17 FORT BLISS, Texas – The 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, ‘The Iron Brigade’, 1st Armored Division uncased their unit colors during a ceremony on Iron Soldier Field April 22.
The ceremony marked the end of their deployment in support of Operation Spartan Shield and reintegration back into the Fort Bliss community.
Due to COVID-19 mitigations, the ceremony attendees were limited, but was streamed live through 2ABCT’s Facebook page for virtual attendees to watch.
Col. Michael P. Wagner, the commander of 2ABCT, shared his thoughts on the deployment in an address to viewers.
“If I could choose one word or theme to characterize the deployment and the 9 months leading up to it, the word would be change,” he said. “From social tensions and a global pandemic complete to our change of mission and ongoing adjustments to our force posture in CENTCOM.”
2nd BCT, 1st Armored Division Leadership
COL Michael P. Wagner
COL Wagner began his career as an Infantry Officer in 1997 after graduating from the United States Military Academy, and he was assigned to the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 508th Infantry in Vicenza, Italy. There he served as an airborne rifle platoon leader, rifle company executive officer, and maintenance officer.
From 2002-2005, COL Wagner served at Fort Hood, Texas, where he was a Current Operations Officer in the III Corps G3 and then as the Brigade Chief of Plans and Commander of A Company, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry in 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division. During this time he deployed to Tikrit, Iraq, as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom I.