery C, 105th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion, an element of the 39th Infantry Division. Converted, reorganized, and re-designated 1 June 1963 as Troop C, 1st Reconnaissance Squadron, 139th Armor. Reorganized and re-designated 1 December 1967 as Troop E 256th Cavalry; concurrently relieved from assignment to the 39th Infantry Division and assigned to the 256th Infantry Brigade. Troop E 256th Cavalry was redesignated on 01 September 1996 as Troop A, 108th Cavalry.

In 1976 as part of the Total Force concept, the 256th was selected as a Roundout Brigade organic to the 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized) stationed at Fort Polk.

In 1987 the 256th Infantry Brigade attended the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, CA, the first National Guard Brigade to attend and successfully complete a training rotation at the Training Center.

In November 1990, the 256th Infantry Brigade successfully mobilized in support of Operations Desert Shield/Storm. The Brigade units trained at Fort Polk, LA, and Fort Hood, TX, in preparation for deployment to Saudi Arabia for the Persian Gulf War. The 256th Infantry Brigade demobilized in May 1991 upon conclusion of the Persian Gulf War.

In 1995, the 256th Infantry Brigade was selected as one of 15 enhanced combat brigades by the United States Army, and thus become one of the Guard's highest priority combat units, receiving better training and newer equipment.

The 256th Brigade Combat Team (BCT) mobilizes and deployed to Ft Irwin, CA (NTC) on or about 7 July 2001. There, it assumed command and control of the PSTF and conducted RSOI Operations. The BCT conducted force on force operations from 15 to 24 july 2001 and upon completion conducted download, maintenance, turn-in, and redeployment to home station.

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Exploits in Iraq


256th Brigade Combat Team Camp Tigerland Baghdad, Iraq APO, AE 09326

NY Yanks shined with "La. Tigers"

I know too many of these guys...my Command Sgt. Major friend is a leader
of them and will be reassigned...it feels like I'm losing a family member.

This SH*T HURTS!
Reduce the Brigade to two battallions? Now?

Bush-Rumsfeld brilliance...do away with one fo the combat brigades
that carried the load...even as National Guard...they carried
on a tradition of the La. militia (The Original La. Tigers) which will always be on the lips of brothers-in-arms from Louisiana.
Damn the chickenhawks...the can't carry the chow for these guys.

Probaley part of a new concept in how the Army needs to be leaner and atuned to fighting irregular forces instead of traditional battle maneuver forces.

Before they do it I'd suggest the Army check the results from any NATO exercise where they'd use the Marines which are basically light infantry/light or little armor in the function of a blocking force against heavy armored maneuver units.

Each unit has a specific function to fulfill, matching the function to the unit's capability is the key to reducing casualties. We will still need heavy maneuver units no matter how many brush fires we get involved in.

Respectfully...new concept my a*s*s
You don't diss your best men...unless
you are a fool.

I agree Indianhead. $hitcanning your heavy maneuver units just means the wizards in the Washington puzzle palace don't anticipate to fight the kind of war requiring that kind of unit.

The number one problem with that reasoning? In the military if you are 100% certain your enemy will come at dawn from the south you can count on them showing up the night before, from the north, and while you're sitting on the crapper.

The lesson to learn from this? Carry you weapon to the crapper.

Yeah...I know...I used to, as a new meat...
Now I'm an old man...who tries to speak for those who
are ready...glad the fever has passed (through your innoculations
in the a*s*s). Now it's on the bedside..the .44 mag and Bowie
Knife...that's my innoculation...be prepared. Where's Sam Houston?
We need him now...instead of GW Bush. A real Texan.
I remember Texas History as a Jr. High School student
It was grand....WAS grand.

My wife has an aversion to guns so I keep them all locked up. Anyone get into our house at night would have a grand old time though.

I keep my NCO sword leaned up in the corner already unsheathed. My wife keeps her Great-grand-dad's tomahawk on her night stand. Anyone who saw her coming with that tomahawk would probably wet their pants, it still has a bit of hair hanging off the blade from Great-grand-dad's last customer.

Glad to hear you are better...but take some time man,
we don't recover as fast as we did at 20.

My wife has her .357 S&W in her closet...I have holding action
duties til she gets there. She shoots well. My dog that sleeps
at the back door is my trip wire, and the most important
notification defense I have.

The image of a woman with a tomahawk
coming at me makes me pucker. The sword too.

I'm a bit radical on this stuff, I know.
We have such pride in the 256th here and
wonder about the upcoming hurricane season.

It looks like several governor's also have a
problem with the "realignment" about to happen:


---------------------------------

Governors Lobby Bush About Guard
White House Ensures Funds, Equipment

By Dan Balz
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, February 28, 2006; Page A04

President Bush and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld sought yesterday to allay concerns among the nation's governors about funding and restructuring of the National Guard, but governors in both parties later said the administration must do more to satisfy them fully.

Governors were united in their opposition to what they regard as cuts in Guard funding in Bush's fiscal 2007 budget as well as fears that the Pentagon has been slow to replace equipment that has been shipped to Iraq with state Guard units. Early this month, all 50 governors signed a letter opposing the new budget and calling on Defense Department officials to reequip returning units as quickly as possible.

The winter meeting of the National Governors Association opened here yesterday with state executives determined to challenge Bush administration officials over proposed cuts in Pentagon funding for the National Guard and their potential impact on homeland security.

Democrats Look for Historic Shift in Governors' Races

Republicans face a potential upheaval in the states this November, with Democrats positioned to capture a majority of the governorships for the first time since 1990 and seize an early advantage in the 2008 presidential contest.

The governors raised the Guard issue at their meeting with Bush at the White House yesterday morning, and then met with Rumsfeld and Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, at a private lunch for a detailed discussion of the problem.

Much of the focus was on the gap between the Guard's authorized strength of 350,000 and the budget, which includes money for 333,000 Guard troops. Bush and Rumsfeld said they are committed to funding the Guard at the fully authorized level. They also said the equipment sent to Iraq will be replaced and in many cases upgraded.

The verbal assurances helped assuage some governors, but many said they still have questions. Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne ®, co-chairman of a National Guard committee of the National Governors Association, said he remained perplexed by what he heard. "I appreciated the president saying he's committed to the full strength, but the money is not in there," he said. "They must find the money."

Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee ®, the current NGA chairman, said Rumsfeld acknowledged that the administration should have done a better job of consulting with the governors before issuing the budget and a new defense restructuring plan. "The main thing that's different as of today is that they realize that we have to be a partner in the discussion, that we could help them sell a program or we could be a force to reckon with to keep it from ever happening."

The governors said Rumsfeld and the military leaders told them that proposed restructuring will benefit many states. Under the plan, the Pentagon will reduce the number of National Guard units involved in heavy combat activities and increase Guard units devoted to engineering and policing. The Pentagon officials said those changes will make it less costly to reequip Guard units and will make the Guard a more useful force for dealing with natural disasters or homeland security issues.

Several governors said they regard the collision between the administration and the states as a misunderstanding. "If you ask me, this is a tempest in a teapot," said Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour ®. "There is less here than meets the eye."

But others said verbal assurances from the Pentagon will not suffice. "It's something that governors are going to be paying very, very, very close attention to, to make sure that those oral representations are adhered to," said Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano (D), the NGA vice chairman.

The governors have become increasingly outspoken about Guard issues, because of the substantial role that Guard units have played in Iraq. The long deployments have left some states stretched thin, causing the governors to worry about their capacity to deal with domestic disasters.

Beyond that, governors have become more intimately involved in the Guard's activities and with the problems of the families left at home. Governors often are among the first to learn of casualties among Guard members from their states, and many have been to Iraq recently on Pentagon-sponsored trips to meet with Guard members from their states.

Acutely aware of the dual role the Guard is now being asked to play, the governors reacted negatively to any suggestion of cutbacks, and their reaction appeared to catch the Pentagon by surprise. Pentagon officials have been doing damage control since, highlighted by Rumsfeld's extraordinary appearance yesterday at the NGA winter meeting.

"Every single governor feels so intertwined with their Guard during this war," said Michigan Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm (D), who is among those who have visited Iraq. "We all feel very connected with them and very protective of the Guard. You layer upon that the Katrina situation, and I just think that right now [governors are] especially sensitive to protecting our defense at home and military families."

Governors also remain wary about proposed restructuring of the National Guard, which Pentagon officials said would result in some states gaining strength and others losing strength. Kempthorne also said he has more questions about assurances for the replenishment of equipment and whether the money is available.

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Yeah, the site of an angry Kickapoo squaw with a raised tomahawk in her hand is a site I've learned to fear. I've learned to make peace before we go to sleep, I don't want to be the target of a midnight Kickapoo one woman war party. I don't think she'd really tomahawk me but you know something? Why test it?



I don't think you will find a unit in the United States Army with as much history. I can't think of a single unit which can trace it's origins back to before the United States was the United States and on top of that the 256th can trace it's origin back to when Louisiana was a Spanish possession in 1769.

The Tigers deserve a better posterity.