The Army announced Sept. 2 that the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 7th Infantry Division from Joint Base Lewis-McChord will deploy this fall to Korea, following through on a change in unit type the service announced earlier this year.

The brigade will replace the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team (1st ABCT) 1st Armored Division, as part of a regular nine-month, unaccompanied rotation of forces in support of the U.S. commitment to the Republic of Korea.

Earlier this year, the Army announced that the Korea Rotational Force (KRF) would transition from an armored brigade combat team (ABCT) to a Stryker brigade combat team (SBCT). This transition will enable the U.S. to maintain capabilities on the Korean peninsula to rapidly respond to any acts of aggression.

The existing ABCT equipment, which includes M-1 Abrams tanks and M-2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, will be maintained on the Korean peninsula in a ready state to further ensure a robust defense capability.

"The Lancer Brigade is proud to be selected as the first Stryker Brigade Combat Team to deploy to the Republic of Korea as a Korea Rotational Force," said Col. Chad Roehrman, commander, 2-2 SBCT. "By design, we are equipped to rapidly deploy around the globe to fight and win in key or restrictive terrain - hills, mountains, valleys and urban environments alongside our partner nations."

He added that the 2-2 SBCT is fully prepared to assume the mission from the 1st ABCT in support of the nation's commitment to its alliance with the Republic of Korea.