3rd Brigade Combat Team , 10th Mountain Division ( United States ) The 3rd Brigade Combat Team , 10th Mountain Division is an infantry brigade combat team of the United States Army based at Fort Drum , New York . It is a subordinate unit of the 10th Mountain Division . Activated in September , 2004 as part of an expansion of the 10th Mountain Division , the brigade was quickly deployed to Afghanistan as a part of Operation Enduring Freedom , and had its first tour extended during the deployment . The brigade had been planned to deploy to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2009 , but it was rerouted back to Afghanistan for a second tour in the eastern regions of the country , in order to prepare for additional troops to move into the region . In 2011 it was deployed back to Afghanistan in the southern region of the country . Organization . The brigade consists of six subordinate battalions ; its combat element consists of two infantry battalions , the 1st Battalion , 32nd Infantry Regiment and the 2nd Battalion , 87th Infantry Regiment . The 3rd Squadron , 71st Cavalry Regiment provides reconnaissance services to the brigade , and the 4th Battalion , 25th Field Artillery Regiment provides field artillery support . The 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion ( 3rd BSTB ) provides various combat support functions for the brigade , specifically one platoon of military police and one company each of engineers , military intelligence personnel , and communications specialists . All logistics services for the brigade are provided by the 710th Brigade Support Battalion ( 710th BSB ) . All of these battalions are located at Fort Drum with the majority of the 10th Mountain Division . History . The 3rd Brigade Combat Team was activated in 2004 as part of the overall Army transformation , and the transformation of the 10th Mountain division into a modular division . On 16 September 2004 , the division headquarters finished its transformation , with 1st Brigade becoming the 1st Brigade Combat Team , and 3rd Brigade Combat Team , 10th Mountain Division being activated for the first time . In January 2005 , the 4th Brigade Combat Team , 10th Mountain Division was also activated at Fort Polk , Louisiana . 2nd Brigade Combat Team would not be transformed until September 2005 , pending a deployment to Iraq . Recent deployments . The 3rd Brigade Combat Team deployed to eastern Afghanistan in 2006 along with 10th Mountain Division Headquarters , staying in the country until 2007 . The Division Headquarters served as the command and control element for Regional Command East and 3rd Brigade served under this command along the Afghan border with Pakistan , fulfilling a similar role as it did during its previous deployment . During this time , the deployment of the brigade was extended along with that of the 4th Brigade Combat Team , 82nd Airborne Division ; however , it was eventually replaced by the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team which was rerouted from Iraq . The brigade was slated to deploy to Iraq in 2009 , but that deployment was rerouted . In January 2009 , the brigade instead deployed to Kunar , Logar and Wardak Provinces , eastern Afghanistan to relieve units from the 101st Airborne Division , as part of a new buildup of US forces in that country . The brigade was responsible for expanding forward operating base s and combat outpost s ( COPs ) in the region , as well as strengthening the US military presence in preparation for additional US forces to arrive . After spending approximately twelve months back at Fort Drum , the brigade again deployed to Afghanistan in March 2011 . For the first time , the brigade deployed to southern Afghanistan , specifically to Kandahar Province , again relieving a brigade from the 101st Airborne Division . During this deployment , units from the brigade mainly occupied forward operating base s ( FOBs ) and combat outpost s ( COPs ) in the Maywand , Zhari , and Arghandab Districts of Kandahar Province . The brigade redeployed to Fort Drum in March 2012 after a twelve month deployment .