Editing 1st Armored Division (United States) (section)

== Global War on Terrorism ==
=== Iraq ===
{{more citations needed|section|date=January 2020}}
In the months building up to the March 2003 invasion of Iraq, two [[battalion]]s of the 1st Armored Division's 3rd Brigade were deployed to support [[Iraq War|Operation Iraqi Freedom]]. The 2–[[70th Armor Regiment|70 Armor]] and 1–[[41st Infantry Regiment (United States)|41 Infantry]] battalion task forces augmented the [[82nd Airborne Division]], the [[3rd Infantry Division (United States)|3rd Infantry Division]], and the [[101st Airborne Division]] throughout the campaign to oust Iraqi dictator [[Saddam Hussein]]. These units spearheaded the U.S. assaults in As Samawah and Karbala and later occupied the southern area of Baghdad. The 1st Battalion, 13th Armor followed shortly behind towards the end of March 2003.

In May 2003, the division deployed to Iraq and assumed responsibility for [[Baghdad]], under command of Major General [[Ricardo Sanchez]], relieving the 3d Infantry Division. The 1st Brigade, under Colonel [[Michael S. Tucker]] and after July 2003 under Colonel [[Peter Mansoor]], assumed responsibility for the [[Al-Rusafa, Iraq|Rusafa]] and [[Adhamiya]] districts of central Baghdad.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Вaghdad at Sunrise: A Brigade Commander's War in Iraq|last=Mansoor|first=Peter R.|publisher=[[Yale University Press]]|year=2008|isbn=9780300140699 |location=New Haven and London|ref={{sfnRef|Mansooor}}|page=21}}</ref> The division was scheduled to return to Germany in April 2004 but was extended in country an additional 3 months in order to oppose an uprising of Shia militia led by Moqtada Al Sadr. During the extension Task Force 1–37 Armor ("Bandits") fought Sadr's forces in [[Karbala]] while Task Force 2–37 AR ("Dukes") along with elements of 2–3 FA ("Gunners") fought in [[Diwaniya]], [[Sadr City]], [[Al-Kut]], and [[Najaf]]. Task Force 1–36 IN ("Spartans") became the [[Combined Joint Task Force 7]] Operational Reserve and conducted operations along Route Irish from Baghdad International Airport to the Green Zone in support of the 1st Cavalry Division. Forces from the 2d Brigade fought in [[Kut]]. During its 15-month deployment, the division lost 133 soldiers.

==== Ready First ====
The division's 1st Brigade deployed again to Iraq in January 2006 under the command of Colonel [[Sean MacFarland|Sean B. MacFarland]] after months of intensive training in Grafenwöhr and Hohenfels, Germany. Many of the soldiers who fought with units like 1–36 Infantry ("Spartans"), 2–37 Armor ("Iron Dukes"), and 1–37 ("Bandits") during the invasion of Iraq returned for a second tour. Most of the 1st BCT was initially deployed to Northern Iraq in [[Nineveh Governorate|Nineveh province]] concentrating on the city of Tal' Afar. In May 2006, the main force of the 1st Brigade received orders to move south to the city of Ramadi in volatile Al Anbar Province.<ref name="Michaels2010">{{cite book|last=Michaels|first=Jim|title=A Chance in Hell: The Men Who Triumphed Over Iraq's Deadliest City and Turned the Tide of War|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b_M80NRlBeIC&pg=PA89|year=2010|publisher=St. Martin's Press|isbn=978-1-4299-5051-0}}</ref>

[[File:Tank in Ramadi.jpg|thumb|1st BCT employed tanks in the city of Ramadi to push out Al Qaeda in Iraq.]]

Since 2003, Al Anbar served as a base of operations for the Sunni insurgency and al Qaeda.  Ramadi, its capital, had neither a government nor a police force when the brigade arrived.  Most military strategists inside and outside of the Bush administration believed that the war in Anbar had already concluded unsuccessfully.  Al Qaeda in Iraq publicly announced Ramadi as the capital of their new caliphate and the city alone averaged more than twenty attacks per day; the province was statistically the most dangerous location in the country, and the insurgency enjoyed free rein throughout much of the province.<ref name="Filkins">{{cite news|last=Filkins|first=Dexter|title=U.S. hands back security of Anbar Province|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/01/world/africa/01iht-iraq.4.15798614.html?_r=0|access-date=18 September 2013|newspaper=The New York Times|date=1 September 2008}}</ref>

==== Ramadi ====
When the 1st Brigade arrived in Ramadi in June 2006 with more than 70 M1 Abrams tanks and 84 Bradley fighting vehicles, many locals believed the brigade was preparing for a Fallujah-style block-by-block clearing assault on the city and many insurgents fled the city.  Following Colonel H.R. McMaster's "Clear, Hold, Build" strategy, the brigade developed a plan to isolate the insurgents, deny them sanctuary, and build Iraqi security forces.

The 1st Brigade moved into some of Ramadi's dangerous neighborhoods and built four of what would eventually become eighteen combat outposts starting in July 2006. The soldiers brought the territory under control and inflicted many casualties on the insurgents. On 24 July, the Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) launched a counterattack, initiating 24 assaults, each with about 100 fighters, on American positions. The insurgents failed in all of their attacks and lost about 30 men.<ref name="USA Today, An Army colonel's gamble pays off in Iraq">{{cite news|last=Michaels|first=Jim|title=An Army colonel's gamble pays off in Iraq|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2007-04-30-ramadi-colonel_N.htm|access-date=18 September 2013|newspaper=USA Today|date=1 May 2007}}</ref>

==== Independence Day ====
Simultaneous with combat operations, the brigade worked on the "hold" portion of clear, hold, build. Lieutenant Colonel Tony Deane, commander of Task Force 1-35 Armor, approached Sheik Abdul Sattar Bezia al-Rishawi of the Abu Risha tribe in an attempt to recruit his tribesmen to the police force.

[[File:Pic of ramadi.jpg|thumb|left|Downtown Ramadi in 2006]]

In his book ''A Chance in Hell'' that focuses on the operation in Al Anbar, Jim Michaels wrote that the US had a flawed view on civil government which ignored the tribal history of Iraq. "The tribal system embraced elements of democracy. The sheik may not be elected," wrote Michaels," but nor is he born into his job.  Sheiks are generally selected by a group of elders[...] Throughout history, ignoring the tribes [in Iraq] has never been a smart move.  Sheiks have wielded power for thousands of years and survived countless efforts to blunt their influence in the name of modernity."<ref name="Michaels2010"/>{{rp|89}}

To facilitate Sheik Sittar, Colonel MacFarland's deputy, Lieutenant Colonel Jim Lechner, and his police implementation officer, Marine Major Teddy Gates, changed the location for Iraqi Police recruiting. They wanted a more secure location close to Sattar's house, as this would enable them to build a police station north of the Euphrates River in an area where many potential recruits lived. 
Having already had his father and three brothers killed by AQI, Sattar appreciated the idea. The residents' response was overwhelming by standing in line to serve as IP's at the next recruiting drive.

In August, the new Jazeera police station north of the river, manned mostly by Abu Ali Jassim tribe members, was attacked and the sheikh of the tribe was killed. AQI hid the sheikh's body so it was not found for several days, a violation of Islam's strict burial rules that call for interment within 24 hours.

The attack on the station killed several Iraqi police and created many burn casualties. MacFarland offered to evacuate the police to Camp Blue Diamond, an American Army camp outside of Ramadi, while they repaired the station. But the Iraqis refused to abandon their post and instead put their flag back up and resumed patrolling that same day.<ref>{{cite book|last=Silverman|first=Michael|title=Awakening Victory: How Iraqi Tribes and American Troops Reclaimed Al Anbar and Defeated Al Qaeda in Iraq|year=2011|publisher=Casemate Publishers|location=Havertown, PA}}</ref>

==== Awakening ====
With the locals outraged by AQI's disregard of Islamic funeral laws, the charismatic Sattar stepped forward to continue the push toward working with the Americans.<ref name="proceedings">{{cite journal | url=http://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2008-04/ramadi-caliphate-capitalism | title=Ramadi From the Caliphate to Capitalism | author=Lubin, Andrew | journal=Proceedings of the United States Naval Institute |date=April 2008  | volume=134 | issue=4 | pages=1,262}}</ref> On 9 September 2006, he organized a tribal council, attended by more than 50 sheiks as well as MacFarland, where he officially declared an "Anbar Awakening". It would convene an Awakening Council dedicated to driving the AQI out of Ramadi and establish rule of law and local governance.  The Anbar Awakening was realized with Sittar as its leader.  McFarland, speaking later about the meeting, said, "I told them that I now knew what it was like to be in Independence Hall on 4 July 1776 when the Declaration of Independence was signed." 
While attacks remained high through October 2006, the Awakening and Sittar's influence began to spread. The AQI, realized it was losing its influence over the citizens and launched a counterattack on the Sufia tribal area on 25 November.  The attack was intended to terrorize and insult the Sufia tribe, though with the 1st BCT's M1A1 tanks reinforcing tribal defenders, the AQI was repelled and the relationship between the Sufia tribe and the 1st Armored Division improved.

By early 2007, the combination of tribal engagement and combat outposts was defeating AQI's in Ramadi and throughout the province. President [[George W. Bush]], in his 23 January 2007 State of the Union speech referred to Al Anbar as a place "where al Qaeda terrorists have gathered and local forces have begun showing a willingness to fight them."<ref name="sotu">{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/23/washington/23bush-transcript.html?pagewanted=print&_r=0 | title=Text and audio: transcript of President Bush's State of the Union address | work=The New York Times | date=23 January 2007}}</ref>

==== "The Gettysburg of this war" ====
By February 2007, contact with insurgents dropped almost 70 percent in number since June 2006 as well as decreasing in complexity and effect.  By the summer of 2007, fighting in Al Anbar was mostly over.  Frederick Kagan, resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, called Al Anbar "the Gettysburg of this war, to the extent that counterinsurgencies can have such turning points," writing "Progress in Anbar and throughout the Sunni community has depended heavily on a skillful balance between military force and political efforts at the local level."<ref name="Kagan">{{cite web|last=Kagan|first=Frederick|title=The Gettysburg of This War|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/222007/gettysburg-war/frederick-w-kagan|work=National Review Online|access-date=18 September 2013}}</ref>

The tactics, techniques, and procedures used by 1st BCT were groundbreaking at the time but came to serve as the philosophical basis for the surge in Iraq.<ref>{{cite book|last=Ricks|first=Thomas|title=The Gamble: General David Petraeus and the American Military Adventure in Iraq, 2006-2008|year=2009|publisher=The Penguin Press|isbn=978-1-59420-197-4|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/gamblegeneraldav00rick_0}}</ref> In nine months, 85 soldiers, sailors, and Marines were killed, and over 500 were wounded.

==== Division Headquarters redeploys ====
In September 2007, amid a national debate about troop levels in Iraq and, more broadly, about the US strategy in Iraq, the 1st Armored Division Headquarters was re-deployed to Iraq. General [[David Petraeus]]' [[Iraq War troop surge of 2007|surge strategy]] was in effect, with major counterinsurgency operations across the country. "This is a pivotal and historic time for the 1st AD, for the forces in Iraq and for the nation," said Brig. Gen. James C. Boozer, a deputy commanding general for 1st AD at the time of the division's deployment.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.stripes.com/news/1st-armored-division-preparing-for-iraq-deployment-1.68446 | title=1st Armored Division preparing for Iraq deployment | work=Stars and Stripes | date=4 September 2007 | author=Dougherty, Kevin}}</ref> The division began its deployment the same day Petraeus delivered his [[Report to Congress on the Situation in Iraq]], concluding that "the military objectives of the surge are, in large measure, being met."

The division, commanded by then-Major General Mark Hertling, conducted a relief in place with the 25th Infantry Division and assumed command of Multi-National Division North, headquartered in Tikrit, Iraq, on 28 October 2007, just as MacFarland's Anbar Awakening was pushing AQI out of Anbar. At the time in northern Iraq, enemy attacks averaged 1,800 a month, the Iraqis had little trust in their central government, and the unemployment rate was high.

Hertling assumed responsibility for all Coalition forces in Northern Iraq.  Multi-National Division North was composed of five maneuver brigade combat teams, a combat aviation brigade, a fires brigade, and an engineer brigade. The division had responsibility includes the Iraqi provinces of Ninawa, Kirkuk (formerly at Tamin), Salah ad Din, and Diyala along with Dahuk, and As Sulaymaniyah. The area included the critical cities of Tal Afar, Mosul, Bayji, Tikrit, Kirkuk, Samarra, Balad, Baqubah, Dahuk, and Sulaymaniah.  Arbil province remained aligned as a separate Multi-National Division, North-East. The division area of operations included ethnic fault lines between Arabs and Kurds, religious fault lines between Sunni and Shia Muslims, numerous tribal regions, and the complexities involving significant former regime elements.

The 1st Armored Division immediately applied a mix of lethal and non-lethal counterinsurgency tactics, as maneuver battalions partnered with State Department officials and provincial reconstruction teams.  Commanders applied a focused lethality, protecting the Iraqi population while killing insurgents in large volumes.<ref>{{cite web|last=Millham|first=Matt|title=Hertling: Iraq making progress, needs more work|url=http://www.stripes.com/news/hertling-iraq-making-progress-needs-more-work-1.86179|publisher=Stars and Stripes|access-date=21 September 2013}}</ref>

The division transferred responsibility to Headquarters 25th Infantry Division on 8 December 2008 and returned to Wiesbaden Army Airfield (later renamed [[Lucius D. Clay Kaserne]]) in Germany.<ref>{{cite web|last=Nye |first=Alisha |title=Wainwright's 1-25th SBCT takes over Iraq battlespace |url=http://www.usarak.army.mil/AlaskaPost/Archives2008/081107/Nov07Story2.asp |access-date=21 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926111625/http://www.usarak.army.mil/AlaskaPost/Archives2008/081107/Nov07Story2.asp |archive-date=26 September 2013 }}</ref>

On 17 April 2013, US Secretary of Defense [[Chuck Hagel]] announced the deployment of elements of the 1st Armored Division headquarters to [[Jordan]] in response to the [[Syrian Civil War|crisis in Syria]]. The elements from the 1st Armored Division joined forces in Jordan and provided command and control in cooperation with Jordan forces, which was used to establish a joint task force headquarters that provided command and control for [[chemical weapons]] response, [[humanitarian assistance]] efforts, and stability operations. The 1st Armored Division planners in Jordan are facilitating the exchange of information with the [[Jordanian Armed Forces]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Starr|first=Barbara|title=U.S. military to step up presence in Jordan in light of Syria civil war|url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/17/world/us-jordan-troops-order/index.html|work=News|publisher=CNN|access-date=21 September 2013}}</ref>

=== Move to Fort Bliss ===
In 2005, the [[Base Realignment and Closure]] (BRAC) commission decided to move the 1st Armored Division to [[Fort Bliss|Fort Bliss, Texas]] no later than 2012. As part of then Army-wide transformation, several division units were deactivated or converted to other units. The 1st Armored Division officially [[Casing of the Colors|uncased its colors]] at Fort Bliss on 13 May 2011.

* 1st Brigade: The 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division cased its colors at Friedberg, Germany on 20 April 2007, ending 62 years of military presence in Germany.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rfct.1ad.army.mil/home.htm |title="Ready First" Combat Team ends more than 60-year Germany run |access-date=10 May 2008 |first=Alfredo |last=Jimenez |date=3 March 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080413123933/http://www.rfct.1ad.army.mil/home.htm |archive-date=13 April 2008 }}</ref> 1st Brigade reactivated and uncased its colors on 27 October 2008.<ref name="bliss active">It deployed as of 19 November 2010 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The brigade returned home in Nov 2010,
{{cite web
 |url=https://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=49155 
 |title=Combat Team Reflagging to Mark Start of 1st Armored Division's U.S. Standup 
 |access-date=10 May 2008 
 |first=Donna 
 |last=Miles 
 |work=American Forces Press Service News Articles 
 |date=3 March 2008 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080520100808/http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=49155 
 |archive-date=20 May 2008 
}}</ref> and began reconfiguring as a Stryker brigade combat team (SBCT) after redeployment from Iraq in November 2010. Denoted 1-1AD "Ready First", the 1st BCT, 1st Armored Division deployed to Afghanistan in December 2012.<ref name="Pittard,11-29-2012">MG [[Dana J. H. Pittard]] (28 November 2012 ) '' Fort Bliss Monitor''</ref> The first [[female engagement team]] to deploy from Fort Bliss was trained in 2012 before Secretary of Defense [[Leon Panetta]]'s order rescinding restrictions on women in combat roles.<ref>"'FET' to fight: female engagement team makes history", Fort Bliss Monitor, 11 July 2012</ref> "Ready First" Brigade converted from a Stryker BCT to an ABCT 20 June 2019.<ref name="ready1st2019">{{Cite web|title=David Burge (12 June 2019) 'Ready First' gets an A: 1st SBCT to become 1st ABCT June 20, infantry battalions to reflag|url=http://fortblissbugle.com/2019/06/12/ready-first-gets-an-a-1st-sbct-to-become-1st-abct-june-20-infantry-battalions-to-reflag/|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617134024/http://fortblissbugle.com/2019/06/12/ready-first-gets-an-a-1st-sbct-to-become-1st-abct-june-20-infantry-battalions-to-reflag/|archive-date=17 June 2019|access-date=18 June 2019}}</ref>
* 2nd Brigade: 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division in Baumholder, Germany, remained assigned to USAREUR until 15 July 2009, when it was reflagged as the separate [[170th Infantry Brigade (United States)|170th Infantry Brigade]].<ref>{{cite web |title=1st AD brigade gets new colors |work=Stars and Stripes |url=http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=63746 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090723201422/http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=63746 |archive-date=23 July 2009 |url-status=live |access-date=16 July 2009 }}</ref> As part of the Grow the Army Plan announced on 19 December 2007, the 170th was one of two infantry brigades to be activated and retained in Germany until 2012 and 2013. (The other brigade is the [[172nd Infantry Brigade (United States)|172nd Infantry Brigade]] in [[Schweinfurt]], Germany, which reflagged from 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division on 16 March 2008.<ref name="bliss active"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hqusareur.army.mil/news/releases/2008-03-06_02_RELEASE20080202%20_2_.pdf |title=Army Announces Next Steps in USAREUR Transformation |access-date=8 December 2015 |work=News release of HQ U.S. Army Europe and 7th Army |date=6 March 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080910072603/http://www.hqusareur.army.mil/news/releases/2008-03-06_02_RELEASE20080202%20_2_.pdf |archive-date=10 September 2008 }}</ref>) In 2010, the U.S. Army attached the 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division to the [[Brigade Modernization Command]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bctmod.army.mil/news/pdf/FFIDtoBMCnewsrel.pdf |title=Unit Changes from Directorate to Command |access-date=3 March 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007204843/http://www.bctmod.army.mil/news/pdf/FFIDtoBMCnewsrel.pdf |archive-date=7 October 2011}}</ref> assigning it the evaluation mission previously held by the 5th Brigade, 1st Armored Division, AETF. In 2016, 2nd Brigade moved to the Ready pool for deployment.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Fort Bliss Bugle |title=Divest, invest in property management |url=http://fortblissbugle.com/divest-invest-in-property-management/ |date=25 April 2016 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160425095959/http://fortblissbugle.com/divest-invest-in-property-management/ |archive-date=25 April 2016 |access-date=3 March 2019}}</ref>
* 3rd Brigade: On 28 March 2008, the 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division (HBCT) deactivated at Fort Riley and reflagged as 2d (Dagger) Brigade, 1st Infantry Division (HBCT).<ref>
{{cite web
|url=http://www.1id.army.mil/NewsViewer.aspx?id=1245
|title=2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division Colors Move to Fort Riley
|access-date=10 May 2008
|work=1st Infantry Division News Viewer
|date=March 2008
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415030121/http://www.1id.army.mil/NewsViewer.aspx?id=1245
|archive-date=15 April 2008
|url-status=dead
}}
</ref> The 3rd Brigade was reactivated as an infantry brigade combat team on 2 July 2009 at Fort Bliss.<ref>
{{cite web |date=July 2009 |title=3RD BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM |url=https://home.army.mil/drum/index.php/units-tenants/3rd-BCT |access-date=9 July 2009 |work=U.S. ARMY FORT DRUM}}
</ref>
* 4th Brigade: On 4 March 2008, 4th Brigade, 1st Armored Division activated at Fort Bliss as a HBCT and reflagged from the [[4th Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division]].<ref>
{{cite web
 |url=http://www.hood.army.mil/1stcavdiv/news/2008/mar/mar13.htm 
 |title=Sun sets on Long Knife, rises on Highlanders 
 |access-date=10 May 2008 
 |first=Bradley J. 
 |last=Clark 
 |work=First Team News 
 |date=March 2008 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113171721/http://www.hood.army.mil/1stcavdiv/news/2008/mar/mar13.htm 
 |archive-date=13 January 2009 
}}
</ref>
* 5th Brigade: In 2007, a new unit, 5th Brigade, 1st Armored Division, activated at Fort Bliss as an Army evaluation task force. 5th BCT tested the [[Future Force Warrior]] system. It evaluated multiple types of spin out equipment and prepared them for fielding to the rest of the Army. 5th Brigade was deactivated in 2010. <!--After deactivation? ([[5th Armored Brigade (United States)|Fifth Brigade]] now serves to train Reserve and National Guard components for deployment as part of [[First Army Division West]], at Fort Bliss.)-->
* Aviation Brigade: The Aviation Brigade, 1st Armored Division deactivated on 7 June 2006 at Fliegerhorst Kaserne, Hanau, Germany and moved to Fort Riley, Kansas to reflag as the modular Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division.<ref>
{{cite press release
|url=http://www.1ad.army.mil/1ADINFOMAIN/Stories/2006/Jun06_press_release/Press%20Release%2006-06-03%20Germany%20bids%20farewell%20to%204th%20Brigade.pdf
|title=Germany bids farewell to 4th Brigade
|date=8 June 2006
|access-date=10 May 2008
|first=Karl
|last=Weisel
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080910072718/http://www.1ad.army.mil/1ADINFOMAIN/Stories/2006/Jun06_press_release/Press%20Release%2006-06-03%20Germany%20bids%20farewell%20to%204th%20Brigade.pdf
|archive-date=10 September 2008}}
</ref> The Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th ID was reflagged to CAB, 1st Armored Division. 4–501st Aviation (4th Battalion "Pistoleros", 501st Regiment, Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Armored Division) deployed to Kuwait in November 2012.<ref name="Pittard,11-29-2012"/>
* Engineer Brigade: The Engineer Brigade, 1st Armored Division, the last of its kind in the Army, cased its colors and inactivated at Giessen, Germany on 26 April 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vcorps.army.mil/News/2007/2007-04-27_DivEngInactivation_release.pdf |title=Ceremony Bids Farewell to 'Iron Sappers' of 1st Armored Engineer Brigade |access-date=8 December 2015 |first=Alfredo |last=Jimenez |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080910072721/http://www.vcorps.army.mil/News/2007/2007-04-27_DivEngInactivation_release.pdf |archive-date=10 September 2008 }}</ref>
* Division Artillery: Division Artillery, 1st Armored Division cased its colors and was deactivated at Baumholder, Germany on 1 May 2007. The 1st AD DIVARTY was the last standing division artillery unit in the Army.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vcorps.army.mil/News/2007/2007-05-02_DIVARTY_inactivation_release.pdf |title=1st Armored Division Artillery Cases Colors in Baumholder Ceremony |access-date=10 May 2008 |first=Mark S. |last=Patton |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080910072718/http://www.vcorps.army.mil/News/2007/2007-05-02_DIVARTY_inactivation_release.pdf |archive-date=10 September 2008 }}
</ref> The [[1st Armored Division Artillery (United States)|DIVARTY]] reactivated in 2014 at Fort Bliss.

The division's colors were officially moved from Germany to Fort Bliss on 13 May 2011.<ref>Patton, Mark, "[http://www.stripes.com/news/old-ironsides-bids-farewell-to-germany-1.143477 'Old Ironsides' bids farewell to Germany] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303235420/http://www.stripes.com/news/old-ironsides-bids-farewell-to-germany-1.143477 |date=3 March 2016 }}", ''[[Stars and Stripes (newspaper)|Stars and Stripes]]'', 13 May 2011.</ref> On 25 June 2013, Army force restructuring plans were announced.  As part of the plan, the division deactivated its 3rd Brigade Combat Team following its 2014 deployment to Afghanistan.  The 4th BCT was reflagged as the 3rd Brigade Combat team in April 2015.

The 1st Armored Division's Sustainment Brigade deployed 200 of its soldiers to Afghanistan on 11 May 2015.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20160325073826/http://fortblissbugle.com/1st-ad-sustainment-brigade-deploys-to-afghanistan/ 1st AD Sustainment Brigade deploys to Afghanistan]}}</ref>

=== Operation Freedom's Sentinel ===
In late December 2016, about 1,500 soldiers from the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team deployed to Afghanistan as part of [[Operation Freedom's Sentinel]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.armytimes.com/articles/army-announces-deployments-for-5-300-soldiers|title=Army announces deployments for 6,100 soldiers|publisher=Armytimes|date=8 December 2016}}</ref> In March 2017, 200 soldiers from the 1st Sustainment Brigade deployed throughout Afghanistan to lead logistical operations in support of the US counter-terrorism mission and Afghan-led operations against the Taliban.<ref name="stripes_1.461132">{{cite web|url=https://www.stripes.com/news/army-s-1st-armored-division-tapped-for-iraq-afghanistan-tours-1.461132#.WOEeTvWcGUl|title=Army's 1st Armored Division tapped for Iraq, Afghanistan tours|publisher=Stars and Stripes|date=29 March 2017}}</ref>

=== Operation Inherent Resolve ===
400 soldiers from the division's headquarters element deployed to Iraq in summer 2017, where it led the [[Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve|coalition]]'s ground efforts as part of [[Operation Inherent Resolve]].<ref name="stripes_1.461132"/> This event was commemorated with a [https://bluemetalgifts.com/combined-joint-forces-oir/ Combined Joint Forces OIR challenge coin] which has the Old Ironsides logo, the CSM rank, 7 seals, 23 world flags, the US and the Iraq flags.