Joint Base Lewis-McChord welcomed the 189th Infantry Brigade during an uncasing ceremony Sept. 7 at Watkins Field. The brigade, whose charter is to train Army Reserve and National Guard units for deployment, transferred from Fort Bragg, N.C., relocating to partner with its sister 191st Infantry Brigade in support of I Corps operations.

A few months ago, 189th Inf. Bde. cased its colors under 1st Army Division East, then conducted a change of command ceremony. Colonel John Marr took command with the task of relocating the brigade to JBLM where it is now assigned to 1st Army Division West.

During its 14 years at Ft. Bragg, the 189th Inf. Bde. was most notably responsible for training provincial reconstruction teams. Since the brigade's last activation in 2006, it has trained 51 PRTs and more than 15,000 servicemembers. At JBLM, its mission will be to serve as the training support brigade at the Mobilization and Training Center.

First Army Division West Commanding General Maj. Gen. Charles Anderson said the brigade has already begun establishing relationships and building its local team of dedicated professional trainers - two processes that will continue over time.

"It is hard work - requiring tremendous coordination and attention to detail - to pick up and move a brigade across the United States and soon after take on a new training mission at a new location," Anderson said.

Marr thanked the Soldiers' Families for making the trek with them, emphasizing the importance of their support.

"You are all the secret of our success and the success behind our great Army and Soldiers," Marr said. "The numerous details involved with re-establishing systems and processes and moving of Soldiers ... and in our case rebuilding a team in order to take on a completely different set of missions can seem a bit overwhelming."

The 189th Inf. Bde. has successfully led the way through numerous training mission changes, including mobilization of one of the first National Guard brigade combat teams to deploy in support of Operation Iraq Freedom, in addition to training and validating Reserve combat operations forces, Anderson said the Army selected the right brigade for the mission of training fellow servicemembers.

"Our commitment is that before they get on a plane and go into harm's way that they will have received the best training our nation can provide - and we in Division West will not accept anything else," Anderson said.

"Over the past 10 years, this proud unit has proved itself unafraid of change, and today we stand ready to make this transition," Marr said.